For most of his long career, Johannes Cocceius (1603–69) taught Old Testament, biblical theology, theology, and philology in the Netherlands. He was arguably one of the most important and influential Reformed theologians of the 17th century and his influence continues to be . . . Continue reading →
The problem of race in America is more deeply embedded and intractable than most American Christians probably realize. Everyone reads Scripture in a context, in a culture and that reality influences the way we understand and apply it. Race, slavery, Jim Crow, . . . Continue reading →
This is season 8 of Office Hours and we are celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. In confessional Protestant circles we use some short hand Latin phrases that we might not all understand, even though we use them frequently. Sola fide . . . Continue reading →
On social media it has become common for evangelical Christians to identify themselves as “imputationalist.” This is interesting because the doctrine of imputation, the teaching that our sins of believers are reckoned to Christ and his righteousness is credited to believers, was . . . Continue reading →
For some Christians, the Psalter, the 150 psalms in God’s Word, is an appendage to the New Testament. For others it is a forgotten book. Today, Christian young people know the lyrics in contemporary worship songs such as “Like A Sloppy Wet . . . Continue reading →
We live in a time of great, even extraordinary interest in the person and work of the Holy Spirit. In some measure, this is because we live after the outbreak, in Topeka and in Los Angeles, of neo-Pentecostalism just after the turn . . . Continue reading →
This is season 8 of Office Hours and we are celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. In confessional Protestant circles we use some shorthand Latin phrases that all might not understand, even though we use them frequently. Sola scriptura, according to . . . Continue reading →
Right at its beginning the Gospel of Mark characterizes the gospel as a message of good news about the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:15). According to Scripture, Jesus’ gospel maybe summarized this way: “The time is fulfilled and the and the Kingdom . . . Continue reading →
In the ordinary providence of God, the Lord uses people and means to accomplish his purposes. Heidelberg Catechism 65 says that God the Spirit uses the preaching of the gospel to bring his elect to new life and to true faith in . . . Continue reading →
The primary mission of Westminster Seminary California is to prepare men for pastoral ministry. This is has been our primary mission since 1980. We have graduated more than eleven hundred students. About 70% of our graduates go on to pastoral ministry. Indeed, . . . Continue reading →
Any honest graduate of law school, med school, or seminary will tell you two things a) that he wishes he had paid attention in school and b) there is a lot about life as a physician, lawyer, or minister that you cannot . . . Continue reading →
In 2009 one the first Office Hours episodes featured an interview with some current students, one of whom was Chuck Tedrick. Since that time, Chuck has graduated and has been serving as the minister of Calvary United Reformed Church in Loveland, Colorado . . . Continue reading →
At Westminster Seminary California our primary mission is to prepare men for pastoral ministry. This is has been our primary mission since 1980. We have graduated more than eleven hundred About 70% of our graduates go on to pastoral ministry. Indeed, some . . . Continue reading →
In its 36-year history, Westminster Seminary California has had three presidents: Bob Strimple, Bob den Dulk, and Bob Godfrey. This month WSC welcomes its fourth president, the Rev. Mr. Joel E. Kim, ThM. He has taught at WSC since 2005. He is . . . Continue reading →
Presently, the confessional Lutheran churches and the confessional Reformed and Presbyterian churches represent two distinct traditions and several different denominations. There is a gulf between them. Apart from a few cooperative enterprises the two traditions are not actively engaged in any major . . . Continue reading →
It is October 2017. 500 years ago this month Martin Luther wrote 95 theses against the abuse of indulgences in the Western church. We have traced the Reformation to this date for a long time but as you and I have discussed . . . Continue reading →
The Bible is a story book. When I say “story” you might think of stories that are not true, tall tales like Paul Bunyan or the classical myths. The stories of Scripture are exciting and thrilling and, unlike myths, they are true. . . . Continue reading →
When the Westminster Divines completed the Confession of Faith in 1647 there was no chapter dedicated to the person and work of the Holy Spirit. According to some modern critics of the Confession, that absence betrays a troubling disinterest in the third . . . Continue reading →
The Jews distinguished between the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. What they called “the Law,” is called by biblical scholars the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. Dr. Michael Morales is Professor of . . . Continue reading →
The Scriptures have a great deal to say about wisdom (see, e.g., all of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Job), about what it is, about its importance, how to get it, and what happens to those who do not (Pss 14, 53 ). Judging, however, . . . Continue reading →