Category: Historical Theology
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Since The Beginning: Interpreting Genesis 1 and 2 through the Ages
This collection of essays, edited by Kyle Greenwood offers readers historical perspective on how the early chapters of Genesis have been understood. This is no small task, and almost certainly needed to be a group effort. Very few individuals would be qualified to discuss in detail the history of interpretation of a given passage, much…
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Early Christian Readings of Genesis One: Patristic Exegesis and Literal Interpretation
In Early Christian Readings of Genesis One, which I was able to read thanks to IVP Academic, Craig Allert explores whether or not one can use the early church fathers to support a certain literal interpretation of Genesis 1. That certain literal interpretation is the one that supports at young earth creationist reading of Genesis…
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Reformation Theology: A Systematic Summary
Last week we celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Also, some of us sort of celebrated Halloween on the same night. I dressed up as an Astros fan and that proved providential the following evening. Anyway, as with most parties, there is a sort of after party that could go on for who…
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Reformation Reading Roundup: Theologians, Scripture, Revelation, and The Solas
With Reformation Day upon us, I thought I’d do a reading roundup on several relevant books. As promised, I’m keeping to 7 at a time. For more explanation, see last week’s post. Unlike last week, 2 of these books (the bottom two pictured) are my purchases. The rest, I have to thank Zondervan, IVP Academic,…
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What Christians Ought to Believe and Analytic Christian Theology
Well, Mike Bird has done it again. “It” meaning “written a book.” This time it is a primer on The Apostles’ Creed, aptly title What Christians Ought to Believe, and Zondervan was kind enough to send me a copy. In just over 200 pages Bird introduces readers to the creed, explains why you need it,…
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The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, & Gospel Assurance – Why The Marrow Controversy Still Matters
As a general rule, if Sinclair Ferguson has written a book, you should probably look into it. Even more so if it touches on hot button issues like legalism and antinomianism. While it might surprise some readers, there is much to be learned from a theological controversy from the 1700’s. His most recent book, The Whole…
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Christological Anthropology In Historical Perspective
An increasingly common mode of theology is retrieval. Maybe that’s not the right way to phrase it, but the idea is that we aren’t the first people to ask theological questions. Just maybe some important voices from the past can shed light on our contemporary questions. If one is merely explaining what the past voices…
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Miracles, Reformation Readings of Paul, How to Preach and Teach the OT, and Revelation
Vern Poythress can’t seem to stop publishing books. Since In The Beginning Was The Word came out in 2009, he’s published 10 books, with an 11th coming out later this year (making it the third this calendar year). On the upside, he’s applying his unique triperspectivalistic vantage point to variety of topics (math, philosophy, biblical…
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Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics: An Introduction and Reader
I have long been perplexed by Karl Barth. I had only vague ideas about anything he said before going to seminary. There, I didn’t study anything he wrote directly, and unfortunately had mostly indirect contact through Cornelius Van Til. It took a few years to recover from that and then start to figure out what…
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The Gospel According to Heretics: Discovering Orthodoxy through Early Christological Conflicts
When you think of the early church, you may very well picture a dry and dusty time. Or, perhaps it is dry and dusty books about a time that might otherwise be intriguing. Maybe I’m being unfair. But, I don’t know a lot of people who get psyched to study the early church, and if…