“We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (CEB). Hope Paul says that character produces hope. Hope is not some ephemeral thing like that which might be, could be, or possible be. Hope can sometimes seem futile. Chicago Cubs fans will know all too well what I’m talking about!!! But hope is a big theme in Romans. Abraham’s faith was really a hope in God’s promises (Rom... Read more

Over at TGC is a review of Evangelical Theology by Matthew Barrett (California Baptist Uni). Barrett commends a few aspects of the book like it’s gospel focus, its use of historical theology, trying to bridge biblical and systematic theology, and attempting to incorporate redemptive history into a doctrine of salvation. However, he does have a number of critical things to say, which is fair enough, but I would like to respond to a couple of them. On theological method: I... Read more

I found this week’s prayer in the Collect for the second Sunday of Epiphany particularly impactful: Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, on God, now... Read more

“We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance,  endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (CEB). Character Paul says that endurance produces “character” and the word for “character” is dokimē which means the quality of being approved.[1] I think it was Nancy Regan who said that, “I’m a lot like a teabag, you have to put me in hot water to see how strong I really am.” That is a way of saying that hardship... Read more

Today I learned a very interesting fact. The TGC website was visited by more people from Sydney than from any other capital city in the world. According to the TGC FB page, the top 10 most-read cities are:    1. Sydney 2. Chicago 3. New York 4. London 5. Louisville 6. Los Angeles 7. Dallas 8. Houston 9. Singapore 10. Minneapolis So you might be wondering who are these Sydney folks visiting the TGC site. Well, here’s a few observations: The... Read more

Endurance “We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance,  endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (CEB). Endurance was celebrated by moral philosophers of antiquity as one of the manliest of virtues. The ability to persist under adversity and hardship were marks of masculine and even kingly character. We celebrate endurance in our own culture in many ways, such as the accolades offered to endurance marathoners, or memorializing those who have overcome great pain... Read more

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My friend David Gowler is writing a book on the reception of the Parables for Baker Academic and he’s created a new blog called a Chorus of Voices: The Reception History of the Parables to complement the writing of the book. David has already written on the Parables with this book What Are They Saying about the Parables?. About the blog David writes: This blog will document the process of writing that book, and it will include works that I... Read more

Along with Craig Keener, I am proud to be an editor of the New Covenant Commentary Series. The latest volume to come out is by Aida Besancon Spencer on 1 Timothy (I should add that 2 Timothy and Titus are not far from release either!). Spencer provides a thorough and insightful commentary on Paul’s letter to his coworker Timothy, which the Apostle wrote before and during Nero’s persecution. Spencer carefully examines each part of the letter and relates it to the overall flow of the... Read more

Gavin Ortlund (I’m guessing brother of Dane Ortlund and son of Ray Ortlund) gives the most thorough and fair review I’ve seen to date of Five Views on Biblical Inerrancy. See it on his blog Soliloquium. To be honest, I like any review of the book that does not call for me to be tied to a chair, have my eyes glued open, and be forced to watch Rob Bell Nooma videos. Read more