Anglican Amyraldism

Last updated on: March 18, 2019 at 5:54 pm By Michael F. Bird

Technically Amyraldianism is a particular species of covenant theology called hypothetical universalism, more broadly, it allows a Calvinistic view of election to mesh with a view of universal atonement. There is a wonderful tradition of Amyraldian Anglicans who imbibed Calvinism with a Catholic spirit. J.C. Ryle, John Newton, and Charles Simeon are the main examples. Another one in that tradition is D.B. Knox. D.B. Knox (1916-94), former theology professor at Moore College in Sydney, advocated a view of universal atonement... Read more

Video Release: Four Views of the Apostle Paul

Last updated on: June 24, 2019 at 9:24 pm By Michael F. Bird

Thanks to Zondervan you can now either purchase the DVD or, even better, subscribe to their Master Class streaming service, to get the video series of Four Views of the Apostle Paul, it is based on the book, but better! Now we all know that the apostle Paul was a vital force in the development of Christianity. Paul’s historical and religious context affects the theological interpretation of Paul’s writings, no small issue in the whole of Christian theology. Recent years have seen much controversy... Read more

Everyday Glory

Last updated on: March 15, 2019 at 5:12 am By Michael F. Bird

Gerald R. McDermott Everyday Glory: The Revelation of God in all of Reality Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2018. Available at Baker Academic Reviewed by Laura Paul Romans 1:20 declares that God’s ‘invisible attributes…have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.’ The Psalmist confidently proclaims that ‘the heavens declare the glory of God’ (Ps. 19:1). But can everyday realities actually tell us about the glory of God? Can rocks and rain,... Read more

What We Can Learn from Christian Responses to Infanticide

Last updated on: June 18, 2019 at 12:39 am By Michael F. Bird

Over at ABC Religion and Ethics, there is a great piece by Louis Gosbell (St Mary Andrews College) about Christian responses to infanticide. “As long as it’s healthy”: What can we learn from early Christianity’s resistance to infanticide and exposure? Augustine is unique in his presentation of the inherent value of deformed infants, as we have no evidence for other discussions regarding this issue within the first five centuries of the Common Era. Nevertheless, concern for the welfare of deformed... Read more

Latest Issue of JSHJ (2019)

Last updated on: June 18, 2019 at 12:38 am By Michael F. Bird

The latest issue of Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus 17.1-2 (2019) is now available. Theses on the Nature of the Leben-Jesu-Forschung: A Proposal for a Paradigm Shift in Understanding the Quest By: Fernando Bermejo-Rubio Revolutionary Contexts for the Quest: Jesus in the Rhetoric and Methods of Early Modern Intellectual History By: Jonathan C.P. Birch Jesus the Pharisee: Leon Modena, the Historical Jesus, and Renaissance Venice By: Cristiana Facchini The Work of Isaac Ben Abraham Troki (16th Century): On the Place of the Sefer Hizzuq Emunah in... Read more

My Interview on the Inverse Podcast: Just War & Pacifism

Last updated on: June 18, 2019 at 12:51 am By Michael F. Bird

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Jarrod McKenna on the Inverse Podcast. It was an hour-long interview where we discussed some big topics like activism, resistance, refugees, violence, pacifism, and just war theory. Is it okay to egg racist and xenophobic politicians? Hence the title: “More Jesus, Less Eggs.” Plus a bit of biographical information about me, Jarrod tell us about his pro-IRA relatives, mandatory Donald Trump mention, and why I took the left-hand indicator off my car. Read more

Evangelism in a Skeptical World

Last updated on: June 17, 2019 at 12:35 am By Michael F. Bird

Sam Chan Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News about Jesus More Believable Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2018 Book available at Amazon.com and online course available through Zondervan’s master lectures. Review by Dr. Chris Porter Books that aim to extrapolate the Matthean Great Commission in practical terms are a relatively common occurrence in the publisher’s catalogues, and regularly cover the same ground. Occasionally though, one ushers in a new perspective or approach that refreshingly illuminates common practice and... Read more

David deSilva on Galatians

Last updated on: June 13, 2019 at 5:45 pm By Michael F. Bird

David A. deSilva The Letter to the Galatians NICNT; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2018. Available at Amazon.com. I’ve finally been able to read over David A. deSilva’s long-awaited Galatians commentary in the NICNT series and it is definitely one to put on your shelf. The commentary is characterized by deSilva’s eye for exegetical details, historical investigation, interest in background, and awareness of socio-cultural factors. According to deSilva, Paul’s opponents, “sought to preserve the integrity of the covenant and to set the work of... Read more

Introduction to the Scriptures of Israel

Last updated on: February 21, 2019 at 5:53 am By Michael F. Bird

Tzvi Novick An Introduction to the Scriptures of Israel: History and Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2018). Available at Eerdmans. By Andrew Judd An Introduction to the Scriptures of Israel offers a fresh way in to the Hebrew Bible as a work of literature and theology. An introduction to the study of the Hebrew Bible must compete against a long and complex history of critical study. Novick artfully navigates through issues of historicity, text criticism and reception to sketch a... Read more

Exalted Above the Heavens: The Risen and Ascended Christ

Last updated on: March 1, 2019 at 5:23 am By Michael F. Bird

Peter C. Orr Exalted Above the Heavens: The Risen and Ascended Christ NSBT 47; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2018. Available at IVP. Peter Orr’s book about the exalted Jesus is partly an accessible version of his PhD thesis (Christ Absent and Present: A Study in Pauline Christology [2014]) but also an extended meditation on Col 3:1-2, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” He’s interested in both what the exaltation of Jesus... Read more