In Chapter 5 of Understanding Scientific Theories of Origins John Walton argued at length that in the opening chapter of Genesis God is ordering the cosmos and creating sacred space. It does not describe creation ex nihilo – out of nothing. In fact, Walton argues that it does not really describe material creation at all. Whether this is accurate or not, it is clear that both creation from nothing and an interpretation of Genesis 1 in the context of creation... Read more
By Geoff Holsclaw, theology professor at Northern Seminary & a local church pastor. Pick up his FREE “Refocusing Faith” E-course. Growing up, workaholism was a vice to avoid (at least, in theory). But now, workism has become its own religion of sorts—promising “identity, transcendence, and community.” This is the thesis of Derek Thompson of The Atlantic. Amid the decline of traditional faith in America (a claim I find dubious), Thompson suggests workism is an upstart religion clamoring for congregants. And America is fertile ground for its growth (a... Read more
The one expression in the New Testament Christians should be able to define, but which they seemingly can’t, is “kingdom,” whether as Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven/s. Why should they be able to define it? Because is the central image of Jesus, who is Lord for every Christian. Many can define justification or atonement theories with the best of them, but few can define “kingdom.” Nicholas Perrin can. He has done so in his new book The Kingdom of... Read more
John Walton’s “Lost World” series continues with his newest book, with his son J. Harvey Walton, The Lost World of the Torah. When one of these books comes out, I open to the Table of Contents and read each of his Propositions. It’s easy to get a skim of the whole this way; he’s not hiding anything with chp titles to make readers wait for the good stuff to come. He just tells you up front what he will be... Read more
From CBE By Chesna Hinkley On February 25, 2019 Short Answers to Tough Questions Studies on Specific Passages Editor’s Note: This article is part of a series on difficult Bible passages entitled “What to Say When…” “The Bible says wives should submit to husbands, because men are the head of women.” Sigh. Some of us have heard this overly simplistic and frankly convenient interpretation of Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:18-32. But are we taking the “household codes” seriously enough in their... Read more
O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCP Read more
VIRTUES OF RENEWAL: WENDELL BERRY’S SUSTAINABLE FORMS By David George Moore Wonderful News!: I asked the author to encourage his publisher, The University of Kentucky Press, to consider giving a deep discount on his book. I had the temerity to suggest 50%. It is expensive at $65, but not as expensive as many books from academic presses. I am happy to report that there will be a discount of 50% until the end of March. This will be one of... Read more
Welp, we’re gearing up in this house for the 2019 Cubs baseball season and Spring Training games are underway, the weather’s hanging on to winter, but the church calendar is moving us onward in spite of the weather. Yes for David Brooks! Cohen has left the Thugs for Trump club and passed that baton to certain House Republicans. I would have loved to have been in the strategy session when the House Republicans decided to be incurious about Trump’s sins... Read more
Dead Seas Scrolls (PPJ – Part 3) – KR 123 Is Judaism a “works righteousness” religion? This is the driving question for E.P. Sanders’s study of Judaism in the first century. Sanders continues his investigation of covenant nomism and finds the Essence community of Qumran clearly reflects that they understood being God’s people by election and not because of the works that they did. Sign up for my next Webinar, called Reading Romans Backward, here >> www.seminary.edu/webinar-reading-romans-backward/ Read more
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