Letham on Trinity

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:46 pm By Peter Leithart

Robert Letham?s book, The Holy Trinity (P&R, 2004) is a superior introduction to Trinitarian theology, certainly the most complete, reliable, and best treatise on the subject to come from a Reformed theologian for I don?t know how long. It covers the biblical bases for the doctrine, provides a long and lucid treatment of the development of the doctrine, and examines recent Trinitarian theology from Barth, Rahner, Moltmann, Pannenberg and Torrance, as well as Bulgakov, Lossky and Staniloae. His grasp of... Read more

Theological Controversy

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:51 pm By Peter Leithart

A couple of illuminating quotations from Robert Letham’s fine new book, The Holy Trinity (P&R): Letham defends Origen against charges of heresy and proto-Arianism (while duly noting some of the troubling statements in Origen’s writings), and adds: “Origen is a research theologian, advancing ideas for consideration and discussion as well as for official teaching.” One is left wondering whether there is a place for this kind of theology within the Reformed churches. Also this regarding the post-Nicean controversies with Arianiam... Read more

Sermon Outline, Fourth Advent

Last updated on: September 7, 2017 at 12:01 am By Peter Leithart

INTRODUCTION Jesus came to reveal the Father, and claims that He is capable of revealing the Father because ?I am in the Father and the Father is in Me?E(John 14:6-9). This notion of ?mutual indwelling?E(the technical term in theology is ?perichoresis?E is an important concern for John?s gospel, and it is one of the key realities manifested in the incarnation. TEXT ?Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ?Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your... Read more

Historical Change

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:43 pm By Peter Leithart

In his Teaching Company tapes on Chaucer, Seth Lehrer claims that the medievals lacked a conception of historical change, and that one of the key cultural effects of the Renaissance was to introduce the idea that things change. This at least needs to be qualified, if not rejected, for two reasons. First, Christianity has a base-line commitment to historical change, as Augustine and many other church fathers recognized. Jesus came not to renew the Law but to bring in a... Read more

Soviet Apologists

Last updated on: September 7, 2017 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

It’s mighty hard to find apologists for Bolshevism these days, so I was surprised to find the following in the December 2 issue of the London Review of Books (in Neal Ascherson’s review of the recently republished books on Trotsky by Isaac Deutscher): The Bolshevik Revolution was more “authentic” and popular than we currently admit; to see Soviet history merely as inherited homicide is an excuse for not thinking about it . . . . If Lenin had set up... Read more

All Israel Shall Be Saved

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 10:46 pm By Peter Leithart

The book of Ruth is not merely about the individual characters, but about Israel, moving from the barrenness of the period of the judges toward the new birth of the monarchy. Naomi is the barren, bereft Israelite widow, who ends the book with a child her knees and with plenty of food ?Eredeemed. And the chief means for that movement is the incorporation of the Gentile Ruth into her house. Kindness is extended to the Gentiles, and through the incorporation... Read more

Pharisees and Intellectuals

Last updated on: September 7, 2017 at 12:04 am By Peter Leithart

Jesus charges in John 5 that the Jews seek glory from one another rather than the Father. It reminds me of a suggestion (I believe it came from Ken Myers) that the New York Review of Books should change its name to the New York Review of Each Other’s Books . It is a peculiar sin of intelletuals to form a community of mutual admiration, one that I’ve noticed (ironically enough) at SBL/AAR conferences. A community of mutual admiration, however,... Read more

Eucharistic Meditation, Third Advent

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:39 pm By Peter Leithart

John 5:30: ?I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.?E Jesus comes to do the Father?s will, and this means that the Father?s will is manifested in what Jesus does. He comes to give Himself for us, and this is the Father?s will. He comes to show us the Father, and this is the... Read more

Exhortation, Third Sunday in Adent

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:41 pm By Peter Leithart

This morning I want to address the students in the congregation ?Enot merely the college students but all other students we well. During the Christmas holidays, you will probably spend much more of your time at home than you have over the past few months. This could be a great way to relax at the end of the term and get ready for the next, but it could also be a time of frustration and turmoil for you and your... Read more

Biblical Theology of Justification

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 10:48 pm By Peter Leithart

Here’s a methodological oddity in some treatments of justification: On the one hand, justification is taken as a sum of the gospel. On the other hand, virtually the ONLY discussion of justification in the OT is philological ?Ethe meaning of the terms ?Eand often even this is limited to a few passages. It would seem that if justification is the gospel, then it should be developed in the context of a biblical theology of judgment, justification, and righteousness that would... Read more