INTRODUCTION: One difficulty that presents itself while working through a book like Romans in small segments is that it is very hard to find a place to stop . . . becauses Paul frequently doesn’t stop. This week we need to run a little ahead and stop in mid-thought, and next week we will back …
Part of the Temple Belonged to Them
I don’t really have a lot to say about Wright’s next section (pp. 158-168), a section focused largely on Romans 2. Just a few things. Wright makes some worthy points about the general neglect of Paul’s eschatology of justification. The doers of the law will be justified (Rom. 2:13). Might not mean what it appears …
Primal Worthiness
Book 2/Chapter1 True knowledge of ourselves (section 1) 1. What ancient proverb does Calvin commend? 2. What echo of an earlier point in Calvin does this make? 3. What are the two essential parts of self-knowledge? Deluded self-admiration (section 2) 1. Instead of true self-knowledge, what do we tend to seek out instead? 2. What …
Because Business Isn’t Everything
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 162 “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, …
Not Harsh at All
Book 1/Chapter 18 God’s manifold will(section 3) 1. What is the disposition behind a dismissal of God’s complete sovereignty with a simple “to me it seems otherwise”? 2. Why do opponents of this doctrine claim that it makes have God possess two contrary wills? 3. What is meant by God’s “manifold” wisdom? God’s holy disposition …
Excursus on Union with Christ
I used the word excursus in the title so that people would know that I was going to be scholarly in this one. Or maybe try to be scholarly. Or, better yet, try to act scholarly. You know, I think I am off to a bad start. In the comments on this series of posts …
At Least Not in Paul
As his section on Romans begins, Wright continues to reason beside the point. He begins, not surprisingly, with Romans 1:16-17 and with a discussion of what is meant by the “righteousness of God.” He says that, in effect, if we just read this verse without all the blinkers created by seventeenth century debates, we could …
Not Just Bare Permission
Book 1/Chapter 18 Not just bare permission (section 1) 1. Concerning God’s providence what is the “more difficult question”? 2. Does Calvin allow the distinction between doing and permitting? 3. Why would we describe Calvin as a strict biblicist on this question? 4. What are three examples given by Calvin? Control of the heart (section …
David and Katie
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, welcome. As we have gathered here for another wedding, we are reminded of God’s continuing and continuous kindness to us. He established marriage at the very foundation of the world, and He did so because it was a key instrument for the accomplishment of His …
A Jedi-Knight Mastery of Pauline Theology
The last part of Wright’s chapter 6 is his section on Ephesians. My comments here will be more scattered than extensive, for reasons that will probably become obvious. First, we are to page 151 and it has been striking just how little interaction with John Piper there has been. This book has been a good …