The first official chapter in Piper’s book is a caution against a facile adoption of biblical theology over systematic theology as though it were necessarily more “biblical.” A systematic theology can be biblical or unbiblical, depending. And biblical theology can also be biblical or unbiblical, depending. “Most scholars are aware that methods and categories of …
Time of Administration
David Gadbois argues here that FV proponents hold that infant baptism is normative, and somehow marginalize those baptisms which are performed on the basis of a profession of faith. In this course of this argument, he quotes Pastor Bordow, who put it this way: “If you look for a credible profession before baptizing, aren’t you …
I Hope He Takes My Call!
Some weeks ago, I did some protestantial hooting about an upcoming encyclical from the pope on global warming. According to an informed source, my post has apparently caused some ongoing consternation among some of our Catholic friends. Although I have promised a handsome apology if it turns out the pope actually thinks that global warming …
Those From Far Off
We now come to consider the conclusion of the first portion of the book of Zechariah. In doing this, we need to make sure we have mastered the import of these visions, so that we will be able to understand the great oracles with which Zechariah concludes the book. “Then the word of the Lord …
Do No Wrong
The verb adikeo means to “do wrong,” and in the passive voice it indicates that the subject has been wronged. The basic sense here has to do with justice. As we see the verb used in the New Testament, it generally refers to the practice of screwing people, and, on the flip side, getting screwed. …
Revealing the Father
This last Sunday, the sermon at Christ Church sought to explain what Jesus was referring to when He said that those who believed in Him would do greater works than He had done. The answer appears to be that we are to reveal and manifest the Father, in a manner analagous to what Jesus did. …
Paint More Than the Nose
“It is not true that some doctrines are only for the initiated; there is nothing in the Bible which is ashamed of the light . . . All revealed truth in harmonious proportion must be your theme . . . Do not insist perpetually upon one truth alone. A nose is an important feature in …
I Age Mine in the Basement, Like a Fine Wine
“It takes judgment to know when prejudice should be maintained and when abandoned. Prejudices are like friendships: they should be kept in good repair. Friends sometimes grow apart, and so sometimes should men from their prejudices; but friends often grows deeper with age and experience, and so should some prejudices. They are what give men …
Over Hill and Dale
“When Christ and the apostles preached, the established religious authorities were on the scene asking what appears to be their favorite question” ‘By what authority?’ John the Baptist was an eccentric hill preacher, Caiaphas had better establishment credentials than Jesus, and the Sanhedrin was amazed that men so obviously uneducated as the apostles could say …
Better Christians Than Logicians
After his Introduction, but before his first chapter, John Piper includes a short chapter on the necessity of — given the state of the world — controversy and polemics. He writes this as a pastor. “I am a pastor first. Polemics are secondary and serve that” (p. 27). In short, shepherds are to fight because …