Book 4/Chapter 16 Father Abraham (section 13) 1. How are both circumcision and uncircumcision made equal in honor? 2. Why do Gentiles who believe not have to be circumcised? 3. Why does Paul deny that Abraham is father of the circumcision alone? Physical descent (section 14) 1. Does Calvin make physical descent from Abraham nothing? …
The Blessing of Christ
Book 4/Chapter 16 Blessing the children (section 7) 1. Why did the anabaptists not accept Christ blessing the children as a reason for baptizing them? 2. How does Calvin answer this? Argument from silence (section 8) 1. If we accepted that infant baptism is unbiblical because it is not mentioned, then what else is unbiblical? …
In the Mouths of Theological Blowhards
In his second chapter, John Franke says a number of reassuring things, that would have been just fine in another setting. But here, they are not. For example and to wit: “An understanding of the situated and contextual character of truth and Christian theology provides a theological framework from which to embrace Christian pluralism without …
Whooda Thunk?
I am entering this from my phone, just to see if it can be done. Doesn’t mean it should be done, of course.
A Seemingly Plausible Argument
Book 4/Chapter 16 The attack on infant baptism (section 1) 1. Who attacks infant baptism, according to Calvin? 2. What is the appearance of their argument? 3. And what is it? The meaning of baptism (section 2) 1. What should we not focus on in baptism? 2. Are we to reason from baptism to the …
At Least I Didn”t Confuse Him With Rutherford B. Hayes
I just got my author’s copies of 5 Cities That Ruled the World today, and you should of course get your twelve copies now. But — and this is the way it frequently goes even while the printing press is cooling down — this is the time when errors are brought to one’s attention, waving …
Health Care Freak Show
Now that the PelosiCare Fiasco has passed the House (in the middle of night, sight unseen, nothing to see here, folks, just keep moving), all eyes turn to the Senate. As Americans who know how to count continue to watch our solons of subtraction with fascinated horror, let me just throw up a small post …
Seven Thousand By Grace/Romans 40
INTRODUCTION: In times of spiritual declension—which we are certainly in—it is very easy to fall into the trap that Elijah fell into. Flatterers and false teachers always tell us that things are far better than we think, but when we work our way past their lies, we often have to be reassured by God Himself …
The Plurality of Truth Moonwalk
John Franke begins by asking and answering the question, “Do you believe in truth?” He allows that the easiest thing for emergents to do is to just say yes, in order to reassure everybody. But then he gets into his explanation of why he thinks this is an odd question, and all the reasons why …
Calvin the Immersionist
Book 4/Chapter 15 Alien hodgepodge (section 19) 1. What does Calvin think of baptismal “extras” like chrism, exsufflation, and the like? 2. What should we omit from baptismal ceremonies? 3. What does Calvin say about the mode of baptism? 4. Nevertheless, what does he say the word “baptize” means? Baptism by laymen (section 20) 1. …