Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.
We have moved from death to new life, from Lenten darkness to Easter light. And while Easter Sunday may have come and gone, it's effects are continually with us. This season has brought with it several new relationships, events, and signs of growth for Theopolis. We have been networking with…
In The People's Work , a social history of Christian Worship, Frank Senn summarizes the developments of the medieval period with regard to the Eucharist. He begins by challenging the assumption that medieval society was held together by “the church.” He notes that the church was often divided and conflicted,…
The structure of the Bible resembles something which was grown rather than built, composed rather than assembled. Its employment of “structure-as-sign” at every level from micro- to macrocosmic leads to the conclusion that a hermeneutic worthy of Scripture requires not only training in history, art and music but also the…
For some in first-century Israel, Easter was anything but good news. It was a terrifying surprise. For the rulers and powers that put Jesus to death, the idea that He had been raised by some power beyond their control was chilling. Early in Luke’s gospel, we're told that Herod thought…
Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. (John 21:11) This is one of those texts in the Bible that many people puzzle over. It is not a puzzle…
God is not mocked, Paul says. God is mocked, says Matthew. Who’s right? The two are in perfect harmony, but to see that, we need to run through the passage again. We’ll see that at every point, the mockery is being turned against the mockers. At every point, mockery is…
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In their study of race and evangelicalsm ( Divided by Faith ), Michael Emerson and Christian Smith observe that “in the context of a pluralistic society, social groups construct and maintain collective identities by forming symbolic boundaries.” These boundaries are essential to the group. Every group defines itself, to some…
From Wesley's Journal, December 1, 1767: “Being alone in the coach, I was considering several points of importance: and thus much appeared as clear as the day: That a man may be saved who cannot express himself properly concerning imputed righteousness. Therefore to do this is not necessary to salvation.…
When the Lamb opens the fifth seal, John sees martyrs under the altar crying out for vindication (Revelation 6). It's a recapitulation of the plea of the oppressed in Psalm 79: “Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?' Let there be known among the nations in our sight,…
Daniel 3 tells the famous story of the three men in the fiery furnace. It's an image of Israel's experience in exile. They are sent into the furnace of Babylon, but they survive the fire - more than survive, they come out unsinged and are elevated to higher positions than…
The disappointment of Go Set A Watchman isn't the disappointment in the character of Atticus Finch. By the end of the book, Jean Louise has recognized that she's as much a “states rightist,” just as offended and outraged by the Supreme Court's meddling in the South, just as much a…
Over at Slate , Reiham Salam explains why Trump isn't going away: He's not merely the focal point for GOP anger. He represents the American version of a global phenomenon, the rise of populist-nationalist movements. Salam compares Trump's appeal to that of the Danish People's Party, which has become “Denmark’s…
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