Theopolis Logo

Writing

Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.

See all
actionvance-t7el2ig3jmc-unsplash
Esther

Genesis 1 and Genesis 8

I mentioned last month ( BH 82) in my essay "Like a Dove" that Genesis 8 is a recapitulation of Genesis 1. Let me explicate that assertion here. Of course, the world after the Flood is a new creation, so we may expect a recapitulation of the first creation. It…

by James B. JordanMarch 28, 1996
ben-white-w8qqn1pmqh0-unsplash
Daniel

Esther: Historical & Chronological Comments (I)

The book of Esther is one of the most neglected of the books of the Bible. To be sure, sermons are preached on it, and commentaries have occasionally been written on it, but almost without exception Esther has been interpreted in isolation from the rest of Biblical history, chronology, and…

by James B. JordanMarch 28, 1996
actionvance-t7el2ig3jmc-unsplash
Biblical Horizons

A Letter on Geocentricity

Dear Mr. ______, . . . Here is how I look at the geocentricity question. Since I don’t recall what I wrote you before, I may be repeating some things. 1. The Bible does not teach it. Biblical passages used to support the idea are being misinterpreted. My original paper…

by James B. JordanMarch 28, 1996
assertion_of_liberty_of_conscience_by_the_independents_of_the_westminster_assembly_of_divines_1644
Biblical Horizons

What is God?

Answer 4 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism is often taken as a magnificent answer to the question, "What is God?" It reads: "God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth." Presbyterians are fond of praising this statement, preaching on it,…

by James B. JordanFebruary 28, 1996
screenshot-2023-08-28-at-4-42-36-pm
Baptism

Like a Dove

The gospels tell us that at Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him "in bodily form like a dove" (Luke 3:22 & parallels). Biblically sensitive commentators have associated this event with three Old Testament parallels: (1) the hovering of the Spirit over the creation in Genesis 1:2; (2) the…

by James B. JordanFebruary 28, 1996
tim-wildsmith-gzggi42wggm-unsplash
John

Jesus at Belshazzar’s Feast: Being an Explanatory Disquisition on an Aspect of the Story of the Woman Taken in Adultery

This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. (John 8:6) The story of the woman taken in adultery (John 7:53-8:11) has been part of the canonical Christian Bible from its earliest…

by James B. JordanFebruary 28, 1996

Showing page 267 of 309

See all

Showing page 13 of 43

See all
liberation_of_saint_peter_by_giovanni_lanfranco-bma
Acts

Peter's Exodus

The entire Bible is a book of exodus. The Gospel is the good news of exodus, the announcement that the God of exodus has entered our broken world to lead His children from the tomb to His table. The God of exodus comes to lead creation itself into the glorious…

December 19, 2022
katie-moum-o0kbc907i20-unsplash-1
American PoliticsNational Conservatism

Dualism Is the Problem

A few additional reflections on National Conservatism and Christian Nationalism. My recurring, obsessive theme is: The dualism isn’t the solution; it’s the problem . First: In his contribution to the Theopolis Conversation on National Conservatism, William Wolfe writes , “NatCon is not trying to ‘save a nation’ in a spiritual…

December 5, 2022
aaron-burden-9c8r4quwzrq-unsplash
NationalismTheopolis News

In Defense of Alastair Roberts

Over the past week, Theopolis Senior Fellow Alastair Roberts has been embroiled in an intense online controversy. Alastair identified Thomas Achord as the author of racist tweets on a Twitter account that used the pseudonym “Tulius Aadland.” Until the controversy broke out, Achord was headmaster of a classical Christian school…

November 29, 2022
aaron-burden-9c8r4quwzrq-unsplash
American PoliticsChristian Nationalism

Christian Nationalism

Two recent books on Christian nationalism became surprise Amazon bestsellers: Christian Nationalism by Gab founder Andrew Torba and pastor Andrew Isker, and The Case for Christian Nationalism by Stephen Wolfe. The first is a brief biblical defense of Christian nationalism; the latter is a quasi-Thomistic, two-kingdoms argument for Christian nationalism.…

November 28, 2022
johann_gottfried_von_herder_by_john_sartain
Nationalism

Nations: Grown or Imagined?

Romantic thinkers like Johann Gottfried Herder, developed an organic conception of nationhood. For Herder, a nation is an extended family, and so a perfect nation, the most natural state, is “one nation, an extended family with one national character." (I rely on this essay by Richard White.) People have a…

November 25, 2022
dfqnne3a50itysilzhqeiw
Ecclesiology

Do We Need the Church?

A few weeks ago, I gave an online talk for the Colson Center. These were my opening comments. Let me begin by playing a game theologians often play, the game of challenging the question. The title of this series is, “The Essential Church: Why Christians (and the World) Still Need…

November 21, 2022

Showing page 6 of 2212

Browse by Category

In Medias Res

Your weekly digest for all things Theopolis.

Donate

Theopolis is nearly 100% donor-supported. Consider joining us on our mission.