Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.
One reason readers assume Paul is trying to prove that all human beings are sinful is that they understand him to be arguing that no one can keep the law. That means, they think, his opponents must believe that human nature is potentially sinless. Taking Paul’s statement that, if you…
[Note: This post was written prior to our name changing to Theopolis Institute.] What is Trinity House for? Three things: We aim to advance the reformation of the church and, through the church, to promote the renewal of culture; in furthering reformation, we aspire to be a site of fraternal,…
This is the third in a series of studies of the Third Word, and especially of Deuteronomy 14. In 1979 Stephen Kaufman penned a groundbreaking essay on Deuteronomy, arguing that it was a meticulously structured and carefully composed book. In his view, chapters 12 to 26 in particular follow the…
A large mistake is made in understanding Romans if one assumes that Paul is concerned with proving the fact that no one can ever live without sin—or that all attempts at obeying God’s commands are at least tainted with human sinfulness. The first problem with such an assumption is that…
This is the second in a series of studies on the Third Word, and especially on the food laws of Deuteronomy 14. In the second part of this series, I argue that Moses’ reworking of the Ten Words in Deuteronomy 5 includes adding nuance to the Third Word. This prepares…
Recent months have brought a lively discussion of Christian participation in the culture war. On the one hand, the pro-life movement appears to be making some slow progress on the abortion issue. The trial of abortionist and serial murderer Kermit Gosnell has the potential to awaken those who are nominally…
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There are, I think, two forms of sleeplessness: The fretting, turning, twisting, aged kind, With night unending, dark and death rule all. But then there is a sleeplessness that’s quiet, Delicious, calm, composed. I lie awake Like the lidless seraphim, who night and day Sing to the God who slumbers…
Inspired by Gary Hotham, and by the world around me, I sometimes try my hand at haiku. (Gary, by the way, has refused to comment on the quality of my haiku, which is probably just as well.) two pillars of water in morning light — the fountain in the square
Even after spending a week mulling over Jesus’ temptations and preaching on Luke 4, I find myself puzzled by any number of details. With help from some members at Trinity Reformed Church, however, I think I’m getting a better feel for the temptation. Here are a couple of fruitful insights…
Another review from the August 15 TLS summarizes the findings of Richard J. McNally’s Remembering Trauma , a study of the issue of suppressed memories. McNally’s research, by the reviewer’s account, is exhaustive and his conclusions devastating. Here are some excerpts: McNally resists the conciliatory impulse to take a middle…
In his recent book, Seeds of Wealth: Four Plants that Made Men Rich , Henry Hobhouse defends the automobile as an environmental boon. Reviewing the book in the August 15 issue of the TL , Paul Levy summarizes Hobhouse’s argument: In 1900, apart from a few steam and internal combustion-driven…
Joshua Muravchik has an entertaining critique of the current wave of “neo-con” spotting in the current issue of Commentary . He cites absurdly distorted newspaper articles claiming that the Bush administration is “rife” with neo-con Straussians, which then go on to mangle Strauss beyond recognition. Muravchik is less convincing when…
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