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Writing

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

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Politics

Utopia: A Brief Critique

Utopia is often accompanied by such adjectives as impossible, unrealistic, and impractical. In spite of that, it is not so hard to find some renowned people who actually maintain that is a very helpful and practical concept. Zygmunt Bauman ( Socialism: The Active Utopia ) argues that “utopian thinking belongs…

by Bogumil JarmulakMarch 5, 2015
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Culture

An Experiment in Film Criticism

C. S. Lewis was no fan of the cinema. He once described himself as “rather allergic to films” and after attending one he added in a letter to a friend, “Do not worry it shall not become a habit.” But though he was quick to dismiss films, his fruitful discussion…

by Remy WilkinsMarch 3, 2015
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Nevin Lectures

Nevin Lectures, 2015

Noted Catholic patristic scholar, Robert Louis Wilken, delivered the second annual Nevin Lectures at Beeson Divinity School's Hodges Chapel last Friday and Saturday, February 20-21, 2015. Wilken, the Emeritus William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Virginia, traced the influence of the writings…

by TheopolisFebruary 25, 2015
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American Culture

50 Shades of Surprise

I confess that I’m surprised by the number of Christians who are surprised by the popularity of Fifty Shades of Grey . Many are simply bewildered by the buzz the movie has generated. They shouldn’t be. This is the world we live in. More precisely, this is the country we…

by Aaron GunsaulusFebruary 24, 2015
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Ephesians

Our New Task

The newer perspective on justification by faith advocated in various studies in Pauline Theology by N.T. Wright and others, is now utterly relevant to our historical situation. Such work cannot be merely avant garde theologizing. In Luther’s day, everyone was “in” as regards the Church and the faith. We were…

by Richard BledsoeFebruary 19, 2015
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Church Calendar

Keep the Fast, Keep the Feast

Over the centuries, Christians have fasted for many reasons. Sometimes, the reasons have been good. The apostles and their churches fasted and prayed before selecting elders or ordaining missionaries. Christians have fasted in mourning for their sins. They have fasted and prayed to combat demons and to plead with God…

by Peter LeithartFebruary 18, 2015

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Music

Music and the Body

Daniel Albright ( Panaesthetics ) emphasizes the learned codes by which we discern musical meanings: “Today most of the codes that cue us to feel come from quotation, either direct quotation of musical phrases or indirect quotation of certain gestures we have learned to associate with certain emotions.” Learned where?…

February 4, 2015

Nevin’s Lament, Nevin’s Hope

The following remarks were given to introduce the first annual Nevin Lectures, February 7, 2014. Trinity House [now Theopolis] was founded in 2012 to promote the reformation of the church by training pastors, future pastors, and lay people in Scripture and liturgical theology. We believe the church exists for the…

February 4, 2015

Of Texts and Pre-Texts

Michael Allen and Scott Swain argue in their Reformed Catholicity (which I review here ) that the “rule of faith” that encapsulates the main thrust of Scripture provides a key that unlocks the treasures of Scripture. The rule arises from Scripture, but then becomes a pre-understanding of the whole Bible…

February 3, 2015

Signs

Revelation uses the word “sign” ( semeion ) seven times, all between chapters 12 and 20. This is John’s second book of signs, matching the early part of his gospel. Through these seven signs, new creation arrives. There are three overlapping variations in the passages that deal with signs -…

February 3, 2015

On the Forehead

Goliath is dressed in metal: Bronze helmet, bronze scale armor, bronze greaves. His javelin is bronze, the head of his spear is iron. The original metal outfit in the Bible is the breastplate of the high priest, with its gold thread woven with other threads. With his scale armor, Goliath…

February 3, 2015

Theology of Religions

W ith Their Rock Is Not Like Our Rock , Daniel Strange has written a superb book on the theology of religions. The book is careful, patient, methodologically conscious and conscientious, combining biblical and systematic theology with missiological interest. Strange makes extensive use of the Dutch Reformed tradition of Herman…

February 2, 2015

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