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

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Wisdom

iMago Moi

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27 In an ever-increasing barrage of self-obsession and tailor-made realities, how does the Christian navigate the waters of being someone who experiences life in the first person…

by Garrett SoucySeptember 29, 2020
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Economics

Theses on Church Music and Economics

American church music is in a slump. To get out of the slump, we need a 10-year plan, a 50-year plan, and a 100-year plan. Many are doing extraordinary work on reforming church music in the near-term, and a few in the mid-term. What is desperately needed is the 100-year…

by John AhernSeptember 22, 2020
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Parables

The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man

The following is an excerpt from The Maker Versus the Takers: What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and Economics ¸ by Jerry Bowyer (New York, Fidelis Books, Post Hill Press, 2020), release date Sept. 15 th . The section below argues that the ‘Rich Man’ in the parable refers…

by Jerry BowyerSeptember 15, 2020
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Biblical Studies

Death on a Tree: Absalom as Jesus-Type

Could Absalom be a Christ-type? If you know much about the Bible, you likely have an immediate aversion to even the possibility of answering this question in the affirmative. Absalom was third among David’s sons, while Amnon—his brother from another mother—was first (2 Sam. 3:2-3). As Absalom’s story begins, it…

by Eric RobinsonSeptember 8, 2020
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Biblical Studies

Barabbas

All four Gospels not only associate Barabbas and Jesus quite unabashedly, they do so emphatically and with a deep theological message. The scene is well-known. In His trial before Pontius Pilate, though Jesus had been declared innocent more than once, there seemed to be no hope of releasing Him. Pilate…

by Ralph Allan SmithSeptember 1, 2020
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Theopolis News

Announcement: The James B. Jordan Prize

The Theopolis Institute is pleased to announce the second round of the James B. Jordan Prize to honor outstanding doctoral dissertations in biblical theology. James Jordan is one of the most insightful biblical scholars of our time. The Jordan Prize exists to encourage more of the deep Scriptural investigation of…

by TheopolisAugust 31, 2020

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Forgetful Reading

When teaching hermeneutics, I've limited myself to giving students two rules: “Pay attention!” and “Remember!” The exclamation points are essential. Professional readers don't always observe these rules. For instance: Satan is mentioned twice in Revelation 2-3 in connection with synagogues: Jewish communities that oppose the gospel and accuse Christians are…

November 10, 2016

America Being America

I nternational observers have looked with dismay on the 2016 Presidential election, often for good reason. But David Goldman offers a rebuttal. He observes that Trump’s victory “is not strictly speaking a Republican victory. The self-appointed guardians of Republican ideology for the most part supported Clinton or sat the race…

November 10, 2016

Men of Measure

T he account of David’s reign in 1 Chronicles alternates between house-building and war, house-building and international recognition and repute. David builds his house, and then fights Philistines, spreading fear throughout the region (1 Chronicles 14). Then David brings the ark into Jerusalem, places is in a tent, and makes…

November 9, 2016

Election Day Prayer

O God of earth and altar, bow down and hear our cry, our earthly rulers falter, our people drift and die; the walls of gold entomb us, the swords of scorn divide, take not thy thunder from us, but take away our pride. From all that terror teaches, from lies…

November 8, 2016

The Ways of Figuration

I n his Apocalypse Commentary , Nicholas of Lyra pauses from his comments on Revelation 11:11 to describe the various ways a figure can figure. He starts from the reasonable premise that “a figure of another thing is necessarily something in itself, because what is nothing cannot figure or signify…

November 8, 2016

Building a Human House

D avid is the hyperactive organizer of the effort to bring the ark into Jerusalem. After the first attempt ended in Uzza’s death, David determines that they had violated the ordinance, the word of God through Moses (1 Chronicles 15:13, 15). He makes sure they don't make the same mistake.…

November 8, 2016

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