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

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Biblical Theology

Jesus in the Garden

Figure: Literary structure of the Garden narrative The Garden narrative describes God forming the adam , resting him in his presence, then provisioning for his appetites of food, vocation, and mate. It continues to describe a snake, the introduction of death, and humanity's expulsion from the garden. The pages of…

by Scott FairbanksJune 25, 2019
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Christology

St. Irenaeus, the Beatific Vision, and the Instrumentalization of Creation

I’ve spent the last few years studying the theology of St. Irenaeus (d. circ. 200ad). In particular, I’ve been gripped by the way that Irenaeus consistently resisted the anti-body emphasis that emerged in later Christian theology. His eschatology is remarkably focused on the resurrection of the body, and the renewal…

by Gerald HiestandJune 18, 2019
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Exodus

The Light Before the Switch

Details of Jesus in Exodus 1:22-2:25 Although there are a great many Christ-types in the Old Testament, it is hard to overplay the obviousness of some that seem to necessarily rise to the top before others. One of these is Isaac, with his near sacrifice by his own father after…

by Eric RobinsonJune 11, 2019
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Biblical Theology

Characteristics of the Wicked City

What can we say about Cain's wicked sanctuary-city of Enoch? First that it was built with a brother's blood as its cornerstone. The Church is also built such, for Jesus was the younger brother of the whole Adamic race, slain by that company of older brothers because they hated Him.…

by James B. JordanJune 4, 2019
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Biblical Theology

Trees and Thorns

In Genesis 2:9 the ground brought forth trees good for food, delightful to view, and in two cases, life-giving or rule-bestowing. Adam, made of the ground (2:7), would by implication bring forth new trees, and thus trees and plants are among the symbols for human beings throughout the Bible. The…

by James B. JordanMay 28, 2019
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Biblical Theology

Trees for Food

One of the must fundamental teachings of the Bible and of the Christian religion is that man does not have life in himself. Man must get life from outside of himself, in order to maintain his life. The way this is done is through eating and drinking. Apart from life,…

by James B. JordanMay 21, 2019

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The Self-Named

Yahweh’s name resembles a human name. But there is a significant difference. Yahweh identifies and names Himself . He didn’t leave Abraham to figure out His name; when Moses asked “What shall I say to Israel when they ask who sent me,” Yahweh answered by giving His name. We don’t…

June 26, 2018

What Is A Name?

What is a name? A name is a label. It allows us to identify people. That is Sam, that is Sam, Jr; that is Samantha; that is Peter. But a name is more than a label that enables us to identify and distinguish one person from another. It also provides…

June 25, 2018

Catholicism and the State

Joseph G. Trabbic argues at Public Discourse that the Catholic church has never abandoned the notion of a confessional, Catholic state, and that this remains the norm for Catholic political life. In principle, he claims, the church teaches that states should recognize Christianity and the church, though there may be…

June 22, 2018

BenOp Nation?

At First Things , Jozef Andrew Kosc describes the continuation of Catholic Christendom in Poland . Poland is “an unabashedly Catholic society is fully integrated into a modern European polity and economy. This society represents an integral and democratic Catholicism, one that has resisted the anti-culture of postmodernism and neoliberal…

June 21, 2018

Pixar and the Street

My son Christian interviewed Incredibles 2 editor Stephen Schaeffer. It gives a detailed look at the nitty details of making an animated feature. For me, the most interesting parts were about the design of the Pixar studio building: “The Pixar building was designed by Steve Jobs, who wanted to build…

June 21, 2018

Bearing the Name

The Third Word (Exodus 20:7) prohibits Israel and the church from bearing ( nasa' ) the Name of Yahweh lightly. What might it mean to "bear" the name? The verb is used some thirty times in Exodus, with a remarkable range of meanings. Exodus 6:8 : Yahweh nasa' to give…

June 19, 2018

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