Theopolis Logo

Writing

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

See all
20_van-eyck_bavo-altar_adoration-of-the-lamb-copy-67f4f94b
Culture

An Introduction to the Sacred Music of Josquin

This essay is adapted from my articles in Theopolis’s In Medias Res as a series of Holy Week meditations. Like many celebrities such as Kanye or Beyoncé or Adele, Josquin des Prez (d. 1521) was often known only by his first name, in his own time as now. “Josquin” is…

by John AhernJuly 29, 2025
screenshot-2025-07-22-at-11-57-58-am
Numbers

Sight and Memory: Examining the Monuments of Numbers

Sight is a major theme in the scriptures. The church has long identified sight’s relationship to the future fulfillment of the eschaton. As Paul says, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face” (1 Cor 13.12). Sight is associated with…

by Matthew DarbyJuly 22, 2025
tengyart-aaz5-as3io-unsplash
Biblical Theology

Yahweh’s Flame: the Gospel through Symbolism

What is the chief end of man? —yes, to glorify God and enjoy him forever. But how ought man–and all creation–so glorify him? I propose a Theopolitan addition to the catechism, question and answer number 1.5, begun in the last question and answered as follows: Earth’s inhabitants were created to…

by Ben LoveladyJuly 16, 2025
screenshot-2025-07-08-at-8-31-22-am
Culture

Morality and the Practice of Poetry

Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words. Genesis 49:21 Frederick Buechner once said, “We move into the extraordinary by way of the ordinary.” In poetry, this happens by way of a compressed code of analogs; often, two or more very ordinary things begin to reveal something that…

by Garrett SoucyJuly 8, 2025
screenshot-2025-07-03-at-9-26-50-am
Ephesians

The Trinitarian Structure of Obedience

The evangelical milieu of America has often lost a vision of the fruit of repentance. We tend to simplify repentance by asking for forgiveness. After all, Jesus tells Peter to forgive 70 times 7. This verse must be paired with Paul’s scoffing at the question: why not sin more so…

by Matthew CoreyJuly 3, 2025
33255drsdl
Luke

The Hemorrhaging Woman, the Eucharist, and the Sermon

I. The hemorrhaging woman. En route to Jairus’ house, Jesus is touched by a woman with a hemorrhage of blood (Matt 9:18–26; Mk 5:21–34; Lk 8:40–48). The story is one that many of us know very well. She has been yoked to her illness for twelve years, all of her…

by Mark BriansJuly 1, 2025

Showing page 7 of 309

See all

Showing page 33 of 43

See all
Literature

Bottom’s Greatness

It’s GKC, so who can argue? “It is difficult to approach critically so great a figure as that of Bottom the Weaver. He is greater and more mysterious than Hamlet, because the interest of such men as Bottom consists of a rich subconsciousness, and that of Hamlet in the comparatively…

February 4, 2008

Sermon Notes, First Sunday of Lent

INTRODUCTION Jesus continues to do miracles of healing and deliverance. In spite of Jesus’ cautions (9:30), “news” about Him is spreading and His popularity is increasing (9:26, 31). The “crowd” (9:23, 25, 33) is growing, and growing in significance. THE TEXT “While He spoke these things to them, behold, a…

February 4, 2008

Eucharistic meditation

Matthew 9:17: Nor do men put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out, and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved. Jesus is the bridegroom, come at last to his waiting guests and attendants.…

February 3, 2008

Baptismal meditation

Matthew 8:27: And the men marveled, saying, What kind of man is this, that even the winds and sea obey Him? Water has a complex significance in the Bible. On the one hand, water is essential to life. Without water, plants dry and die. Without water, human life withers and…

February 3, 2008

Exhortation

The Pharisees are right. They protest when Jesus tells the paralytic that his sins are forgiven. Who can forgive sins but God alone? they ask. The answer is, No one. If someone insults or offends you, no one else has the right to forgive that offense except you. Sin is…

February 3, 2008
Theology

De Lubac, getting started

A reader asks for direction in getting started with the work of Henri de Lubac. Here are some suggestions. First, for a very brief summary of his work and contributions, see the chapter on him in Fergus Kerr’s book on twentieth-century Catholic thought. Second, von Balthasar wrote a brief overview…

February 2, 2008

Showing page 1573 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.