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

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Ascension

The Son of Man in the Clouds | Part 1

References to the Son of Man coming on the clouds occur five times in the Synoptic Gospels. Three times such expressions appear in the parallel accounts of the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:36; Luke 21:27). Then, in parallel accounts of Jesus’ trial before the leaders of Israel, such expressions…

by Ralph Allan SmithMarch 3, 2020
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Biblical Studies

The New Torahs

Just what the difference is in the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and the New Testament is a question not so easily answered. The distinction is often said to be that in the Old Testament the Holy Spirit is on the believer, but in the New…

by Richard BledsoeFebruary 25, 2020
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Movies

1917: A Visible Word

1. Introduction You should think of 1917 at church on Sunday. Why? Let me explain. There's one film every Oscar season which everyone seems to have watched—your parents, your colleagues, even your pastor. This year, it's 1917— Sam Mendes' WW1 epic following two British Tommies on a seemingly impossible quest…

by Rhys LavertyFebruary 18, 2020
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Immigration

Greater Israel

This piece was originally part of the Bowyer response to the Theopolis series surrounding Professor McDermott’s essay, “Rethinking Israel.” For the sake of brevity, it was removed from the initial response, to be published as a standalone piece. As we’ve argued previously , we are strongly supportive of the right…

by Jerry and Charles BowyerFebruary 11, 2020
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Matthew

Matthew the Tax Collector

Richard Bauckham’s groundbreaking work, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony , is profoundly insightful, but the message of the book is hampered by the presupposition of Marcan priority. Ironically the place where this assumption perhaps does its most damage is in Bauckham’s discussion of the apostle Matthew…

by Ralph Allan SmithFebruary 4, 2020
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Good Works

Faith as the Highest Work

The Protestant Reformation was defined by certain clarifying disagreements between the medieval Church and those who came to be known as Protestant Reformers. Chief among these was the nature of justification: whether one was justified by works, or by faith and works, or—as Martin Luther contended—by faith alone. Now over…

by Alexander WhitakerJanuary 28, 2020

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Restoration of the Galatians

Grace Langness, a graduate student at New St. Andrews, analyzes the structure and theology of Galatians 5-6 at the Trinity House site.

March 25, 2013

Politics of childhood

Milbank again, from the 2005 article in Religion and Literature , arguing for the importance of play not just to sanity but to political critique: “the sane adult must continue to play—to keep the world of her work in perspective, she must continue to imagine other realities. To sustain, for…

March 25, 2013

Trinitarian Childhood

In a 2005 article in Religion and Literature, Milbank explores the importance of fantasy literature as part of an effort to re-enchant the world and recover a genuine vision of childhood. Trinitarian insights are at the heart of the “subversion of traditional notions of catechesis” that makes its appeal to…

March 25, 2013

Abundant Pardon, Isaiah 55

INTRODUCTION Isaiah 55 closes a section of Isaiah that began with chapter 40. Yahweh promised forgiveness (40:2), and now He has brought it (55:6-7). He promised return form exile (40:3-5), and it’s happened (55:12-13). He promised that His word would stand (40:8), and it has (55:10-11). THE TEXT “Ho! Everyone…

March 25, 2013

Baptismal meditation

Isaiah 53:8, 1: As for his generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living . . . . He will see His seed, He will prolong His days. Reproduction by itself doesn’t create a Christian heritage. Something else has to happen, and Isaiah…

March 24, 2013

Wasted Month

March is the maddest month, breeding Gators from the South regional, mixing Golden eagles and Buckeyes, stirring Bulldogs to close wins. Harvard surprised us, coming over New Mexico In a shower of threes. I watch, much of the night, and wager on Duke.

March 24, 2013

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