Theopolis Logo

Writing

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

See all
screen-shot-2023-04-04-at-5-01-54-pm
Biblical Chronology

A Summary of Old Testament Chronology

This newsletter summarizes everything that has been written and argued in Biblical Chronology to date. The Bible is filled with chronological information. Some would dismiss the idea that this chronological information can and should be systematized. We have to say, however, that if the scattered information about the tri-unity of…

by James B. JordanAugust 24, 1992
thomas-jarrand-k9gs65i36aq-unsplash
Leviticus

The Lamb of God, (Part 1)

At the Biblical Horizons Conference on Worship and Sacrifice , held 17-21 August, 1992, we explored the meaning of the five major sacrifices in considerable depth. 1 During the last, the centrality of the male lamb (the ram) in the sacrificial system was briefly discussed. I want in this essay…

by James B. JordanJuly 24, 1992
screen-shot-2022-05-12-at-12-07-23-pm
Biblical Chronology

Chronologies and Kings, Part 13: The End of the Kingdom of Judah

As we saw last time, Uzziah became king of Judah in the 27th year of Jeroboam II, the year A.M. 3204. He reigned for 52 years. He was basically a good and devout king, but toward the end of his life he recapitulated the fall of Adam by trying to…

by James B. JordanJuly 24, 1992
whichbooksbelongintheot
Biblical Chronology

Chronologies and Kings, Part 12: Wars and Rumors of Wars

We have now arrived at the reign of Jeroboam II. When Jeroboam II came to the throne of Northern Israel, Amaziah was reigning in Judah. After the death of Amaziah, there was an interregnum of eleven years, during which Judah was governed by Israel. During those years, the son of…

by James B. JordanJune 24, 1992
debby-hudson-qa74yh6-xlc-unsplash
Biblical Horizons

A Letter on Paedocommunion

Several years ago I wrote an essay, “Theses on Paedocommunion,” in which I argued that allowing all baptized and non-excommunicated persons to the table of the Lord was Biblical and desirable. (A copy of this essay is available for a donation from Biblical Horizons .) During the past several years…

by James B. JordanJune 24, 1992
david-weber-fwuo_zluhnw-unsplash
Culture

Liturgy and the Counter-Cultural Church

The question of whether the Church stands “against” culture, is “of” or “above” culture, or seeks to “transform” culture cannot be answered in abstraction from a particular cultural context. To be sure, in many ways the Church’s message and relation to the world cannot change; the Church must, in season…

by Peter LeithartJune 17, 1992

Showing page 289 of 309

See all
See all
Literature

The meaning of “Literature”

Michael Hattaway writes, in an introduction to Early Modern English literature (Blackwell, 2005), “A primary difference between Renaissance and modern concepts of writing involves meanings for ‘literature’ and for ‘fiction.’ As surviving library catalogues reveal, contemporaries of Donne and Shakespeare did not recognize the groupings that determine the display of…

May 12, 2007

Anointed with clay

It’s significant that Jesus is said to “anoint” the blind man’s eyes with the clay-and-spittle (John 9:11). We wouldn’t normally think of clay as a promising material to “anoint” someone with, but this is the way that the man describes Jesus’ action. The word is often associated with the work…

May 12, 2007

Let there be light

In John 9, Jesus makes an allusion to the creation story when He explains to His disciples the reasons for the blind man’s blindness. The man is not blind because of his own sin, or his parents’ sins, but instead so that the work of God might be displayed in…

May 12, 2007
Media

Instruments of torture

The “Middle Ages only had thumb screws, not the media.” -Karl Kraus, early 20th century Viennese writer

May 11, 2007
History

Rites Controversy

During the seventeenth century, the church grew rapidly in China. According to Chan Kei Thong, “In 1640, three decades after [Matteo] Ricci died, there were 60,000 to 70,000 Catholic converts; by 1651, their numbers had more than doubled to 150,000. By 1664, the figure had ballooned to at least 254,980.…

May 11, 2007
History

True Kingship

During the reign of Tang, the founder of the Shang Dynasty (1766 B.C.), China suffered a seven-year drought. Someone suggested that a human sacrifice was necessary. Chan Kei Thong tells the story: “Tang appointed a day for this to be done, and a great multitude gathered for the unprecedented event.…

May 11, 2007

Showing page 1681 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.