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

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Biblical Horizons

Schizophrenia?

> Dave, > Jason > > I am surprised this is so hard for me to communicate effectively. Prosecuting Leithart while inwardly struggling with my questions was easy, because the issue was NEVER “Whose views are correct?” In a Reformed denomination we all operate under the supposition that our doctrinal…

by Richard BledsoeJune 8, 2012
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Biblical Horizons

The Onesiphorus Nonsense

Discussions on the catholicity of the church have led one RC advocate to write to me that according to 2 Timothy 1:16-18, Paul is clearly and unmistakably praying for a dead person. He points to a couple of Protestant writers who had agreed with this, though they are in a…

by James B. JordanJune 7, 2012
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Biblical Horizons

Schaff on Praying to Saints

The great True Catholic historian, Philip Schaff, points out as regards the beginning of prayers to the saints in the post-Nicene Church: Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church (Volume III, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-390, P. 409-427). In the first three centuries the veneration of the martyrs in…

by James B. JordanMay 31, 2012
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Biblical Horizons

One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church

The Nicene Creed states that the Holy Spirit “spoke through the prophets in (or into) one holy, catholic, and apostolic church.” Contrary to usual translations, neither the Greek nor the Latin originals say “ I believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church.” As written, the thought of the authors…

by James B. JordanMay 25, 2012
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Biblical Horizons

Family Disintegrated Worship

One of the latest sectarian movements to arise around the fringes of the Christian religion is something called “family integrated churches.” What this seems to mean, depending on the advocate, is that youth groups are bad, age-segregated Sunday Schools are bad, families need to sit together in church, and even…

by James B. JordanFebruary 2, 2012
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Biblical Studies

Biblical Theology Basics: Part 8

This series of post were originally published at the Biblical Horizons blog. The entire paper can be downloaded HERE . 8. Comments on The Covenantal Gospel by Cornelis van der Waal This is an excellent book, and every Bible student should read and master it. Cornelis van der Waal was…

by James B. JordanSeptember 22, 2011

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Some Thoughts on Baptism

A few thoughts on baptism inspired by reading a dozen student papers on the water symbolism of Exodus: 1) Several students pointed out that Moses was “baptized” as an infant. I’d never thought of it that way, but it works from various directions. Moses’ water-salvation is linked to the flood…

September 25, 2004
Literature

Austen

In the spirit of shameless self-promotion ?Eand what drives web sites like this except shameless self-promotion? ?EI am happy to announce that my book on Jane Austen, Miniatures and Morals , is now available from Canon Press. For those who don’t particularly like Austen, remember this: Every book you buy…

September 24, 2004

Baptism of Water and Fire

The following suggestion is inspired by the renowned scholar Josh Davis: The “wheeled stands” made by Hiram for Solomon’s temple form a gauntlet of water stretching to the east of the temple. A worshiper approaching the temple passes through the water, reliving the experience of the exodus. Inside the temple,…

September 24, 2004
Theology

Luther, Hermeneutics, Justification

In his excellent and stimulating book, The Intellectual Origins of the European Reformation , Alister McGrath includes a chapter on early Reformation hermeneutics, and its relation to the medieval quadriga. He also notes the close connection between the developments in hermeneutics and the Reformation treatment of justification. A couple of…

September 23, 2004

Translation, 1 Kings 7:23-51

And he made the cast-metal sea Ten in cubit from from its lip until its lip Round all around And five in cubit its height And a cord thirty in cubit Surrounded it all around. Now gourds from below to its lip all around surrounding it Ten in cubit caused-to-go-round…

September 23, 2004

Cups and Thresholds

It is a curious fact that one of the Hebrew words for “cup” is the same as the word for “threshold” (SAF). This could be pure coincidence, but I wonder. Cups function as temple instruments in Ex 12:22; 1 Ki 7:50; Jer 52:19. And there are “guardians of the threshold”…

September 22, 2004

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