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

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Ephesians

Music and Drunkenness, Part 2

For Part 1, click HERE . How did Paul’s earliest commentators view his juxtaposition of music and drunkenness, and did they connect it to the ancient Greek ideas of musical ethos described in Part I? Origen, one of the earliest commentators on Paul, writes about Ephesians 5:18-19: One, however, who…

by John AhernMay 17, 2018
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Ephesians

Music and Drunkenness, Part 1

Perhaps it is because I am a musician that I have always found Ephesians 5:18-19 so arbitrary. But isn’t it a little odd to contrast music and drunkenness? Perhaps it is not obvious that that is what Paul is doing; I know, for myself, that it is remarkably easy to…

by John AhernMay 15, 2018
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Baptism

Unequal Holiness

In 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 Paul deals with how the Corinthian Christians are supposed to be relating to unbelieving spouses. He essentially tells them, “Look, if your unbelieving spouse is willing to stay with you as a faithful Christian, don’t initiate a divorce. If he/she wants to leave you, let him/her…

by Bill SmithMay 10, 2018
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Violence

The Sword of Adam: Preterism vs. Pacifism, (Part 2)

For Part 1, click HERE . Those who focus on the supposed “pacifism” of Jesus and condemn the violence of God’s judgments throughout the Old Testament overlook the ministry of sacrificial bloodshed as an alternative to human bloodshed. The sword bearing of the sacrificial system was introduced to avoid the…

by Mike BullMay 8, 2018
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Violence

The Sword of Adam: Preterism vs. Pacifism, Part 1

How should a Christian respond to the objection that the Bible, like the Koran, is a book of violence and bloodshed? Numerous answers have been offered by well-meaning exegetes, but none of them gets to the heart of the matter: God desires to place a sword in the hands of…

by Mike BullMay 3, 2018
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Theopolis News

Alastair Roberts Appointed As Adjunct Senior Fellow

Beginning this summer, Dr. Alastair Roberts will join the Theopolis Institute as an adjunct Senior Fellow, the Institute has announced. Dr. Roberts will be a regular on the Theopolis podcast, teach intensive courses and in the Fellows Program, and help develop new programs and outlets. Roberts earned his PhD from…

by TheopolisMay 2, 2018

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Poetry

Sleeplessness

There are, I think, two forms of sleeplessness: The fretting, turning, twisting, aged kind, With night unending, dark and death rule all. But then there is a sleeplessness that’s quiet, Delicious, calm, composed. I lie awake Like the lidless seraphim, who night and day Sing to the God who slumbers…

September 2, 2003
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Poetry

Haiku

Inspired by Gary Hotham, and by the world around me, I sometimes try my hand at haiku. (Gary, by the way, has refused to comment on the quality of my haiku, which is probably just as well.) two pillars of water in morning light — the fountain in the square

September 2, 2003
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Luke

Jesus’ Temptations

Even after spending a week mulling over Jesus’ temptations and preaching on Luke 4, I find myself puzzled by any number of details. With help from some members at Trinity Reformed Church, however, I think I’m getting a better feel for the temptation. Here are a couple of fruitful insights…

September 1, 2003
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Psychology

Suppressed Memories

Another review from the August 15 TLS summarizes the findings of Richard J. McNally’s Remembering Trauma , a study of the issue of suppressed memories. McNally’s research, by the reviewer’s account, is exhaustive and his conclusions devastating. Here are some excerpts: McNally resists the conciliatory impulse to take a middle…

September 1, 2003
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Culture

Automobiles

In his recent book, Seeds of Wealth: Four Plants that Made Men Rich , Henry Hobhouse defends the automobile as an environmental boon. Reviewing the book in the August 15 issue of the TL , Paul Levy summarizes Hobhouse’s argument: In 1900, apart from a few steam and internal combustion-driven…

September 1, 2003
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Politics

Muravchik on “Neo-Cons”

Joshua Muravchik has an entertaining critique of the current wave of “neo-con” spotting in the current issue of Commentary . He cites absurdly distorted newspaper articles claiming that the Bush administration is “rife” with neo-con Straussians, which then go on to mangle Strauss beyond recognition. Muravchik is less convincing when…

September 1, 2003

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