Theopolis Logo

Writing

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

See all
rene-bohmer-yeuvdkzwsz4-unsplash
Revelation

What is the Worth of 666 Talents of Gold?

The 666 talents of gold are worth an awful lot, not just in terms of money but in terms of theological meaning–at least worth a lot more than most modern Evangelical commentators would think. In Revelation 13:18 we are told that the number of the beast is a number “of…

by Mark HorneJune 7, 1997
nasa-vhsz50aafas-unsplash-2
Creation

The Days of Genesis 1: A Test Case for Evangelical Hermeneutics

There is a debate going on between professing Bible-believers about the meaning of Genesis One and the six "days" recorded therein. Is the cosmos about six thousand years old or is it many billions of years old? Was the universe six days old when human life came into existence or…

by Mark HorneJune 7, 1997
screenshot-2024-06-06-at-8-46-16-am
Baptism

In the Spirit of Elijah

Understanding John the Baptist in Light of Biblical Theology Anyone who has read Geerhardus Vos’ Biblical Theology cannot help but recognize its immense value to those wanting to better understand Scripture. Nevertheless, we would dishonor Vos if we did not seek to go beyond him once he has placed us…

by Mark HorneJune 6, 1997
screenshot-2024-06-04-at-5-05-43-pm
History

Heart of Gold, Mouth of Gold

John Chrysostom’s Commitment, Communication, & Conception of the Pastoral Office (Completed in December 5, 1996, in fulfillment of the requirements for the J. R. Wilson Preaching lectures delivered by Dr. Robert S. Rayburn) In Antioch and then in Constantinople, John Chrysostom grew in wisdom and stature with men and God…

by Mark HorneJune 5, 1997
aaron-burden-qjdzyt_k8xg-unsplash
Angels

Twelve Fundamental Avenues of Revelation, Part 4

This kind of language is revelatory in a particular way, different from ordinary language. It reveals man as the image of God, as the ruler of creation, as having authority over other persons in various ways, etc. It is the particular kind of language used by rulers as they rule,…

by James B. JordanJune 3, 1997
jan-kahanek-g3o5ztrk2e4-unsplash
Biblical Chronology

John Sailhamer Weighs In, Part 3

We continue our analysis of John Sailhamer’s book *Genesis Unbound: A Provocative New Look at the Creation Account* (Multnomah Books, 1996), which argues that Genesis 1:2ff. is not about the creation of the whole world, but about the preparation of the Land of Eden, which is also the Promised Land.…

by James B. JordanJune 3, 1997

Showing page 256 of 309

See all

Showing page 7 of 43

See all

Sermon Notes

INTRODUCTION After the Olivet Discourse, Jesus “finished all these words” (26:1; cf. 7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1).  His public ministry of teaching Israel is over.  Like Moses (Deuteronomy 32:45), nothing remains for Him but to die. THE TEXT “Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings,  that…

October 26, 2009

Eros Deleted

Protestants agreed with Catholics that the Song elaborates a nuptial analogy to the church’s relation to Christ, but Scheper finds a significant difference between Protestants and Catholics when they explain why that analogy is apt in the first place.  Protestants, consistent with the emphasis on legal categories for justification and…

October 25, 2009

Puritan Prudery

The Puritans were not prudes, but the caricature has some basis in fact. Again the Song of Songs provides a neat barometer.  Scheper juxtaposes a medieval monk’s interpretation of the “breasts” of the Song with that of two Protestant interpreters.  The results are fascinating: “the Cistercian monk Gilbert of Hoilandia does…

October 25, 2009

Medieval Protestantism

the Protestant commentaries almost uniformly adopt a primarily ecclesial allegory, with the tropological dimension as a valid application. But so, in fact, is the medieval tradition built on the foundation of the ecclesial interpretation, and even those commentaries devoted most strikingly to the Christsoul allegory, such as Bernard’s, recognize that…

October 25, 2009

Superlative Song

The modern oblivion of the book has tended to blind us to the really crucial position it holds in exegetic history, not only for the question of allegory but for the central matter of the relation of divine to profane love, and in fact, as Ruth Wallerstein has said, the…

October 25, 2009

Reformation allegory

there is a certain discrepancy between the purity of these theoretical statements, polemical in context, and the actual exegetic practice of the Reformers. Moreover, the rejection of allegory and the insistence on one undivided sense hinged for the early Reformers on maintaining a radical distinction between typology and allegory. But…

October 25, 2009

Showing page 1335 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.