Theopolis Logo

Writing

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

See all
tim-marshall-k2u71wv2ei4-unsplash
Modernity

Protestantism and the Postmodern self

Postmodernism has, we are told, “decentered” the modern self, that unified, sovereign, isolated, godlike “thinking thing” discovered by Rene Descartes. The postmodern self is not single but multiple; not sovereign but controlled by external forces; not isolated but “embedded” in the world and in relation; not godlike, but human, all…

by Peter LeithartMay 6, 2013
kiwihug-l4gw27xzn1i-unsplash
Matthew

Law and History: How to Read the Law of Moses (Part 8)

This is the eighth in a series of studies on Deuteronomy 22:30-23:8. And Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanitish woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my…

by Ralph Allan SmithMay 1, 2013
screen-shot-2023-09-20-at-7-04-07-am
Augustine

A Cusan Modernity?

The fifteenth-century German Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa led a busy and wide-ranging life. Educated in liberal arts and law at Heidelberg and Padua, Nicholas was a leading figure in the Conciliarist movement, and later served as a papal legate to both Constantinople and throughout Germany. As Bishop of Brixen, he…

by Peter LeithartApril 29, 2013
screenshot-2023-07-27-at-10-25-35-am
Deuteronomy

Law and History: How to Read the Law of Moses (Part 7)

This is the seventh in a series of studies on Deuteronomy 22:30-23:8. Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite, for he is thy brother; thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian, because thou wast a sojourner in his land. The children of the third generation that are born unto them shall enter…

by Ralph Allan SmithApril 25, 2013
ivan-aleksic-16yxcjsoaek-unsplash
Romans

What Advantage the Jew?

A sermon on Romans 3:1-8. 1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. A lot of people speculate here about what kind of advantage Paul is talking…

by Mark HorneApril 22, 2013
screenshot-2023-07-27-at-10-25-35-am
Deuteronomy

Law and History: How to Read the Law of Moses (Part 6)

This is the sixth in a series of studies on Deuteronomy 22:30-23:8. An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the assembly of Yahweh; even to the tenth generation shall none belonging to them enter into the assembly of Yahweh forever: because they met you not with bread and…

by Ralph Allan SmithApril 17, 2013

Showing page 195 of 309

See all

Showing page 8 of 43

See all

Alienating Equality

In a 1987 essay on equality as a moral ideal , Harry Frankfurt notes that setting up equality of wealth or income as a social ideal diverts one's attention from oneself to concern over the assets of others: “To the extent that people are preoccupied with equality for its own…

May 5, 2015
Biblical Studies

Messengers

In both Hebrew ( mal'ak ) and Greek, “angel” means “messenger.” At the outset, the “angels” who appear to human beings are spiritual beings. Yahweh Himself comes to Abraham as the Angel of Yahweh (Genesis 18-19), and then to Gideon and Samson's parents. In each case, the human recipients offer…

May 4, 2015

Teaching Righteousness and Justice

Yahweh chose Abram and called him from Ur. He promised a land, and enough see to fill the land and make it fruitful. With the promises came obligations. Yahweh “knew” Abram so that Abram might do something to achieve certain results. The Abrahamic obligation is laid out succinctly in Genesis…

May 4, 2015

Rosenstock and Hegel

Almost no one knows the name of Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy. That is unfortunate, but may be changing as Rosenstock's intimate friend Franz Rosenzweig enjoys a boomlet of attention and with the publication of Wayne Cristaudo's Religion, Redemption, and Revolution . Among that tiny subculture that has actually heard of Rosenstock, it…

May 4, 2015

Gay Marriage and Biopolitical Tyranny

In a 2013 essay evaluating the Parliamentary bill on gay marriage, John Milbank observes that British “legislators have recognised that it would be intolerable to define gay marriage in terms equivalent to ‘consummation,’ or to permit ‘adultery’ as legitimate ground for gay divorce.” In these decisions, “the legislators have been…

May 4, 2015

Love, Tristan Style

In his Tristan and Isolde , Gottfried of Strassburg lays out a non-courtly, non-comic, mystical vision of love. As WTH Jackson puts it in The Anatomy of Love , Gottfried rejects the comic vision of love as uncomplicated and easy joy. He also rejects the idea that the lover seeks…

May 1, 2015

Showing page 431 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.