Theopolis Logo

Writing

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

See all
debby-hudson-qa74yh6-xlc-unsplash
Baptism

For the Children’s Sake | An Alternative Angle on the Paedocommunion Debate

The debate over paedocommunion does not seem to have made much headway on either side in recent years. Certainly both sides have made a solid effort to argue for their position. But no resolution seems to be forthcoming in the near future. As a convinced paedocommunionist, I find the church’s…

by Rich LuskNovember 16, 2002
kelly-sikkema-ggs0_g6wi-i-unsplash
Covenant

Covenant & Election FAQs

How do covenant and election relate to one another? There are many issues of semantics that enter into this discussion and many issues of real substance, so we need to be careful. If we oversimplify, we can say that election relates to God’s eternal plan to save a people for…

by Rich LuskAugust 20, 2002
claudel-rheault-zvbv1aka-l4-unsplash
Theologia

Vine, Branches, & Fruit

Shortly after the Last Supper and before his final arrest, Jesus said these words to his remaining eleven faithful disciples: I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit…

by Mark HorneJune 7, 2002
chris-bair-ndczc5739ck-unsplash
Deuteronomy

The Gospel of Deuteronomy

Was Caleb saved by faith or works? Caleb is just one of many thousands of Hebrews who entered the Promised Land after spending years in the wilderness being led by Moses. God had delivered the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and gave them a law at Mount Sinai based on…

by Mark HorneJune 7, 2002
kelly-sikkema-gpoh17dxqdm-unsplash
Romans

Romans and the Role of Israel in the Atonement

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5.7) So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of…

by Mark HorneJune 6, 2002
screen-shot-2023-04-04-at-5-01-54-pm
Ephesians

Paul's use of the Decalogue in Ephesians 6:1-3

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6.1-3). Honor your father and your mother, that your…

by Mark HorneJune 6, 2002

Showing page 236 of 309

See all

Showing page 8 of 43

See all

Phinehas’s Sword

I suggested in a post this past week that Jesus is the new Phinehas when he comes to judge the Balaamites of Pergamum (Revelation 2:14-16). I had in mind Numbers 25, where Phinehas arrests a plague that breaks out because Israelites are fornicating and committing idolatry with Moabite women who…

March 16, 2014

Atonement and Jubilee

John Bergsma observes that the year of Jubilee was proclaimed with a trumpet blast on the day of atonement ( The Jubilee from Leviticus to Qumran , 92), and draws this conclusion: Since other ancient Near Eastern festivals of the seventh month—such as the akîtu —combined reassertion of the rule…

March 15, 2014
Language

Phonestheme

Why do so many bad guys and sinister places have names using the syllable “mor”? James Harbeck mentions Moriarty, Voldemort, Mordor, and Piers Morgan, though he ultimately dismisses the last. The answer that immediately occurs is etymological: mor - is linked to death in Romance languages, the Germanic mora means…

March 15, 2014

Impurity

In the prim and sanitized West, we think of purity rules as superstitious and primitive. We have transcended such nonsense. Mary Douglas and other anthropologists have tried to convince us that we’re self-deluded, but leave that to the side. As Rose George reports , there are places in the world…

March 15, 2014

We’re Still Tribesmen

Novelist Amin Malouf was born in Lebanon, and now lives in Paris. He’s a Melchite Christian. As he points out at the beginning of In the Name of Identity , those few markers only begin to spell out his complex of allegiances and loyalties. Malouf is not claiming to be…

March 14, 2014

In Defense of the Indian Male

Responding to a report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that Indian men spend only 19 minutes a day on housework, Chandrahas Choudhury rises up in witty defense of the Indian male . “Millions of Indian men do huge amounts of housework — but in single-man or all-male…

March 14, 2014

Showing page 659 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.