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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
infant-baptism
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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Science

The Cosmological Principle

Joseph Silk is Professor of Astronomy at Oxford, and in The Infinite Cosmos , he offers a layman’s summary of what’s happening in cosmology. One of the central principles of modern cosmology is the “cosmological principle,” the theory that the “universe is approximately the same in all directions. In contrast…

October 3, 2007

Baptism in the CRC

The 1959 CRC Psalter Hymnal’s rite for infant baptism includes an abbreviated version of Luther’s great flood prayer, and ends with this thanksgiving: “Almighty God and merciful Father, we thank and praise Thee that Thou hast forgiven us and our children all our sins, through the blood of Thy beloved…

October 3, 2007

David’s wives

My oldest son Woelke pointed out to me that 1-2 Samuel refer several times to David’s two wives - Ahinoam and Abigail (cf. 1 Sam 25:43). They are named - complete with their places of origin - when David goes to live with Achish (1 Sam 27:3), when the Amalekites…

October 1, 2007

David’s wives

My oldest son Woelke pointed out to me that 1-2 Samuel refer several times to David’s two wives - Ahinoam and Abigail (cf. 1 Sam 25:43). They are named - complete with their places of origin - when David goes to live with Achish (1 Sam 27:3), when the Amalekites…

October 1, 2007
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Sermon notes

INTRODUCTION Verse 19 opens a new section of the sermon, which focuses on our attitude toward wealth, but the verse also closes the earlier section on acts of piety. We lay up treasures on earth when we do righteousness to be seen by men; we lay up treasures in heaven…

October 1, 2007

On the ropes?

Responding the Homeland Security advisor Frances Fragos Townsend claim that Al Quaeda is on the ropes, Arnaud de Borchgrave points to the groups impressive cyber-organization. “As former Central Command chief Gen. John Abizaid said, ‘Al Qaeda’s organizing ability in cyberspace is unprecedented.’ Cyberpower has emerged as a complex ether power…

September 30, 2007

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