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
See all

Descending

Revelation uses the verb “descend” ( katabaino ) ten times, often with the specification that something descends “from heaven.” Cities come down from the sky, and angels, and dragons, and fire. The ten uses of the verb are in a fairly neat chiastic pattern: A. New Jerusalem will descend, 3:12…

February 2, 2016

Poetry, Liturgy, Spontaneity

More grist for the discussion of Protestantism and writing, taken from my review of Lori Branch, Rituals of Spontaneity . See the whole review here . Focusing on English literary culture and religion, Branch examines the formation of an “ideology of spontaneity” from the Reformation attacks on ritual through Puritan…

February 2, 2016
Economics

Economic Liturgies

“We must continue to develop nonmythological narratives that synthesize and interpret our experience. These narratives must be based on the facts as we currently know them,” argues Scott Gustafson in At the Altar of Wall Street . He thinks Marx and Schumpeter offer some coordinates for a “demythologizing” of economics…

February 2, 2016

Trump of the Lie

What does Trump do if he loses the Iowa caucuses today? asks Michael Kruse over at Politico . Kruse says that he will do what he always does: “He will deny and distort and belittle his critics and change the subject. He will say that he won.” Paul Holmes, who…

February 1, 2016

Of White Horses and their Riders

Twice in Revelation, John sees a rider on a white horse. The first comes in response to a call from the lion cherub and the Lamb's opening of the first seal (Revelation 6:1-2). He is alone, has a bow and receives a crown as he goes out conquering and to…

February 1, 2016

Protestants, Writing, Sacraments

My two-part essay on why Protestants can't write got a lot more attention last week than it did when first published in Credenda/Agenda . Clarifications are in order. Behind the bluster, bombast, and hyperbole of the essay lie an assumption, an assertion, and an argument. The assumption is that liturgy…

February 1, 2016

Showing page 326 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.