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Apologetics

Presumptuous Presuppositions: The Apologetics of Cornelius Van Til

Whether one entirely agrees with him or not, no Christian interested in apologetics–the reasoned defense of the Faith–can afford to be uninterested in Cornelius Van Til, the late professor of Apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. According to John Frame, Van Til “is perhaps the most important thinker since…

by Mark HorneJuly 15, 1997
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Baptism

Richard Bacon’s “What Mean Ye By This Service? Paedocommunion in Light of the Passover” A Brief Response

Reverend Richard Bacon is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Rowlett, Texas. He has written a tract entitled “What Mean Ye By This Service? Paedocommunion in Light of Passover,” printed by Presbyterian Heritage Publications (P.O. Box 180922, Dallas, TX 75218). I am writing this brief response to set forth…

by Mark HorneJuly 6, 1997
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Angels

Twelve Fundamental Avenues of Revelation, Part 5

As we move toward a consideration of Dynamic Cosmic Revelation, there is a further aspect of revelation through action that should be discussed here, and that is this: God is particularly revealed to us in times of crisis and distress. When things are going well, we forget God. When distress…

by James B. JordanJuly 3, 1997
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Biblical Chronology

John Sailhamer Weighs In, Part 4

We conclude 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. JordanJuly 3, 1997
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Biblical Horizons

The Sin of Ham and the Curse of Canaan, Part 2 (An Exposition of Genesis 9:20-27)

Commentary A. Noah’s God-like Labor: 8:20 And Noah, a master of the ground, was the first, And he planted a vineyard. 21 And he drank from the wine, And became drunk, And lay uncovered inside his tent. It appears to me that there is a balance between "ground" and "tent"…

by James B. JordanJuly 3, 1997
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How to Worship

Why Does the Pastor Wear a Robe?

A Defense of the Use of the Ministerial Robe in Public Worship The purpose of this series of articles is to explain our biblical philosophy of worship and how we have sought to implement it here at Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church. We have thought through our worship services. We have…

by Jeff MeyersJune 20, 1997

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Denominationalism

Denominirony

Denominationalism encourages a stance of irony (insincerity, Charles Morrison called it in his 1953 The Unfinished Reformation , 46). We must think our denominational “distinctives” are important, or we wouldn't be in the denomination. We are willing to use identifying language and markers to associate ourselves with those distinctives–church names,…

September 18, 2015

Migrants, Elites, and the Church

Peggy Noonan argues in a recent column that “Rules on immigration and refugees are made by safe people. These are the people who help run countries, who have nice homes in nice neighborhoods and are protected by their status.” On the other hand, “those who live with the effects of…

September 17, 2015

Gospel of the Foreskin

In his recent Paul & the Gift , John Barclay arrestingly translates the Greek phrase to euaggelion tes akrobustias (Galatians 2:7) as “the good news of the foreskin.” He elaborates, “Modern Gentile readers, who have never been socialized to consider the foreskin a sign of inferior otherness or repulsive disgrace,…

September 17, 2015

Conformed to the Gift

At the heart of John Barclay's treatment of Paul & the Gift is the claim that Paul “perfects” the incongruity of grace. The grace-gift of Jesus is not a reward to the worthy; it is not a gift to those who will make use of the gift. It is a…

September 17, 2015

Being Righteous, Being Saved

“To be ‘righteous,” writes John Barclay ( Paul & the Gift ), “does not mean to be ‘saved.'” Rather, the “righteous” person is one who is “worthy of the divine gift of salvation” (377). God gives gifts to those who are worthy of them. The “righteous” are worthy. God gives…

September 17, 2015

Chiasm in Malachi 1

In a recent sermon, Pastor Jimmy Gill of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, pointed to the chiastic structure of Malachi 1:6-14, neatly marked by a sevenfold repetition of the phrase “says Yahweh of hosts.” A. Priests dishonor Yahweh their Father, 1:6a B. Blemished offerings on my altar, 1:6b-8 C. Will God…

September 16, 2015

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