I have read with profit Mark Jones’s recent posts on the covenant of works (see here and here), having benefited from his other writings on this topic as well. Such theological clarity and historical awareness are much to be appreciated when it comes to the relationship between the covenant of works, made with Adam in the Garden, and the […]
The Lion King: Genesis 49:8-12
So are we poor? It’s no matter if we dwell in the kingdom of Christ, for he is unfathomably rich. Do we lack wisdom? All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in him. Do we lack power? He abounds in the power of God to meet our needs. Are we miserable? Our Christ is […]
What are church historians good for?
I’m in the process of reading an excellent manuscript on Martin Luther, of which I hope to say more at a later time. Recently, I also finished reading an exceptionally fine study of the Westminster Standards by John Fesko. Both books have prompted me to reflect a bit on the benefits we receive from the work of […]
Pushback on the pushback
Over at First Things Peter Leithart recently posted some comments on Gijsbert van den Brink’s article in the July issue of the International Journal of Systematic Theology. Therein, van den Brink addresses recent lack of enthusiasm in academic theology for “social trinitarianism,” i.e., the belief that “Father, Son and Holy Spirit might best be conceived of as three distinct and […]
“Great kindness; great mercy”: Augustine on adoption
Augustine’s second homily on the Gospel of John offers one of the richest commentaries on John 1.12 that I have read. His explanation of what it means for God to give us “the right to become children of God” is worth quoting in full: “What did he bestow on them? Great kindness; great mercy. Singly born, he […]
Owenian musings on God’s eternal decree
I’ve been working of late on the doctrine of the pactum salutis, i.e., the eternal covenant between the Father and the Son concerning the redemption of elect sinners. Here, as in so many places, John Owen is instructive. Although it is not central to my own project, Owen’s discussion of the particular delight that God takes […]
