Pastors writing their own catechisms was standard practice in the Reformation and Post-Reformation eras. Luther, Calvin, Bucer, Beza, Ursinus, Ussher, Owen, Fisher, Cotton, Baxter, Ball, among many others wrote catechisms. Each catechism has similarities and differences. Moreover, a lot of…
As I explored in the previous article in this series, my cancer diagnosis forced me to join the Psalmists in prayer more deeply than I had ever done before. I prayed the Psalms – especially Psalms of laments – with…
Appreciating both Christ’s divinity and his humanity is not easy. What does it mean to be both God and man? Looking at Christ’s two natures helps us to understand not only the marvel of the incarnation, but the incredible humility…
In the last month or two on Reformation21, I think it’s safe to say I have decisively proven once and for all that: 1. John Wesley was an Arminian. 2. John Owen was a Paedobaptist. I have been challenged to…
We tend, perhaps, to think of divine love as something akin to, albeit much greater than, human love. We tend, in other words, to assume that God’s sentiments towards us are much bigger and stronger than, but fundamentally similar to,…
A passage from Calvin’s commentary on Ezekiel 18:14-17 has the distinction of being among the last, perhaps the last, of his comments on the relationship among justification, faith and works. Apparently written shortly before his death in 1564, it is…
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13.14 B. B. Warfield long ago observed that the apostolic writings do not develop but…
Do all professing Christians pray with the same efficacy? Does our godliness or lack thereof affect our prayers in terms of the influence they have on God to answer them? There is no question, our sin can hinder our prayers…
Social media has brought about many interesting phenomena. Some of them are quite irritating. Someone can be privately critical of another person, but still praise that same person publicly. I’ve seen it happen. In South Africa we have a name…
James W. Skillen, The Good of Politics: A Biblical, Historical, and Contemporary Introduction. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2014. $22.99 A welcome addition to Baker Academic’s “Engaging Culture” series, James Skillen’s The Good of Politics offers an accessible, probing introduction to…
