Good teaching begins with definitions. Effective schoolteachers tell their students what they are doing and why in order help students learn well. This often means defining terms specific to each subject. Math students need to learn what a hypotenuse is…
In this short series, I have explored some of the special challenges that come in interpreting the Psalms of lament as Christian scripture. We have seen how this is not an easy task, particularly if we insist upon praying the…
Early in my pastoral ministry a thoughtful young man came with an interesting question while our congregation was in the midst of celebrating the Advent season. The question arose from a hymn sung during a Lord’s Day worship service. The…
In the first post in this series, we gave consideration to Van Til’s assessment of Barth’s Christology. In this post we wish to examine Barth’s own teaching on Christology. The key to understanding Barth’s Christology is to understand where he…
In the recent resurgence of interest in the theology of Karl Barth–particularly among evangelicals1–theologians of no mean significance have opined on Cornelius Van Til’s writings about the dialectical theologian. Van Til, according to some, offered an “absurd”2 and “inept analysis”3…
Of the twelve affirmations that constitute the Apostles’ Creed — perhaps the most regularly recited statement of basic Christian doctrine in the western Church of the last 1500 years — none has caused greater uncertainty and debate over the centuries…
Who died on the Cross? Did the Second Person of the Trinity die on the cross? We affirm. (But not all of us) I recently read an argument by R.C. Sproul that suggested we should not say the second person…
Since writing and submitting the series of posts (beginning here) on the pervasive Christological confusion in China, I have received a communication confirming that my caution about attributing to our brother the view suggested by his assertions is well founded. As…
Ligonier Ministries have produced a Creed, as well as Affirmations and Denials, with a focus on Christology – a “Christology Statement”. While I wonder what possible ecclesiastical authority a Creed can have when offered by a parachurch organization, I think…
This is the final post in a twelve-part series on the current Christological confusion taking root in China’s emerging Reformed community (see parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 and 10 and 11). Conclusion There may be ways to construe the supposed pre-existent humanity of Christ without transgressing…
