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The Latter Days in the Old Testament

Eschatology precedes soteriology. Find out why in this essay.

Two Ages: Evaluating a Biblical concept

If the cosmos has changed over time, as redemptive history has moved from through “five worlds” from creation (Genesis 1–2) to the new creation (Revelation 21–22), then there have also been covenantal changes, too. In the beginning, God made a covenant with Adam (Gen. 2:15–17; cf. Hos. 6:7), which is often called the “covenant of works.” Then, after the flood, God re-established a covenant with Noah and all creation. As Genesis 9:8–17 reports, God hung his bow in the sky as

Getting Into Macro-Eschatology: Seeing The Five Worlds God Has Made

Last Sunday I introduced something I called “macro-eschatology.” Macro-eschatology is an approach to redemptive history that sees the end of things (eschatology) as fulfilling, restoring, and superseding the beginning of things (protology). At the center of this approach to reading the Bible is the person and the work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who stands at the center of God’s plan to unite all things in creation. As Ephesians 1:9–10 tell us, Christ is the one who will

The ABCs of Eschatology (Pt 2): 14 More Key words

Last time, I introduced fourteen key words for understanding some basic concepts in the study of last things (eschatology). Today, I will complete my basic glossary with fourteen more terms, in hopes that these definitions will help improve present and future discussions about eschatology. You can also listen to the Sunday School that explains many of these terms. And if you would like a handout of the glossary, scroll to the bottom. (15) The Intermediate and Final States. W

The ABC’s of Eschatology (Pt. 1): Key Words to understanding end times

Eschatology is a word that means the study (-ology) of last things (eschatos). And in that study there are lots of words that are familiar (*resurrection), unfamiliar (*preterist), and debated (*rapture). Likewise, terms like millennium and tribulation are ones that have multiple definitions, and figures like the *antichrist, whose common description may or may not match John’s use of the word. Knowing that sound doctrine and fruitful discussions require clear definitions,

Twelve Books to Read Before the End of the World

When I teach Systematic Theology to seminarians, I make students read two books on eschatology and I recommend about twenty. Since I recently began a Sunday School series on the subject of eschatology, I wanted to share that list with you. You can also listen to the classes here. The Two Most Important Books on Eschatology Benjamin Gladd and Matthew Harmon, Making All Things New: Inaugurated Eschatology for the Life of the Church (2016). This is my go-to book for eschatolog

Top Ten Books of 2009 (D.V.) :: A Call for Prayer

Lord willing (Deo volente), the next year or two will have a host of books that will benefit and uplift Christ’s church. Many of these books are from SBTS professors, others from some of the choicest biblical theologians today. Below is a list of ten books that, Lord willing, will be appearing soon: 1. The … Continue reading Top Ten Books of 2009 (D.V.) :: A Call for Prayer

Doctoral Reading List: The Mountain and the Molehill

The Mountain: A Systematic Reading List Standing in his study, talking about doctoral studies, Southern Seminary professor Dr. Mark Seifrid commented that the doctoral degree is much like climbing a mountain. In every discipline, there is a mountain of scholarly literature that must be traversed. It is the academic responsibility of every student to summit that mountain. Standing at the … Continue reading Doctoral Reading List: The Mountain and the Molehill

Top Ten Books of 2008

Studying at Southern Seminary has afforded me the gracious opportunity to read some of the choicest books on the Bible, theology, and Christian ministry. This is a list of my Top Ten Books of 2008, books that I had the opportunity to read this year that I would commend to you for your perusal in 2009. … Continue reading Top Ten Books of 2008

Worship Tests Truth :: Doctrine Determines Doxology

In Richard Bauckham’s book Jesus and the God of Israel (2008), the British NT scholar quotes John MacIntrye to make his final appeal that the worship of Jesus in the early church signifies a first-century consensus that Jesus was God, and that the notion of Jewish monotheism included Jesus. Though Bauckham’s presentation deals with the history of … Continue reading Worship Tests Truth :: Doctrine Determines Doxology

Carl Trueman on Academics and the Local Church

Lately, I have been thinking about my entrance into the PhD program and the impact such heavy-duty training has on the edification of the local church. Such academic equipping is certainly not required. Most biblical prophets and apostles were “regular joe’s.” Amos was a shepherd. Peter and John were fisherman, “uneducated, common men” who had been with … Continue reading Carl Trueman on Academics and the Local Church

More Gregory Nazianzen: The Historical Revelation of the Trinity

In The Holy Trinity, Robert Letham quotes Gregory Nazianzen’s cogent statement on the Trinity’s progressive revelation within the history of the Bible: The Old Testament proclaimed the Father openly, and the Son more obscurely. The New manifested the Son, and suggested the deity of the Spirit. Now the Spirit himself dwells among us, and supplies … Continue reading More Gregory Nazianzen: The Historical Revelation of the Trinity

Gregory Nazianzen on the Trinity

In The Holy Trinity, Robert Letham refers to T.F. Torrance’s assertion that John Calvin’s Trinitarian theology was developed, in part, by the Trinitarian formulations of Gregory Nazianzen. That is a mouthful, and an amazing pedigree–Gregory Naz, John Calvin, T.F. Torrance, Robert Letham (p. 267). Though Torrance’s connection between Gregory and Calvin has been debated by some (cf. … Continue reading Gregory Nazianzen on the Trinity

Three Views on the NT Use of the OT: Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts Overall, the book is helpful. It is laced with exegetical examples and principles for interpretation. I am not a big fan of the 3, 4, 5-views kind of books, but this book may be an exception. It showed the value of rigorous exegesis and developing antecedent theology from the OT to understand NT passages in their … Continue reading Three Views on the NT Use of the OT: Final Thoughts

Three Views on the NT Use of the OT: Darrell Bock

[In Three Views on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, Peter Enns, Darrell Bock, and Walter Kaiser present three different approaches to biblical interpretation. They address questions concerning sensius plenior, typology, Jewish methods of interpretation, matters of contextual interpretation, and whether or not we today can interpret the Bible like the New Testament authors. … Continue reading Three Views on the NT Use of the OT: Darrell Bock

Three Views on the NT Use of the OT: Walter Kaiser

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