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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

The Bible in 3-D: Miles Van Pelt’s Biblical Theology

“From morning till evening [Paul] expounded to them, testifying of the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets (Acts 28:23). In the last week, responsibilities at work have entailed a great amount of computer-related number crunching and data entry/processing. This is the kind … Continue reading The Bible in 3-D: Miles Van Pelt’s Biblical Theology

Was Martyn Lloyd-Jones a biblical theologian?

Over the last two weeks, I have been making my way through Preaching and Preachers by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Not surprisingly, I have appreciated Lloyd-Jones’ pastoral forthrightness, his homiletic wisdom, and his overwhelming confidence in the sufficiency of Scripture, but what I have been surprised by is his emphasis on biblical theology. He writes: If then … Continue reading Was Martyn Lloyd-Jones a biblical theologian?

Beginning with Moses (Weekend Website)

In keeping with the turn towards biblical theology, this weekend’s website is Beginning with Moses. Taking its name from Luke 24, this website is dedicated to offering “briefings on biblical theology.” It is filled with insightful articles from some of the world’s premier biblical theologians, living and dead (i.e. Graeme Goldsworthy, D.A. Carson, Richard Gaffin, Edmund Clowney, … Continue reading Beginning with Moses (Weekend Website)

Biblical Theology: Word-driven, Kingdom-focused, Christ-centered

One month into my blogging at Via Emmaus, I have begun to consider, what is the overall aim and purpose of my writing. Why do I take time to sit at an impersonal computer screen and write thoughts that may never be read? If they are read, will they simply be deconstructive arguments against the … Continue reading Biblical Theology: Word-driven, Kingdom-focused, Christ-centered

A Marriage Meditation

This summer I am working on an applied ministry project with Dr. Randy Stinson that involves developing curriculum that considers ways in which marriage demonstrates the gospel to Christians and non-Christians. Though this project is just starting to take shape–there are many pages to be read and thoughts to be clarified–there has already been some … Continue reading A Marriage Meditation

What Martyn Lloyd-Jones has to say to Emergents and the Evangelical Left

Reading books from earlier generations is helpful in evaluating the proclivities and overemphases of our own generation. Reading Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Preaching and Preachershas reminded me of that truth this week. For in his classic work on preaching, the good doctor reflects on the condition of preaching and its primacy within the Christian church. Informed by the timeless wisdom of the … Continue reading What Martyn Lloyd-Jones has to say to Emergents and the Evangelical Left

How Do You Comfort a Family Whose Lost an Infant? Spurgeon on Infant Salvation

This week I am taking a class called Pastoral Ministry. Its breadth of topics range from SBC life, to ministerial resumes, to the slow and but necessary process of cleaning up church roles. In the variety of topics, the issue of infant death came up, and the question was ask in earnest, “How do you … Continue reading How Do You Comfort a Family Whose Lost an Infant? Spurgeon on Infant Salvation

The Academy and the Church

Owen Strachan, friend and “Consumed” blogger has recently contemplated the tension raised between the priority of local church ministry and the allure of academic pursuits. A few weeks ago he referenced an article by Covenant Seminary professor and administrator,Sean Michael Lucas, which cogently articulated many of these notions with which seminarians–young and old–wrestle. This struggle … Continue reading The Academy and the Church

A Biblical Theology of Sports

The Apostle Paul often used athletic imagery to convey biblical truth (cf. 1 Cor. 9:24-27; 1 Tim. 4:7-8; 2 Tim. 2:5). This week on the CBMW blog, Randy Stinson, Dean of the School of Leadership and Church Ministry at Southern Seminary and President of the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, has followed the apostles … Continue reading A Biblical Theology of Sports

NASA and the Spirit of Babel

To the moon…to Mars…and beyond. Don’t get me wrong, I like NASA, astronauts, the space program, and the whole enterprise of exploring the wonders of God’s cosmos. This affection probably finds its root in the countless times as a child that I watched The Right Stuff, a cinematic production dramatically chronicling the United States space … Continue reading NASA and the Spirit of Babel

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