A short while ago I began to address the question whether Paul was called or converted. It’s a question that has preoccupied a lot of scholars – especially in our post-holocaust world. It seems to many (including E.P. Sanders) that if you say that Paul converted away from Judaism and towards Christianity you are beingContinue reading “Called or Converted? (Pt. 2)”
Tag Archives: Christ
A Tale of Two Skywalkers
As someone who preaches I’m always looking for awesome illustrations that can help the audience better come to grips with tough theological concepts. One of those concepts is the relation between Adam and Christ – or as Paul refers to them in Romans: the First and Last Adam. Theologically what is going on in RomansContinue reading “A Tale of Two Skywalkers”
Called or Converted?
A lot has been written over the past few decades about the nature of Paul’s Damascus road event. Was Paul called or converted? I guess how you answer that really depends on how you see the relationship between Judaism and Christianity. If you see a lot of continuity – you might say that he wasContinue reading “Called or Converted?”
Penal Substitution? Two Objections and Responses
Penal substitution takes a lot of flack these days. Many of the objections that come up against PSA have focused on this theories assumptions about what justice is. However, many of these objections are based upon what we tend to think justice is. But as Donald Macleod has said, It would be certainly perilous toContinue reading “Penal Substitution? Two Objections and Responses”
Mystery & Atonement
The concept of “mystery” plays an important role in T.F. Torrance’s atonement theology. In chapter one of Atonement he outlines his approach to the doctrine of atonement. He begins by describing the liturgy of the day of atonement in the Old Testament. As he describes what happens, he says that the most important part of theContinue reading “Mystery & Atonement”
Hail Mary, Given Grace [T.F. Torrance and Grace in the Annunciation]
Tonight on Christmas Eve we celebrate the fact that to us a Savior was born. He was born in the little town of Bethlehem to a faith-filled virgin. Hear what T.F. Torrance has to say about Mary and the pattern of grace we see in the virgin birth… In the virgin birth we are givenContinue reading “Hail Mary, Given Grace [T.F. Torrance and Grace in the Annunciation]”
Reading the Old Testament with Martin Luther
Why should we read the Old Testament? It seems pretty obvious to us today, but in 16th century Germany there was a tendency to look down upon the value of the Old Testament. (No doubt Luther’s Law/Grace dichotomy had something to do with this…) Nevertheless Luther advocates for a figural sort of reading of theContinue reading “Reading the Old Testament with Martin Luther”
Karl Barth’s Letter to Diognetus
The god of the philosophers. A lot of people have beef with this “god.” With good reason too – God cannot come to be known through pure rationality. With that much I agree. I do believe that philosophy has an important role in articulating our theological convictions, but I would never say that philosophical reflectionContinue reading “Karl Barth’s Letter to Diognetus”
Get Your Story Straight!
We’ve all been in situations where somebody was obviously lying to you, and they couldn’t keep their story straight. Their sequence of events are all off, they can’t remember who was there, they can’t remember any details, etc. At that point you just want to look the person square in the eyes – and sayContinue reading “Get Your Story Straight!”
The Righteousness of God
What does Paul mean when he says, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law” (Romans 3:21a)? Romans 3:21-26 21 But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ forContinue reading “The Righteousness of God”
CWoznicki Think Out Loud 