ReformedNews.com has reported on a group of ten PCA ministers who have drafted a pastoral letter to their fellow PCA presbyters, a letter expressing their questions and concerns about the PCA study committee’s report on the Federal Vision, New Perspective on Paul, etc. The letter was released through Sacra Doctrina, the weblog of professor Joel Garver, a Deacon in the PCA and may be read online or obtained as a PDF download here.
James B. Jordans’ most recent Biblical Horizons Newsletter series, “How To Do Reformed Theology Nowadays” (parts 1-6) is online now. Much food for thought here.
HT: Barb
One could profit even more by also reading the following two essays by Professor Michael Bauman (of Hillsdale College; also on the faculty of Summit Ministries):
Peer Pressure, Confessionalism and the Corruption of Judgment: Why Theologians Can’t Think Straight
On May 3rd I was treated to a wonderful evening in honor of Professor C.K. Barrett’s 90th birthday. The reception was a treat, as we browsed by and chatted with a number of great New Testament scholars, as well as a host of energetic and very promising postgraduate students. A highlight of the evening was the keynote paper by Professor Morna D. Hooker. Her text was 2 Corinthians 5:21. The title of her paper was, “On Being the Righteousness of God.” With her express permission, the audio of her lecture is available online here (password: letusin). (The file is unedited, so there may be some popping or silent spots, etc.) Following her presentation you will hear interactions from such people as C.K. Barrett, Walter Moberly, N.T. Wright, James Dunn and John Barclay.
Every once in a while I come across some helpful technologies. Actually, I’m referring to not just helpful but really helpful technologies. For the past year I’ve been using a wonderful little scanner. I’ve owned or used a number of scanners in the past. The two basic problems I’ve encountered are (i) they have required external, bulky power supplies — a problem for me since I typically desire a scanner that is portable; and (ii) they have discontinued upgrading software to keep up with my changing computer needs, thus resulting in a useless technological artifact. I’ve found ways around both of these problems. (more…)
I recently had the pleasure of lecturing at Summit’s first session of the summer. This session typically has fewer students than other session, primarily due to its timing. We can host about 180 students. This session has over 100 students. (more…)
I’ve been pondering Paul’s discussion of “the works of the law” in Romans 1-4. I believe that one of the errors often committed when seeking to unravel Paul’s argument here is too quickly importing verses from Paul’s other epistles, as though those verses mollify whatever tension one feels when reading, for instance, Romans 2:13. Rather than, say, pitting Romans 2:13 (“the doers of the law will be justified”) against, say, Galatians 3:21 (“For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law”), as though these necessarily are contrary propositions, I believe we must seek to discern the rhetorical and social contexts for these respective statements. Permit me in this post to mention just a couple observations about circumcision in Romans 1-4. (more…)
Is Christianity good for the world? That is the question Douglas Wilson and Christopher Hitchens are debating at Christianity Today‘s website. The fifth installment is now available online. It’s worth reading and pondering.
My good friend (and fellow Summit lecturer), Frank Beckwith, has an engaging article in First Things where he weighs in on Mitt Romney’s run for the U.S. presidency: “When the Saint Goes Swearing In.” For an historical perspective on Mormons and politics, the PBS Frontline series, The Mormons, is worth watching. The second part of the series is now available online.
I just received a copy of the 3rd edition of Don Garlington’s commentary on Galatians: An Exposition of Galatians: A Reading from the New Perspective. Several years ago, in our home Bible study, Don graciously permitted us to use a manuscript version of the first edition of this commentary. I remember well how we appreciated his work, and how it helped facilitate great discussion and contemplation of the challenging import of this very challenging and probing epistle. I anticipate rereading this volume throughout the summer months.
In May of 1992, I moved to Manitou Springs, Colorado, to take up a position on Summit Ministries’ summer staff. It was a temporary position. That summer I was assigned to do the morning devotions – a Monday-Friday task of presenting a brief homily for five or so minutes. While I had done some public speaking before this time, standing in front of 150 students daily was a daunting task. But throughout the summer I grasped the opportunity with both hands (and through ample nervous prayer!).
At the end of the summer, I was intending to enroll in full-time classes at Denver Seminary. Gordon Lewis and Craig Blomberg were there, and I wanted to study with both of these scholars. But a position opened up in Summit’s Curriculum Department and it was offered to me. I took it and lessened my load at Denver Seminary. That autumn I began traveling for Summit, representing the ministry at various teacher conventions around the U.S. Thus began my career with Summit Ministries. (more…)