Enjoying the Trinity 1: A Delightfully Different GodIt is in the second lecture, "Enjoying the Trinity 2", that Michael Reeves speaks about "the sweet relationship between Christianity and music." He argues that this relationship is based upon the Trinity. The entire lecture is excellent, but here is an outline to his comments on music, harmony and Christianity:
Enjoying the Trinity 2: The Spreading Love
Enjoying the Trinity 3: This Changes Everything!
A beautiful performance of this cantata can be viewed on YouTube here: http://youtu.be/UlVUVOCyyQs ~ Händel Ode for St Cecilia's Day Arts Florissants, P Agnew.At 21:34 he begins to address Christianity's relationship with music.
At 23:20 he contrasts the music of trinitarian Christianity with "less-trinitarian Christianity".
At 25:16 he introduces John Dryden and his A Song for St. Cecilia's Day.
At 27:01 he begins to play G. F. Handel's musical composition, Ode for St. Cecilia's Day. [The music ends at 29:35.]
At 28:25, while the music is playing, Reeves speaks of the NT description of the church as being made up of different members with different gifts yet constituting a harmony. This was also awesome.
It is of great importance to note from Romans 1–11 that theology (our belief about God) and doxology (our worship of God) should never be separated. On the one hand, there can be no doxology without theology. It is not possible to worship an unknown god. All true worship is a response to the self-revelation of God in Christ and Scripture, and arises from our reflection on who he is and what he has done. It was the tremendous truths of Romans 1–11 which provoked Paul’s outburst of praise. The worship of God is evoked, informed and inspired by the vision of God. Worship without theology is bound to degenerate into idolatry. Hence the indispensable place of Scripture in both public worship and private devotion. It is the Word of God which calls forth the worship of God.
On the other hand, there should be no theology without doxology. There is something fundamentally flawed about a purely academic interest in God. God is not an appropriate object for cool, critical, detached, scientific observation and evaluation. No, the true knowledge of God will always lead us to worship, as it did Paul. Our place is on our faces before him in adoration. As I believe Bishop Handley Moule said at the end of the last century, we must ‘beware equally of an undevotional theology and of an untheological devotion’.
(The Message of Romans, The Bible Speaks Today Series, p. 312, emphasis and highlights are mine.)
The only reason for living is the achievement of what you value. Nobody should ever sacrifice a higher value to a lower one. You should always aspire to deciding what you value. Until that happens you cannot make any reasonable steps toward choosing a vocation (or anything else).Read the entire, short article here, which goes on to describe the task and traits of a theological teacher.
Q. 28: What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by His providence doth still uphold all things?A.: That we may bepatient in adversity,thankful in prosperity;and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us,we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father,that nothing shall separate us from His love;since all creatures are so in His hand,that without His will they cannot so much as move.
(Baker, 1999) which is very useful. 
As I understand it, the goal of academic theology, as distinct from religious studies, goes beyond striving to understand the world of the Christian faith. Theology seeks first to provide orientation to religious communities through critical and constructive engagement with their convictions, rituals, and practices.... Second, theology's goal is to shape how life is lived in the broader society, indeed on the whole globe, in the light of God's purposes for the world. Church and society are the two main "publics" of academic theology, those for whom it endeavors to interpret reality so as to offer guidance about what it means to live well before God.
(Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010), 9."The proper task of theology is to exposit and elucidate the content of Scripture in an orderly way, and by presenting its teaching as an orderly whole to commend and reinforce the worship and service of God" (quoted by Gregory Alan Thornbury in his "Prolegomena: Introduction to the Task of Theology," in A Theology for the Church, edited by Daniel L. Akin [Nashville: B&H Academic, 2007], 54).
"The task of dogmatic theology, in the final analysis, is nothing other than a scientific exposition of religious truth grounded in sacred Scripture. Apologetic defense of this truth and ethical applications to Christian conduct both are based in and proceed from divine revelation and faith; they do not ground or shape faith. Dogmatics and ethics are a unity, though they may be treated as distinct disciplines. Dogmatics describes God's deeds for and in us; ethics describes what renewed human beings now do on the basis of and in the strength of these deeds" (Reformed Dogmatics [Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003], 26).
earlier this year, Barth addresses the task and goal of theology in a very thoughtful way. It is no secret that Barth resisted the notion of systematic theology. Rather, Barth was concerned with dogmatics and ethics rooted in biblical exegesis and made available to the community of faith through proclamation. Similar to the above definitions, Barth identifies the task of theology as follows: "Dogmatics and ethics must function properly by considering the Word of God and by holding fast to the order, formation, architectonics, and theology prescribed at given times by this Word itself" (181). Regarding practical theology, Barth writes, "Theological speech is taught its content by exegesis and dogmatics, and it is given its form through the experiences of whatever psychology, sociology, or linguistics may be most trustworthy at a given time" (183). Regarding the goal of theology, Barth writes, "the service of God and the service of man are the meaning, horizon, and goal of theological work.... If theological work is not to become sterile in all its disciplines, regardless of how splendidly it may develop at one point or another, it must always keep sight of the fact that its object, the Word of God, demands more than simply being perceived, contemplated, and meditated in this or that particular aspect. What is demanded of theological work is the service of this word and attendance upon it. This may not always be its primary goal, and often it is the most remote one, but it remains its ultimate and real goal" (187).
Knowledge without devotion is cold, dead orthodoxy. Devotion without knowledge is irrational instability. But true knowledge of God includes understanding everything from his perspective. Theology is learning to think God's thoughts after him. It is to learn what God loves and hates, and to see, hear, think, and act the way he does. Knowing how God thinks is the first step to becoming godly. (p. 2505)
"On Friday, 28 April 1564, all the pastors from Geneva and the surrounding area were summoned at Calvin's request. They gathered in his room, where he spoke to them at length. The gist of his words was an exhortation to persevere in the faithful discharge of their duties after his death and not to lose heart. God would uphold both the town and the church, even if they were threatened by dangers on every side. There should therefore be no arguments among themselves, but rather brotherly love and a deep sense of unity should prevail."He also asked them never to forget the obligation that they were under to this church to which God had called them, and to take care that nothing was allowed to distract them from this responsibility. Those who lose interest in the task and want to abandon it will always find excuses to do so, but God will not be mocked."
Beza noted that Calvin received a visit from his old friend William Farel early in May. "From then on until his death," Beza writes, "Calvin's time was spent in one long prayer, in spite of his being in constant pain. He often had the words of Psalm 39:9 on his lips: 'I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.' Or he would quote the words of Isaiah 38:14: 'I did mourn as a dove." Another time, when he was talking to me, he cried out to God: 'Lord, thou dost grind me to powder, but it is enough for me to know that it is thy hand that does it'" (ibid. p. 116).(From chapter 13, "The Last Days", in The Life of John Calvin. A modern translation of the classic by Theodore Beza (Durham: Evangelical Press, 1997), p. 113.)
"That night and the following day an air of great sadness reigned throughout the town. The people mourned the passing of a prophet of God, and the poor flock were grief-stricken at the loss of their faithful pastor. The school lamented the loss of a true doctor and teacher. Everyone in general wept over a true father and comforter in God." (ibid. p. 118)Now with his Lord an Savior, Calvin's legacy continues to influence and affect the Church of Christ. His massive comments on the Scriptures ought to be a staple in every expositor's library. Likewise, his Institutes of the Christian Religion should be read by every Bible student.
[LEFT] Bèze, Théodore de, Henry Beveridge, and Gary Sanseri. The Life of John Calvin. Milwaukie, OR: Back Home Industries, 1996. Hardcover, 149 pp.[CBD ($19.95) | Amazon ($19.95)]
[RIGHT] Beza, Theodore. The Life of John Calvin. Living Classics for Today. Darlington: Evangelical Press, 1997. Paperback, 148 pp.
[Amazon ($14.99)]
BIOGRAPHIES:
Parker, T. H. L. John Calvin: A Biography.
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Zachman, Randall C. John Calvin As Teacher, Pastor, and Theologian: The Shape of His Writings and Thought.
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McGrath, Alister E. A Life of John Calvin: A Study in the Shaping of Western Culture.
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Bouwsma, William James. John Calvin: A Sixteenth-Century Portrait.
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Reymond, Robert L. John Calvin: His Life and Influence.
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WORKS:
Calvin, John, and Ford Lewis Battles. Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion.
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Calvin, John. Tracts and Treatises of John Calvin. 3 Volumes. Reprint.
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Calvin, John, and Jules Bonnet. Letters of John Calvin: Selected from the Bonnet Edition with an Introductory Biographical Sketch.
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CRITICAL WORKS ON CALVIN:
Barth, Karl. The Theology of John Calvin.
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Lawson, Stephen J. The Expository Genius of John Calvin.
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Read Doug Smith's review here and here.
Hall, David W. The Legacy of John Calvin: His Influence on the Modern World.
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Hall, David W., and Peter A. Lillback. A Theological Guide to Calvin's Institutes: Essays and Analysis.
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NOTE: This post was originally posted in 2007. I've updated it a bit.
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The four Gospel accounts serve a specific purpose in presenting the life of Jesus Christ. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John do not write biography in the usual sense of the word. Not one of them attempts to present a complete account of His life and ministry. That is not their purpose. What they give us is selective biography.
While each Evangelist has a particular aspect of our Lord’s earthly life and ministry to emphasize, they all have one overriding theme to which they give the most attention—the events of the Passion Week. The Gospel records devote a “disproportionate” amount of space to this one week, each account beginning at or near the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into
| Gospel Account | Number of Chapters | # of Chapters on Passion Week | Amount of Each Writer’s Material |
| Matthew | 28 | 8 (chapters 21-28) | 1/3 of Matthew |
| Mark | 16 | 6 (chapters 11-16) | 1/3 of Mark |
| Luke | 24 | 6 (chapters 19-24) | 1/4 of Luke |
| John | 21 | 9 (chapters 12-20) | Nearly 1/2 of John |
Also, John devotes 7 chapters (1/3 of his material) to just one 24-hour period within that week (John 13-19).
It’s easy to see which theme receives the most attention in the Gospels. Out of 89 total chapters the Gospels devote 29 to this one week in the 33-year life and 3-year ministry of our Lord. “It is no wonder that in a famous phrase M. Kahler described a Gospel as a passion narrative with an extended introduction” (I. Howard Marshall, “Jesus in the Gospels,” Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, p. 518).
Biographies don’t usually give so much space to so short a period of time. But there is an obvious theological purpose in the Gospels: to underscore Christ’s redemptive work—to give a pointed account of what He came to do, which was “to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). That explains His crucifixion. It was not the tragic end to a good life; it was God’s plan from the beginning. The Scriptural response to this Good News is faith—faith that results in worship.
And they sang a new song, saying,
"Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation."
(Revelation 5:9 ESV)
Westminster Bookstore recently received a stock of Leon Morris’ classic study of the death of Christ, The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, and they are offering it for 34% off. According to Wikipedia this book is the fruit of Morris’ Ph.D. studies at the As far as I know, Morris, who died in 2006, did not revise his book more recently to include interaction with New Perspective authors. So the book is a bit dated when it comes to that aspect of current theological discussion. But the reader will gain a wealth of understanding concerning the significance of Christ’s death, which is an ongoing debate in many circles.
Morris says that his book is “an attempt to understand certain key words, words which are crucial to the New Testament picture of the atonement, by seeing them against the background of the Greek Old Testament, the papyri, and the Rabbinic writings” (p. 8). Then he examines these terms “in their New Testament setting, always bearing in mind the possibility that the early Christians may modify or enrich any terms they may borrow” (p. 8).
The author has informative chapters on Redemption, Covenant, The Blood, The Lamb of God, Propitiation, Reconciliation, and Justification. I received much help through his two chapters on Propitiation, and you will be richly rewarded by working your way through Morris’ material. I recommend The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross.
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Also available from:
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Thabiti Anyabwile, who is a pastor in the In this book, Thabiti Anyabwile offers a challenging and provocative assessment of the history of African American Christian theology, from its earliest beginnings to the present. He argues trenchantly that the modern fruit of African American theology has fallen far from the tree of its early predecessors. In doing so, Anyabwile closely examines the theological commitments of prominent African American theologians throughout American history. Chapter by chapter, he traces what he sees as the theological decline of African American theology from one generation to the next, concluding with an unflinching examination of several contemporary figures. Replete with primary texts and illustrations, this book is a gold mine for any reader interested in the history of African American Christianity. With a foreword by Mark Noll.
I want to know more of what the Lord has done in and through African American believers in the past and would love to see that work continue today. To that end Brother Anyabwile has written his book. In his own words:
I'm thankful for the generations of African American Christians who have left some deposit for the faithful. And I'm thankful for the generations of Christians from other ethnic background with whom they have interacted and shared the faith once for all delivered to the saints. I'm thankful that the Lord has allowed us to live in this time that we might learn from the times previous. And I'm thankful for IVP for publishing this book and hopeful it contributes to the ongoing reformation of the church.
This book should fill a great need in the church, and I look forward to getting a copy.
See also his book The Faithful Preacher: Recapturing the Vision of Three Pioneering African-American Pastors.
Review of The Faithful Preacher here.
With the approach of Reformation Day (October 31) I thought it timely to mention some resources to counter a serious challenge to the Protestant Reformers’ way of looking at Paul’ epistles, specifically, the way of viewing Paul’s doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone. This new way of viewing Justification is referred to as the New Perspective on Paul (NPP). It can be called New Perspectives since more than just one new view is promoted. The NPP is not a monolith; however, there are certain features common among writers advocating a fresh reading of Paul.
According to NPP writers
If you have any familiarity with classical music, you can think of the NPP as variations on a theme. Many writers have different takes on reading Paul, but they all seem agreed that the Reformation view of Justification by Faith should be discarded. Since this doctrine was the centerpiece of the Reformation, the call for abandonment has serious implications. Were the Reformers wrong? Did they cause an unnecessary division in the Church? What should Protestants today think of the Ecumenical Movement? (It actually helps clarify the issues a little since the current pope recently drew a line in the sand with his declaration that Protestant churches are not true churches.) And what should we do with the command to “preach the gospel to every creature”? In light of the NPP’s claims, what should our message be?
I’ve been listening to some informative lectures by D.A. Carson on my mp3 player this week. He is very helpful in understanding the New Perspective. Andy Naselli provides links to many
Jason recently provided a couple of posts on the NPP which I recommend you check out. They can be found here and here. He points out many good resources, some of which
I’d like to recommend a book published last year by Banner of Truth—The Gospel of Free Acceptance in Christ: An Assessment of the Reformation and New Perspectives on Paul by Cornelis P. Venema. This book gives a good overview of the different perspectives on Paul and the issues at stake without being overly technical. I read this book earlier this year as a newcomer to the NPP, and it helped me gain a better understanding of the academic changes and challenges of the last 30 years. Venema also wrote Getting the Gospel Right, a smaller book that treats the same subject on a more popular level. I haven’t read this one yet, but it should prove useful in helping church members understand what’s going on in Pauline studies. Click on the link and read Westminster Bookstore’s brief review of this book.
As we observe the 490th anniversary of the nailing of Luther’s 95 theses, we need to remember that what was at stake nearly 500 years ago is still at stake today: the Gospel.
Reviewed by Aaron Carpenter
Hamilton, James M., Jr. God’s Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old & New Testaments. NAC Studies in Bible & Theology. Nashville, Tenn: B&H Publishing Group, 2006. 233 pages, Hardcover. $19.99 USD.
(Review copy courtesy of B&H Publishing Group)
Note: This is volume 1 in the NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY STUDIES IN BIBLE AND THEOLOGY
Special Features:
3 Appendices:
1) The Use of emphusao- in John 20:22
2) “He is with you, and He is in you?”—The text of John 14:17c
3) Rushing Wind and Organ Music: Toward Luke’s Theology of the Spirit in Acts
Bibliography, Author Index, Subject Index, and Scripture Index
Sample Chapter: PDF
ISBNs: 0805443835 / 9780805443837
DCN: 231.3
LCCN: BT121.2 .H245 2006
Subjects: God\Holy Spirit
I've enjoyed this new theological series by B&H and look forward to more titles to come. Here are two more volumes to follow (we definitely will be requesting review copies):
Volume 3: Future Israel by Barry E. Horne (due October '07)
Volume 4: Enthroned on Our Praise by Timothy M. Pierce (due November '07)
Believer’s Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ. Edited by Thomas R. Schreiner and Shawn D. Wright. NAC Studies in Bible & Theology. Nashville, Tenn: B & H Academic, 2006. 364 pages, Hardcover. $19.99.
Note: This is volume 2 in the NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY STUDIES IN BIBLE AND THEOLOGY.
Special Features: Forward by Timothy George; Author Index; Subject Index; Scripture Index
Sample Chapter: PDF
ISBN: 0805432493 / 9780805432497
DCN: 243.161 B431
LCCN: BV803 .B34 2006
Subjects: Baptist Doctrine, Baptism
Editors: Thomas R. Schreiner (Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary) is James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Associate Dean of Scripture and Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of several books and many articles on New Testament interpretation and biblical theology. He also serves as preaching pastor of Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. (from the back cover) (more…)
On July 1, 1643 the Westminster Assembly convened for the first time in the Henry VII Chapel of Westminster Abbey in Though never able to agree on a form of church government, the Assembly produced some important and influential documents: the Longer and Shorter catechisms and the Westminster Confession of Faith. These documents have been accepted by many and adapted by others as standards for faith and practice. The Anglicans adopted these documents only after revisions, but “they formed the cornerstone of the Presbyterian Church and other reformed churches as they established themselves throughout Europe and
The work of the Westminster Divines represents men of different persuasions trying to hammer out a scriptural position during times of trouble.
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