The doctrine of the eternal generation of the Son is a central feature of orthodox Christian teaching. In this doctrine, the church confesses not simply that the second person of the Trinity is the one true and living God but how he is the one true and living God: as the Son eternally begotten by […]
The (nuptial) end of biblical interpretation
The end of Christ’s saving and sanctifying work is nuptial. For this reason, the end of biblical interpretation should be nuptial as well. It is one thing to affirm that biblical interpretation and preaching should be Christ-centered. This affirmation follows from Jesus’ own teaching about the relationship between Scripture and himself (e.g., John 5:39; Luke […]
To what end retrieval? Five theses
Peter Leithart’s article today at First Things prompted (provoked?) me to jot down some thoughts regarding the ends of retrieval. Here are five theses. To what end retrieval? 1. Retrieval rests on a twofold judgment: (1) that all is not well in contemporary theology and biblical studies and (2) that the help we need might […]
Ten things I’m thankful for in 2021
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Ps 90:1-2). The stability of God’s eternal and unchanging being is one of the architectonic themes of the divine kingship psalms found […]
Retrieving the “royal metaphor”: reflections on Psalm 93
Theology is discourse concerning God: God in his being, attributes, persons, and works; God and all things in relation to God, from whom and through whom and to whom are all things (Rom 11:36). The principal subject matter of Christian theology has a proper name, “Yhwh,” which is the name of the Father and of […]
“Clothed with splendor and majesty”: reflections on the glory of the divine king
Psalm 104 celebrates God’s work of creation. It begins with a description of God’s work in creating the heavens and their inhabitants (vv. 1-4). It then moves to an extended discussion of God’s work of creating the earth and its inhabitants, including human beings, who have a special vocation as co-laborers with God in producing […]