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 […]
The burning bush and the being of God: reflections on Exodus 3
I’m looking forward to delivering the Day-Higginbotham Lectures next week at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. (For more details, see here.) The theme of the two lectures is “God, the Bible, and Being.” By way of preview, below is an excerpt from the second lecture. The excerpt focuses on the ways God’s […]
Notes on Book IV of the Psalter
One of my long-term research projects is a book on the divine attributes. The operating methodological thesis of the project is that learning to speak rightly of God (theology) requires learning to read the Bible rightly (hermeneutics). Related to that project, below are some notes, summarized under six headings, that I’ve put together on how […]
The high and humble God (Psalm 113): a homily for Holy Week
This semester our chapel theme at RTS Orlando is the incomparability of God. This week I was to preach on this theme from Psalm 113, but present circumstances have precluded that possibility. Below instead is a homily on Psalm 113, adapted to our present circumstances. Introduction I have encouraged you over the past several weeks […]
“Perfectly sufficient for himself and for us”: Petrus van Mastricht on the doctrine of God
Petrus van Mastricht begins his treatment of the doctrine of God by means of brief exegetical comments on Hebrews 11:6: “for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” According to Mastricht, this verse reveals three truths about God that are essential to saving […]