Sergii Bulgakov (1871–1944) wrote The Apocalypse of John during the German occupation of France in World War II. And so having fled Russia during the Bolshevik persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1922, Bulgakov once again experienced the fires of persecution. As his colleagues entered into concentration camps, he taught the book of Revelation to students who recount his intense focus in these latter years of his life. He would not emerge from the war alive, dying in July 1944 of a stroke. [Read more…] about Review of Sergii Bulgakov’s The Apocalypse of John
Theology
Review of God in Himself by Steven Duby
Steven Duby has written a brilliant work that presents “a rational for the pursuit of theologia in the strict sense of the word: knowledge of God in himself without primary reference to the economy” (293). In other words, against those who think we can only know God in the incarnation (as an example), Duby responds that we can know God in ways that include incarnation but also includes natural revelation, the Old Testament, and so on. [Read more…] about Review of God in Himself by Steven Duby
How Christ Is the Centre of Scripture
Christians often practice a Christ-centred reading of Scripture. Yet this approach can sound like a pop-a-mole game where Christ just springs up everywhere in Scripture. I do not think that is the case here, but I can understand the concern.
One way to understand the Christ-centered nature of Scripture is to use two key metaphors. That is what I do here before making some conclusions on Christ in the Old Testament. [Read more…] about How Christ Is the Centre of Scripture
Is the Kingdom of God Here?
Over the last few hundred years, Christians have debated the nature and timing of the kingdom of God. Some argued that Jesus was a failed prophet since the kingdom did not come as he expected. Others argued that the kingdom was delayed due to Israel’s rejection of Jesus. Still others found ways to understand the kingdom apart from either extreme.
From an historical angle, the debate is fascinating since it did not seem to greatly disturb earlier Christians. For example, John Scotus Eriugena (9th ce.) maintained the presence of the kingdom now yet with its full manifestation appearing at a later time.
I think we can be even more precise than John Eriugena since Scripture speaks on this matter. The kingdom of God in its political and geographical reach lies in the future after the second coming, while the presence of the kingdom exists in the people of God because they are in Jesus. [Read more…] about Is the Kingdom of God Here?
Three Limitations of Biblical Theology
What is biblical theology? In simplest terms, it means theology that comes from the Bible. More specifically, biblical theology studies the theology of the Bible according to its own terms, themes, and storyline. It then tries to understand the various theological themes across the whole canon of the Bible to discover shared meaning among Scripture’s diversity.
In this sense, biblical theology provides theological first principles that systematic theology may use to expose the underlying structures of created and uncreated reality. Definitions like these often feel abstract or vague. One way to understand biblical theology with more clarity is to know its limitations since we often learn by contrasts. The limitations include the following: [Read more…] about Three Limitations of Biblical Theology
Is Francis Chan Right about the Lord’s Supper?
Francis Chan recently implied that the reformers relegated the Lord’s Supper to a “symbol,” elevated the pulpit and preaching in its stead, and caused division in the church—which now has 30,000 denominations. Any clip excised from a full message (as this one) almost necessitates miscommunication. Almost certainly this is the case here.
Still, many cite narrative that Chan gave above concerning communion to criticize the Reformation. For this reason, it is worth asking whether or not the argument about the Lord’s Supper is correct. As I see it, the major problem with the Lord’s Supper narrative is that it is entirely wrong.
The reformed did and do believe in the real presence of Christ, the pulpit did not replace the Lord’s Supper but complemented it, and there is no where near 30,000 protestant denominations. And besides, a denomination in Protestant theology means a denomination of the whole—it is a practical subgrouping of the catholic church. [Read more…] about Is Francis Chan Right about the Lord’s Supper?