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theology that faithfully summarizes its teachings.
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- 865Hebrews: Living SacrificesHebrews has given us a greater understanding of the role of Christ in relation to the Old Testament. He is the ultimate king, the greater high priest, and the better prophet. He has been and made the final sacrifice and He has brought in the New Covenant making the Old Covenant obsolete. He is better than any angel or any other man. He is God Himself who is building His kingdom till the very last enemy is destroyed. What does this mean for us and our everyday lives? How are we to live in our homes, at work, and in the church? In what way is our worship connected with the Old Testament saints? We will discuss these and other questions in this week’s episode of Theology Simply Profound. Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 866Genesis 19:30–38 — The Conclusion of Lot’s StoryIn a startling episode of fear and worldliness we find the hope of the gospel. Learn how the person and work of Christ can be preached from what seems to be the most unlikely text. Participants: Adam York, Glen Clary, Mark A. Winder
- 867Vos Group #49 — The Conception of a Prophet: Names and EtymologiesWe continue our #VosGroup series in pages 191–194 of Vos’ book Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider the biblical conception of prophetism. Vos beings by considering critical theories of prophetism based on the term “prophet.” Vos instructs us that all quests for seeking the conception of the prophet in etymology, rather in the teaching of the text, the meaning and function of Nabi (the Hebrew word for prophet) in the biblical text, are fraught with uncertainty and speculation. This is always the case when you seek to find the meaning of the text behind it in a critically reconstructed theory of the origin of the meaning in the text itself. Of course, if you want to say that the text takes you to what is behind it—the history of special deed revelation which the word revelation interprets, that is fine, even critical to affirm. But what Vos is helping us see is that we do not seek to find the meaning of the biblical text in a critical reconstruction of what sources we think might yield the meaning “behind” the text. Such an approach, characteristic of the modernist scholarship in Vos’ day (and continuing in our day) strips authority from the biblical text and makes it a fallible window through which we seek to get “behind” the text to its true historically reconstructed sources. Such an approach divests the Scripture of its revelatory character and intrinsic authority. The point: “even to the pre-Mosaic Hebrew consciousness a nabhi is an authorized spokesman for the Deity, and that in his word a divinely-communicated power resides” (193). Contrary to the modernist conception of the prophet as an insightful, inspiring religious genius who shares his mysterious insight into the divine (and therefore is an ethical example for us), the prophet is first and foremost one who receives and is authorized to transmit (to speak and write) the Word of God do you have the prophet. All the emphasis lies on the actual speaking, the true communicating, of something out in the open, where it reaches the mind of man and directs him in his religious fellowship bond with God. It is there that you find the essence of the prophet’s activity. It is not the mere passive reception of some ineffable mystery; it is the open declaration of the oracles of God—words from God that address God’s people in covenant fellowship with Himself. Vos is warning us, once again, of the errors of Liberalism or Modernism—where the trend is always to reduce the Scriptures and the prophets in this case, to a record of religious experience–religious feeling set forth in speech. Rather, the Scriptures in general and the prophets in particular bring into view the supernatural approach of God for fellowship with his covenant people, as that relation is rooted in the substance of what the prophets will proclaim–Christ crucified and Christ raised (I Peter 1:10–12). The point, as we move toward unpacking that gospel content, is that God speaks to his people for the purpose of consummating a redemptive bond of fellowship—communion in covenant—that lies at the core of our religious relation to God. Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton
- 868Reading BiographiesOn this week’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, we repost an old episode on Reading Biographies. In this episode, Rob, Melodie, and Bob discuss the benefits of reading biographies and which ones may be helpful to read, both Christian and non-Christian. We also bring to your attention the new biography published by Reformed Forum, Geerhardus Vos: Reformed Biblical Theologian, Confessional Presbyterian, by Danny E. Olinger. Participants: Melodie McKenzie, Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 869Hosea 2:14–23 — A New ExodusHosea points to Jesus, who, as the new and final Israel, does not remain under the power of death forever. But Christ is raised from the dead in the vindicating power of the Spirit. Christ is our exodus—the one delivered from bondage to sin and death! His deliverance is our deliverance. As those who have been delivered in and through Christ, we are called to forget the names of our false gods and remember the name of the Lord who has delivered us from our previous slavemaster. Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder
- 870Antinomianism at the Westminster AssemblyDr. Whitney Gamble speaks about antinomianism and the Westminster Assembly. She has written Christ and the Law: Antinomianism at the Westminster Assembly, which is part of the Studies on the Westminster Assembly series published by Reformation Heritage Books. Dr. Gamble is associate professor of biblical and theological studies at Providence Christian College. She holds a PhD in historical and systematic theology from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, a master of theological studies from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and a B.A. in biblical studies from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. Along with seventy other leading scholars from around the world, she is contributing a chapter in the forthcoming multi-volume series, The History of Scottish Theology, published by Oxford University Press. Dr. Gamble is also a frequent guest on The White Horse Inn podcast. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Whitney Gamble
- 871Hebrews: The Rest of GodThis week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss the rest of God. Continuing in their series on Hebrews, Rob and Bob open up to Hebrews 3:7-4:13 to see how the Preacher makes us of Moses, the Exodus, Psalm 95, Joshua, the wilderness, and the land of Canaan, in order explain why the people of God must remain vigilant in their Christian walk whilst looking forward to the final day of rest all the while enjoying the rest already giving in Christ by faith in union with him. Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 872The Trinitarian Christology of Thomas AquinasDominic Legge, O. P. speaks about the deep connection between Thomas’s Christology and his trinitarian theology. Dr. Legge is Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology and Director of the Thomistic Institute Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies. He is the author of The Trinitarian Christology of St. Thomas Aquinas (Oxford University Press, 2017). Participants: Camden Bucey, Dominic Legge, Glen Clary, Jim Cassidy
- 873The Goodness and Glory of God in Romans 8:28–30Glen Clary and Camden Bucey discuss the apostle Paul’s teaching in Romans 8:28–30. Paul speaks of the purpose of God’s foreknowledge and predestination—leading to conformity to the image of Christ. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28–30, ESV) Participants: Camden Bucey, Glen Clary
- 874The Life of John BunyanOn this week’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss the life of John Bunyan as we begin a new series on his book, Pilgrim’s Progress. Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 8751 Corinthians 1:18–25 — The Word of the CrossThe preacher should not preach in such a way that draws listeners to his own wisdom, but draws them to place their faith and trust in Christ alone as they witness his wisdom and power through the Word. Participants: Adam York, Glen Clary, Mark A. Winder
- 876The Liturgies of Bucer, Calvin, and KnoxGlen Clary compares and contrasts the Reformation liturgies of Martin Bucer, John Calvin, and John Knox. Studying each of these helps us to understand the significance of worship reformed according to Scripture and focuses our attention upon worship in our present day. Further Reading Knox Liturgy Genevan Liturgy Catholic Describes Communion Service in Calvin’s Church John Knox and Public Prayer Participants: Camden Bucey, Glen Clary
- 877The Pilgrim’s Progress: The Journey BeginsThis week on Theology Simply Profound, with some brief introductory remarks about reading fiction and allegory using J.R.R. Tolkien, Rob and Bob set out on a little journey of their own following Christian as he makes his way out of the City of Destruction toward the Wicket Gate with the help of Evangelist in this first stage of our new discussion of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 878The Ordinary Means of Grace and the Local ChurchThe Westminster Larger Catechism, Question and Answer 154 describes the ordinary and outwards means of grace as the Word, sacraments, and prayer. We discuss these ordinary means and how they apply to the day-to-day ministry of the local church. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy
- 879The Pilgrim’s Progress: The Interpreter’s HouseThis week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue their journey through John Bunyan’s, The Pilgrim’s Progress. From the Wicket Gate, Christian encounters Good Will and Interpreter whose house has many rooms. Interpreter leads Christian from one room to another explaining what Christian sees along the way in this second stage of our discussion of this classic book. Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 880Vos Group #50 — Biblical and Greek Conceptions of ProphetismWe continue our #VosGroup series in pages 194–197 of Vos’ book Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider the biblical conception of prophetism. We discuss the Greek and pagan conceptions and their connection to contemporary modernist conceptions. Vos has in view here a Hellenic, and not New Testament, conception of the prophet. Some would seek to understand prophet as a foreteller, which brings into view predictive prophecy—a telling of a situation in advance of the actual occurrence of the situation. However, it is not proper to take the concept in this direction only. While there is a predictive element present in much of what the prophets communicate, it is better to take them as foretellers in a local sense. This means that prophet is one who speaks an oracle from God. It is a place in time where one speaks on behalf of God. However, the Greek terms, as it appears in a Hellenic, extra-biblical context, has a different connotation, and this is critical to grasp, that we must reject. That connotation is this: the prophet in this Greek conception is an interpreter of a fundamentally opaque, hidden utterance from god. Pythia (the name of the high priestess of the temple Apollo at Delphi), would be the interpreter of this fundamentally hidden oracle—a dark saying that needed a human interpreter in order to be rendered intelligible. The Greek prophet does not stand in a direct relation to the deity, as in the Old Testament prophet, who spoke, by inspiration, directly from God, a word from God. Rather than being a mouth-piece of the deity, as is the case with the Nabi, the prophet in the Old Testament sense of the term, the prophet in the Greek, Hellenic sense, is an interpreter of the deity’s oracle. The oracle comes from the Deity but requires interpretation, an interpretive act, from a prophet, to render that message intelligible or clear. The prophet, in this Hellenic conception, is therefore not one who speaks the words of the deity. Rather, he is one who intercepts a supra-rational, intrinsically opaque, communication from a deity. It is precisely this conception of the prophet that Vos sees being appropriated by the liberals of his day. Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton
- 881The Pilgrim’s Progress: The Difficult PathIn this week’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, the journey continues through The Pilgrim’s Progress. Rob and Bob begin to discuss Stage 3 of Christian’s journey from the Interpreter’s House to the foot of the Cross and then along a difficult path eventually making his way to the Hill Difficulty. In this context, we come to matter concerning salvation, fear, doubt, and assurance. Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 882Ezekiel 9–10 and the Man in LinenLane Keister speaks about features of Ezekiel 9–10 that help us understand the identity of the man of linen in the passage. Rev. Keister’s article, “The Man in Linen: A New and Old Interpretation of Ezekiel 9–10” is published in issue 14 of the Confessional Presbyterian Journal (2018). Lane Keister is the pastor of Momence OPC in Momence, Illinois and a PhD student at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Lane Keister
- 883Geerhardus Vos: Reformed Biblical Theologian, Confessional PresbyterianDanny Olinger speaks about the life and thought of Geerhardus Vos. Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. has identified Vos as the father of Reformed biblical theology and we take the time to speak of his contribution and legacy. Rev. Olinger is General Secretary for the OPC Committee on Christian Education. He has written a tremendous biography of Vos, titled Geerhardus Vos: Reformed Biblical Theologian, Confessional Presbyterian. The book is published by Reformed Forum and available for purchase. Geerhardus Vos: Reformed Biblical Theologian, Confessional Presbyterian $29.99 Add to cart Geerhardus Vos: Reformed Biblical Theologian, Confessional Presbyterian (E-book) $9.99 Add to cart Participants: Adam York, Camden Bucey, Danny Olinger, Jim Cassidy
- 884The Pilgrim’s Progress: The House of PreparationThis week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob take another walk through John Bunyan’s, The Pilgrim’s Progress. In this episode we discuss Christian’s strong response to his falling asleep, as well as his conversations with Watchful, Discretion, Prudence, Piety, and Chastity. These are those he meets on the way to and in the house described as beautiful, a place of relief and security for pilgrims. Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 885Bavinck’s Philosophy of RevelationCory Brock and Nathaniel Gray Sutanto speak about Herman Bavinck’s Philosophy of Revelation (Hendrickson Publishers). Drs. Brock and Sutanto have edited a new annotated edition of Bavinck’s Stone Lectures, which were delivered at Princeton in 1908. Other than his Reformed Dogmatics, this is Bavinck’s most important work. We are blessed to welcome new editions and translations of these works. Along with James Eglinton, Brock and Sutanto are also editing Bavinck’s Christian Worldview, scheduled to be published by Crossway next year. Cory Brock is Minister of Young Adults and College at First Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Jackson, MS. He also serves on the faculty of Belhaven University teaching biblical studies. Nathaniel Gray Sutanto is Assistant Pastor at Covenant City Church in Jakarta, Indonesia. Participants: Camden Bucey, Cory Brock, Dan Ragusa, Nathaniel Gray Sutanto
- 886The Pilgrim’s Progress: Apollyon and the War of WordsThis week’s episode of Theology Simply Profound brings Rob and Bob to Stage 4 of John Bunyan’s, The Pilgrim’s Progress. Here, moving on from the House Beautiful, Christian enters the Valley of Humiliation and is confronted by Apollyon where a war of words begins between the two. Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 887William Perkins on PredestinationWilliam Perkins (1558–1602), often called “the father of Puritanism,” was a master preacher and teacher of Reformed, experiential theology. Greg Salazar speaks about Perkins’s works on predestination and his influence upon the Puritan and Reformed tradition. In speaking of predestination, we also cover related topics on Perkins’s theology such as his Christology, his understanding of the ordo salutis, and even his views on Christian forms of memory recall. Dr. Salazar is Assistant Professor of Historical Theology for the PhD program at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Along with Dr. Joel Beeke, he has edited volume six of Perkins’s works with Reformation Heritage Books. Participants: Camden Bucey, Greg Salazar, Jim Cassidy
- 888The Pilgrim’s Progress: The Glorious FightThis week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob return to John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. In the section covered this week, we continue with Apollyon’s confrontation of Christian in the Valley of Humiliation. With his words failing to persuade Christian to return to the City of Destruction, Apollyon rages and a glorious fight ensues. Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
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