Think Theology

Within the spectrum of Old Testament scholarship, the majority of non-evangelical scholars are advocates of the Documentary Hypothesis. This theory states that the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) was not written completely by Moses but by different post-Mosaic authors.  The theory suggests that these authors are determined by the usage of different Hebrew [...]

One of the students, a Creationist, says, “We didn’t like, evolve from anything. That doesn’t make any sense. I mean, how can, like, an African American person evolve from a white person. We’re different skin.” And Christians wonder why Evolutionists find Creationism to be ridiculous. Hmm. Wow.

In Grudem’s Systematic Theology (pp. 572-4), he provides four areas that Jesus experienced pain in the crucifixion: (1) Physical Pain and Death (2) The Pain of Bearing Sin (3) Abandonment (4) Bearing the Wrath of God Which of these four areas strikes you as more overwhelming to consider?

Wayne Grudem has been a tremendous blessing in my life. I can’t even begin to cover the various ways that his scholarship has blessed me in my study and training. So the following video is both a great opportunity to tip my hat towards him in respect and to join the masses in laughter… this [...]

I am the lucky brother of a wonderful sister who has down syndrome. I have also had friends and family who have lost infants. Lately I’ve had several people ask me about babies who die and people with developmental disabilities. What happens to them when they die? Well, this question is close to many of [...]

Previously, we focused on clarifying the views of Believer’s Baptism regarding mode (i.e., What is baptism? How should baptism be done? etc.). Here, we’ll highlight this view’s understanding on the meaning of baptism. The Meaning of Baptism: Why is baptism important? While we turn to the New Testament to discover the meaning of baptism, we [...]

The subject of baptism has divided many Christians, which is unfortunate. But controversy is essential where truth is rejected or distorted (e.g., in matters related to Christology and the gospel). Controversy is also deadly to Christian fellowship when disagreeing about truth dominates magnifying truth. However, many Christians feel threatened when they are confronted with controversial [...]

Justin Taylor points out an interesting discussion by Doug Wilson – Sproul and Wright: Judging by the Paperwork vs. Judging by the Heart. Taylor quotes the following gem from Wilson: The irony is that the mistake Wright makes about first century Jews, R.C. makes about the Reformed, and the valuable insight that Wright offers pastorally [...]

The Gospel of John is full of penetratingly insightful material to help us form a robust and exciting Pneumatology! I’m surprised so many Christian pastors and scholars overlook how deeply John writes about the work of the Spirit. In fact, the past 20 years of Johannine scholarship has provided some remarkable insight into John’s understanding [...]

I just picked up Andreas J. Kostenberger’s A Theology of John’s Gospel and Letters and I’m impressed. It, along with Carson’s Pillar commentary, is quickly becoming a must read for anyone interested in Johannine studies. At 656 pages, Kostenberger has provided a very interesting theology of John’s Gospel and three Epistles. I read the following [...]

In grad school I had a professor that taught a class called “Trinitarian Theology” which covered the doctrine of the Trinity. From Genesis to Revelation, our professor walked through the glorious truths that (1) God is three persons, (2) Each person is fully God, and (3) There is one God. Time and time again I [...]

Theological studies are generally broke down into categories such as Historical Theology, Biblical (exegetical) Theology, Practical Theology, Systematic Theology, Narrative Theology, etc. Each categories has a specific focus and a specific purpose. Some advocate one over the other and other people seem to dismiss all of them! I personally find great benefit from each of [...]

I’m not going to begin blogging on the differences between Reformed Theology and Arminian Theology and the debate about God’s sovereignty that has so often been beaten to death. I’m going to assume that if you are a Christian then you believe God is sovereign. Yet, there are some Christians who tend to hold to [...]

So I did it. Finally. I have cracked open N.T. Wright’s Justification: God’s Plan & Paul’s Vision. I’ve had the book for a bit and have been reading reviews of it on various blogs (a good list of reviews is found here). I’m not sure if reading reviews of the book before I actually read [...]

Continuing our study of Church History, we must take note of one of the earliest issues that we find addressed within both the NT and within the writings of the Patristics. The issue is still relevant today. It is a subject that predates Christianity (cf. Schaff’s History of the Christian Church, Volume II under the section [...]

About eight years ago I had the privilege of visiting and attending Bethlehem Baptist Church for a short time. BBC is where John Piper serves as Pastor of Preaching & Vision. I was an undergrad student at a Pentecostal University that had a significantly different theological position than that of Bethlehem. In fact, I was instructed by several to [...]