To the Sources: Retrieving the Christian Theological Tradition
(This essay is adapted from a presentation given by Jackson Watts at the 2014 National Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society) Arguably the dominant mark of the 15th and 16th centuries was the call of ad fontes (lit. “to the fountains”). This period witnessed a resurgence of interest in Greco-Roman culture, as well as classical Christian sources from the Patristic period (roughly the first five centuries A.D.). This return to...
Practicing Christian Doctrine: Book Review
Over the last several years, my studies and ministry have taken me through a fascinating exploration of the relationship between beliefs and practices. Unfortunately, I’ve discovered that evangelicals have not emphasized this subject as much as it probably deserves. Even in lamenting the unhealthy disconnect between thinking and living, it’s difficult to avoid the suspicion that part of the blame is due to the way that theology is...
Thomas Oden on “Theology”
I’ve often been intrigued by the range of definitions that are suggested for the word “theology.” I recently came across one by Thomas Oden in his memoir which I think does a nice job of combining the academic, teleological, and doxological aspects of theology: “Theology is the study of God. The study of God is simply to be enjoyed for its own incomparable subject, the One most beautiful, most worthy to be praised. Life with God...
Where Grace Abounded Sin Abounded More?
In his 1611 work A Short and Plaine Proofe, Thomas Helwys argued against unconditional election and limited atonement. Helwys was convinced that these doctrines were not only unbiblical, but actually implicated God in man’s sin. What follows is a quite intriguing portion of his argument: Yet those of this opinion that hold God has decreed some to reprobation say he would not have all, but some to repent. If they would speak...
Reflections on ETS 2014
Two weeks ago, over 2500 students, professors, exhibitors, and scholars from many fields journeyed to San Diego, California for the 66th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS). My colleague Matthew McAffee (Welch College) and I were among those in attendance. We each enjoyed the privilege of giving presentations this year. More significant, though, was the opportunity to attend three days of presentations from...
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