Theology

Just came across this article in New Blackfriars, and it looks helpful, especially in the context of Anglican debates about women’s ordination. Title: “The Four Types of Priesthood in the New Testament: On Avoiding Confusions about What ‘Priesthood’ Means” Author: Geoffrey Turner Abstract: Christian discourse tends to treat the concept of ‘priesthood’ univocally, so that ordained priests are seen to share the priesthood of Christ. But a careful reading of Hebrews shows clearly that the priesthood of Christ is unique to him. There are four (even five) types of priest in the New Testament and each of them is distinct and not to be confused. ...

This is the question we’re considering this week in our doctoral seminar on biblical and theological integration. Two of us are theologians and the other four are bible scholars. Should be interesting! (Note: we’ll have to save the difference(s) between systematic, historical, and dogmatic theology for another post!) Here are the articles we were assigned to read for this week: D.A. Carson, “Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology” in the New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, pp. 89-104. D.A. Carson, “Unity and Diversity in the New Testament: The Possibility of Systematic Theology” in Scripture and Truth, D. A. Carson and J. D. Woodbridge, eds. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1983), pp. 65-95. G. Hasel, “The Relationship between Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology” Trinity Journal 5 (1984): 113-27; I.H. Marshall, “Climbing Ropes, Ellipses and Symphonies: The Relation between Biblical and Systematic Theology” in A Pathway into the Holy Scripture, P.E. Satterthwaite and D.F. Wright, eds. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994), 199–219. E.A. Martens, “Moving from Scripture to Doctrine” Bulletin for Biblical Research 15.1 (2005): 77-103. Kevin Vanhoozer, “Interpreting Scripture between the Rock of Biblical Studies and the Hard Place of Systematic Theology: The State of the Evangelical (Dis)union” in Richard Lints, ed., Renewing the Evangelical Mission (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2013), 201-25. Other than that, for the rest of the semester, we’re reading at least selections from the following works. The goal is to learn from examples of biblical and theological integration. ...

As a part of my “pedagogical experience” at Wheaton College this semester, I was required to draft a syllabus for an introduction to Christian theology. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. Note: the length of this syllabus doesn’t necessarily correspond to the difficulty of this course Contact Information Email: [REDACTED] Phone: [REDACTED] Office Hours (Buswell Library Carrell): T, W, R, 15:00–17:00. Course Description This course is an introduction to the methods of systematic theology and the major topics within biblical revelation. Special attention is given to the rationale for these Christian doctrines, their systematic interconnections as well as their development within the history of Christian thought, and their contemporary challenges. This class is your opportunity to reinforce why you believe what you believe and to examine how it impacts your life. ...

For my “Pedagogical Experience” requirement at Wheaton, I’m helping to teach a masters-level Christian Theology course. Yesterday, I got to teach a lesson on justification and sanctification. A lot to cover in a 95-minute class session! If you’re interested in what I covered, here are my slides: Justification and Sanctification Slides (PDF) And here is the handout: Justification and Sanctification Handout (Word)

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGIES: A LIST I put together the following list, using the 10th edition of John Glynn’s Commentary and Reference Survey (Kegel, 2007) as a starting point. I’ll be updating this list in the future, but I could use your help. If there’s something that needs included, please let me know in the comments! Systematic Theologies Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics, 5 vols. In 14 parts. (T&T Clark, [1932–1967] 1936–1969). Bavinck, Herman. Reformed Dogmatics, ed. John Bolt (Baker, 2003-). Berkhof, Louis. Combined Systematic Theology, 4th ed. (Eerdmans, 1939) and Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology (Eerdmans, 1996). Berkouwer, G. Studies in Dogmatics, 14 vols. (Eerdmans, 1952-76). Bird, Michael F. Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. (Zondervan, 2013). Bloesch, Donald. Christian Foundations, 7 vols. (IVP, 1992-). Bray, Gerald. God Is Love: A Biblical and Systematic Theology. (Crossway, 2012). Buswell, James. A Systematic Theology of the Christian Religion, 2 vols. (Zondervan, 1962-63). Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2 vols. (Westminster John Knox, 1960). Chafer, Lewis. Systematic Theology, 4 vols. (Kregel, 1993). Unabridged. Coakley, Sarah. God, Sexuality, and the Self: An Essay ‘On the Trinity.’ (Cambridge University Press, 2013) Volume 1 of a 4-volume systematic theology. Culver, Robert. Systematic Theology (Christian Focus, 2005). Dulles, Avery. The Craft of Theology (Crossroad, 1992). Erickson, Millard. Christian Theology, 2d ed. (Baker, 1998). Finger, Thomas. A Contemporary Anabaptist Theology (IVP, 2004). Finger, Thomas. Christian Theology, 2 vols. (Herald, 1985, 1989). Frame, John. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief. (P&R, 2013). Fries, Heinrich. Fundamental Theology (Catholic University of America, 1996). Garrett, James. Systematic Theology, 1 vols. (Eerdmans, 1990, 1995). Geisler, Norman. Systematic Theology, 4 vols. (Bethany House, 2002-). Arminian. Gerrish, B.A. Christian Faith: Dogmatics in Outline. (Westminster John Knox, 2015). Grenz, Stanley. Theology for the Community of God (Eerdmans, 2000). Grider, J. Kenneth. A Wesleyan-Holiness Theology. (Beacon Hill, 1994). Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology (Zondervan, 1994). Calvinistic charismatic. Gunton, Colin. The Christian Faith (Blackwell, 2001). Introduction. Guthrie, Shirley C., Jr. Christian Doctrine. (WJK, 1994). Revised edition. Henry, Carl. God, Revelation, and Authority, 6 vols. (Word, 1976-83; Crossway, 1999). Hodge, Charles. Systematic Theology, 3 vols. (Hendrickson, 1997). Hodge, Charles. Systematic Theology, abridged 1-vol. ed. (Presbyterian & Reformed, 1997). Horton, Michael. The Christian Faith. (Zondervan, 2011). Horton, Stanley, ed. Systematic Theology, rev. ed. (Logion, 1995). Pentecostal. Jenson, Robert. Systematic Theology, 2 vols. (Oxford University Press, 1997-99). Kärkkäinen, Veli-Matti. A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World, 5 vols. (Eerdmans, 2013-17). Küng, Hans. Christianity (Continuum, 1995). Lewis, Gordon, and Bruce Demarest. Integrative Theology (Zondervan, 1987-94). Three volumes in one. McClendon, James. Systematic Theology, 3 vols. (Abingdon, 2002, 1986-2000). Anabaptist. McGrath, Alister. Christian Theology, 3d ed. (Blackwell, 2001). McKim, Donald. Introducing the Reformed Faith (Westminster John Knox, 2001). Menzies, William, and Stanley Horton. Bible Doctrines (Logion, 1993). Pentecostal. Oden, Thomas. Systematic Theology, 3 vols. (Harper, 1987-92; Prince, 2000). Methodist. Olson, Roger. Arminian Theology (IVP, 2006). Olson, Roger. The Mosaic of Christian Belief (IVP, 2002) . Pannenberg, Wolfhart. Systematic Theology, 3 vols. (Eerdmans, 1991,1994, 1997). Rahner, Karl. Foundations of Christian Faith (Seabury, 1978). Idealist Christology. Rahner, Karl. Theological Investigations, 23 vols. (Helicon/Herder and Herder/Seabury/Crossroad, 1961-92). Ratzinger, John. Principles of Catholic Theology (Ignatius, 1987). Rausch, Thomas P. Systematic Theology: A Roman Catholic Approach. (Liturgical Press, 2016). Reymond, Robert. A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith (Thomas Nelson, 1998). Reformed introduction. Shedd, William. Dogmatic Theology, 3d ed. (Presbyterian & Reformed, 2003). Sonderegger, Katherine. Systematic Theology, 3 vols. (Fortress, 2015-). Strong, Augustus. Systematic Theology (Judson, 1907). Tanner, Kathryn. Jesus, Humanity and the Trinity: A Brief Systematic Theology. (Fortress, 2001). Thiessen, Henry. Lectures in Systematic Theology, rev. ed. (Eerdmans, 1977). Thiselton, Anthony C. Systematic Theology. (Eerdmans, 2015). Tillich, Paul. Systematic Theology, 3 vols. (University of Chicago, 1963). Turretin, Francis. Institutes of Elenctic Theology, 3 vols. (P&R, [1679–85] 1997). van der Kooi, Cornelis, and Gijsbert van den Brink. Christian Dogmatics: An Introduction. (Eerdmans, 2017). Translation of 2012 Dutch original. Vos, Geerhardus J. Reformed Dogmatics, 5 vols. (Lexham, 2014-16). Wiley, H. Orton. Christian Theology, 3 vols. (Nazarene Publishing, 1940-43). Arminian perspective. Williams, Rodman. Renewal Theology (Zondervan, 1992). Three volumes in one, Pentecostal. Handbooks, Introductions, and Edited Volumes Allen, Michael, and Scott R. Swain, eds. Christian Dogmatics: Reformed Theology for the Church Catholic. (Baker Academic, 2016). Beinert, Wolfgang, and Francis Schussler Fiorenza, eds. Handbook of Catholic Theology (Crossroad, 1995). Berkhof, Louis. Introduction to Systematic Theology (Eerdmans, 1932; Baker, 1979). Enns, Paul. Moody Handbook of Theology (Moody, 1989). Erickson, Millard. Introducing Christian Doctrine, 2d ed., cd. Arnold Hustad (Baker, 2001). Abridgement of Christian Theology. Grudem, Wayne. Bible Doctrine (Zondervan, 1999). Abridgement of Systematic Theology. Hanson, Paul. Introduction to Christian Theology (Fortress, 1997). Horton, Michael. Pilgrim Theology. (Zondervan, 2013). Distillation of Horton’s Christian Faith. Jones, Beth Felker. Practicing Christian Doctrine. (Baker Academic, 2014). Komanchak, Joseph, Mary Collins, and Dermot Lane, eds. The New Dictionary of Theology (Liturgical, 1987). Latourelle, Rene, and Rino Fisichella, eds. Dictionary of Fundamental Theology (Crossroad, 1994). MacArthur, Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth. (Crossway, 2017). McGrath, Alister. ed. The Christian Theology Reader, 2d cd. (Blackwell, 2001). McGrath, Alister. Studies in Doctrine (Zondervan, 1997). Four volumes in one. Migliore, Daniel. Faith Seeking Understanding. (Eerdmans, 1991, 2004, 2014). Miller, Ed, and Stanley Grenz, eds. Fortress Introduction to Contemporary Theologies (Fortress, 1998). Plantinga, Richard J., Thomas R. Thompson, and Matthew D. Lundberg. An Introduction to Christian Theology. (Cambridge University Press, 2010). Ryrie, Charles C. Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth. (Moody, [1986] 1999). Sawyer, James. The Survivor’s Guide to Theology (Zondervan, 2002). Introduction. Schussler Fiorenza, Francis, and John Galvin, eds. Systematic Theology, 2 vols. (Fortress, 1991). Stuhlmueller, Carroll, ed. The Collegeville Dictionary of Biblical Theology (Liturgical, 1996). Thorsen, Don. An Exploration of Christian Theology. (Hendrickson, 2008). Special Studies Brown, Raymond E., Karl Donfried, Joseph Fitzmyer, and John Reumann. Mary in the New Testament (Fortress/Paulist, 1978). Chauvet, Louis-Marie. The Sacraments (Liturgical, 2001). Collinge, William. The A to Z of Catholicism (Scarecrow, 2001). Congar, Yves. Diversity and Communion (23rd Community, 1985). Congdon, David. The God Who Saves: A Dogmatic Sketch. (Cascade, 2016). de Lubac, Henri. The Sources of Revelation (Crossroad, 2000). Dulles, Avery. The Assurance of Things Hoped For (Oxford University Press, 1994). Forlines, Leroy. The Quest for Truth (Randall House, 2001). Non-Wesleyan Arminian position. Grenz, Stanley. Renewing the Center (Baker, 2000). Grenz, Stanley. The Named God and the Question of Being (Westminster John Knox, 2005). Grenz, Stanley. The Social God and the Question of Being (Westminster John Knox, 2001). Kaspar, Walter. The God of Jesus Christ (Crossroad, 1984). Idealist Christology. Kaspar, Walter. Theology and Church II (Herder and Herder, 2001). Küng, Hans. Infallible? 2d ed. (Continuum, 1994). Livermore, Paul, Donald Bastien, and Thomas Oden. The God of Our Salvation (Light and Life Communications, 1995). Wesleyan. O’Collins, Gerald. Christology (Oxford University Press, 1995). Peters, Ted. God: The World’s Future, 2d ed. (Fortress, 2000). Postmodern. Ratzinger, John. In the Beginning (Eerdmans, 1995). Richard, Lucien. Christ: The Self-Emptying of God (Paulist, 1997). Kenosis. Schillebeeckx, Edward. Christ (Crossroad, 1980). Schillebeeckx, Edward. Church (Crossroad, 1990). Tracy, David. Plurality and Ambiguity (Harper, 1987). Van Beeck, Frans. God Encountered, 6 vols. (Liturgical, 1993-). Von Balthasar, Hans Urs. Mysterium Paschale (T & T dark, 1990). Warfield, Benjamin. Works, 10 vols. (Baker, 1991).

Kevin J. Vanhoozer, affectionately known by some as “KJV,” has written one of the best, briefest overviews of what theologians (should) do. The entire piece is filled with gems like the following: To become a theologian, you must be willing to bear true witness and call out false witnesses, casting down idols and ideologies. That’s the shadow side of theology, but the best part is speaking light and truth in astonished indications of God’s goodness. I love John Webster’s definition of theology: “that delightful activity in which the Church praises God by ordering its thinking towards the gospel of Christ.” Being a theologian means getting to have not necessarily the last word, but the word about last things, “the end for which God created the world” (to cite the title of a dissertation by Jonathan Edwards). It’s not only a good word but the best of all possible words, namely, that God glorifies humans and all creation, magnifying his own glory and subjecting all things to the Lordship of Christ, so that “God may be all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28). It’s the privilege of the theologian to bear witness to the length, depth, breadth, and width of the cross and Resurrection. Karl Barth is right: “The theologian who has no joy in his work is not a theologian at all.” ...

I was recently privileged to see one of my favorite bands, The Oh Hellos, in concert at the House of Blues in downtown Chicago. I love all of The Oh Hellos’ music, but one song, in particular, has remained poignant to me ever since I first heard it. The song is called “The Truth is a Cave,” and I think it provides a beautiful picture of what I’m calling “the theological journey” – the stages one goes through in one’s knowledge of God. ...

Personal Productivity in Psalm 127 I love Psalm 127. Not because it makes me feel great, necessarily, but because it hits me like a ton of bricks whenever I read it (like I did last night, during evening prayer). Here’s how the Psalm opens: Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. I don’t know about you, but it’s easy for me to think that my success or lack thereof completely depends on me and the intensity of my efforts. ...

This idea has been bouncing around in my head for a bit. It’s not fully-formed by any means, but I’d like to get it out there and hear what you think of it. Here it is: “Mental Models” could be a helpful model for theology. What is a “mental model”? Definition of mental models Put simply, a “mental model” is a concept used to help explain how the world works. ...

I want to share with you the following prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas Before Study, based on Oratio S. Thomae Aquinatis ante studium, which Thomas Aquinas would pray before studying, writing, or preaching. We prayed it responsively before class (Patristic and Medieval History and Doctrine) with Dr. Piotr Malysz at Beeson Divinity School, and I’ve since turned back to this prayer often! A Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas Before Study O God, Creator of all that is, From the treasures of Your wisdom, You have arrayed the universe with marvelous order, And now govern with skill and might. You are the true fount of light and wisdom. ...

INTRODUCTION Theological hermeneutics – human understanding and interpretation in light of the identity and acts of the triune God – faces two problematic questions that, I believe, every biblical and/or theological scholar must be prepared to address. First, should the Bible be read in some special sense as divine revelation, or should we read the Bible like any other text? And second, should biblical and theological studies be one discipline, or two? ...

The following is an “It is Finished” sermon preached on Ascension Sunday, 2017. You can listen to the sermon here: Your browser does not support the audio element. GOODBYES SUCK You know, if there’s one thing I hate, it’s goodbyes. Anyone else here hate goodbyes? Yeah, and the fact that I hate them so much means I’m not really very good at goodbyes. Sometimes I get awkward and silent. Sometimes I get awkward and really chatty! Heck, sometimes I get awkward and I make poor choices, like the one time when I was getting ready to say goodbye to my family when they dropped me off at college. ...

Theology is confusing enough, much more so when you attempt to summarize it all in a single essay! Nevertheless, such was my assignment in seminary in 2015. Here are the results. “At the centre of Christian faith is the history of Christ. At the centre of the history of Christ is his passion and his death on the cross.” ~ Jürgen Moltmann1 Theology in Outline: A[n Attempted] Summary of the Christian Faith We believe that, during the prefecture of Pontius Pilate, God died on a Roman cross.2 We also believe that, the third day thereafter, Jesus of Nazareth – the same person who had been crucified – rose again from the dead. ...

Not to take away from the undeniably biblical teaching that God is almighty, but sometimes I think we lose sight of God’s love for his image-bearers when we emphasize certain “strong” portraits of God at the expense of (instead of alongside of) other “weak” portraits found in Scripture. (I put “strong” and “weak” in quotes because perhaps our definitions of strength and weakness therefore need to change!) It might make some of us uncomfortable to read about God portrayed as a jilted lover or a frustrated mother, but those portraits just might be desperately needed in a time when so many people turn away from God because they can’t understand how he can possibly be the good Lord of a world so broken and dying. ...

“Violence is not human destiny because the God of peace is the beginning and the end of human history… “Granted, pushing the stone of peace up the steep hill of violence … is hard. It is easier, however, than carrying one’s own cross in the footsteps of the crucified Messiah. This is what Jesus Christ asks Christians to do. Assured of God’s justice and undergirded by God’s presence, they are to break the cycle of violence by refusing to be caught in the automatism of revenge.” (Volf, E&E, 306) ...