Reformed Forum

Dr. Vern Poythress speaks about the study of history and historiography from a Christian perspective. In his book, Redeeming Our Thinking about History: A God-Centered Approach, Dr. Poythress emphasizes God's own command to remember his works and share them with the next generation. He explores providentialism, divine purpose, and the four basic phases of biblical history: creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. Vern S. Poythress (PhD, Harvard University; ThD, University of Stellenbosch) is Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Biblical Interpretation, and Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he has taught for four decades. In addition to earning six academic degrees, he is the author of numerous books and articles on biblical interpretation, language, and science.

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof's little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. Within the second section, The Doctrine of God and Creation, the sixth chapter on "The Attributes of God," sets before us the

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss what it means for Christians to have a returning king, especially in the midst of the difficult and dark days of our lives. We all have those days when we forget to fix our eyes on Christ who will

We turn to pp. 299–301 of Geerhardus Vos's book, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments. Vos discusses three ways in which the structure of New Testament Revelation can be determined from within Scripture itself. 1. From indications in the Old Testament 2. From the teachings of Jesus 3. From the teachings of Paul and the other apostles

Where is Christ's body now? In short, that is the question behind our conversation today with K. J. Drake, the author of The Flesh of the Word: The extra Calvinisticum from Zwingli to Early Orthodoxy (Oxford University Press, 2021). In this book, Drake seeks to broaden the study of the extra Calvinisticum by investigating how the doctrine arose within sixteenth-century Reformed theology as well as how its form and function developed over time due to the changing polemical and theological contexts from Zwingli to the period of early Reformed orthodoxy. K. J. Drake is Academic Dean and Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Indianapolis Theological Seminary. He received his BA in History, Classics, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and Latin from the University of Nebraska. He attended Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis where he received his M.Div.

Carlton Wynne, Lane Tipton, and Camden Bucey turn to pp. 48–54 of Cornelius Van Til's The Defense of the Faith to discuss the Christian theory of knowledge. In this section, Van Til speaks of the relationship between a theory of reality and the theory of knowledge and how for orthodox Christians, the absolute God of Scripture is identical with his knowledge while finite creatures are fundamentally dependent upon him. We also announce the arrival of Lane Tipton's book, The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til.

Dr. Benjamin Gladd shares his methods and favorite tools for facilitating research and eventual publication of his writing. Dr. Gladd is Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. He is the author of Handbook on the Gospels (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2021) and From Adam and Israel to the Church: A Biblical Theology of the People of God (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2019). Along with G. K. Beale, he is the co-author of The Story Retold: A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2020). Dr. Gladd is also series editor for IVP's Essential Studies in Biblical Theology and Baker's Handbook on the New Testament. Links Richard Hays, Reading Backwards (https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Backwards-Figural-Christology-Fourfold/dp/1481302337/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=hays+reading+backwards&qid=1658333854&sprefix=hays+reading+%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-1) Sönke Ahrens, How to Take Smart Notes (https://www.amazon.com/How-Take-Smart-Notes-Technique-ebook/dp/B09V5M8FR5/ref=sr_1_2?crid=O5OXLXWD9TY7&keywords=sonke+ahrens&qid=1658333869&sprefix=sonke+ahrens%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-2) Drafts (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drafts/id1236254471) Notability (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/notability/id360593530) Liquid Text (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/liquidtext/id922765270) Zotero (https://www.zotero.org/) Papers SimpleMind (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/simplemind-mind-mapping/id305727658) Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death (https://www.amazon.com/Amusing-Ourselves-Death-Discourse-Business-ebook/dp/B0023ZLLH6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=amusing+ourselves+to+death&qid=1658333997&s=books&sprefix=amusing+our%2Cstripbooks%2C80&sr=1-1) Accordance (https://accordancebible.com/) Logos (https://www.logos.com/)

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof's little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. Within the second section, The Doctrine of God and Creation, the fifth chapter on "The Names of God," serves to help us to un

Dr. Carlton Wynne speaks about his chapter, "Scripture: Foundational for Life and Ministry," which is published in Theology for Ministry: How Doctrine Affects Pastoral Life and Practice. This book is a festshcrift for Sinclair Ferguson, edited by William R. Edwards, John C. A. Ferguson, and Chad Van Dixhoorn and published by P&R Publishing. Dr. Wynne discusses the significance of the doctrine of inspiration as well as the necessity, sufficiency, and authority of Scripture. He then connects these essential doctrines to their practicality and usefulness for daily life and particularly, pastoral ministry. By understanding the doctrine of Scripture and especially its redemptive-historical character, we come to a greater appreciation of God's enduring love and care for his covenant people.

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob begin a discussion of Louis Berkhof's little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. Within the first section, The Doctrine of God and Creation, the fourth chapter on "The Essential Nature of God,�

Mark Winder previews his upcoming course on Zephaniah wherein he will discuss the prophecy in its context, and in doing so examine how the prophet utilizes protological themes to construct an eschatological picture pointing to the great Day of the Lord. We will begin with an introduction to covenant themes and establish the veracity of the theological assumptions and hermeneutical method employed in approaching Zephaniah. Dr. Winder will be teaching an in-person course at the Reformed Forum headquarters in Libertyville, Illinois, August 12–13, 2022. For more information and registration, visit https://reformedforum.org/zephaniah2022/

What does Paul mean when he says that all things in heaven and earth will be united in Christ? The apostle moves from what Christ did on the cross for his people – to look at the place of the cross in all of history. Robert Arendale and Mark Winder look at the concept of mystery, the language of "things in heaven and things on earth," and the culmination of this text – the uniting of these things.

We discuss Geerhardus Vos's sermon, "Heavenly Mindedness" from his collection Grace and Glory: Sermons Preached at Princeton Seminary. In this sermon, Vos directs the Christian to consider the heavenly realities, where Christ is, as the proper focus and posture for the Christian throughout this present earthly pilgrimage.

Brad Isbell (@ChortlesWeakly) briefly steps away from the General Assembly floor, Twitter, and Presbycast to jump on another podcast mic to speak with Camden Bucey about the PCA General Assembly and the storied histories of naming the OPC and the PCA. Mr. Isbell is a ruling elder at Covenant PCA in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Along with @Wresbyterian, he hosts Presbycast. He recently wrote, "What's in a Denominational Name?" for the Nicotine Theological Journal. The article has also been published at The Aquila Report.

In the third volume of this new translation of Petrus Van Mastricht's Theoretical-Practical Theology, Mastricht begins with a discussion of the decrees of God and how they establish His eternal purpose for everything. He then shows how the decrees are carried out in creation and in God's continual providence. The volume concludes with Mastricht's treatment of the apostacy of Adam from his original estate and the devastating effects of sin that followed. This is an important volume for learning how God governs all things, even the rebellious actions of those good things He created. Jeff Waddington, Dan Ragusa, and Camden Bucey speak about several of the unique positions Van Mastricht held, including his somewhat mediating view between infra- and supralapsarianism, his argument against Copernicanism, his view of the third heaven, and his view of angelic and demonic activity.

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob begin a discussion of Louis Berkhof's little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. Within the first section, Introduction, the third chapter on "Scripture," serves to help us to understand Revelation and Scripture, the nature and extent of inspiration, and the perfections of Scripture.

On this episode, we speak about the ecclesiastical and theological contributions of Dr. Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. Gaffin having been elected the chairman of the OPC's Committee on Foreign Missions. Crossway has also published his latest book, In the Fullness of Time, a revision of his lecture notes from his course, Acts and Paul.

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue a discussion of Louis Berkhof's little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. Within the first section, Introduction, the second chapter on "Revelation," serves to help us to understands the revelation in general, general revelation, and special revelation.

Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey turn to pages 289–296 of Geerhardus Vos' book, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments. In this section, Vos introduces several significant interpretive practices which are critical for a proper understanding of the eschatology of the prophets. These are the principles of (1) finality and consummation, (2) prophetic idiom, and (3) the coming of the Messiah as the "gift of God."

Adam York joins Camden Bucey to speak about the two age construction found throughout Scripture and especially in the Pauline epistles. The Scripture frequently speak of "this age" and "the age to come." These categories have a significant effect upon how Christians should understand their place in the world. Jesus, the second Adam, has entered into "the age to come." Through union with Christ, believers not only experience the victory in anticipation of Christ's second coming, they also are already raised with him and seated with him in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). Adam York is pastor of Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois. Donate now to receive an invitation to our private chat server. You won't want to miss our Christ the Center recording scheduled for June 2, 2022 at 2:30 pm (EDT). This is Christ the Center episode 752 (https://www.reformedforum.org/ctc752)

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob begin a discussion of Louis Berkhof's little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. Within the first section, Introduction, the first chapter on "Religion," serves to help us to understands the nature, seat, and origin of religion.

On May 21, 1922, Harry Emerson Fosdick preached a sermon that helped spark the modernist-fundamentalist controversy. Dr. Darryl G. Hart joins Camden Bucey to speak about this infamous sermon and a new course on Machen that Dr. Hart recorded last week for Reformed Academy.

We welcome Dr. Brandon Crowe to the program to discuss the obedience of Christ and the salvation of his people. In his latest book, Dr. Crowe sets out to answer the basic but all-important question: Is perfect obedience necessary for salvation? Listen as we explore the covenant of works, the atonement, the nature of Christ's obedience, his resurrection, and the doctrine of justification. Brandon D. Crowe (PhD, University of Edinburgh) is professor of New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary and author of The Last Adam and The Hope of Israel.

In this episode, Rob and Bob continue a series on familiar psalms that we are drawn to more than others for one reason or another. This week we bring our discussion of Psalm 69 to a close.

Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey discuss the ecclesiology (the doctrine of the church) and the significant ways it informs our daily lives. Dr. Cassidy is studying R. B. Kuiper's The Glorious Body of Christ with his congregation, and we take the opportunity to speak about the nature and limits of church authority, the distinction between the church as organism and the church as organization, and the church's relation to the government and culture.