Reformed Forum

Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy, and Camden Bucey discuss the importance of intellectual discipline for cultivating the life of the Christian mind.

Jared Oliphint and Nathan Shannon discuss Brian Leftow's God and Necessity (Oxford University Press). In this volume, Leftow seeks to offer a metaphysic of modality. This leads him into a discussion of necessity and possibility, truth making, God's nature, and divine simplicity. It's a wide-ranging title, but one that offers many important themes for consideration. Dr. Shannon has written a review of the book that will appear soon in the Westminster Theological Journal.

Carl Trueman paints a portrait of Martin Luther through the lens of the Christian life. Martin Luther’s historical significance can hardly be overstated. Known as the father of the Protestant Reformation, Luther has had an enormous impact on Western Christianity and culture. In Luther on the Christian Life, historian Carl Trueman introduces readers to the lively Reformer, taking them on a tour of his historical context, theological system, and approach to the Christian life. Whether exploring Luther’s theology of protest, ever-present sense of humor, or misunderstood view of sanctification, this book will help modern readers go deeper in their spiritual walk by learning from one of the great teachers of the faith.

Carlton Wynne takes us on a journey through modern theology as we turn our attention to the theology of Wolfhart Pannenberg.

Vern Poythress explains how the Triune God of the Bible is the foundation for mathematics.

Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey discuss the patriarch Abraham as they turn to pp. 76–81 of Geerhardus Vos's book Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments.

This week on Proclaiming Christ we discuss Cain's brutal murder of Abel and consider this act in light of God's promises made in ch. 3. The brutality and desperation of human nature is uncovered as well as hope for life from the grave. Genesis 4:8–15: Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him." (English Standard Version)

Michael Allen and Scott Swain discuss whether Christians and churches be both catholic and Reformed. In their book Reformed Catholicity: The Promise of Retrieval for Theology and Biblical Interpretation (Baker Academic), Allen and Swain suggest Reformed Christians can commit not only to the ultimate authority of Scripture but also to receiving Scripture within the context of the apostolic church. This manifesto presents a case that to be Reformed means to go deeper into true catholicity rather than away from it. At the same time, it means holding fast to sola Scriptura. Michael Allen is Associate Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology and Dean of Students and Scott Swain is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Academic Dean at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida.

This week on Proclaiming Christ we discuss the different offerings that Cain and Able bring to the Lord, and we look at the theological significance of those offerings. Genesis 3:20–24: Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD." And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." (English Standard Version)

Throughout history, Genesis 6 has puzzled Bible interpreters. Who are the sons of God? Are they human royalty? Angelic beings? Demons? And who are the daughters of men? Did the union of these two produce demigod offspring who would plague the land? Rita F. Cefalu joins us to bring clarity to this discussion. Ms. Cefalu has written an excellent article, "Royal Priestly Heirs to the Restoration Promise of Genesis 3:15: A Biblical Theological Perspective on the Sons of God in Genesis 6" published in the Westminster Theological Journal. Building upon Meredith Kline, but offering her own interpretation on the matter, Ms. Cefalu provides a thorough and compelling treatment of this difficult passage. Ms. Cefalu is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of San Diego. She is a graduate of Westminster Seminary California (MA Theological Studies), Wheaton Graduate School, and a PhD candidate at Queens University Belfast. 6:1 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. (Genesis 6:1–4, English Standard Version)

Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey speak about theophanies before turning to pages 72–76 of Geerhardus Vos's Biblical Theology to speak about the Angel of Jehovah, or the Angel of the Lord. The presence of the Angel punctuates epochal moments in covenant history, and his presence is critical during the patriarchal period. Camden's article, "The Lord and His Messengers: Toward a Trinitarian Interpretation of Malachi 3:1–4," which was mentioned during the program, was published in The Confessional Presbyterian, Volume 7 (2011).

Jim Cassidy, Glen Clary, and Camden Bucey peruse the tenth edition of the Confessional Presbyterian Journal. While they discuss the general contents of the issue, Glen Clary also speaks in some depth about his book on Reformed liturgy and the nature of the Church.

Donald Macleod brings decades of preaching and teaching to this conversation regarding the atonement. Dr. Macleod has written a superb book on the subject titled Christ Crucified: Understanding the Atonement (IVP Academic).

Jim Cassidy sits down with John Shaw to speak about Reformed church planting. Rev. Shaw is the General Secretary for the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

Nathaniel Gray Sutanto reexamines the argument from consciousness as he offers a covenantal apologetic crticism of common-sense realism.

Building upon Geerhardus Vos's foundational essay "The Eschatological Aspect of the Pauline Conception of the Spirit" Dr. Lane Tipton develops the role of the Spirit with regard to redemptive history, the law and soteriology. Vos remarks that the core of Paul’s eschatology lies in the sphere of the Spirit. The Spirit, given to the resurrected Christ, inaugurates the eschatological age of the world to come. This world to come is realized climactically in the resurrection of Christ as the firstfruits of the one great resurrection of harvest in the Spirit.

Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey open the beginning portion of the seventh chapter in Vos's Biblical Theology looking at Biblical criticism and theophany.

In our final episode of the year, we take a look back at some of the best moments of 2014.

Jeff Waddington introduces several new and recent books includes titles on Junius, Jonathan Edwards, and Cornelius Van Til.

Jared Oliphint reviews Beyond the Control of God? Six Views on the Problem of God and Abstract Objects edited by Paul Gould.

Bruce Baugus speaks about the history and current state of missions in China with a focus on Reformed ecclesiology.

Gregg Allison provides a helpful overview of official Roman Catholic teaching with the goal of helping evangelicals to understand the Catholic Church more deeply and accurately.

Jim Cassidy reviews Two Views on the Doctrine of the Trinity (Zondervan) Stephen Holmes, Paul Molnar, Thomas McCall, and Paul Fiddes.

Jim Cassidy reviews Biblical Theology: The Common Grace Covenants by Jeffrey Niehaus (Weaver Book Company).

Jim Cassidy reviews Grounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old-Fashioned Way by J.I. Packer and Gary Parrett published by Baker Books.

Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey introduce books by Jordan Cooper, Gregg Allison, and several other authors and editors.

We open the book of Hebrews briefly addressing its authorship, Christology, covenantal theology, and the difficult question of apostasy.