Theological Journals, Part 1: 10/5/2022

“The Fundamentals—A Testimony to the Truth, Vol. 1: “Chapter 4: The Bible and Modern Criticism, Professor F. Bettex of Stuttgart notes how backward and historic is the unbelief of the Graffie-Cultists. Celsus was a Bible hatchet-man like many other heretics, e.g., Hillel, Gamaliel and others through history. The “assured results of historico-critical science” are laughed off as old stuff.

“The Fundamentals—A Testimony to the Truth, Vol. 2:” in “Inspiration of the Bible—Definition, Extent and Proof,” Dr. James Gray (Moody Bible Institute and ordained minister in the Reformed Episcopal Church) notes Jesus’s utter reliance on the  OT as its Co-Author. The temptation story, amongst others, are noted. Once can’t be a Christian, follow Christ as Lord, and deny His Majesty’s view of the Canon. Period. Finito. Done.

“The Fundamentals—A Testimony to the Truth, Vol. 3: “Chapter 2: Paul’s Testimony to the Doctrine of Sin,” Professor Charles B. Williams (Southwestern Baptist Seminary, Fort Worth, TX): the Professor exquisitely works St. Paul on sin. The title says it all. He delivers. He brings the bacon home.

“The Fundamentals—A Testimony to the Truth, Vol. 4:” in “Modern Philosophy,” Attorney-at-Law, Philip Mauro call modern philosophy a rehash of Hinduism but with different words. Pantheism ends up deifying human sin and exalting monarchialistic Ich Theologie (our words).

“Theologians You Should Know: Apostolic Fathers to the 21^st Century,” Dr. Michael Reeves discusses Athanasius “Logos-Christology” as Creator and Redeemer, with an overview of “On the Incarnation.” God willing, that is in the reading queue.

Princeton Theological Review (Vol.22, No.1, Spring 2007): “Theory and Metaphor in Calvin’s Doctrine of the Atonement,” Darren Sumner is surprisingly good on Calvin—getting it right, unlike Susan the Socinian in the previous article. But, then, Presbyterians have no doctrinal core as they themselves admit.

Reformed Faith and Practice (May 2022): in “What Counts as `Biblical’ Philosophy? Reflections from Dru Johnson’s Biblical Philosophy, Dr. Gray Sutanto of Reformed Theological Seminary, Washington D. C., engages in summary work of Johnson’s quest to do philosophy with a Biblical framework. Based on the neo-Calvinistic tradition of Bavinck and Kuyper, to wit, having a theocentric view of all spheres of life, Johnson wants to see that addressed in philosophy.

Concordia Theological Journal (January 2022), in “Repentance for the Corinthian Community: 1 Clement’s Presentation of Christ in the Old Testament,” Rev. Daniel Broaddus is discussing Clement’s literalist interpretation of OT prophecies, not something unique to the 1^st century.

Protestant Reformed Theological Journal 55,1 (Fall, 2021): BOOK REVIEW: The Attributes of God: An Introduction, by Gerald Bray. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2021. Pp. 159. $15.99 (softcover). ISBN-13: 978-1433561177. The Person of Christ: An Introduction, by Stephen J. Wellum. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2021. Pp. 206. $18.99 (soft[1]cover). ISBN-13: 978-1433569432. The Church: An Introduction, by Gregg R. Allison. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2021. Pp. 181. $14.99 (softcover). ISBN-13: 978-1433562464. The New Creation: and the Storyline of Scripture, by Frank Thielman. Wheaton, Illinois: Cross[1]way, 2021. Pp. 142. $15.99 (softcover). ISBN-13: 978-1433559556. [Reviewed by David J. Engelsma]. Prof. Englesma takes on too much here with four books for review. He, like Rev. Barone, utterly slams Dr. Bray for stating that holiness is not intrinsic to the Divine Being. It’s so outrageous that this scribe can’t believe such without getting Bray’s volume. If the claim is true, we must say this is an outrageously heretical statement and Bray needs correction.

Themelios (Dec 2021): “Soteriology in the Gospel of John:” Dr. Bruce Reichenback of Augsburg University, Minneapolis, notes that the Baptizer’s theme of the “Lamb” is the interpretive key to all of John’s Gospel. Dr. Reichback fleshes that out more largely.

Themelios (2022): “The Pastor as Biblical Theologian:” Dr. Brian J. Tabb, Academic Dean of Bethlehem Seminary, Minneapolis, highly recommends the Jesus model of Luke 24.44-47 in expounding Jesus from the OT. We would add that Dr. Gaffin clung to that text repeatedly in his NT lectures.

Journal of Biblical and Theological Studies (5.2: 2020): Journal of Biblical and Theological Studies (5.2: 2020): in Surely a Catholic Church: The Orthodox Church as the Church John Mark Reynolds needs to fold his tent and go home.

Reformed Presbyterian Theological Journal (1837): the Editor is commenting on the interpretation of Romans 13 with the civil magistrates as appointed by God, but cautions that they, the magistrates, do not usurp God’s role by ungodly leadership. We’ll see where this goes.

Southwestern Theological Journal (Fall 2021): BOOK REVIEW: “Already Sanctified: A Theology of the Christian Life in Light of God’s Completed Work.” By Don J. Payne. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2020, 192pp., $22.99. The reviewer traces Payne’s history on the issue of sanctification: medievalism, Reformation, history of pietism in Lutheranism and Reformed circles, Wesleyanism, and the Keswick movement. 

The Biblical Repertory/Princeton Review (January 1837). The Editors review “Melancthon’s Letters:” we hear of Erasmus again begging off from association with Luther over Luther’s rudeness and Erasmus’s foresight of a “Revolution” to come. Hey, Erasmus had to please he patrons whence his bread was buttered. The sharp satirist could excel in sycophancy.