Reformed Anglicans

Greg Allison’s Historical Theology. Zondervan, 2011. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Chapter 19: Prof. Allison leads one through the devastated wasteland of Reimarius, Schweitzer, Bultmann, Kirsopp Lake, Hugh Schonfield, and others on the subject of the atonement. We hear of the pushback from evangelicals like William Craig (a Molinist of all things), William Paley (though dated), Torrey in the “Fundamentals,” Pannenberg, Josh McDowell and others. N’ery a word about the BCP or WCF. C’mon man! Chapter 20: The Holy Spirit. 430ff. Prof. Allison leads on through the early church on the subject of the Holy Spirit: Clement of Rome, Barnabas, the Shepherd of Hermas, the Didache, Justin Martyr, Tertullian and a detour on Montanus and his two prophetesses—which didn’t go down well. Magnificent tour by the Prof. McNiell, John Thomas. The History and Character of Calvinism. New York: Oxford University Press, 1962. Chapter 14. Calvin’s Personality and Historical Importance, 226-236. McNeill retails the c...

Diarmaid MacCulloch’s Thomas Cranmer. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1996. Chapter 8. A problem of survival: 1542-1546 (pp.297-438). Prof. Mac takes us through the complex and complicated landscape of interpersonal connections in Kent, Canterbury, Oxford, Cambridge, the monastic connections (of angry monks evicted from closed down monasteries), and the academic connections in theology and law. The Prebendaries’ Plot of 1543 had a long pre-history including Robert Serles, Prebendary William Gardiner (no relation to Wily), Dr. London and Wily in the shadows. The network is thick and complicated. Unravelling this is what Prof. Mac attempts to do. Taking down Cranmer with articles of accusation will be done, but Henry will frustrate, foil and take down the plotters (300). Stay tuned. Ridley, Jaspar. Thomas Cranmer. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1962. Chapter 18. The Book of Common Prayer, 272-289. Somerset and Cranmer proceed slowly through 1547, fearing an imputation of doing things ...

“The Fundamentals—A Testimony to the Truth, Vol. 1: “Chapter 5: Holy Scripture and Modern Negations” by Prof. James Orr of United Free Church College, Glasgow, Scotland: Prof Orr rallies around the magnitude of the question: is God’s Word inspired and, if not, where does that leave us? Very nice intro by the Prof who “gets it.” “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 is bring the article to a conclusion: lovely tour of Paul’s lexicon and doctrine. “The Fundamentals—A Testimony to the Truth, Vol. 4:” “THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD” BY DAVID JAMES BURRELL, D. D., L.L. D., Minister Of The Marble Collegiate Church, New York City, is modestly sermonizing on God’s attributes. We’ll take Berkhof and Turretin, thank you. New Horizons (October 2022): in in “Meredith G. Kline: Controversial and Creative,” Dr. John Muether takes us through Kline...

Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (Mar 2022): in “Societally Derived or Studiously Prosecuted? God, Revelation, Education and David Payne:” Dr. Christopher Sarver will now rebut Mays’ characterization of Bishop Payne’s theology. Dr. Sarver has dealt with Mays’ work, but now it’s time for corrections. Anglican Theological Review (May 2022): in “An Anglican Ethic for a COVID-19 Pandemic,” Dr. Christopher Jones obtrudes and intrudes with medical counsel more fit for a medical than a theological journal. Next. Anglican Theological Review (Aug 2022): “Editors Introduction:” this edition is dedicated to historical retrieval on Archbishop Tutu. Tutu is incarnational we are told, but not a hint of Augustinian theology to be seen, nor church history for that matter. Trinity Journal (TEDS, Spring 2022): in “The De-Creation of Genesis 1 in the Trumpets of Revelation 8-9,” Dr. Craig Robinson wonks one into narcolepsy. A sleeper making more connections than the text may justify....

William Whittaker’s “Disputation on Holy Scripture:” Dr. Whittaker takes on the spurious Gospels of the NT that were cantoned off to the side, to Bart Ehrman’s chagrin. Bart got a bad attitude at PTS and got rolled. Dr. Whittaker and the Papists agree on the NT Canon, but the Papists add Papal decretals and “unwritten traditions” as co-equal in authority to the NT canon. Dr. Whittaker will take that up later. We recommend Dr. Cranmer’s “Unwritten Verities.” John Jewel’s “Apology for the Church of England:” the “Life of Jewell,” prefixed to the Apology, is ended with numerous encomiums, including Bishop Burnett, his successor at Salisbury. A start is made into the “Apology” with notes on how the Word of God and God’s people have been slandered and persecuted through the ages. Bishop Jewell was on the receiving end of that as well as the English people. ANF1—“Apostolic Fathers and Justin Martyr:” the outlining continues on Irenaeus’s “Against Heresies.” On this day, 15 Oct, we rememb...

Diarmaid MacCulloch’s Thomas Cranmer. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1996. Cranmer unfortunately was tied up in business at Hampton Court in Fall 1542 and early 1543. As such, his attentions were focused on things at hand. As such, he was away from Kent and Canterbury as the militant traditionalists were squaring off with the evangelical staff. The militants were gaining confidence that Cranmer could be taken down. 1542-1546 becomes a period of survival and backroom tactics (296), famously known as the 1543 Prebendaries’ Plot. Ridley, Jaspar. Thomas Cranmer. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1962. In 1547 after Henry’s death, Cranmer gets the 12 Homilies going, 3 of which are believed to be Cranmer’s—Salvation, True and Lively Faith, and Good Works. Cranmer errantly pulls Gardiner into the orbit, probably hoping to conciliate the proud Prelate. Cranmer and Gardiner get into a tussle. Gardiner, rightly, faults Cranmer for submitting to the King’s Book of 1543. Cranmer seeks absolution c...

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., argues that Christians weren’t “Hellenized” but that Hellenes were “Christianized” in terms of reason. Concordia Theological Journal (January 2022), in “Repentance for the Corinthian Community: 1 Clement’s Presentation of Christ in the Old Testament,” Rev. Daniel Broaddus continues to show Clement’s high Christology and the OT epiphanies. Very nice article. Protestant Reformed Theological Journal 55,1 (Fall, 2021): BOOK REVIEW: “Middle Knowledge and Biblical Interpretation: Luis de Molina, Herman Bavinck, and William Lane Craig,” by Sze Sze Chiew. New York and Oxford: Peter Lang, 2016. Pp. 225. $59.95 (hardcover). ISBN-13: 978-3631672549. [Reviewed by David J. Engelsma]. Bavinck is clear of the “middle knowledge” but not William Craig, a modern exponent of it. “Middle Knowledge” mak...