Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Historical Theology

Dedicated to Michael Barrett

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This book is dedicated to Michael P. V. Barrett (Hebrews 13:7), who for almost thirty years taught Old Testament at Bob Jones University and Seminary:

Here’s how Mark Gignilliat concludes his acknowledgments:

I am grateful for my undergraduate and seminary teachers—now more than ever. I have been blessed with many good and caring professors who have taken a special interest in my academic and spiritual growth. I am dedicating this book to one teacher in particular, Dr. Michael P V Barrett. It was in Dr. Barrett’s Old Testament courses where as an undergrad a fire was lit in me for rigorous and thoughtful exegesis of Scripture. I have vivid memories of lecture halls filled with students, mouth agape at the clarity and profundity of Dr Barrett’s lectures. We were all scared of him. “Where did that come from, Dr Barrett?” one of my friends shouted out in a moment of self-forgetfulness. “Well, Mr Gage, I got it from the Bible. Do you ever read your Bible?” Though we were scared of him, we loved him and still do. I have not been very good at keeping in contact with Dr Barrett. Intended letters are still left unwritten. I imagine he is not especially happy about all of the ecclesial and theological decisions I have made; I’m not sure I’m happy with all of them either. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the light and heat of Dr. Barrett’s lectures and life. The academicians and theologians who walk the halls of an ETS, SBL, or AAR conference may never know Dr Barrett’s name. I am quite sure he does not care. But he had a shaping influence on me, and I am deeply thankful I dedicate this book to him in grateful appreciation. (p. 10)

Do You Think I Wouldn’t Obey My Own Rules?

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In C. S. Lewis’s The Voyage of the Dawn Treader , Lucy reads a spell to make hidden things visible.

To her surprise, Aslan appears in the doorway:

“Oh, Aslan,” said she, “it was kind of you to come.”

“I have been here all the time,” said he, “but you have just made me visible.”

“Aslan!” said Lucy almost a little reproachfully. “Don’t make fun of me. As if anything I could do would make you visible!” [Read more…] about Do You Think I Wouldn’t Obey My Own Rules?

How Did C. S. Lewis View War?

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J. Daryl Charles and Timothy J. Demy, War, Peace, and Christianity: Questions and Answers from a Just-War Perspective (Wheaton: Crossway, 2010), 377–81 (numbering added):

[Question 99 of 104]

How did C. S. Lewis view war?

Lewis’s views on war sprang out of deep conviction and were tempered by personal experience. As an infantry officer wounded in the First World War, Lewis experienced firsthand the death and devastation wrought by war. [n. 77: For a fuller evaluation of Lewis’s experiences and reflections on war, see Timothy J. Demy, “Technology, Progress, and the Human Condition in the Life and Thought of C. S. Lewis” (PhD diss., Salve Regina University, 2004), 76–84, 250–67.] Yet he can be understood to stand firmly within the just-war tradition, as his writings indicate. As a matter of conviction, Lewis thought that most people would become confused if they tried to sort out just-war principles and apply them to each real or potential conflict. Therefore, he encouraged citizens and soldiers, especially those of religious faith, to be keenly aware of their responsibilities vis-à-vis unlawful orders. In so doing, not only would they serve the cause of justice, but they would also provide a unified witness of moral principle to the onlooking world. [Read more…] about How Did C. S. Lewis View War?

Two Critical and Thoughtful Reviews of Tim Tebow’s Book

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I’ve been following Tim Tebow pretty closely for the last two years, and the last three months have been a lot of fun!

I shared some thoughts about Tebow’s autobiography last August, and today I read two other critical and thoughtful reviews:

  1. Ted Kluck
  2. Daniel Threlfall

The reviews and authors differ:

  • Ted’s review is old (September 20, 2011); Daniel’s is new (posted today). But rereading Ted’s review today in light of what has happened since September is especially interesting.
  • Ted is a professional sports writer; Daniel doesn’t really follow sports. (Daniel is a good friend; we’re in the same small group in our church.)
  • Ted almost got the job to help write Tebow’s book; Daniel just read the book recently out of curiosity.

But both reviews are critical and thoughtful.

While not necessarily disagreeing with them, [Read more…] about Two Critical and Thoughtful Reviews of Tim Tebow’s Book

Happy 65th Birthday to Don Carson!

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Don at my home during my first of four years at TEDS (2006–2010)

I thank God for this man.

As I say at the end of this essay,

I thank God for gracing me with gifts to the church like Carson. . . .

I am excited that Carson is only in his mid-sixties and that he is in good health. If Jesus does not return and Carson’s health continues, Carson will very likely equip the church with dozens of more books and articles. His magnum opus will be a two-volume ‘whole-Bible’ BT. He explained to me that he needs about twenty more years to do this well. He first desires to finish his commentaries on John’s letters, Galatians, Hebrews, Revelation, and Ezekiel. Carson is one of those exceptional figures who is equipped to contribute an outstanding integrative BT that would serve as a reliable foundation for ST that is more genre-sensitive and aware of the Bible’s storyline. (pp. 273–74)

I regularly pray that God would preserve his health and sustain and even increase his productivity.

Related:

  1. Don Carson’s Festschrift (at the occasion of his 65th birthday)
  2. D. A. Carson’s Theological Method
  3. D. A. Carson Publications
  4. D. A. Carson MP3s Now Hosted by TGC

Tim Tebow’s Platform Stewardship

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Tim Tebow with Nathan Whitaker, Through My Eyes (New York: HarperCollins, 2011), pp. ix–x:

Since I first started playing high school football, a lot has been written about me. Some true, some not so true. Some positive, some not so positive. And some of it claiming to even know my mind-set and motivation.

It’s not always the easiest thing to be the center of so much spilled ink. You read glowing things, and it doesn’t feel deserved. You read things that are critical, and it cuts you to the bone. It’s because of both those extremes of others’ opinions that I felt it the natural thing to do to tell my story, written from my perspective. . . .

In addition, the sheer amount that has been written about me also seems to indicate that, for whatever reason, a great number of people have a significant interest in me. In some respects that is very flattering. I’d guess that any one of us would be flattered by that level of interest. However, my parents always told me, from an early age, that we all have the ability to influence others, whether through our words or actions, or both. They always added that, besides possessing the ability, we also have the responsibility to use it in a positive, encouraging, and uplifting way—a platform. Who knows? Maybe my platform will be the same in five years; maybe not. One thing I’m confident of is that the Lord already knows the answer to that, and He has a plan for it all. That is something I’ve learned to have the utmost assurance of and faith in—His daily, weekly, monthly, total and eternal plan for our lives. [Read more…] about Tim Tebow’s Platform Stewardship