Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Systematic Theology

Five Exegetical Flash Points in the Justification Debate

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An introductory essay to IVP’s latest debate-book elaborates on five exegetical flash points in the justification debate:

  1. Paul’s attitude toward Judaism
  2. The role of works in final justification/judgment
  3. Justification/righteousness in the Old Testament
  4. Justifying righteousness: imputation, transformation or incorporation?
  5. The meaning of pistis

—Paul Rhodes Eddy, James K. Beilby, and Steven E. Enderlein, “Justification in Contemporary Debate,” in Justification: Five Views (ed. James K. Beilby and Paul R. Eddy; Spectrum Multiview Books; Downers Grove: IVP, 2011), pp. 67–81:

Here are the book’s five views:

  1. Michael S. Horton, traditional Reformed
  2. Michael F. Bird, progressive Reformed
  3. James D. G. Dunn, new perspective view
  4. Veli-Matti Käkkäinen, deification
  5. Gerald O’Collins, S.J. and Oliver P. Rafferty, Roman Catholic

Cf. Tom Schreiner’s review.

Intelligent Design

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Douglas Groothuis, Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith (Downers Grove: IVP, 2011), 329:

ID [intelligent design] should take its rightful place in the overall circle of evidence. Standing alone, it cannot provide a full apologetic for Christianity. Rather, ID provides strong evidence against the reigning naturalism in the realm of biology, as well as some support for theism as an overarching worldview.

That’s how Groothuis concludes his chapter “Evidence for Intelligent Design” (pp. 297–329).

Bill Barrick on Noah’s Flood

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Here’s a free PDF of the following article (posted with the publisher’s permission):

William D. Barrick. “Noah’s Flood and Its Geological Implications.” Pages 251–81 in Coming to Grips with Genesis: Biblical Authority and the Age of the Earth. Edited by Terry Mortenson and Thane H. Ury. Green Forest, AR: Master, 2008.

A lot of this discussion is above my pay grade (esp. re geology), but it’s disappointing when non-young-earth-creationists marginalize exegesis like this.

Outline:

1. The A Priori Status of the Biblical Record of the Flood

2. The Biblical Chronology of the Flood Narrative [Literary Issues] [Read more…] about Bill Barrick on Noah’s Flood

Conferences Debating Creation

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Two upcoming conferences debating creation:

1. Reading Genesis 1–2: An Evangelical Conversation (September 30–October 1, 2011, Chattanooga)

Speakers (moderated by Victor Hamilton) as listed here:

  1. John Walton: cosmic temple approach
  2. Tremper Longman: theistic evolution
  3. Dick Averbeck: literary/intertextual approach
  4. Jack Collins: analogical days approach
  5. Todd Beall: literal/recent creationist approach

2. Creation: Biblical Options; A Gracious Dialogue (October 28–29, 2011, Houston)

Speakers:

  1. Todd Beall
  2. Craig Blaising
  3. Ligon Duncan
  4. Walter Kaiser
  5. John Mark Reynolds
  6. Bruce Waltke
  7. John Walton

 

Rafting through the Grand Canyon

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In July I went on an eight-day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon.

Here are some reflections, videos, and pictures.

Reflections

  1. God’s power is immense. The sheer grandeur of the Grand Canyon is breathtaking.
  2. God’s creation is creative. He combines raging rapids with calm waters, towering rugged canyons with short sloping hills, hot desert landscape with refreshing waterfalls and greenery, painfully scorching heat with cool, crisp breezes. [Read more…] about Rafting through the Grand Canyon

Young-Earth and Old-Earth Creationism vs. Naturalism

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In my view young-earth creationism is exegetically superior and scientifically viable and coherent. It’s possible, however, to err by overemphasizing the issue in a way that demonizes old-earth proponents and lumps them together with theistic evolutionists. The relative importance of something is extraordinarily important, and understatement can be much more convincing than overstatement. Some well-intentioned people use inflammatory rhetoric that overstates the importance of holding to young-earth creationism, and it needlessly pushes people away from the position.

Contrast how Paul Nelson and John Mark Reynolds, who write the essay for young-earth creationism in Three Views on Creation and Evolution (ed. J. P. Moreland and John Mark Reynolds; Counterpoints; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999), conclude their rejoinder (pp. 100–102, emphasis in original):

It is obvious that a person who is generally committed to a traditional understanding of Christianity can be “old earth.” . . . Our disagreements on these points should not distract from the main topic. Philosophical naturalism is retarding science, philosophy, and theology. It seems to both of us that our reviewers agree in finding such a situation intolerable. To fail to unify with such people of goodwill in the assault on naturalism would not just be foolish; it would be intellectual treason. . . . [Read more…] about Young-Earth and Old-Earth Creationism vs. Naturalism

Paul Would Have Nothing to Do with “Let Go and Let God” If He Were Here

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Kenneth Berding, Walking in the Spirit  (Wheaton: Crossway, 2011), 48–51:

[P]utting to death the deeds of the body is active. There is no passivity here.

I grew up in a church setting that was into “higher life” teaching. This teaching goes by many different names, including “victorious Christian living,” “the exchanged life,” and “the crucified life.” A particular stream of higher life teaching that continues to be influential is known as the Keswick Movement (pronounced KES-ik), named after an annual Bible conference that has been taking place in Keswick, England, each year since the late nineteenth century. One key aspect of higher life teaching is probably traceable even further back to a movement referred to as Quietism, which was popular in Italy, France, and Spain during the seventeenth century. If you aren’t familiar with any of these labels, it is still likely that you are familiar with a slogan that gets used in connection with various strands of this teaching: “Let Go and Let God.” Said differently, the key to the Christian life is to “let go of reliance on yourself and let God do the work in you.” [Read more…] about Paul Would Have Nothing to Do with “Let Go and Let God” If He Were Here

God Wins

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One month after Rob Bell’s controversial book Love Wins came out, Mike Wittmer had already published a book-length response:

Michael E. Wittmer. Christ Alone: An Evangelical Response to Rob Bell’s Love Wins. Grand Rapids: Edenridge, 2011. 159 pp.

It’s good.

The money chapter is chapter 7, which recently became available online as a free PDF. Wittmer delves past the symptoms (hell and universalism) and explains the fundamental problem with Love Wins.

Some excerpts:

[W]hen the need is great, love isn’t love unless it actually does something . . . Jesus’ death on the cross is an act of love only if it actually accomplishes something. It’s not enough to say that it inspires us to do something. (pp. 94–95) [Read more…] about God Wins