Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

My Publications in 2023

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Here are my publications that released in 2023—plus some books I endorsed. (I prepared this list so that I can conveniently link to one post.) As I explain in the article “Three Reflections on Evangelical Academic Publishing,” I aim to be academically responsible more than academically respectable. The ultimate reason I research, write, teach, and shepherd is to glorify God by serving Christ’s church.

Books

Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament

Predestination: An Introduction

  1. Tracing the Argument of 1 Corinthians: A Phrase Diagram. Bellingham, WA: Logos, 2023.
  2. Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Edited by G. K. Beale, D. A. Carson, Benjamin L. Gladd, and Andrew David Naselli. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2023.
  3. Predestination: An Introduction. Short Studies in Systematic Theology. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, January 2024. (The official publication date is January 2024, but it is available early because Crossway was able to print it ahead of schedule.)

Articles

[Read more…] about My Publications in 2023

Twelve Reflections on Twelve Interviews on Christian Nationalism

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David Schrock—along with either Trent Hunter, Brad Green, or Steve Wellum—recently conducted twelve interviews about Christian nationalism for Christ Over All. I copied the transcripts of those twelve interviews into a Word document, and that document is 200 pages single-spaced. That’s a lot to sort through. After listening to the twelve interviews and reading the transcripts, I offer the following twelve reflections or observations in this article:

Naselli, Andrew David. “Twelve Reflections on Twelve Interviews on Christian Nationalism.” Christ Over All, 27 November 2023.

Here are the twelve headings:

  • Reflection 1. The interviewees are basically within views 4 and 5 in my taxonomy of political theology.
  • Reflection 2. The interviewees disagree on whether it would be good to have a Christian government.
  • Reflection 3. The interviewees agree that America had a Christian founding.
  • Reflection 4. The interviewees know what time it is.
  • Reflection 5. The interviewees agree that a Christian culture in a society is good.
  • Reflection 6. The interviewees basically agree on the strategy of what faithful Christians should do right now.
  • Reflection 7. The interviewees disagree on how to talk about the Ten Commandments with reference to political theology.
  • Reflection 8. The interviewees disagree on how to define “good” and “bad” in Romans 13:3.
  • Reflection 9. The interviewees disagree on whether the label “Christian nationalism” is helpful.
  • Reflection 10. The interviewees who fit within view 5 do not put most of the load-bearing weight for their view on postmillennialism or theonomy.
  • Reflection 11. The interviewees disagree on whether some nations (other than Israel under the Mosaic covenant) may be in a covenant with God.
  • Reflection 12. The interviewees all interacted as Christian gentlemen and modeled how to discuss political theology.

You may listen to Kevin McClure read my article on the Christ Over All podcast here. (For block quotes, the podcast features audio clips from the original interviews.)

Update on 12/4/2023: Christ Over All released a 68-minute podcast episode in which I discuss this article with David Schrock and Steve Wellum.

Related: Andrew David Naselli, “What Is the Spectrum of Major Views on Political Theology? A Proposed Taxonomy of Seven Views on Religion and Government,” Christ Over All, 10 November 2023.

Predestination: An Introduction

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In this new book, I invite you to hike up a mountain with me:

Predestination: An Introduction

Andrew David Naselli. Predestination: An Introduction. Short Studies in Systematic Theology. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, January 2024.

When you arduously hike up a mountain, it is satisfying to take in the breathtaking panoramic view at the top. God designed us so that we complete our joy by seeing God’s beauty, by savoring him, by praising him, and then by sharing our joy with others. In this new book, I invite you to let me share my joy with you. The hike is not easy, but it’s worth it because the view at the top is awe-inspiring. The more you know about God and his ways, the deeper and sweeter will be your praise.

Here’s how I define predestination:

God predetermined the destiny of certain individuals for salvation (election) and others for condemnation (reprobation).

Who is this book for?

This book’s target audience is thoughtful Christians—both pastors and laypeople—who want to study what the Bible teaches about predestination. I wrote it with several types of Christians in mind, including my students at Bethlehem College and Seminary, the members of my church (to whom I preached the gist of this book in four sermons), my wife (a homemaker and homeschooling mom), and my oldest daughter (who was thirteen when I drafted it). My main audience is not professional academics, but I attempt to be academically responsible. I aim to explain a complex topic simply but not simplistically. (pp. 1–2)

(See endorsements from Joel Beeke, Rosaria Butterfield, Steven Lee, Sam Storms, and Steve Wellum.)

Here are the book’s contents (15 chapters):

Introduction

PART 1: VESSELS OF MERCY
What Does the Bible Teach about Election?

1. What Is the Goal of Election?
2. When Did God Choose to Save Some Humans?
3. Did God Choose to Save Individuals?
4. Did God Choose to Save Individuals Based on Foreseen Faith?
5. Is Unconditional Election Unfair?
6. Do We Have Free Will?
7. Does Election Contradict God’s Desire That All Humans Be Saved?
8. How Does God Accomplish His Plan to Save Individuals?
9. How Do I Know If God Has Elected Me?
10. Did God Elect Babies Who Die?

PART 2: VESSELS OF WRATH
What Does the Bible Teach about Reprobation?

11. Who Ultimately Causes Reprobation?
12. How Does God Accomplish Reprobation?
13. What Is the Result of Reprobation?
14. What Is the Goal of Reprobation?
15. Who Deserves Blame for Reprobation?

Conclusion: Exult in God as You Take in the View

Here are four sermons I preached on predestination to my church in summer 2022 (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4):

Here’s an interactive two-hour talk I gave at my school’s Godward Life conference on September 29, 2023—“Do We Have Free Will?”:

Updates: Matt Tully interview for the Crossway podcast: “Answering Hard Questions about Predestination and Free Will” (36:39 minutes, recorded 11/16/2022, released 1/29/2024).

“How Important Is It for Me to Affirm the Doctrine of Predestination?” (3:53 min. | transcript):

“2 Primary Goals of God’s Election of Sinners to Salvation” (3:33 min. | transcript)

“What Does Free Will Mean?” (4:10 min. | transcript)

“How Do the Arminian and Calvinist Views of Election Differ?” (2:42 min. | transcript)

“A Helpful Way to Understand Free Will” (5:19 min.)

“Getting Our Terms Right in the Predestination Discussion” (3:12 min.)

“How to Preach on Predestination” (1:00 min.)

What Is the Spectrum of Major Views on Political Theology? A Proposed Taxonomy of Seven Views on Religion and Government

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Christ Over All has been consistently publishing outstanding articles and interviews.

The theme for October was “‘Just One More Thing’: Getting the Facts on Christian Nationalism(s).”

The theme for November is “Toward Biblical Nationhood: A Baptist View of Church and State.” David Schrock introduces it at the end his article “October Intermission: From Christian Nationalism(s) to Biblical Nationhood.”

I am planning to contribute two articles this month. Later this month I plan to reflect on the interviews on Christian nationalism. But first I am attempting to add some clarity by framing a debated topic with this new article:

Andrew David Naselli. “What Is the Spectrum of Major Views on Political Theology? A Proposed Taxonomy of Seven Views on Religion and Government.” Christ Over All, 10 November 2023.

*43-minute audio version (minus footnotes—read by Kevin McClure)

Here’s the outline for the article:

Part 1. Starting with Definitions: Religion, Politics, and Political Theology

Part 2. Seven Views on Religion and Government

    • Introductory Qualification
    • View 1. Secular Suppression: The secular government suppresses religion.
    • View 2. Religious Separation: Religion must radically separate from the government.
    • View 3. Religious Neutrality: The government must be religiously neutral.
    • View 4. Religious Influence: The government should not promote only one particular religion, yet religion may influence the government within limited parameters.
    • View 5. Christian Government: The government and religion overlap.
    • View 6. Religion over Government: Religion governs the government and directs the government to enforce religion.
    • View 7. Government over Religion: The government governs and enforces religion.

Part 3. Seven Concluding Reflections

    • 1. My taxonomy is describing rather than evaluating.
    • 2. Trying to systematize the various views on political theology is challenging, but that should not prevent us from trying.
    • 3. There is a lot more to say.
    • 4. My taxonomy may mislead one to think that the various views on the spectrum are distinct in neat and tidy ways.
    • 5. Christians are becoming more interested in political theology because what seemed to be a neutral public square is now an increasingly polarized battleground.
    • 6. Christians should beware of prematurely separating from each other based on different political theologies.
    • 7. No civil government will be flawless until King Jesus returns.

Updates:

  1. 11/13/2023: Christ Over All released a 66-minute podcast episode in which I discuss this article with David Schrock and Steve Wellum.
  2. 11/27/2023: Christ Over All published my article “Twelve Reflections on Twelve Interviews on Christian Nationalism.”
  3. 12/4/2023: Christ Over All released a 68-minute podcast episode in which I discuss my article “Twelve Reflections on Twelve Interviews on Christian Nationalism” with David Schrock and Steve Wellum.

When Believers Stop Believing: The MacArthur Center’s New Podcast Episode on Apostasy

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The MacArthur Center’s new podcast episode is on apostasy: “When Believers Stop Believing.”

(See my post on episode 1—on theological triage.)

It was my pleasure to contribute to this episode on the sobering topic of apostasy.

Related: Here are five short articles I contributed in 2020 to TGC’s 250 concise theology essays:

  1. “What Is Apostasy? Can a Christian Become Apostate?”
  2. “The Unpardonable Sin”
  3. “The Sin unto Death”
  4. “Must Jesus Be Lord?”
  5. “Models of Sanctification”

Related: On 11/16/2022, I recorded some short videos for Crossway on Romans. Here’s one of them:

I’ve Heard It Said, “Once Saved, Always Saved” (2:54 min. | transcript)

Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament

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This 964-page (and 900,000-word) book has been in the works for six years:

Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament

G. K. Beale, D. A. Carson, Benjamin L. Gladd, and Andrew David Naselli, eds. Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2023. [Available from Logos, Amazon, and Westminster Bookstore.]

For a list of all the articles and contributors along with some sample essays, check out the 99-page PDF sample at Westminster Bookstore (click “Read Sample” under the book cover).

The book supplements Beale and Carson’s Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament.

The book includes …

  • 35 surveys of the use of the OT in the OT (e.g., the use of the OT in Jeremiah)
  • 19 surveys of the use of the OT in the NT (e.g. the use of the OT in Matthew)
  • 53 biblical-theological essays (e.g., covenant, image of God)
  • 22 essays related to inner-biblical exegesis (e.g., typology, letter couriers)
  • 7 essays on Jewish exegesis (e.g., the use of the OT in the Pseudepigrapha)
  • 5 theology essays (e.g., theological interpretation)

In addition to serving as one of the editors, I contributed two essays:

  • “History of Interpretation: 1800 to Present” (pp. 319–27)
  • “Serpent and Antichrist” (pp. 775–79)

Students can use this resource to learn the field. Pastors can use it for sermon prep. And scholars can use it for its bibliographies and breadth of topics.

Update on 11/7/2023: In this 50-minute podcast episode, Matt Harmon interviews Ben Gladd: “Introducing the Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament.”

Update on 11/15/2023: Ben Gladd and me at our book display at ETS:

Home Fires Podcast with Abigail Dodds and Jenni Naselli

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My wife is joining Abigail Dodds for the next season of the “Home Fires” podcast.

The first episode is “Introducing Jenni Naselli.” Here’s the podcast description:

With Tilly away caring for a new baby, homeschooling littles, working behind the scenes for a new coffee shop endeavor, and generally tending her actual home fires, Jenni Naselli graciously joins Abigail and agrees to be put in the hot seat for an interview. Jenni shares how she came to trust Christ as well as the story of how she met and married her husband, Andy. Get ready to absorb some helpful wisdom as you hear how Jenni’s parents carefully and tenderly shepherded her through her young adult years. We don’t have to do exactly as Jenni’s parents did, but we can learn so much from the godly principles they exhibit.

I hope it encourages you.

D. A. Carson’s Theological Method (Updated Article)

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In 2011, the Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology published my article “D. A. Carson’s Theological Method.”

In 2023, Crossway has published a book of essays by D. A. Carson in which I update my 2011 article, and Crossway has graciously granted me permission to upload a PDF of my updated essay on my website:

Andrew David Naselli. “D. A. Carson’s Theological Method.” Pages 11–50 in The Gospel and the Modern World: A Theological Vision for the Church. Edited by Brian J. Tabb. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2023.

Related: In 2017, P&R published a book in which I unpack the theological method I learned from Don Carson. It’s about how to interpret and apply the Bible.