Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Keller on the Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness

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This booklet is (apparently) a sermon on 1 Cor 3:21–4:7:

Timothy Keller. The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness: The Path to True Christian Joy.  Chorley, England: 10 Publishing, 2012. 46 pp.

(The 24-page sample PDF includes half the booklet.)

Why do people do the bad things they do?

  1. The traditional answer is that people do bad things because they have too high a view of themselves. That is, they are proud and need a lower view of themselves.
  2. The contemporary answer is that people do bad things because they have too low a view of themselves. That is, they lack self-esteem and need a higher view of themselves.

Keller argues that Paul’s “approach to self-regard” utterly differs from both the traditional and contemporary answers (p. 12). [Read more…] about Keller on the Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness

Biblical Hermeneutics: Five Views

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Another helpful debate-book:

Stanley E. Porter and Beth M. Stovell, eds. Biblical Hermeneutics: Five Views.  Spectrum Multiview Books. Downers Grove: IVP, 2012. 224 pp. 20-page sample PDF.

It’s not a typical debate-book format because the five views are not mutually exclusive. They overlap. Thus, Craig Blomberg writes,

As I suspected when I saw the lineup of contributors and viewpoints for this book, I found much more to agree with than to disagree with in these chapters. As I noted in my position essay, I do not wish to argue for a historical-critical/grammatical approach to the exclusion of all other approaches but for the historical-critical/grammatical approach as the necessary foundation for these other approaches. Various comments each of the other four contributions makes suggest that they either agree or should agree with this assertion, if they are consistent with what they have written. I can happily support much of what each additional perspective contributes on top of this foundation, although there are a few places where I must demur. (p. 133) [Read more…] about Biblical Hermeneutics: Five Views

Kevin DeYoung’s “The Hole in Our Holiness”

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holeThis book is as good as advertised:

Kevin DeYoung. The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness. Wheaton: Crossway, 2012. 159 pp. | 20 pp. sample PDF

DeYoung emphasizes what some who hold a Reformed view of sanctification tend not to emphasize: effort (i.e., Spirit-powered, gospel-driven, faith-fueled effort). And it helps that he can flat-out write.

I ordered the audiobook for my wife (who found Kevin’s T4G sermon so helpful that she listened to it three times). [Read more…] about Kevin DeYoung’s “The Hole in Our Holiness”

Tim Keller’s “Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City”

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centerThis book comes out early next month:

Timothy Keller. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City.  Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012.

It’s large (9.4 x 7.5 x 1.2 inches) and long (400 pp.).

The book is a strategic manual for developing a church’s theological vision. I read the introduction carefully and read the rest more quickly. It’s obvious that Keller has thought deeply about theological vision for a long time.

This graphic shows how important theological vision is (p. 19):

vision

(Tim Keller drafted TGC’s theological vision for ministry.) [Read more…] about Tim Keller’s “Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City”

Progressive Covenantalism: A Via Media between Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism

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gentry-wellumLast week I finished plowing through this ambitious 848-page book:

Peter J. Gentry and Stephen J. Wellum. Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants. Wheaton: Crossway, 2012.

The book argues for a via media between covenant theology and dispensationalism that the authors call progressive covenantalism (similar to new covenant theology).

Wellum and Gentry routinely distinguish their view from each of the two major systems in a distinctive way: [Read more…] about Progressive Covenantalism: A Via Media between Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism

Humble Athletes

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Two excerpts from C. J. Mahaney on humble athletes:

C. J. Mahaney, “Appendix,” in Game Day for the Glory of God: A Guide for Athletes, Fans, and Wannabes   (by Stephen Altrogge; Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), 108:

When Chad and I watch a game together, I am on the lookout for ways to teach him. I want to equip him to discern true greatness in the eyes of God. [Read more…] about Humble Athletes