Andy Naselli

Thoughts on 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)

The Extent of the Atonement in Paul’s Theology

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This new book argues exegetically that Paul affirms definite atonement:

Jarvis J. Williams. For Whom Did Christ Die? The Extent of the Atonement in Paul’s Theology. Paternoster Biblical Monographs. Milton Keynes, UK: Paternoster, 2012.

It has five chapters:

  1. Introduction, Thesis, and History of Research
  2. Humanity’s Spiritual Plight in Paul’s Anthropology
  3. Divine and Human Agency in Paul’s Soteriology
  4. The Purpose of Jesus’ Death in Paul’s Atonement-Theology
  5. Conclusion [Read more…] about The Extent of the Atonement in Paul’s Theology

Falsifying Views on the Extent of the Atonement

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I observed a lot of dissertation proposals and defenses in the PhD program at TEDS, and this was one of the most frequently asked questions that examiners posed students: “What would falsify your thesis?” In other words, what exactly would it take to disprove your thesis?

It’s a question worth asking for any position you hold.

For example, consider the two most common views on the extent of the atonement:

  1. General or universal atonement: God intended for Jesus to die for the sins of all humans without exception.
  2. Definite or limited atonement: God intended for Jesus to die effectually for the sins of only the elect.

What would falsify general atonement? Some proponents say that all it would take is a Bible passage that explicitly says that Jesus died only (key word) for the elect.

What would falsify definite atonement? [Read more…] about Falsifying Views on the Extent of the Atonement

Ephesians 6:1 Playlist

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I created a playlist for different renditions of Ephesians 6:1 in song. It’s only 9.2 minutes long, but it comes in handy sometimes!

  1. Children Desiring God (free download)
  2. Steve Green
  3. Seeds Family Worship (includes vv. 1–4)
  4. Hide the Word (track 2)
  5. Questions with Answers, vol. 4: The Word of God (track 5) (Cf. this video of Dana Dirksen previewing this song two years ago.)

(And yes, I realize that it’s possible to abuse Eph 6:1 and that the ultimate goal of parenting isn’t external obedience.)

Related:

  1. Bible Memory for Young Children
  2. An ominous video from two years ago:

Defiance: Illustrating Genesis 3

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D. A. Carson, The God Who Is There: Finding Your Place in God’s Story; Leader’s Guide  (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2010), 33–34:

A young school teacher in Northern Ireland once told me how she taught the substance of these early chapters of Genesis. Fresh out of college, she found herself a job teaching “religious education” (still common in the United Kingdom) to young boys in a rather rough school. She was making no headway at all. She decided to try another approach. [Read more…] about Defiance: Illustrating Genesis 3

Audio

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I added an Audio tab to the site (parallel to Publications).

I previously linked to some of these MP3s hosted on other sites, but after a few years, many of the URLs no longer work. So I uploaded 26 MP3s and link to them here.

D. A. Carson on William Webb

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In January, Bob Yarbrough and Don Carson spoke at the EFCA’s theology conference: “Understanding the Complementarian Position: Considering Implications and Exploring Practices in the Home and the Local Church” (TGC report). The MP3s are well worth listening to.

In a Q&A someone asked Don Carson about William Webb’s redemptive-movement hermeneutic, and Carson replied that it is unconvincing. Carson followed up with an email (which the EFCA made available but that isn’t online now): “As for bibliography,” writes Carson, “the literature is pretty extensive, but the two most substantive review articles evaluating Webb’s book are” these: [Read more…] about D. A. Carson on William Webb

Deconstruct the Dream Driving Your Marriage

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Justin Buzzard, Date Your Wife: A Husband’s Guide (Wheaton: Crossway, 2012), 23–25 (numbering added):

A dream is what drives a man. As a boy grows up, he gradually forms a dream for his future marriage. . . .

Some men dream about marrying a woman who will satisfy their every desire, preference, and need.

Some men form an antidream; they simply dream of a marriage that is not like their parents’ marriage (or lack of marriage). Early on, they decide they want a wife who is not like mom. They decide they want to be a man who is not like dad.

Some men dream of a marriage that is conflict free or not a lot of work.

Some men dream of a marriage that honors God and that is a lot of fun.

The dream that drove you to that first date, that drove you to the altar, is likely still driving your marriage today. That dream set the course, and is probably still setting the course, of your marriage. . . .

The way to uncover something is to ask more questions. . . .

  1. What is the earliest memory of marriage that you can think of? How has that memory influenced you?
  2. Who taught you about marriage? Who taught you about what it means to be a man and how that’s different from what it means to be a woman? What did these teachers teach you?
  3. What is the healthiest, happiest marriage you’ve ever seen? What made that marriage so attractive?
  4. What is the most dysfunctional marriage you’ve ever seen? What made that marriage so unattractive?
  5. What kind of a man was your dad? What kind of a relationship did you/do you have with him? If we were having coffee together, what would you tell me about what it was like growing up as his son?
  6. What is your greatest fear for your marriage?
  7. What is your greatest frustration with yourself, with your wife, and with your marriage?
  8. What is your wife’s greatest complaint about being married to you? What does she appreciate most about being married to you?
  9. What is your greatest hope for your marriage? What do you really want to see happen in you, in your marriage, and in your life before you die? How’s it going to happen?

You just deconstructed the dream that’s been driving your marriage. Each answer to the questions above represents one piece of the dream that drives how you operate as a husband. All the pieces don’t make complete sense yet. Right now we’re staring at an engine that’s been taken apart. The aim of this book is to make better sense of these different pieces, to do some clean-up work, and then to rebuild the engine to run better than before.