Following on from my series on the book The Logic of the Body, I want here to very briefly point out some implications for the contemporary debate over the sinfulness of concupiscence and the nature of Jesus’ temptations. As a thick and demanding book it can be hard to remember what the practical relevance is while trying to keep up with the argument, no matter … Continue reading Logic of the Body excursus: Christ’s temptations
This is part 6 of a series on the book The Logic of the Body by Matthew La Pine. For the others, see the top of Part 1. Consider these posts lightly polished reading notes. Chapters 6-9 of The Logic of the Body are constructive work that attempt to demonstrate how the Thomist theological psychology provides a consistent framework that can explain theologically what we find in the book … Continue reading Logic of the Body Part 6
An article of mine has been accepted for publication in the Scottish Journal of Theology, and is current openly available online via its FirstView page. The title and abstract are as follows. ‘He laid His hand upon both’: Self-punishment, vicarious punishment and Gregory’s spirituality of the cross in the Moralia in Job Gregory the Great’s Moralia in Job has been said to mark a transitional phase in the … Continue reading Article on Gregory’s spirituality of the cross in the Moralia in Job
In the most recent issue of the journal Foundations I have an article arguing in favour of a theological sensibility described as Reformed Catholicity. I presented similar material at a local ministers’ fraternal recently, which gave me the opportunity to revisit the topic. The original article summarised, evaluated and augmented a book by Scott Swain and Michael Allen, but I felt on reflection that that … Continue reading Reformed Catholicity
Grudem on the Doctrine of God (I) – Communicable and Incommunicable Attributes The treatment of the doctrine of God in Grudem’s Systematic Theology follows a traditional arrangement, covering the existence and knowability of God (in two short chapters which necessarily repeat some ground), then working through God’s attributes divided into incommunicable and communicable, then turning to the Trinity. Coming to Trinity only at the end … Continue reading God’s attributes, or in what way you’re invisible
Having considered the nature of theology, Grudem’s second chapter begins to consider the doctrine of Scripture, the source of theology. This will be the focus of the next six chapters as well, which complete his Part 1 (corresponding to traditional prolegomena). Grudem starts here by treating the concept of the Word of God and the different senses this is used in Scripture. In choosing this … Continue reading The Trials of Grudem 2 – How is Scripture clear?
I’m thankful for Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology. Like many Christians of my generation, I acquired the hefty gold and blue tome as a student, and gratefully searched it for answers to that avalanche of questions that is part and parcel of suddenly rubbing shoulders with a much wider cross-section of the church. Amongst those spiritual growing pains, I’m thankful that I had an easy to … Continue reading The Trials of Grudem
I have recently had cause to read through The portraiture of the image of God in man by John Weemes, which opens with the author’s advice on how to profitably read scholastic theology (of which he himself makes plenty of use in the work). I think his thoughts are still useful, so have lightly modernised the text of this opening “advertisement” below (and for download … Continue reading On the right using of School divinity
Let this be our principle: that the use of God’s gifts is not wrongly directed when it is referred to that end to which the Author himself created and destined them for us, since he created them for our good, not for our ruin. Accordingly, no one will hold to a straighter path than he who diligently looks to this end. Now if we ponder … Continue reading Calvin on enjoying good things
This is part 5 of a series on the book The Logic of the Body by Matthew La Pine. For the others, see the top of Part 1. Consider these posts as lightly polished reading notes! Where did it all go wrong? The title is somewhat tongue-in-cheek. The Logic of the Body is too nuanced to present a simplistic decline-and-fall narrative, from the lofty clarity … Continue reading The Logic of the Body – part 5
