Reformed Forum

In this episode, we review Christosis: Pauline Soteriology in Light of Deification in Irenaeus and Cyril of Alexandria by Ben C. Blackwell and published by Mohr Siebeck. Dr. Blackwell is Assistant Professor of Christianity at Houston Baptist University. He also studied at Durham University and was a research assistant for N.T. Wright. This monograph is a revised version of Blackwell’s thesis submitted at Durham. In it, he examines whether theosis and deification, as understood by representatives of the early church, are appropriate means of describing Pauline soteriology.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington

In this, the premiere episode of Proclaiming Christ, we introduce the panelists for this new Reformed Forum podcast on biblical preaching. We also begin to discuss foundational aspects of preaching. We welcome your feedback!

Participants: Adam York, Chad Bond, Mark A. Winder, Matt Cotta

Dr. Vern Poythress speaks about the important topic of harmonizing the gospels by sharing with us features of his book Inerrancy and the Gospels: A God-Centered Approach to the Challenges of Harmonization. Answering the challenges of critics, Dr. Poythress argues for the uncompromisingly foundational role of Scripture and a proper attitude as we come to approach it. He provides several useful principles for the task of harmonization and walks the reader through a number of examples in order to demonstrate his God-centered approach. Dr. Poythress is Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Nick Batzig, Vern Poythress

Listen as Jeff Waddington reviews B. B. Warfield’s Scientifically Constructive Theological Scholarship by David P. Smith and published by Pickwick. Smith seeks to correct the perception that Warfield relies upon a faulty epistemology. Instead, he strives to demonstrate that Warfield overcomes many of the issues embedded in Western approaches to epistemology. Reformed apologists will certainly want to explore this title.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington

K. Scott Oliphint, Professor of Apologetics and Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, speaks about the relationship of philosophy to theology. Dr. Oliphint has written Reasons for Faith: Philosophy in the Service of Theology, and he takes us through a number of important sections in his book.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jared Oliphint, K. Scott Oliphint

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Christ the Center 1000

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

In this episode, Camden Bucey and Jim Cassidy discuss the 2012 issue of the Confessional Presbyterian Journal. The issue contains two highlights. The first is the articles section which consists of some of the lectures given at the 2012 Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary conference celebrating the 200th anniversary of the founding of Princeton Seminary. The second is a give-and-take dialogue concerning several Westminster Seminary California theological distinctives relative to the Law/Gospel relation, Two Kingdom Theology, and whether or not the Covenant of Works was republished in the Mosaic Administration.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy

We welcome David Garner and Phil DeHart to speak about Insider Movements, which are increasingly popular approaches to missions predicated on controversial theological and hermeneutic foundations. Insider Movements have gained particular influence in mission fields and religio-sociological contexts that are particularly hostile to Christianity. Dr. Garner is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary at Pastor of Teaching at Proclamation Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Bryn Mawr, PA. Dr. Garner has written “High Stakes: Insider Movement Hermeneutics and the Gospel,” an excellent essay on the subject. Phil DeHart has worked in the missions field in Asia and is currently a student at Westminster Theological Seminary. Dr. Garner has also coordinated with the producers of the film Half Devil, Half Child, a documentary on Insider Movements, to offer a special discount to Reformed Forum listeners. Just visit halfdevilhalfchild.com to purchase the digital download, and use the code “reform” to receive 25% off the download price of the film. Episode image by terbeck.

Participants: Camden Bucey, David Garner, Jim Cassidy, Nick Batzig, Phil DeHart

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

In this episode Camden Bucey and Jim Cassidy discuss the Fall 2012 issue of the Westminster Theological Journal. Of special interest is the article by Jim Scott on Machen and Edwin Rian’s book, The Presbyterian Conflict. Nathan Shannon’s piece on Van Til’s understanding of evidences in the apologetic task and Vern Poythress’ review of Kevin Vanhoozer’s book Remythologizing Theology are also highlighted.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy

We begin the New Year with a look at some of our best clips from 2012. Listen to the full episodes of the clips we’ve chosen to include by using the following links:

Participants: A. Craig Troxel, Camden Bucey, Carl Trueman, Danny Hyde, David Garner, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy, John Muether, K. Scott Oliphint, Michael Kruger, Neil Tolsma, Richard B. Gaffin Jr., W. Andrew Hoffecker

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Dr. Paul Lim, Associate Professor of the History of Christianity, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, and Affiliate Professor of History at Vanderbilt University, speaks about his book Mystery Unveiled: The Crisis of the Trinity in Early Modern England. The book is published by Oxford University Press and features two related issues. In a historically sensitive way, Dr. Lim deals with the role of mystery in dealing with the nature of who God is (ie, Trinitarian) and the nature of the doctrine of sola Scriptura. The historical context is the 1500s-late 1600s in England and Lim concentrates on the rise of Socianism and the debates between anti-trinitarians (Paul Best and John Biddle) and trinitarians (Francis Cheynell and John Owen). Related to this discussion is concern for church councils and the powers of bishops and the influence of Platonic philosophy.

Participants: Camden Bucey, David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig, Paul Lim