oakleys.org.uk

Although the information on the use of regretfully and regrettably is correct, it would seem that Paul Brians is not entirely reliable as a guide to errors in English usage. Filed under: grumpy-young-man-ness

Turns out some new perspectives aren’t so new after all. David desires to be delivered in the righteousness of God, because God displays his righteousness in performing his promise to his servants. It is too much refinement of reasoning to assert that David here betakes himself to the righteousness which God freely bestows on his [...]

I never had Latin lessons, but this brings back dreadful memories of learning Greek. Posted in humour

Life’s like this over here. No really. Posted in humour

Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics: theology to read on your knees, with your Bible open. Posted in theologians - herman bavinck

We’re starting a sermon series on the Joseph narrative at church, and so on Sunday I preached on Genesis 37.  Recently, I’ve been pondering a little bit how union with Christ (or, in more Augustinian terms, an understanding of Christ as totus Christus, the whole Christ, head and body) enables us to preach sermons on [...]

Christian dogmatics will always be a thinking, an investigation, and an exposition which are relative and liable to error.  Even dogmatics with the best knowledge and conscience can do no more than question after the better, and never forget that we are succeeded by other, later men; and he who is faithful in this task [...]

[T]he fundamental reality of Augustine’s life as priest and bishop was as the pastor of the Catholic Christian community in Hippo.  It was there that day by day he prayed with his congregation, preached to them, celebrated the eucharist as their bishop.  For roughly thirty0five years that was his principal, daily concern.  Once a bishop, [...]

I’ve said before that John Webster is the real deal: a constructive, rigorous, orthodox, evangelical systematic theologian. I enjoyed his few pages of intellectual autobiography in Darren Marks’ book Shaping a Theological Mind. It was certainly a pleasant change from the only other chapter I read, where the author seemed determined to tell us as often as [...]

If one of the highlight of 2010 is likely to be Lewis Ayres new book on Augustine, another should be Kevin Vanhoozer’s doctrine of God, a sequel to The Drama of Doctrine: Remythologizing Theology: Divine Action, Passion and Authorship (Cambridge: CUP, forthcoming, Jan 2010). Posted in theology - doctrine of God [...]

Above my desk is a picture of the tortoise and the hare.  And Gary North’s reminder to ’stick to your knitting’.  As I think about New Year’s resolutions, and am faced again with my mild ADHD and propensity to start projects in a floodwater of enthusiasm only to find a dried up puddle a few [...]

Jim Packer’s advice, from an interview with World magazine: To new husbands: My advice to a new husband is nothing more than “husbands, love your wives.” And “love your wife as Christ has loved the church.” Never forget that you are Christ’s representative in serving your wife. To new pastors: You have three priorities: teach, teach, and [...]

Jeff Meyers has posted a great Calvin quotation on what happens in the sacraments on the BH blog. I don’t want to lose it, so here it is: Nevertheless, in order that we might know that God does not want to frustrate us, and that the signs which he gives us are not frivolous and empty [...]

Michael Bird has outed himself. Posted in theology - pastoral

Peter Leithart, on how most Christmas carols are, literally, hopeless (at least biblically speaking), and how a good dose of the real Christmas hymns of  Mary, Zechariah, and Simeon is what we need. Posted in music, theology - liturgical