Reformed Forum

We recap the goings on at The Gospel Coalition 2015 National Conference in Orlando, Florida. The conference was titled Coming Home and focused on eschatology and the New Heavens and New Earth. On that note, we also include some clips of Jeff Jue speaking about the eschatological views of the Westminster Divines from Christ the Center 31.

Jeff Waddington compares Alvin Plantinga and Jonathan Edwards on the perennial question regarding the relationship between the intellect and the will in anthropology.

Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy, and Camden Bucey discuss the importance of intellectual discipline for cultivating the life of the Christian mind.

Jared Oliphint and Nathan Shannon discuss Brian Leftow's God and Necessity (Oxford University Press). In this volume, Leftow seeks to offer a metaphysic of modality. This leads him into a discussion of necessity and possibility, truth making, God's nature, and divine simplicity. It's a wide-ranging title, but one that offers many important themes for consideration. Dr. Shannon has written a review of the book that will appear soon in the Westminster Theological Journal.

Carl Trueman paints a portrait of Martin Luther through the lens of the Christian life. Martin Luther’s historical significance can hardly be overstated. Known as the father of the Protestant Reformation, Luther has had an enormous impact on Western Christianity and culture. In Luther on the Christian Life, historian Carl Trueman introduces readers to the lively Reformer, taking them on a tour of his historical context, theological system, and approach to the Christian life. Whether exploring Luther’s theology of protest, ever-present sense of humor, or misunderstood view of sanctification, this book will help modern readers go deeper in their spiritual walk by learning from one of the great teachers of the faith.

Carlton Wynne takes us on a journey through modern theology as we turn our attention to the theology of Wolfhart Pannenberg.

Vern Poythress explains how the Triune God of the Bible is the foundation for mathematics.

Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey discuss the patriarch Abraham as they turn to pp. 76–81 of Geerhardus Vos's book Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments.

This week on Proclaiming Christ we discuss Cain's brutal murder of Abel and consider this act in light of God's promises made in ch. 3. The brutality and desperation of human nature is uncovered as well as hope for life from the grave. Genesis 4:8–15: Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him." (English Standard Version)

Michael Allen and Scott Swain discuss whether Christians and churches be both catholic and Reformed. In their book Reformed Catholicity: The Promise of Retrieval for Theology and Biblical Interpretation (Baker Academic), Allen and Swain suggest Reformed Christians can commit not only to the ultimate authority of Scripture but also to receiving Scripture within the context of the apostolic church. This manifesto presents a case that to be Reformed means to go deeper into true catholicity rather than away from it. At the same time, it means holding fast to sola Scriptura. Michael Allen is Associate Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology and Dean of Students and Scott Swain is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Academic Dean at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida.