Reformed Forum

We turn to pages 250–255 of Geerhardus Vos, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider God's righteousness—particularly as it is revealed during the time of the Old Testament prophets. Vos speaks of God's righteousness as "midway between the transcendental and communicative attributes" (250). God is the righteous judge. In human terms, a judge is righteous because he adheres strictly to the standard or law over him. How does this apply to God, who has no standard or law above him? "Underlying the decisions of Jehovah lies His nature" (251). The law is righteous because it is based upon God's nature, not the other way around. Vos speaks of God's forensic or judicial righteousness branching out in several directions, as a righteousness of cognizance, retribution, vindication, salvation, and benevolence.

These are the books on our radar for April 1, 2021. Kuyper, Abraham. On Business and Economics (Lexham; Acton Institute, February 2021). From the Abraham Kuyper Collected Works in Public Theology series. 192 pages. $29.99. Hardcover with jacket. Selvaggio, Anthony T. Considering Job: Reconciling Sovereignty and Suffering(Reformation Heritage Books, February 2021). 184 pages. $14.00. Paperback. Carr, Simonetta. Questions Women Asked: Historical Issues, Timeless Answers(Reformation Heritage Books, February 2021). 240 pages. $18.00. Paperback. Balserak, John. A Companion to the Reformation in Geneva (Brill's Companions to the Christian Tradition, Volume 96) (Brill, February 2021). 478 pages. $222.00. Hardcover. Sweeney, Douglas A. and Jan Stievermann (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Jonathan Edwards (Oxford University Press, February 2021). 608 pages. $145.00. Hardcover. Dodson, Rhett P. With a Mighty Triumph: Christ's Resurrection and Ours (Banner of Truth, February 2021). 159 pages. $10.00. Paperback. Wellum, Stephen J. The Person of Christ (Crossway, Feb 2021). Short Studies in Systematic Theology series. 208 pages. $18.99. Paperback.

All Christian parents are called to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). In Deuteronomy 6:4–9, the Lord commands his covenant people, Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. It is non-negotiable for covenant families to raise their children according to the Lord's commands. However, this education may take different forms amidst different circumstances. In this episode, Erica Bucey, Director of Development at Westlake Christian Academy in Grayslake, Illinois, speaks about various trends in Christian education given the COVID-19 pandemic, which has uprooted education in America. Families have been influenced to think about education in ways that they have not before. We speak about different approaches to education, the trade-offs involved in each form, as well as current legislation in Illinois that encourages a form of progressive indoctrination in public schools. We conclude by discussing ways in which churches can support families by talking about these matters and educating them. Links Cornelius Van Til, "What Shall We Feed Our Children?" The Presbyterian Guardian, Vol. 3 No. 2 (October 1936) Cornelius Van Til, Foundations of Christian Education Cornelius Van Til, Essays on Christian Education Doug Wilson, The Case for Classical Christian Education David Engelsma, Reformed Education: The Christian School as Demand of the Covenant Stanley Kurtz speaking with Mark Bauerlein on the First Things podcast George F. Will, "The Worst-Governed State Now Turns to Indoctrination"

Whether you are a scholar, pastor, theological student, Bible study teacher, or someone engaged in serious personal study, it is critical to document your sources. Regrettably, most people don't do this well. Along with many best practices, there are tested tools used by many scholars in a wide range of disciplines. One of these is Zotero. At root, Zotero is a citation manager. But it does much more than that. It is a tool that helps you collect, organize, cite, and share research.

The discussion dives into Jacob's complex character and his significant imperfections as a patriarch. It highlights the transformative power of divine grace, illustrated by his dream of the ladder connecting heaven and earth. The podcast illuminates Jacob's encounter at Bethel, emphasizing covenant promises and his commitment to God. Moreover, it offers valuable insights into scripture interpretation, revealing deeper themes that foreshadow Christ as the ultimate Mediator. This exploration of faith revolves around unworthiness and the hope found in grace.

Lane Tipton discusses "Van Til's Trinitarian Theology," the latest on-demand video course released with Reformed Academy. Designed to equip the student to engage critically central issues in trinitarian theology, this course will focus on the architectonic significance of the Trinity both in Van Til's theology and apologetics. Special attention will be given to Van Til's historical and theological context, his theology of triune personhood, the structure and function of the representational principle, the distinctively trinitarian character of the transcendental method, and his rejection of all species of correlativism, ranging from Karl Barth to contemporary expressions of Evangelical mutualism. Enroll for free at https://www.reformedforum.org/courses/van-tils-trinitarian-theology

Ryan Noha brings his collection of Van Til books to the studio for show-and-tell. Join us for a surreal Reformed home shopping network experience. This was recorded in the summer of 2020 along with our course Introduction to the Theology and Apologetics of Cornelius Van Til.

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan's, The Pilgrim's Progress, Book 2. In this episode, we discuss how Bunyan brings Christiana and Mercy up to and through the Wicket Gate where they meet the Gatekee

Dr. Christopher Watkin joins us to speak about his book, Michel Foucault, published by P&R Publishing in the Great Thinkers series. Michel Foucault (1926–1984) was a French philosopher, historian of ideas, writer, political activist, and literary critic. Although he was widely influential during his lifetime, Foucault's philosophy has come to even greater influence and applicability in recent years within the contemporary cultural and political discourse regarding sexual ethics and identity. Dr. Watkin is a lecturer at Monash University in Melbourne. He is the author of a number of academic books in the area of modern European philosophy. Over the past few years he has written four books published by P&R Publishing, including Thinking through Creation: Genesis 1 and 2 as Tools of Cultural Critique and three books in the Great Thinkers series: Jacques Derrida (2017), Michel Foucault (2018) and Gilles Deleuze (2020).