I went for a walk the other day and came across a cross. One might chalk it up as happenstance. Perhaps the wind blew these two sticks until they eventually married one another on this random path at just the right time before I chanced upon them. Or maybe it was by design. Perhaps some…
Matthew Thomas recently published a new article on the doctrine of justification for the St. Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology. You can read it here. Thomas offers a well-rounded overview of all the important questions (and controversies) that have accompanied the doctrine through the years. I’m fascinated by the subject. It’s interesting to reflect upon not…
I’ve started reading Dr. Sandra Glahn’s new book, Nobody’s Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament. I’m a little more than a fourth the way in, and it’s fantastic. She’s a great writer, and if you’re interested in questions surrounding women in ministry or the cultural background of the New Testament,…
In the my most recent podcast episode, I discuss Romans 9:14-33. Here Paul talks about God’s right to show mercy in the way he wants (with the same being said about divine hardening). To illustrate this, the apostle brings to the fore the story of Pharaoh, who God hardened. I connect this story, and the…
If you haven’t had a chance yet, check out my podcast, The Bible (Unmuted). The focus of every episode is anything relevant to biblical studies. Most episodes are either long form studies (we’re currently in a series on Romans right now). I also feature interviews with authors and scholars with the goal of connecting folks…
I just published a new article at Premier Christianity on the topic of UFOs and ET. A lot of people are talking about UFOs, now known as UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena). And with the recent public hearing in the U.S. Congress, a lot of people will continue to do so. At the congressional hearing, testimony…
When it comes to church, one thing I’ve learned is that “community” is important. In fact, the communal life is necessary. And by “community,” I mean more than a place for shop talk (as important as that is). I mean something along the lines of habitual participation, constant give-and-take, and sacramental union. I mean koinōnia. …
Here is a conversation between Nick Spencer and Philip Ball on science and religion. Their discussion touches on a variety of topics: artificial intelligence, aliens, meaning, other minds, and even those aliens closer to home — namely, octopuses. Here’s the description, followed by the video: It’s a widely held view that science and religion are…
I spent time nearly every day last week walking the shoreline. There’s something mesmerizing about it all. The vastness summons you to attention. The waves are fierce and rhythmic, drawing you away from distraction and into wonder and contemplation. What’s beyond our own horizon? What lies behind the veil of our finitude? Without knowing it,…
We often get frustrated with the speed at which God works in our lives (slow and steady). I suspect that, in part, it’s because we tend to interpret God’s ways in light of the speed at which we insist on living our lives (fast and hurried). The modern world is a very difficult place for…