Happy Reformation Day

(From top to bottom: Groom's Cake, Reformation Day Pumpkin, Pope Chance IX)

Carson on Typology

I was recenlty listening to a lecture on 'Preaching and Biblical Theology' by D.A. Carson and thought this comment was worth sharing:

"Biblical Theology helps you avoid anachronism in your preaching by enabling you to develop the biblically warranted interconnections including the true understanding of different kinds of typological fulfillment. I mean, there are some people that jump from the OT to Jesus and I am never quite sure how they made the jump. I mean its quite clever and I am glad they got to Jesus but I am not sure how they got there, you know? I'd rather they get to Jesus than that they stop, but on the other hand it would be nice to see that it was clear how they got there, but Biblical theology properly done actually shows you how you legitimately through the text itself must get to Jesus."

Carson then goes on to recommend the following books for good introductions to Biblical Theology:

• The Unfolding Mystery by Ed Clowney
• The Goldsworthy Trilogy by Graeme Goldsworthy
• Christ-Centered Preaching by Bryan Chapel

Related to this quote is the recent panel held at Southern on "Christology in the Old Testament." I found Peter Gentry's discussion of typological warrant and Jim Hamilton's comments particularly helpful but the whole panel was great.

(HT: Andy Naselli & See the points from Carson talk at Dave Schrock's blog)

Church History Overview Lectures

I recently listened to an 8 lecture overview of church history by Dr. Andy Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church Durham. If you are ignorant of history (as most of us are), then you may find them helpful. I did. Here they are, and here is the link:

1. The Early Church: Spiritual Conquest of the Roman Empire (30-325AD) - mp3/notes
2. Christological Controversies and Augustine (325-590AD) - mp3/notes
3. Medieval Christianity: Popes, Monks, Crusaders, and Scholastics (590-1517) - mp3/notes
4. The Reformation: Luther, Zwingli, the Anabaptists (1517-1559AD) - mp3/notes
5. The Reformation: Calvin, the English Reformation (1536-1603AD) - mp3/notes/outline of English Reformation
6. Post Reformation Europe: Nations, Reason, and the Revival (and the English Reformation) (1545-1914 A.D.)
7. America: Puritans, Two Awakenings, Slavery (1609-1900) - mp3/notes
8. 20th century: Fundamentalism vs. Modernism, Missions - mp3/notes

Also of note for church history overviews is Christopher Catherwood's "Church History: A Crash Course for the Curious," which is only 224 pgs. We have picked this one up and plan on reading it soon, as it looks helpful.

(Props: PJ)

Abortions

During the month of September (08'), 286 women went to the EMW Woman's Surgical Clinic (2nd & Market) for an abortion. EMW performs most abortions in KY, but many drive in from Indiana (approx. 1/3). The total for the year is 2,995.

Please take the time to read this post by Dr. Mohler on Obama & abortion, or listen to the corresponding radio show. Also, related to this issue, this sermon by Dr. Russell Moore is worth your time (follow this link and scroll down to 10-16-08).

Old School Sproul on Justification

Kevin Vanhoozer on Biblical Theology

"To read the Bible canonically is to read the Bible as a unified communicative act, that is, as the complex, multi-levelled speech act of a single divine author. It follows that biblical theology - not just OT or NT theology but the theology of the whole Bible - is the attempt to read Scripture as the word of God. To read the Bible canonically may be to read it according to its truest, fullest, divine intention. This is a most important point; the canonical approach is a matter not of how the church reads the Bible but of what the Bible is. To read the Bible as unified Scripture is not just one interpretative interest among others, but the interpretative strategy that best corresponds to the nature of the text itself, given its divine inspiration."

(NDBT 61)

My New Book: The Newness of the New Covenant

I wrote a book this summer published by New Covenant Media that is now available at their website and Amazon.com. It seeks to show that the old covenant was a temporary administration, and the new covenant ratified by the blood of Christ really is new (not simply a renewal). Christ has brought the promises of the OT to pass in his cross-work. Here are the contents and endorsements:


Preface
Ch. 1 - Covenant in Scripture
Ch. 2 - Old Testament Background
Covenant with Creation
Noahic Covenant
Abrahamic Covenant
Mosaic Covenant
Davidic Covenant
New Covenant
Ch. 3 - New Testament
Gospels
The Writings of Paul
Hebrews
Ch. 4 - Conclusion
Bibliography

"There are many truths and themes which unify the entire canon of Scripture, but probably none as important as the theme of 'covenant.' However, Christians have disagreed for years precisely how the unfolding covenants of Scripture relate to each other and how they find their fulfillment in Christ. In this helpful introduction to the biblical covenants, Blake White nicely unpacks the redemptive-historical nature of the covenants that is both thoroughly rooted in the biblical text and which paves a needed middle way between Dispensational and Covenant theology, and which, in the end, shows the glory and newness of the new covenant achieved and accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ."
Stephen J. Wellum
Professor of Christian Theology
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Blake White's essay tackles a matter that is too often ignored. How does the whole Bible fit together? How should we understand the various covenants in the scriptures? How does the OT law given at Mount Sinai relate to believers today? Mr. White leads us on a very helpful tour of these issues, and his work is a good example of biblical theology. I commend his work for your reading and reflection."
Thomas R. Schreiner
James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary