Category Archives: theology

Boersma on Hospitality, 1

Posted on December 2, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Notes on chapter one from Boersma’s Violence, Hospitality, and the Cross: Reappropriating the Atonement Tradition. Hans Boersma uses concepts like violence and hospitality, particularly in their recent philosophical venues, as a set of ciphers to explore the atonement.  He succeeds brilliantly. … Continue reading →

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Sergius Bulgakov, The Bride of the Lamb

Posted on November 30, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Bulgakov, Sergius.  Bride of the Lamb.  Eerdmans. This isn’t a normal review.  It’s mostly a collection and analysis of his most important points.  This is the best thing ever written on eschatology in the sense of final judgment, life-after-death, etc. Bulgakov … Continue reading →

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The Providence of God (Paul Helm)

Posted on November 26, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Helm, Paul.  The Providence of God.  Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsityPress, 1993. Thesis: “In summary, the essential elements of divine providence are these.  God preserves his creation and all that it sustains” (Helm 22). Helm adopts the “no-risk” view of providence.  God’s … Continue reading →

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Atonement and Election, some theses

Posted on November 25, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

With utmost fear and trembling, Models of Atonement and Election (A/E) that posit some sort of epistemological gap between election and assurance can only lead to spiritual death.  In other words, can I really know I am elect? Simply saying … Continue reading →

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We Believe in One Lord Jesus Christ (ed. McGuckin)

Posted on November 22, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

John McGuckin gives us an outstanding, yea even world-class compendium of Patristic Christology. It nicely succeeds the first volume in the series.  McGuckin notes a set of “ciphers” that explain the theology behind the Nicene Creed: “‘Christ’ becomes a cipher … Continue reading →

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Saving Calvinism (Oliver Crisp)

Posted on November 21, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Crisp, Oliver.  Saving Calvinism: Expanding the Reformed Tradition.  Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsityPress, 2016. The Reformed theological tradition is like inheriting a large, albeit old house.  It has many rooms and in these rooms are old treasures. The Young, Restless, and … Continue reading →

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J. Macleod Campbell (The Nature of the Atonement)

Posted on November 19, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Campbell, J. Macleod.  The Nature of the Atonement.  Eerdmans. Macleod Campbell represents a different stream of Scottish theology.  It is Reformed theology without limited atonement. His argument, to be presented below, is incomplete in many ways.  He really doesn’t develop a … Continue reading →

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Zizioulas: Being as Communion

Posted on November 18, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

If I criticized Western models of the Trinity in the last post, I am going to push back against some fashionable Eastern models in this one. Zizzy notes that ancient Greek thought maintained a diversity in spite of apparent unity … Continue reading →

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Review: Augustine on the Trinity

Posted on November 18, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Long review.  I’ll put my cards on the table. I am not a huge fan of Augustine.  I’ll try to not let that color the review too much. I didn’t realize I hadn’t posted a review.  Ligonier had a list … Continue reading →

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Review: Jonathan Edwards among the Theologians (Crisp)

Posted on November 16, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Crisp, Oliver. Jonathan Edwards Among the Theologians. Grand Rapids, MI: 2015. Oliver Crisp paradoxically expands and summarizes key elements of his previous research. By contrasting Edwards with several Reformed thinkers, Crisp highlights some of Edwards’ unique (and sometimes bizarre) views. … Continue reading →

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