Following on from my series on the book The Logic of the Body, I want here to very briefly point out some implications for the contemporary debate over the sinfulness of concupiscence and the nature of Jesus’ temptations. As a thick and demanding book it can be hard to remember what the practical relevance is while trying to keep up with the argument, no matter … Continue reading Logic of the Body excursus: Christ’s temptations
Grudem on the Doctrine of God (I) – Communicable and Incommunicable Attributes The treatment of the doctrine of God in Grudem’s Systematic Theology follows a traditional arrangement, covering the existence and knowability of God (in two short chapters which necessarily repeat some ground), then working through God’s attributes divided into incommunicable and communicable, then turning to the Trinity. Coming to Trinity only at the end … Continue reading God’s attributes, or in what way you’re invisible
I have recently had cause to read through The portraiture of the image of God in man by John Weemes, which opens with the author’s advice on how to profitably read scholastic theology (of which he himself makes plenty of use in the work). I think his thoughts are still useful, so have lightly modernised the text of this opening “advertisement” below (and for download … Continue reading On the right using of School divinity
Let this be our principle: that the use of God’s gifts is not wrongly directed when it is referred to that end to which the Author himself created and destined them for us, since he created them for our good, not for our ruin. Accordingly, no one will hold to a straighter path than he who diligently looks to this end. Now if we ponder … Continue reading Calvin on enjoying good things
“I must again revert to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Why is it that this man is so incomparable? Why is it that for the receptive, he has produced in almost every bar he conceived and composed a type of music for which “beautiful” is not a fitting epithet: music which for the true Christian is not mere entertainment, enjoyment or edification but food and drink; music … Continue reading Karl Barth on Mozart
