I was introduced to the writings of David B. Calhoun when he published his book with Banner of Truth, Knowing God and Ourselves: Reading Calvin’s Institutes Devotionally. I enjoyed that book immensely, and this book is just as good. In Calhoun’s latest book, In...
“The fact is that you simply cannot understand the history of Scotland unless you know something about the Protestant Reformation. It is the key to the understanding of the history of your great country in the last four hundred years.” So said, Martyn Lloyd-Jones...
Herman Selderhuis, professor of church history at the Theological University Apeldoorn needs little introduction. His book, John Calvin: A Pilgrim’s Life was warmly received by many as he unpacked the Reformer’s life and legacy. Now the author makes his...
“The problem is not biblical authority but how to negotiate the conflict of interpretation of that authoritative source” (21). Vanhoozer states the problem outright, the tension that we feel when we read our Bibles, individually and corporately. Most of us affirm...
As a self-titled book nerd and Seminary survivor, I can humbly state there are many, many theologians for which I have at least a passing familiarity. It seems everyone gravitates towards certain scholars/theologians for a variety of reasons ranging from the...
The 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation will soon arrive. A handful of evangelicals awaits this special day of celebration, when on October 31, 2017, they will remember Luther’s courageous act as he nailed the Ninety-Five Theses to the Castle Church in...
Writing articles and speaking to people has been a big part of my life since my teenage years. Ever since that time, I’ve loved writing Christian articles, speaking to God’s people, and ministering to them through the written word and through preaching and...
In the year 381 AD, a council of men came together, what we now know as the First Council of Constantinople. This council built on the First Council of Nicea’s meeting in 325 AD and sought to outline the essential confessions of what Christian orthodoxy is. In this...
B.B. Warfield, the great Princeton theologian of the 19th century, has sometimes been hailed as a scholastic theologian. A scholar interested purely in the academics of dogmatics, not the kind of theologian you would consult on matters of the Christian life....
When it comes to the Reformed tradition, one of the words that normally causes us to tense up is “revival.” Maybe it’s because we have had bad experiences theologically with revivals. In my rural Southern Baptist upbringing, “revivals” were scheduled events in...
Outside of the handful of folks that love spending their free time cracking open a biography of a famous President or reading about various culture movements of previous centuries, it is probably safe to say most people find studying history, especially for “fun,”...
Martyn Lloyd-Jones ministry has had a massive impact on the confessional evangelicalism of the 20th century and now the 21st century. His ministry was marked by a love for God’s Word, His people, and the Church. Starting out as a medical doctor, the man known as...
To the Christian, seeking God’s glory is not optional but mandatory. Few groups of Christians articulated a vision of God’s glory alone better than the Reformers and following them the Puritans. Today we live in a world where people are seeking their own glory...
Few issues are as important to a right understanding of the gospel as justification. The recovery of this doctrine as we’ll learn in this review is critical to biblical ministry. This is why I’m thankful for Faith Alone The Doctrine of Justification: What the...
William Tyndale is a figure many Christians likely have never heard of. His influence is felt the world over today through his translation work on the Bible. The sixteenth century English Reformer William Tyndale was an author, theologian, and linguistic genius who...
Throughout the years the idea has been advanced that Calvinism is against evangelism and missionary efforts. This statement is not only not true it has no bearing throughout the history of Reformed thought and practice. Calvinist missionaries and evangelists have...
Jonathan Edwards is rightly considered the greatest American born theologian and philosopher. His thought has had a massive impact not only on my own thinking but on the lives of many people. In his new book Edwards on the Christian Life Alive To The Beauty of God...
I humbly admit I am excited when I heard word that Simonetta Carr is going to publish another entry into her Christian Biographies for Young Readers series. Having read several installments in this series, the excitement truly exploded when it was announced she had...
Few issues are as important and as neglected as church history. God’s people need to understand how their faith is not something new but rather something old, and rooted in the history of God’s redeeming purposes. Church history helps God’s people not only...
Understanding the history of the Church is an important element of the faith. Digging into the past, while for many is often viewed in a negative light as being dull and boring especially when it comes to reading about church councils and creeds, is nonetheless...
Simonetta Carr, Jonathan Edwards in the Christian Biographies for Young Readers series. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2014. Hbk, 64 pgs. With fascinating stories, colorful illustrations, and engaging style, Simonetta Carr presents the life of Jonathan...
Martin Luther towers not only as one of the intellectual giants of Western civilization but arguably as one of the most influential men who has ever lived. Luther was a precise theologian, prolific author, fierce debater, captivating teacher and much more. While...
One of the greatest needs for Christians today is to understand how their faith is rooted in the history of God’s dealing with man. In his latest book Silent Witnesses: Lessons on Theology, Life, and the Church from Christians of the Past Garry Williams tells the...