Selected Reading

I read or listened to these recently and recommend them to you.

Church History

Who Was Zwingli?
One branch of my ancestors goes back to the early Swiss reformer Heinrich Bullinger, so I was naturally interested in this video about Huldrych Zwingli, who was Bullinger’s predecessor. (Somewhere along the line, my branch of the Bullinger/Bollinger family became Swiss Anabaptists. I wonder what Zwingli would think of that?)

Theology

Theological English
Do you know someone who might find this book useful? “With thirty lessons covering the major genres of theology (apologetics, biblical studies, church history, systematic theology, and practical theology), Theological English invites you to develop your English skills while actively putting them to use.” 

Here’s a sample chapter.

Four Views on the Lord’s Supper
Another good one from the Simply Put podcast. (Zwingli makes an appearance here, too.)

Hard Questions

Did Jesus Preach the Gospel to People In Hell During the Two Days He Was Dead?
“Down through the ages, some Christians have taught that during these two days between Good Friday and Easter morning Jesus went to Hades and preached the gospel to people there.” Are they right? ​ 

Theological Term of the Week: Absolute Power (of God)

absolute power (of God)
“That power whereby God is able to do that which he will not do, but is possible to be done”;1 “God’s ability to do all things, including those things that are possible for God but that God, for any variety of reasons, chooses not to do.”2

• From scripture:

And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. (Matthew 3:9 ESV)

Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26:53 ESV)

• From Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof: 

[T]he actual exercise of God’s power does not represent its limits. God could do more than that, if He were so minded. In that sense we can speak of the potentia absoluta, or absolute power, of God.  

Learn more:

1. Mark Jones: A Crucial Distinction
2. Louis Berkhof: The Sovereign Power of God

Related terms:

• omnipotence
• ordinate power of God

Filed under God’s Nature and His Work

1From The Existence and Attributes of God by Stephen Charnock.

2From None Greater by Matthew Barrett

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Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button will take you to an alphabetical list of all the previous theological terms.

Sunday's Hymn: How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
‘Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary rest.

Dear Name! the Rock on which I build,
My Shield and hiding place,
My never-failing Treasury filled
With boundless stores of grace;

Jesus, my Shepherd, Brother, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see thee as thou art,
I’ll praise thee as I ought.

Till then I would thy love proclaim
With ev’ry fleeting breath;
And may the music of thy Name
Refresh my soul in death.

 Other hymns, worship songs, or quotes for this Sunday:

• O Church of God Arise at The Happy Wonderer
• We’re Only Channels at The Outspoken Tulip
• Peace at That I May Know Him
• Look for Him at Tried With Fire
• Lord’s Day 29, 2019 at The Thirsty Theologian