Selected Reading

I read these recently and recommend them to you.

Theology

You’re a Theologian. Become a Good one.
Matt Smethurst writes, “In one sense, all it takes to be a theologian is to have an opinion about God. That’s it. The moment you think or say anything about him or her or it or whatever “God” is to you, you’re doing theology.

The real question, therefore, is not whether you are a theologian. It’s whether you are a good one.” 

A Review of James Dolezal’s “All That Is in God”
I learned a lot from Dolezal’s book, but I think the two critiques in this review by Denny Burk are fair, especially the second one. 

Should Christians say, “God Predestines People to Hell”?
Wyatt Graham works through the issues, focusing particularly on the biblical pattern, and answers, “No.” 

[P]redestination, election, and calling refer to distinct salvific benefits that God shares with his elect. Scripture does not regularly emphasize the opposite: of predestination to hell, of election to failure, or of calling to sin. 

What do you think?

Pastoring

What I Miss Most (and Least) About Being a Pastor
If you’re wondering why you should read this, I’ll tell you: It will help you pray well for your pastor.

The North

By helicopter to Llewellyn Glacier
You might enjoy the story and photos from a helicopter trip to Llewellyn Glacier near Atlin, BC (Murray Lundberg). 

Theological Term of the Week: Procession of the Holy Spirit

 

procession of the Holy Spirit
The way the Spirit relates to the Father and Son in eternity; “[t]hat eternal and necessary act of the first and second persons in the Trinity whereby they, within the divine Being become the ground of the personal subsistence of the Holy Spirit, and put the third person in possession of the whole divine essence, without any division, alienation or change.1 Also called spiration.

• From the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter II:

III. In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost: the Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.

• From Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof. 

The early trinitarian controversies led to the conclusion that the Holy Spirit, as well as the Son, is of the same essence as the Father, and is therefore consubstantial with Him. And the long drawn dispute about the question, whether the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father alone or also from the Son, was finally settled by the Synod of Toledo in 589 by adding the word “Filioque” to the Latin version of the Constantinopolitan Creed: “Credimus in Spiritum Sanctum qui a Patre Filioque procedit” (“We believe in the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and the Son”). This procession of the Holy Spirit, briefly called spiration, is his personal property… .

The doctrine of the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son is based on John 15:26, and on the fact that the Spirit is also called the Spirit of Christ and of the Son, Rom. 8:9; Gal. 4:6, and is sent by Christ into the world. 

Learn more:

1. Louis Berkhof: The Holy Trinity
2. Ligonier Ministries: Divine Begottenness and Procession
3. George Smeaton: The Personality and Procession of the Holy Spirit

Related terms:

• economic Trinity
• eternal generation of the Son
• eternal relations of origen
• ontological Trinity
• Trinity

Filed under Trinity

1From Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof, page 97.

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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: Savior, Thy Dying Love

Saviour, thy dying love
Thou gavest me,
Nor should I aught withhold,
Dear Lord, from thee:
In love my soul would bow,
My heart fulfil its vow,
Some off’ring bring thee now,
Something for thee.

O’er the blest mercy-seat,
Pleading for me,
Upward in faith I look,
Jesus, to thee:
Help me the cross to bear,
Thy wondrous love declare,
Some song to raise, or prayer,
Something for thee.

Give me a faithful heart,
Guided by thee,
That each departing day
Henceforth may see
Some work of love begun,
Some deed of kindness done,
Some wand’rer sought and won,
Something for thee.

All that I am and have—
Thy gifts so free—
Ever in joy or grief,
My Lord, for thee;
And when thy face I see,
My ransomed soul shall be,
Through all eternity,
Offered to thee.

—Sylvanus D. Phelps

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

• In Heavenly Love Abiding at The Happy Wonderer
• How Much More Do I Need? at The Outspoken Tulip
• God’s Grandeur at That I May Know
• God’s Love, God’s Gift, and God’s Son at Tried With Fire
• Lord’s Day 27, 2019 at The Thirsty Theologian