Today on Theology Simply Profound, we hear sermon preached at the evening service of Westminster OPC, December 24, 2017, reflecting on Simeon's reception of Jesus in Luke 2.

We look back at some of our favorite guests and moments from 2017.

In this episode, Rev. Andrew Compton, Assistant Professor of Old Testament Studies at Mid-America Reformed Seminary, speaks about the book of Proverbs. While many have approached Proverbs as a source for personal guidance or a collection of general life lessons, Compton argues that Proverbs possesses a canonical awareness and presents itself as the divinely inspired source of true wisdom, as well as the infallible norm for the wisdom of God, against which all other so-called "wisdom" must be tested.

Today, on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob enjoy a mostly lighthearted discussion about Christmas, including favorite Christmas cartoons, the question: "When does the Christmas "mood" get started?", the commercialization of the Christmas season, and on a slightly less humorous note, whether angels really do sing. First, though, we take a moment to remember and reflect upon the ministry of R. C. Sproul. Merry Christmas.

Jeff Stivason joins us to speak about his article, "Benjamin B. Warfield and True Church Unity," published in the Westminster Theological Journal 79 (2017): 327–43. He argues that Warfield developed a theology that requires the existence of denomination

Today on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Paul's preaching in Athens and the role of philosophy or worldview in our various interactions with the world around us. Is philosophy useful? What about worldview? Is there any connection between these things and evangelism?

Today on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss the contrast between Paul's reception at Thessalonica and Berea. In Thessalonica, there was jealousy and hostility. In Berea, there was an examination of the Scriptures. How are we to receive the word of God preached to us through our pastors?

Ryan Noha speaks about several rare books to be added to the Reformed Forum online store.

Matthew Patton speaks of Augustine's hermeneutical principle of totus Christus, which emphasizes how Christ as head as well as the Church as his body provide the eschatological fulfillment of the Old Testament.

Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey discuss pages 166–168 of Vos' Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments.

Jeff Waddington speaks about his chapter in the new festschrift for Vern Poythress, Redeeming the Life of the Mind (Crossway). Jeff's chapter, titled, "Jonathan Edwards on God's Involvement in Creation," is an examination of "Miscellanies," no.

Today on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Paul's missionary activities that draw he and his team from Asia Minor (modern Turkey) into Macedonia (modern Europe). Was Paul strategic in where he went? How did he know where and when to go? In what ways do his missionary activities guide us with ours? What happens when we become missional?

On Theology Simply Profound today, Rob and Bob discuss many and varied issues arising out of the dispute between Paul and Barnabas, which led to their separation, regarding bringing John Mark along on their journey to strengthen the churches of Asia Minor.

What did the Tree of Life symbolize in the Garden of Eden? Why does it reappear in Revelation 2:7 and 22:2? We discuss the symbolism of the tree and the eschatological mode of life it signifies and seals.

We speak about God's original intent for the image of God and how his offer to Adam in the garden was of a higher, consummate mode of life.

Rob and Bob discuss Acts 15 and the many implications the Jerusalem Council has upon the church's consideration of church government. Does the Bible teach any particular form of organization? Or, are we up to our own devices? 

Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey discuss pages 165–166 of Vos' Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments.

This episode was recorded just prior to our 2017 Theology Conference on The Reformation of Apologetics. We discuss Scholasticism as it relates to the theology of Thomas Aquinas, the Reformers, and Cornelius Van Til.

On today's episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to reflect upon the progress of the Gospel through the ministry of Barnabas and Paul in Asia-Minor. In Acts 14, we discuss the bold confidence in the gospel even as they face trial and tribulation.

The adult Sunday school lesson from the Reformed Forum 2017 Theology Conference Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC)

The Reformation of Apologetics, Session #5 Reformed Forum 2017 Theology Conference Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC)

The Reformation of Apologetics, Session #4 Reformed Forum 2017 Theology Conference Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC)

The Reformation of Apologetics, Session #2 Reformed Forum 2017 Theology Conference Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC)

The Reformation of Apologetics, Session #1 Reformed Forum 2017 Theology Conference Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC)

VIP dinner lecture from Market House on the Square in Lake Forest, Illinois.

Today on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss the progress of the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit through the church in the persons of Barnabas and Saul from Acts 13.

Also, please accept our apologies for the poor quality of the sound on this episode.

This episode was recorded live at our 2017 Theology Conference on The Reformation of Apologetics.

Dan Ragusa speaks about Herman Bavinck's Trinitarian theology and its implications for a revelational epistemology and worldview.

Today on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss the amazing events of Acts 12 where angels strike for blessing and judgment. Enjoy this discussion of how God continues to move his Gospel from Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria, to the end of the earth.

Chad Van Dixhoorn speaks about the Westminster Assembly and its reform of the pulpit ministry.

Ryan Noha, the Indiana Jones of Reformed books, speaks about several rare books to be added to the Reformed Forum online store.

Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey discuss pages 161–165 of Vos' Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments.

Today on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob return to the subject of baptism by way of answering some of our listener questions. Enjoy this practical discussion about some of the ins and outs of dealing with different circumstances that leaders might need to think through.

Camden Bucey and Jeff Waddington discuss the image of God and whether man retains the image after the fall into sin.

In this episode, Rob and Bob discuss the commission of Barnabas to Antioch, the spread of the gospel, the addition of Saul to work in Antioch, and the relief sent to the congregations of Jerusalem for their aid in a time of need. All of this leads us to a discussion of what the Bible says about church government by elders.

Today, Rob and Bob talk about John 3:16 in the context of God's inclusion of the Gentiles into the New Covenant. Was this something that we hear about before the coming of Christ?

Chad and Emily Van Dixhoorn discuss studying the Westminster Confession of Faith.

Glen Clary and Camden Bucey discuss Ole Hallesby's classic book on prayer.

Today's episode includes a discussion of the dramatic and significant vision of Peter to "Rise, Peter; kill and eat" (Acts 10:13). Not only is this another turning point in the Book of Acts where the food laws of old put asunder, but the way for the inclusion of the gentile believer becomes clear.

Go to OPC.org for more information about Disaster Relief efforts in the Houston area.

Jim Cassidy walks us through the major themes of the book of Hosea.

In episode 86, Rob and Bob talk about what Paul and others have to say about the last days. Are they behind us or in front of us? Or, are we in them presently? And, in what way would the answer to those questions change our understanding of the Christian life?

Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey discuss theological methodology in light of Calvin's view of natural theology.

Dr. Robert J. Cara speaks about his book, Cracking the Foundation of the New Perspective on Paul: Covenantal Nomism versus Reformed Covenantal Theology (Mentor, 2017), which is published in the Reformed Exegetical and Doctrinal Series. The New Perspective on Paul is broadly united on its view of Second Temple Jewish literature. Arguing that these documents do not contain a doctrine of works righteousness, Paul certainly cannot be arguing against such a view—quite simply because it didn't exist. Dr. Cara examines the Jewish sources and "cracks the foundation" of the NPP by demonstrating how they incorporate meritorious works and thus establishing the traditional Protestant view of Paul and his doctrine of justification.

Melodie McKenzie joins Rob and Bob in our discussion of Classical Christian Education.

Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey discuss pages 159–161 of Vos' Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments.

Rob and Bob discuss a the basic history and shape of the Young, Restless, and Reformed movement of the past decade or so, depending on who you ask. And, somehow, we have this discussion in the context of Paul's early ministry!

We took to Facebook to broadcast a live Q&A session. With questions submitted through email and the live comment thread, we covered Lord's Day observance, fasting and gluttony, and membership in the New Covenant.

Among other things, Rob and Bob discuss Saul in Acts 9.

We celebrate five-hundred episodes of Christ the Center.

Camden Bucey reviews Yves Congar's The Meaning of Tradition.

Today, Rob and Bob discuss Acts 8 and the progress of the gospel into Samaria through Philip.

We continue our #VosGroup series by opening pages 157–159 of Vos' book Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider offerings, gifts, and sacrifices within the Mosaic economy.

Reflecting on Acts 8:1-3, Rob and Bob discuss the scattering of the church after the death of Stephen.

Chris Castaldo compares the respective doctrines of justification of the Reformer Peter Martyr Vermigli and the Roman Catholic John Henry Cardinal Newman.

Today, Rob and Bob with Melodie McKenzie, discuss Stephen's speech in Acts 7, which leads us into the muddy of waters of sermons, some questions about preaching, and some thoughts on listening to sermons. Thanks for listening. Enjoy.

In June 2011, we spoke with Bill Dennison, Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Covenant College, about Transformationalism and Christian Higher Education. In that episode, we touched upon his article, "Dutch Neo-Calvinism and the Roots for Transformation: An Introductory Essay" from the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 42/2 (June 1999). We only had a few minutes to discuss the article in episode 180, and so today, we pick up where we left off. Dennison contends that while Dutch neo-Calvinism sought to transform culture in response to the threat of the Enlightenment, they stood upon a foundation of Enlightenment principles to do it. Many of the themes discussed in this episode were developed and applied in our twelve-part series on Christ and Culture, in which Dennison debated Darryl Hart, Nelson Kloosterman, and Doug Wilson.

Previous Episodes with Bill Dennison

• In Defense of the Eschaton
• Transformationalism and Christian Higher Education
• Machen and Bultmann at Marburg
• Paul’s Two-Age Construction and Apologetics

Paul gave Timothy specific instructions to ordain elders and deacons as the leaders of the churches that they were planting.  The Deacons who we were first introduced in Acts 6 were to be dignified, honest, and faithful, not addicted to much wine, convinced of their faith and doctrine, mature in life and faith.  They are to be the husband of one wife managing their household well.  All that just so they can sweep the floor after a Sunday lunch.  What are all of the responsibilities of deacons?  Are they to be listened too or just the guys that take the offering every Sunday?  Are they to be respected in the office or is it just a stepping stone to eldership? 

We welcome Brandon Crowe back to the program to speak about the gospel of Matthew. Dr. Crowe is assistant professor of New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He is the author of the article, "Fulfillment in Matthew as Eschatological Reversal" in Westminster Theological Journal 75 (2013), pp. 111–127. Matthew's use of the Old Testament has perplexed interpreters for years. It is difficult to ascertain precisely how Jesus "fulfills" the prophets in several of Matthew's references. Dr. Crowe argues that Jesus not only fulfills the Old Testament as the new Israel and consummate Davidic king, but according to Matthew's formulae, he does so by reversing Israel's pattern of covenant infidelity.

Other Episodes with Brandon Crowe

• The Last Adam: A Theology of the Obedient Life of Jesus in the Gospels
• The New Testament Foundations of Trinitarian Theology
• The Message of the General Epistles
• The Virgin Birth of Christ
• Deuteronomy and Christology in the Gospel of Matthew

In the early chapters of Acts, at the beginning of the New Covenant Church there was a joyous time where everyone shared all that they had will anyone else who was in need.  Just a few months later we have seen jealousy, lying, and deceit with Ananias and Sapphire. We have seen persecution escalating from the Jewish leadership and now we see factions among the people.  It doesn’t take long for our sin to get in the way of God’s goodness.  Was the solution to the problem with the widows the creation of a new office or was this a onetime occurrence?  Are we given a pattern to follow or can culture dictate how the structure of a church is formulated.

Today, we speak with Andrew Abernethy about his book, The Book of Isaiah and God's Kingdom: A Thematic-Theological Approach from IVP Academic's New Studies in Biblical Theology series. Abernethy contends that thematic points of reference can help one to encounter Isaiah and its rich theological message. Dr. Abernethy is Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College. He is the author of Eating in Isaiah: Approaching Food and Drink in Isaiah's Structure and Message and coeditor of Isaiah and Imperial Context: The Book of Isaiah in Times of Empire.

Rob McKenzie hosts the interview with Dr. Abernethy. And so in the episode, we also took the opportunity to speak about the latest addition to our podcast family, Theology Simply Profound, which he produces with Bob Tarullo. Rob and Camden speak about the program and how it fits within our lineup, helping us to bring Reformed theology to more people. Rob is sales representative for trade, academic, and special markets at IVP and a distant student at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida.

Reformed Forum is pleased to welcome Theology Simply Profound. Rob McKenzie and Bob Tarullo address issues of Reformed theology in an accessible manner. If Christ the Center is an advanced course, this is your prolegomena. Think of it as Reformed meat and

What do we do when the government tells us that we must turn in people who are of a certain ethnic group so that they might be killed? Do we adhere to scripture that tells us to be obedient to the governing authorities or do we adhere to scripture that tells us that we should not murder? Are we sinning regardless or can we choose. In the 1940's the Ten Boom family along with others help hide the Jews who were being hunted by the Nazi army for extinction. They lied, they stole and the disobeyed direct orders from their occupied government. This wasn't just in Holland, but many German Christians also hid Jews to protect them. Were they right or was this a lack of faith?

Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey revisit Paul Woolley's article, "Discontent!" as it pertains to the ministry of the church. While Woolley wrote in 1944, his lessons are just as applicable today.

Darryl G. Hart speaks about J. Gresham Machen and his use of media throughout the modernist-fundamentalist controversy.

In this episode of Vos Group, we turn to pages 155–157 of Geerhardus Vos's Biblical Theology to consider the sacrificial system of the law. Vos describes two main ends of sacrifices—expiation and consecration—and how they relate to one another.

William Wood challenges the conventional wisdom that the author of Judges exhibits an anti-Ephraimite stance exclusively.

Brett Mahlen speaks about his ministry to inmates at the Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Illinois.

Charles Williams speaks about the life and theology of one of Christianity's greatest figures, Augustine.

A. Craig Troxel speaks about Reformed spirituality.

In this episode of Vos Group, we turn to pages 154–155 of Geerhardus Vos's Biblical Theology to consider how Christ reveals and consummates the religious principles and realities embodied in the tabernacle and then elevated into the Church.

Today we welcome Daniel Ragusa, to speak about the Westminster Standards and their teaching of the self-sufficient and self-contained triune God of Scripture. Ragusa begins with Westminster Confession of Faith 3.1:

God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.

In developing this doctrine, Ragusa draws upon Cornelius Van Til's Trinitarian theology, covenant theology, and representational principle. Ragusa writes,

According to Van Til's representational principle, for man's will to operate and for an act of his will to be significant and meaningful it must take place within an exhaustively personal environment, that is, it must take place within the sovereign and eternal plan of the self-sufficient triune God. The absolute freedom of God does not take away or limit man's freedom, but rather establishes it in an analogical fashion.

While many in the Christian tradition prepare to celebrate Good Friday and Easter Sunday this week and next, we turn to consider the meaning of the gospel. Paul describes the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1–8 as a message of Jesus' historical life, death, and resurrection for sinners. This is a matter of first importance.

Earlier this week, we exhibited at The Gospel Coalition 2017 Conference, "No Other Gospel: Reformation 500 and Beyond" in Indianapolis. We were able to share 900 copies of our new book No Uncertain Sound with interested conference attendees. We had numerous conversations with people about confessional Reformed theology, worship, apologetics, and ecclesiology. In the few quieter moments, we picked up the microphones and spoke about our experience.

In his plenary address at TGC, "The Reformed Tradition Beyond Calvin," Ligon Duncan spoke of Johannes Oecolampadius and Dr. Diane Poythress' work on the Reformer. In Christ the Center episode 269, we spoke with Dr Poythress about her dissertation, “Johannes Oecolampadius’ Exposition of Isaiah, Chapters 36–37,” which is one of the only lengthy treatments of Oecolampadius in English. She has also written an excellent book about him titled, Reformer of Basel: The Life, Thought, and Influence of Johannes Oecolampadius, published by Reformation Heritage Books.

This week we’re at The Gospel Coalition 2017 Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. We’re meeting a ton of new people and telling them about our mission to assist the Church in her call to discipleship. With a host of new listeners, I wanted to release a special welcome episode into our podcast feed and provide a short introduction to what we do here at Reformed Forum.

We’ve been podcasting since January 2008. Our flagship program, Christ the Center has released a new episode every Friday since that first episode was released over nine years ago. We’ve just published our first book No Uncertain Sound, which plants a flag for our distinctive confessional Reformed theology. We are unabashed in promoting historic Protestantism in the tradition of the Westminster Standards and the three forms of unity: the Canons of Dort, the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism. We believe this important, since we live in an age of broad and often pragmatic evangelicalism. We’re promoting something substantial and enduring.

But even beyond our confessional tradition, we specifically advance theology in the tradition of Geerhardus Vos and Cornelius Van Til. We’ve detailed all of this in our book No Uncertain Sound. We hope you pick up a copy and fall in love with this rich theology arising from a redemptive-historical hermeneutic.

At the end of the episode, we include a portion of Christ the Center episode 378 with Dr. Carl Trueman. In this episode, we speak about Dr. Trueman's book Luther on the Christian Life, in which he paints a portrait of Martin Luther through his historical context, theological system, and approach to the Christian life. Luther is often treated in a black-and-white fashion or exclusively through his succinct theological quips and mottoes. Trueman helps us to see the practical and pastoral context in which Luther lived and ministered and thereby grants to us a better understanding of both the man and his theology.

Rev. Chiarot is the pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Rock Tavern, New York. He joins us today to speak about "T. F. Torrance and Apostolic Succession," an article he wrote for Participatio. He has also written, The Unassumed Is the Unhealed: The Humanity of Christ in the Christology of T. F. Torrance (Pickwick, 2013).

Links

• Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rock Tavern, NY
• Christ the Center episode 403, "The Unassumed Is the Unhealed"

K. Scott Oliphint speaks about the incomprehensible mysteries of our God. As creatures, we will never and can never comprehend fully God's mysteries. Indeed, this must even be an epistemological and methodological starting point. Standing upon this biblically-based notion of mystery, Dr. Oliphint drives us to doxology—to worship our glorious God.

We welcome Dr. Brandon Crowe to speak about his book, The Last Adam: A Theology of the Obedient Life of Jesus in the Gospels, in which he sets forth the soteriological significance of the life of Jesus in the Gospels. He offers an exegetical case for understanding the Adam-Christ parallel in the Gospels themselves, and thereby allows us to see the great glory of person and work of Christ as he is revealed in all of Scripture.

Other episodes with Brandon Crowe

• Deuteronomy and Christology in the Gospel of Matthew
• The Virgin Birth of Christ
• The Message of the General Epistles
• The New Testament Foundations of Trinitarian Theology

Vos Group continues our study looking at the majesty and holiness of God and its relationship to the place of worship. Read along in Biblical Theology on pp. 150–154.

Today we speak about John Murray's "The Attestation of Scripture," a chapter in The Infallible Word. Murray writes,

The objective witness is that Scripture is authoritative by reason of the character it possesses as the infallible Word of God and this divine quality belongs to Scripture because it is the product of God’s creative breath through the mode of plenary inspiration by the Holy Spirit.

In his book Created & Creating, William Edgar offers a rich biblical theology in light of our contemporary culture that contends that Christians must engaged in culture. Dr. Edgar is Professor of Apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary. He joins us to speak about this wonderful book.

Its thesis is simple: the cultural mandate, declared at the dawn of human history, and reiterated through the different episodes of redemptive history, culminating in Jesus' Great Commission, is the central calling for humanity.

The tabernacle is a premier symbol and type in the Old Testament. It demonstrates God's dwelling with his people. Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey turn to Vos's discussion and consider the redemptive-historical significance of the tabernacle. Read along on pp. 148–150.

Peter Gurry speaks about a new method of textual criticism used in the latest critical editions of the New Testament.

Today we speak with Austin Reed about Karl Barth's theology of election. Austin is a student at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and walks us through a critical review of Karl Barth's Infralapsarian Theology: Origins and Development, 1920-1953 by Shao Kai Tseng. Tseng challenges the scholarly status quo, arguing that despite Barth's stated favor of supralapsarianism, his mature lapsarian theology is complex and dialectical. It demonstrates elements of both supra- and infralapsarianism, though it favors the latter. In Tseng's assessment, Barth's theology is basically infralapsarian because he sees the object of election as fallen humankind and understands the incarnation as God's act of taking on human nature in its condition of fallenness.

Be sure to read Austin Reed's review of Reading Barth with Charity: A Hermeneutic Proposal by George Hunsinger.

On this episode, we are joined by Ryan McGraw, who speaks about the foundational role and practical significance of Trinitarian theology to John Owen. Dr. McGraw is Professor of Systematic Theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Greenville, South Caroline. His article, "Trinitarian Doxology: Reassessing John Owen's Contribution to Reformed Orthodox Trinitarian Theology" was published in The Westminster Theological Journal, Vol. 77, No. 2.

Dr. McGraw joined us on a previous episode of Christ the Center to speak about the meaning of the phrase "good and necessary consequence" in the Westminster Confession of Faith 1.6.

On this episode, we are joined by Nathaniel Gray Sutanto, who speaks about the Theological Interpretation of Scripture (TIS). Gray is a PhD Candidate at New College, University of Edinburgh. His article, "On the Theological Interpretation of Scripture: The Indirect Identity Thesis, Reformed Orthodoxy, and Trinitarian Considerations" was published in The Westminster Theological Journal, Vol. 77, No. 2.

TIS is an approach to reading biblical texts that seeks to do justice to the theological nature of the texts and embrace the influence of theology on interpretation. Sutanto focuses on Francis Watson and his relationship to Karl Barth's doctrine of revelation. He concludes that, “. . . the uniqueness of TIS depends upon the assumption of the validity of Kant’s turn in philosophical history along with its attendant ideological implications.”

As another year gets into swing, many people have begun new Bible reading plans. Reading through Scripture each day is a powerful and transformative discipline. We discuss the practice of Bible reading personally, in the home, and in the church.

We continue our study of Geerhardus Vos's Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider typology and how types relate to symbols. This is some of the richest material in Vos. Read along on pp. 143-148.