"The Man of Sin" Published in Korean

Baker Books sent me a few promotional copies of my Man of Sin, now published in Korean, joining the Korean edition of A Case for Amillennialism.  This came as news to me, but glad to see it nevertheless.

I cannot help but wonder if Korean readers don't think of Kim Jong Un when they read Man of Sin.  But Kim Yo-jong, his sister, might be an equally viable candidate.  That means changing the title to the Woman of Sin, or the gender neutral Person of Sin.  Nah . . .

"The History of Apologetics" Released by Zondervan

You can purchase it here:  History of Apologetics

"Answering Myths About Reformed Theology" -- YouTube Interview

My recent interview by Doreen Virtue on the common misconceptions people have about Reformed theology.

Myths About Reformed Theology

My Essay On B. B. Warfield in the History of Apologetics (Zondervan) Coming in June

Here's the publisher's blurb and list of contributors:

The History of Apologetics follows the great apologists in the history of the church to understand how they approached the task of apologetics in their own cultural and theological context. Each chapter looks at the life of a well-known apologist from history, unpacks their methodology, and details how they approached the task of defending the faith.

By better understanding how apologetics has been done, readers will be better able to grasp the contextualized nature of apologetics and apply those insights to today's context. The History of Apologetics covers forty-four apologists including:

Part One: Patristic Apologists

• Justin Martyr by Gerald Bray
• Irenaeus of Lyons by Stephen O. Presley
• Athenagoras of Athens by W. Brian Shelton
• Tertullian of Carthage by Bryan M. Litfin
• Origen by A. Chadwick Thornhill
• Athanasius of Alexandria by Jonathan Morgan
• Augustine of Hippo by Chad Meister

Part Two: Medieval Apologists

• John of Damascus by Daniel J. Janosik
• Theodore Abu Qurrah by Byard Bennett
• Timothy I of Baghdad by Edward L. Smither and Trevor Castor
• Anselm of Canterbury by Edward N. Martin and Steven B. Cowan
• Saint Thomas Aquinas by Francis J. Beckwith and Shawn Floyd
• Ramon Lull by Greg Peters
• Gregory Palamas by Byard Bennett

Part Three: Early Modern Apologists

• Hugo Grotius by Bryan Baise
• Blaise Pascal by Tyler Dalton McNabb and Michael R. DeVito
• Jonathan Edwards by Michael McClymond
• William Paley by Charles Taliaferro
• Joseph Butler by David McNaughton

Part Four: 19th C. Apologists

• Simon Greenleaf by Craig A. Parton
• John Henry Newman by Corneliu C. Simut
• Søren Kierkegaard by Sean A. Turchin and Christian Kettering
• James Orr by Ronnie Campbell
• B. B. Warfield by Kim Riddlebarger

Part Five: 20th C. American Apologists

• J. Gresham Machen by D. G. Hart
• Cornelius Van Til by K. Scott Oliphint
• Gordon Haddon Clark by Robert A. Weathers
• Francis A. Schaeffer by William Edgar
• Edward John Carnell by Steven A. Hein

Part Six: 20th C. European Apologists

• A. E. Taylor by Michael O. Obanla and David Baggett
• G. K. Chesterton by Ralph Wood
• Dorothy Sayers by Amy Orr-Ewing
• C. S. Lewis by Alister McGrath
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Matthew D. Kirkpatrick
• Lesslie Newbigin by Krish Kandiah

Part Seven: Contemporary Apologists

• John Warwick Montgomery by Craig A. Parton
• Charles Taylor by Bruce Riley Ashford and Matthew Ng
• Alvin Plantinga by James Beilby
• Richard Swinburne by Greg Welty
• Ravi Zacharias by Jo Vitale and Vince Vitale
• William Lane Craig by R. Keith Loftin
• Gary R. Habermas by W. David Beck and Benjamin C. F. Shaw
• Alister E. McGrath by James K. Dew and Jordan Steffaniak
• Timothy Keller by Joshua D. Chatraw

 You can purchase it here:  History of Apologetics

Back to the Reformation Podcast -- "Amillennial Eschatology"

I was recently a guest on the "Back to the Reformation" podcast.  Here's the audio.

Back to the Reformation Podcast -- Eschatology

Conference Postponed -- "The Blessed Hope: Christian Eschatology Simply Explained" A Conference at the Oceanside United Reformed Church, March 20-21

The Conference has been postponed due to Wuhan Covid-19.  Watch for updates

Simonetta Carr on B. B. Warfield -- "Not a Solitary Life"

Simonetta Carr's short essay on B. B. Warfield's circle of friends was posted at reformation21.  Well worth a read.

B. B. Warfield – Not a Solitary Theologian

Due to a need for brevity, many articles on Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield (1851-1921) focus on his theology and his devotion to his wife, whose illness kept the couple close to home. Because of this, he is often seen as a solitary man leading an uneventful life. This view is compounded by the fact that we have a very limited access to his letters (the scholar who holds his correspondence is currently working on a long-due biography).

In reality, while it’s true that Warfield spent much time at home and in his study, he was deeply invested in the lives of those around him: students, family, and friends.

Young Warfield

Warfield grew up in a farm near Lexington, Kentucky, learning about his father’s work as cattle raiser, collecting butterflies, moths, and rocks, memorizing the Westminster Catechisms (with Scriptural proofs), complaining about having to study Greek, reading books, and dreaming to become a scientist.  

At 17 years of age, he began his studies at the College of New Jersey (later known as Princeton University), where he was generally a good student. Like other boys his age, he got into his share of mischief, most famously a fist fight with another student who was offended by an unflattering picture Warfield drew of him during a lecture. This incident, without serious consequences, earned him the nickname of “pugilist.”

You can read the rest here:  "B. B. Warfield -- Not a Solitary Life"

What Should I Read to Learn More About John Calvin?

Perhaps no one in the history of the Christian church gets as much bad press (dare I say "fake news") as does John Calvin.

Many people take Will Durant's ill-founded assessment as fact (that Calvin was cold, cruel, heartless, and directly responsible for the death of arch-heretic Michael Servetus).  There are far too many anti-Calvinist preachers, who, having never read a word from any of Calvin's works, and who know nothing about him, pronounce their heated anathemas and scorn upon him.  These anathemas are all many evangelicals know about the Genevan Reformer. 

There are also those with principled disagreements regarding various aspects of Calvin's ministry and theology (such as our Lutheran friends), who do get things wrong which they ought not.

It is always worth the effort to read as much from Calvin's pen as you can, starting with his Institutes of the Christian Religion.  But it is equally important to learn more about Calvin from scholars who are well informed, reasonably sympathetic, and concerned that the John Calvin of history is not lost to myth and legend.

Basic Biographies

Robert Godfrey's biography of Calvin is the one book you should read about Calvin.  Dr. Godfrey places Calvin in that context with which Calvin himself would identify--a scholar working in pastoral ministry.  This is a readable, interesting, and important book.  Godfrey introduces us to John Calvin the pastor, whose life was devoted to preaching the gospel and caring for Christ's flock--not the usual, but the proper assessment.  Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor

This book may be hard to find at a reasonable price (there are plenty of used copies floating around).  I think this is still the best single volume introduction to Calvin's life and theology.  It is very well-written, and covers the basic biographical details, as well as many of Calvin's doctrinal formulations.  Calvin -- Wendel

Scholarly Studies of Calvin

Richard Muller is the most authoritative Calvin scholar around.  It has been my privilege to have studied under him.  Muller absolutely destroys the arguments of those (many of whom should know better) who attempt to drive a wedge between Calvin (the biblical theologian) and the later Calvinists (of federal theology as found in the Reformed scholastics, and in the Westminster Standards).  Muller can be tough going, but he is always worth the effort.  This one not for the faint of heart, nor is it inexpensive.  The Unaccommodated Calvin

This is a series of essays from contemporary Reformed luminaries about various aspects of Calvin's thought as set out in his Institutes.  Some essays are better than others, but I'll take the fifth if you ask me more.  Well worth reading nonetheless (but only after you've read the Institutes).  Guide to Calvin's Institutes

Calvin Studies Too Good Not to Mention

This book is a real gem.  Michael does a great job of setting out Calvin's suprisingly warm  piety, which grows out of Calvin's understanding of our union with Christ.  Michael draws extensively from Calvin's Commentary on the Psalms.  One cannot read this without finding one's own heart softened, and in turn motivated to greater levels of devotion to Christ and to the piety which results.  Calvin on the Christian Life

If you are interested in questions surrounding the ordo salutis (order of salvation), and its development in Calvin and the subsequent Reformed tradition, then prepare for the feast which awaits you.  This is Muller at his best.  Muller--Calvin and the Reformed Tradition

Previous Posts in this Series:

What Should I Read to Learn More About the End Times?

What Should I Read to Learn About the Refomed Confessions?

What Should I Read to Learn More About the Reformed Confession? Part One -- The Westminster Confession of Faith

 What Should I Read to Learn More About the Lord's Supper?

What Should I Read to Learn More About Infant Baptism?

What Should I Read to Learn More About Covenant Theology?

What Should I Read to Learn More About the End Times?

Since I write and often lecture in the field of eschatology, I am often asked "what should I read to learn more about the end times?"  In answering this question, I do not recommend books which predict the future in light of current events.  I am not a fan of the "prophecy pundit" genre. 

The resources which follow are primarily biblical-exegetical volumes, which present and defend "Reformed" amillennialism--a view which is biblical, simple and straight-forward.  Reformed amillennialism affirms that the central eschatological event predicted in the New Testament is that Jesus Christ will return bodily at the end of the age to raise the dead, judge the world, and usher in the new heaven and earth.

"Reformed" amillennialism is unique from other varieties of amillennialism, in that an effort is made to understand eschatology in the light of classical Reformed covenant (or federal) theology. 

Comprehensive Studies of Amillennial Eschatology:

Anthony Hoekema's The Bible and the Future is the best place to begin.  Hoekema's book is well-organized and covers the subject thoroughly, including a study of the nature of biblical eschatology (the very essence of biblical revelation), the events surrounding the return of Jesus Christ, the intermediate state ("where did grandma go when she died?"), to comparative eschatology--stating and defending Reformed amillennialism in dialogue with opposing views.  Hoekema's book was important in my journey out of dispensationalism.  It is highly recommended.

Cornel Venema's The Promise of the Future is similar in content and layout to Hoekema's volume (the full range of eschatology is covered).  It too is outstanding, and quite useful in making the biblical/historical case for Reformed amillennialism.

Presentations of Reformed Amillennialism

This is my effort to make the best (and simplest) possible case for the biblical basis for Reformed amillennialism.  Narrower in focus than Hoekema's and Venema's volumes, this book was written in light of my own journey to amillennialism.  My main argument is the "two-age model."  By the way, if you are reading it with proper spiritual understanding, you should get the second blessing by the time you get to chapter three.

A Case for Amillennialism

This book is must reading for anyone who was trained (say, in a Bible college or seminary setting) in dispensational eschatology.  Dr. Storms is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, and studied under the landmark dispensationalist theologians (including Walvoord and Pentecost), and knows first-hand the weaknesses and biblical problems with the dispensational system.

I do have a couple of caveats in recommending this book.  Storms does not embrace classical Reformed covenant theology, which I think weakens his case (although overall Storms' case is compelling).  My second caveat is that Dr. Storms holds a rather quirky view of Daniel's fourth kingdom (seeing it as Greece, not Rome).  This undercuts important background to the way New Testament writers view the Roman empire as the beast of Revelation.

Despite the caveats, if you were trained as a dispensationalist, this is must reading.  Kingdom Come

One of the most fascinating sub-plots throughout redemptive history is Christ (the Messiah) versus Antichrist.  This volume is an attempt to apply amillennial eschatology to one of the most controversial (and misunderstood) areas of biblical eschatology.

Will there be an end-times Antichrist?  I say "Yes."  The Man of Sin

Previous Posts in this Series:

What Should I Read to Learn About the Refomed Confessions?

What Should I Read to Learn More About the Reformed Confession? Part One -- The Westminster Confession of Faith

 What Should I Read to Learn More About the Lord's Supper?

What Should I Read to Learn More About Infant Baptism?

What Should I Read to Learn More About Covenant Theology?

What Should I Read to Learn More About the Reformed Confessions (The Three Forms of Unity)?

There are a number of great resources which will help you better understand the theology, practical application, and devotional value of the Three Forms of Unity (The Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort).

The URCNA has published a new edition of the Three Forms of Unity--a helpful modernizing and reworking of the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort.  The translations are in crisp modern English and Scripture proofs abound.  This volume includes our liturgical forms, and a number of prayers (both for official church and personal/family use).  The link is to a PDF, so this one is free!  Liturgical Forms and Prayers of the URCNA (PDF)

The Belgic Confession

Rev. Danny Hyde's commentary on the Belgic Confession is a great resource to understand both the content and background of the Belgic Confession.  Arranged as a commentary, the content is easily accessible.  With Heart and Mouth

I have also prepared a series of sermons on the Belgic Confession, which can be found here: Sermons on the Belgic Confession

The Heidelberg Catechism

Kevin DeYoung's book on the catechism is a great place to start if the Heidelberg Catechism is new to you.  The Good News We Almost Forgot

This is an "off the beaten path" kind of book, but is the best single volume I know of on the background and circumstances which led to the production of the Catechism.  Lots of good biographical material on the Catechism's principle authors (Zacharius Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus).  Don't overlook this one!  It is a gem.  The Church's Book of Comfort

Zacharius Ursinus' "Commentary" on the Heidelberg Catechism is a must read.  But know what you are getting.  The commentary comes to us as the classroom notes taken by David Paraeus from lectures given by Ursinus.  The commentary follows the order of the Catechism, but reads more like a systematic theology.  The translation by G. Willard is dated, and the photo-lithographed type is hard on the eyes. 

But if you love the Catechism, this is must reading:  Ursinus' Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism 

The Canons of Dort

Matthew Barrett's book is an important look at the theology of the Canons, especially in light of the Arminian controversy (then and now).  This one is very helpful in spelling out the biblical basis for the Five-Points.  The Grace of Godliness

Dr. Godfrey's new book is absolutely must reading.  The history and background to the Canons are discussed in a compelling fashion, but Dr. Godfrey's focus is upon seeing the Canons as an important practical, even devotional document.  This book is worth the price just for Godfrey's translation of the Canons.  Buy this one!  Saving the Reformation

Previous Posts in this Series:

What Should I Read to Learn More About the Reformed Confession? Part One -- The Westminster Confession of Faith

 What Should I Read to Learn More About the Lord's Supper?

What Should I Read to Learn More About Infant Baptism?

What Should I Read to Learn More About Covenant Theology?