This episode is a conversation with Winston Hottman originally posted at the Center for Baptist Renewal podcast. We discuss Athanasius’s Life of Antony and two works by Gregory of Nyssa: The Life of Moses and The Life of Macrina. Check out Brandon’s recent books: The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (Lexham, 2023), The Trinity in the Canon (B&H Academic, 2023), and Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church (B&H Academic, 2024). You can also preorder Beholding the Triune God by Brandon and Matthew Emerson. Church Gram ..read more

This episode is a conversation with Dr. Stephen Presley of the Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Dr. Ched Spellman of Cedarville University. We discuss all things Irenaeus of Lyons, including his cultural and ecclesiological context (2:30), big picture themes in his writings (7:30), the rule of faith then and now (12:53), parallels between the second century and today’s society (46:44), and more. Buy Stephen’s books and Ched’s books. Check out Brandon’s recent books: The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022 ..read more

Today is the feast of St Matthias, the man providentially chosen to replace Judas Iscariot as the twelfth apostle (Acts 1:21-26). The early church recognized the symbolic significance of the number twelve. Twelve tribes prefigures twelve apostles. Jesus, as the True Israel, reconstituted the people of God, not around physical lineage but rather around right relationship to him. Matthias was chosen by lot over the other candidate (Joseph/Barsabbas/Justus–maybe Matthias was chosen for nominal simplicity!) and took his place in the ministry of the apostles as a witness to the resurrected Son of ..read more

This episode is a conversation with Dr. Thomas Schreiner of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He returns to discuss the Book of Revelation, including why he wrote his new commentary (2:12), recapitulation and symbolism in the book (6:12), the book’s relationship to related extrabiblical material (15:36), authorship of the book (22:27), a fresh take on the millennium (29:31), and more. Buy Tom’s books. Check out Brandon’s recent books: The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (Lexham, 2023), and The Trinity in the Canon (B&H Academi ..read more

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” -2 Corinthians 8:9 This was the sermon text for the Christmas Eve service my family and I attended last night. The pastor suggested that this verse is perhaps the most succinct summary of the purpose of the incarnation in the whole Bible. It emphasizes especially the grace of the Son’s condescensi ..read more

This Advent, I’ve been reading Contra Nestorianos et Eutychianos by Leontius of Byzantium (485-543). Leontius was a sixth century theologian, who was instrumental in the development of the doctrine of the incarnation, especially in the controversies that led to the Fifth Ecumenical Council, the Second Council of Constantinople (553). As its title suggests, this book tackles the opposite errors of Nestorianism (which split Christ into two persons) and Eutychianism (which merged the two natures of Christ into one). Leontius argues that these two heresies are actually opposite forms of the same ..read more

The last few years I have compiled a list of my favorite book, album, and movie of the year. Here are the lists from 2022, 2021, and 2020. It’s a fun way to chronicle what really spoke to me over the course of the year. So, without further ado, here are a few of my favorite things from 2023. Favorite Book: Christian Philosophy as a Way of Life: An Invitation to Wonder by Ross Inman This book is not an introduction to philosophy so much as it is a prolegomenon to its proper study in a Christian mode. Ross suggests that a Christian approach to philosophy is an invitation to wonder. He writ ..read more

This episode is a conversation with Dr. Daniel Treier of Wheaton College. We discuss Christology in Scripture and the Christian Tradition (2:20), Christology and communion with God (11:18), union with Christ and adoption (21:43), the incarnation and its implications (24:45), Christ and his relationship to the Holy Spirit (31:34), the relationship between Christ’s two natures (37:57), Christ and catholicity in the church (45:26), and more. Buy Dan’s books. Check out Brandon’s recent books: The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (Lexham, 2023 ..read more

I was recently invited to write a post on the purpose of theological education for the Henry Center at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. My post focused on theological education as habitus formation. Here’s a bit: In these perilous times (and all times are perilous before that great and terrible day of the Lord), we stand in need of a renewal of theological education that is centered on the word of God, interpreted and applied in the context of the church (both local and universal), with a view to the theological and moral formation of the minister and those to whom he or she ministers. I ..read more

In the classic 1984 film rendition of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, starring George C. Scott, the Ghost of Christmas Past rebukes Ebenezer Scrooge for his failure to give careful attention to the world around him. She points out how Scrooge’s nephew looks so much like his mother, Scrooge’s sister. Scrooge replies, “Does he? I never noticed.” The Ghost responds with chastisement but compassion, “You never noticed? I think you’ve gone through life with your eyes closed. Open them. Open them wide.” I think many of us go through life with our eyes closed. We are like the father in another c ..read more