Christ the Center

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. 1263. Jeff examines four theological and philosophical themes in Edwards’s doctrine: Trinitarian-theistic idea...

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. Participants: Camden Bucey , Glen Clary , Jim Cassidy

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. Participants: Camden Bucey , Glen Clary , Jeff Waddington

We continue our #VosGroup series by opening pages 165–166 of Vos’ book  Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider the definition of vicariousness. Orthodox Christianity recognizes the vicariousness of Christ’s life and death for sinners, but what does that mean precisely? Geerhardus Vos explores several possibilities and offers the best biblical option for understanding how...

This episode was recorded just prior to our 2017 Theology Conference on The Reformation of Apologetics . We discuss the theological approach of scholasticism as it pertains to Thomas Aquinas, the Reformers, and Cornelius Van Til. Participants: Camden Bucey , Glen Clary , Jeff Waddington , Jim Cassidy

Dan Ragusa speaks about Herman Bavinck’s Trinitarian theology and its implications for a revelational epistemology and worldview. Bavinck argues for an organic connection between general and special revelation, which results in a “triniformity” in both. Links The Bavinck Review Messiah’s Reformed Fellowship (URCNA), Manhattan Participants: Camden Bucey , Dan Ragusa

This episode was recorded live at our 2017 Theology Conference on The Reformation of Apologetics . In celebration of the five-hundredth anniversary of the Reformation and the thirtieth anniversary of the death of Cornelius Van Til, we consider the connection between Reformed apologetics and the five solas. The solas summarize the theological principles of the Reformation, and while one may not con...

Today we welcome Chad Van Dixhoorn to speak about his book, God’s Ambassadors: The Westminster Assembly and the Reformation of the English Pulpit, 1643–1653 in which he describes how the assembly brought much-needed reform to the theology and practice of pulpit ministry. Dr. Van Dixhoorn is Associate Professor of Church History at Reformed Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. He is a gra...

We continue our #VosGroup series by opening pages 161–165 of Vos’ book  Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider the stages of ritual sacrifice. Participants: Camden Bucey , Lane G. Tipton

Camden Bucey and Jeff Waddington discuss the image of God and whether man retains the image after the fall into sin. Man was made in the image of God, yet there has been a change in humanity that was brought about through the Fall into sin. We must negotiate what that change entails and whether or not it has led to a loss of the image. Participants: Camden Bucey , Jeff Waddington

Chad and Emily Van Dixhoorn visit  Christ the Center to speak about Confessing the Faith: Study Guide .  This is a helpful guide to  Confessing the Faith: A Reader’s Guide to the Westminster Confession   (Banner of Truth Trust, 2014), which is itself a thorough help for understanding the Westminster Confession of Faith. Emily Van Dixhoorn graduated from Brown University as a math major and from We...

Glen Clary and Camden Bucey discuss Ole Hallesby’s classic book on prayer . Hallesby was a Norwegian Lutheran, who taught at the Free University of Oslo. He wrote over sixty books in his lifetime, including his excellent book,  Prayer . While this book is a twentieth-century classic, it is relatively unknown and unread in Reformed circles. We hope this discussion on prayer will compel you to...

Jim Cassidy speaks about the book of Hosea, exploring the theological themes of covenant and judgment in light of God’s love, faithfulness, and mercy expressed toward faithless sinners. Participants: Camden Bucey , Jim Cassidy

Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey discuss theological methodology in light of Calvin’s view of natural theology. As a starting point for the discussion, they turn to Thiago M. Silva’s article, “ John Calvin and the Limits of Natural Theology ,” Puritan Reformed Journal 8, 2 (2016): 33-48. Participants: Camden Bucey , Jim Cassidy

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 the theology contained in Second Temple Jewish literature. Arguing that these documents do not contain...

We continue our #VosGroup series by opening pages 159–161 of Vos’ book  Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider the relation between the offerer and his sacrifice. Participants: Camden Bucey , Lane G. Tipton

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. Participants: Camden Bucey , Glen Clary , Jeff Waddington

We celebrate five-hundred episodes of Christ the Center with an open discussion on worship, the regulative principle, and the apologetic impetus. Join us for a conversation that ties together many of our favorite themes from the past nine+ years. Links Redeemer Presbyterian ballet offertory Carl Trueman, “ The Church of England’s Nietzschean Proposal “ Participants: Camden Bucey...

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. Participants: Camden Bucey , Lane G. Tipton

Chris Castaldo compares the respective doctrines of justification of the Reformer Peter Martyr Vermigli and the Roman Catholic John Henry Cardinal Newman. Castaldo is the author of  Justified in Christ: The Doctrines of Peter Martyr Vermigli and John Henry Newman and Their Ecumenical Implications .  In the book, he compares the doctrines of the Reformed convert from Catholicism (Vermigli) and the...

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 minu...

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...

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...

Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey revisit Paul Woolley’s article, “ Discontent! ” as it pertains to the ministry of the church. Woolley presents two forms of discontent in the church that lead either to pursuing a worldly or Christ-centered agenda. While Woolley wrote in 1944, his lessons are just as applicable today. Dr. Woolley was a founding faculty member of Westminster Theologica...

Darryl G. Hart speaks about J. Gresham Machen and his use of media throughout the modernist-fundamentalist controversy. Westminster Seminary Press has recently published a series of radio addresses by Machen titled,  The Person of Jesus . Hart is Distinguished Associate Professor of History at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. He is the author of numerous books, including  Defending the Fa...