Common Places

A presentation titled “Christian Platonism in the History of Philosophy” by Dr. David Haines. This talk was delivered at the 2022 National Convivium hosted at Davenant House in Landrum, SC. Dr. Haines holds a Ph. D., Université Laval (Philosophy), an M.A., Southern Evangelical Seminary (Philosophy) and B.Th., Covington Theological Seminary. In this talk Dr. Haines wrestles with recent questions co...

This keynote presentation, “Herman Bavinck: Learning to Love Philosophy,” by keynote speaker Dr. James Eglinton was given at the 2022 National Convivium hosted at Davenant House. Dr. Eglinton is the Meldrum Senior Lecturer in Reformed Theology at the University of Edinburgh. A specialist in the history and theology of Dutch Neo-Calvinism, Dr. Eglinton has published work as co-editor of Neo-Calvini...

An address from Revd. Dr. Peter Sanlon entitled "Towards Secure Foundations for the Formative Power of Reason and Tradition," delivered at the UK 2022 Convivium Irenicum, "In Service of Scripture: Rediscovering Reason and Tradition in Evangelical Theology." Revd. Dr. Sanlon issues a plea for Confessional Experiential Calvinism as a secure foundation for integrating reason and tradition into evange...

An address from Dr. Robert Strivens entitled "Finding Theology in the Biblical Text: Hebrews 1:1-4 Through the Ages" delivered at the UK 2022 Convivium Irenicum, "In Service of Scripture: Rediscovering Reason and Tradition in Evangelical Theology." Dr. Strivens surveys commentaries on Hebrew from St. John Chrysostom to the 21st century, chronicling the decline of theological interpretation in evan...

An address from Graham Shearer, Ph. D student at Union Theological College, Belfast, entitled "'Who Can Declare His Generation?' Divine Incomprehensibility and Human Reason in 4th Century Trinitarianism," delivered at the UK 2022 Convivium Irenicum, "In Service of Scripture: Rediscovering Reason and Tradition in Evangelical Theology." Graham unpacks to counter-intuitive nature of divine incomprehe...

A keynote address from Dr. David Shaw of Oak Hill College entitled "Is Retrieval Leading to Renewal? The Place of Tradition and the Progress of Theological Retrieval: Some Thoughts and Next Steps", delivered at the UK 2022 Convivium Irenicum, "In Service of Scripture: Rediscovering Reason and Tradition in Evangelical Theology." Dr. Shaw provides a comprehensive overview of the theological retrieva...

A lecture with Q&A entitled "Acts 6 and the Myth of Apostolic Succession" by Rev. Dr. Matt Colvin. Acts 6 depicts the ordination of the seven to minister to the Greek-speaking widows of the Jerusalem church. It has often been thought to depict the first instance of apostolic succession and the first deacons. As such, it has become a key text over the centuries in heated discussions over church gov...

Dr. Brad Littlejohn (President, The Davenant Institute) introduces the 2022 National Convivium Irenicum and its theme, "Philosophy and the Christian," with and address entitled “Recovering the Love of Wisdom.” In this talk, he provides an overview of the Davenant Institute's commitments to the recovery of the Protestant wisdom tradition and the training of new students in that endeavor. This theme...

A lecture with Q&A by Mr. Nathan Johnson at the 2022 Florida Regional Convivium entitled "Followers of the Way: How the Seven Liberal Arts Serve Theology and Ethics." Mr. Johnson argues that the historical purpose of the liberal arts was to be a handmaiden to theology and ethics, equipping students to know, love, and imitate God by educating them according to their nature as moral and intellectual...

The Q&A section following Dr. Ben Merkle's lecture.

A lecture by Dr. Ben Merkle at the 2022 Florida Regional Convivium entitled "Education and Vocation." Dr. Merkle contrasts the concepts of education versus vocational certification, arguing that vocational certification has displaced an older and superior understanding of what education was intended to accomplish. Dr. Ben Merkle is the president of New Saint Andrews College in Moscow Idaho. He hol...

A lecture with Q&A given by Mr. Dale Stenberg at the 2022 Florida Regional Convivium entitled "Fear, Fulfillment, and Festivity." Mr. Stenberg argues that the main pillars in the design of classical education are wonder, leisure, and festivity. He contrasts this with the modern-day utilitarian approach to education and demonstrates how a return to these basic foundational ideas can help students t...

A panel discussion with Q&A featuring Dr. Brad Littlejohn, Mr. Nathan Johnson, and Mr. Dale Stenberg, held at the 2022 Florida Regional Convivium

A lecture with Q&A by Dr. Brad Littlejohn at the 2022 Florida Regional Convivium entitled "On Naming the World: Education as Dominion-taking." In his talk, Dr, Littlejohn arg ues that education should be seen above all else as training in how to name the world, the first job that Adam was given after his creation. Such naming is not only a source of delight and wonder, but a reflecting back to God...

Dr. Brad Littlejohn introduces our 2022 Florida Regional Convivium. Our theme was "Classic Wonder for Contemporary Minds."

Some Christians are “doctrine people” who are deeply committed to orthodox theology and ethics shaped by Scripture and the best of the Christian tradition. Other Christians are “piety people” who are mostly concerned with walking closely with Christ and pursuing personal holiness and spiritual maturity. Still other Christians are “justice and mercy people” who are committed to challenging injustic...

Some Christians are “doctrine people” who are deeply committed to orthodox theology and ethics shaped by Scripture and the best of the Christian tradition. Other Christians are “piety people” who are mostly concerned with walking closely with Christ and pursuing personal holiness and spiritual maturity. Still other Christians are “justice and mercy people” who are committed to challenging injustic...

The world known to the sciences spans a vast range of phenomena that often seem strange and unfamiliar compared to the ordinary everyday world in which we live. Furthermore, many people think that science and Christian faith conflict with one another. The two talks of this series look at how we might think about these matters holistically using the resources within the Christian tradition. The fir...

The world known to the sciences spans a vast range of phenomena that often seem strange and unfamiliar compared to the ordinary everyday world in which we live. Furthermore, many people think that science and Christian faith conflict with one another. The two talks of this series look at how we might think about these matters holistically using the resources within the Christian tradition. The fir...

Confidence without Pride: Redeeming the Virtue of Magnanimity, Noah Parisi by Davenant Institute

The Victorian Crisis of Faith as Past and Prologue, Moses Bratrud by Davenant Institute

A mini-conference, sponsored by The Davenant Institute and Bethlehem College and Seminary, about how the trials and triumphs of our Protestant forebears can teach us how to walk faithfully today in an age of anxiety.

A mini-conference, sponsored by The Davenant Institute and Bethlehem College and Seminary, about how the trials and triumphs of our Protestant forebears can teach us how to walk faithfully today in an age of anxiety.

A lecture with Q&A by Davenant Hall teaching fellow, Rev. Danny Hyde, entitled "The Impact of Eschatology on John Owen’s Call to Parliament to Evangelize the Nation(s)." John Owen is remembered mainly for his works on the atonement and the Christian life. Yet the great Puritan also preached on eschatology and political theology during the tumult of the Civil War, Protectorate, and Restoration. Wha...

Our first annual Davenant Hall Apocalypse (“apocalypse,” of course, because we deemed it the closest Greek equivalent to “Reveal Party”)! The faculty of Davenant Hall gathers together to discuss exciting developments happening within our Davenant Hall programs, including a new M.Litt, Pastoral Ministry Track, with sub-tracks in Anglican Studies and Reformed and Presbyterian Studies, as well as to...