Reformed Forum

Patrick O’Banion joins us to speak about Girolamo Zanchi and his book, The Spiritual Marriage between Christ and His Church and Every One of the Faithful . O’Banion translated and introduced a new edition of the book published by Reformation Heritage Books. Zanchi was an Italian Reformer, with close ties to Peter Martyr Vermigli. Developing from Girolamo Zanchi’s exegetical labors through Ep...

Jim Cassidy delivers a plenary address from the annual Reformed Forum Theology Conference , which was hosted October 8–9 at Providence OPC in Pflugerville, Texas. Cassidy investigates the ontological assumptions which led Karl Barth to reject the doctrine of the covenant of works. He considers how Barth’s doctrine of God, with its actualistic ontology, is the ground for his rejection of the...

This week on  Theology Simply Profound , Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan’s,  The Pilgrim’s Progress ,  Book 2 . In this episode, we find our band of pilgrims make their way through the Enchanted Grounds, meet another pilgrim, Mr. Standfast, learn of another enemy, Madam Bubble, enter the land of Beulah, and for many of the pilgrims receive letters from the King telling them of the...

Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey turn to pages 267–269 of Geerhardus Vos’ book,  Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments , to consider the collective sin of the nation during the time of the prophets. Vos addresses several passages in this section, including Amos 5:25, Isaiah 1:10–17, and Hosea 6:6. Links OPC Report of the Committee to Study Republication Chapters 00:00 Introduction 05:13 Critics, t...

Jeff Waddington reviews Jonathan Edwards and the Immediacy of God by John Carrick. Jonathan Edwards is one of the outstanding figures in the history of the Christian church—he was, quite simply, a man of towering intellect and towering spirituality. But it has been noted, even by his friends and admirers, that his thought is also marked at times by certain idiosyncrasies which inevitably introduce...

How do you preach a passage as speckled and mottled as this one? We look at a text that at first glance has nothing to say about Christ and see how through the continuity of God’s covenant promises we are presented with a foreshadowing of Christ plundering Satan’s house, and through death destroying the one who had the power of death. Participants: Glen Clary , Mark A. Winder

This week on  Theology Simply Profound , Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan’s,  The Pilgrim’s Progress ,  Book 2 . In this episode, as the journey continues for Christiana, her children, and the pilgrims who have tagged along on their way to the Celestial City, we find the pilgrims in the Delectable Mountains very much as Christian did in Book 1. We discuss their time there, who they...

Roman Catholicism entered the mainstream of American national life the morning following the November 8, 1960 election when John F. Kennedy won and became the president. While it may seem strange to people who did not grow up in the era, Protestant voters were wary of a Roman Catholic potentially serving as president of the United States. Yet the Vatican may have been even more wary of “Americanis...

This week on  Theology Simply Profound , Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan’s,  The Pilgrim’s Progress ,  Book 2 . In this episode, as the journey continues for Christiana, her children, and the pilgrims on their way to the Celestial City, we discuss everything from the killing Giant Despair to child-rearing. Participants: Rob McKenzie , Robert Tarullo Mentioned in this episode: Chri...

Jeff Waddington reviews A Goodly Heritage: The Secession of 1834 by Cornelis Pronk. In A Goodly Heritage , Cornelis Pronk surveys the history of the Secession of 1834, beginning with the events leading up to this important spiritual movement and subsequently following its long journey through the Netherlands and North America until 1892. He then focuses on a small minority that decided to continue...

Danny Olinger delivers an address at the 2021 Reformed Forum Theology Conference . The event was held October 8–9, 2021 at Providence OPC in Pflugerville, Texas. The conference theme was, “The Promise of Life: God’s Plan for His People in the Covenant of Works.” In contrast to Roman Catholic, modernist, and evangelical approaches, we explored a thoroughly Reformed understanding of God’s relationsh...

The beatific vision (1 John 3:2) is the consummation of God’s relationship with his people. While Christians of all traditions acknowledge this blessed future to some degree, there are significant differences as to how it all works out. The Reformed tradition has understood this future and its genesis in terms of a covenantal relationship between God and Adam. If you have listened much to our podc...

In this episode, several OPC missionaries discuss theological education in foreign mission fields. Douglas Clawson is associate general secretary for the OPC’s Committee on Foreign Missions . Charles Jackson serves as a missionary in Uganda, and Mike serves in East Asia. Each of these ministers speaks about their experience in training officers for the building up of indigenous churches, sharing t...

This week on  Theology Simply Profound , Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan’s,  The Pilgrim’s Progress ,  Book 2 . In this episode, we discuss what the Pilgrims’ learn about Mr. Not-Right as well as some more about Mr. Feeble-mind. What a great character Mr. Feeble-mind is for us to learn from. All of this on their way to Vanity Fair where they stay for a time on the outskirts of the...

Dr. Benjamin L. Gladd , Associate Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, speaks about his new Handbook on the Gospels . This book is part of a series edited by Dr. Gladd and published by Baker Academic, which covers the entirety of the New Testament in three volumes. Neither becoming preoccupied with the minutiae of the text nor losing sight of the big...

This week on  Theology Simply Profound , Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan’s,  The Pilgrim’s Progress ,  Book 2 . In this episode, we discuss the Pilgrims’ conversation around the dinner table and afterward and the value of good, godly conversations. After supper, the family (and Great-heart, of course) goes out to slay another giant, Giant Slay-good . What’s better than eatin...

Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey turn to pages 264–266 of Geerhardus Vos’ book, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments , to consider the collective sin of the nation during the time of the prophets. Vos speaks particularly of the prophet Amos, and his indictment of false worship practices among the people. Links OPC Report of the Committee to Study Republication Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:09...

This week on  Theology Simply Profound , Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan’s,  The Pilgrim’s Progress ,  Book 2 . In this episode, we discuss the Pilgrims’ another story from old Mr. Honest about Mr. Self-will, who believed “that a man might follow the Vices as well as the Virtues of the Pilgrims; and that if he did both, he should be certainly saved.” We also meet the h...

David Nakhla speaks about the work of deacons and how the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is working to assist the diaconate in its labors for Christ’s church. Mr. Nakhla is the administrator for the OPC’s Committee on Diaconal Ministries and the Short-Term Missions and Disaster Response Coordinator. Links OPC Diaconal Ministries Website OPC Disaster Response OPC Short-Term Missions OPC Refugee Minis...

Hosea prophesied that God would call his son out of Egypt. Of course, that was long after the Exodus. But here in Chapter 11 the Exodus serves as a motif for God’s redeeming grace. It recalled the Exodus as a foreshadow of Israel’s restoration from exile. Unfortunately, the restoration fell short of the great expectation Israel had for the fulfillment of God’s promises to the pat...

Ryan Noha and Camden Bucey discuss Reformed Academy and the newest course to launch on the platform, titled Union with Christ: The Benefits of His Suffering and Glory . This latest course is taught by Lane Tipton, and we include the tenth and final lecture toward the end of this episode. Video Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:04:13 The Courses at Reformed Academy 00:11:49 Future Course Availabili...

The apostle Paul uses the metaphor of a building to describe the people of God. What is the significance of this metaphor, and what are the implications of that, particularly for ministers of the word? We also discuss how to choose a pericope and how much exegetical detail is appropriate in a sermon. Participants: Glen Clary , Mark A. Winder

After discussing their trips to Colombia with OPC foreign missions, Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey explore the influence of modernism upon Roman Catholicism and American Presbyterianism. Modernism led to many changes in American Presbyterianism, including the reorganization of Princeton Seminary and the founding of Westminster Seminary and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The mainline church eventu...

This week on  Theology Simply Profound , Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan’s,  The Pilgrim’s Progress ,  Book 2 . In this episode, we discuss the Pilgrims’ encounter with old Mr. Honest, which brings about the recollection of Mr. Fearing. Great-heart tells the story of Mr. Fearing’s many struggles with assurance, living a life of melancholy, darkness, and fear that he wouldn&#...

We turn to pages 263–264 of Geerhardus Vos’ book,  Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments , to consider the sin of Israel and the resulting rupture of their covenant bond with the Lord. Links OPC Study Committee Report on Republication , Chapter 8 Participants: Camden Bucey , Lane G. Tipton