Poythress uses multiple biblical perspectives to address the origin of humanity, the image of God, body and soul, the creational covenant, free agency, human sexuality, and other truths about humanity.

Designed for easy reference in both print and digital formats, this compact lexicon helps students, pastors, and scholars quickly and easily to determine the range of translation possibilities for these essential Hebrew and Aramaic words.

The Future of Reformed Apologetics features a collection of essays by James Anderson, Brian Mattson, Dan Strange, Scott Oliphint, Christopher Watkin, and more. Originally delivered at Westminster Theological Seminary during the 2023 Conference on Reformed Apologetics, this collection is written to encourage and equip you to defend the Christian faith, as it was “once for all delivered to the saints.”

In searching for beauty's source, we encounter ultimate reality. In this new contribution to worldview thinking, Poythress shows how all creation reflects the Trinitarian God-and where philosophers go wrong.

Biblical Typology examines how the Old Testament foreshadows Christ, the church, and the consummation through types―or symbols―pointing toward fulfillment. Well-known for his academic yet accessible writing, Vern S. Poythress not only provides examples of types and analogies found in God’s word but also teaches readers a practical framework and diagram for effectively examining them throughout Scripture. Readers will learn how to identify and interpret biblical typology for themselves as they deepen their understanding of the Bible and the wisdom of God.

Many pastors feel torn between preaching and leading, but both responsibilities are essential. Without faithful exposition of Scripture, churches risk straying theologically. Without strong leadership, teaching lacks spiritual zeal. How can pastors find balance and steward their calling effectively? In The Pastor as Leader, John Currie equips pastors to be men of God who competently carry out their purpose: leading God's people through the preaching of God's word. Recognizing a common disconnect between the roles of preaching and leadership, Currie offers foundational principles for pastoring "under Christ's appointment, conformed to Christ's character, which exemplifies and implements Christ's wisdom, preached from Christ's word." By integrating two primary roles of the pastorate, readers will learn how to faithfully and confidently proclaim the Scriptures as they communicate biblical vision and strategy for the church's mission.

Ruined Sinners to Reclaim persuasively reaffirms the doctrine of total depravity from biblical, historical, theological, and pastoral perspectives, drawing on the debates of theologians throughout church history. Edited by David and Jonathan Gibson, this book features contributions from respected theologians--including Michael A. G. Haykin, Gray Sutanto, Garry Williams, Mark Jones, Daniel Strange, and R. Albert Mohler Jr.--to help readers understand the reality of our sinful nature, its debilitating effects, and the Holy Spirit's role in salvation. This is the second book in the Doctrines of Grace series, which explores the central points of the Canons of Dort, providing a framework for understanding each doctrine in all its historical, biblical, theological, and pastoral richness.

The Westminster Theological Journal, Volume 85, is a Special Issue focusing on Pastoral Theology. It includes thought-provoking and pastorally relevant articles written by such pastor-scholars as William Edwards, Stafford Carson, John Currie, Steven Carter, Daniel Doriani, Ed Welch, Todd Rester, Sean Michael Lucas, and Bill Edgar.

Parents, grandparents, and caregivers will love to use this book to teach the littlest ones foundational truths in a fun, easy-to-remember way. By committing these big truths to their little hearts and minds, toddlers and preschoolers will be able to ground their young faith in God's Word, which will guide them in the years to come. Children will learn from the earliest age who made them, why they need Jesus, how to become a child of God, what to do when they are afraid, and many more life-changing truths. My First ABC Book of Bible Verses is the first book in the Big Truths for Little Minds series, which introduces children ages 3-5 to basic concepts of the Christian faith.

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded by Jonathan Gibson presents a 48-day devotional liturgy to help readers effectively prepare their hearts from Pascha to Pentecost. Following the same format as Be Thou My Vision, each daily reading includes applicable Scripture readings, hymns, prayers, creeds, and prompts for petition and confession to enrich personal meditation and family worship. This devotional will help individuals and families establish a posture of remembrance and gratitude as they reflect on what Christ has done for us through his temptations, life, trial, passion, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and Pentecost.

This volume of essays honors Edward M. Cook, Ordinary Professor of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures at The Catholic University of America. Cook is a leading figure in the vibrant and far-reaching field of Aramaic studies, and the essays reflect his range of interests, with lexical, linguistic, and literary analyses of dialects from the earliest inscriptions to the modern day.

Jesus is the divine Son of God who has taken on human nature in the incarnation. And as prophet, priest, and king, he leads his people in a new exodus. In The Lord Jesus Christ, Brandon D. Crowe reflects on Christ's person and work. Crowe traces christological concerns throughout the Old and New Testaments and church history and then presents systematic and practical implications. Through a combination of biblical, historical, and theological study, Crowe provides a fresh and robust statement of who Christ is and what he has done.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by Jonathan Gibson presents a 40-day devotional liturgy guiding readers through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany--helping them keep their eyes fixed on Christ. Designed as a resource for the holiday season, each reading includes a guided meditation, applicable Scripture readings, hymns, prayers, creeds, and prompts for petition and confession. For individuals and families, this devotional will help Christians focus on Jesus and meditate on the mystery of his incarnation.

According to 2 Peter, one day the earth will be renewed by fire, and we will live together in a new world where all wrongs are righted and all sorrows swept away. Because we have this sure hope, we can turn from living for ourselves and for what we want in the moment. Instead, we can follow Jesus into the hardest places as we keep eternity in focus. 2 Peter: Living with the End in Mind helps readers learn to follow Jesus into the hardest places. We live for Jesus and grow like him, because some day we will be with him forever.

Vern S. Poythress explains how all human reasoning reflects God’s nature. Providing a foundational understanding of God as the source of rationality, Poythress details the 3 fundamental laws of logic—identity, contradiction, and excluded middle—with a strong focus on analogical reasoning. This robust guide explains types of analogy, ethics applied to logic, the use of analogies in the doctrines of God, and more to give readers a renewed perspective on how to use reason as a follower of God.

The Acrostic of Scripture gives parents and teachers a unique way to teach theology to children and makes catechism fun! An alphabet of words introducing biblical theology, written to a rhyming beat, paints a detailed and varied portrait of the unfolding story of the Bible, as it is fulfilled by Jesus.

Ludwig Lavater compares the short book of Ruth to “precious jewels” of “exceptional worth,” which provides “the greatest usefulness to all parts of life.” Bringing this important study into the modern era, this new translation by Michael Hunter, with a biographical introduction by Jonathan Gibson, makes accessible these biblically rich sermons from a sixteenth-century pastor and scholar. Lavater’s sermons on Ruth promote virtuous living for Christian men and women and culminate by showing how the genealogy of David points us to Jesus Christ. The Book of Ruth Explained is a useful guide for laypeople, pastors, and scholars who desire to study the book of Ruth and apply it to everyday life.

Designed to strengthen the global church with a widely accessible, theologically sound, and pastorally wise resource for understanding and applying the overarching storyline of the Bible, the ESV Expository Commentary features the full text of the ESV Bible passage by passage, with crisp and theologically rich exposition and application. Editors Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar have gathered a team of experienced pastor-theologians to provide a new generation of pastors and other teachers of the Bible around the world with a globally minded commentary rich in biblical theology and broadly Reformed doctrine, making the message of redemption found in all of Scripture clear and available to all.

Did you know that the prophet Isaiah preached the gospel? The central message of Isaiah is a simple message—God saves sinners. Through a study of Isaiah, Jonathan Gibson guides participants in savoring the basics of the gospel that we need to remember daily: we need saving. We need God every day. Isaiah reminds us again and again that our hope is not in ourselves—it’s in turning from our own way and turning to God in faith.

The story of Ezra and Nehemiah plays out against a backdrop of ruins. There’s a ruined city, a ruined house of worship, ruined homes—ruined life with God. As is often the case in our own lives, the wreckage was largely their own fault. Their path to rebuilding, at its core, was a journey back to God. Duguid dives into lamenting sin, facing opposition, worshipping faithfully, and battling discouragement. This study will renew your joy in the Lord and encourage you to turn away from your own way and toward God, ultimately discovering Jesus is the one who rebuilds and brings new life where there is ruin and decay.

In Truth, Theology, and Perspective, Poythress explains how truth informs and confirms what the Bible teaches. In addition to a theology of objective truth, he explains how it is interwoven through each of the major topics in systematic theology, such as revelation, the Bible, man, Christ, salvation, and eschatology. This perspective highlights how the interconnectedness and harmony of Scripture is an extension of God's own truthfulness and how this attribute is manifested in all of creation, prompting us to greater worship and gratitude to God.

Each time God appears to his people throughout the Bible--in the form of a thunderstorm, a man, a warrior, a chariot, and so on--he comes to a specific person for a specific purpose. And each of these temporary appearances--known as theophanies--helps us to better understand who he is and anticipates his climactic, permanent self-revelation in the incarnation of Christ. Exploring the various accounts of God's visible presence from Genesis to Revelation, theologian Vern S. Poythress helps us to consider more deeply what they reveal about who God is and how he dwells with us today.

When a rich theological perspective is lost, so is the larger story for pastoral ministry. When pastors see how God's whole counsel shapes and impacts their entire ministry, both pastors and churches will thrive. Deeply connecting theology with practice, this volume seeks to recover the rich scriptural framework for ministry that is grounded in key Christian doctrines such as the Triune God and his decrees, the person and work of Christ, and the application of all the benefits and blessings that come to us through the Spirit in our union with Christ. Contributors such as Joel Beeke, Ligon Duncan, Michael Horton, and Robert Letham write out of their experience both as pastors and theologians, providing a pattern of rich biblical-theological reflection that a vibrant ministry demands and that those engaged in ministry need in order to be sustained in their work.

The truth of God is rich and multifaceted. Though a coherent body of revelation, the Bible comes to us through a variety of inspired authors, metaphors, and themes highlighting the many facets of God's truth. Likewise, our theological formulations capture manifold emphases - distinct "perspectives" on the whole - which collectively enable us to gain a fuller understanding of the truth. Poythress explains, "We use what we have gained from one perspective to reinforce, correct, or improve what we understood through another. I call this procedure "symphonic theology" because it is analogous to a blending of various musical instruments to express the variation of a symphonic theme.

How does knowledge of the past shape Christians’ views of God, Christ’s redemption, and humanity as a whole? In his new book, Vern S. Poythress teaches Christians how to study and write about the past by emphasizing God’s own command to remember his works and share them with the next generation. Readers will explore concepts such as providentialism, Christian historiography, divine purpose, and the 4 basic phases of biblical history: creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. By learning how to appropriately study history, believers will begin to recognize God’s lordship over all events and how even minor incidents fit into his overarching plan.

The Acrostic of Jesus is fun to read over and over again, and a brilliant tool to help kids gain a greater understanding of Christ. Young readers will learn "Christology"--the study of Jesus. The more we learn about Jesus, the more reasons we have to love him! By giving children an alphabetical list of the names and attributes of Jesus written with a rhyming beat, Jonathan Gibson and Timothy Brindle make The Acrostic of Jesus fun to read and simple to memorize. Each characteristic, A to Z, weaves together a beautiful picture of who Jesus is and why he came to earth.

Defending the faith can be daunting, and a well-reasoned and biblically grounded apologetic is essential for the challenge. Following in the footsteps of groundbreaking apologist Cornelius Van Til, Scott Oliphint presents us with an introduction to Reformed apologetics as he sets forth the principles behind a distinctly "covenantal" approach. This book clearly explains the theological foundations of covenantal apologetics and illustrates its application in real-world conversations with unbelievers--helping Christians to boldly, knowledgeably, and winsomely proclaim the gospel.

Few pastors leave as indelible a legacy as Thomas Witherow did in the north of Ireland during the second half of the nineteenth century. A faithful minister, husband, father, author, and professor, Witherow’s defense of Presbyterianism remains one of the most influential of its kind. Collecting Witherow’s most important works on the topic—The Apostolic Church, Scriptural Baptism, and The Sabbath—this volume presents a cohesive, trenchant, and imitable apology for the Presbyterian tradition. Preceding the three works is A Prince of Irish Presbyterianism, a new and illuminating biography of Witherow by volume editor Jonathan Gibson.

In Be Thou My Vision, Jonathan Gibson has created a 31-day liturgical guide designed to provide structure to the daily worship of individuals and families. Each daily reading includes a call to worship, adoration, confession, assurance, creed and catechism, the Gloria Patri, a prayer of illumination, Bible reading, intercessory prayer, and the Lord's Prayer.

How does Christ's obedience relate to our salvation? Speaking into current conversations about the nature of salvation, respected New Testament scholar Brandon Crowe argues that we are saved by Christ's perfect obedience, which has implications for understanding the gospel message, Christian hope, and discipleship. Jesus is not only the quintessential model of faithfulness in a fallen world, but his unique work frees us from the burden of perfect obedience.

By giving children an alphabetical list of the titles and attributes of God written with a rhyming beat, Jonathan Gibson and Timothy Brindle make The Acrostic of God fun to read and easy to memorize. Each characteristic, A to Z, weaves together a beautiful picture of God.

Selecting from the great “plague writings” of the historic church, Todd M. Rester and Stephen M. Coleman have translated and assembled a one-of-a-kind anthology. The wisdom of the past collected in this book offers much needed and trustworthy illumination for pastors, leaders, and laypeople in times of crisis and uncertainty. Many of the works appearing in Faith in the Time of Plague have never been available in English until now. Included in this volume are the writings of Martin Luther, Theodore Beza, Ulrich Zwingli, Cyprian of Carthage, Zacharias Ursinus, Gijsbert Voetius, and many more.

In this ESBT volume, Brandon Crowe builds on previous books in the series as he considers covenant and law throughout both Old and New Testaments. The Path of Faith lays out key principles such as the obligation of people to obey their Creator, how Jesus' perfect obedience to God's law opens the way to eternal life, and what the law means for us today as we continue walking by faith.

Classical Christian theism describes God as absolute, infinite, immense, eternal, immutable, omniscient, and simple. These terms for God’s attributes are useful because they summarize what God reveals to us about himself in the Bible. More fundamentally, however, God reveals himself through language that reflects his triune nature. We can thus enhance our understanding of God’s attributes by applying to them the doctrine of the Trinity. The Trinity also supplies a foundation for grasping God’s relation to action in the world and our knowledge of him. Any framework of reason other than the Trinity as revealed in God’s Word leads to a corrupted and diminished understanding of God. By his Word, in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, he gives us knowledge that is trustworthy and true.

the Classic Reformed Theology series, edited by Dr. R. Scott Clark. and translated by Todd M. Rester. This series seeks to produce and provide critical English translations of some of the more important but generally neglected texts of the orthodox period.

Bringing together contributors from Africa, Asia, North and South America, and Europe, A Covenantal Vision for Global Mission seeks to ground the growing interest in the missional character of Christian outreach in the classic biblical and historic Reformed theological understanding of God's covenantal relationship - "of creation, grace, redemption, and consummation - "with mankind. In the words of editor Peter A. Lillback, president of Westminster Theological Seminary, this is "the best paradigm for developing Christ's global mission."

This volume highlights the sustained focus in Acts on the resurrection of Christ, bringing clarity to the theology of Acts and its purpose. Brandon Crowe explores the historical, theological, and canonical implications of Jesus's resurrection in early Christianity and helps readers more clearly understand the purpose of Acts in the context of the New Testament canon. He also shows how the resurrection is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures. This is the first major book-length study on the theological significance of Jesus's resurrection in Acts.

Crowe draws insights from wisdom literature and the life and teaching of the Apostle Paul to reclaim a biblical perspective on productivity. He shows the implications for matters such as setting priorities and goals, achieving rhythms of work and rest, caring for family, maintaining spiritual disciplines, sustaining energy, and engaging wisely with social media and entertainment.

Even young children want answers to the hard questions about God, the Bible, Jesus Christ and suffering. In The Moon Is Always Round, seminary professor and author Jonathan Gibson uses the vivid imagery of the moon to explain to children how God's goodness is always present, even when it might appear to be obscured by upsetting or difficult circumstances. In this beautiful, two-color illustrated book, he allows readers to eavesdrop on the conversations he had with his young son in response to his sister's death. Father and son share a simple liturgy together that reminds them that, just as the moon is always round despite its different phases, so also the goodness of God is always present throughout the different phases of life, even in grief.

Jonah by Iain Duguid examines the heart of God to redeem all of the ways we run from him. By digging in to the entire book of Jonah, Duguid urges readers to see how salvation is truly of the Lord, and how we are all called to repent. This small group guide includes ten in-depth lessons for one-to-one discipleship, small, or large Bible group settings. This guide is designed so that a Christian group can share their struggles of faith and come together so all will be strengthened.

The Christian life is a battle. We are in a daily struggle against the world, sin, and Satan. But God didn’t leave us to fend for ourselves. He gave us his own armor―armor that Jesus has already worn on our behalf all the way to the cross. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is now at work inside of us. This book unpacks each of the pieces of spiritual armor Paul describes in Ephesians 6, inviting us to take up the armor each day, all while resting in the finished victory of Christ and the assurance that our strength for the battle comes from him.

"Mastricht’s work was published originally in 1698-99 in Latin and represented a theological system still committed to, for example, Scripture as the foundational and final authority, the classic Trinitarian and Christological formulae of Western Christianity, the Reformed confessions and covenant theology, and a vibrant emphasis on practical preaching." - Todd Rester

All thoughtful leaders can admit experiences of ongoing incompetence—dilemmas, decisions, and even debacles that make them question how they became leaders in the first place. When we look at St. Peter, however, we see a great leader who engaged with his weaknesses and knew his shortcomings. By following his example, we become better leaders in any arena. Seminary president Peter Lillback’s profound treatment of more than 100 principles drawn from St. Peter helps you to think through your management style, communication, decision-making, and more. Practical spiritual exercises put the lessons of each short chapter into action—bringing joy to our hearts, guidance to our lives, and help to our service.

Christians have long discussed and debated the first three chapters of the Bible. How we interpret this crucial section of Scripture has massive implications for how we understand the rest of God’s Word and even history itself. In this important volume, biblical scholar Vern Poythress combines careful exegesis with theological acumen to illuminate the significance of Genesis 1–3. In doing so, he demonstrates the sound interpretive principles that lead to true understanding of the biblical text, while also exploring complex topics such as the nature of time, the proper role of science, interpretive literalism, and more.

The purpose of this monograph by Stephen M. Coleman is to offer an extended treatment of the biblical Hebrew transitivity alternation utilizing the insights of modern linguistics, specifically the theory and methods of Cognitive Grammar and the related (sub)discipline Construction Grammar. The author argues that the biblical Hebrew transitivity alternation is licensed and limited by conceptual factors. Though often translated and interpreted as essentially synonymous expressions, verbs exhibiting the transitivity alternation offer alternate construals of the realities they represent and therefore should be regarded as having different meanings. Even though the application of Cognitive Grammar to the analysis of ancient languages in general, and biblical Hebrew in particular, is an approach that is in many ways still in its infancy, the present study demonstrates its potential to offer new answers to old and seemingly insoluble questions.

The books of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi contain messages to God's people who, after experiencing deliverance from exile, still struggled with doubt, discouragement, and despair in the Promised Land. The prophets called them to faith as they awaited an even greater deliverance yet to come. Through this 12-week study, readers will see the faithfulness of God as he restores his presence among his people through the temple--a foretaste of the promised Messiah, who is the true temple and ultimate fulfillment of God's promises.

The structure of the liturgies, language, and rhythm continue to communicate the gospel in Word and Sacrament today. They provide a deep sense of God’s call to worship and an appreciation for the Reformers as, first and foremost, men who wanted to help God’s people worship. This book will also be of great interest to theological scholars and students who wish to understand early Reformation leaders. A useful tool for individuals, Reformation Worship, can be used as a powerful devotional to guide daily prayer and reflection.

Every human being has his or her own perspective and experiences truth from this viewpoint. Is it possible to discern perspectives that originate from the mystery of the Trinity―from the fact that one God exists in three persons? Once we know from the Bible that God is Trinitarian, we can begin to notice reflections of his Trinitarian character in both general and special revelation. Vern Poythress is one of a small number of theologians who have developed and used a number of triads of perspectives (coherent groups of three) in theology. This book directly explores the relation of these perspectives to the Trinitarian character of God. It shows that a number of triads of perspectives show analogies to the Trinity. Understanding these analogies helps readers to perceive the Bible and the world as the creation of our Trinitarian God.

Practical, devotional, and expositional, this commentary delves into the ways these three prophets point us to the sufferings of Christ, the forgiveness of God, and anticipated glories to come.

The Christian life depends upon faith, but there are good reasons for that faith. In Know Why You Believe professor and author K. Scott Oliphint answers the "why" questions both Christians and non-Christians often ask, laying out a simple and convincing case for the core teachings of Christianity. As part of the KNOW series, Know Why You Believe is designed for personal study or classroom use, but also for small groups and Sunday schools wanting to better understand the traditional defenses of Christian belief. Each chapter covers a foundational teaching and includes a rationale for that teaching, responses to common objections, reflection questions to prompt further consideration, and suggested readings for readers wanting to dig deeper.

The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to Christian theology, though sometimes daunting―error is probable when biblical texts are read selectively. A careful study of the whole counsel of God, however, will bring needed clarity. In a work geared especially toward leaders in the church, scholars of the Trinity―including Richard Bauckham, Robert Letham, Michael Reeves, and Scott Swain―overview Old Testament teaching, provide Trinitarian readings of the entire New Testament corpus, and explore the practical relevance of the doctrine to prayer, worship, and other aspects of Christian life and ministry.

There is much discussion today about how we are to understand the life of Jesus in the Gospels. What was Jesus doing between his birth and death and how does this relate to salvation? This book corrects the Christian tendency to minimize the life of Jesus, explaining why the Gospels include much more than the Passion narratives. Brandon Crowe argues that Jesus is identified in the Gospels as the last Adam whose obedience recapitulates and overcomes the sin of the first Adam. Crowe shows that all four Gospels present Jesus's obedient life as having saving significance.

What is the relationship between the church and the state? As a theologian and pastor, Abraham Kuyper was greatly concerned about the state of the Dutch church in his time. As a politician and activist, he was equally concerned about the church’s role and influence in the modern world. On the Church contains seven of Kuyper’s most important essays and speeches on the nature of the church. These newly translated works show Kuyper’s conviction that Christians must take an active role in the world, a world upheld by God’s common grace but standing in need of God’s particular grace in Christ. Christians must neither hide within the doors of their church buildings nor give in to the temptation to be active in earthly institutions alone. An introductory essay by Ad de Bruijne answers how Kuyper’s doctrine of the church may be applied in the 21st century.

Rarely addressed throughout church history, the doctrine of adoption has seen fresh attention in recent years. Although valuable, contemporary studies have focused primarily on etymological, cultural, and pastoral considerations, giving little to no attention to vital systematic theological concerns. In this groundbreaking work, Professor David Garner examines the function of adoption in Pauline thought: its relationship to the doctrines of Christ, the Holy Spirit, eschatology, and union with Christ, as well as its primary place among the other benefits of salvation. Adoption frames Pauline soteriology, Garner argues, and defines the Trinitarian, familial context of redemption in Christ, the Son of God. Properly understood, adoption’s paradigm-shifting implications extend deep and far.

“How can God be three and one? How can God take on a human nature? If God planned everything, how can I be responsible? Do my prayers make any difference in God’s plan? Will we finally know everything when we get to heaven? “These are questions that recognize some of the mysterious tensions that Scripture presents to us. They are good questions, but wrong answers to good questions can rob us of a full and fulfilled Christian life, and they rob God of His proper glory. Proper answers—answers that allow the mystery of God and His ways to shine brightly—will evoke in us proper worship.” In The Majesty of Mystery, seasoned professor and preacher K. Scott Oliphint encourages believers to embrace the profound mysteries at the heart of Christian faith. The Trinity, the incarnation, eternal life, God’s sovereign will and human choices—none of these are problems to be explained away or puzzles to be dismissed as irrelevant. Rather, these are grand mysteries, not contradictory but paradoxical and wonderful. The more we recognize them in the biblical story, the deeper they lead us into worshiping the incomprehensible God who faithfully reveals Himself in Scripture. Written with deep theological knowledge and threaded with everyday implications, The Majesty of Mystery connects the dots between humanity and God, belief and practice, mystery and worship. Drawing from Reformed tradition and the Westminster Confession of Faith, Oliphint invites readers to rediscover the purpose to which all theology aims.

Several interpretations of Genesis and scientific evidence endeavor to demonstrate harmony: among them young-earth creationism, mature creation, the day-age theory, the analogical-day theory, and the framework hypothesis. Vern Poythress explores which is best.

This radical claim from the Bible has profound implications for every area of life―for every person and every facet of society. Drawing on key biblical texts, Vern Poythress explores what acknowledging the authority of Christ means for the way we should think and act. Unpacking how this authority affects spheres of life such as religion, politics, science, art, education, and the future, Poythress helps us pursue obedience to Christ as an expression of our gratitude and devotion―and our anticipation of the joy promised to us when we serve him with all of our heart.

To many of us, Song of Songs is a puzzling book. Often we’re not sure whether we should read it as romantic poetry or as allegory, and an answer either way raises new questions. Why is a love poem a whole book of the Bible? If it’s allegorical, what are we to make of the imagery used? And if we’re not married or dating, should we be reading this book at all? As a part of Scripture, Song of Songs is God-breathed and useful to instruct all Christians, single or married, divorced or widowed, straight or struggling with same-sex desires. Pastor-scholar Iain Duguid steers a middle way between allegorical and literal approaches, showing that this book’s celebration of the love between a man and woman can not only shape our thinking about human relationships but also give us profound insight into the love that Christ has for his bride, the church.

In this theologically informed and philosophically nuanced introduction to the study of probability and chance, Vern Poythress argues that all events―including the seemingly random or accidental―fall under God’s watchful gaze as part of his eternal plan. Comprehensive in its scope, this book lays the theistic foundation for our scientific assumptions about the world while addressing personal questions about the meaning and significance of everyday events.

Every time we read the Bible, we’re reading in the presence of God. How should this incredible truth shape how we read? Moving quickly from principle to practice, Vern Poythress helps us rethink how we interpret the Bible by showing us the implications of entering into God’s presence as we study. This handbook outlines distinct steps for practicing faithful biblical interpretation by focusing on our fellowship with the God who speaks to us through his Word.

When defending Christianity, we often play by man’s rules, letting secular science and philosophy determine the cards we’re allowed to bring to the table. But can we effectively defend the primary authority of Scripture if we start with other sources of authority that relegate it to minor status from the outset? K. Scott Oliphint provides a foreword and explanatory notes in this re-typeset syllabus, originally from Cornelius Van Til’s famous Christian Evidences class at Westminster Seminary. Van Til argues for the defense of a pure, full–fledged Christianity, unadulterated by a scientific methodology founded on non–Christian assumptions. He offers us instead a Christian philosophy and methodology for defending the faith that presupposes the absolute authority of the triune God of Scripture.

Jesus walked on water. He healed a blind man. He turned water into wine. More than just displays of his divine power, Jesus’s miracles signify something deeper―they’re windows into God’s grand story of redemption, foreshadowing the great miracle of Christ’s death and resurrection. By explaining the meaning and significance of all 26 miracles recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, New Testament scholar Vern Poythress shows us their relevance for our lives today. Poythress unpacks how understanding the meaning of Christ’s miracles will help us better grasp the salvation God has brought into the world.

Preaching the Whole Counsel of God is a primary textbook on the art and science of preaching for pastors and pastors-in-training that teaches you how to practice expository, Christ-focused hermeneutics, combined with Gospel-centered, audience-transforming homiletics. It will guide you to: Discover the truth of the text according to the human author. Discern Christ in the text according to the divine author. Design your sermon with truth, goodness, and beauty. Deliver your sermon in a way that keeps attention, retention, and leads to transformation.

This volume considers the theological richness (indicative) and practical relevance (imperative) of the New Testament General Epistles―James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John, and Jude―within a redemptive-historical framework. Although not the most familiar portion of the New Testament, these letters have much to say about the call to discipleship in the twenty-first century. Part One (“Scallywags”) focuses on 1 Peter. Here we see that Christ has accomplished salvation and that his life provides the pattern for faithful living in the face of worldly opposition. In Part Two (“Scoffers”) the truth of 2 Peter and Jude is set in contrast to the destructive doctrines of scoffing false teachers. Part Three (“Schisms”) reflects on the challenges of the Johannine letters that address who belongs to God’s family. Finally, Part Four (“Wisdom”) looks at the practical teaching of James in light of the teaching of Jesus.

This treatise, appearing in English for the first time, engages the perennial question of how the laws of Moses ought to be applied to contemporary political situations. Through clear distinctions and theses, and by drawing on diverse sources ranging from Greek and Roman law to medieval Christian theology, Junius develops a method of classifying and interpreting the Mosaic laws that honors both their particular Jewish context and their universal and perpetual significance. Junius’ Mosaic Polity also reveals the interdisciplinary nature of early modern theology, law, and politics, and the influence of Junius’ treatise and method is evident in such Reformed political luminaries as Johannes Althusius and Abraham Kuyper

"Our God delights in writing straight with a crooked pencil," says Iain Duguid. The lives of Isaac and Jacob are vivid examples of that principle. Time and again God displays his grace and glory by overcoming their weakness and sinfulness. Readers can take encouragement in the midst of their own shortcomings that the gospel triumphs not through human might or goodness but through God’s relentless grace.

What point of contact does the Christian have with the world in order to bring the biblical message to the nonbeliever? How can the doctrines of election and total depravity be reconciled with the universal offer of the gospel and human responsibility? Does our Lord show favor to saint and sinner alike? Restoring the full text of the original 1972 work, this collection of annotated essays addresses questions on common grace and its relevance to the gospel. A pioneer in presuppositional apologetics, Cornelius Van Til sets forth a Christian philosophy of history; examines the views of Abraham Kuyper, Herman Hoeksema, and others in the debate over common grace; and replies to criticism.

This Old Testament book, 'the best of songs', has fascinated and perplexed interpreters for centuries. We hear the passionate melody of romantic love, and are confronted by erotic imagery but whose love is described? Is it a couple?s love for each other, God?s love for his people, or a poem that speaks to love in all its dimensions? Iain Duguid?s commentary explains how the Song is designed to show us an idealized picture of married love, in the context of a fallen and broken world. It also convicts us of how far short of this perfection we fall, both as humans and as lovers, and drives us repeatedly into the arms of our true heavenly husband, Jesus Christ.The Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries have long been a trusted resource for Bible study. Written by some of the world's most distinguished evangelical scholars, these twenty-eight volumes offer clear, reliable and relevant explanations of every book in the Old Testament, aiming to get at the true meaning of the Bible and to make its message plain to readers today.

All too often we look at our lives and wonder, “Is this really how life should be for a Christian?” God has made glorious promises to his people in Scripture. Has he failed us when we suffer through sickness, unemployment, broken relationships, recurring sin, or other trials? Those caught in painful, stagnant, or simply unglamorous circumstances find a sympathetic figure in Abraham, who spent years living in the gap between promise and reality. Working his way chapter by chapter through the Genesis account of Abraham’s life, Iain Duguid shows how Abraham, in both his faith and failure, points to Jesus and the gospel, providing an example and a profound encouragement for us today.

What does God have to do with mathematics? Everything. In this book, Vern Poythress argues that the harmony of abstract mathematical truths, the physical world of things, and the personal world of our thinking depends on the existence of the Christian God. Poythress shows that these distinct “perspectives” on mathematics cohere because all three find their origin in God’s consistent character and nature. Whether it’s simple addition and subtraction or more complex mathematical concepts such as set theory and the nature of infinity, this fascinating book lays a theistic foundation for all mathematical inquiry.

Herman Selderhuis as editor of this volume has brought together a team of experts, resulting in a unique approach since each chapter is co-written by a Catholic and a Protestant author, who have all integrated the latest research results. Each section begins with a brief historiographical overview. The same time, ecclesiastical events are always set within a greater framework of political, social, and cultural developments for which reason each author has taken the liberty to describe its own method. The user will find in this book tables, diagrams, and illustrations. Also many source texts are integrated in the narration. Theses texts are intended to bring the described events and people closer to the reader and, as it were, to let them speak the words. The name of the book as "Handbook of the church history of the Netherlands" immediately brings to mind three problematic complexes which are relevant to its user. First, there is the nature of a handbook, that is intended to be a good tool but also has its limitations: it stimulates and necessitates the use of further books. Second, the area. The Netherlands is a plurality and that is also noticeable in its church history, for each region, town, and village has its own church history. Third, the history of the church for sure is the most important aspect, but this history can only be understood if it is described in the context of political and social developments.

Life is full of big questions. The study of philosophy seeks to answer such questions. In his latest book, prolific author Vern Poythress investigates the foundations and limitations of Western philosophy, sketching a distinctly Christian approach to answering basic questions about the nature of humanity, the existence of God, the search for meaning, and the basis for morality.

According to the pollsters a belief in Heaven is actually on the increase. Although the thought of heaven may be popular, probably less thought is given to how to get there than your annual holiday. It is only when events rudely awaken us that we are pressed into asking some of the serious questions about the place where most people expect to go.

To many, the only remaining certainty in our world is uncertainty. Pluralism has convinced us that unchanging truth, if it exists at all, is entirely beyond our grasp. All we are left with is a circular argument in which all the answers come from us. Only the authoritative voice of Scripture can dispel such clouds of doubt and confusion. Garner shows us that we can know truth, and know it with assurance. Written to equip and strengthen laypeople in their defense of the faith, Christian Answers to Hard Questions challenges contemporary opposition to Christianity with concise, practical answers.

Can we still believe in a historical Adam? Vern Poythress offers a theologically and scientifically informed evaluation of the claims that genetic analyses show Adam could not have existed.

Incorporating contributions from a host of respected theologians, From Heaven He Came and Sought Her stands as the first comprehensive resource on definite atonement as it examines the issue from historical, biblical, theological, and pastoral perspectives. Offering scholarly insights for those seeking a thorough and well-researched discussion, this book will encourage charitable conversations as it winsomely defends this foundational tenet of Reformed theology.

This is a new collection of Reformed thinkers' writings, from the Reformation to today, on the inerrancy of Scripture. To these texts contemporary scholars add commentary reflecting the stance of Westminster Theological Seminary.

Do you know why the virgin birth of Christ is a significant doctrine? Brandon Crowe considers seven objections to the virgin birth and investigates the relevant biblical texts.

As society increasingly demonstrates a disbelief in God, what happens when that viewpoint is questioned? In a conversational style, Oliphint discusses why belief is a preferable and more coherent position than unbelief and answers objections to common questions about Christianity.

A philosophy, as a worldview, must have an anchor if it is to be meaningfully discussed and assessed. If God exists, then philosophy must find its anchor by being subservient to theology. So says Dr. K. Scott Oliphint, who demonstrates that only by beginning with God and his Word can we engage in true philosophy.

The story of Joseph shows how God preserves his chosen people—despite their best efforts to destroy themselves and each other. His work in Joseph's family testifies to his electing grace and his building of a nation out of a dysfunctional band of brothers. This is a story that strikingly prefigures the gospel, by which God redeems and restores broken and dysfunctional sinners like us, remaking us into a family of worshipping saints.

Many Christians find the Old Testament to be a difficult book and ultimately ignore large parts of it―often because they simply are not sure what to do with it. Yet Iain Duguid maintains that the Old Testament is for Christians too. What is more, Christ is present throughout the Old Testament―in fact, when rightly interpreted, the whole book is about him. Duguid explores what it means to rightly see Christ in the Old Testament and looks at some specific ways the Old Testament prepares us to see and understand Christ’s ministry in the gospels.

For Christians looking to improve critical thinking skills, here is an accessible introduction to the study of logic as well as an in-depth treatment of the discipline from a professor with six academic degrees and over 30 years experience teaching. Questions for further reflection are included at the end of each chapter as well as helpful diagrams and charts for use in college and graduate-level classrooms. Vern Poythress has undertaken a radical recasting of the study of logic in this revolutionary work from a Christian worldview.

Like those generations of Israelites, Christians today are also on a journey between events of deepest significance―from the work of Christ that provides our exodus from bondage to sin and death to Jesus’ second coming that ushers his children into the true and final promised land of heaven. Author Iain Duguid aids both pastors and laypeople on this journey by explaining the profundities of the biblical text, especially its less transparent portions, and communicating the lasting message of God’s devotion to those who follow him in faith.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John describe the same events in different ways in their respective gospel accounts, and no responsible reader can simply sweep these differences under the rug. For serious Christians, this raises questions about biblical inerrancy. Can these books be fully trusted? Responding to the questions surrounding the gospel narratives, New Testament scholar Vern Poythress makes a strong case for inerrancy in the gospels and helps readers to understand basic principles for harmonization. He also tackles some of the most complicated exegetical problems, showing the way forward on passages that have perplexed many, such as the healing of the centurion's servant, the cursing of the fig tree, and more. All those interested in the authority of Scripture will find great encouragement and insight in the arresting case Poythress provides to stem the tide of skepticism.

The 'wall of separation between church and state' is a phrase not found anywhere in the Constitution, but activist judges have recklessly used that phrase to stamp out public religious expression. We are restricted from praying in public schools, the Ten Commandments and other religious symbols have been stripped from public buildings, and the term 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance has been called 'unconstitutional.' Dr. Peter Lillback exposes the church/state separation myth that has led to such actions in his book entitled Wall of Misconception. Within its pages, Lillback counters the claims that Christianity must only reside in the walls of the church by pointing to America's Founding Fathers and historical documents that prove Christianity's incontrovertible influence on our nation at large.

In Inerrancy and Worldview, Dr. Vern Poythress offers the first worldview-based defense of scriptural inerrancy, showing how worldview differences create or aggravate most perceived difficulties with the Bible. His positive case for biblical inerrancy implicitly critiques the worldview of theologians like Enns, Sparks, Allert, and McGowan. Poythress, who has researched and published in a variety of fields― including science, linguistics, and sociology―deals skillfully with the challenges presented in each of these disciplines. By directly addressing key examples in each field, Poythress shows that many difficulties can be resolved simply by exposing the influence of modern materialism.

“Did God really say?” is a fundamental theological question. If God has not spoken clearly, truly, trustworthily, and in human words, then anything goes: believe what you will, act as you wish—no one can fault you. The church’s historical belief in the truthfulness and trustworthiness of Scripture as God’s written Word is being assaulted from without and from within. In this book, seven scholars from Covenant Theological Seminary, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary confront and repel many of these attacks. Reasoning clearly, cogently, and carefully, they show that the historical doctrine of Scripture is what Scripture teaches about itself, and that this teaching can meet and defeat the ungodly intellectual schemes brought against it.

Amid a revival of apologetics, “few things could be more useful than an acquaintance with how Christian faith was defended down through the ages,” say the editors in their introduction to this two-part anthology. “Access to both historical and contemporary texts gives us fresh insight into how our fathers in the faith responded to the questions facing them.” Volume 2 in this one-of-a-kind resource takes a sweeping look at apologetics from the Reformation to the present. Readings from twenty-six apologists, including Martin Luther, John Calvin, Blaise Pascal, Jonathan Edwards, Søren Kierkegaard, Francis Schaeffer, Alvin Plantinga, and William Lane Craig are included. With editorial commentary and questions for reflection, Christian Apologetics Past and Present will prove a valuable text for students as well as a unique resource for those interested in defending the faith.

Redeeming Sociology advocates a biblically informed model for human relationships—relationships rooted in the Trinitarian character of God, his governance of the world, and his redemption accomplished in Christ. Poythress examines how the breaking of relationships through sin leads to strife, murder, and oppression among human beings and sets cultures against one another. And he shows how these broken relationships are restored through the outworking of redemption in Christ.

God gives believers spiritual gifts for serving others in the church and the world. But which gifts apply to us, and how should they be used? Poythress turns to the authority of Scripture for answers.

Language is not only the centerpiece of our everyday lives, but it gives significance to all that we do. It also reflects and reveals our all-sustaining Creator, whose providential governance extends to the intricacies of language. Writes Vern Poythress, "God controls and specifies the meaning of each word-not only in English but in Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Italian, and every other language. When, in our modernism or postmodernism, we drop him from our account of language, our words suddenly become a prison that keeps us from the truth rather than opening doors to the truth. But we will use our words more wisely if we come to know God and understand him in relation to our language." It is such biblically informed insights that make In the Beginning Was the Word especially valuable. Words are important to us all, and this book-written at a level that presupposes no knowledge of linguistics-develops a positive, God-centered view of language.

An unprecedented anthology of apologetics texts with selections from the first century AD through the Middle Ages. Includes introductory material, timelines, maps, footnotes, and discussion questions. The apostle Peter tells us always to be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks us to account for our hope as Christians (1 Peter 3:15). While the gospel message remains the same, such arguments will look different from one age to another. In the midst of a recent revival in the field of apologetics, few things could be more useful than an acquaintance with some of these arguments for the Christian belief through the ages. This first of two proposed volumes features primary source documents from the time of the early church (100-400) and the Middle Ages (400-1500). Featured apologists include Aristides, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Athanasius, Augustine, Anselm, and Thomas Aquinas. The authors provide a preface to each major historical section, with a timeline and a map, then an introduction to each apologist. Each primary source text is followed by questions for reflection or discussion purposes.

It's a quickly changing world out there. A world enamored with anything new. But all that "progress" comes with a price: we now live in a relativistic culture that appears to be missing an anchor. All authority is questioned. Truth has been thrown out with traditional views. And nothing seems sure. Especially not matters of faith. Not even for Christians. So how do we find our spiritual moorings? In environments that seek to undermine faith at every turn, how do we solidify our thinking so that our faith will not waver? By holding fast to the "things that cannot be shaken" (Heb. 12:27).

In three wide-ranging case studies Mark A. Garcia offers a comprehensive yet focused analysis of the centrality of union with Christ in Calvin's thought. It explains not only the distinctive nature of Calvin's response to Rome on justification, but why this response must be carefully distinguished from that of his Lutheran counterparts. The fruit of these investigations is the first extensive demonstration that Calvin's exposition of union with Christ in relating justification and sanctification points to an emerging Reformed theology of justification that diverges from the Lutheran tradition. Calvin's exegetical and theological model of union with Christ accents the importance in the early Reformed tradition of the relationship between Christology and salvation.

The book of Daniel is both familiar and unfamiliar to many Christians. The stories of the fiery furnace and Daniel in the lion’s den are the staples of children's’ Bible storybooks and Sunday school classes. Yet the latter chapters of Daniel’s vision are more unfamiliar and daunting to most believers, who may have been exposed to a variety of end-times speculations constructed from an amalgam of these texts and others drawn from elsewhere in the Bible. But Iain M. Duguid reminds Christians that Daniel gives us more than moral lessons or a prophetic timetable. The whole of the book points us to Christ, whether as the one greater than Daniel who has perfectly lived an exilic life of service and separation for us or as the exalted heavenly Son of Man who took flesh amongst us.

This new, annotated edition of The Defense of the Faith restores the full text of the original work in a form that is more easily understood. Cornelius Van Til, who taught for more than forty-five years at Westminster Seminary, sometimes used philosophical vocabulary in The Defense, and many of his conversation partners and critics were not widely known. When later editions greatly abridged this work for these reasons, valuable discussions were laid aside. Now they are restored, and with added clarification. Newly edited and retypeset, this unabridged edition features a foreword and explanatory notes by K. Scott Oliphint, which help us grasp a method of apologetics consistent with the nature of Christianity itself and continually relevant to our time. Includes a Foreword by K. Scott Oliphint

"Christian apologetics is, at root, a biblical discipline," not primarily a philosophical one, say the editors of this volume. Nevertheless, the Bible does call us to give a reason for the hope within us. The relationship between revelation and reason in apologetics has long been debated. If our defense of the faith is a rational enterprise, and biblical veracity itself is under attack, where, when, and how does revelation come into play? This question and related concerns are central to these essays in the Reformed apologetic tradition of Cornelius Van Til.

The orthodox position on "justification," a watershed between the Roman and Reformed churches, has recently been much debated in theological circles as new perspectives are advanced to break down the traditional barriers on this key salvation doctrine. Westminster Theological Seminary holds a respected place in the Reformed world as a trainer of future ministers and influencers in the church. Members of the faculty here contribute the results of their investigations into the basis of the doctrine by looking at scripture, church history, apologetics and pastoral outworkings. This comprehensive study of the doctrine will enable you to look with clear eyes on the issues at stake in this key discussion for the future of the church. A Bibliography is also provided for further study of the subject.

Redeeming Science attempts to kindle our appreciation for science as it ought to be-science that could serve as a path for praising God and serving fellow human beings. Through examining the wonderfully complex and immutable laws of nature, author Vern Poythress explains, we ought to recognize the wisdom, care, and beauty of God. A Christian worldview restores a true response to science, where we praise the God who created nature and cares for it.