by Daniel S. Trout
In his excellent book, Dominion and Dynasty: A Theology of the Hebrew Bible, Stephen Dempster offers, in his analysis of Esther, the following wonderful incite: “Esther’s opposition to Haman continues the major theme running running through the narrative, that of the woman against the beast: Eve versus the serpent…Tamar versus Judah…Deborah and [...]
Archive for the ‘Miscellaneous’ Category
All Hail the Female Warrior
Posted in Miscellaneous on March 31, 2007 | 1 Comment »
In Praise of Geocentrism
Posted in Miscellaneous on March 27, 2007 | 1 Comment »
by Daniel S. Trout
As Christians living in the 21st century we, as most modern people do, conditioned by the predominant worldview of scientism, tend to regard the old geocentric perspective of the ancients and the medievals as outdated (a kind way of saying “wrong!”) or at best, quaint. For those more acquainted with the [...]
Covenant Lordship: God’s Character or Life?
Posted in Miscellaneous on February 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
by Daniel S. Trout
Herman Bavinck–in accord with most other Reformed theologians–proposes that the pactum salutis (the pact made between the members of the Trinity for redemption) makes known the divine life of the Holy Trinity as a covenantal life, wherein covenant communion flourishes to the fullest extent. According to Bavinck’s reasoning, it logically follows [...]
Concerning the Divine Energies
Posted in Miscellaneous on January 20, 2007 | 2 Comments »
by Daniel S. Trout
In order to supplement my previous post on deification, it would probably be helpful to explain the nature of the “Divine Energies”, as they not only play a crucial role in our human understanding of salvation, but also in Orthodox theology en generale.
The Energies might best be defined as the presence and [...]
Deification Basically Explained
Posted in Miscellaneous on January 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
by Daniel S. Trout
Since the formal Great Schism of 1054 the doctrine of “deification”–along with other excellent Eastern emphases–has generally become idiosyncratic with Orthodox theology. This is quite a pity because, although the contemplations of the Greek fathers never disappeared from the West (they experienced a welcome revival with the 16th-17th century divines of the [...]
Deuteronomy and Wealth
Posted in Miscellaneous on May 17, 2006 | Leave a Comment »
By Uri Brito
Central to the wealth motif found abundantly in Moses, is the source of all wealth. Deuteronomy 8:18 says: "Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth." All wealth comes from God and as such is dependent upon the goodnes of God. As a proper [...]
Not Caesar, but Christ
Posted in Miscellaneous on March 21, 2006 | Leave a Comment »
by Daniel Trout
Chapter 4 in N. T. Wright’s Paul: In Fresh Perspective was so thought-provoking that I find it extremely difficult to simply notice a single passage separate from the greater context. The two sections I want to briefly connect here, though, are the “Jewish Critique of Pagan Empire” (section 3) and the end of [...]
Thoughts on N. T. Wright and the Paraousia
Posted in Miscellaneous on March 2, 2006 | 1 Comment »
by Daniel Trout
Wright’s brief analysis of Christ’s paraousia in chapter 3 of Paul is extremely insightful and loaded with implications. Since he properly recognizes the paraousia as the manifestation of Christ’s royal presence, as opposed to his arrival from a great distance, it seems probable that we should think of the Second Coming as [...]
Living in Tension: A Lesson from Thessalonians
Posted in Miscellaneous on February 23, 2006 | Leave a Comment »
by Daniel Trout
The central theme of both epistles to the Thessalonians is “living with a proper perspective,” so I guess being equipped to help parishoners live with a sober appreciation of the Parousia is a good insight to take from Paul’s letters. In our situation, I don’t believe many people struggle with worrying about a [...]
The Gnostic Lure of The Da Vinci Code
Posted in Miscellaneous on February 22, 2006 | Leave a Comment »
by Daniel Trout
As an example of literature, The Da Vinci Code is garbage; as a conspiracy thriller—mediocre (at best); as a social statement—effective, albeit in a lame, unrefined, American sort-of-way. Yet, it’s [...]
