Theology
A Conversation with Dr. J. Michael Thigpen about Human Flourishing and the Creation Mandate
How are we to flourish in the presence of sin? And what role, if any, does the creation mandate—the commands which flow from our creation in God’s image—play in our flourishing in the presence of sin? What does that mandate have to do with justice and the gospel? These are questions that Phoenix Seminary Provost…
Read MoreDiscipleship: A Local Church Responsibility
Just before Jesus ascended back into heaven, he gave his disciples one final command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you…
Read MoreFitting the Bible Together with Covenants
For many people, opening up the Bible can feel like a daunting task. A person might open up God’s Word and begin to read through Genesis and this goes fine. But then when reading through Leviticus or the prophets, things begin to get more confusing. It’s important for us to have a frame of reference…
Read MoreWhat Is Theological Triage?
When I (Brian) worked as a paramedic, we did triage in the field. Here is what I mean. We used tags in four different colors to mark the severity of a person’s injuries. A black tag was used for someone who had already deceased. A red tag was given to someone who had experienced serious…
Read MoreHow Jesus was, is, and always will be the Light
Darkness is an apt metaphor for 2020. Yet in spite of how we might feel at the end of this long year, we are surrounded by lights on trees and houses, in windows and on lawns. Why are we drawn to light? Why do we long for the days to lengthen and for the gray…
Read MoreGod didn’t choose Mary for what she had; He chose her for what she lacked.
This holiday season retailers are hard at work getting our attention. And it’s no wonder. According to the National Retail Federation, a full one-fifth of all retail sales occur in just the last two months of the year. The increased spending explains the increased marketing. Companies are busy telling us why their product is better,…
Read MoreHow Advent Brings an End to Our Exile
Among the Gospels, Mark offers the shortest Advent reflection of all—a mere three verses in his opening: The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the son of God. As it stands written in Isaiah, the prophet: “Look, I am sending my messenger before your face who will prepare your way, (Malachi 3:1), a voice crying in…
Read MoreHow Jesus’ Two Names Show the Wonder of Christmas
Over the next four weeks, Phoenix Seminary faculty will post reflections on the stories of Jesus’ birth from the four Gospels. Dr. Brian Arnold, President of Phoenix Seminary, begins the series with a reflection from the Gospel of Matthew. God saves One of my favorite parts of Matthew’s birth narrative is that Joseph is given…
Read MoreFaculty Book Club: When Doctrine Divides
Alexander Pope famously said, “To err is human; to forgive is divine,” in his celebrated poem “Essay on Criticism.” Err is part and parcel of the human condition, and since we are prone to err, we are certain to divide. That one liner is not all Pope said in his blistering critique on criticism. Burrowing…
Read MoreIf Christ Is Risen, Nothing Else Matters
The church historian Jaroslav Pelikan has said that “if Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen—nothing else matters.” This is my favorite quotation about Easter. All of human history revolves around whether Jesus Christ, the God-man, rose from the dead. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then we…
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