Christology

"To summarize, it is not via kenotic Christologies but via a theology of divine accomomodation that we are able to uphold the two natures of Christ in one person. Not only in the incarnation but throughout the history of God's covenant with his people God remains God while entering into solidarity with human beings and creation more generally. God is "haveable" because he has given himself, and yet he remains "other:" free from as well as for the world. By uniting himself to our flesh, the Son executes in time the redemptive determination in eternity. The incarnation is therefore the culmination of covenantal accommodation. We have indeed met a stranger, but is hs also flesh of our flesh, a mediator "who in every respect has been tested as we are, and yet without sin" (Heb 4:15). In this event, God is haveable without being fully possessed; given without being enclosed; brought into the most intimate solidarity with humanity without any loss to the deity that would place redemption beyond reach. As in all analogical revelation, so too here - even in the univocal core that is Jesus Christ - there is more to God than meets the eye."

- Michael Horton, Lord and Servant, pg. 177

Sanctification

"Our conformity is rather to Jesus Christ in the mundane experience of his historical existence, an existence marked by fears and trails, faith and hope, continually strengthened, comforted and inspired by the Spirit of God through suffering and temptation as he sought in loving obedience to accomplish the will of the Father. Our destiny is not that we might be made divine but rather that we might at last become truly human."

- Alan Spence, "Christ's Humanity and Ours" in Persons, Divine and Human, pg. 97

NNPP

A new acronymn we should coin: "Not the New Perspective on Paul" - taken from a lecture given by Francis Watson, a talk which is a model of British academic wit and exegetical acumen. What's interesting about Watson is that he's actually a former NPP proponent who has turned from his old assumptions and now become a tremendous critic of his former school of thought. I always think it's a rarity when academics not only change their mind, but are willing to actually admit it in such a public manner. In this respect, Watson mirrors the one he has dedicated his scholarly life to studying: the Apostle Paul.

Prayer books

I heard a stirring sermon this morning from a fellow student on the subject of prayer, from Colossians 4:2-4. He concentrated on the importance of "being watchful in prayer" and what that entails.

I realize that reading about prayer should certainly not replace prayer itself, but the following three books have helped me to think about prayer more biblically, and I commend them to you if you are interested in the subject:

Lord, Teach Us How to Pray by Alexander Whyte
The Soul of Prayer by P.T. Forsyth
The Method of Prayer by Matthew Henry

Barth and Trinity

"As for how we are to conceive of the three members of the Trinity, Barth holds that God can have only one personality, for if Jesus Christ were a personality different from the Father, He would not be the Father's self-revelation. He therefore suggests abandoning the term 'person' to refer to the members of the Trinity, because that word inevitably implies 'personality' which would amount to tritheism. Barth prefers the Cappadocian terminology of three mutually related modes or ways of being of the one God. He connects God's personhood or subjectivity with the divine substance or 'ousia' rather than with the three 'hypostases.'"

- Metzler, Norman, Concordia Theological Quarterly 67.3-4, pg. 273.

Pannenberg

"Pannenberg's understanding of the nature of the theological task gives rise to a theology oriented toward two intertwined focal points - reason and hope. The significance of the term 'reason' is obvious...theology is a rational undertaking. The term 'hope' capsulizes the thoroughgoing eschatological orientation of his program. Since his entire systematic theology focuses on the eschaton we may characterize it as a theology of hope. Foundational to the whole of Pannenberg's theology is the concept of the kingdom of God understood as the glory of the Trinity demonstrated in God's rulership over creation."
- Olson and Grenz, 20th Cent. Theology, pg. 190.

Sort of sounds like they're describing Vos, aye?

Christology

"It is here usual to enquire, whether Christ as Mediator is inferior to the Father, and subordinate to him. But this controvery, it seems, may be easily settled among the orthodox: if the Mediator be considered in the state of humiliation, and the form of a servant, he is certainly inferior to the Father and subordinate to him; see John 14:28 "The Father is greater than I." Nay, we may look upon the very mediatorial office in itself as importing a certain economical inferiority, or subordination; as being to be laid down, when all things shall be perfectly finished, and God himself shall be all in all , I Cor 15:28."

Herman Witisus, The Economy of the Covenants between God and Man, pg. 184.