
Why Authentic Doctrines Arenât Freestanding
Doctrine needs to respond to a question that arises and demands an answer. If itâs a freestanding assertion, it loses connection with its life context.

Doctrine needs to respond to a question that arises and demands an answer. If itâs a freestanding assertion, it loses connection with its life context.

The beginning of the school year is one natural time to take stock of what lies ahead. Demands mount (or are about to). How can we stay afloat?
One
of the new titles in the recent Baker catalog (due for release this
month) is Matthew Batesâs Salvation
by Allegiance Alone: Rethinking Faith, Works, and the Gospel of Jesus
the King. According to Michael Birdâs blurb,
Matthew Bates argues that faith or believing is not mere assent, not easy believism, but covenantal loyalty to the God who saves his people through the Lord Jesus Christ. Bates forces us to rethink the meaning of faith, the gospel, and works with a view to demonstrating their significance for true Christian discipleship. This will be a controversial book, but perhaps it is the controversy we need!
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On the web:
Gerbrand van den Eeckhout, âAnna Presenting Her Son Samuel to the
Priest Eliâ
In due order within The City of Godâs longer discussion of Hannahâs prayer at Samuelâs dedication, 1 Augustine arrives at the clause, â[a]nd [he] shall exalt the horn of His Christâ ( 1 Sam 2:10). Here, Augustine ponders:
How shall Christ exalt the horn of His Christ? For He of whom it was said above, âThe Lord hath ascended into the heavens,â [1 Sam 2:10 LXX; 4QSama col. 2, line 33] meaning the Lord Christ, Himself, as it is said here, âshall exalt the horn of His Christ.â Who, therefore, is the Christ of His Christ? Does it mean that He shall exalt the horn of each one of His believing people, as [Hannah] says in the beginning of this hymn, âMine horn is exalted in my God?â [1 Sam 2:1 LXX, Vg.] For we can rightly call all those christs who are anointed with His chrism, forasmuch as the whole body with its head is one Christ. 2
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On the web:
Socrates in the City has made available Eric Metaxasâs April 9, 2010 lecture that digests his then newly released Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (Thomas Nelson, 2010). After the introductory farce, the lecture proper commences at about 12:45.
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/11208555 w=400&h=300]
From the itemâs Vimeo page, the lecture may be streamed and downloaded directly in MP4 and M4V formats.
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Bonhoeffer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)â]
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Fifteen print volumes of Dietrich Bonhoefferâs works are now available as a single set via Logos Bible Softwareâs pre-publication program. According to the product page:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of the most influential Christian martyrs in history, bequeathed to humanity a legacy of theological creativity and spirituality that continues to inspire people from a variety of backgrounds. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works (15 vols.) offers a fresh, critical translation of Bonhoefferâs writings, with extensive introductions, annotations, and interpretation.
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