Category Archives: Theology

On Story: Further on Revelation

I give myself away, I’m sure, as a mathematician by training. That’s my undergraduate degree, and the emphasis was on theoretical mathematics — the best kind. And so I know that logic and reason necessarily trace back to certain starting … Continue reading

Posted in Story theory, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

On Story: Revelation’s Story

Let’s consider another story. A very true story. It goes like this. God created the heavens and the earth. He created out of nothing, indeed, solely by and through his Word, his Logos. And he sustains the world and all … Continue reading

Posted in Story theory, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

On Story: A Critique of the Enlightenment’s Story

Again, not all Enlightenment ideals are false. Some are only partly false. Some are quite true. Some are true but only if understood in a different context. The natural human tendency is to be overly binary — that is, to … Continue reading

Posted in Story theory, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

On Story: Postmodernism, Modernism, and the Enlightenment

So here’s the thing. We’re beginning to — finally! — get comfortable with reading the Bible as narrative. And we’re beginning to see how the Bible further provides a metanarrative that establishes the worldview and values of the Christian. I … Continue reading

Posted in Story theory, Uncategorized | 11 Comments

On Story: Denouement, Desert, and Faith

Denouement (RP) IPA: /deˈnuːmɑ̃/ (US) IPA: /deɪnuˈmɑnt/, /deɪnuˈmɑ̃/ “Denouement” is a fancy word for the final conclusion, when the climax comes to final resolution. In a murder mystery, the climax is the moment the detective solves the mystery, or when … Continue reading

Posted in Story theory, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

On Story: Of Adam, Eve, Conflict, and Climax

The elements of a good story Let’s take Adam and Eve, Genesis 2 and 3, as an example of a good story. Characters Every writer knows that a good story has to have certain elements. It has to have characters … Continue reading

Posted in Story theory, Uncategorized | 16 Comments

On Story: Of Worldviews and Metanarratives

We’ve talked about stories and story theory before. I hope this isn’t too repetitive. But I’m increasingly finding how very important story is to Christianity. And I’m hoping maybe to tie a few threads together from prior posts to make … Continue reading

Posted in Story theory, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Atonement: The Death of the Messiah and the Birth of the New Covenant, Part 6

We are continue to reflect on Michael J. Gorman’s The Death of the Messiah and the Birth of the New Covenant: A (Not So) New Model of the Atonement. Atonement for this world Moreover, Gorman argues that the new covenant provides … Continue reading

Posted in Atonement, The Death of the Messiah and the Birth of the New Covenant, by Michael J. Gorman, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Atonement: An Orthodox Perspective

Brought to my attention by a reader, and well worth a listen, all the way through.

Posted in Atonement, The Death of the Messiah and the Birth of the New Covenant, by Michael J. Gorman, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Atonement: The Death of the Messiah and the Birth of the New Covenant, Part 5

We are continue to reflect on Michael J. Gorman’s The Death of the Messiah and the Birth of the New Covenant: A (Not So) New Model of the Atonement. A community covenant Gorman thus concludes, The purpose of Jesus’ death was … Continue reading

Posted in Atonement, The Death of the Messiah and the Birth of the New Covenant, by Michael J. Gorman, Uncategorized | 13 Comments