The second issue of Ecclesia Reformanda is almost finished. This issue includes:
“‘And Their Children After Them’: A Response to Reformed Baptist Readings of Jeremiah’s New Covenant Promises,” by Neil G. T. Jeffers
Journal’s Abstract: The promise of the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-34 is a key text in the infant baptism debate. For Baptists, it describes the discontinuity between Old and New Covenants, highlighting in particular the individual, unbreakable, more subjective nature of the new. While paedobaptists often respond defensively, Jeremiah 32:37-41, where this promise is echoed with the important addition ‘for their own good and the good of their children after them’, suggests the Old Covenant principle of family solidarity may remain in place. This article re-examines the Baptist argument, and suggests closer exegesis shows that even Jeremiah 31 still includes children in the New Covenant.
“An Intertextual Analysis of Romans 2:1–16,” by Paul White
Journal’s Abstract: We contend that Paul consciously alludes to Deut. 9-10; 29-30 and to Jer. 31:30-34 in Rom. 2:1-16. These allusions shape and inform Paul’s discourse and, therefore, provide a new approach to old exegetical questions, such as, the rhetorical nature of vv. 6-11 and whether vv. 13-16 refer to ‘Gentile Christians’. On the basis of our intertextual approach we assert that: (1) Romans 2 is essentially covenantal in concern, (2) vv. 6-11 are not hypothetical, and (3) vv. 13-16 refer to ‘Gentile Christians’.
“What the Bible Says, God Says: B. B. Warfield’s Doctrine of Scripture,” by Marc Lloyd
Journal’s Abstract: B. B. Warfield’s writings continue to provide a highly influential Reformed Evangelical doctrine of Scripture that is faithful to the historic Christian view of the Bible. Warfield seeks to present the Bible’s own doctrine of Scripture. His conviction that what the Bible says, God says is grounded on the plenary verbal inspiration of Scripture which guarantees its inerrancy. Particular consideration is given to the mode of inspiration and the humanity of the Bible. Following the Westminster divines, Warfield argues for the necessity, clarity, sufficiency, preservation and translation of Scripture. The Bible mediates relationship with Christ and is God speaking to the believer.
“Trinitarian Telos: Tracing Some Theological Links from God’s Triunity to Christian Eschatology,” by David Batchelor
Journal’s Abstract: Drawing on the work of Peter Leithart and Robert Jenson, this article demonstrates that Christian eschatology is inescapably founded on the doctrine of God’s triunity. The basis for many of the ‘systems’ used by Christian eschatology is found antecedently within the triunity of God’s being. The divine activity within the economy by which creation is being directed towards its glorious climax is trinitarian at every turn, as is the shape of God’s ultimate end-goal for creation – permanently differentiated (triune and human) persons united in love within the Totus Christus, by which the saints participate in the triune Life.
Book Reviews
- G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, reviewed by R. S. Clarke
- Timothy Ward, Words of Life: Scripture as the Living and Active Word of God, reviewed by Marc Lloyd
- Gordon P. Jeanes, Signs of God’s Promise: Thomas Cranmer’s Sacramental Theology and the Book of Common Prayer, reviewed by James R. A. Merrick
- Paul L. Gavrilyuk, The Suffering of the Impassible God: The Dialectics of Patristic Thought, reviewed by Matthew W. Mason
- Gary L. W. Johnson and Ronald N. Gleason, eds., Reforming or Conforming?: Post-Conservative Evangelicals and the Emerging Church, reviewed by James T Hughes
- Carl R. Trueman, Minority Report: Unpopular Thoughts on Everything from Ancient Christianity to Zen Calvinism, reviewed by Pete Jackson
- John Piper, John Calvin and his Passion for the Majesty of God, reviewed by Neil G. T. Jeffers
- Colin Duriez, Francis Schaeffer: An Authentic Life, reviewed by David Horrocks
HT: Ros Clarke