If you've had much engagement with Jehovah's Witnesses (JW), you've likely been confronted with the Watchtower interpretation of Colossians 1:15: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." The JW translation of the Bible (The New World Translation, NWT) reads the same as any standard English version of Scripture at … Continue reading Jesus Christ, the Firstborn of all Creation
Christ as the Centerpiece of Theology
It's not a matter of Christ should be the center of our theology. Scripture shows us that he simply is the center of our theology. Herman Bavinck is certainly right when he says, “The doctrine of Christ is not the starting point, but it certainly is the central point of the whole system of dogmatics. All … Continue reading Christ as the Centerpiece of Theology
Christology from Nicea to Chalcedon: A Brief History
Almost immediately following Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension, the church found herself subject to infiltration by heretics and false doctrine. While these heresies did not focus exclusively on the person of Christ, most of them did, and early Christian theologians labored to respond to these challenges in order to articulate a logically coherent, biblically faithful … Continue reading Christology from Nicea to Chalcedon: A Brief History
Christ Alone as the Center of the Reformation Distinctives
Is there a "center" of the Reformation distinctives (Scripture alone, Faith alone, Grace alone, Christ Alone, Glory of God alone)? Yes, there is, according to Michael Reeves in his foreword to Steve Wellum's excellent book, Christ Alone: The Uniqueness of Christ as Savior. Reeves argues that we must keep Christ at the center of these Reformation … Continue reading Christ Alone as the Center of the Reformation Distinctives
Christ as the Image of God: Biblical-Theological Reflections on Colossians 1:15-18
Colossians 1:15-20, the immediate context in which the phrase “image of God” is found, is one of the most exalted Christological passages in the New Testament. It is located toward the beginning of the Paul's letter, preceded only by a brief introduction to the epistle (1:1-3), a note of thankfulness from the apostle for the Colossians’ … Continue reading Christ as the Image of God: Biblical-Theological Reflections on Colossians 1:15-18
‘The Deity of Christ’ Edited by Christopher W. Morgan and Robert A. Peterson
This volume, as the title clearly indicates, is a collection of essays on the deity of Jesus Christ. The book begins with a brief introduction the editors, Christopher Morgan and Robert Peterson, in which they discuss the vital importance of this topic and the need for fresh discussion. Morgan and Peterson cite with approval Peter … Continue reading ‘The Deity of Christ’ Edited by Christopher W. Morgan and Robert A. Peterson
Book Review: 'Jesus and the God of Israel' by Richard Bauckham
Summary Jesus and the God of Israel is a collection of essays by Richard Bauckham that focuses primarily on the exposition and defense of the deity of Christ. Bauckham’s approach to this doctrine, however, differs from other recent theological treatments by considering the issue of Christ’s deity under the rubric of identity rather than ontology. In other words, Bauckham … Continue reading Book Review: 'Jesus and the God of Israel' by Richard Bauckham
From the Study 