Reformed Forum

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Vos Group #80 — Aspects of the Nativity Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

We turn to pp. 309–310 of Geerhardus Vos’s book, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to discuss aspects of the nativity. The convergence of the coming of Jehovah and the coming of the Messiah is found in Jesus Christ and revealed particularly at the time of the nativity. Two Old Testament roots support this convergence: the circle of Mary and Joseph, who stand in the line of David, and the circle of Zacharias and Elizabeth, where the idea of Jehovah’s coming prevails.

Additionally, Vos notes that the name “Jesus” means “Jehovah is Salvation,” signifying Jesus’ divine identity as the one who delivers his people from the guilt and power of sin. Finally, Vos emphasizes that the inclusion of the Gentiles into God’s covenant people is another important aspect of Jesus’ redemptive work revealed with the incarnation.

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
01:31 The Coming of the Son of David
11:41 The Coming of the Lord
15:43 John the Baptist’s Ministry
21:45 The Name of “Jesus”
27:54 Simeon and the Inclusion of the Gentiles
36:42 Jesus Has No Earthly Father
39:52 Creation and Incarnation
50:09 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Psalm 2 — A Biblical Conspiracy Theory Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

Psalm 2 speaks of rebellious kings conspiring together against the Lord and his anointed. But the outcome of such conspiracies is clear. The Son will have the earth as his possession.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

A Response to John MacArthur’s Criticism of Amillennialism, Part 2 Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue their discussion of a recent address by John MacArthur delivered at the 2023 Shepherd’s Conference. In his address, “Hope for the Remnant,” based on Zechariah 14, MacArthur says that this passage is the “amillennialist’s worst nightmare.”

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

[2 Peter] The Day of the Lord (1): The World Stored Up for Fire (3:1–7) Mar 27, 2023

Show notes

This episode is a lesson from Exploring 2 Peter: The Promise and the Path, a course taught by Daniel Ragusa.

Daniel Ragusa is the pastor of Messiah's Reformed Fellowship (URCNA) in New York City. He received his M.Div. from Mid-America Reformed Seminary and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Westminster Theological Seminary.

In this course, Rev. Ragusa explores 2 Peter with special attention to Peter's use of redemptive history in his depiction and defense of the Christian life as oriented toward Christ and the future. By the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we have embarked on an eschatological pilgrimage down a path out of this world (1:4) and into his eternal kingdom (1:11).

But along the path are cunning enemies, scoffers and mockers, who would cause us to turn back in unbelief, misattributing eternity to the present world order rather than to the kingdom (3:4).

Alert to this danger, Peter mounts a defense that will endure these "last days" (3:3) in which we find ourselves by reminding the church of Christ's promise to come again in power with new heavens and a new earth—a promise given long ago through the prophet Isaiah (1:4; 3:13) but now more fully confirmed by the corroborating witness of the apostles (1:19; 3:1–2).

Peter exhorts the church not to overlook the Holy Spirit-inspired history of special revelation as it foreshadows this coming reality (1:21), including Noah and the flood (2:5), Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (2:6–8), the restraint of Balaam (2:15–16), the approaching Day of the Lord (3:11), and even the transfiguration of Jesus Christ on the mountain as a witness to his royal sonship (1:17–18).

This course will demonstrate what Geerhardus Vos meant when he said, "The Bible is not a dogmatic handbook but a historical book full of dramatic interest." It will also explain the typological use of the Old Testament. Finally, it will shape and transform us as our minds are set on the eternal kingdom—where Jesus is and so our hearts too.

Video lessons and supporting course materials are available at https://reformedforum.org/courses/exploring-2-peter-the-promise-and-the-path/

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

The New Testament Use of the Old Testament Mar 24, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Gregory K. Beale, Professor of New Testament at RTS Dallas, returns to the program to speak about a wide array of topics touching upon the study of the Bible. After speaking about an exciting upcoming conference and workshop in Plano, Texas, Dr. Beale discusses developments in Old and New Testament studies over the last several decades, the nature of intertextuality and biblical theology, future areas ripe for new research, and research methods and tools.

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:08:27 Conference: Preaching and Teaching the NT Use of the OT
00:15:29 Developments in Scholarship
00:26:53 Intertextuality and Biblical Theology
00:35:59 Potential New Areas of Study
00:47:47 Hermeneutics and Homiletics
00:55:27 Study Methods and Tools
01:11:21 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Greg Beale

A Response to John MacArthur’s Criticism of Amillennialism, Part 1 Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss a recent address by John MacArthur delivered at the 2023 Shepherd’s Conference. In his address, “Hope for the Remnant,” based on Zechariah 14, MacArthur says that this passage is the “amillennialist’s worst nightmare.” In this episode, we make several preliminary observations and comments.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

[2 Peter] End-Time Enemies along the Path (3): Returning to Corruption (2:17–22) Mar 20, 2023

Show notes

This episode is a lesson from Exploring 2 Peter: The Promise and the Path, a course taught by Daniel Ragusa.

But along the path are cunning enemies, scoffers and mockers, who would cause us to turn back in unbelief, misattributing eternity to the present world order rather than to the kingdom (3:4).

Video lessons and supporting course materials are available at https://reformedforum.org/courses/exploring-2-peter-the-promise-and-the-path/

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Preterism and 2 Peter 3 Mar 17, 2023

Show notes

As a follow-up to his Reformed Academy course, Exploring 2 Peter: The Promise and the Path, Dan Ragusa joins Camden Bucey and Ryan Noha to discuss preterist views of 2 Peter 3 concerning the promise of new heavens and a new earth. After establishing the future orientation of the epistle, Dan provides a sketch of the history of preterist interpretations beginning with John Owen’s “Oriental” reading, noting the influence of Joseph Mede in the context of seventeenth-century Puritanism. He then turns his attention to modern-day exegesis of this chapter from leading partial preterists, exemplified by Peter Leithart’s commentary, The Promise of His Appearing: An Exposition of 2 Peter. Dan responds to Leithart’s “knock down arguments” by applying the eschatological pressure of the letter as a whole, all while directing listeners to the consummate, cosmic hope of the eternal kingdom that cannot be reduced to passing of the old covenant order in 70AD.

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:03:21 Updates about Reformed Forum
00:09:51 Preterism and 2 Peter 3
00:19:30 Our Blessed Hope
00:22:21 Preterist Interpretations of 2 Peter 3
00:31:22 Joseph Meade, John Owen, and the “Oriental Reading”
00:43:03 John Owen’s Other Interpretation of 2 Peter 3
00:47:46 Peter Leithart’s View
00:56:54 Vos’s Definition of Eschatology
01:07:32 The Imminent Language about Christ’s Return
01:17:11 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Dan Ragusa, Ryan Noha

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Summary of Christian Doctrine: Man in the Covenant of Grace Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. Chapter 13 brings us to a discussion of “Man in in the Covenant of Grace.” We’ll take this chapter in two parts: the Covenant of Redemption and then the Covenant of Grace.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

[2 Peter] End-Time Enemies along the Path (2): Forsaking the Right Path (2:10b–16) Mar 13, 2023

Show notes

This episode is a lesson from Exploring 2 Peter: The Promise and the Path, a course taught by Daniel Ragusa.

But along the path are cunning enemies, scoffers and mockers, who would cause us to turn back in unbelief, misattributing eternity to the present world order rather than to the kingdom (3:4).

Video lessons and supporting course materials are available at https://reformedforum.org/courses/exploring-2-peter-the-promise-and-the-path/

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000