Analogy and Theology
Much, and perhaps all, of what we say about God, we must say by analogy. We use the same words when we talk about God that we use when we talk about ourselves. But we do not use those words in precisely the same way. We say that God exists, for example, or that God...
Ordering the Theological System
Before systematic theologians can deal with questions about content, they must first deal with questions of method and procedure. One of those questions is how to divide the theological curriculum. The usual answer is to follow ten traditional disciplines. These are...
How Should We Respond?
As I write, a week has passed since a Leftist activist assassinated Charlie Kirk. It has become clear that the assassin’s motivation was the effectiveness with which Kirk advocated his views. His opponents found that they could not answer him. Nor could they...
The Importance of Imagination: A Biblical Example
[The essay was originally published on May 7, 2010.] The Bible is full of imaginative literature (by imaginative I do not mean “made up,” but rather “literature that makes its appeal to the imagination”). Much of Scripture is cast in the form...
Legitimate Uses
I grew up around firearms. My father kept a single-shot .22 and a bolt action 12 gauge in the closet. I learned that those were for grownups and children must not touch them. Still, when Dad got them out, we were allowed to inspect them. And he showed us what they...
Dialogue
[This essay was originally published on August 8, 2008.] Fundamentalists are notorious for their refusal to dialogue with other points of view. To some observers—and to some fundamentalists—this refusal to dialogue is part of the definition of fundamentalism. It is an...
Christ in 1 John 1
John addresses several issues in his epistles. Among these, he tackles the ideas proposed by Gnosticism. Although it was still a relatively new theology, John had first-hand acquaintance with Gnostic ideas. During his old age, he lived in Ephesus at the same time as...
Gnosticism: A Christological Heresy
The first major heresy to threaten the Christian faith was Gnosticism. This error was developed by mixing Middle Platonic philosophy with Zoroastrian cosmology and Christian terminology. Not all versions of Gnosticism claimed to be Christian, but those that did...
John 1 and the Deity of Christ
Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that John 1:1 does not teach the deity of Christ. They insist that most English versions of the Bible have mistranslated the text to read, “and the word was God.” They point out that the word for God (theos) doesn’t...
The Rise of Modern Conservatism
In high school I was taught that a conservative favors the existing conditions, while anyone who wishes to change those conditions is a liberal. The point was illustrated by a worker’s wage. If you wanted a raise, said our teacher, then you were a liberal. If...
Here and There
Plenty has happened over the past ten days. Some of it is personal. Some of it is national or even global. Here are a few reminisces and reflections on events that have occupied my attention. At the personal level, I was invited to deliver a pair of lectures at the...
The Opening of Hebrews, Part Two
Last week we previewed Charles Hauser’s commentary on Hebrews 1:1–2. Here are his comments on Hebrews 1:3 along with his preliminary remarks on Hebrews 1:4. --- 3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all...
The Opening of Hebrews
Charles Hauser was for many years the academic vice president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary. He is now with the Lord, but before he died, he left behind a rough manuscript for a commentary on Hebrews. He gave Kevin Bauder the job of getting that commentary...
Now Is the Time
The words conservative and progress are not antonyms. Conservatives do believe in change and in some forms of progress. In particular, they seek the progress of conservative ideals within human cultures and societies, and especially within American culture and...
The Center of Biblical Religion, Part 2: Loving God
The center of biblical religion is the recognition that there is one and only one true and living God, and that He is Jehovah. To say that Jehovah or Yahweh is the only true God is to say that He alone is worthy of worship. We must value Him always as an end and never...
Quick Reactions
At the time I’m writing, we don’t know much about the man accused of the assassinations in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. People on the Right are pointing to the fact that he was one of Governor Tim Walz’s appointees. People on the Left are claiming that...
The Center of Biblical Religion
Biblical religion—the biblical approach to knowing and worshipping God—unfolds in stages. Before the fall, people had direct access to God. After the expulsion from Eden, an element of sacrifice became necessary. We know that God called true saints before the flood....
The Power of Hate
[This essay was originally published on March 15, 2013.] Elvis Presley, that great sage and font of wisdom, is reputed to have said, “Animals don’t hate, and we’re supposed to be better than them.” Presley was assuming that the experience of...
Those Millennial Sacrifices
One of the most frequently voiced objections to premillennialism is the presence of an active temple upon earth (Ezek 40–48). More specifically, this prophetic temple includes the ongoing offering of animal sacrifices (Ezek 43:18–27). Opponents of premillennialism...
The Cup and the Bread
One of the oddest mentions of the Lord’s Table in the New Testament occurs in 1 Corinthians 10:15–22. It is unusual because it does not occur in a discussion of church ordinances. Rather, Paul is examining the question of whether Christians may eat meat that has...
About In the Nick of Time
Occasional Essays and Other Stuff for Christian Students Presented by the Research Professor of Systematic Theology of Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis.
American Christianity needs Christian leaders. Christian leaders explain the Scriptures, bringing them to bear upon life’s urgent questions. Christian leaders exemplify the life of faith, finding their ultimate satisfaction in God alone. They unite intellectual discipline with ordinate affection, turning their entire being toward the love of God. These essays are dedicated to the task of inviting Christian students to become tomorrow’s Christian leaders.
—Kevin T. Bauder
“Be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
APPLICATION & AID