Monday, December 28, 2009

How to write a Theological Paper

I am sitting a my desk thinking about Justification of Faith and how to write a paper about such. My quandary is how do it. I understand the how to write, but for the life of me I can't figure out how to do anything but present the truth. Maybe sermon writing has ruined the academic paper writer in me. Maybe I have lost the touch. Maybe I never knew how to do it to begin with.

I matter not what the underlying problem is as I will still be doing it. I think my biggest issue is that it seems to get noticed, heard or read, what you have to do is present something new. you have to trump up some angle. This is what we see when we tune into The History Channel or The Discovery Channel. Likewise we see this at the bookstore. it it is not racy, if it does not promote shock and incite sales then it is not wanted. It seems as if there is nothing new and jolting, if there is no shock value then it is not going to be seen or heard.

So I am perplexed with writing about Justification of Faith and not scheming up so me angle. Can I just present the truth through text and exegesis with a peppering of research and still be heard in a World that demand new shiny things?

Ecclesiastes 1:9–11 (ESV)

9 What has been is what will be,

and what has been done is what will be done,

and there is nothing new under the sun.

10 Is there a thing of which it is said,

“See, this is new”?

It has been already

in the ages before us.

11 There is no remembrance of former things,

nor will there be any remembrance

of later things yet to be

among those who come after.


I do leave you with this paper, How to Write a Theological Paper, by Dr. john M. Frame on how to do such. May it be read, used and shared for His glorification and your edification.

Monday, December 14, 2009

The Holy Spirit and His Correlation to Baptism

John the Baptist baptized with a baptism of repentance, but unlike John's baptism, new converts in Acts received the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. These believers experienced repentance, baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit, but this was manifested in three different ways according the the Holy Writ.
  • The Spirit can come in conjunction with baptism - Acts 2:38
  • The Spirit can come after baptism - Acts 8:16
  • The Spirit can come before baptism - Acts 10:47