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.

Wanna Be a Bible Scholar?

Thats right. Your eyes are not deceived. The question you were proposed was , "Wanna be a Bible Scholar?" Over at Kata Ta Biblia, Pat McCullough posed this simple question like he was asking people if they wanted to be a rockstar or so reality show contestant. He has some great advice on how to go about doing such a feat. He also has a unique Anabaptist / Brethren of Christ view of things. So if you are looking to write, go further in your theological education then head over to his post, Wanna be a Bible Scholar and dive in. Oh and if you are a nerd like me check you his Curriculum Vitae.

Burk moves from Criswell To Southern & Boyce

Sam Hodges of the Dallas Morning News Religion blog reports that Professor Denny Burk of Criswell College has been named dean of Boyce College, an undergraduate program at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. You can find Southen's press release here.

Dr. Jerry Johnson, the current president of Criswell College said "Dr. Denny Burk is popular in the classroom and a rising biblical scholar among Southern Baptists. Southern Seminary will be blessed to have him as Dean of Boyce College. While he will be greatly missed at Criswell, we are proud that Dr. Burk joins the ranks of those who began their teaching ministry at Criswell and go on to larger fields of denominational leadership and kingdom service. This has always been part of the Criswell story and I am grateful to see it continue with Dr. Denny Burk."