In this post I want to respond to the criticisms of presuppositionalism based on the fascination with Aquinas among some contemporary Reformed scholars. I will point out several misguided and unhelpful directions that are being taken in the current discussion of Aquinas and Christian Apologetics.
Before critiquing theonomy, we need a good definition. Some people today who use the word “theonomy” don’t mean anything more than “God’s law” because the etimology of the word theonomy is “theos” which means God, and “nomos” which means law. They only want to affirm that God’s law is supreme over man’s law. And they’re right about that. God’s transcendent moral law is the norm that norms all norms. Governmental laws should always be consistent with God’s law and human law must never violate God’s law.
But in this post, I’ll be using the word “theonomy” in a more technical sense, which is rooted in the historic usage of the term.
It is always a humbling and learning experience to read the responses to a blog series on a controversial subject. Iron does sharpen iron, as the Bible says, and I learn much from those responses. Some postmils have taken a little umbrage at my description of Postmillennialism as a millennium involving a distinct, golden age following the one in which we live.
Part 1 Caveat comes from the Latin cavere. The verb in Latin means to be on guard. I am using its English descendant caveat to mean a warning or caution. Such is my esteem for John Owen that I prefer the softer idea of caution. John Owen has attained (and not...
Some of those who identify as theonomists today refer to themselves as “general equity theonomists,” believing that this identification lands them within the boundaries of Reformed confessional orthodoxy. But if it does, then the term “general equity” needs to be defined the same way the tradition defined it. The technical term “general equity” is used in both the Westminster Confession and the Second London Baptist Confession.
Preterism is one of a number of different methods of prophetic interpretation that have been adopted and defended by various biblical intepreters. A little background may be helpful before I come to my discussion of preterism in particular.
This is part 4 of a 5 part series on "#datpostmil?" View: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 Does the Growth of the Kingdom Require Postmillennialism? I mentioned in my last post that there are passages which the Postmillenialists might complain I am overlooking. Let me reassure...
This is part 3 of a 5 part series on "#datpostmil?" View: Part 1, Part 2 The Postmillennial Doctrine of Bifurcation—Two ages in the Gospel Age? Let me pursue an aspect of the problem with Postmillennialism which I raised in my last post. I think, though my memory is...
It did not take me long after my college years to depart from my early postmil sympathies. I suppose there were many reasons for this “sad” departure. I will attempt to describe them in this and future posts. But as I look at things now, it is this bifurcation of the present gospel age into two radically different periods which is necessary to systematic Postmillennialism which I see as a premier reason to reject Postmillennialism. It simply does not fit with the two-age schema of biblical prophecy.
This is part 1 of a 5 part series on “#datpostmil?” View: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Post-Logue A Friendly (and Reluctant) Response to James White (and All My Postmillennial Friends) Reformed Christians who follow James White have been keeping the...
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