Blogs by Derek Thomas

I'm just on my to Taiwan to teach Koreans about the puritans (how they love the puritans! It's their experiential theology that appeals to the Asian mindset, or should I say, heart-set?). Anyway, here's a weekend puzzle to think about:If... continue

Michael Bird, professor of New Testament at Highland Theological College on the relative demerit of Systematic Theology, here.... continue

In a seminar on John Owen's doctrine of justification this morning, one of my students, Brian Borgman, drew attention to the following quotation from Owen's treatment of Justification in Volume 5:"(Justification) is so fallen in our days, that nothing in religion... continue

I'm stuck in Orlando. Someone has to be here. I'm teaching for RTS, but "stuck" in the sense that I have to spend the obligatory nights alone in a hotel (which when you're inside, could be almost anywhere in the... continue

Today is Archbishop Ussher's birthday. Born on this day in 1581, he rose to become the archbishop of Armagh and author of The Annals of the World in which he famously dated the dawn of creation on the night preceding October 23,... continue

Our good friend, Stafford Carson -- formerly Academic Dean at Westminster Theological Seminary and now minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Portadown, Northern Ireland -- has made the headlines over Christmas by refusing to allow a female minister to... continue

Trueman agreeing with Phillips. It must be Christmas. On the resurrection, I noted some time ago the following from J. I. Packer's response to Anthony Flew: The Easter event, so they affirm, demonstrated Jesus’ deity; validated his teaching, attested the... continue

At risk of sycophancy on these pages over Carl Trueman, we now extend our congratulations to him on his recent appointment as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Westminster Theological Seminary at a recent meeting of the Seminary's Board. In... continue

We sent Adam Parker to the movies to see the controversial film, The Golden Compass to see what all the fuss was about. His review is posted here.... continue

Our good friend, Paul Helm, has provided Ref21 with another Christmas cracker. Go here.... continue