Peter J. Leithart is President of the Theopolis Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, and an adjunct Senior Fellow at New St. Andrews College. He is author, most recently, of Gratitude: An Intellectual History (Baylor).

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Fenrir’s bonds

From Leithart

The Edda records: “The unbreakable fetters which bound down the Great Wolf Fenrir had been cunningly forged by Loki from these: the footfall of a cat, the roots of a rock, the beard of a woman, the breath of a fish, the spittle of a bird.” Who knows what that means; but ain’t it . . . . Continue Reading »

Literary Wittgenstein

From Leithart

Terry Eagleton reviews a new book on The Literary Wittgenstein (edited by John Gibson and Wolfgang Huemer) in the April 29 issue of the TLS. There are a number of highlights: 1) Eagleton sets Wittgenstein firmly in the glitzy, kitchy world of Vienna. “The place,” he writes, “was a . . . . Continue Reading »

Justification and eschatology

From Leithart

The notion of a “future justification” has come under criticism from some Reformed writers, though the idea has a fairly established place in Reformed thought (beginning at least with Vos). The opposition to the idea suggests that some Reformed soteriology is eschatologically . . . . Continue Reading »

Infra/Supra and Narrative theology

From Leithart

Awhile back, I suggested some reasons for leaning toward supralapsarianism. Here’s some more: Infra seems to lack an eschatology. Creation is made, the fall is decreed, and then salvation is seen as a rescue from the fall. In supra, creation is never considered apart from a consummation. . . . . Continue Reading »

Ritual in Malachi 1

From Leithart

This passage is one of a series of challenges that the ?messenger of the Lord?Eissues to the people and priests of Israel. Verses 6-14 are specifically directed to the priests (v. 6). The entire passage is organized in a loosely chiastic structure: A. The Priests dishonor their Father and master, . . . . Continue Reading »

Sign and Signified

From Leithart

Is the issue of the theory of signs perhaps simply the question of where one places the distinction of signifier/signified? In Christian creationist perspective, everything created is signifier of God. This is its most fundamental essence and purpose, to show forth the glory of creator. Thus, the . . . . Continue Reading »

Sermon outline, Pentecost Sunday

From Leithart

INTRODUCTION Pentecost is a new beginning, when the Spirit that hovered over the waters of the first creation forms the church into a new creation (Genesis 1:2). Pentecost is also a reversal of Babel, as the nations divided by tongues are reunited by a miracle of tongues. Pentecost is the . . . . Continue Reading »

Liberalism and Not-So-Postliberalism

From Leithart

The following includes some material from published essays, but also includes new material. In his third lecture on the ?Essence of Christianity,?Edelivered at the turn of the century, Adolf von Harnack expressed a common modern understanding of the nature of Christianity: “Anyone who wants . . . . Continue Reading »

The Promise of Covenant Theology

From Leithart

Covenant theology has great promise: it highlights the fact that redemption takes place in the real world, that redemption involves the creation of a new community, and that the community is necessarily marked out by signs, rites, words, conduct. But the language of covenant theology sometimes . . . . Continue Reading »

Calvin on Sacraments

From Leithart

The following are tentative notes, reflections, criticisms, and interactions with Calvin?s understanding of sacraments in general in Book 4 of the Institutes. 4.14.1 Calvin calls the sacraments ?another aid to our faith related to the preaching of the gospel.?E Several questions occur to me. First, . . . . Continue Reading »