Peter J. Leithart

In the Husbands and Treier volume, Robert Kolb discusses various contemporary Lutheran theologians who are attempting to bring Luther to bear on contemporary theology and life. He focuses attention on Gerhard Forde, Wilfried Harle, Oswald Bayer, and a few others. His discussion of the claim that . . . . Continue Reading »

Mark Seifrid has an important article contrasting Luther and Melanchthon on justification in the Husbands and Treier volume on the subject. He examines a private discussion between the two Reformers that took place in the home of Johannes Bugenhagen in 1536. A number of differences emerge, in their . . . . Continue Reading »

In an unsentimental discussion of the promise and difficulties of Christian community (in Freedom for Ministry ), Richard Neuhaus has these sage words about church fights: “Not infrequently, life together is mainly strife together. This commonly comes as a shock to young men and women . . . . Continue Reading »

In the twenty and seventh year to Asa king of Yehudah Reigned-as-king Zimriy seven days in Tirtzah. Not the people [were] encamping against Gibbethon which [was] to the Pilshetim. And heard the people who were encamping, saying, ?Zimriy bound-together and also struck the king.?E And they caused to . . . . Continue Reading »

In creating the world, Isaiah 48:13 tells us, God “laid the foundations of the earth.” In the context, this not only refers to Yahweh’s place at the origin of all things but His place at the end of all things: “I am He, I am the first, I am also the last” (v. 12). So, . . . . Continue Reading »

INTRODUCTION Jeroboam?s dynasty has come and gone, and so has Baasha?s mirror-image dynasty. Omri initiates a new dynasty, and this is the most successful one in Israel?s history. It is also the most idolatrous one. THE TEXT ?In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri had reigned in . . . . Continue Reading »

[ This post, unfortunately, was accidentally deleted in a server crash and has not been recovered. Maybe someday Dr. Leithart will rewrite it. ] . . . . Continue Reading »

These thoughts are indebted to an article on Timon by Leo Paul S. de Alvarez in Alvis and West, Shakespeare as Political Thinker (ISI, 2000). 1) The play begins with a collection of Athenian artisans coming onstage, and we are immediately reminded that we are in Athens, the city of beauty and . . . . Continue Reading »

Some basics on the atonement for class lecture. HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION The church has never creedally determined the doctrine of the atonement. Several models of atonement have dominated the landscape since the patristic period. Each of these contains an element of truth, and has some biblical . . . . Continue Reading »

Aulen again, quoting passages from Luther’s Galatians commentary: “To destroy sin, to smite death, to take away the curse by Himself, to bestow righteousness, bring life to light, and give the blessing: to annihilate the former, and to create the latter: this is the work of God’s . . . . Continue Reading »