“Mystery is the lifeblood of dogmatics†are Bavinck’s opening words to the doctrine of God. Even when a confirmed believer moves past the sophomore debates of faith v reason and … Read more→
Archive for the ‘Herman Bavinck’ Category
Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics: Supply vs. Popular Demand
It’s been more than 2 months since we ended our year long series in Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics. We covered two of the volumes and some material from ‘Philosophy of … Read more→
Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics: The End of Certainty
I delivered a paper on Bavinck this year at the ETS annual meeting in New Orleans. It marked a full year spent in Bavinck’s theology. As our series on Bavinck … Read more→
Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics: No Accounting for Taste
Our last post looked at some of Bavinck’s opening words on regeneration. Self-awareness and self-improvement are to the spiritual life the first mile of a thousand. And, as far as … Read more→
Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics: The Up & Up
When it comes to decision making, tomorrow often never comes. For Bavinck and the Reformed, this adage is too true for the Pelagian doctrine of regeneration. Assuming the final cause … Read more→
Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics: God Save the Willing
There is a lot at stake in describing regeneration and coming to faith. Above all is the certainty that faith is genuine, leading to eternal life; its hope valid, its … Read more→
Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics: No One is Taller than Himself
We are now setting out in volume 4 of Bavinck’s Dogmatics. Part 1: The Holy Spirit gives New Life to Believers covers faith and calling, justification and regeneration before dealing … Read more→
Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics: The Leap of Faith
Our ‘leap of faith’ here means that we have now jumped from mid-way of volume three (Sin and Salvation in Christ) into the beginning of volume four: Holy Spirit, Church, … Read more→
Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics: Summer Reading
We’re taking some time off this summer but it’s impossible to put Bavinck down. A set of Bavinck is difficult to stuff in a backpack, or suitcase and taking it … Read more→
Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics: The Suit Makes the Man
In the previous post Bavinck suggested that religion has more of a connecting point to real life than people give it credit. Sacrifice was the hinge on which the everyday … Read more→