Lane Tipton speaks about his new book, Foundations of Covenant Theology, available now through Reformed Forum.

Drawing from Genesis 1:1 and subsequent biblical revelation, Lane Tipton argues that before creating the visible world, the immutable triune God created a heavenly temple dwelling, filled that heavenly dwelling with the unchanging glory of his Spirit, and sanctified that heavenly dwelling as the realm of everlasting Sabbath rest.

Adam, as the created image of God and federal head of his posterity, could have advanced through perfect covenantal obedience beyond probation on the mountain of God in earthly Eden into the heavenly dwelling of God in Sabbath rest. This God-centered and heaven-focused theological backdrop enriches our understanding of the person and work of Jesus Christ, as the second and last Adam in the covenant of grace, who in his humiliation and exaltation has opened the gates of heavenly paradise for his church.

Copies are available now.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

Jacob’s search for a bride parallels two other searches, all of which point us to Christ who offers the water of life and becomes a servant to secure his bride. We therefore must become servants of Christ that as his bride we might receive the water of life.

Participants: Mark A. Winder

We welcome Dr. Rita Cefalu to speak about the rich biblical-theological themes regarding Christ in Acts 2–3. Dr. Cefalu has written, “The Sufferings and Glory of Jesus the Messiah in Acts 2–3,” which appears in The Seed of Promise: The Sufferings and Glory of the Messiah: Essays in Honor of T. Desmond Alexander (Glossa House), co-edited by Dr. Cefalu and Paul R. Williamson. Dr. Cefalu is a writer and lecturer in biblical and theological studies in Florida.

This book is a festschrift presented to T. Desmond Alexander on the year of his 65th birthday. In distinction from other volumes of this type, this book is structured around the biblical theological theme of the seed promise of Genesis 3:15, with its sub-theme focused on the sufferings and glory of the Messiah. Accordingly, biblical scholars (both OT and NT), who have in some capacity benefited from Dr. Alexander’s scholarship and are known for their work in particular books of the Bible and/or the discipline of biblical theology, investigate these particular themes in light of their respective books.

Links

• Christ the Center, episode 373 with Rita Cefalu, “The Sons of God and Daughters of Man in Genesis 6”
• Rita Cefalu, “You Should Know T. Desmond Alexander: Exploring God’s Plan for Life on Earth With a Shepherd’s Heart”
• T. Desmond Alexander interview at the Laymen’s Lounge
• Watch the presentation of the festschrift to Dr. Alexander

Participants: Adam York, Camden Bucey, Rita Cefalu

Although Jacob and Esau both show themselves unworthy to inherit the covenant promises, we see, through two theological paradigms—the offspring and the land—that God Almighty will lead his people to the land of promise.

Participants: Glen Clary, Mark A. Winder

Mark Winder shows us how in the story of Isaac which parallels that of Abraham, there is a theological point being made: from a human perspective there is one crisis after another. But from the divine perspective, there is no salvation outside of God. Only his hand will triumph. We will also see how Abraham’s obedience is a type of the obedience of Christ.

Participants: Joel Fick, Mark A. Winder

On the heels of a tremendous victory, Abram has a choice to make. Not necessarily an easy one if his focus was on earthly things. Here’s Abram’s chance to make it big in Canaan. Or is he looking for some other city? What will he do? What should we do as we follow in his footsteps?

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder, Mark Jenkins

Archaeologists working in Israel’s Western Wall Plaza have unearthed a “docket,” or clay impression of a seal from לשר העיר (“[belonging] to the governor of the city”). The identity of this governor could be Joshua, the governor of Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah (2 Kings), or Maaseiah, is the governor in the days of Josiah (2 Chronicles).

On this episode, we open to the book of Judges with our guest, William Wood. Mr. Wood is a PhD student in Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. He challenges the conventional wisdom that the author of Judges exhibits an anti-Ephraimite stance exclusively. Will joined us previously to speak about Ephesians 6:10–17 and a Biblical Theology of Clothing. Download the Judges and Ephraim chart mentioned in the episode.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Will Wood

Dan Ragusa speaks about the United Reformed Churches in North America, biblical theology, and the book of Joshua. Dan is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary and is currently studying at Westminster Theological Seminary. After a brief conversation, we share a lesson from Mr. Ragusa’s Sunday school series on Joshua taught at Oak Glen United Reformed Church of Lansing, Illinois.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Dan Ragusa

Matthew Patton offers us several interpretive guidelines for understanding narrative analogies among Israel’s and Judah’s kings. These insights provide for a richer and deeper understanding of typology. Dr. Patton previously joined us to speak about Restoration Prophecy in Ezra-Nehemiah and Typology and Jehoiachin. In the latter episode we focused upon on his dissertation, and today we resume that focus by comparing Israel’s and Judah’s kings to David and ultimately to Jesus Christ.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Daniel Schrock, Mark A. Winder, Matthew Patton