This special year-end episode highlights the top 10 most-viewed episodes and webinars from 2024. We work through key moments from discussions on Reformed theology and history.

These clips showcase rich theological discussions spanning topics from biblical interpretation and church history to contemporary cultural challenges facing Reformed Christians. This annual highlight episode continues a tradition dating back to the show’s founding in 2008, offering listeners both a recap of the year’s most impactful conversations and an invitation to explore the full episodes in greater depth.

The episode serves as both a celebration of Reformed Forum’s mission to support the church in presenting every person mature in Christ and a reminder of our commitment to providing free Reformed theological resources worldwide.

Watch on YouTube and Vimeo.

Chapters

• 00:00:07 Introduction
• 00:04:14 Adonis Vidu — Exploring the Doctrine of Inseparable Operations
• 00:11:17 Aaron Renn — Life in the Negative World
• 00:15:15 Harrison Perkins — Exploring Covenant Theology among the Theological Disciplines
• 00:24:11 Van Til Group #13 — Roman Catholic and Evangelical Views of Sin and Human Consciousness
• 00:34:09 Iain Wright and Yannick Imbert — Reclaiming the “Dark Ages”
• 00:41:49 Greg Beale — Union with the Resurrected Christ
• 00:48:15 David Hall — Irony and the PCA
• 00:52:13 Cornelis Van Dam — Considering the Historicity of Genesis 1 and 2
• 00:55:21 Greg Beale and Ben Gladd — Dictionary of the NT Use of the OT
• 00:57:41 Alan Strange, Darryl Hart, Nick Willborn, and Timon Cline — Politics, Culture, and the Spiritual Mission of the Church
• 01:11:49 Conclusion

Participants: Aaron Renn, Adonis Vidu, Alan Strange, Benjamin Gladd, C. N. Willborn, Camden Bucey, Carlton Wynne, Cornelis Van Dam, Darryl G. Hart, Greg Beale, Harrison Perkins, Iain Wright, Lane G. Tipton, Timon Cline, Yannick Imbert

Dr. Cornelis Van Dam joins us to speak about his book In the Beginning: Listening to Genesis 1 and 2, in which he argues that reading Genesis 1 and 2 as history is not only justified but necessary. Van Dam clarifies the different roles that ancient Near Eastern literature and scientific theories should play in our understanding of the Bible as he carefully deals with the exegetical details of the first two chapters of the Bible. He writes:

The focus of this work is therefore not to give an all-around commentary and explanation of every verse in Genesis 1 and 2, but to listen to Scripture in order to find out what God is revealing to us about the historicity of the beginning chapters of Genesis. Concentrating on listening to what Scripture actually says brings with it the realization that the reader of the Word has a relatively modest place. The one who listens to Scripture acknowledges that the Word, not the reader, determines the meaning of the text (p. 9).

Dr. Van Dam is an Old Testament scholar, who has served with distinction as a professor of Old Testament at the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary from 1981 to 2011. He holds degrees from Wilfrid Laurier University, Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary, Knox College at the University of Toronto, and the Theological University of Kampen. Over his career, he has made significant contributions to Old Testament scholarship, with a special focus on the Pentateuch. He is the author of notable works including In the Beginning: Listening to Genesis 1 and 2, The Elder, and The Deacon. These publications reflect his commitment to exploring not merely themes in biblical studies but also their implications for Christian doctrine and practice.

Dr. Van Dam was honored in 2011 with a Festschrift titled Living Waters from Ancient Springs: Essays in Honor of Cornelis Van Dam. This volume, featuring contributions from notable scholars such as Hans Boersma and Al Wolters, is a testament to his significant impact on theological scholarship and his enduring legacy in biblical studies.

Chapters

• 00:07 Introduction
• 06:10 The Impetus for this Book
• 09:36 The Impact of the Enlightenment
• 12:34 Christian Presuppositions about Science and the Bible
• 17:47 The Purpose of Scripture and Nature of Its Language
• 23:10 The Length of Days at Creation
• 30:00 The Role of Extra-biblical Evidence
• 35:20 Cosmology and Phenomenology
• 39:35 The Framework View
• 45:08 The Seventh Day
• 47:09 What Does It Matter?
• 52:07 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Cornelis Van Dam, Ryan Noha

Dr. Cornelis Van Dam, Emeritus Professor of Old Testament at Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, joins us to speak about the biblical office of deacon and the Church’s responsibility to provide for those in need.

Dr. Van Dam has written The Deacon: Biblical Foundations for Today’s Ministry of Mercy (Reformation Heritage Books, 2016). In this excellent book, Van Dam addresses the office of deacon, including the Old Testament background, New Testament times, the history of ancient, medieval, and Reformation practice, and the current functioning of the office.

Dr. Van Dam has also written The Elder: Today’s Ministry Rooted in All of Scripture (P&R Publishing). His bibliography is available online through the seminary.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Cornelis Van Dam, Glen Clary