Tag Archives: unconditional promise

Preaching Gospel as Gospel: A Pentecost of Promises

The gospel is the story of Jesus Christ proclaimed in the performative mode of promise. What this means practically for the preacher is this: each week, through prayer, study, and meditation on the appointed biblical text, he or she must … Continue reading

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Preaching Gospel as Gospel: The Good News of the Resurrection

Since my first encounter with Robert Jenson’s construal of justification as metalinguistic rule back in the late 70s, I have sought to proclaim the gospel in the mode of unconditional promise. I have often not been successful nor consistent—it’s harder … Continue reading

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New Covenant and the Restoration of Zion

Ezekiel 16:59-63 The LORD concludes the allegory of Jerusalem with the announcement of a new covenant. Despite his beloved’s infidelities, despite the severity of his judgments, he replights himself to her—definitively, irrevocably, everlastingly. Yea, thus says the LORD GOD: I … Continue reading

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The Meaning of Protestant Theology

by Phillip Cary, Ph.D. When Rodney Clapp, the editor to whom I pitched the idea of my new book, originally suggested the title The Meaning of Protestant Theology, I was a bit nonplussed. I knew the central concept of the … Continue reading

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Preaching Apokatastasis: It’s All About Gospel!

I finally obtained a copy of the published version of my paper “Preaching Apokatastasis.” A few editorial changes were made before publication, but on the whole this is the same paper that I shared with everyone a couple of years … Continue reading

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Preaching gospel: historical faith versus living faith

Back in 1999 there was great rejoicing among ecumenical folks (myself included) when the Joint Declaration on Justification was signed by representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation. Almost 20 years later, it’s unclear whether it … Continue reading

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The Proclamatory Rule of the Gospel: Preach Good News!

What difference does apokatastasis make to the churchly preaching of the gospel? All the difference in the world, all the difference to the world! How we understand the conclusion of the gospel story informs how we tell the story. About fifteen … Continue reading

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Hell, Freedom, and the Predestinating Gospel

But what about HELL? This is always the first question posed when confronted with Robert W. Jenson’s understanding of the gospel as unconditional promise. If the Church is authorized to speak the Kingdom to all comers, does this not imply universal … Continue reading

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