Southern Seminary

Winter 2015

The doctrine of the Incarnation isn’t a hot topic in the circles I run in. I’ve seen little ink spilled over it. The mission of the church, the place of penal substitution, the role of women in ministry, and the legitimacy of multi-site? Sure. But not the Incarnation and two natures of Jesus. That’s why…

  EDITOR’S NOTE: In what follows, Gregg R. Allison, professor of Christian theology at Southern Seminary, discusses his new book, Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment, with Towers editor S. Craig Sanders. CS: What was your methodology for assessing Roman Catholic theology and how did you engage with it in this book? GA: Most Protestants and…

  For many Christians like me, Christmas is a time of comfort, of peace, and of abundance.  We’re fortunate if that is the case.  But what if Christmas is intended to be an annual reminder of our need for a Savior to break into our darkness, our “homelessness,” and for us to be convicted of…

  One of the questions I frequently encounter by Christians in the West is whether or not the Arabic word Allah can be used to refer to the God of the Bible. Many well-meaning Western Christians have sought to disassociate the God of Islam from the God of Christianity. In doing so they’ve focused their efforts on…

In the dark days of World War I, British soldiers carried with them in the trenches an epic poem they treasured deeply. It cast a spiritual meaning to the war, providing a national and religious icon. G.K. Chesterton’s The Ballad of the White Horse retold the AD 878 victory of Alfred the Great over the…

EDITOR’S NOTE: In what follows, Gregg R. Allison, professor of Christian theology at Southern Seminary, discusses his new book, Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment, with Towers editor S. Craig Sanders. CS: What was your methodology for assessing Roman Catholic theology and how did you engage with it in this book? GA: Most…

Gregg R. Allison, Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment (Crossway 2014, $28) The Roman Catholic Church has arguably reached a zenith in its cultural relevance and worldwide presence. In less than two years, Pope Francis has reversed public approval of the Vatican and captured the affections of the media. But how should evangelical Christians respond…

Mike Cosper, The Stories We Tell (Crossway 2014, $15.99) Review by Andrew J.W. Smith Christians are storytellers. At every church gathering, we reenact in vivid, intentional ways the story of God’s redemption of his people. The best stories resonate because they prick hearts that were made for another world, and the imprint of eternal reality…

Every person has a worldview and every worldview is a story. The Christian story is simply better, and to borrow a pet phrase from Henry Kissinger, “it has the added advantage of being true.” The Owlings is a worldview adventure for readers young and old alike about a young boy named Josiah who discovered an…

The Archives & Special Collections staff is pleased to announce the opening of one of Southern Seminary’s most important historical collections. Simply titled “The Reports of the President,” this collection bears witness to the diligent work of the seminary’s earliest faculty, trustees, and employees as they labored to ensure the financial and theological health of…

From Haifa, Israel, to Louisville, Kentucky, Scott Bridger devotes his life to the people of the Middle East. He lives, breathes, and teaches Islamic studies, and after living in the Middle East for 12 years, he now instructs Southern Seminary students about a Christian understanding of Islam. Bridger’s devotion to studying Islam and its people…

  “Seminary is so busy,” we’ve all said. Work, family, school, church and everything else presses for our time. As a student, this never feels more true than finals week. But as soon as finals are over, the narrative goes, then we’ll get things back in order, then we’ll make up for the neglect we’ve…

The biblical call to “fear the Lord,” means much more than our term for respect.

  Charles Haddon Spurgeon experienced a constant flow of impressions early in life that settled many issues of personal integrity and faithfulness to one’s calling. He recalled clearly how, when allowed to sit in the studies of his grandfather or father, as they prepared to preach on Sundays, he must not speak or fidget so…

EDITOR’S NOTE: Three hundred years ago, the father of modern evangelicalism was born in Gloucester, England. George Whitefield (1714-1770) is widely regarded as a powerful preacher and the greatest evangelist in modern times. His ministry consisted of innovative methods to reach the masses and tireless travels to spread the gospel. In 1835, two prominent English…

Three hundred years after his birth, George Whitefield is regaining prominence for his role in the Great Awakening and American revivalism. Towers editor S. Craig Sanders asks historian Thomas S. Kidd about Whitefield’s influence and Kidd’s new biography, George Whitefield: America’s Spiritual Founding Father. 1. What most intrigued you about George Whitefield to write this…