Todd A. Wilson

Todd Wilson assesses Paul’s references to the Law in the so-called “ethical” section of Galatians in light of a fresh appraisal of the Galatian crisis. He contributes to the continuing debate over the relevance of this section of the letter for the rest of Galatians and for the situation in Galatia.

The Curse of the Law and the Crisis in Galatia

Todd Wilson examines the rationale for Paul's four references to the Law in 5:13-6.10 in light of a fresh appraisal of the Galatian crisis. He contributes to the continuing debate over the relevance of this section of the letter for the rest of Galatians and for the situation in Galatia. In addition, his study offers a refined understanding of how Galatians functioned in its original setting: he argues that with the letter Paul confronts his apostatising converts with the stark choice between blessing and curse. The author's thesis is that Paul intended his four references to the Law in 5:13-6.10, not as a way of underscoring the superfluity of the Law for Christian living, but as an affirmation of the sufficiency of the Spirit to enable the Galatians to fulfil the Law and thereby avoid the Law's curse. Several notable conclusions are reached. First, the curse of the Law is important not only earlier in the letter (3:10-14; 3:23-29; 4:1-7; 4:21-31), but it also continues to be a central concern for Paul in 5:13-6:10. Secondly, for Paul redemption from the curse of the Law is not a fait accompli the cursing voice of the Law will only be silenced if the Galatians walk by the Spirit and resist the 'desire of the flesh' (5:16-18). Thirdly, in Galatians Paul places less emphasis upon the superfluity of the Law than is often assumed; rather, he focuses upon the Law's inability to mediate righteousness (2:15-21; 3:21; 5:5-6), its contrast with 'faith' (3:11-12), and its power to curse (1:8-9; 3:10, 13). This observation, in turn, may have far-reaching implications for the question of Christian supersessionism: the idea that the church has displaced the Jews as the elect people of God.

Reassessing the Purpose of Galatians

Gerald Hiestand

Christians have an increasingly complex and often conflicted relationship with technology. As Genesis 1 succinctly and profoundly declares, God created humanity in his image, and as part of that vocation, we are called to make something of the world. Technology is one of the most important and powerful ways that human beings exercise this dominion. But while technology can extend our humanity in powerful and exciting ways, many of us feel that it can compromise or fracture our humanity at its core. As a result, questions quickly emerge. What does it mean to be human? How does our creation in the image of God affect the way we use, design, and understand technology? Should our general posture toward technology be cautious or optimistic? This collection of scholarly and pastoral essays, drawn from the 2019 annual theology conference of the Center for Pastor Theologians, offers substantive Christian reflection on a wide range of issues pertinent to a distinctly Christian vision of technology today—and in the future.

Christian Visions of Technology

Technē

Rediscovering the Christian Vision of Sexuality

Mere Sexuality

Leland Ryken

For more than forty years, pastor R. Kent Hughes has shared the gospel with thousands of people and raised the standard of expository preaching in North America and beyond. To celebrate his legacy and pay tribute to his years of ministry, fifteen of Hughes’s friends and colleagues from across the globe, including J. I. Packer, Wayne Grudem, John MacArthur, Peter Jensen, and D. A. Carson, examine what it means to be an expository preacher. Among the contributors are professors, a university chaplain, a college president, and urban church planters—living testimonies to Hughes’s wide influence. These contributors address an array of themes for the ministry-minded, such as interpretive principles and practices, biblical and historical paradigms, expository preaching’s contemporary aims and challenges, and the priority of training—all in the expectation that this one man’s passion to preach the Word faithfully will enhance the understanding and practice of expository preaching in churches and seminaries around the world. This book will also inspire and prepare you to make the pulpit the prow of your ministry and influence the generations to come. “Kent Hughes and even more the Word of God that he has faithfully preached are worthy of this astonishing array of contributors. I rejoice that the ripple effect of one man’s allegiance to the Bible has pushed so many new waves of blessing out of their hearts and into these pages.” John Piper, Pastor for Preaching and Vision, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis “That Kent Hughes can inspire contributions of such quality tells us something of the esteem in which he and his ministry are held. Here in these papers lasting treasure is to be found—in rare wisdom, fresh thinking, and occasional plain speaking. Highly recommended by one who has been uncommonly impressed and helped.” Dick Lucas, Rector Emeritus, St. Helen’s Church, Bishopsgate “A book packed with preaching wisdom to honor one of this generation’s greatest expositors of Scripture. Kent Hughes is rightly honored, but God’s Word is ever more highly honored in this special book.” Bryan Chapell, President, Covenant Seminary; author, Christ-centered Preaching “Preach the Word is not just a treasure trove for preachers—it provides what amounts to a refresher course in pastoral theology. Faithful ministers frequently pause to reflect—‘What am I doing and why am I doing it and what does God want me to be doing and how does he want me to be doing it?’ This book will prove a tremendously helpful conversation partner for such all-important reflection and self-evaluation. I warmly commend it to all who are serious about doing biblical pastoral ministry today.” Ligon Duncan, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi; President, Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals; Chairman, Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

Essays on Expository Preaching in Honor of R. Kent Hughes

Preach the Word

The evangelical church is home to many who claim to follow Christ but who show little evidence of a truly transformed life. Todd Wilson's Real Christian: Bearing the Marks of Authentic Faith biblically defines what it means to be a true Christian, calling readers to look at their own lives and diagnose where they aren’t living authentically for God. With a prophetic voice, Wilson looks at how we deceive ourselves into thinking we are really living for God through believing the right things or doing lots of spiritual activities. In contrast, real Christians are marked by five key qualities: broken-hearted joy, a humble disposition, a readiness to acknowledge sin, an ability to live balanced and avoid legalism, and a deep spiritual hunger that drives growth. All of these qualities culminate in the single defining mark of a real Christian—love. To help in distinguishing genuine faith from counterfeit spirituality, Wilson draws upon the gospels, the writings of Paul, and the insights of theologian Jonathan Edwards to help readers understand the necessary marks of an authentic, transformed life, marks that show evidence of a new heart and bear spiritual fruit through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Todd A. Wilson

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