Journal: Journal of Dispensational Theology
Volume: JODT 14:41 (Apr 2010)
Article: Editorial
Author: Ron J. Bigalke, Jr.

Editorial

Ron J. Bigalke

Acts 17 is the record of the Apostle Paul’s defense of the biblical faith before the godless Athenians. His “spirit was being provoked within him” to proclaim the Gospel message with regard to “Jesus and the resurrection” (17:16-18). The understanding of the Athenians was a context of entire spiritual confusion (17:18-21), and although they were inherently religious (17:22), the people of Athens worshipped willfully “in ignorance” (17:23). Paul, therefore, declared truth by proclaiming the Creator “who made the world and all things in it” and “gives to all people life and breath and all things” (17:24-25), and who is wholly sovereign (17:26). The proclamation exposed the unacknowledged dependence upon God by the unbelievers (17:27-29). Paul concluded his defense by calling all people everywhere to repent of their foolishness because God “has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness” through Christ who was raised “from the dead” (17:30-31). The command to repent as a consequence of God’s judgment and Christ’s resurrection was preceded (and even structured) by Paul’s theological argument with regard to the origin of all things. The theology of one God is based upon the truth that one God created all things. The answers with regard to origins will either strengthen or weaken the theology of Acts 17. Although the times have changed since Paul stood on Mars Hill, the essence of the biblical argument remains unchanged. The message of recent fiat creation is certainly a theological statement, as is advocacy in the Big Bang since this latter position affirms that the universe is composed of 4% ordinary matter and 96% “otherness.” Jonathan Henry demonstrates with expertise why Christian apologists must abandon such advocacy that truly weakens the biblical authority with regard to origins.

The next article in this issue addresses the doctrine of double procession both historically and theologically, which demonstrates the necessary theological statement with regard to the Source or First Principle of the Trinity. Augustine developed psychological analogies of the Trinity that influenced Western theology profoundly, often with great suspicion by the Eastern church. James Larson also explains these analogies with application to the social sciences, and demonstrates the centrality of understanding the Godhead in relation to ma...