Exploring Catholic-Protestant relations, biblical authority, open theism, and the role of faith in public life. 129 articles from a Yale Divinity graduate.
Faith doesn't exist in a vacuum — it speaks to how we live, how we think, and how we engage the world around us. This is where I write about the intersection of Christian theology and public life, drawing from my studies at Yale Divinity School, my lifelong journey through evangelicalism, and my growing appreciation for the Catholic intellectual tradition.
You'll find reflections on topics like biblical authority, the relationship between Scripture and tradition, Catholic-Protestant dialogue, open theism, the writings of Joseph Ratzinger, and the theological questions that have shaped Western civilization. Some of these are academic papers written during my Master of Divinity program. Others are personal reflections on what it means to hold faith seriously in an age that often doesn't.
Start here: For a roadmap of our church history content, see the Church History Guide. For a deep dive into Johannine theology, start with the John Prologue Verse-by-Verse Series. If you're a Protestant curious about Catholic theology, try the Evangelical to Catholic series. Or dive into the Yale Divinity reflections for a week-by-week account of what it's like inside an Ivy League divinity school as a conservative evangelical veteran.
An honest guide to confessional PhD programs in New Testament studies — Baylor, Wheaton, Fuller, Dallas, Boston College, CUA, Fordham, and Marquette. Faculty, funding, placement ceilings, and trade-offs.
What is the difference between biblical inerrancy and infallibility? A Yale-trained Catholic explores how these two doctrines differ, where they overlap, and why the distinction matters for how we read Scripture.
A candid guide to the top PhD programs in New Testament studies. Faculty, funding, placement, and honest drawbacks for Yale, Duke, Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, and more.
Canon 28 of the Council of Chalcedon (451) recognized Constantinople as 'new Rome' with privileges second only to old Rome. Why Pope Leo rejected it — and why it still matters.
What is the Chalcedonian Definition? The 451 AD formula declared Christ is one person in two natures — divine and human — 'without confusion, without change, without division, without separation.'
What is Arianism? A Catholic guide to the Arian heresy — what Arius actually taught, why it was condemned at Nicaea, and why the debate over Christ's divinity still matters.
How does classical theism differ from process theology? A side-by-side comparison of divine simplicity, omnipotence, immutability, creation ex nihilo, and the God-world relationship.
What did Cyril of Alexandria teach about the light shining in the darkness? Exploring his Commentary on John, divine inviolability, and human vulnerability.
What do the Dead Sea Scrolls reveal about Jewish apocalypticism? A study of the Community Rule, the War Scroll, the light-darkness dualism of Qumran, and how it connects to the New Testament.
Did Constantine invent Christianity or choose what books went in the Bible? A historian's guide to what Constantine actually did — and didn't do — at the Council of Nicaea.
What are the Gnostic Gospels? A Catholic guide to the Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Philip, Apocryphon of John, and other Nag Hammadi texts—what they say and why they matter.
How does Gnosticism differ from Christianity? A Catholic comparison of their views on God, creation, Jesus, salvation, scripture, and the body—and why it matters today.
What does the Nicene Creed mean? A Catholic phrase-by-phrase guide to the full text of the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed — its history, theology, and why it still matters.
A comprehensive guide to the War Scroll (1QM) from the Dead Sea Scrolls: the 40-year eschatological battle, angelic warfare, priestly liturgy, and what this reveals about Jesus's rejection of violent messianism.
What is Gnosticism? A Catholic guide to proto-Gnostic currents, the 2nd-century systems, the Nag Hammadi texts, and the Church Fathers' response through canon, creed, and doctrine.
What is process theology? A clear introduction to Whitehead's process philosophy, dipolar theism, panentheism, and how process theology differs from classical Christian theism.
A comprehensive guide to the Essenes, the Jewish sectarian community at Qumran that preserved the Dead Sea Scrolls. Discover their beliefs, practices, and significance for understanding Jesus's world.
What is Augustine's massa damnata? This essay examines the doctrine of the condemned mass, its biblical roots, its role in the Thomist-Molinist debate, and its continuing significance for Catholic theology of grace and predestination.
A comprehensive guide to church history covering the ecumenical councils, the Great Schism, the Reformation, and the development of Christian doctrine — from a Yale Divinity graduate.
What is comparative theology? A Catholic introduction to the method, with examples from Catholic-Orthodox and Catholic-Protestant dialogue.
What is it like to be a conservative at a liberal seminary? A Yale MDiv graduate shares lessons from three years as one of the few conservatives at Yale Divinity School.
Is Yale Divinity School liberal? A Yale MDiv graduate examines the Buckley Institute data, shares firsthand experience, and answers the most common questions about YDS.
Yale Divinity School has zero Republican faculty. The Buckley Institute's 2026 report confirms what one conservative MDiv graduate saw firsthand. Here's what the data shows.
What does John 1:5 mean? A study of the Greek—the present tense of φαίνει, the double meaning of κατέλαβεν, and the already/not yet of eschatology.
From 36,000 members to under 14,000—what happened to the Jesuits? A historically grounded Catholic assessment of the Society of Jesus's decline.
A comprehensive guide to the intellectual journey from evangelical Protestantism to Roman Catholicism — from sola scriptura to the Church Fathers, from faith alone to the fullness of Catholic tradition.
A comprehensive examination of the Catholic Counter-Reformation: the Council of Trent, the founding of the Jesuits, and the Church's response to the Protestant Reformation.
Can God know the future and humans still be free? The Catholic intellectual tradition offers robust answers through Thomism and Molinism. Here's how they work and why they matter.
What happens in an Orthodox Divine Liturgy? A guide to the structure, theology, and meaning of Eastern Christian worship.
A comprehensive Catholic guide to the theology of divine providence and free will. Covers Thomism, Molinism, open theism, process theology, divine simplicity, foreknowledge, and how the Catholic tradition reconciles God's sovereignty with human freedom.
A side-by-side comparison of the four major Christian models of divine providence: Thomism, Molinism, open theism, and process theology. How they differ on foreknowledge, freedom, sovereignty, and evil.
An exploration of divine simplicity—the doctrine that God is utterly simple, without composition or division. How this classical Catholic teaching shapes our understanding of God's nature and attributes.
Does God know the future? The Catholic Church teaches that God's knowledge is exhaustive, encompassing even the free acts of creatures. Here's what that means and why it matters.
What are the Eastern Catholic Churches? A comprehensive guide to the 23 sui iuris churches in communion with Rome — their history, liturgy, theology, and role in Catholic-Orthodox ecumenism.
Vatican I defined papal infallibility and primacy while defending faith against rationalism. Explore its two major constitutions, the context that prompted it, and its enduring significance for Catholic theology.
The Great Schism of 1054 divided Christianity into East and West. Explore the theological, political, and cultural causes — from the Filioque to papal authority — and why the split endures.
Gregory Boyd is arguably the most publicly visible advocate of open theism. A Catholic evaluation of his major works—God of the Possible, Satan and the Problem of Evil, and Is God to Blame?—and the theological vision they present.
Molinism and Thomism are the two great Catholic frameworks for reconciling divine sovereignty and human freedom. Are they truly incompatible, or can insights from both traditions be harmonized?
What is the Jesus Prayer and why is it central to Orthodox spirituality? Explore hesychasm, Gregory Palamas, and the prayer of the heart.
What is Molinism? Luis de Molina's middle knowledge (scientia media), the De Auxiliis controversy, and how Molinism compares to Thomism and Calvinism.
What is open theism? A Catholic evaluation of the open model of God, its scriptural case, philosophical arguments, and why it falls outside defined Catholic dogma.
How do open theism and Molinism differ on divine foreknowledge, human freedom, and providence? A Catholic comparison of two frameworks for understanding God's knowledge of the future.
Open theism and process theology both reject exhaustive divine foreknowledge, but they differ profoundly on creation, omnipotence, and God's nature. A Catholic comparison of these two critiques of classical theism.
A chapter-by-chapter summary of The Openness of God (1994) by Pinnock, Rice, Sanders, Hasker, and Basinger—the book that brought open theism to mainstream evangelical attention—with a Catholic evaluation of its arguments.
What is the difference between Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox churches? Explore the Council of Chalcedon, Christology, and reunion efforts.
A guide to the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar — the Twelve Great Feasts, fasting periods, Pascha, and how the Church sanctifies time.
How do Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians differ? A side-by-side comparison of theology, worship, authority, and sacraments.
New to Eastern Orthodoxy? A beginner's guide to Orthodox beliefs, worship, sacraments, and what makes the Orthodox Church unique.
Why do Orthodox and Catholic Easter fall on different dates? Explore the calendar, theology, and liturgical differences between Pascha and Easter.
A comprehensive guide to fasting in the Eastern Orthodox Church — the four major fasting periods, weekly fasts, dietary rules, and the spiritual theology behind Orthodox asceticism.
What are Orthodox icons and why do Eastern Christians venerate them? Explore the theology of icons, the iconoclasm crisis, and how icon veneration differs from idolatry.
What is Orthodox monasticism and why does it matter? Explore the Desert Fathers, Mount Athos, hesychasm, and the monastic ideal in Eastern Christianity.
What are the real differences between Orthodox and Catholic theology? A point-by-point comparison of papal authority, the Filioque, original sin, and sacraments.
How do Orthodox and Protestant Christians differ on Scripture, salvation, sacraments, and worship? A point-by-point theological comparison.
What is process theology? An examination of Whitehead's dipolar theism, panentheism, and the rejection of classical divine attributes—and why the Catholic Church cannot accept it.
What does Romans 9–11 really teach about election and predestination? This Catholic interpretation engages Thomism, Molinism, Calvinism, and Arminianism — the most comprehensive treatment online.
Definitions of key theological and philosophical terms in the debate over divine providence, foreknowledge, and free will: from actus purus to scientia media.
What is theosis? A comprehensive guide to the Christian doctrine of deification — from its biblical roots through the Church Fathers to its place in Orthodox and Catholic theology today.
Can a Christian lose their salvation? The Catholic Church teaches that mortal sin can sever one's relationship with God — but that grace can always be restored through repentance.
How do Catholic and Calvinist views of predestination differ? A comparison of Thomism, Molinism, and Reformed theology on election, grace, and free will.
What do John 1:3–4 mean in the Gospel of John? A close reading in the original Greek — the punctuation of ὃ γέγονεν, Incarnation as life in the Word, and Chalcedonian Christology.
What does the Catholic Church teach about salvation for non-Catholics and non-Christians? An examination of Lumen Gentium §14-16, extra ecclesiam nulla salus, and invincible ignorance.
Understand Pelagianism vs. semi-Pelagianism: why both heresies were condemned, their impact on theology, and what they teach about grace and salvation.
What happened at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD? A Catholic examination of the Arian crisis, the meaning of homoousios, and why the Nicene Creed still defines Christian orthodoxy.
A personal reflection on William F. Buckley Jr.'s God and Man at Yale—what it got right and why its core argument is more relevant now than in 1951.
A scholarly glossary of key Greek terms in John 1:1–18 — Logos, theos, sarx, doxa, and more — with theological significance for understanding the Prologue.
Five major heresies misread John 1: Arianism, Modalism, Adoptionism, Ditheism, and Docetism. Learn what each taught, where they went wrong, and how the Church's response was anchored in the text.
Explore the Catholic understanding of the imago Dei, human dignity, and our calling as beings created in God's image through Scripture, the Fathers, and Vatican II.
Is Jesus God? A biblical and theological examination of the deity of Christ, from New Testament texts through the Councils, addressing common objections and theological implications.
A Buckley Fellow reflects on God and Man at Yale, dinner with Rich Lowry, and why intellectual conservatism matters more than ever.
What is the Holy Trinity? A Catholic explanation of one God in three persons — the scriptural foundations, Nicene doctrine, and why it matters for the Christian life.
The theological foundations of conservative thought—from natural law to human dignity—and why conservatism without Christianity is a house built on sand.
What does John 1:2 mean? A close reading in the original Greek — why the repetition guards against Modalism and polytheism, and what it reveals about God.
What is Modalism? A Catholic examination of the heresy that denied the real distinction of Father, Son, and Spirit — its origins, key proponents, and why the Church condemned it.
Apollinarius of Laodicea denied that Christ had a human rational mind, replacing it with the divine Logos. Gregory of Nazianzus's devastating reply—'what is not assumed is not healed'—sealed the condemnation at Constantinople I (381).
What does bara mean? The Hebrew word for create explained: Genesis 1:1, theological significance, and why it matters for creation theology. Scholar guide.
The wedding at Cana and the crucifixion share extraordinary parallels — drink, thirst, the hour, and the mother of Jesus. These connections are the key to understanding John's Gospel.
A fair, sourced comparison of the major interpretations of Genesis 1—from Young Earth Creationism to the Cosmic Temple view, with Catholic teaching.
Start reading John Walton's Lost World series with confidence. A complete guide covering all six volumes, summaries, reading order, and key theological themes.
The Meletian Schism divided the Egyptian church over lapsed Christians during the Diocletian persecution. Learn how it shaped the Council of Nicaea's Canon 6 and intersected with Arianism.
Jesus addresses Mary as 'woman' at Cana and from the cross — a choice that puzzles modern readers. Here's what the Greek actually means and why it matters for understanding John's Gospel.
Jesus bypassed his own brothers to commend his mother to the Beloved Disciple. This wasn't just filial care — it was a theological act that reshaped how we read John's Gospel.
From the mother of Jesus to Mary Magdalene, women play a more prominent role in John's Gospel than in any other. Here's a comprehensive analysis of every major female figure in the Fourth Gospel.
A deep dive into John 1:1 in the original Greek—the Logos, Colwell's rule, Nicene consubstantiality, and why this verse is the whole Gospel.
A Catholic verse-by-verse commentary on the Prologue to John's Gospel (John 1:1–18) — exploring the Greek text, Trinitarian theology, and the Church's doctrinal tradition.
A review of Catherine Cornille's Meaning and Method in Comparative Theology — her framework for studying other religions faithfully without syncretism.
How Joseph Ratzinger's writings on doubt cultivate Christian humility—and why the humble submission of doubt to faith is more honest than relativism.
What does 1 Timothy 2:4 mean for Catholic theology? A reflection on Catechism §74, predestination, free will, and God's universal desire for salvation.
The God we see in the Old Testament is only partially revealed. In Christ, that slow, progressive revelation came to fruition, and there is no additional...
First and foremost, the Catholic Church affirms that as God incarnate, Jesus Christ is the full revelation of God. Through Christ, God has said...
In this post in my series “God and Man at Yale Divinity I share my paper on...
What's the difference between inclusivism and pluralism? Understand how these competing theologies address salvation, religious diversity, and the role of Christ.
The stories of biblical heroes embody and consequently represent larger narratives about the various stages of revelation.
Humanity could only begin to grasp the mystery of the Trinity after millennia of previous gradual revelation.
In this article, I discuss whether contradictions and errors in Scripture affect the theological concept of inerrancy and whether we should redefine the...
What does divine condescension mean? Explore how God's loving condescension shapes revelation and grace. A Catholic theological reflection on God's gentle approach to humanity.
“Man is by nature and vocation a religious being…He lives a fully human life only if he freely lives by his bond with God.”
We can know God, but “since our knowledge of God is limited, our language about him is equally so.”
“In the historical conditions in which he finds himself, however, man experiences many difficulties in coming to know God by the light of reason alone.”
Our desire to know God does not necessitate our accepting the object of our desire should he reveal himself. The hungry man may reject the food set...
If Pope Francis allows for married clergy, will it be a progressive or ultra-conservative move? Will the Pope be making a change or reverting to earlier...
Our salvation requires effort, our effort. This does not mean that our efforts save us, but rather is simply an admission that becoming who God would...
“Faith is man’s response to God, who reveals himself and gives himself to man, at the same time bringing man a superabundant light as he searches for the...
God is love, and the Catechism must be read in its entirety as the outworking of that divine love in the world.
In this post, I discuss proof-texting and the importance of considering each of the teachings of the faith as part of a unified whole.
In this post, I take a look at Catholic-Protestant relations in light of the Catholic Church’s organization of her own Catechism.
In this post, I discuss how Protestants often set up the Protestant ideal against the Catholic reality and the logical failure of such arguments.
In this post, I continue my reflection on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, giving particular attention to the Church’s understanding of catechesis.
In this post, I continue my reflections upon the Catechism of the Catholic Church with particular reflection upon the existence of evangelical Catholic...
In this post, I begin working through and reflecting upon the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
In this post, I discuss my interactions to date with the Latin mass crowd.
In this article, I discuss doubt and how we choose to believe.
In this post, I write about sola scriptura and what started my journey toward the Catholic Church.
The Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) resolved a Christological crisis but reshaped the political map of Christendom. How it destroyed Alexandria, elevated the papacy, and set the stage for the Great Schism.
An analysis of John 19:26-27 arguing that Mary, the mother of Jesus, served as a named source for the Gospel of John. Based on a paper from Yale Divinity School.
In this post, I discuss married priests and distinguish between innovations and de-innovations within the Roman Catholic Church.
In this post, I consider whether Eastern Orthodoxy, according to its own teachings, should exist in the West at all.
What is Hellenistic Christianity? A complete guide to Eastern Orthodox theology, theosis, liturgy, sacraments, and the Church's ancient roots in Christian Hellenism.
In this post, I reflect on the inspiration of Scripture and what we mean when we say that the Bible is divinely inspired.
In my interaction with militant nonbelievers, it has become apparent that, for many, atheism provides a false sense of intelligence.
The 'recovering evangelical' label has become a badge of honor—but does it hold up? A Catholic convert and former Southern Baptist pushes back on the exvangelical movement.
For believers trying to progress in the faith, it is critical that we fight the cynic within us.
During this time of quarantine, I have had the opportunity to dialogue with some old-school anti-Catholic evangelicals, and it has left me wondering how...
In this post, I provide an overview of my theology as it stood in 2007. It serves as a good starting point for me as I reflect upon my faith journey over...
What follows is a review of Lamin Sanneh’s Disciples of All Nations: Pillars of World...
In this post in my series “God and Man at Yale Divinity I discuss the sixth...
A Yale Divinity School student shares first-hand experiences with study abroad programs, interdepartmental courses, world-famous instructors, and more.
In this post in my series “God and Man at Yale Divinity I discuss the second...
How both evangelical and progressive Christianity have absorbed Gnostic tendencies—rejecting the body in different ways while departing from historic Christian teaching.
In this post in my series “God and Man at Yale Divinity I discuss the social...
What does scriptural inerrancy really mean? A Yale Divinity student explores how to define biblical errors, reconcile contradictions, and understand Scripture as a reliable guide for faith.
In this post in my series “God and Man at Yale Divinity I discuss my sixth...
In this post in my series “God and Man at Yale Divinity I discuss my fourth...
Spiritual growth at Yale Divinity School — the Annand Program, communal prayer, academic workload, and what seminary life really looks like from inside the M.Div. program.
A review of John Walton's The Lost World of Genesis One—ancient Near Eastern cosmology reframes Genesis 1 as an account of functional origins, not material creation. Includes analysis of competing views.
A critical review of Greg Boyd's Crucifixion of the Warrior God. Boyd's cruciform hermeneutic is promising, but does his reading undermine Scripture's reliability?
Greg Boyd’s Is God to Blame? challenges the blueprint worldview and argues that Jesus, not Augustine or Calvin, should define how Christians think about suffering.
In this post, I discuss the doctrine of purgatory and argue that it has a legitimate place with an evangelical Protestant understanding of salvation.
Paul's atonement theology in Romans 5 goes beyond Anselm's satisfaction theory. Explore the Christus Victor model and why Christ's entire life — not just his death — matters for salvation.
Catholic and Protestant views of Scripture's authority are remarkably similar. The real disagreement is interpretive authority — the Magisterium versus individual or congregational reading.
Why the Catholic understanding of tradition is hard to explain to Protestants — and how to bridge the gap without starting an argument.
Catholics and Protestants share core beliefs about divine revelation and Christ as God's fullness. The real divide is whether discernment happens individually or within the Church.
In this post, I discuss how to talk to Protestants about authority from a Catholic perspective to increase mutual understanding.
Much Protestant-Catholic animosity stems from semantic differences rather than real theological disagreements. A Protestant explores common ground and the path toward Christian unity.
Does everything happen for a reason? A Catholic examination of divine sovereignty, free will, and the problem of evil—and why God is not the author of suffering.
Christianity is inherently communal — claiming faith while rejecting church membership contradicts the New Testament vision of believers as the body of Christ, not isolated individuals.
What does it really mean to keep Christ in Christmas? On the Greek origins of 'Xmas,' the culture wars, and what believers are actually called to do.
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