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George Hunsinger on contemporary “belly worshippers” (Philippians 3:18–19)

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As I mentioned in a previous post , I’ve been reading George Hunsinger’s entry in the Brazos Theoloical Commentary on the Bible series on Philippians. And I’ve come across another compelling tidbit that I’d like to share with you all. George Hunsinger, Philippians , Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible (Grand Rapids: BrazosPress, 2020). In this passage, Hunsinger explicates Philippians 3:18–19. Here is the translation that he works from: For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. (p. 118) What I appreciate about Hunsinger’s treatment of his passage is the effortless and incisive way that he traverses the historical distance between concise explications of “the many” in Paul’s own day and “the many” in our day. Italics in what follows is from the original while bol...
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Celebrate 5000 downloads for The McKrakenCast!

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Those of you, gentle readers, who have been here before will undoubtedly be aware that I have a small podcasting venture, entitled— The McKrakenCast . It is a modest venture, but I enjoy having an outlet for the spoken word in addition to the written word. I’m pleased to share with you that The McKrakenCast has now surpassed 5000 downloads! I know this isn’t a particularly large number in the grand scheme of things, but I’m rather proud of this modest milestone. So, in honor of the day, I wanted to share with you two lists—first, a top 5 from the podcast’s first 5k downloads; second, a top 5 “podcaster’s choice” deep cuts from the podcast’s catalog. Top 5 Episodes Part 1 - Scots Confession, History & Theology Barth's "Göttingen Dogmatics" - Introduction Barth's "Göttingen Dogmatics" - §1: The Word of God as the Problem of Dogmatics Karl Barth: Spiritual Writings - A conversation with the editors Barth's "Göttingen Dogmatics" ...
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Barth's "Göttingen Dogmatics" - §5: God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

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Karl Barth is often credited with starting a revival of the doctrine of the Trinity in systematic theology. This paragraph comprises his first robust account of that doctrine. Already Barth closely associates the doctrine of the Trinity with the possibility of revelation, as well as with specifying the subject of revelation—that is, identifying the God that Christians worship. As Barth puts it, “The content of revelation is God alone, wholly God, God himself” (Diktatsatz). Karl Barth, The Göttingen Dogmatics: Instruction in the Christian Religion This is part 6 of a multi-part series, and you can find the series index here . I begin the audio recordings by reading Barth’s Diktatsatz , so I will begin reproducing that here as well. The bold is mine and indicates where I find emphasis: The content of revelation is God alone , wholly God, God himself. But as God solely and wholly reveals himself , he makes himself know in the three persons of his one essence. He, the ternal Fat...
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§1 Approaching Galatians (session 4, part 2)—Paul’s Letter to the Galatians: A Presbyterian Adult Spiritual Formation Series

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[The series continues and now concludes the fourth in-person session.  Find the last post here .]   We saw, when we were talking about Luther, that Galatians is all about freedom of conscience. Calvin reads it very much the same way but focuses on the question of culture. For Calvin, you can't impose one culture on another culture. Now, unfortunately, there’s a tradition of interpretation within Protestant readings of Galatians that focuses on the idea of freedom and thinks about it in terms of freedom from the law. It draws a contrast with Judaism where Judaism is supposed to be characterized by servitude to the law and Paul’s vision of Christianity in Galatians is supposed to be characterized by freedom from the law and from Judaism. I think we’re all on the same page at this point about that way of framing things being problematic. But that doesn’t mean Galatians isn’t about freedom. I think it's certainly true that Paul wants to focus on the freedom of Gentile Jesus-fo...
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Join me! Karl Barth, Crisis Theology, and Advent Class

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Gentle readers, I come before you today to invite you to join me and some wonderful colleagues for a time of theological reflection on the legacy and continued relevance of Crisis Theology (you’re probably used to me calling it “dialectical theology”) during this advent season. Tripp Fuller has pulled together what is sure to be a wonderful series on this topic. A number of great scholars are contributing besides yours truly— Andrew Root , John Thatamanil , and David Congdon . And, of course, each of us will be talking with Tripp , so you know the conversations will be full of zesty theological goodness! Check out the images below for more information. Click either of them, or this link right here , to surf over and get more information. Tripp runs these courses on a “free will” donation basis—donate what you want and can, even if that’s $0. I hope to “see” you there! ================================== @wtmcmaken.bsky.social Follow @WTravisMcMaken
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Idolatry and Ethics in the Reformed Tradition – with Douglas Ottati

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I’ve never much liked how many people characterize the Reformed theological tradition. Talking about “the 5 points of Calvinism” or “TULIP” might work for some people as a starting point, but it breaks down really quickly – at least if you’re a true inhabitant of the Reformed tradition and not a reactionary (either as a peripheral hanger-on without connection with a historically Reformed church or as a member of a splinter group within that historical family). Other folks talk about the importance of God’s “sovereignty” in Reformed theology. This isn’t wrong, but it’s also very closely connected with the “5 points” business. Together, these approaches set up a picture of God as some kind of all-powerful, supernatural potentate that must be obeyed unless you want to risk dire consequences. I don’t find this image particularly compelling, either on its own merits or as a reading of the Reformed tradition. And, honestly, it makes me think of the line from Jesus Christ Superstar when Je...
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