Scholastic Theology - The Gospel Coalition

<!doctype html> <html lang="en-US" class="us"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta http-equiv="x-ua-compatible" content="ie=edge" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://cloud.typography.com/7402176/6634992/css/fonts.css" />  <script> </script> <script type='text/javascript'> var ga_post_id = '249485'; var ga_post_categories = ''; var ga_post_type = 'essay'; var ga_post_author = 'Carl Trueman'; var ga_post_tags = 'medieval-church '; var ga_post_series = ''; var ga_is_single = true; var ga_edition = 1; var ga_publish_date = '04-08-2020'; </script> <script type="text/javascript"></script>  <script> function gaPostDataString(ga_edition, ga_post_id, ga_post_type, ga_post_author, ga_post_categories, ga_post_tags, ga_post_series, ga_post_scroll, ga_publish_date) { return ga_edition + "|" + ga_post_id + "|" + ga_post_type + "|" + ga_post_author + "|" + ga_post_categories + "|" + ga_post_tags + "|" + ga_post_series + "|" + ga_post_scroll + "|" + ga_publish_date + "|"; } var ga_init_data_layer = { 'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(), event: 'gtm.js' }; window.ga_clientId = false; try { if (ga_is_single) { ga_init_data_layer['post_data'] = gaPostDataString( ga_edition, ga_post_id, ga_post_type, ga_post_author, ga_post_categories, ga_post_tags, ga_post_series, '', ga_publish_date ); ga_init_data_layer['postdata_edition_id'] = gaPostDataString( ga_edition, ga_post_id, '', '', '', '', '', '', '' ).replace("|||||||", ""); ga_init_data_layer['postdata_date_author_type'] = gaPostDataString( ga_publish_date, ga_post_author, ga_post_type, '', '', '', '', '', '' ).replace("||||||", ""); ga_init_data_layer['postdata_category_series'] = gaPostDataString( ga_post_categories, ga_post_series, '', '', '', '', '', '', '' ).replace("|||||||", ""); ga_init_data_layer['postdata_tags_scrolldepth'] = gaPostDataString( ga_post_tags, '', '', '', '', '', '', '', '' ).replace("|||||||", ""); console.log(ga_init_data_layer); } } catch (e) { } (function(w, d, s, l, i) { w[l] = w[l] || []; w[l].push(ga_init_data_layer); var f = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j = d.createElement(s), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? '&l=' + l : ''; j.async = true; j.src = 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=' + i + dl; f.parentNode.insertBefore(j, f); })(window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-TS5MV7W'); window.addEventListener("load", function() { if (window.ga && ga.create) { ga('create', 'UA-10750690-1', 'auto'); ga(function(tracker) { window.ga_clientId = tracker.get('clientId'); Cookies.set('ga_clientId', ga_clientId); console.log("loaded"); }); } else { // Booh, no Analytics detected... console.log("GA not loaded"); } }, false); </script>  <meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' />  <script data-cfasync="false" nowprocket type='text/javascript'> var _vwo_clicks = 10000; </script>   <link rel="preconnect" href="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com" /> <script data-cfasync="false" nowprocket type='text/javascript' id='vwoCode'> /* Fix: wp-rocket (application/ld+json) */ window._vwo_code || (function () { var account_id=912695, // replace 1 with ${accountId} in release string version=2.1, settings_tolerance=2000, library_tolerance=2500, use_existing_jquery=false, hide_element='body', hide_element_style = 'opacity:0 !important;filter:alpha(opacity=0) !important;background:none !important;transition:none !important;', /* DO NOT EDIT BELOW THIS LINE */ f=false,w=window,d=document,v=d.querySelector('#vwoCode'),cK='_vwo_'+account_id+'_settings',cc={};try{var c=JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('_vwo_'+account_id+'_config'));cc=c&&typeof c==='object'?c:{}}catch(e){}var stT=cc.stT==='session'?w.sessionStorage:w.localStorage;code={use_existing_jquery:function(){return typeof use_existing_jquery!=='undefined'?use_existing_jquery:undefined},library_tolerance:function(){return typeof library_tolerance!=='undefined'?library_tolerance:undefined},settings_tolerance:function(){return cc.sT||settings_tolerance},hide_element_style:function(){return'{'+(cc.hES||hide_element_style)+'}'},hide_element:function(){if(performance.getEntriesByName('first-contentful-paint')[0]){return''}return typeof cc.hE==='string'?cc.hE:hide_element},getVersion:function(){return version},finish:function(e){if(!f){f=true;var t=d.getElementById('_vis_opt_path_hides');if(t)t.parentNode.removeChild(t);if(e)(new Image).src='https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/ee.gif?a='+account_id+e}},finished:function(){return f},addScript:function(e){var t=d.createElement('script');t.type='text/javascript';if(e.src){t.src=e.src}else{t.text=e.text}d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(t)},load:function(e,t){var i=this.getSettings(),n=d.createElement('script'),r=this;t=t||{};if(i){n.textContent=i;d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(n);if(!w.VWO||VWO.caE){stT.removeItem(cK);r.load(e)}}else{var o=new XMLHttpRequest;o.open('GET',e,true);o.withCredentials=!t.dSC;o.responseType=t.responseType||'text';o.onload=function(){if(t.onloadCb){return t.onloadCb(o,e)}if(o.status===200||o.status===304){_vwo_code.addScript({text:o.responseText})}else{_vwo_code.finish('&e=loading_failure:'+e)}};o.onerror=function(){if(t.onerrorCb){return t.onerrorCb(e)}_vwo_code.finish('&e=loading_failure:'+e)};o.send()}},getSettings:function(){try{var e=stT.getItem(cK);if(!e){return}e=JSON.parse(e);if(Date.now()>e.e){stT.removeItem(cK);return}return e.s}catch(e){return}},init:function(){if(d.URL.indexOf('__vwo_disable__')>-1)return;var e=this.settings_tolerance();w._vwo_settings_timer=setTimeout(function(){_vwo_code.finish();stT.removeItem(cK)},e);var t;if(this.hide_element()!=='body'){t=d.createElement('style');var i=this.hide_element(),n=i?i+this.hide_element_style():'',r=d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];t.setAttribute('id','_vis_opt_path_hides');v&&t.setAttribute('nonce',v.nonce);t.setAttribute('type','text/css');if(t.styleSheet)t.styleSheet.cssText=n;else t.appendChild(d.createTextNode(n));r.appendChild(t)}else{t=d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];var n=d.createElement('div');n.style.cssText='z-index: 2147483647 !important;position: fixed !important;left: 0 !important;top: 0 !important;width: 100% !important;height: 100% !important;background: white !important;';n.setAttribute('id','_vis_opt_path_hides');n.classList.add('_vis_hide_layer');t.parentNode.insertBefore(n,t.nextSibling)}var o='https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/j.php?a='+account_id+'&u='+encodeURIComponent(d.URL)+'&vn='+version;if(w.location.search.indexOf('_vwo_xhr')!==-1){this.addScript({src:o})}else{this.load(o+'&x=true')}}};w._vwo_code=code;code.init();})(); </script>   <title>Scholastic Theology - The Gospel Coalition</title> <meta name="description" content="Scholasticism is the term used for theology pursued in the medieval and early modern university and shaped by the centrality of the "disputed question."" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Scholastic Theology" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Scholasticism is the term used for theology pursued in the medieval and early modern university and shaped by the centrality of the "disputed question."" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="The Gospel Coalition" /> <meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/thegospelcoalition/" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2024-07-11T01:52:10+00:00" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/10125414/TGC-Essays-Fallback-Images-Website.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1920" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="1080" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Scholasticism is the term used for theology pursued in the medieval and early modern university and shaped by the centrality of the "disputed question."" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@tgc" /> <meta name="twitter:label1" content="Est. reading time" /> <meta name="twitter:data1" content="9 minutes" /> <script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/","url":"https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/","name":"Scholastic Theology - The Gospel Coalition","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/10125414/TGC-Essays-Fallback-Images-Website.jpg","datePublished":"2020-04-09T03:11:16+00:00","dateModified":"2024-07-11T01:52:10+00:00","description":"Scholasticism is the term used for theology pursued in the medieval and early modern university and shaped by the centrality of the \"disputed question.\"","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/#primaryimage","url":"https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/10125414/TGC-Essays-Fallback-Images-Website.jpg","contentUrl":"https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/10125414/TGC-Essays-Fallback-Images-Website.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Essays","item":"https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Scholastic Theology"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/#website","url":"https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/","name":"The Gospel Coalition","description":"The Gospel Coalition","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}</script>  <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//cdnjs.cloudflare.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//js.hs-scripts.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//www.google.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//js.hsforms.net' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//maps.googleapis.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//static.esvmedia.org' /> <script type="application/ld+json" id="tgc-article-schema">{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.thegospelcoalition.org\/essay\/scholastic-theology\/"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Gospel Coalition","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/media.thegospelcoalition.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/08\/09114547\/tgc_amp_logo.png","height":60,"width":115}},"headline":"Scholastic Theology","description":"Scholasticism is the term used for theology pursued in the medieval and early modern university and shaped by the centrality of the \"disputed question.\"","image":["https:\/\/media.thegospelcoalition.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/10125414\/TGC-Essays-Fallback-Images-Website.jpg"],"datePublished":"2020-04-08T23:11:16-04:00","dateModified":"2024-07-10T21:52:10-04:00","author":[]}</script><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/www.thegospelcoalition.org\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b"}}; /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(i,n){var o,s,e;function c(e){try{var t={supportTests:e,timestamp:(new Date).valueOf()};sessionStorage.setItem(o,JSON.stringify(t))}catch(e){}}function p(e,t,n){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);var t=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data),r=(e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(n,0,0),new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data));return t.every(function(e,t){return e===r[t]})}function u(e,t,n){switch(t){case"flag":return n(e,"\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f","\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200b\u26a7\ufe0f")?!1:!n(e,"\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3","\ud83c\uddfa\u200b\ud83c\uddf3")&&!n(e,"\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f","\ud83c\udff4\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc62\u200b\udb40\udc65\u200b\udb40\udc6e\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc7f");case"emoji":return!n(e,"\ud83d\udc26\u200d\u2b1b","\ud83d\udc26\u200b\u2b1b")}return!1}function f(e,t,n){var r="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope?new OffscreenCanvas(300,150):i.createElement("canvas"),a=r.getContext("2d",{willReadFrequently:!0}),o=(a.textBaseline="top",a.font="600 32px Arial",{});return e.forEach(function(e){o[e]=t(a,e,n)}),o}function t(e){var t=i.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=!0,i.head.appendChild(t)}"undefined"!=typeof Promise&&(o="wpEmojiSettingsSupports",s=["flag","emoji"],n.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},e=new Promise(function(e){i.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",e,{once:!0})}),new Promise(function(t){var n=function(){try{var e=JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem(o));if("object"==typeof e&&"number"==typeof e.timestamp&&(new Date).valueOf()<e.timestamp+604800&&"object"==typeof e.supportTests)return e.supportTests}catch(e){}return null}();if(!n){if("undefined"!=typeof Worker&&"undefined"!=typeof OffscreenCanvas&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&URL.createObjectURL&&"undefined"!=typeof Blob)try{var e="postMessage("+f.toString()+"("+[JSON.stringify(s),u.toString(),p.toString()].join(",")+"));",r=new Blob([e],{type:"text/javascript"}),a=new Worker(URL.createObjectURL(r),{name:"wpTestEmojiSupports"});return void(a.onmessage=function(e){c(n=e.data),a.terminate(),t(n)})}catch(e){}c(n=f(s,u,p))}t(n)}).then(function(e){for(var t in e)n.supports[t]=e[t],n.supports.everything=n.supports.everything&&n.supports[t],"flag"!==t&&(n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&n.supports[t]);n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!n.supports.flag,n.DOMReady=!1,n.readyCallback=function(){n.DOMReady=!0}}).then(function(){return e}).then(function(){var e;n.supports.everything||(n.readyCallback(),(e=n.source||{}).concatemoji?t(e.concatemoji):e.wpemoji&&e.twemoji&&(t(e.twemoji),t(e.wpemoji)))}))}((window,document),window._wpemojiSettings); /* ]]> */ </script> <link rel='stylesheet' id='plyr-css' href='https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/css/common/plyr.css?ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='wp-emoji-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 0.07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-block-library-css' href='https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='elasticpress-related-posts-style-inline-css' type='text/css'> .editor-styles-wrapper .wp-block-elasticpress-related-posts ul,.wp-block-elasticpress-related-posts ul{list-style-type:none;padding:0}.editor-styles-wrapper .wp-block-elasticpress-related-posts ul li a>div{display:inline} </style> <style id='classic-theme-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> /*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} </style> <style id='global-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> :root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square: 1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3: 4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4: 3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2: 3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3: 2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9: 16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16: 9/16;--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} :where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;} :where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;} :root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='parent-style-css' href='https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/sage/style.css?ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='magnific-popup-styles-css' href='https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/magnific-popup/magnific-popup.min.css?ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='select2-css' href='https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/select2/select2.min.css?ver=5.2.4' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='swiper-styles-css' href='https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/swiper/css/swiper.min.css?ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='luther-styles-css' href='https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/css/theme.min.css?ver=1.0.0.1716493598' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='single-essay-css' href='https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/css/templates/single-essay.css?ver=1700149724' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='elasticpress-facets-css' href='https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/plugins/elasticpress/dist/css/facets-styles.css?ver=7d568203f3965dc85d8a' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.7.1" id="jquery-core-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=3.4.1" id="jquery-migrate-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?render=6LdvjuIUAAAAAEJrlUeMsNppRpsCOwCAeUy2xWvb&ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b" id="recaptcha-v3-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://js.hsforms.net/forms/embed/v2.js?ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b" id="hubspot-forms-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/acf-google-map.js?ver=1" id="acf-google-maps-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=AIzaSyD8NMt2wXQCST6Iz-9pA2eJhPwP6tvIttQ&ver=1" id="google-map-api-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://static.esvmedia.org/crossref/crossref.min.js?ver=1" id="bible-reftagger-cross-js"></script>  <script class="hsq-set-content-id" data-content-id="blog-post"> var _hsq = _hsq || []; _hsq.push(["setContentType", "blog-post"]); </script>  <script> document.documentElement.className = document.documentElement.className.replace('no-js', 'js'); </script> <style> .no-js img.lazyload { display: none; } figure.wp-block-image img.lazyloading { min-width: 150px; } .lazyload, .lazyloading { opacity: 0; } .lazyloaded { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 400ms; transition-delay: 0ms; } </style>  <link rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='57x57' href='/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png'> <link rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='60x60' href='/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png'> <link rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='72x72' href='/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png'> <link rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='76x76' href='/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png'> <link rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='114x114' href='/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png'> <link rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='120x120' href='/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png'> <link rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='144x144' href='/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png'> <link rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='152x152' href='/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png'> <link rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='180x180' href='/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png'> <link rel='icon' type='image/png' href='/favicon-32x32.png' sizes='32x32'> <link rel='icon' type='image/png' href='/favicon-194x194.png' sizes='194x194'> <link rel='icon' type='image/png' href='/favicon-96x96.png' sizes='96x96'> <link rel='icon' type='image/png' href='/android-chrome-192x192.png' sizes='192x192'> <link rel='icon' type='image/png' href='/favicon-16x16.png' sizes='16x16'> <link rel='manifest' href='/manifest.json'> <link rel='mask-icon' href='/safari-pinned-tab.svg' color='#66A343'> <meta name='msapplication-TileColor' content='#f5f5f5'> <meta name='msapplication-TileImage' content='/mstile-144x144.png'> <meta name='theme-color' content='#ffffff'> <style type="text/css">.recentcomments a{display:inline !important;padding:0 !important;margin:0 !important;}</style> <script async='async' src='https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js'></script>   <script> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; </script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { //googletag.defineSlot('/21645437283/TGC-Articles-728x90-ATF', [[320, 50], [970, 90], [300, 50], [300, 250], [728, 90]], 'div-gpt-ad-1509655114140-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); // Infinite scroll requires SRA googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script>  <script> (function() { var bsa = document.createElement('script'); bsa.type = 'text/javascript'; bsa.async = true; bsa.src = '//cdn.beaconads.com/ac/beaconads.js'; //(document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(bsa); })(); </script>  <script> (function(w, d, s, n, a) { if (!w[n]) { var l = 'call,catch,on,once,set,then,track' .split(','), i, o = function(n) { return 'function' == typeof n ? o.l.push([arguments]) && o : function() { return o.l.push([n, arguments]) && o } }, t = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j = d.createElement(s); j.async = !0; j.src = 'https://cdn.fundraiseup.com/widget/' + a; t.parentNode.insertBefore(j, t); o.s = Date.now(); o.v = 4; o.h = w.location.href; o.l = []; for (i = 0; i < 7; i++) o[l[i]] = o(l[i]); w[n] = o } })(window, document, 'script', 'FundraiseUp', 'ACCWABLW'); </script>  </head> <body id="main" class="essay-template-default single single-essay postid-249485 wp-embed-responsive luther_body blogID_1 mobile_device scholastic-theology">   <noscript> <iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TS5MV7W" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe> </noscript>  <div id="header-spacer"></div>  <script type="text/javascript"> var $ = jQuery; </script> <div id="main_sidenav" class="main_sidenav"> <div class="side_menu_wrapper">  <div class="main_search_wrap d-flex align-items-center"> <form method="get" id="header_searchform" class="header_searchform" action="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org"> <div class="header_searchform_fields"> <div> <a href="#" onclick="document.getElementById('header_searchform').submit()"> <i class="fal fa-search" aria-hidden="true"></i> <span>|</span> </a> <input type="text" name="s" id="s" class="search-query " placeholder="What can we help you find?" onfocus="if(this.value==this.defaultValue)this.value='';" onblur="if(this.value=='')this.value=this.defaultValue;" x-webkit-speech tabindex="1" /> </div> </div> </form> </div> <a href="javascript:void(0)" class="closebtn"> × </a> <div id="side_menu" class="side_menu" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/SiteNavigationElement"> <div class="side_menu_section_wrapper"> <div class="side_menu_section"> <h6 class="smenu_section_title"> Browse </h6> <ul class="side_menu_items"> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/articles/"> Articles </a> <ul class="side_menu_child_items_wrapper"> <li class="sm_child_box"> <div class="sm_child_box_supertitle"> Featured Essay </div> <div class="sm_child_box_title"> The Love of God </div> <div class="d-flex align-items-end justify-content-between"> <div class="sm_child_box_text_wrap"> <div class="sm_child_box_sm_text"> An essay by </div> <div class="sm_child_box_lg_text"> Sam Storms </div> </div> <div> <a href="/essay/the-love-of-god/" class="btn btn-outline-light"> Read Now </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="sm_child_section"> <h6 class="smenu_child_section_title"> Trending </h6> <ul class="sm_sub_child_section_items"> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/the-doctrine-of-prayer/"> Prayer </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/the-faithfulness-of-god/"> Faithfulness of God </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/saving-grace/"> Saving Grace </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/adoption/"> Adoption by God </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="sm_child_section"> <h6 class="smenu_child_section_title"> Most Popular </h6> <ul class="sm_sub_child_section_items"> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/repentance/"> Repentance </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/gender-identity-and-sexual-orientation/"> Gender Identity </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/trusting-god/"> Trusting God </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/the-holiness-of-god/"> The Holiness of God </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="sm_child_button"> <a href="/essays/" class="btn btn-outline-light"> See All Essays </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link side_menu_parent" href="#"> Blogs </a> <ul class="side_menu_child_items_wrapper"> <li class="sm_child_blog_item_wrap"> <a class="sm_child_blog_item" href="/blogs/evangelical-history/"> <div class="sm_child_blog_img_wrap"> <img width="150" height="150" data-src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14200743/Thomas_Kidd_500x500-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail lazyload" alt="Thomas Kidd TGC Blogs" decoding="async" data-srcset="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14200743/Thomas_Kidd_500x500-150x150.jpg 150w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14200743/Thomas_Kidd_500x500-300x300.jpg 300w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14200743/Thomas_Kidd_500x500-470x470.jpg 470w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14200743/Thomas_Kidd_500x500.jpg 502w" data-sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150/150;" /><noscript><img width="150" height="150" src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14200743/Thomas_Kidd_500x500-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Thomas Kidd TGC Blogs" decoding="async" srcset="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14200743/Thomas_Kidd_500x500-150x150.jpg 150w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14200743/Thomas_Kidd_500x500-300x300.jpg 300w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14200743/Thomas_Kidd_500x500-470x470.jpg 470w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14200743/Thomas_Kidd_500x500.jpg 502w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></noscript> </div> <div class="sm_child_blog_text_wrap"> <div class="sm_child_blog_title"> Kidd and Taylor </div> <div class="sm_child_blog_subtitle"> Evangelical History </div> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sm_child_blog_item_wrap"> <a class="sm_child_blog_item" href="/blogs/melissa-kruger/"> <div class="sm_child_blog_img_wrap"> <img width="150" height="150" data-src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182458/krugermelissa-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail lazyload" alt="" decoding="async" data-srcset="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182458/krugermelissa-150x150.jpg 150w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182458/krugermelissa-300x300.jpg 300w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182458/krugermelissa-470x470.jpg 470w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182458/krugermelissa.jpg 500w" data-sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150/150;" /><noscript><img width="150" height="150" src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182458/krugermelissa-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182458/krugermelissa-150x150.jpg 150w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182458/krugermelissa-300x300.jpg 300w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182458/krugermelissa-470x470.jpg 470w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182458/krugermelissa.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></noscript> </div> <div class="sm_child_blog_text_wrap"> <div class="sm_child_blog_title"> Melissa Kruger </div> <div class="sm_child_blog_subtitle"> Wit’s End </div> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sm_child_blog_item_wrap"> <a class="sm_child_blog_item" href="/blogs/ray-ortlund/"> <div class="sm_child_blog_img_wrap"> <img width="150" height="150" data-src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182634/Ortlund-Ray--150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail lazyload" alt="" decoding="async" data-srcset="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182634/Ortlund-Ray--150x150.jpg 150w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182634/Ortlund-Ray--300x298.jpg 300w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182634/Ortlund-Ray--470x470.jpg 470w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182634/Ortlund-Ray-.jpg 500w" data-sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150/150;" /><noscript><img width="150" height="150" src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182634/Ortlund-Ray--150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182634/Ortlund-Ray--150x150.jpg 150w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182634/Ortlund-Ray--300x298.jpg 300w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182634/Ortlund-Ray--470x470.jpg 470w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182634/Ortlund-Ray-.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></noscript> </div> <div class="sm_child_blog_text_wrap"> <div class="sm_child_blog_title"> Ray Ortlund </div> <div class="sm_child_blog_subtitle"> Christ is Deeper Still </div> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sm_child_blog_item_wrap"> <a class="sm_child_blog_item" href="/blogs/erik-raymond/"> <div class="sm_child_blog_img_wrap"> <img width="150" height="150" data-src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182700/ErikRaymond2019_550x550-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail lazyload" alt="" decoding="async" data-srcset="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182700/ErikRaymond2019_550x550-150x150.jpg 150w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182700/ErikRaymond2019_550x550-300x300.jpg 300w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182700/ErikRaymond2019_550x550-470x470.jpg 470w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182700/ErikRaymond2019_550x550.jpg 549w" data-sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150/150;" /><noscript><img width="150" height="150" src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182700/ErikRaymond2019_550x550-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182700/ErikRaymond2019_550x550-150x150.jpg 150w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182700/ErikRaymond2019_550x550-300x300.jpg 300w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182700/ErikRaymond2019_550x550-470x470.jpg 470w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182700/ErikRaymond2019_550x550.jpg 549w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></noscript> </div> <div class="sm_child_blog_text_wrap"> <div class="sm_child_blog_title"> Erik Raymond </div> <div class="sm_child_blog_subtitle"> Ordinary Pastor </div> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sm_child_blog_item_wrap"> <a class="sm_child_blog_item" href="/blogs/scotty-smith/"> <div class="sm_child_blog_img_wrap"> <img width="150" height="150" data-src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182550/Smith-Scotty-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail lazyload" alt="" decoding="async" data-srcset="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182550/Smith-Scotty-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182550/Smith-Scotty-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182550/Smith-Scotty.jpeg 350w" data-sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150/150;" /><noscript><img width="150" height="150" src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182550/Smith-Scotty-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182550/Smith-Scotty-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182550/Smith-Scotty-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182550/Smith-Scotty.jpeg 350w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></noscript> </div> <div class="sm_child_blog_text_wrap"> <div class="sm_child_blog_title"> Scotty Smith </div> <div class="sm_child_blog_subtitle"> Heavenward </div> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sm_child_blog_item_wrap"> <a class="sm_child_blog_item" href="/blogs/justin-taylor/"> <div class="sm_child_blog_img_wrap"> <img width="150" height="150" data-src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail lazyload" alt="" decoding="async" data-srcset="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-1472x1472.jpeg 1472w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-1104x1104.jpeg 1104w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-912x912.jpeg 912w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-550x550.jpeg 550w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-470x470.jpeg 470w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin.jpeg 1536w" data-sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150/150;" /><noscript><img width="150" height="150" src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-1472x1472.jpeg 1472w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-1104x1104.jpeg 1104w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-912x912.jpeg 912w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-550x550.jpeg 550w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin-470x470.jpeg 470w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14182222/Taylor-Justin.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></noscript> </div> <div class="sm_child_blog_text_wrap"> <div class="sm_child_blog_title"> Justin Taylor </div> <div class="sm_child_blog_subtitle"> Between Two Worlds </div> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sm_child_blog_item_wrap"> <a class="sm_child_blog_item" href="/blogs/trevin-wax/"> <div class="sm_child_blog_img_wrap"> <img width="150" height="150" data-src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/19131530/Wax-Trevin-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail lazyload" alt="" decoding="async" data-srcset="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/19131530/Wax-Trevin-150x150.jpg 150w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/19131530/Wax-Trevin-300x300.jpg 300w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/19131530/Wax-Trevin-75x75.jpg 75w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/19131530/Wax-Trevin-470x470.jpg 470w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/19131530/Wax-Trevin.jpg 500w" data-sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150/150;" /><noscript><img width="150" height="150" src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/19131530/Wax-Trevin-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/19131530/Wax-Trevin-150x150.jpg 150w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/19131530/Wax-Trevin-300x300.jpg 300w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/19131530/Wax-Trevin-75x75.jpg 75w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/19131530/Wax-Trevin-470x470.jpg 470w, https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/19131530/Wax-Trevin.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></noscript> </div> <div class="sm_child_blog_text_wrap"> <div class="sm_child_blog_title"> Trevin Wax </div> <div class="sm_child_blog_subtitle"> Kingdom People </div> </div> </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/best-commentaries/"> Best Commentaries </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/commentary/"> Commentary </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/conference-media/"> Conference Media </a> <ul class="side_menu_child_items_wrapper"> <li class="sm_child_box"> <div class="sm_child_box_supertitle"> Featured Essay </div> <div class="sm_child_box_title"> Resurrection of Jesus </div> <div class="d-flex align-items-end justify-content-between"> <div class="sm_child_box_text_wrap"> <div class="sm_child_box_sm_text"> An essay by </div> <div class="sm_child_box_lg_text"> Benjamin Shaw </div> </div> <div> <a href="/essay/bodily-resurrection-jesus/" class="btn btn-outline-light"> Read Now </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="sm_child_section"> <h6 class="smenu_child_section_title"> Trending </h6> <ul class="sm_sub_child_section_items"> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/the-death-of-christ/"> Death of Christ </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/the-doctrine-of-prayer/"> Prayer </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/bodily-resurrection-jesus/"> Resurrection of Jesus </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/the-relationship-of-church-and-state/"> Church and State </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="sm_child_section"> <h6 class="smenu_child_section_title"> Most Popular </h6> <ul class="sm_sub_child_section_items"> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/the-sovereignty-of-god/"> Sovereignty of God </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/repentance/"> Repentance </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/faith-and-works/"> Faith and Works </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/the-holiness-of-god/"> The Holiness of God </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="sm_child_button"> <a href="/essays/" class="btn btn-outline-light"> See All Essays </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/courses/"> Courses </a> <ul class="side_menu_child_items_wrapper"> <li class="sm_child_box"> <div class="sm_child_box_supertitle"> Featured Essay </div> <div class="sm_child_box_title"> Resurrection of Jesus </div> <div class="d-flex align-items-end justify-content-between"> <div class="sm_child_box_text_wrap"> <div class="sm_child_box_sm_text"> An essay by </div> <div class="sm_child_box_lg_text"> Benjamin Shaw </div> </div> <div> <a href="/essay/bodily-resurrection-jesus/" class="btn btn-outline-light"> Read Now </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="sm_child_section"> <h6 class="smenu_child_section_title"> Trending </h6> <ul class="sm_sub_child_section_items"> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/the-death-of-christ/"> Death of Christ </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/the-doctrine-of-prayer/"> Prayer </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/bodily-resurrection-jesus/"> Resurrection of Jesus </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/the-relationship-of-church-and-state/"> Church and State </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="sm_child_section"> <h6 class="smenu_child_section_title"> Most Popular </h6> <ul class="sm_sub_child_section_items"> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/the-sovereignty-of-god/"> Sovereignty of God </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/repentance/"> Repentance </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/faith-and-works/"> Faith and Works </a> </li> <li class="sm_sub_child_section_item"> <a href="/essay/the-holiness-of-god/"> The Holiness of God </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="sm_child_button"> <a href="/essays/" class="btn btn-outline-light"> See All Essays </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/essays/"> Essays </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/the-carson-center/"> The Carson Center </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/thekellercenter/"> The Keller Center </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/new-city-catechism/"> New City Catechism </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/podcasts/"> Podcasts </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/publications/"> Publications </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/read-the-bible/"> Read the Bible </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="https://store.thegospelcoalition.org/tgc"> Store </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/tgcpastors/"> TGC Pastors </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/tgcwomen"> Women's Initiatives </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/themelios/"> Themelios </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/videos/"> Videos </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="side_menu_section"> <h6 class="smenu_section_title"> Filter By </h6> <ul class="side_menu_items"> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/scripture/"> Scripture </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/topics/"> Topics </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/sections/"> Sections </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/authors/"> Authors </a> </li> <li class="side_menu_item"> <a class="side_menu_item_link " href="/series/"> Series </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <header id="header_wrapper" class="header_wrapper navbar fixed-top"> <div class="header_contents d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between"> <div class="header_left d-flex align-items-center">  <div class="menu_btn_wrapper "> <div class="header_searchicon_wrapper"> <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="header_searchicon"> <i class="fal fa-search" aria-hidden="true"></i> <span>  Explore </span> </a> </div> </div>  <a class="brand" href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/"> <img class="header_logo lazyload" id="header_logo" data-src="/wp-content/themes/luther/images/tgc_logo.png" alt="TGC Header Logo" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img class="header_logo" id="header_logo" src="/wp-content/themes/luther/images/tgc_logo.png" alt="TGC Header Logo" /></noscript> </a> <div class="header_editions_wrapper"> <div class="editions_wrapper"> <a href="javascript:void(0);" id="current_edition" class="current_edition"> <h2> U.S. Edition <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i> </h2> </a> <div class="edition_list" style="display: none;"> <div class="editions_list_header d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between d-md-none"> <div class="editions_list_header_text"> Editions </div> <a href="javascript:void(0)" class="editions_closebtn"> × </a> </div> <div class="edition_country_wrapper d-flex flex-wrap flex-md-column"> <a href="https://africa.thegospelcoalition.org" class="edition_country "> Africa </a> <a href="https://ar.thegospelcoalition.org" class="edition_country arabic"> عربي </a> <a href="https://au.thegospelcoalition.org" class="edition_country "> Australia </a> <a href="https://coalizaopeloevangelho.org" class="edition_country "> Brasil </a> <a href="https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org" class="edition_country "> Canada </a> <a href="https://tc.tgcchinese.org/" class="edition_country "> 正體中文 </a> <a href="https://www.tgcchinese.org" class="edition_country "> 简体中文 </a> <a href="https://www.coalicionporelevangelio.org" class="edition_country "> Español </a> <a href="https://kanoneenjil.com" class="edition_country arabic"> فارسی </a> <a href="https://evangile21.thegospelcoalition.org" class="edition_country "> Français </a> <a href="https://in.thegospelcoalition.org" class="edition_country "> India </a> <a href="https://tgcitalia.org" class="edition_country "> Italia </a> <a href="http://www.tgckorea.org/" class="edition_country "> 한국어 </a> <a href="https://www.tgcnederland.nl" class="edition_country "> Nederlands </a> <a href="https://norden.thegospelcoalition.org" class="edition_country "> Norden </a> <a href="https://koalicioniungjillit.org" class="edition_country "> Shqip </a> <a href="https://ru.thegospelcoalition.org" class="edition_country "> Русский </a> <a href="https://spolocenstvoevanjelia.sk/" class="edition_country "> Slovenský </a> <a href="https://ukr.thegospelcoalition.org" class="edition_country "> Українська </a> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org" class="edition_country active "> United States </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="header_right d-flex align-items-center">   <div class="mobile_ham"> <div class="ham_menu"></div> </div> <div class="header_menu"> <div class="top_menu"> <div class="top_menu_mobile_header"> Browse </div> <ul class="top_menu_list d-flex align-items-center"> <li class="top_menu_header_item"> <a href="#" class="top_menu_parent "> Editorial </a> <ul class="top_menu_dropdown flex-row flex-wrap" style="display:none;"> <li class="bold_item"><a href="/articles/" class="" >Articles</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/blogs/" class="" >Blogs</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/devotionals/read-the-bible/" class="" >Read the Bible</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/courses" class="" >Courses</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/commentary/" class="" >Commentary</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/essays/" class="" >Essays</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/new-city-catechism/" class="" >New City Catechism</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/publications/" class="" >Publications</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/reviews/" class="" >Reviews</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/series/" class="" >Series</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/themelios/" class="" >Themelios</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/videos/" class="" >Videos</a></li><li class="line_separator"><a href="" class="" ></a></li><li class=""><a href="/sections/arts-culture/" class="" >Arts & Culture</a></li><li class=""><a href="/sections/bible-theology/" class="" >Bible & Theology</a></li><li class=""><a href="/sections/christian-living/" class="" >Christian Living</a></li><li class=""><a href="/sections/current-events/" class="" >Current Events</a></li><li class=""><a href="/sections/faith-work/" class="" >Faith & Work</a></li><li class=""><a href="/the-carson-center/" class="" >The Carson Center</a></li><li class=""><a href="/sections/the-keller-center/" class="" >The Keller Center</a></li><li class=""><a href="/sections/ministry/" class="" >Ministry</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="top_menu_header_item"> <a href="#" class="top_menu_parent "> Podcasts </a> <ul class="top_menu_dropdown flex-row flex-wrap" style="display:none;"> <li class="bold_item"><a href="/podcasts/gospelbound/" class="" >Gospelbound</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/podcasts/recorded/" class="" >Recorded</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/tgc-podcast/" class="" >TGC Podcast</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/podcasts/carson-center/" class="" >The Carson Center Podcast</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/podcasts/everyday-pastor/" class="" >The Everyday Pastor</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/podcasts/youre-not-crazy/" class="" >You're Not Crazy</a></li><li class="line_separator"><a href="" class="" ></a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/podcasts/as-in-heaven/" class="" >As In Heaven</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/podcasts/acts-29/" class="" >Churches Planting Churches</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/podcasts/glo/" class="" >Glo</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/podcasts/help-me-teach-the-bible/" class="" >Help Me Teach The Bible</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/podcasts/lets-talk-podcast/" class="" >Let's Talk</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/podcasts/post-christianity/" class="" >Post-Christianity?</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/podcasts/q-a-podcast/" class="" >TGC Q&A</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/podcasts/word-of-the-week/" class="" >Word Of The Week</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="top_menu_header_item"> <a href="#" class="top_menu_parent "> Events </a> <ul class="top_menu_dropdown flex-row flex-wrap" style="display:none;"> <li class="bold_item"><a href="/tgc25/" class="" >TGC25</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/conference-media/" class="" >Past Conference Media</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/cohorts/" class="" >Cohorts</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="top_menu_header_item"> <a href="#" class="top_menu_parent "> About Us </a> <ul class="top_menu_dropdown flex-row flex-wrap" style="display:none;"> <li class="bold_item"><a href="/about/foundation-documents/" class="" >Foundation Documents</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/about/council/" class="" >Council</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/about/staff/" class="" >Staff</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/authors/" class="" >Authors</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/contact-us/" class="" >Contact Us</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/the-carson-center/" class="" >The Carson Center</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="/thekellercenter/" class="" >The Keller Center</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="https://store.thegospelcoalition.org/tgc" class="" >Store</a></li><li class="bold_item"><a href="https://jobs.gusto.com/boards/the-gospel-coalition-6c55f332-cf11-4d7a-9fe1-928e9359c03c" class="" >Careers</a></li><li class="line_separator"><a href="" class="" ></a></li><li class=""><a href="/advertise-with-us/" class="" >Advertise With Us</a></li><li class=""><a href="/chapters/" class="" >Regional Chapters</a></li><li class=""><a href="/churches/" class="" >Church Directory</a></li><li class=""><a href="/global-resourcing/" class="" >Global Resourcing</a></li><li class=""><a href="https://jobs.thegospelcoalition.org/" class="" >Job Board</a></li><li class="line_separator"><a href="" class="" ></a></li><li class="social_item flex-grow-1"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thegospelcoalition" class="" target="_blank"><i class="fab fa-facebook-f"></i></a></li><li class="social_item flex-grow-1"><a href="https://twitter.com/tgc" class="" target="_blank"><i class="fab fa-twitter"></i></a></li><li class="social_item flex-grow-1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thegospelcoalition/" class="" target="_blank"><i class="fab fa-instagram"></i></a></li><li class="social_item flex-grow-1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGospelCoalition" class="" target="_blank"><i class="fab fa-youtube"></i></a></li><li class="social_item flex-grow-1"><a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/feed/" class="" target="_blank"><i class="fas fa-rss"></i></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="top_menu_header_item"> <a href="/donate/" class="top_menu_parent btn btn-outline-dark "> Donate to TGC </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div id="year-end-takeover" class="container"> <div class="yet_backdrop" style="--yet_bg_color:#000000; --yet_bg_opacity:0;"></div> <div class="popup text-center lazyload" style="background:inherit;" data-bg="linear-gradient(0deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.95), rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.95)), url(https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/04232924/charcoal.jpg), #fff"> <div class="content"> <h2 class="mb-3 mb-md-5">To All The World</h2> <div class="close">×</div> <div class="vid_image order-md-1" style='pointer-events: none'> <div class="vid vid-play-inline"> <span class="vid-cover"> <span class="vid-code" > </span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="button_group_label"><p style="font-family: 'Charter'; text-transform: none; margin:30px; text-align:center;">The world is a confusing place right now. We believe that faithful proclamation of the gospel is what our hostile and disoriented world needs. Do you believe that too? Help TGC bring biblical wisdom to the confusing issues across the world by making a gift to our international work.</p></div> <div class="yet_button_group"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/landing/2023-spring-appeal/" class="btn btn-outline-dark">Learn More</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div id="site_wrapper" class="site_wrapper"> <main> <div class="page-essay_wrapper page-article_wrapper"> <div id="post-249485" class="essay_single post_url" data-post-url="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/" data-post-title="Scholastic Theology" data-post-excerpt="Scholasticism is the term used for theology pursued in the medieval and early modern university and shaped by the centrality of the "disputed question."" data-post-image-details='["https:\/\/media.thegospelcoalition.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/10125414\/TGC-Essays-Fallback-Images-Website.jpg",1920,1080,false]'data-ga_post_id="249485"data-ga_post_categories=""data-ga_post_type="essay"data-ga_post_author="Carl Trueman"data-ga_post_tags="medieval-church "data-ga_post_series=""data-ga_is_single="true"data-ga_edition="1" > <article class="post-249485 essay type-essay status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry tag-medieval-church essay-series-theological-essays"> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="header_left_column col-auto header_col"> <h1 class="entry-title"> Scholastic Theology </h1> <div class="header_info"> <div class="article_meta_wrapper"> <span class="authored_by">An Essay By</span> <span class="article_meta_author vcard author"> <a href='https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/carl-trueman/' class='fn'>Carl Trueman </a></span> </div> <div class="return_link d-none d-md-block"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/topics/medieval-church/" class="btn btn_outline"> More Resources </a> </div> <div class="social_wrapper d-none d-md-block"> <div class="article-social "> <div class="s-options"> <a onclick="window.open('http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/', 'Share on Facebook', 'width=600,height=500,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=no');" href="javascript:void(0);"> <i data-shared-url="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/" data-share="facebook" class="fab fa-facebook-square social_share_gtm"></i> <span class="d-none d-md-inline-block"> Share </span> </a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/', 'Share on Facebook', 'width=600,height=500,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=no" class="d-none subsplash_dark_mode_social"> <i data-shared-url="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/" data-share="facebook" class="fab fa-facebook-square social_share_gtm"></i> <span class="d-none d-md-inline-block"> Share </span> </a> <a onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/share?text=&url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/', 'Share on Twitter', 'width=600,height=500,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=no');" href="javascript:void(0);"> <i data-shared-url="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/" data-share="twitter" class="fab fa-twitter social_share_gtm"></i> <span class="d-none d-md-inline-block"> Post </span> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/share?text=&url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/', 'Share on Twitter', 'width=600,height=500,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=no" class="d-none subsplash_dark_mode_social"> <i data-shared-url="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/" data-share="twitter" class="fab fa-twitter social_share_gtm"></i> <span class="d-none d-md-inline-block"> Post </span> </a> <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#18276b6d7a727d7b6c253e7a777c612538706c6c686b2237376f6f6f366c707d7f776b687d747b777974716c71777636776a7f377d6b6b7961376b7b707774796b6c717b356c707d7774777f6137" title="" class="subsplash_dark_mode_social"> <i data-shared-url="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/scholastic-theology/" data-share="mail" class="fa fa-envelope social_share_gtm"></i> <span class="d-none d-md-inline-block"> Email </span> </a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" id="icon_download_pdf"> <i class="fa fa-download"></i> <span class="d-none d-md-inline-block"> Download </span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="more_essays_wrapper d-none d-lg-block"> <div class="more_by"> <h4 class="more_by_title"> Other Essays </h4> <div class="more_by_item"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/medieval-theology/"> Medieval Theology </a> </div> <div class="more_by_item"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/reformed-theology/"> Reformed Theology </a> </div> <div class="more_by_item"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/lutheran-theology/"> Lutheran Theology </a> </div> <div class="more_by_item"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/justification-and-the-protestant-reformation/"> Justification and the Protestant Reformation </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="content_container" id="essay_content"> <div class="definition_wrapper"> <h4 class="definition_heading section_heading"> Definition </h4> <p>Scholasticism is the term used for theology as pursued in the context of the medieval and early modern university and shaped by the centrality of the disputed question to its form and structure.</p> </div> <div class="summary_wrapper"> <h4 class="summary_heading section_heading"> Summary </h4> <p>Scholasticism developed in the Middle Ages in tandem with the rise of the medieval university. The Reformation drew on the anti-scholastic rhetoric of the Renaissance but, as it established itself within the university, adopted the scholastic method as an appropriate form of pedagogy. This broke down under the impact of the Enlightenment and the fragmentation of the theological discipline but has enjoyed a resurgence in both Roman Catholicism and Protestantism over recent decades.</p> </div> <div class="content_wrapper"> <h3><strong>Historical Background</strong></h3> <p>While there is a long tradition of using “scholasticism” and its cognates in a pejorative sense to mean theology which is rationalist, abstract, trivial, pedantic, or obscure, the rhetorical use of the term should not be confused with its technical meaning or used to imply theological or philosophical commitments since it actually refers to form rather than content.</p> <p>In its strict technical sense, scholasticism means “of the schools” and refers to the way of teaching and presenting theology which arose in the medieval university classroom and which persisted until the impact of Enlightenment patterns of thought reshaped pedagogy and the university curriculum.</p> <p>There is evidence of the emergence of schools attached to cathedrals to teach the clergy in the sixth century. This focus on education was intensified under Charlemagne in the eighth century and subsequent centuries saw theology taught in the context of cathedral school and monasteries, to which a third type, that of the independent charismatic teacher can be added (of whom Peter Abelard is perhaps the greatest example). From this broad educational context emerged the medieval university system, the fruit to a large extent of the cathedral schools.</p> <p>The medieval curriculum was divided into the seven liberal arts, after which the three higher disciplines of law, medicine, and theology could be studied. Two things are notable here: first, theology was studied against the background of a prior foundation of the liberal arts; and theology was a unified discipline and not a fragmented set of subdisciplines as it is in the modern university. It thus possessed a twofold unity, both extrinsically as the capstone of all human knowledge and intrinsically as a coherent statement of belief rooted in biblical exegesis and capable of systematic statement. The latter, an assumption since at least the time of Origen in the third century, whose <em>On First Principles</em> was arguably the first systematic theology, was an important assumption in the rise of medieval theology as expressed in scholastic systems.</p> <p>These general assumptions about the nature of knowledge and truth lent themselves to a particular form of pedagogy. Peter Abelard’s (ca. 1079-1142) controversial work, <em>Sic et Non</em> (lit. “Yes and No”) had sought to present theology in a dialectical fashion, juxtaposing apparently contradictory views on a series of theological topics. While Abelard’s own intention was no doubt typically mischievous, the fact that theological authorities did disagree meant that there was need for a method which allowed for resolution of such. This was to form a key element in the classroom approach of the scholastics.</p> <p>A further factor in the development of scholasticism was the nature of book production. Until the advent of the movable type printing press in the fifteenth century, books were impossible to mass produce and very expensive. Thus, in education the production of compendia of authorities, containing key quotations from important thinkers, was basic. Of these, Peter Lombard’s (ca. 1096-1160) <em>Four Books of Sentences</em>, a thematically arranged collection of Bible passages and quotations from earlier fathers, was by far the most important. Although the work was not itself dialectical in structure, it was to become the most important textbook in theology in the medieval classroom. To be a teacher of theology in the medieval university, one had to have both lectured through books of the Bible and through Lombard’s <em>Sentences</em>.</p> <h3><strong>Scholasticism in the Middle Ages</strong></h3> <p>As noted above, scholasticism refers to the pedagogical method applied in the medieval university classroom. There, discussion on any given topic would be guided by the teacher and proceed by means of the <em>disputed question</em> which lay at the heart of scholastic method.</p> <p>The disputed question was a question upon which authorities appeared to disagree. For example, does God exist? Arguments would then be made for and against the existence of God, and the teacher would ultimately offer a definitive answer and then demonstrate where the various arguments or authorities which had been deployed on the question were right or wrong or had been misunderstood or misapplied. Often (as with Thomas Aquinas’s <em>Summa Theologiae</em>) the argument for one side would be rooted in logic and elaborated while the argument on the other side would simply be a quotation taken from a particular authority. There would also be connections between questions and an overall structure to the way they were approached, whereby a cumulative case was being made for a coherent Christian theology, rather than simply isolated statements on individual doctrines.</p> <p>It should also be noted that classical pagan philosophers, particularly Aristotle, but also Plato, Cicero and others, were frequently used by scholastic thinkers. However, this should not be interpreted as implying that pagan philosophy drove the scholastic enterprise or required that all scholastics were committed to a single metaphysical approach. First, medieval theologians were not simply teaching disputed questions, their training required them to teach classes in biblical exposition. Second, disagreement over metaphysics was a hallmark of the medieval theological context which witnessed differences over the questions of nominalism and realism, as well as the metaphysics of being which underlay predication, specifically with the way language could be applied both to God and to creatures. Third, despite frequent generalizations by later generations (from Luther onwards) about the unfortunate impact of a boogey man “Aristotelianism” on scholastic theology, there was no single form of “Aristotelian” metaphysics in the Middle Ages, only a broad collection of commentary traditions on the Aristotelian corpus and an eclectic approach to the appropriation of this for Christian theology. The idea that scholasticism equals Aristotelianism equals rationalism is unsustainable, both historically and materially. What the scholastics were committed to was the idea that the truth is ultimately a coherent, metaphysical unity – something which was foundational to the university project which sought to connect a multiplicity of disciplines together as part of one whole.</p> <p>Of the medieval scholastic theologians, the most significant for their own time and for later generations were Alexander of Hales (ca. 1185-1245), Albert the Great (d. 1280), Bonaventure (1221-74), Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Duns Scotus (ca. 1266-1308), William of Ockham (ca. 1287-1347) and Gabriel Biel (ca. 1420-95). Of these, Aquinas has proved the most important for later Catholicism.</p> <h3><strong>Renaissance and Reformation</strong></h3> <p>With the broad cultural movement of the retrieval of classical learning in the Renaissance and the rising importance of classical rhetoric rather than dialectic as representing true learning, medieval scholastic method and theology became a common object of ridicule and contempt among those men of letters later termed humanists. In addition, the rise of linguistic studies and the increase availability of complete classical and patristic texts reinforced the notion that medieval thought, particularly in its scholastic form, represented obscurantism and pedantry.</p> <p>This denigration of scholasticism was intensified by the advent of the Reformation. Luther is a prime example of the tendency to reject scholasticism as overtly Aristotelian, divorced from biblical exegesis, and inextricably tied to deviant theology. On each count Luther, and the other Reformers who typically followed a similar rhetorical path, were wrong: scholasticism was a method and carried little intrinsic metaphysical or theological content beyond a basic assumption about the unity of truth; and its practitioners were all accomplished biblical exegetes by the standards of their day, even if they had no access to the textual and linguistic apparatus which the humanists and Reformers enjoyed. In fact, humanism and scholasticism, far from being mutually opposed, were different categories of discourse entirely. Humanism was a literary-cultural project while scholasticism was a classroom pedagogical method. One could easily be both a humanist and a scholastic theologian, as the case of Theodore Beza, poet and dialectician, makes clear.</p> <h3><strong>Post-Reformation Protestantism</strong></h3> <p>In the later sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Protestantism appropriated the scholastic method for its own use. Four factors played into this. First, Protestantism had established itself within the university context. This meant that it needed to develop a theological curriculum which connected to the other university disciplines. Second, the polemical sophistication of a resurgent Roman Catholicism and the challenge of the anti-metaphysical Socinians meant that Protestant theologians needed to address the same kind of metaphysical questions, and draw on the established metaphysical resources, of medieval scholasticism. Given that the Protestant Reformers operated within the same broad metaphysical parameters as the medieval, this was inevitable as Protestantism sought to elaborate and defend its theology while also integrate it into the established framework of knowledge. Third, as medieval universities became Protestant, their library holding continued to contain significant medieval theology upon which faculty drew. Fourth, the scholastic method of disputation was a remarkably effective form of pedagogy and no Reformation doctrinal development posed any challenge to it continuing to be so.</p> <p>As a result, the scholastic method and much of the terminology developed in the Middle Ages reappeared in Protestant orthodoxy, both in its Lutheran and Reformed streams. Good examples among the Lutherans include Johann Gerhard (1582-1637), Abraham Calovius (1612-86), and Johannes Andreas Quenstedt (1617-88); among the Reformed, Gisbertus Voetius (1589-1676), John Owen (1616-83) and Francis Turretin (1623-87). The Protestants continued, however, on occasion to employ Renaissance anti-scholastic rhetoric even while using scholastic methods: Samule Rutherford, for example, could excoriate “needle-headed scholastics” while yet writing a work with the title <em>Dispotatio scholastica de providentia</em>.</p> <h3><strong>Scholasticism in the Modern Era</strong></h3> <p>While the scholastic method was supplanted in universities with the inroad of Enlightenment patterns of thought, it did not entirely die out. In Roman Catholicism, the Dominican order maintained its fidelity to the theology and method of Thomas Aquinas while, among Protestants, the remarkable and polymathic Reformed Baptist, John Gill (1697-1771) produced an elaborate scholastic system, <em>A Body of Doctrinal Divinity</em> in 1767. Yet the rise of biblical studies as a separate branch of theological studies, and of biblical theology under men such as John Philip Gabler (1753-1826) served to fragment the theological discipline and undermine the scholastic project. Even within orthodox Protestant circles, a suspicion of systematic theology and an emphasis on biblical studies served to marginalize the classical dogmatic approach for which the scholastic method was so suited.</p> <p>In recent years, however, in both Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, a resurgence of interest in traditional metaphysics, in appropriating the historic Christian tradition, and in integrating Christian theology into a broader understanding of the world, have all contributed to a revival in scholasticism. Historians have demonstrated the positive relationship between medieval theology and post-Refomation Protestantism, and systematicians have come to an appreciation of the comprehensive approach to theology which the medieval scholastic method embodied. Thus, among Roman Catholics the work of Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange (1877-1964), and contemporary theologians Thomas Weinandy and Thomas Joseph White, has served to reinvigorate interest in both scholastic method and theology. In Protestantism, the Reformed Catholicity movement, associated with men such as Scott R. Swain and Michael Allen, has pushed Protestants back to a positive reconsideration of the theological task as exemplified in the integration of theological, exegetical, and metaphysical concerns exemplified in medieval scholasticism.</p> </div> <div class="essay_further_reading"> <h4 class="section_heading"> Further Reading </h4> <div class="further_reading_text"><ul> <li>Thomas Aquinas, <em>Summa Theologiae</em>. Available online <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/summa/">here</a>.</li> <li>Ulrich G. Leinsle, <em>Introduction to Scholastic Theology</em> (Catholic University of America)</li> <li>Ryan McGraw, <em>Reformed Scholasticism: Recovering the Tools of Reformed Theology</em> (T&T Clark)</li> <li>Willem J. Van Asselt, <em>Introduction to Reformed Scholasticism</em> (Reformation Heritage)</li> <li>Heinrich Schmid, <em>The Doctrinal Theology of the Evangelical Lutheran Church </em>(Lutheran Publication Society, 1876). Available online<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/fqo1ksbneqvcpi9/Doctrinal_Theology_FACover.pdf?dl=0"> here</a>.</li> </ul> <hr /> <p>This essay is part of the Concise Theology series. All views expressed in this essay are those of the author. This essay is freely available under Creative Commons License with Attribution-ShareAlike, allowing users to share it in other mediums/formats and adapt/translate the content as long as an attribution link, indication of changes, and the same Creative Commons License applies to that material.</p> <p class="license-text">This work is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0" rel="license">CC BY-SA 4.0<img decoding="async" style="height: 22px!important; margin-left: 3px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" data-src="https://mirrors.creativecommons.org/presskit/icons/cc.svg?ref=chooser-v1" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" class="lazyload" /><noscript><img decoding="async" style="height: 22px!important; margin-left: 3px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" src="https://mirrors.creativecommons.org/presskit/icons/cc.svg?ref=chooser-v1" /></noscript><img decoding="async" style="height: 22px!important; margin-left: 3px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" data-src="https://mirrors.creativecommons.org/presskit/icons/by.svg?ref=chooser-v1" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" class="lazyload" /><noscript><img decoding="async" style="height: 22px!important; margin-left: 3px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" src="https://mirrors.creativecommons.org/presskit/icons/by.svg?ref=chooser-v1" /></noscript><img decoding="async" style="height: 22px!important; margin-left: 3px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" data-src="https://mirrors.creativecommons.org/presskit/icons/sa.svg?ref=chooser-v1" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" class="lazyload" /><noscript><img decoding="async" style="height: 22px!important; margin-left: 3px; vertical-align: text-bottom;" src="https://mirrors.creativecommons.org/presskit/icons/sa.svg?ref=chooser-v1" /></noscript></a></p> </div> </div>  <div class="essay_print"> <button class="btn btn-outline-dark" id="btn_download_pdf">Download Essay</button> </div> <div class="return_link d-block d-md-none mb-5"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/topics/medieval-church/" class="btn btn_outline"> More Resources </a> </div> <div class="more_essays_wrapper d-block d-lg-none"> <div class="more_by"> <h4 class="more_by_title"> Other Essays </h4> <div class="more_by_item"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/medieval-theology/"> Medieval Theology </a> </div> <div class="more_by_item"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/reformed-theology/"> Reformed Theology </a> </div> <div class="more_by_item"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/lutheran-theology/"> Lutheran Theology </a> </div> <div class="more_by_item"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/justification-and-the-protestant-reformation/"> Justification and the Protestant Reformation </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </main> <footer id="footer" class="content-info footer_bottom new"> <div class="container-footer"> <div class="d-none d-md-flex justify-content-between "> <span class="text-left"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/"> <img id="footer-logo" data-src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/11135157/tgc_logo_footer-300x135.png" alt="TGC Footer Logo" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" class="lazyload" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300/135;" /><noscript><img id="footer-logo" data-src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/11135157/tgc_logo_footer-300x135.png" alt="TGC Footer Logo" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" class="lazyload" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300/135;" /><noscript><img id="footer-logo" src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/11135157/tgc_logo_footer-300x135.png" alt="TGC Footer Logo" /></noscript></noscript> </a> </span> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-6 footer-left"> <div class="d-block d-md-none"> <span class="text-left"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/"> <img id="footer-logo" data-src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/11135157/tgc_logo_footer-300x135.png" alt="TGC Footer Logo" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" class="lazyload" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300/135;" /><noscript><img id="footer-logo" data-src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/11135157/tgc_logo_footer-300x135.png" alt="TGC Footer Logo" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" class="lazyload" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300/135;" /><noscript><img id="footer-logo" src="https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/11135157/tgc_logo_footer-300x135.png" alt="TGC Footer Logo" /></noscript></noscript> </a> </span> </div> <div class="footer-about-text"> The Gospel Coalition supports the church by providing resources that are trusted and timely, winsome and wise, and centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. </div> <a href="/about/" class="btn btn-outline-dark"> Learn More </a> </div> <div class="col-md-6 footer-right text-center text-md-right order-first order-md-last"> <div class="footer_email_update"> <div class="section_title">Email Updates</div> <div class="footer_email_update_form_wrapper"> <script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script> hbspt.forms.create({ region: "na1", portalId: "40099644", formId: "11cc95c1-d953-4245-9c44-019cf7f6290a" }); </script> </div> </div> <div class="text-right d-none d-md-block"> <div class="footer_social"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thegospelcoalition" target="_blank"> <i class="fab fa-facebook-square"></i> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/tgc" target="_blank"> <i class="fab fa-twitter"></i> </a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGospelCoalition" target="_blank"> <i class="fab fa-youtube"></i> </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thegospelcoalition/" target="_blank"> <i class="fab fa-instagram"></i> </a> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/feed/" target="_blank"> <i class="fas fa-rss"></i> </a> </div> </div> <div class="sub-footer-links d-none d-md-block"> <a href="https://jobs.gusto.com/boards/the-gospel-coalition-6c55f332-cf11-4d7a-9fe1-928e9359c03c" class="footer_link" target="_blank" > careers </a> <a href="/privacy-policy/" class="footer_link" > privacy policy </a> <a href="/permissions" class="footer_link" > permissions </a> <a href="/store/" class="footer_link" > store </a> <a href="/donate" class="footer_link" > donate </a> </div> <div class="footer_copy d-none d-md-block"> Copyright © 2024 The Gospel Coalition, INC. All Rights Reserved </div> </div> <div class="col-12 d-none d-md-block order-last text-center amazon_disclaimer"> <div class="footer_copy pt-5 d-none d-md-block"> Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/privacy-policy/">Learn more</a>. </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 footer-right text-center text-md-right d-block d-md-none"> <div class="text-center text-md-left"> <div class="footer_social"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thegospelcoalition" target="_blank"> <i class="fab fa-facebook-square"></i> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/tgc" target="_blank"> <i class="fab fa-twitter"></i> </a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGospelCoalition" target="_blank"> <i class="fab fa-youtube"></i> </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thegospelcoalition/" target="_blank"> <i class="fab fa-instagram"></i> </a> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/feed/" target="_blank"> <i class="fas fa-rss"></i> </a> </div> </div> <div class="sub-footer-links text-center text-md-left"> <a href="https://jobs.gusto.com/boards/the-gospel-coalition-6c55f332-cf11-4d7a-9fe1-928e9359c03c" class="footer_link" target="_blank" > careers </a> <a href="/privacy-policy/" class="footer_link" > privacy policy </a> <a href="/permissions" class="footer_link" > permissions </a> <a href="/store/" class="footer_link" > store </a> <a href="/donate" class="footer_link" > donate </a> </div> <div class="footer_copy"> Copyright © 2024 The Gospel Coalition, INC. All Rights Reserved </div> <div class="footer_copy pt-4"> Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/privacy-policy/">Learn more</a>. </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer> </div>  <script> (function($) { window.onfooterEmailSubmit = function onfooterEmailSubmit() { if ($('.footer_email_update_form').length > 0) { //for each newsletter add the recaptcha and callback if it hasn't been added yet $(".footer_email_update_form .g-recaptcha:not(.reCaptcha_rendered)").each(function(index, el) { //adding this class to pickup on if it already has reCaptcha enabled $(this).addClass('reCaptcha_rendered'); var object = $(this); var object_ID = object.attr("id"); //this adds the reCaptcha and sets the widget id on each form var widgetId = grecaptcha.render(object.attr("id"), { "sitekey": "6LecGD4UAAAAACClySulfNhGtPVGlQXGaY_X8gM9", "isolated": true, "callback": function(token) { object.parents('form').find(".g-recaptcha-response").val(token); var $form = object.parents('form'); var $form_wrapper = $($form).parent('.footer_email_update_form_wrapper'); $('.footer_email_update_success').collapse('hide'); $('.footer_email_update_unsuccess').collapse('hide'); footermailchimpAPI($form); function footermailchimpAPI($form) { $.fn.form = function() { var formData = {}; $form.find('[name]').each(function() { formData[this.name] = this.value; }) return formData; }; var email_value = $($form).find('input[name="EMAIL"]').val(); var formdata = $form.form(); var has_MCLISTID = formdata.MCLISTID; //if fields are empty stop and show the error message - this is also happening serverside if (email_value == '') { $('.footer_email_update_unsuccess').collapse('show'); } else { var $form_widget_id = $('.reCaptcha_rendered', $form_wrapper).attr('data-widget-id'); grecaptcha.execute($form_widget_id); $.ajax({ url: $form.attr('action'), type: 'POST', dataType: 'json', data: { action: 'mailchimpsubscribe', formData: $form.form() }, success: function(result) { if (!result.success) { $('.footer_email_update_unsuccess').html(result.data); $('.footer_email_update_success').collapse('hide'); $('.footer_email_update_unsuccess').collapse('show'); } else { $('.footer_email_update_unsuccess').collapse('hide'); $('.footer_email_update_success').html(result.data); $('.footer_email_update_success').collapse('show'); } grecaptcha.reset($form_widget_id); }, error: function(result) { $('.footer_email_update_success').html(result.data); $('.footer_email_update_success').collapse('show'); grecaptcha.reset($form_widget_id); } }); } } } }); $(this).attr('data-widget-id', widgetId); //adding the widget id }); } }; })(jQuery); </script> <link rel='stylesheet' id='essay-custom-print-style-css' href='https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/css/templates/printPDF.css?ver=20130821' type='text/css' media='print' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='font-awesome-css' href='https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/fontawesome/4.7.0/css/font-awesome.min.css?ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/theme.min.js?ver=1.0.0.1676309180" id="luther_theme-scripts-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/polyfill/v2/polyfill.min.js?version=4.8.0&features=Array.prototype.includes%2CCustomEvent%2CObject.entries%2CObject.values%2CURL%2Ces6&ver=1" id="plyr-poly-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/plyr.min.js?ver=1" id="plyr-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="leadin-script-loader-js-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var leadin_wordpress = {"userRole":"visitor","pageType":"post","leadinPluginVersion":"11.1.34"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://js.hs-scripts.com/40099644.js?integration=WordPress&ver=11.1.34" id="leadin-script-loader-js-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/jquery.matchHeight-min.js?ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b" id="match-height-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/velocity.min.js?ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b" id="velocity-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/velocity.ui.min.js?ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b" id="velocity-ui-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/magnific-popup/jquery.magnific-popup.min.js?ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b" id="magnific-popup-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/jquery.fitvids.min.js?ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b" id="fit-vids-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/select2/select2.full.min.js?ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b" id="select2-js-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/swiper/js/swiper.min.js?ver=a0301b1d089d6991fba962bdf453bb5b" id="swiper-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/greensock/minified/TweenMax.min.js?ver=1676309178" id="gsap-tweenmax-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/greensock/minified/TimelineMax.min.js?ver=1676309178" id="gsap-timelinemax-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/call-to-action.js?ver=1676309178" defer></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/sage/assets/scripts/js.cookie.js?ver=1676309193" id="isc-js-cookie-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="global-scripts-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var script_vars = {"postType":"essay","is_podcast":""}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/global.js?ver=1.0.0.1716493598" id="global-scripts-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/header.js?ver=1.0.0.1676658559" id="header-scripts-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/modules/cross-reference-tool.js?ver=1" id="bible-reftagger-cross-styles-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/luther/js/templates/single-essay.js?ver=1676309180" id="single-essay-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="ajax-load-more-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var ajaxloadmore = {"url":"\/wp-content\/themes\/sage\/tgc-ajax.php","prev_post_id":"249473"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/themes/sage/assets/scripts/ajax-load-more.js?ver=1725459344" id="ajax-load-more-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-smush-pro/app/assets/js/smush-lazy-load.min.js?ver=3.16.6" id="smush-lazy-load-js"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Scholastic Theology - The Gospel Coalition