1. Interaction with a vast quantity of scholarship produced in the intervening fifteen years

This is particularly pertinent following the seminal contributions to patristic scholarship of Lewis Ayres. While there is nothing major here that requires massive changes to what I wrote before it is nevertheless of great value in developing our grasp of what the fourth century controversies were about.

2. Re-evaluation of the relationship between the Eastern and Western approaches to the Trinity

Since 2003 there has been a trend to minimise differences between the Eastern and Western churches. Ecumenical considerations have played a part in this but it is also salutary to acknowledge that there is far more that unites than divides. Nevertheless, the differences that exist are real. I have assessed these developments elsewhere but here I attempt to do justice to both sides of the question.

3. A substantial excursus on the Reformed doctrine of the pactum salutis

In the first edition, Calvin apart, I left Reformed developments aside. These were covered in encyclopedic fashion by Richard Muller. However, such an excursus is now present because the pactum salutis was a new and distinctively Reformed development. I have made criticisms of some of the ways it has been treated in the past, and in this section I evaluate these and other matters related to the question.

4. Consideration of the debate on whether election is prior to the Trinity in Barth and in reality

In the last decade or so, there has been a heated debate among Barth scholars over whether he understands election to be prior to the Trinity. Does God elect to be triune? Or is he triune prior to electing? This has implications not only for understanding Barth but also for our grasp, such as it is, of the relation between the Trinity and election. It brings to the surface seemingly arcane but nevertheless far-reaching issues.

5. Extensive discussion of the evangelical controversy

Many will be familiar with the online flare-up in 2016. Here I give a lengthy, deliberate and wide-ranging assessment, while taking into consideration the wider context of Trinitarian and Christological doctrine. I deal with the whole question, without naming names, so as to present an evaluation that is not side-tracked by personal issues.

6. General updates that interact with and reference important new work

Since a lot has been written since 2003 on the Trinity and on topics that are relevant to what I produced, I make a lot of references to books and articles that have appeared since that time. Many of these are in the footnotes, and there are also suggestions for further reading, together with links to a glossary.

7. Consideration of the intriguing proposals of Matthew Bates on biblical exegesis as it affects Trinitarian theology

Bates has set the cat among the pigeons with his arguments about the exegesis of the apostles and the early church, based on how the Bible itself deals intertextually with earlier material. In particular he has highlighted passages in the Old Testament that invite us to witness intra-Trinitarian dialogue relating to events in human history that were to occur at a time later than that in which the biblical author was living. These proposals have been described as “ground- breaking,” although, if Bates is correct, they are ancient ones that are sanctioned by the Bible and the fathers.

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The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship; Revised and Expanded by Robert Letham

Important as Moses’ achievements are, they are overshadowed by his character. It is Moses’ character that brings him down to us and makes this study valuable. If we think only in terms of what Moses achieved, who could ever begin to dream of doing such things? It is almost inconceivable that God would use anybody today in that way. But if we think in terms of those aspects of his personality that God used, this study becomes very practical for us.

Four traits stand out above the others.

His faith. Moses is praised for his faith again and again. He seems to have never taken his eyes off God after God first met him at the burning bush, and so he went from faith to faith and thus from strength to strength. That is the secret of Christian leadership: faith in God. All the great heroes of the Bible—those who are praised by the Scriptures themselves—are praised because of their faith. They were normal people. They had shortcomings and doubts, just as we do. But because of their faith in God, they became strong and were used by God in great ways. The author of Hebrews says that through faith they “conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises” (Heb. 11:33). By faith they “stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword” (vv. 33–34); they “were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight” (v. 34). If you feel weak in faith, you have something to learn from Moses.

His dedication to prayer. When God used Moses to lead the people out of Egypt and they were trapped, as it seemed—the water of the Red Sea before them and the pursuing armies of the pharaoh behind—Moses instinctively turned to God in prayer. When the people rebelled in the wilderness, Moses turned to God in prayer. The greatest example of intercessory prayer in the entire Bible—greater even, in my judgment, than Abraham’s great plea for Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18—is Moses’ prayer for the people when they disobeyed by making the golden calf (Ex. 32). Moses offered to be sent to hell himself if by his sacrifice he could save the people whom he loved. We learn a lot about prayer from Moses.

His meekness. Moses was a meek man. So many people who become great or get into positions of authority lose humility right away. I’ve not known many of the famous in the world, but I’ve known some. My experience is that generally they’re very much full of themselves; you find yourself thinking that you’d rather go home and be with someone nice instead. That did not happen to Moses. The greater he became, the more meek, the more humble he became. “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth” (Num. 12:3). When you’re thinking of leadership qualities, don’t forget humility. God puts it right up there at the top.

His courage. Moses excelled in courage. He showed it on many occasions, but if we had no other example, he certainly showed courage in marching up before the mighty pharaoh. A Bedouin shepherd from the desert, Moses stood in the splendor of Egypt and said, “In the name of God Almighty, let my people go.” It took courage to do that. He showed that courage throughout his life.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTER

In the few incidents we know from Moses’ early life, these good qualities do not seem prominent. For example, when Moses decided to quit the court of Pharaoh and identify himself with his people, the first thing we know he did was to kill an Egyptian. He saw oppression taking place, so he killed the oppressor. That’s not exactly humility. It may have been courage of a sort, but that courage did not stand him in great stead, because as soon as the murder was found out and he realized that his life was in danger, he fled the country. Then, when he stood before the burning bush and God told him to go back to Egypt, courage was the last thing he showed. He did not want to go. He thought up all kinds of reasons why he couldn’t go and why God had to choose somebody else.

You and I can look at characters in the Bible and say, “I wish I had those great traits, but I don’t.” But it is encouraging to know that these people did not always have those traits. They learned them along the way. Moses learned courage and meekness and prayer, and he grew great in faith year by year as he lived with God. If he did it, you can do it, too.

Moses lived to be 120 years old. He had forty years in Egypt in the court, and when he was forty years old, he had to run away. He spent forty years in the desert as a shepherd, and God met him at the burning bush and called him to be the deliverer when he was eighty years old. Then he led the people for forty years. It has been said that Moses spent forty years in Egypt learning something, then he spent forty years in the desert learning to be nothing, and then spent the last forty years of his life proving God to be everything. This is a good way of describing what the Christian life is all about. Some of us do not prove God to be everything because we’ve never learned that we are nothing. When we come to that point, we are ready to have God work through us as he did with Moses.

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Excerpt taken from The Life of Moses: God’s First Deliverer of Israel by James Montgomery Boice

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. (Phil. 2:14-15)

Complaining is a universal currency in our world. Almost without fail, it provides a point of connection in even the most casual interactions. Paying at the grocery store? Just grumble about how cold (or hot) the weather has been recently, and you and the checkout clerk will quickly form an alliance. Filling your mug at the office coffee station? Point out how horribly weak (or strong) the brew is today, and your coworkers will vigorously nod their heads in agreement. Late to a party? Mutter about the traffic, and every guest in earshot will have their own gridlock lament to contribute. There is seemingly nothing that we won’t complain about, and seemingly no one who won’t join us when we do.

But belonging to Christ radically changes everything. Because we know that God does all things for our good and His glory (see Rom. 8:28), because we rest secure in His love for us and our union with Him (see Rom. 8:38-39), and because we have been given the indispensable help of his Holy Spirit (see Phil. 2:13), we are not like the murmuring unbelievers around us. We refrain from grumbling, because bringing glory to Christ is our highest goal (see Phil. 2:14-15).

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16); and, when we refuse to join the office pity-party, we publicly exalt Christ in at least three ways:

1. WE TESTIFY THAT GOD IS GOOD. Most of us would tell our neighbors that God is good. But our dissatisfied grumblings are a jarring contradiction to what we say we believe. A tongue that is used for both blessing and cursing “ought not to be so” (James 3:10)!

2. WE TESTIFY TO AN UNSHAKABLE HOPE. When Job’s wife encourages him to curse God for the trials in his life, Job replies, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10). By his sinless response, Job testifies that he has faith in God’s eternal purposes, whether his outward circumstances appear rosy or grim.

3. WE TESTIFY TO A DEEPER REALITY. If our conversations with unbelievers are taken up by the minutiae of life’s inconveniences, we act like this world is all that matters. Instead, we ought to take every opportunity to point to deeper — and more lasting! — spiritual realities.

—Megan Hill, Contentment: Seeing God’s Goodness

P&R has many books for women at all stages of life. Here is a list of some of our women’s resources.

1. The Afternoon of Life: Finding Purpose and Joy in Midlife by Elyse Fitzpatrick

The Afternoon of Life is written for women in the middle years of their lives. As we age, we wonder at the many changes occurring in our lives. How do we make the necessary adjustments? How do we handle all this? Elyse Fitzpatrick shows us how our faith can be at the center of how we respond to these life changes. With humor, transparency, and biblical wisdom, she helps us see that God’s purpose in bringing us through this time is to glorify himself and sanctify us.

2. Hungry: Learning to Feed Your Soul with Christ by Rondi Lauterbach

Just like your body, your soul needs to be fed—but how do you satisfy it? Rondi Lauterbach shows us how to prepare true nourishment that meets our deepest hunger.

3. Bible Study: Following the Ways of the Word by Kathleen Buswell Nielson

What is Bible study, anyway? This book highlights not a rigid set of methods, but a clear approach to Bible study that acknowledges Scripture for what it is—the very Word of God.

4. Joy Beyond Agony: Embracing the Cross of Christ, A Twelve-Lesson Bible Study by Jane Roach

In twelve lessons Jane Roach takes us to different aspects of the cross, showing us what the crucifixion meant to Jesus—and what it can mean to us. Why was it necessary? Why did Jesus embrace it? And how do we take up our crosses and follow him? 

5. God for Us: Discovering the Heart of the Father through the Life of the Son by Abby Ross Hutto

Does God feel far off and unconcerned—or even against you? Abby Hutto presents thirteen stories about Jesus from John’s gospel that dispel our distrust and confusion by narrating through Jesus who God truly is. She interweaves testimonials from modern-day believers with further Scripture and discussion questions to assure us that God is for us and longs to draw our confused, distrusting hearts to himself.

6. No Little Women: Equipping All Women in the Household of God by Aimee Byrd

Why are many well-intentioned women falling for poor—even false—theology? Writing to concerned women and church officers, Aimee Byrd pinpoints the problem, which lies especially in the way Christian women have been targeted by the publication industry. Aimee answers hot-button questions—How can women grow in discernment? How should pastors preach to women? What are our roles within the church?—and points us in the direction of a multifaceted solution.

7. Created to Care: God’s Truth for Anxious Moms by Sara Wallace

If you struggle with anxiety as a mom, Sara Wallace wants you to know you’re not alone. What’s more, God’s Word has specific, practical comfort that will help you to embrace this season with peace and confidence. Sara shows how we can learn to have peace in ten critical areas—from our personal insecurities to the spiritual well-being of our children—and provides practical tips from other moms.

8. The Promise Is His Presence: Why God Is Always Enough by Glenna Marshall

Glenna Marshall’s awakening to God’s presence began in the depths of winter. Rereading her journal, she realized that for six months she’d been cataloging all the ways God had abandoned her. What if that . . . wasn’t true? Interweaving her own story of faith and doubt amid suffering, Glenna traces the theme of God’s presence from Genesis to Revelation and shows what it means for us in our own daily joys and struggles. 

9. Sufficient Hope: Gospel Meditations and Prayers for Moms by Christina Fox

Motherhood is a wonderful season of life—but also one filled with challenges, trials, discouragements, and stress. Moms labor to tend to the needs of their children and often find themselves empty and spent by the end of the day. But in the gospel we have a wonderful resource to sustain us. God is more than sufficient to uphold us, and his message of good news applies to all the daily challenges of motherhood.

10. Extravagant Grace: God’s Glory Displayed in Our Weakness by Barbara R. Duguid

Barbara Duguid uses the writings of John Newton to help us understand why even mature Christians can’t seem to shake off sin—and to make us joyous once again at God’s extravagant grace.

11. Idols of the Heart: Learning to Long for God Alone, Revised and Updated by Elyse Fitzpatrick

Do you feel discouraged, even defeated, in your battle against habitual sin? Are you dismayed or surprised by the situations that bring out your fear, anger, or distress? Elyse Fitzpatrick delves into the heart of the problem: deep down, we’re all idol-worshippers who put our loves, desires, and expectations in God’s place—and then suffer the consequences of our misplaced affections. Yet God loves his people and can use even our messy lives and struggles for his glory. Fitzpatrick shows us how to better search and know our hearts, long for our gracious Savior, and resist and crush our false gods. Includes questions for further thought. Revised edition.

12. Legacy of Faith: From Women of the Bible to Women of Today by Lydia Brownback

Following examples of women of faith is a great way to learn how to become women of God. And the best examples are from the true stories in the Bible. Not all the women of the Bible were faithful to Christ. But we can learn from past women’s failures as well as their triumphs.Legacy of Faith highlights twenty-four of the Bible’s most prominent women. Brownback offers insight and practical application for today’s women. She reveals how we can claim the same promises of Christ as these women did—because God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

13. Letter to Pastors’ Wives: When Seminary Ends and Ministry Begins edited by Catherine J. Stewart

Pastors’ wives encounter special challenges as well as special joys. These letters from the seasoned wives of seasoned pastors provide empathy, wise counsel, and encouragement on a wide range of topics.

14. Beyond Authority and Submission: Women and Men in Marriage, Church, and Society by Rachel Green Miller

Rachel Green Miller argues that what the Bible teaches about women, men, and gender is both simpler and more difficult than we’re often told. Although modern discussions have focused on authority and submission, there is much more to the biblical picture. Examining common beliefs in the light of Scripture, she draws out important biblical themes that will strengthen our relationship as co-laborers in the kingdom of God and for the good of this world.

15. My Grandmother Is . . . Praying for Me: Daily Prayers and Proverbs for Character Development in Grandchildren by Susan Kelton, Pamela Ferriss, & Kathryn March

Pray for your grandchild’s spiritual development throughout the year with this guide that focuses on one character trait for each month. The daily lessons contain Scripture references, prayers, and activities.

16. Prayer PathWay: Journeying in a Life of Prayer by Kathi Lambrides Westlund

Each one of our days is a small portion of life’s grand journey. Are you prepared to travel? God calls us to pray because he knows that we need him; he uses prayer to connect with us through all the stages and seasons of life. The result of the author’s forty-year prayer journey, Prayer PathWay is a guide to assist fellow sojourners. To help readers along the way, Kathi Westlund uses eternal biblical truth, timeless wisdom from sages, and practical tools centered around the acronym PRAYERS (Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield, Express thanks, Rejoice, Shalom). The guide can be customized and modified to fit your needs, so that you can develop and establish a personal prayer routine that will hold up for years to come.

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