Parchment & Pen Blog

I would like to thank David Burke for taking so much time from his busy life to participate in this debate. His efforts have given all of us an opportunity to learn a great deal from the contrasting arguments for our two theological positions. Trinitarianism versus Unitarianism: Defining the Issues The doctrine of the Trinity [...]

Biblical Christology: Which Way does the Evidence Point? In previous weeks I have shown that my arguments are strongly supported by standard authorities and a broad range of recent Trinitarian scholarship. This week I will be summarising the key elements of the Biblical Unitarian position, identifying key weaknesses in the Trinitarian position, and weighing the [...]

In the preceding three rounds of this debate, I have argued that the person of Jesus Christ existed as God prior to the creation of the world and that the Holy Spirit is also a divine person. If my argument up to this point has been successful, I have thoroughly refuted the Biblical Unitarian position [...]

The Divine Hierarchy: Father, Son & Angels This week I hope Rob will show Biblical evidence for the essential relationship formulae of Trinitarianism: Father = “God”, Son = “God” and Holy Spirit = “God” “God” = Father + Son + Holy Spirit In Week 1 we saw that proving the first does not automatically prove [...]

Due to space limitations, I will focus in this round on defending the Trinitarian position that the Holy Spirit is a divine person and refuting the claim that the Holy Spirit is simply God’s power or divine force. As I see it, the question of whether the Holy Spirit is a person or God’s power [...]

The Need for Contextual Exegesis A notable feature of this debate has been the contrast between the exegetical methodologies of both sides. Rob favours an approach that places great stress on the NT texts and interprets these in a Hellenistic way that frequently steps outside the first-century milieu, whereas I take a holistic approach which [...]

I turn now to some major Christological passages in the epistles. Regrettably, I wrote a full treatment of Colossians 1:12-20 but have had to cut it for sake of space. Romans 10:8-13 Verses 8-10: Paul states that the saving confession is that “Jesus is Lord” (kurios) and “that God raised him from the dead.” As [...]

Jesus Christ: Prefigured and Prophesied Last week I finished my opening argument with a reference to Genesis: Genesis 3:21 The LORD God made garments from skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. This is Christianity’s foundation teaching: Sin deserves death Sacrifice offers a covering for sin Only God can provide a sin-covering sacrifice; [...]