Dr Paul Allen

One of the most essential doctrines for a Christian understanding of the Trinity is eternal generation. When the equality of the Son with the Father was thrown into question in the fourth century, the church fathers turned to the doctrine of eternal generation not only to distinguish the Son from the Father but to ensure that the Son is understood to be equal with the Father.  For these reasons, the doctrine of eternal generation became a cornerstone of the Nicene Creed, that standard-bearer of Christian orthodoxy. But over the last several decades, evangelicals have gained a bad reputation for rejecting this doctrine. Even when evangelicals have affirmed it, they do not appear to understand why. Could it be that we do not really grasp what eternal generation is in the first place? I want to invite you on an adventure into the mystery of this indispensable Christian doctrine. But instead of exploring the eternal generation’s biblical warrant (see Simply Trinity: The Unmanipulated F...

Christ Pantocrator study (Photo credit: DUCKMARX ) “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Psalm 100:4 Our Lord would have all his people rich in high and happy thoughts concerning his blessed person. Jesus is not content that his brethren should think meanly of him; it is his pleasure that his espoused ones should be delighted with his beauty. We are not to regard him as a bare necessary, like to bread and water, but as a luxurious delicacy, as a rare and ravishing delight. To this end he has revealed himself as the “ pearl of great price ” in its peerless beauty, as the “ bundle of myrrh ” in its refreshing fragrance, as the “ rose of Sharon ” in its lasting perfume, as the “lily” in its spotless purity. As a help to high thoughts of Christ , remember the estimation that Christ is held in beyond the skies, where things are measured by the right standard. Think how God esteems the Only Begotten , his unspeakable gift t...

ANGELICO, Fra Resurrection of Christ and Women at the Tomb Fresco, 189 x 164 cm Convento di San Marco, Florence (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations." ( 1 Peter 1:6 )   Our lives today are continually badgered by various trials, or "manifold temptations." The trials are to bring about a pure and effective faith, pleasing to God . But the apostle Peter is not referring to trials or their results when he declares: "Wherein ye greatly rejoice." On the contrary, he is summing up a list of blessings given in the preceding three verses. As we delineate them, let us rejoice as well.   "His abundant mercy"  (v. 3). Mercy implies a compassionate act on one who is in desperate need. In context, God's mercy was granted to us in salvation when there was nothing we could do to save ourselves.   " Begotten us again"  (v. 3). ...