Papers

Having been a seminary student for a number of years, writing papers used to be a regular occurrence in my life.  I’ve posted some of them here, in case anyone would like to read (skim?) them and offer some comments (constructive, belligerent, or otherwise).

My View of Apologetic Method and “A Common Word Between Us and You”

I wrote this paper for Apologetics with Dr. John Frame, and in it I explore how a Christian response to the Muslim document, “A Common Word Between Us and You,” might be informed by presuppositional methodology.

Improvisation and Sola Scriptura: An Evaluation of Samuel Wells’ Ethical Model

I wrote this paper for Pastoral and Social Ethics with Dr. John Frame.  I evaluate the ethical model proposed by Samuel Wells in Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics, seeing how it might enrich the Reformed tradition while maintaining that its usefulness is limited by its faithfulness (or lack thereof) to the practice of sola Scriptura.

Yahweh versus Baal: The Message of Psalm 29

I originally worked on this for a class in college, but I was able to expand on it for my Poets class with Dr. Richard Belcher. This paper explains the message of Psalm 29 against the backdrop of the Ancient Near Eastern worship of Baal.  Looking at how it borrows imagery from Baal poetry, I argue that Psalm 29 is essentially an apologetic for Yahweh against the impotent gods of the Canaanites.

Seeking Balance: The Reformed Tradition, N.T. Wright, and False Dichotomies

I wrote this paper for Systematic Theology III, and I examine four false dichotomies that I believe drive forward Wright’s approach to Pauline theology. I conclude that the Reformed tradition and exegesis of Paul resolve these false dichotomies and illustrate that Wright has ultimately misconstrued Paul’s message.