Paul Kalfa
@pkalfa.bsky.social
PCA TE, Reformed Theological Seminary alumnus, Educator, Traveler, Musician. 🇬🇷
Worship is an act good in itself, but the worship of an image is bad in regard of the object. Were that act of worship directed to God that is paid to a statue, and offered up to him with a sincere frame of mind, it would be morally good.
~Stephen Charnock
~Stephen Charnock
September 20, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Worship is an act good in itself, but the worship of an image is bad in regard of the object. Were that act of worship directed to God that is paid to a statue, and offered up to him with a sincere frame of mind, it would be morally good.
~Stephen Charnock
~Stephen Charnock
Reading Calvin, Turretin, Bavinck, Vos, and others over the years, I appreciate how each brings particular nuances to the study. While they have broad agreements, they also have specific angles and insights that allow us to distinguish them. I love that about Reformed theology.
August 23, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Reading Calvin, Turretin, Bavinck, Vos, and others over the years, I appreciate how each brings particular nuances to the study. While they have broad agreements, they also have specific angles and insights that allow us to distinguish them. I love that about Reformed theology.
De Trinitate is not, of course, either Augustine's first comment on the doctrine of the Trinity or his last, and to read it outside of the context of his other works is to invite misunderstanding.
~Stephen R. Holmes, The Quest for the Trinity, p. 132
~Stephen R. Holmes, The Quest for the Trinity, p. 132
August 1, 2025 at 12:33 AM
De Trinitate is not, of course, either Augustine's first comment on the doctrine of the Trinity or his last, and to read it outside of the context of his other works is to invite misunderstanding.
~Stephen R. Holmes, The Quest for the Trinity, p. 132
~Stephen R. Holmes, The Quest for the Trinity, p. 132
Yankees weather delay, so Turretin it is.
July 31, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Yankees weather delay, so Turretin it is.
The more distinctly any person perceives, in the light of the Spirit, a truth which God has revealed, & the more clearly he discerns the rays of divinity shining in it, the more firmly will he give credit to that truth.
H. Witsius, Sacred Dissertations on the Apostles’ Creed, 47
H. Witsius, Sacred Dissertations on the Apostles’ Creed, 47
July 30, 2025 at 11:54 AM
The more distinctly any person perceives, in the light of the Spirit, a truth which God has revealed, & the more clearly he discerns the rays of divinity shining in it, the more firmly will he give credit to that truth.
H. Witsius, Sacred Dissertations on the Apostles’ Creed, 47
H. Witsius, Sacred Dissertations on the Apostles’ Creed, 47
Gloucester, Massachusetts.
July 8, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Gloucester, Massachusetts.
A few years ago, upon the recommendation of someone I trust, I started reading Oliver O’Donovan. While I’m hardly an expert on O’Donovan, I do think his perspective on political theology is really, really important.
July 2, 2025 at 12:22 PM
A few years ago, upon the recommendation of someone I trust, I started reading Oliver O’Donovan. While I’m hardly an expert on O’Donovan, I do think his perspective on political theology is really, really important.
His goodness should make his majesty more adorable to us, as his majesty makes his goodness more admirable in his condescensions to us. As God is a Spirit, our worship must be spiritual; and being he is the supreme Spirit, our worship must be reverential.
~Stephen Charnock
~Stephen Charnock
July 2, 2025 at 12:13 AM
His goodness should make his majesty more adorable to us, as his majesty makes his goodness more admirable in his condescensions to us. As God is a Spirit, our worship must be spiritual; and being he is the supreme Spirit, our worship must be reverential.
~Stephen Charnock
~Stephen Charnock
John Calvin, Institutes, II.VIII.XLVI
June 30, 2025 at 11:40 PM
John Calvin, Institutes, II.VIII.XLVI
All I maintain is that the prosperous and happy state of the Church was always founded in the person of Christ.
~John Calvin, Institutes, ii. vi .ii
~John Calvin, Institutes, ii. vi .ii
June 30, 2025 at 11:29 PM
All I maintain is that the prosperous and happy state of the Church was always founded in the person of Christ.
~John Calvin, Institutes, ii. vi .ii
~John Calvin, Institutes, ii. vi .ii
Our noblest theologian is not one who discovered the whole—our earthly shackles do not permit us the whole—but one whose mental image is by comparison fuller, who has gathered in his mind a richer picture, outline, or whatever we call it, of the truth.
~Gregory of Nazianzus
~Gregory of Nazianzus
June 13, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Our noblest theologian is not one who discovered the whole—our earthly shackles do not permit us the whole—but one whose mental image is by comparison fuller, who has gathered in his mind a richer picture, outline, or whatever we call it, of the truth.
~Gregory of Nazianzus
~Gregory of Nazianzus
Above all, fully conscious of our weakness and want of skill, let us invoke the help of God, and attempt nothing without trusting in him, since it is his alone to supply counsel, and strength, and courage, and arms.
Calvin, Institutes, I.XIV.XIII
Calvin, Institutes, I.XIV.XIII
June 11, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Above all, fully conscious of our weakness and want of skill, let us invoke the help of God, and attempt nothing without trusting in him, since it is his alone to supply counsel, and strength, and courage, and arms.
Calvin, Institutes, I.XIV.XIII
Calvin, Institutes, I.XIV.XIII
Justly does Augustine complain that God is insulted whenever any higher reason than his will is demanded.
Calvin, Institutes, I.XIV.I
Calvin, Institutes, I.XIV.I
June 9, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Justly does Augustine complain that God is insulted whenever any higher reason than his will is demanded.
Calvin, Institutes, I.XIV.I
Calvin, Institutes, I.XIV.I
Six hours of cooking is time well spent.
June 7, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Six hours of cooking is time well spent.
And assuredly Christ descended to us for the very purpose of raising us to the Father, and thereby, at the same time, raising us to himself, inasmuch as he is one with the Father.
~John Calvin, Institutes, I.XIII.XXVI
~John Calvin, Institutes, I.XIII.XXVI
June 4, 2025 at 5:13 PM
And assuredly Christ descended to us for the very purpose of raising us to the Father, and thereby, at the same time, raising us to himself, inasmuch as he is one with the Father.
~John Calvin, Institutes, I.XIII.XXVI
~John Calvin, Institutes, I.XIII.XXVI
It is therefore erroneous and impious to confine the name of God to the Father, so as to deny it to the Son. Accordingly, John, declaring that he is the true God, has no idea of placing him beneath the Father in a subordinate rank of divinity.
~Calvin, Institutes, I.XIII.XXVI
~Calvin, Institutes, I.XIII.XXVI
May 31, 2025 at 1:25 PM
It is therefore erroneous and impious to confine the name of God to the Father, so as to deny it to the Son. Accordingly, John, declaring that he is the true God, has no idea of placing him beneath the Father in a subordinate rank of divinity.
~Calvin, Institutes, I.XIII.XXVI
~Calvin, Institutes, I.XIII.XXVI
Nothing can be more absurd than to deny the perpetuity of Christ's divinity.
~John Calvin, Institutes, I.XIII.XXVI
~John Calvin, Institutes, I.XIII.XXVI
May 27, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Nothing can be more absurd than to deny the perpetuity of Christ's divinity.
~John Calvin, Institutes, I.XIII.XXVI
~John Calvin, Institutes, I.XIII.XXVI
Here is comfort in our addresses to him. If he be a fountain and sea of goodness, he cannot be weary of doing good, no more than a fountain or sea are of flowing. All goodness delights to communicate itself.
~Stephen Charnock
~Stephen Charnock
May 27, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Here is comfort in our addresses to him. If he be a fountain and sea of goodness, he cannot be weary of doing good, no more than a fountain or sea are of flowing. All goodness delights to communicate itself.
~Stephen Charnock
~Stephen Charnock
What legitimates a church is not historical continuity with the apostolic church, but rather theological continuity with the word of God. It is far more crucial to preach the same gospel as the apostles than be a member of an institution which is historically derived from them.
May 26, 2025 at 10:52 PM
What legitimates a church is not historical continuity with the apostolic church, but rather theological continuity with the word of God. It is far more crucial to preach the same gospel as the apostles than be a member of an institution which is historically derived from them.
For, in human affairs, I am as certain that Rome was built as that Constantinople was, although I have seen Rome with my eyes, but know nothing of the other city, except what I have believed on the testimony of others.
~Augustine
~Augustine
May 23, 2025 at 9:44 PM
For, in human affairs, I am as certain that Rome was built as that Constantinople was, although I have seen Rome with my eyes, but know nothing of the other city, except what I have believed on the testimony of others.
~Augustine
~Augustine
He is a good without mixture, good without weariness, none good but God, none good purely, none good inexhaustibly but God; because he is good, we may upon our speaking expect his instruction: Good is the Lord, therefore will he teach sinners in his way, Ψ25:8.
~Stephen Charnock
~Stephen Charnock
May 23, 2025 at 2:05 PM
He is a good without mixture, good without weariness, none good but God, none good purely, none good inexhaustibly but God; because he is good, we may upon our speaking expect his instruction: Good is the Lord, therefore will he teach sinners in his way, Ψ25:8.
~Stephen Charnock
~Stephen Charnock
Just as your assemblies should commence with confession and invocation of God's Holy Spirit, I also recommend that they conclude with thanksgiving and communal prayers.
~John Knox
~John Knox
May 22, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Just as your assemblies should commence with confession and invocation of God's Holy Spirit, I also recommend that they conclude with thanksgiving and communal prayers.
~John Knox
~John Knox
The just authority of God over us, results from the superlativeness of his blessings he hath poured down upon us, which cannot be equalled, much less exceeded by any other.
~Stephen Charnock
~Stephen Charnock
May 22, 2025 at 10:34 PM
The just authority of God over us, results from the superlativeness of his blessings he hath poured down upon us, which cannot be equalled, much less exceeded by any other.
~Stephen Charnock
~Stephen Charnock