Common Places

A presentation titled “Confessions of a Christian Philosopher: St. Augustine’s Complicated Relationship with Greek Philosophy” by Nathan Johnson. This talk was delivered at the 2022 National Convivium hosted at Davenant House in Landrum, SC. Dr. Johnson is Assistant Dean of Academics, Head of Program, and Teaching Fellow at New College Franklin. Originally from Tennessee with family roots going back to the early 1800s, he joins us after 6 years teaching humanities and composition at Greyfriars Classical Academy in Matthews, North Carolina. He is a Ph.D. candidate in Humanities from Faulkner University.

A presentation titled “Wisdom Built a House: The Fear of the Lord as the Governing Principle of Philosophy and Life” by Dr. Shep Shepherd. This talk was delivered at the 2022 National Convivium hosted at Davenant House in Landrum, SC. Dr. Shepherd works as Chief Law Clerk at The Adoption Law Firm in Alabama. He received his Ph.D. from University of Aberdeen in Scotland. His doctoral thesis on the ecclesiology of the Scottish theologian Thomas F. Torrance was supervised by the late John Webster. Shep was a founding faculty member of City View Seminary in Augusta, GA, where he served as Professor of Systematic Theology from 2018-2020. Since 2016, he continues to serve as a part-time Lecturer for Samford University’s Office of Professional Studies, teaching ethics. In addition to teaching, Shep served for over two years as an Assistant Editor for Participatio, a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the Thomas F. Torrance Theological Fellowship.

A presentation titled “Christian Platonism in the History of Philosophy” by Dr. David Haines. This talk was delivered at the 2022 National Convivium hosted at Davenant House in Landrum, SC. Dr. Haines holds a Ph.D., Université Laval (Philosophy), an M.A., Southern Evangelical Seminary (Philosophy) and B.Th., Covington Theological Seminary. In this talk Dr. Haines wrestles with recent questions concerning the value of Plato to theology and how various Christian thinkers have benefited over the centuries from key principles set for in Plato's writings and those who have followed from his thought.

This keynote presentation, “Herman Bavinck: Learning to Love Philosophy,” by keynote speaker Dr. James Eglinton was given at the 2022 National Convivium hosted at Davenant House. Dr. Eglinton is the Meldrum Senior Lecturer in Reformed Theology at the University of Edinburgh. A specialist in the history and theology of Dutch Neo-Calvinism, Dr. Eglinton has published work as co-editor of Neo-Calvinism and the French Revolution (Bloomsbury, 2014), editor and translator of Herman Bavinck on Preaching and Preachers (Hendrickson, 2017), and co-editor and co-translator of Christian Worldview (Crossway, 2019). His book Bavinck: A Critical Biography was published by Baker Academic in 2020, and won that year’s History and Biography Book of the Year Prize in The Gospel Coalition 2020 Book Awards. It was also a finalist in the 2021 ECPA Book Awards. He also serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Reformed Theology, published by Brill. Dr. Eglinton was joined by other scholars and educators from the Davenant network

An address from Revd. Dr. Peter Sanlon entitled "Towards Secure Foundations for the Formative Power of Reason and Tradition," delivered at the UK 2022 Convivium Irenicum, "In Service of Scripture: Rediscovering Reason and Tradition in Evangelical Theology." Revd. Dr. Sanlon issues a plea for Confessional Experiential Calvinism as a secure foundation for integrating reason and tradition into evangelical theology.

An address from Dr. Robert Strivens entitled "Finding Theology in the Biblical Text: Hebrews 1:1-4 Through the Ages" delivered at the UK 2022 Convivium Irenicum, "In Service of Scripture: Rediscovering Reason and Tradition in Evangelical Theology." Dr. Strivens surveys commentaries on Hebrew from St. John Chrysostom to the 21st century, chronicling the decline of theological interpretation in evangelical exegesis since the 18th century.

An address from Graham Shearer, Ph.D student at Union Theological College, Belfast, entitled "'Who Can Declare His Generation?' Divine Incomprehensibility and Human Reason in 4th Century Trinitarianism," delivered at the UK 2022 Convivium Irenicum, "In Service of Scripture: Rediscovering Reason and Tradition in Evangelical Theology." Graham unpacks to counter-intuitive nature of divine incomprehensibility as giving license to the use of theological reasoning. "Who Can Declare His Generation?" Divine Incomprehensibility and Human Reason in 4th Century Trinitarianism

A keynote address from Dr. David Shaw of Oak Hill College entitled "Is Retrieval Leading to Renewal? The Place of Tradition and the Progress of Theological Retrieval: Some Thoughts and Next Steps", delivered at the UK 2022 Convivium Irenicum, "In Service of Scripture: Rediscovering Reason and Tradition in Evangelical Theology." Dr. Shaw provides a comprehensive overview of the theological retrieval movement, its current state, and where it might go from here.

A lecture with Q&A entitled "Acts 6 and the Myth of Apostolic Succession" by Rev. Dr. Matt Colvin. Acts 6 depicts the ordination of the seven to minister to the Greek-speaking widows of the Jerusalem church. It has often been thought to depict the first instance of apostolic succession and the first deacons. As such, it has become a key text over the centuries in heated discussions over church government. In this lecture, Matthew Colvin argues that it does not; that the apostles did not ordain anyone, and nor do they ever do so in the New Testament. The argument will be made on four fronts from Rabbinic Jewish sources: halakhah, typology, grammar, and textual criticism. Attendees will learn what the laying on of hands really does, who exactly laid hands on Timothy, and what polity and officers the New Testament actually depicts. Rev. Dr. Matthew Colvin is a presbyter in the Reformed Episcopal Church. From 2012-2017, he served as a missionary teaching ministerial students in the Philippines and Indonesia. H

Dr. Brad Littlejohn introduces the 2022 National Convivium Irenicum and its theme, "Philosophy and the Christian."

A lecture with Q&A by Mr. Nathan Johnson at the 2022 Florida Regional Convivium entitled "Followers of the Way: How the Seven Liberal Arts Serve Theology and Ethics." Mr. Johnson argues that the historical purpose of the liberal arts was to be a handmaiden to theology and ethics, equipping students to know, love, and imitate God by educating them according to their nature as moral and intellectual beings in the image of God. Nathan Johnson is a PhD candidate in Humanities at Faulkner University. He also holds two M.A. degrees in Biblical Studies and Theological Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary and an M.A. in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College. Currently, he serves as Assistant Dean of Academics, Head of Program, and Teaching Fellow at New College Franklin in Franklin, TN.

The Q&A section following Dr. Ben Merkle's lecture.

A lecture by Dr. Ben Merkle at the 2022 Florida Regional Convivium entitled "Education and Vocation." Dr. Merkle contrasts the concepts of education versus vocational certification, arguing that vocational certification has displaced an older and superior understanding of what education was intended to accomplish. Dr. Ben Merkle is the president of New Saint Andrews College in Moscow Idaho. He holds a D.Phil. in Oriental Studies from Oxford University. He is a teaching elder at Christ Church, in Moscow, preaching regularly at their downtown service. He is the author of The White Horse King and Defending the Trinity in the Reformed Palatinate. He and wife Bekah have five children.

A lecture with Q&A given by Mr. Dale Stenberg at the 2022 Florida Regional Convivium entitled "Fear, Fulfillment, and Festivity." Mr. Stenberg argues that the main pillars in the design of classical education are wonder, leisure, and festivity. He contrasts this with the modern-day utilitarian approach to education and demonstrates how a return to these basic foundational ideas can help students think of education as a life lived in appreciation of the fact of existence, rather than academic drudgery that ends with graduating. Dale Stenberg is a Teaching Fellow for the Davenant Institute and co-hosts their Pilgrim Faith Podcast with Dr. Joe Minich. He is President and Headmaster of Pietas Classical Christian in Melbourne, FL, and studied for an MDiv at Whitfield Theological seminary.

A panel discussion with Q&A featuring Dr. Brad Littlejohn, Mr. Nathan Johnson, and Mr. Dale Stenberg, held at the 2022 Florida Regional Convivium

A lecture with Q&A by Dr. Brad Littlejohn at the 2022 Florida Regional Convivium entitled "On Naming the World: Education as Dominion-taking." In his talk, Dr, Littlejohn arg ues that education should be seen above all else as training in how to name the world, the first job that Adam was given after his creation. Such naming is not only a source of delight and wonder, but a reflecting back to God of his glory in the world, and is the prerequisite for any growth and wisdom. Dr. Bradford Littlejohn (Ph.D., University of Edinburgh) is the Founder and President of the Davenant Institute. He also works as a Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and has taught for several institutions, including Moody Bible Institute-Spokane, Bethlehem College and Seminary, and Patrick Henry College. He is recognized as a leading scholar of the English theologian Richard Hooker and Has published and lectured extensively in the fields of Reformation history, Christian ethics, and political theology. He lives in Landrum, S

Dr. Brad Littlejohn introduces our 2022 Florida Regional Convivium. Our theme was "Classic Wonder for Contemporary Minds."

Some Christians are “doctrine people” who are deeply committed to orthodox theology and ethics shaped by Scripture and the best of the Christian tradition. Other Christians are “piety people” who are mostly concerned with walking closely with Christ and pursuing personal holiness and spiritual maturity. Still other Christians are “justice and mercy people” who are committed to challenging injustice and promoting the common good. Finally, some Christians are “Great Commission people” who are passionate about spreading the gospel to the spiritually lost and promoting mission work among the unreached. While this sort of division is overly simplistic, we are always tempted to overemphasize some elements of the Christian life at the expense of others. In William Wilberforce (1759-1833) and his close friends, the so-called Clapham Saints, we have a historical example of holistic Christian faithfulness that embraced the importance of both doctrine and piety, both justice and evangelism.

Some Christians are “doctrine people” who are deeply committed to orthodox theology and ethics shaped by Scripture and the best of the Christian tradition. Other Christians are “piety people” who are mostly concerned with walking closely with Christ and pursuing personal holiness and spiritual maturity. Still other Christians are “justice and mercy people” who are committed to challenging injustice and promoting the common good. Finally, some Christians are “Great Commission people” who are passionate about spreading the gospel to the spiritually lost and promoting mission work among the unreached. While this sort of division is overly simplistic, we are always tempted to overemphasize some elements of the Christian life at the expense of others. In William Wilberforce (1759-1833) and his close friends, the so-called Clapham Saints, we have a historical example of holistic Christian faithfulness that embraced the importance of both doctrine and piety, both justice and evangelism.

The world known to the sciences spans a vast range of phenomena that often seem strange and unfamiliar compared to the ordinary everyday world in which we live. Furthermore, many people think that science and Christian faith conflict with one another. The two talks of this series look at how we might think about these matters holistically using the resources within the Christian tradition. The first talk, “Word,” will examine some characteristics of contemporary science and look at the similar yet different ways we come to knowledge in the scientific and Christian communities. The second talk, “Fire,” will look at the classical philosophical/theological notion of creation ex nihilo, drawing especially upon the perspectives of Thomas Aquinas to articulate the relation between God and the world. The created order in which we participate is a gift where the different knowledge from the sciences and from revelation can cohere and all things hold together in Christ.