Common Places

Davenant Discussions, The Doctrine of Assurance - Dr. Jonathan Master (Session 2) by Davenant Trust

A lecture with Q&A by Davenant Hall Teaching Fellow, Ryan Hurd. The sheer and utter delight of the theologian is knowing and speaking of God. As we consider the development of theology as a science or formalized discipline, we find that two things are especially important: the making of categories in theology, and of habits in the theologian. Analogous to Aristotle’s "Ten Categories", or even the Transcendentals, the development of categories was the production of adequate or reduced summaries which sweep in everything within both the natural and supernatural orders in a condensed fashion. After centuries of sweat and no small genius, the “divine names” and “trinitarian notions,” in the natural and supernatural order respectively, resulted. For example, we find the divine names “simplicity, infinity", and others of that sort; “wisdom, goodness, and others of that sort”; “incorporeality, impassibility", and others of that sort; “reasoning, laughing", and others of that sort: these adequately reduce everythin

A lecture with Q&A by Davenant Press Editor-in-chief (and Davenant Hall instructor) Onsi Kamel entitled "The Birth of Secularity: Henry More, Metaphysics, and the Battle for God's Spirit." In recent decades, intellectual historians have attempted to chart the development of “secular modernity,” generally locating its origins in medieval or Protestant metaphysics. Key claims of these genealogies crumble under scrutiny, not least of all blaming the Reformation for a metaphysical revolution. And yet the metaphysical gulf separating the medieval and modern periods is undeniable: the world of Kant and Schleiermacher is not the world of Albertus Magnus and Duns Scotus. If historians wish to better understand the development of secularity, a more helpful entry point is a seventeenth-century debate about the immateriality of the soul, the nature of space, and the spirit of God. Central to this debate was Henry More (1614 - 1687), a Cambridge Platonist philosopher now largely forgotten, but prominent in his lifetime.

A lecture with Q&A by Davenant Teaching Fellow, Dr. Matthew Hoskins Today, Christians must defend the idea that Christ is God. Yet for much of church history, they had to defend the idea that he is human. How, and why, did they do it? In this lecture, Dr. Matthew Hoskin explores how the last four of the Seven Ecumenical Councils upheld the truth that God really became flesh. Beginning with the confession of "one person in two natures" from Chalcedon (451), the lecture will then explore its influence on the symphonic vision of Maximus the Confessor and Constantinople III (681), and how John of Damascus and Nicaea II (787) articulated the full impact of the incarnation and God's intrusion into our lives and our worship. Understanding these councils will cause us to bow in worship of the Triune God and his works as we celebrate Christmas.

A lecture with Q&A by Davenant Teaching Fellow, Rev. Dr. Matthew Colvin entitled "The Real Jesus Code: Subtlety and Indirection in Jesus' Communication. Given how familiar Christians are with the Gospels, it is remarkable how much of Jesus' communication - both spoken and unspoken - still puzzles us. How can we make sense of Christ's most puzzling moments of teaching? In this lecture, Dr. Matthew Colvin explores neglected nuances of Jesus’ communication - specifically, moments involving indirection, whether verbally or by the use of coded symbols. After discussing the motives for indirection, the lecture will consider these communications by using Second Temple and Rabbinic Jewish sources to illuminate their meaning with new nuance and vividness.

A lecture with Q&A by Davenant Teaching Fellow, Eric Hutchinson entitled "Maps of Misreading: The Hidden Influence of Horace in Augustine’s Confessions." Augustine's engagement with the poet Virgil in the "Confessions" has been much researched. On the other hand, his engagement with another great Roman poet, Horace, has been almost entirely neglected. Yet we know Augustine read Horace; at key points in the "Confessions", he refers to and alludes to his poetry. The time has come to reappraise Horace's influence on Augustine. In this lecture, Dr. E.J. Hutchinson will specifically explore how knowledge of Horace's influence illuminates Augustine's famed comparison of himself to Virgil's wandering hero Aeneas. A close reading of a unique Latin phrase lifted directly from Horace's "Odes" reveals that Augustine does not want his readers to think of the "Aeneid" alone in a simple or straightforward way. Instead, he uses Horace, and particularly one of Horace's poems about Virgil, to formulate his own nuanced respo

"Teaching Books, Teaching Arts: A View of Classical Christian Literary Training" - Joshua Patch by Davenant Trust

Keynote Seminar - "The Reformation of Paedagogy: Lessons from Johann Strum" - Dr. Gene Edward Veith by Davenant Trust

Discussion on Plato's Theory of Education - Dr. Al Harmon & Colin Redemer by Davenant Trust

Guided Discussion with Joseph Minich on "The Classics, the Protestant, and the Proletariat" by Davenant Trust

"Dante and the Servile Revolt of Modernity" - Dr. Patrick Downey by Davenant Trust

"A Confessional Education: Abraham Kuyper, J. Gresham Machen, and the Christian Academy" - Eli West by Davenant Trust

"Elitism or Egalitarianism? The Lessons of Early Modern Classical Education" - Dr. Michael Lynch by Davenant Trust

"The Liberal Arts and the Art of Service" - Dr. Gene Edward Veith by Davenant Trust

"Stewardship or Domination: Christianity and Classical Education" - Robert Snyder by Davenant Trust

"Subalternation and the Liberal Arts: Vocation and Friendship with God" - Brandon Spun by Davenant Trust

"The Love that Moves the Sun and All Other Stars" - Gregory Wilbur and Nathan Johnson by Davenant Trust

This exposition of Psalm 104 was presented by our Davenant House Director, Michael Hughes, to a group of undergraduate students at North Greenville University. Through an exploration of Psalm 104, the Psalmist brings to life the brushstrokes and beauty of divine providence as they shine forth to us through the canvas of God's creation. Far from being simply a heady doctrine worthy of mental assent, God's providence is an incredibly practical and potent doctrine for the day to day life of the Christian. Calvin says that without providence, the world is no longer a divine work of art, it is less lovely, and it 'lacks color'. In contrast, he says that providence allows one to recognize the world as it really is: 'an unfolding divine gift, an ongoing symphony in which nothing takes place by chance, not one drop of rain falls without God's sure command.' In the seemingly chaotic world we find ourselves in, God's providence provides a sure foundation that will help us to be still and hold fast as the winds and wave

A lecture with Q&A by Davenant Hall Teaching Fellow Patrick Stefan entitled "Resurrecting Romans: Pauling Resurrection, Baptism, and Kingdom Life." In the Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul says that we were baptized into the resurrection of Jesus. A powerful declaration - but what does it mean? How does it fit into his epistle to the Romans as a whole? How does it relate to the practice of baptism itself? And how does this message shape the self-understanding of baptized Christians? Such questions have vexed not only theologians and pastors, but countless Christians in the pew. Among Reformed and evangelical Christians, few books are more taught than Romans, yet few topics are more fraught than baptism. What are we to make of the Apostle's words here? In this lecture, Dr. Patrick Stefan will probe the relationship Paul develops between baptism, death, purity, and resurrection. In doing so, he will seek to demonstrate that Paul's baptismal message is ultimately a message of purity, acceptance, and the prese

In this talk, Pastor Brian Lund first gave a historical overview of how reformers learned to transition to a distinctly Prostestant manner of conducting funerals. At first there was a cold opposition to any formality related to honoring the dead in Christ or for following a worshipful liturgy. This would come later, but as it did new insights were formed as to how churches could give comfort to the grieving and wisdom to the community at the passing of their loved ones. Brian's experience and heart for pastoral care came through this talk even as he gave a well-researched presentation on a topic not often considered.