Tabletalk Magazine, July 2002: The Church Takes Shape, the Acts of Christ in the Second Century

by Ligonier Ministries

Publisher:

Ligonier Ministries

, 2002

Overview

For more than thirty years, Tabletalk has existed as a magazine for laymen. Generally speaking, laymen receive either very little instruction in the weightier matters of the faith, or the instruction is too academic, thereby making the material largely inaccessible to average laymen. This is the reason Tabletalk exists — to bridge the gap between these two poles, to explain to the people of God important, biblical doctrines and events while admonishing them toward holy living.

Contributors include R.C. Sproul along with Harold O. J. Brown, Tom Nettles, Steve Schlissel, Greg Bailey, Edmund Clowney, Douglas Moo, Burk Parsons, R. C. Sproul Jr., Linda Rowley, and Douglas Wilson. Tabletalk features articles about topics central to the Christian faith and daily, in-depth Bible studies.

Contents

• "Getting to Know Me" by R. C. Sproul
• "Exposing the Wolves" by Harold O. J. Brown
• "Witness for the Persecution" by Tom Nettles
• "'Away with the Atheists'" by Steve Schlissel
• "Thrones and Glory" by Greg Bailey
• "Let God Be God" by Edmund Clowney
• "Your God is Too Small" by Douglas Moo
• "Electing Love" by Burk Parsons
• "Identity Crises" by R. C. Sproul Jr.
• "Tearing Down Strongholds" by Linda Rowley
• "In the Aftermath" by Douglas Wilson
• "Voices of Clarity"

Top Highlights

“During the second century of Christian history, the church was busy answering the question ‘Who are we?’ It was a time of amalgamation, codification, and definition. In that century, the church reflected upon its authority base (Scripture), its theology, and its organization.” (Pages 5–6)

“‘Thus out of the struggle with Gnosticism and Montanism came the Catholic Church, with its strong episcopal organization, creedal standard, and authoritative canon. It differed much from the Apostolic Church; but it had preserved historic Christianity and carried it through a tremendous crisis.” (Page 7)

“A summary creed that was customarily used at baptism. The earliest baptismal creed was the simple statement ‘Jesus is Lord.’” (Page 6)

“Irenaeus wrote Against Heresies for a friend. The friend had asked him about the system of Valentinus, an attractive teacher who wanted to be considered a true Christian, only more knowledgeable (gnostic) than the common herd. Valentinus, the most important second-century Gnostic, was a highly educated, sensitive man filled with religious pathos and zeal.” (Page 13)

“Emperor Trajan (98–117), one of the four ‘good emperors’ (along with his successors Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius), made it his policy not to look for Christians and to reject anonymous denunciations. Thus, Christians were persecuted only when they made themselves known.” (Page 9)

Praise for the Print Edition

Tabletalk has been a key ingredient in the diet of Christians conscious of their spiritual vitality.

—Michael S. Horton

Month by month, Tabletalk represents an oasis in a desert of false spirituality, mindless Christianity, and vapid conviction. Tabletalk represents theological rigor, biblical Christianity, and authentic Christian devotion. It is an antidote to the world of superficial Christianity. Read it and grow.

—R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

Tabletalk has been a wonderful resource in my own daily walk with the Lord.

—Ravi Zacharias

Product Details

• Title: Tabletalk Magazine, July 2002: The Church Takes Shape, the Acts of Christ in the Second Century
• Executive Editor: R. C. Sproul
• Editor: Burk Parsons
• Series: Tabletalk
• Publisher: Ligonier Ministries
• Publication Date: July 2002
• Pages: 62

About Ligonier Ministries

R. C. Sproul is founder and president of Ligonier Ministries and president of Ligonier Academy. He also servers as the senior pastor of Saint Andrew’s in Sanford, Fla., and he has written more than seventy books including The Holiness of God, The Intimage Marriage, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, Following the Cross, and the R. C. Sproul Exposition Collection.

Burk Parsons serves as editor of Tabletalk and associate pastor of Saint Andrew’s in Sanford, Fla., and he is editor of the books Assured by God: Living in the Fullness of God’s Grace and John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology.