Stromata (1956-2020) | Calvin Theological Seminary Student Scholarship

Stromata was founded in 1956 in the 80th year of Calvin Theological Seminary, and was managed, edited, and reviewed by graduate (doctoral and master-level) students.

Stromata’s mission statement is the following: "Anchored in the Reformed tradition, Stromata is a publication that seeks to promote critical thinking into theology and religious studies, and aims to be a vehicle for scholarly expression."

The views expressed in Stromata do not necessarily represent the position of the Executive Committee, Editors, Student Senate, or the Student Body of Calvin Theological Seminary. Authors retain responsibility for accuracy of all references and for securing permission when using copyrighted material.

Printed volumes (1–61 / 1956–2020) are located in the Hekman Library.

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The Stromata vol. 61, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

5- Finding Hope while Struggling by Isaias D’Oleo-Ochoa

7- Liturgical Theology in the Psalter by Andrew J. Belcher

22- Plantinga’s Ontological Argument of God by Jung-Yao Wang

43- Worshipping with Our Children by Sewon Jang
The Stromata vol. 59, no. 2

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

5- Joelsson, Linda. Paul and Death: A Question of Psychological Coping by Nathaniel Gamble

9- Herman Bavinck's Doctrine of Sanctification: A Gift and Reward by Travis Jamieson

33- Gregory’s Macrina: Disguise and Recognition: The Intersections Between Homer, Scripture and Life of Macrina by Lisa L Gierlach-Walker

47- Being of Time: A Liturgical Longing by Ruan Bessa da Silveira

63- The Role of Romans 4 in the Whole Letter and the Narrative Substructure in it by Dawei Shao
The Stromata vol. 60, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

5- Volume Sixty and Still Running by Isaias D’Oleo-Ochoa

7- Let’s Live the Words by Abigail DeZeeuw

10- Towards a Theology of Accommodation: God’s Gift to All His Beloved by Abigail DeZeeuw

17- The Possible Presence of the Concept of the Covenant of Works in Calvin’s Theology and Its Implication for His Soteriology by Eunyi Lee

42- Reading John 7:37–39 in Light of Zechariah 14 by Gwangsoo Lee

54- An Invitation to Dialogue: Sacramental Theology based on the Views of Louis-Marie Chauvet and John Calvin by Sewon Jang
The Stromata vol. 58, no. 2

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

3- Green, Joel B., and Lee M. McDonald, The World of the New Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts by Yun Suk Kang

7- Hulst, Mary S., A Little Handbook for Preachers: Ten Practical Ways to a Better Sermon by Sunday by Chadd M. Huizenga

10- Kim, Koowo, Incubation as a Type-Scene in the ʾAqhatu, Kirta, and Hannah Stories: A Form-Critical and Narratological Study of KTU 1.14 I–1.15 III, 1.17 I–II, and 1 Samuel 1:1 2:11 by Caris Kim

13- The Gospel of Luke and the Calling of the Intellectual by David Tassell

19- Christian Unity from Our Familial Identity as Realized in Baptism, the Lord’s Prayer, and Communion by Alicia Janowski

26- Panentheistic Elements in Wolfhart Pannenberg’s Notion of God by Isaias D’Oleo Ochoa

35- John W. Cooper and the Reasons Why He Does Not Embrace Panentheism by Brent McCulley

41- Heresy, Misrepresentation, and the Resurrection of Christ: A Critique of Paul Molnar’s Assessment of Roger Haight by Nathaniel Gamble

63- Wittgenstein’s Mysticism and Language Games: Implications for a Theology of Religions by Derek Nutt

83- Reimaging Gideon’s Leadership in Light of Max Weber’s Sociology of Authority by Isaias D’Oleo Ochoa

102- Trinitas Est Unus Deus: Trinitarianism in the Philosophy of Hegel by Brent McCulley
The Stromata vol. 59, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

5- On How the Church Can Downplay the Scriptures by Isaias D’Oleo-Ochoa

10- Come, Let Us Reason Together: Avoiding the Intentional Fallacy by Nathaniel A. Schmidt

13- Netland, Harold A. Christianity & Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a Globalizing Age by Fikre H. Norcha

17- Reading the Book of Doom: Why Do Christians Listen to the Old Testament Judgment? by Jeehyun Lee

28- Abraham’s Righteousness in Ben Sira 44:19-21 and Romans 4 by Yun Suk Kang

47- Messianic Unity in Zechariah: A Thematic Investigation by Daniel DeVries

84- Empress Eudocia: A Mole Enters the Theodosian Household by Lisa L Gierlach-Walker

104- Augustine's Presupposition of the Immutability of God: Toward a Theological Motif in Book VII of The Confessions by Brent McCulley
The Stromata vol. 57, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

4- The Relevance of Kuyper and Bavinck to the Creation-Evolution Debate by Thiago Silva

17- Hebrew Word Studies by Students of D301 – Hebrew Fundamentals

54- Jeremiah 23:1-8: The Righteous Branch by Emily Sajdak

74- Orienting Hope: Retaining Space for a Distinctively Christian Hope by Cody Hinkle
The Stromata vol. 58, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

5- Caring for Words as a Moral Issue by Isaias D’Oleo-Ochoa

8- Academics and Spiritual Formation by Jeffrey L. Sajdak

13- Barcellos, Richard C., ed., Confessing the Impassible God: The Biblical, Classical, and Confessional Doctrine of Divine Impassibility by Brent McCulley

15- McGowan, Andrew B., Ancient Christian Worship: Early Church Practices in Social, Historical, and Theological Perspective by Lucky Samuel

17- McKnight, Scot, Kingdom Conspiracy: Returning to the Radical Mission of the Local Church by Benjamin M. Oliveira

19- Sexton, Jason S., ed., Two Views on the Doctrine of the Trinity by Jaehan Kim

23- Bavinck’s Anthropology on Human Nature and the Resurrection of the Body by Thiago Machado Silva

30- Tillich’s Panentheistic View of God by Brent McCulley

35- Jewish Messiah and Lord for All: Andrew Walls on Cross-Cultural Missionary Movement by Zexi Sun

41- Dorothy Day: A Holy Ordinariness by Laura De Jong

62- Augustine on the Origin of the Post-Adamic Soul by Jaehan Kim

74- The Empire Striking: A Brief Account on the Decian Persecution and the Christian Response by Zexi Sun

93- Kierkegaard’s Redemptive Ethic of Interpersonal Forgiveness by Derek Nutt

111- N.T. Wright and the Body-Soul Predicament: The Presumption of Duality in Ontological Holism by Isaias D’Oleo-Ochoa
The Stromata vol. 56, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

2- There’s a Want and There’s a Need by Benjamin Gandy

5- The Meaning of καινὴ κτίσις in Paul’s Epistles by Chungyeol Lim

29- A Wise Woman from Tekoa: Lady Wisdom in the Court of King David? by Doren G. Snoek

41- The Reasons of the Christian Religion: Richard Baxter’s Apologetics in its Seventeenth-Century Context by Shelby Gemmen

61- The Significance of ἀρχή in Colossians 11:8 and Revelation 3:14 in Light of Roman Imperialism by Kyusung Jang

79- Living into Community: Cultivating Practices That Sustain Us by Christine Pohl by Blake Campbell
The Stromata vol. 55, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

2- Genesis 37:1-11 by Tae Kyung Jun

6- I Thessalonians 4:13-18 by Betsy DeVries

15- Cornelius Van Til: The Misunderstood Apologist by Shelby Gemmen

29- Visions of Grace: Sacramental Metaphors in Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologiae and John Calvin's Institutes of The Christian Religion by Doren G. Snoek

40- The Theology of John Chrysostom from his 21 Sermons delivered in 387 on the Riot that occurred in Antioch by David Zigterman

56- Correction & Guidance: The Role of Reason in Hadewijch of Antwerp by John C. Medendorp

79- The Birth Dearth and Classis Toronto: Why it’s worth noting why we stopped having productive sex by Wayne Veenstra

89- Impossibility of Adam: Genetics as a Challenge to the Historical Adam by Jonathan S. Owens
The Stromata vol. 54, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

4- Editorial by Joshua C. Smith

5- Autumn by Diana Burns

6- Living the Good Life by Matthew Burns

13- Strangers in a Strange Land by Michael Kornelis

10- So, You are a King? by John C. Medendorp

27- Called to Rejection by Ricardo Tavárez

33- “God was with Joseph”: Genesis 39 by Kwang Il Choi

43- The Book of Exodus: Pedagogy for a Youth Ministry of Freedom by Adrian de Lange

55- The Lives of the Saints: An Education in the Good Life by Mark VanderWerf

76- Shalom-Directed Justice and the Church by Adam Van Gelder

98- Martin Luther on Vocation: Bridging the Gap between Creation and the Eschaton by Reita Yazawa
The Stromata vol. 54, no. 2

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

3- Editorial by John C. Medendorp

6- Michigan Springtime Righteousness

7- James E. Adams, War Psalms of the Prince of Peace and Eric Zenger, A God of Vengeance? by Sa Myung Kang

11- William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith by Shelby Gemmen

12- Timothy Keller, Counterfeit Gods by Matthew Burns

17- John Suk, Not Sure by Brandon Haan

20- I Prayed the Other Day

21- Satisfy Us With Your Unfailing Love by Derek W. Buikema

29- The Man by Tae Kyung Jun

34- But She Will Be Saved Through Childbearing

35- Do Not Grieve the Holy Spirit but Imitate God: Ephesians 4:25-5:2 by Hanbyul Kang

48- Judah’s Speech: Genesis 44:18-34 by Sa Myung Kang

57- The Lord Will Provide

58- A Calvinist Critique of Just Peacemaking Theory by Sooncheol Lee

77- Coons and Camels

78- Biandrata, Gentile, and Calvin: Antitrinitarian Contro- versies in Calvin’s Institutes by Reita Yazawa

99- Barefoot
The Stromata vol. 53, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

5- Here I Am by Scott De Young

7- A Brief Breviary of Sin by Dylan O’Brien Pahman

15- The Prohibition of Sorcery in Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Law by Daniel J. Vos

43- Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in a ‘Sea of Gospels’: An Apologetic for the Four Canonical Gospels by Mark VanderWerf

57- John Calvin and the Authority of the Fathers: An Interaction with A. N. S. Lane’s Ancillary View by Joshua C. Smith

77- The Hardening of the Heart in the Conquest Narrative: Reconsidering the Identity of הצרעה in Joshua 24:12 by Samyung Kang
The Stromata vol. 53, no. 2

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

4- Editorial by John C. Medendorp

5- Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses by John C. Medendorp

8- John Dickson, The Best Kept Secret of Christian Mission by Katherine Garvelink Hirschberg

12- Diarmaid MacCullouch, Christianity by Adrian de Lange

14- Richard J. Mouw, Abraham Kuyper by Mark VanderWerf

17- Christian Smith, The Bible Made Impossible by Joshua C. Smith

19- Walter Wangerin, Jr., The Book of the Dun Cow by Peter Rockhold

21- Seeing as God Sees by Kyle Dieleman

28- The Hidden Treasure and the Pearl by Darren M. Pollock

36- “The Inner Human Logic of Forgiveness” by Kyle Brooks

44- Calvin’s Use of Cicero by Michael Kornelis

70- The Personhood of the Holy Spirit by Sunghoon Lee

92- Children at the Lord’s Table by Reita Yazawa

104- Beloved Sons by Jane & Doug Porter
The Stromata vol. 51, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

1- The Guys by Walter Miedema

3- A Fool’s Race by Jennifer Holmes

9- Irresponsible Grace by Ruth Lemmen

17- Via Media or Tertium Quid?: A Critical Examination of Meredith G. Kline’s Interpretation of rûaḥ elōhîm in Genesis 1:2 by Laurence R. O'Donnell III

37- History and Theology: A Reflection on Ernst Troeltsch’s Historical Critical by Method Reita Yazawa

46- Finding Freedom in Forgiveness: Exploring the Cost of Miroslav Volf’s Free of Charge by Heather Stroobosscher

54- John Calvin’s Commentary on Seneca’s De Clementia: A Reception Study by Kory Plockmeyer

70- The Meaning of “A Kingdom of Priests” in Exod 19:6 Revisited by Kyu Seop Kim

87- “To God Be the Glory”: A Reflection on Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 8 by Heather Stroobosscher

89- The Widow of Nain by Randall Buursma
The Stromata vol. 50, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

1- Moses Under Attack: Identifying the Victim in Exodus 4:24-26 by Matt Stob

16- Naomi and Ruth as the Literary Characters in the Book of Ruth by Rong Xie

35- The Vision of the Surveyor and the Accompanying Oracle: Zechariah 2:5-17 by Nevada DeLapp

55- Commitment as a Context for Discipleship in the New Monasticism by Sean Baker

74- Religious Pluralism and Tolerance in the Qur'an by Geoffrey Van Drag

89- Ministering to Birthmoms Later in Life: What Role Can the Church Play in Areas of Healing and Education? by Heather Stroobosscher

96- Sentiments on Hell by Anthony Sytsma

106- Happy is the One Who...What?: Psalm 1 by David Salverda

114- Hope for the Grave: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (BC Art. 37) by Chelsey L. Harmon

120- Essays Arthur Peacocke. All That Is: A Naturalistic Faith for the Twenty-First Century by Sung-Joon Moo

125- Amy Plantinga Pauw. The Supreme Harmony of All: The Trinitarian Theology of Jonathan Edwards by Reita Yazawa

132- "Jacob, Esau, and God: A Choral Reading" by Randall Buursma
The Stromata vol. 49, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

1- The Prophezei and the Lectorium: The Zurich Academy Under the Leadership of Zwingli and Bullinger by Reita Yazawa

13- Getting Atonement Theory to Work: An Application of Robert Sherman’s Trinitarian 21- Theology of Atonement to Christian Spiritual Formation by Darrin Compagner

21- Exposition of Lord’s Days 20-22, Q&A’s #53-58 by Jason De Vreis

43- Elements of Biblical Exegesis in the Commentary of Peter Martyr Vermigli on the Book of Judges with an Emphasis on Allegory by Kristin E. K. Palacios

54- Fear, Female Sexuality, and the Church: A Pastoral Challenge by Amanda C. Bakale

62- God’s Church: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 by John Lee

72- Scraping off Our Scales: Lev 14:1-20; Matt 8:1-4; Heb 7:23-28 by Chelsey L. Harmon

79- What does Orlando have to do with Babel? Gen 11:1-9 by Mark Hofman

86- A Comprehensive Gospel: Acts 17:16-34 by Craig Hoekema

92- Christ Resists for Us: Matt 4:1-11 by Steve De Ruiter

98- Editorial by Mark Hoffman
The Stromata vol. 48, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

1- Did Zurich and its Antistes Agree to all this? The Zurich Consensus and Calvin’s First Defense Against Westphal by Agata Omelanczuk

14- Calvin’s Election and Reprobation: Not an iron scepter, but a shepherd’s crook by Jay Knochenhauer

25- The Cross of Christ in Ephesians by Zeke Nelson

36- A Forward-Looking Fall: Eden as Typology in Classic Rabbinic Literature by John Lee

45- The Emerging Kingdom of God: The Emerging Church’s Understanding of the Kingdom of God by Brian McLaughlin

67- Arminianism in England and Richard Baxter’s Doctrine of Justification by Jordan J. Ballor

88- Humble Beginnings: Luke 2:1-7 by Rev. Benjamin Spalink

94- Confession: Worshipping with Integrity: Zech. 3:1-10 by Craig Hoekema

100- Following the Shepherds: Luke 2:1-20 by Darrin Compagner
The Stromata vol. 47, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

1- The Use of Reason in Francis Turretin’s Arguments for God’s Existence by David Sytsma

27- Luther and Anti-Judaism by Craig Hoekema

48- A Prayer From the Depths: A Typological Examination Of Jonah 1:17 – 2:10 by Laurie Zuverink

58- An Emerging Vision for the Church in the 21st Century by Brian McLaughlin

86- A Case of Mistaken Identity: Understanding the Context of John Bunyan’s Grace

Abounding by Leon Johnston

99- The Religion of “O” – A Well-Formed Religion? by Brenda Janssen

120- The Power of Darkness: Sermon for Passion Sunday by William Jensen

126- Romans 7: “Where’s Your Story At?” by Brad Knetsch

131- The Imperative of Forgiveness: Matthew 18:23-35 by Kelvin Tarver
The Stromata vol. 45, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

1- Is Elohim Allah? by Wageeh Y. F. Mikhail

18- Sectarianism and Canonization: Qumran to Yavneh by Steven J. Koster

43- Richard Baxter’s Directory for Mission: Puritan Mission Theory in Motive and Method by Brian A. DeVries

77- William Hasker’s Emergentism: A Novice Account by David J. Zehnder

93- A Critique of Alvin Plantinga’s EAAN: Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism by Jeffrey A. Snapper

116- Still Coherent: An Affirmation of Christ’s Full Humanity without Jeopardizing his ‘Necessary’ Impeccability by Simon Sang-Kyun Ko

136- Being Under Authority: Three Essential Questions for the Christian Life by William H. Jensen

145- Grant H. Palmer. Insider’s View of Mormon Origins by Glenn A. Evans

152- Editorial by Jordan Ballor
The Stromata vol. 44, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

4- Our Hands, Our Feet, Our Mouths: A Brief History of Fund-Raising in Christian Reformed World Missions by Timothy Dejonge

14- An Evaluation of the Present Denominational Ministry Structure of the CRCNA by Ben Meyer, Chad Steenwyk, & Joel Ringma

19- Consuming Zeal by Dave Gifford

26- Thy Kingdom Come... by A sermon by Lisa Vander Leek

30- Worship Leadership & The Office of Evangelist by Paul Ryan

34- Editorial—Writer’s Block Blues by Joshua S. Benton
The Stromata vol. 44, no. 2

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

4- The Hollow Hammer: Nietzsche's Weapon Against Christianity by Jordan J. Ballor

12- Our Paedocommunion Discussion: Children and the Lord’s Supper in the Christian Reformed Church by Ryan Faber

18- God is our Deliverer: A sermon on Daniel 6 by Benny Solihin

22- The Problem of Evil: A poem by Daniel Bud

23- The Christian Roadmap: A sermon on Psalm 119:97-106 and 2 Timothy 3:10-17 by Alfred Muema Muli

27- Friendship: A sermon on Romans 5:7-8 by Jeffery W. Scripps

32- On Common Grace: A Tale Related to Romans 1:18-32 and Other Such Texts by Andrew Brennan
The Stromata vol. 43, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

4- Three Secrets of a Deep Universe by Mark Roeda

9- The Role of Deacons by Harold Winter

15- Reflections From Behind the Chalice by Dave Gifford

17- The Trinity by Jordan Ballor

21- What is God “saying” when He is “silent"? by Ken M Vander Horst

27- Worry by Amanda Black

32- Editorial—where do we go from here? by Joshua S. Benton!
The Stromata vol. 43, no. 2

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

4- God’s Longing by Elizabeth Vander Hagen

7- A Pastoral Response to Henri J. M. Nouwen’s “The Self-availability of the Homosexual” by Ben Meyer

10- Mixed Messages by Ken Vander Horst

18- A Call to Reunification and Restoration by Amy Schenkel
The Stromata vol. 42, no. 1

Calvin Theological Seminary

Inside This Issue

4- The Most Reliable by Gary Brouwers

14- On Human Freedom by Ken Vander Hoorst

19- On the Road by Dave Gifford

23- The Meaning of Ordination by Michael Van Boom

38- A Note from the Editor by Joshua Benton

Additional contributions include: Some Singing Stones—Poem To a Cheesecake—Poem (Note from Editor: The Cheesecake has denied a rebuttal)

A Cartoon by Dave Gifford
The Stromata vol. 42, no. 2

Calvin Theological Seminary

In This Issue

4- Lewis’ Imaginative Use of Exhortation: The Significance of C.S. Lewis’ Apologetical Theology for Contemporary Ministry by Jordan J. Ballor

8- Christ on Rood: A poetic look at Christ. on the Cross as seen in The Dream of the Rood by Joshua S. Benton!

15- Homosexuality and the CRC by Ken Vander Horst

27- Analyzing Hypocrisy by Sarah Zhang

30- The Origins of the Qumram Sect by Jordan J. Ballor

37- A Reformed Perspective on Humor by Douglas E. Pruim

45- The Wonder of Human Sexuality: Or the Importance of Being Male and Female by Amanda Black