College of Theology Blogs
- Putting Questions to God
Paul R. Raabe 09-10-2024 Abstract: The reader of the Scriptures often comes across passages where the faithful put questions to God. These are typically rhetorical questions, such as “why?” and “how long?” These rhetorical questions are not to be misunderstood as complaints about God but as part of God-pleasing prayer to God. The pray-er was…Continue Reading Putting Questions to God - Christian Transhumanism and the Loss of Human PersonhoodJoseph Miller 03-25-2024 Abstract: In times past, the dream of transcending the limited human form was shaped by mysticism and religious myth. In the twentieth century, the ancient belief that humans were, and are, masters of their own destiny became wedded to both naturalism and technological advances. This desire to transcend the limits of the…Continue Reading Christian Transhumanism and the Loss of Human Personhood
- Food: What’s so Theologically and Missiologically Significant About It?John Cheong 02-06-2024 Abstract: Everyone loves to eat and opine about food. The Bible has much to say about food, yet few conversations or theological reflections have focused on how this topic might function as a central part of the Christian life and identity. This essay sets forth the beginnings of a theology of food. …Continue Reading Food: What’s so Theologically and Missiologically Significant About It?
- Does God Experience the Unfolding of Time?by Rich Holland 11-27-2023 Abstract: For much of the history of Christian theology, it has been assumed that God exists “outside of” time, in an eternity that contains no temporal sequence or passage of time. Many Christians today accept this traditional atemporal viewpoint without question. When pressed against the biblical descriptions of God, however, the traditional…Continue Reading Does God Experience the Unfolding of Time?
- What Does it Mean for God to be “One”?by Brian Koning 10-30-2023 Abstract: The prophet Moses expressed the core of Old Testament theology when he said, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deut. 6:4, ESV). Called the Shema, this is Israel’s fundamental theological view of God, but what does it mean? For Trinitarian Christians, does this oneness of God pose…Continue Reading What Does it Mean for God to be “One”?
- What are Matters of Life and Death, Good and Evil, in the Pentateuch?by Daniel S. Diffey 10-03-2023 Abstract: The Bible opens with a picture of a good creation that quickly becomes marked by death and evil due to the actions of Adam and Eve. The first five books of the Bible, called the Pentateuch, represent these same themes of life and death—and good and evil—at important junctures. The…Continue Reading What are Matters of Life and Death, Good and Evil, in the Pentateuch?
- God’s Beautiful Gift of Transition
By Todd Forrest We finally get settled. Life seems predictable. We have a sense of security in locations, relationships, and rhythms of life. Then, in what seems like a moment, everything is out of balance. The solid foundation of each day, our schedules and our futures are suddenly thrust into a misty unknown. This is…Continue Reading God’s Beautiful Gift of Transition - Finish Well by Cherishing Last Opportunities
By Dr. Scott Hovater Graduation is around the corner and your life is about to change. You will soon be entering the work force full time or heading off to graduate school. Many of you will get married and start a family. All of you are starting a new chapter in your life. Thanks to…Continue Reading Finish Well by Cherishing Last Opportunities - How Will Others Remember Me?
By Todd Forrest The title’s question is not one of insecurity, it is a legacy of blessing. As you are closing this chapter of your life as a college student, how you exit makes all the difference in how you will be remembered. What will your current friendships look like a year from now? Whom…Continue Reading How Will Others Remember Me? - A Purpose Filled Goodbye
By Dr. Shelly Hogan Hello Senior! The time has finally arrived. After years of classroom lectures, long nights of study, and assignment deadlines, you have almost reached the finish line, you are nearly ready to cross the stage, and you will soon receive your diploma. Your hard work is paying off and you will be…Continue Reading A Purpose Filled Goodbye - Student Spotlight – Rebecca Probst
The College of Theology at GCU is embracing its commitment to helping students share the truth of God throughout their education; this is reflected by a student named Becky (Rebecca) Probst. Recently, we were able to catch up with Becky and ask some questions about her life, her time as a GCU student, and her…Continue Reading Student Spotlight – Rebecca Probst - Dig Deeper – An Exclusive Interview With the Deans
The College of Theology seeks to encourage spiritual development amongst our students and modern scholars. The concept of “Anchors Away” was developed with a recognition towards the concept of pursuing God’s purpose despite the difficult circumstances that one might face. An interview conducted with Dr. Jason Hiles (Dean – College of Theology), Dr. Peter Anderson…Continue Reading Dig Deeper – An Exclusive Interview With the Deans - Faculty Spotlight – Brett Berger
Alongside his work as the Director of the Barnabas Pastoral Program, Brett Berger is an instructor for the College of Theology and a Department Chair for the Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry program at Grand Canyon University. For the release of our Fall newsletter (2022), we had the opportunity to discuss his work over…Continue Reading Faculty Spotlight – Brett Berger - Canyon Worship Live – Exclusive Interview With Trina Beecher
The College of Theology seeks to encourage spiritual development amongst our students and modern scholars. In doing so, students are enabled to pursue and provide a strong illustration of God’s purpose for others. For quite some time, the Canyon Worship Live experience has provided this opportunity. An interview conducted with one of the participants, Trina…Continue Reading Canyon Worship Live – Exclusive Interview With Trina Beecher - Alumni Spotlight – Casey Thorpe
As the Director of Athletics at Paradise Valley Christian Prep (Phoenix, AZ), Casey Thorpe is leading an initiative to build a firm foundation of Christlike values that will captivate the hearts of student athletes. We recently had the opportunity to catch up with Casey and ask a few questions for our newsletter. See his responses…Continue Reading Alumni Spotlight – Casey Thorpe - Dig Deeper – An Exclusive Interview with Dr. Jason Hiles (Dean, COT)
The College of Theology seeks to encourage spiritual development amongst our students and modern scholars. The concept of “Moving Forward” was developed with a recognition towards relying on God as one’s source of strength despite the difficult circumstances that one might face. An interview conducted with the Dean in the College of Theology, Dr. Jason…Continue Reading Dig Deeper – An Exclusive Interview with Dr. Jason Hiles (Dean, COT) - Alumni Spotlight – Noah Wolfe
Did you know that the new Director of Alumni Relations and Engagement for GCU graduated from the College of Theology! As we developed our newsletter for the Spring of 2021, we decided to catch up with him and gather some details regarding his current pursuits! Check out his responses below: Give us an update! What…Continue Reading Alumni Spotlight – Noah Wolfe - Student Spotlight – Austin Rockwell
Recently, we were able to catch up with a current student named Austin Rockwell. We asked him about his time at GCU and all that he has done. Here’s what he shared: Tell us about yourself! What are you currently involved in, some of your favorite hobbies, and what are your future career goals? My…Continue Reading Student Spotlight – Austin Rockwell - The Christian Calling in a Broken World: Walking in Love
October 29, 2020 by Daniel Diffey, PhD This fall the College of Theology welcomed the Barnabas Pastoral students to campus. These students are here in pursuit of their calling to pastoral ministry. Part of this program includes the students participating in a Pastorem Shepherding Group, which are designed to help students consider various aspects of…Continue Reading The Christian Calling in a Broken World: Walking in Love - Imputation
By Paul Raabe, PhDCollege of Theology March 19, 2020 Are you righteous before God your Maker and Judge? The Glad Tidings from God himself is this: Yes! The verb “impute” is a technical term that means “to charge or account something to a person which that person did not previously have, to reckon as yours…Continue Reading Imputation - Theology Thursday: Substitution
By Justin McLendon, PhDCollege of Theology March 12, 2020 “And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son” (Genesis 22:13). These vivid words arrest our attention as we sit on the edge of our seats and think through what is happening between this father, Abraham…Continue Reading Theology Thursday: Substitution - Spiritual Growth Challenge: Prioritizing Meaningful Relationships
By Shelly Hogan, D. MinCollege of Theology July 18, 2019 From the start of the human race it has been evident that authentic and meaningful relationships are essential. In fact, one of the first recorded words from God on the subject, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18), remind us…Continue Reading Spiritual Growth Challenge: Prioritizing Meaningful Relationships - Spiritual Growth Challenge: Seeking and Becoming a Mentor
By Andrew Mooney, ABDCollege of Theology June 27, 2019 This author’s philosophy of seeking and becoming a mentor derives from three basic modalities: First, intentionally embracing all people, no matter what race, status or faith background. Second, offering encouragement, in some way, to everyone that crosses the one’s path. Finally, equipping individuals with the tools…Continue Reading Spiritual Growth Challenge: Seeking and Becoming a Mentor - Spiritual Growth Challenge: Spiritual Warfare
By Mark Kreitzer, PhDCollege of Theology June 20, 2019 Spiritual formation can be described as growth from spiritual infancy to mentorship. The Apostle John sets out three stages of spiritual growth in 1 John 2. He indicates that a person enters the first stage of growth when he or she becomes a baby Christian by…Continue Reading Spiritual Growth Challenge: Spiritual Warfare - Spiritual Growth Challenge: Spiritual Dryness
By Andy McClurg, PhDCollege of Theology June 13, 2019 Does your love for God sometimes seem like it is like a feeble flame, ready to be blown out by the next strong wind? Do the spiritual disciplines seem at times to be drudgery? Does it sometimes seem as if your prayers are getting no higher…Continue Reading Spiritual Growth Challenge: Spiritual Dryness - Toward a Christian Maturity: The Importance of Reading the Bible
By Daniel Diffey, PhDCollege of Theology May 23, 2019 Why do you read the Bible? Or maybe I should ask the question, why do you not read the Bible? As someone who teaches the Bible in both the context of the university and the church it is clear that many Christians do not take reading…Continue Reading Toward a Christian Maturity: The Importance of Reading the Bible - Spiritual Growth Challenge: 3 Simple Ways to Optimize Your Life of PrayerBy Todd Forrest, MACollege of Theology May 16, 2019Prayer. As we look at our initial Spiritual Growth Challenge, it brings an immediate reaction to each of us. How can something so simple have volumes of books written about it, yet its effectiveness and consistent use in our lives, seem to elude us? We can point…Continue Reading Spiritual Growth Challenge: 3 Simple Ways to Optimize Your Life of Prayer
- Theology Thursday: How To Live for Christ
By Daniel Diffey, PhDCollege of Theology January 31, 2019 In the Gospels, Jesus called his disciples to live for him, to die to themselves, and to be radically different than the world around them. This can be seen in places like Mark 8:34 where Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny…Continue Reading Theology Thursday: How To Live for Christ - Theology Thursday: Using Apologetics
By Numa Gomez, MDivCollege of Theology January 17, 2019 Many believe that Apologetics is a waste of time because no one has ever made a decision to follow Christ because of Apologetics. As one who teaches Worldview and Apologetics, I do agree that not many have been converted through apologetics, I would also argue that…Continue Reading Theology Thursday: Using Apologetics - Theology Thursday: Fruitful Disciples
By Pete Charpentier, D. MinCollege of Theology January 03, 2019 It’s a new year, and many people are focused on becoming more productive. They want to get better grades, lose more weight, make more money, etc. When it comes to living as a disciple of Jesus, the idea of “productivity” has a place. An important…Continue Reading Theology Thursday: Fruitful Disciples - Theology Thursday: Loving God with Our Minds, Intellectual Activity as Discipleship
By Rich Holland, PhDCollege of Theology December 20, 2018 Following Jesus as his disciple requires full commitment and obedience to Jesus. As expressed in Matthew 22:37, Jesus said that the great commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.” Jesus’ reference to…Continue Reading Theology Thursday: Loving God with Our Minds, Intellectual Activity as Discipleship - Theology Thursday: Before the Face of God
By Justin McLendon, PhDCollege of Theology October 11, 2018 Over the years, I have accepted the reality I certainly will face when reading through any one of the great Christian classics again. Whether it is J. I. Packer’s “Knowing God,” John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” or perhaps less familiar, that time where the boy Shasta, in his perilous emptiness,…Continue Reading Theology Thursday: Before the Face of God - Theology Thursday: The Long Obedience of Christian DiscipleshipBy Peter Anderson, PhDCollege of Theology September 13, 2018 We live in an unprecedented age of immediacy. Do you need to know the best Mediterranean restaurant within walking distance? No problem. Just ask Siri or Google. Do you want to visit with family or friends across the country or around the world? Sounds great. Just…Continue Reading Theology Thursday: The Long Obedience of Christian Discipleship
- Theology Thursday: Sanctification and the Holy Trinity
By Christina Larsen, PhDCollege of theology April 26, 2018 These past couple of weeks students in my theology classes have been considering the trickiness of discussing God’s sanctification of His people without collapsing this work into either His work of justification or Christian ethics. As many of you no doubt experience, the challenges in this…Continue Reading Theology Thursday: Sanctification and the Holy Trinity - Theology Thursday: Reflections on the Beatific Vision and Sanctification
By Ryan Brandt, PhDCollege of Theology April 12, 2018 “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18) “This vision is beatific. It beatifies. It transforms the soul into…Continue Reading Theology Thursday: Reflections on the Beatific Vision and Sanctification - Theology Thursday: Multigenerational Churches
By Justin McLendon, PhDCollege of Theology April 05, 2018 Pastors and ministry leaders often struggle over diversity issues in their churches. Books, seminars, conferences and popular podcasts compel us to think through the deep implications of diversity for the health and vibrancy of the local church. From my perspective, while these conversations are necessary and…Continue Reading Theology Thursday: Multigenerational Churches - Dear Theophilus: On the Spiritual Discipline of Study and Intellectual Engagement
By Manny Cota, MACollege of Theology April 03, 2018 At times I struggle balancing my spiritual life and my intellectual life. I like to go deep and ask deep questions, but some have recently condemned my questions as prideful and “worldly.” Does the Bible condemn academic study or intellectual engagement because it counts as “worldly…Continue Reading Dear Theophilus: On the Spiritual Discipline of Study and Intellectual Engagement - Theology Thursday: You Need the Church, and the Church Needs You
By Joshua Greever, PhDCollege of Theology March 08, 2018 Occasionally people ask me whether I think it is necessary for them to participate in the life of a local church. For students in particular, they derive much spiritual benefit already from their time at GCU, so they wonder whether church is really necessary, at least…Continue Reading Theology Thursday: You Need the Church, and the Church Needs You - Dear Theophilus: On the Church and Growing Spiritually
By Steve Duby, PhDCollege of Theology January 30, 2018 In the midst of my busy life, I sometimes wonder whether I need to be a member at a church in order to be spiritually healthy. I have Christian friends and am part of a Christian university. I can listen to sermons online and get worship…Continue Reading Dear Theophilus: On the Church and Growing Spiritually - Trending Faith: Does Faith Change Our Identity?
November 22, 2017 In this episode of Trending Faith, Dean of the College of Theology Jason Hiles, PhD, and University Pastor and Dean of Students Tim Griffin, EdD, discuss how the Bible tells us that our identity changes when we place our faith in Christ. Dr. Griffin begins by explaining that when somebody places their…Continue Reading Trending Faith: Does Faith Change Our Identity? - Dear Theophilus: On Finding Our New Identity in Christ
By Mark Kreitzer, PhDCollege of Theology October 03, 2017 What does “in Christ” mean? I’ve seen it a lot in the Bible, particularly in Ephesians. Sincerely, Theophilus Dear Theophilus, To answer your question, we must first consider what it means to seek reconciliation with the Lord for our sins. The initial step of reconciliation with…Continue Reading Dear Theophilus: On Finding Our New Identity in Christ - Theology Thursday: Life Long Learning
April 06, 2017 I sat at lunch with a distinguished looking man in his early 60’s. He, the seasoned and respected pastor of a church in the north hills of Pittsburgh, and I, the ironically titled 23-year-old “Senior Pastor” of a church in the south hills of the same city. I listened with interest as…Continue Reading Theology Thursday: Life Long Learning - Theology Thursday: The Perfect Patience of Jesus
By Joshua Greever, PhDCollege of Theology January 26, 2017 In 1 Timothy 1:12-17 the Apostle Paul recounts his story of conversion from Judaism to Christ Jesus. Before his conversion experience on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9), Paul had been a persecutor of Christians, yet this did not keep Jesus from granting Paul “the…Continue Reading Theology Thursday: The Perfect Patience of Jesus - Building a Theological Library: Old Testament – Part 2
By Daniel Diffey, PhDCollege of Theology September 27, 2016 In my previous blog post, I noted several resources that I recommend in the areas of Old Testament introduction, theology and history. On this go around, I will be recommending resources in the areas of biblical theology, Bible geography and Hebrew. As I noted in my…Continue Reading Building a Theological Library: Old Testament – Part 2 - Theology Thursday: What is True Leadership?By Joshua Greever, PhDCollege of Theology September 22, 2016 As we enter as a nation into the final stages of the presidential election season, we are forced to consider afresh what kind of leadership our country needs. We are faced with questions regarding the nature and purpose of leadership, as well as what constitutes effective…Continue Reading Theology Thursday: What is True Leadership?
- Top Theology Books for Seminarians: ConclusionBy John Frederick, PhDCollege of Theology September 12, 2016 In conclusion to the Top Theology Books for Seminarians series, I wish to remind the reader that seminary is the time and place in which we devote ourselves to developing the skills for a lifetime of learning. Read broadly, but read deeply. And most importantly, read…Continue Reading Top Theology Books for Seminarians: Conclusion
- Top Theology Books for Seminarians: Part 5
By John Frederick, PhDCollege of Theology September 09, 2016 In several previous posts, I have given a list and provided commentary on some of the top theology books for seminarians. My commentaries on the rest of the books on that list continue in this post: A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of…Continue Reading Top Theology Books for Seminarians: Part 5 - Top Theology Books for Seminarians: Part 4
By John Frederick, PhDCollege of Theology September 02, 2016 In Part 1 of this series, I gave a complete list of the top 10 to theology books for seminarians. In Part 2 and Part 3 of this series, I gave brief commentaries on some of the books on the list. Today, I will continue providing…Continue Reading Top Theology Books for Seminarians: Part 4 - Top Theology Books for Seminarians: Part 3
By John Frederick, PhDCollege of Theology August 25, 2016 In Part 1 of this series on the top theology books for seminarians, I gave a complete list of the top 10 recommend readings. In Part 2 of this series, I provided some brief commentaries on the first three books on the list. Today, I would…Continue Reading Top Theology Books for Seminarians: Part 3 - Top Theology Books for Seminarians: Part 2
By John Frederick, PhDCollege of Theology August 18, 2016 In Part 1 of this series, I gave a complete list of the top 10 recommended readings for aspiring, current and graduated seminarians. Today, I will provide some brief commentaries on the first three titles. In future blogs posts, the remaining commentaries will be given. The…Continue Reading Top Theology Books for Seminarians: Part 2 - Top Theology Books for Seminarians: Part 1By John Frederick, PhDCollege of Theology August 11, 2016 The season of spiritual discipleship, growth and learning that takes place during the seminary years is meant to be deep and broad, but not exhaustive. If a student leaves seminary feeling like they have pretty much completed rather than just begun a lifelong quest to know…Continue Reading Top Theology Books for Seminarians: Part 1
- Training in the Biblical Languages at Grand Canyon Theological Seminary
By Jason Hiles, PhDCollege of Theology August 02, 2016 As the standard degree for ordained professional ministry, the Master of Divinity (MDiv) is designed to train students who are called to serve in local churches, Christian organizations and other ministerial settings. Because the MDiv is a pastorally oriented degree, one of the primary objectives is…Continue Reading Training in the Biblical Languages at Grand Canyon Theological Seminary - Introducing the Journal of Biblical and Theological Studies
July 29, 2016 The Journal of Biblical and Theological Studies (JBTS) is an open-source online journal on the topic of biblical and theological studies. Copyrighted by Grand Canyon Theological Seminary, the journal is written from an interdenominational evangelical viewpoint. In addition, it is reviewed by an editorial board of faculty from various academic institutions around…Continue Reading Introducing the Journal of Biblical and Theological Studies - Interdenominational Dynamics at Grand Canyon Theological Seminary
By Jason Hiles, PhDCollege of Theology July 18, 2016 Grand Canyon Theological Seminary equips scholars, ministers and Christian leaders within the context of a denominationally diverse environment that is shaped by an interdenominational mission and vision. The faculty includes representatives from more than a dozen denominational traditions that span the evangelical spectrum. Likewise, the student…Continue Reading Interdenominational Dynamics at Grand Canyon Theological Seminary - Building a Theological Library: Old Testament Introductory Material
By Daniel Diffey, PhDCollege of Theology July 15, 2016 One of the questions that I am asked the most by my theology students is for good book recommendations on certain topics. In an attempt to help my students, and anyone else who may see this, I wanted to do a series of blog posts over…Continue Reading Building a Theological Library: Old Testament Introductory Material - Distinguishing Between Essential and Nonessential Christian Beliefs
By Jason Hiles, PhDCollege of Theology July 13, 2016 In order to model the value of evangelical unity to students, the faculty at Grand Canyon Theological Seminary are careful to make key distinctions in their teaching and classroom interaction. Theologians and other Christian leaders have long distinguished between doctrine that is absolutely essential to the…Continue Reading Distinguishing Between Essential and Nonessential Christian Beliefs - Focusing on Scripture to Foster Evangelical UnityBy Pete Charpentier, D. MinCollege of Theology July 01, 2016 Fostering unity has always been a challenge for Christians. For example, Paul challenged the Church at Corinth to embrace unity and reject factions (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). But this might be expected since the believers at Corinth struggled on many fronts. However, Paul also called apparent…Continue Reading Focusing on Scripture to Foster Evangelical Unity
- Seminary Preparation and the Local Church
By Jason Hiles, PhDCollege of Theology June 28, 2016 No other environment offers quite the same opportunity to cultivate unity with fellow Christians as the local church. It is easy to speak of unity theoretically and in isolation from others. It is another thing altogether to speak of unity when dealing with real human beings…Continue Reading Seminary Preparation and the Local Church - The Importance of Instruction in the Christian Life
By Daniel Diffey, PhDCollege of Theology August 12, 2015 School is about to start again. Near the beginning of each of my classes, I give a short lecture on the importance of instruction (and particularly accepting instruction) within the Christian life. Whether you are in class, at church or at your job, it is important…Continue Reading The Importance of Instruction in the Christian Life - Overcome Pride, for Heaven’s SakeBy Jim Uhley, D. MinCollege of Theology June 29, 2015 Luke 23:32-43 tells the story of three men on crosses. Two of the three men were from the bottom of society. We don’t know their crimes, but Matthew tells us they were robbers, implying violent thefts. The Romans were law-and-order people, and there was no…Continue Reading Overcome Pride, for Heaven’s Sake
- Theology and Ministry Grounded in Biblical Truth
By Jason Hiles, PhDCollege of Theology February 13, 2015 It is difficult to overestimate the significance of Holy Scripture when you consider the theological task and the goals of Christian ministry. Certainly other sources of knowledge are of value as we formulate theology and minister to God’s people. Often personal experience is brought to bear…Continue Reading Theology and Ministry Grounded in Biblical Truth - Part 2: Are You Biblically Qualified for Ministry?
By Jason Hiles, PhDCollege of Theology December 20, 2014 “[An elder] must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” (Titus 1:9) Qualifications for ministers are listed in several New Testament passages, including 1 Timothy…Continue Reading Part 2: Are You Biblically Qualified for Ministry? - Part 1: Are You Biblically Qualified for Ministry?By Jason Hiles, PhDCollege of Theology December 14, 2014 All who sense God’s calling to ministry will be wise to consider the biblical requirements of a minister. Qualifications for ministers are listed in several New Testament passages including 1 Timothy 3 where the apostle Paul writes: “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the…Continue Reading Part 1: Are You Biblically Qualified for Ministry?
- Preach the Word
By Jason Hiles, PhDCollege of Theology December 10, 2014 In the fourth chapter of 2 Timothy, the apostle Paul charges his young protégé, Timothy, to carry out the chief duties of his office as an elder: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and…Continue Reading Preach the Word