A Short Apologetic Here we are again, talking about justification by faith. If you keep up with this column, you know that I have written about this doctrine frequently over the last few years. Why another article on the same issue? Isn’t this merely a theological nicety? It may be important for accurate theology, but … Continue reading Did the Early Anabaptists Believe in Justification by Faith Alone?
Author: Julian Stoltzfus
Smart Phone Epistemology
Since the invention of the iPhone in 2007, our world has been changing. It’s not that the iPhone changed the world by itself, but it provided a key ingredient in an experiment which potently combined several technological developments. The internet, which predated the smart phone, gave us a meta-database containing nearly everything that we know, … Continue reading Smart Phone Epistemology
How to Study Your Bible – Part Three
Main Idea: To equip you to understand the Bible better in private and public study. This workshop was originally given at Truth and Grace Mennonite Church on January 4, 2026.
Common Objections to Justification by Faith Alone
Justification by faith alone is on hard times among the Anabaptists. Some set it aside because they think it is evangelical or Reformed. Others hesitate to accept it because they think that emphasizing the sinner’s righteousness in Christ encourages people to remain comfortable in their sin. After all, if we are accepted by God because … Continue reading Common Objections to Justification by Faith Alone
Cypress Epistemology
The Monterey cypress grows in a few mottled groves along central California’s rocky coastline. It grows quickly, reaching heights of 40-70 feet. In its natural habitat, it is frequently buffeted by wind shear and the salty sea, which batters it into a “sculpted, windswept appearance.” As it grows, it yields to the forces of nature, … Continue reading Cypress Epistemology
Three Marks of Moralistic Preaching
What Is Moralism? Moralism is thinking that God loves good people most. Or we could say, it’s thinking that God’s love for you is primarily determined by how well you obey Him. This mindset is pervasive. Every religion other than Christianity assumes that God’s favor (or that of the gods) is given or withdrawn based … Continue reading Three Marks of Moralistic Preaching
Skyscraper Epistemology
The next sphere of epistemology I will consider is philosophy. The word philosophy comes from philein which means “love” and sophia which means “wisdom.” It refers to the love for wisdom and subsequent pursuit of it. It was originally embodied by Greek philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Socrates asked probing and provocative questions … Continue reading Skyscraper Epistemology
Fighting Anxiety – Philippians 4:6-7
How to Study Your Bible – Part Two
Main Idea: To equip you to understand the Bible better in private and public study. This workshop was originally given at Truth and Grace Mennonite Church on November 2, 2025. Because there was review at the beginning and Q&A at the end, the teaching portion is shorter than part one.
What is Dispensationalism? A Brief Introduction
I had intended to move on to other topics after publishing a pair of articles on dispensationalism and covenantalism. But I’ve received a fair amount of feedback from those articles, which revealed that not everyone has the same idea of what constitutes dispensationalism. So I decided to write another article outlining some basic features just … Continue reading What is Dispensationalism? A Brief Introduction