Current Theme | January 2025

The Image of God in Scripture and Society

What does it mean in Genesis 1:26 when God says. “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”? This January, Christ Over All will take a look at this question from Scripture and throughout society. With God’s Word as our guide, we plan to flesh out how the imago Dei affects the beginning and end of life, gender and sexuality, the physical body, and even church graveyards. In all, we hope to be renewed according to the image of the perfect God-man, Jesus Christ. So join us as we begin 2025 by looking at the theology and ethics of humanity.

December Intermission: From Singing Handel’s Messiah to Showing the Image of God

By David Schrock • Concise Article • January 2
As we transition from reflecting on Handel's Messiah in December to considering the image of God in January, we review the thrilling story contained in that famous oratorio while looking forward to a bedrock doctrine of humanity.

The Dignity of the Human Person: An Evangelical Reading of the Theology of Personhood of Vatican II

By Leonardo De Chirico • Concise Article • January 3
If the Roman Catholic Pope offered to be your guide in the wilderness that is the doctrine of mankind, would you trust him to lead you safely through?

The Embodied Person: Why I Am My Body, Not Just My Soul

By Gregg Allison • Concise Article • January 6
What does Scripture say about the body and the soul? And what important conclusions can we reach about the fullness of who we are?

4.1 David Schrock • Christ Over All in 2025: A Preview

By David Schrock • January 6
Hear what, God willing, lies ahead for Christ Over All in the year of our Lord 2025.

The Need for Theological Anthropology

By Stephen Wellum • Longform Essay • January 8
As the borrowed capital of the beautiful image of God erodes and men see themselves more as beasts, the prodigal goes bankrupt and horrors commence. This is a sad but necessary tale—and the church must tell it.

4.2 Stephen Wellum • Reading • “The Need for Theological Anthropology”

By Stephen Wellum • Longform Reading • January 8
As the borrowed capital of the beautiful image of God erodes and men see themselves more as beasts, the prodigal goes bankrupt and horrors commence. This is a sad but necessary tale—and the church must tell it.

Christ Over All’s Most Read Articles Published in 2024

By Kevin McClure • Concise Article • January 10
We give thanks to God for our authors and readers. We're passing along what 2024 articles gained most traction, and we've also noticed some trends to share . . .

Biblical Ethics and In Vitro Fertilization

By Emma Waters • Concise Article • January 13
An explanation of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in view of the Bible's theology, bodily health, and our larger society.

4.3 Stephen Wellum, David Schrock, Trent Hunter • Interview • “The Need for Theological Anthropology”

By Stephen Wellum, David Schrock, Trent Hunter • Interview • January 13
Listen in as David Schrock and Trent Hunter interview Stephen Wellum on his Christ Over All essay: “The Need for Theological Anthropology"

Designer Embryos and Kids Born from the DNA of Throuple Parents: Understanding the Depraved New World of EPS and IVG

By Emma Waters • Concise Article • January 14
A look at two harrowing developments in reproductive technology: embryonic polygenetic screening (EPS) and in vitro gametogenesis (IVG).

Humans: The Image and Likeness of God

By Stephen Wellum • Concise Article • January 15
How do you define the image of God? Is it Substantive, Functional, or Relational? Or is there a deeper definition that arises from the language of "image" and "likeness" in the scriptures?

The Original Condition of Humanity

By Vern Poythress • Concise Article • January 17
The beauty of Christ's work to restore mankind is bolstered by a proper understanding of our original, pre-fall goodness.

What is Man? Looking to Christ for the Answer (Part 1)

By Michael A. Wilkinson • Longform Essay • January 20
In a world with many ideas about who we are, consider how the divine Son’s incarnation reveals the divine design of our human being.

4.4 Michael Wilkinson • Reading • “What is Man? Looking to Christ for the Answer (Parts 1 + 2)”

By Michael A. Wilkinson • Longform Reading • January 27
In a world with many ideas about who we are, consider how the divine Son’s incarnation reveals the divine design of our human being.

Do Men and Women Have Different Natures?

By Zachary Garris • Concise Article • January 21
How are male and female natures the same, and how are they different?

What is Man? Looking to Christ for the Answer (Part 2)

By Michael A. Wilkinson • Longform Essay • January 21
In order to know what makes us fully human, we must know what makes Christ fully human. Learn the theses of a Chalcedonian anthropology.

The Image of God as the Engine of Dominion

By Michael Clary • Concise Article • January 22
The image of God is much more than an indicator of human value. It not only describes what humans are, it describes what humans do.

Is Transgenderism a Human Right? An International Body, a U.S. President, and a Supreme Court Justice Weigh In

By Colin Smothers • Concise Article • January 23
Human rights depend on affirming the gender binary, established by God in creation. We also find reinforcement of this simple truth in surprising places.

Can Christians Intentionally Choose to Not Have Children? Addressing Three Arguments

By P. Andrew Sandlin • Concise Article • January 24
What does the Bible say to married couples who choose intentional childlessness?

The Doctrine of Victimization and Its Destruction of Personal Agency: A Biblical Perspective

By Ardel Caneday + Trent Hunter • Concise Article • January 27
"Playing the victim" has never been more popular. How did we get here, and how can Christians fight against narratives that rob our personhood?

4.5 Michael Wilkinson, Stephen Wellum, David Schrock • Interview • “What is Man? Looking to Christ for the Answer”

By Stephen Wellum, David Schrock, Trent Hunter • Interview • January 27
Listen in as Stephen Wellum and David Shrock interview Michael Wilkinson on his Christ Over All essay: “What is Man? Looking to Christ for the Answer"

The Death of Death by Tech: Transhumanism’s False Hope

By Jeremy Peckham • Concise Article • January 28
Transhumanism seeks to transcend the barriers of our corporeal nature, even the reality of death. But true hope for death's defeat is only found in Christ.

On Assisted Suicide: What I Said to My State Legislators

By Trent Hunter • Concise Article • January 29
Physicians must never treat suffering with death. Assisted suicide—however motivated—is a form of murder.

Christ is Lord Over Death: A Case for Burial Over Cremation

By Garrett Wishall • Concise Article • January 30
Does God care if we burn or bury the dead?

Planting a Graveyard: Seven Reasons Churches Should Recover an Ancient Practice

By David Schrock & Nate Hendrickson • Concise Article • January 30
Graveyards remind, inform, testify, illustrate, demonstrate, and practically help the church to live so that we might one day be raised with Christ out of the ground.

January Intermission: From the Image of God to the the Doctrine of Sin

By David Schrock • Concise Article • February 3
As we transition from the image of God in January to the doctrine of sin in February, we are going on a hunt to bring light to dark places. Come along for the journey!

Table of Contents

Upcoming

Louis Markos: Holding Sinners Responsible: C.S. Lewis on Sin and Punishment

By Louis Markos • Concise Article

Tom Schreiner: Romans 5 and the Imputation of Adam’s Guilt

By Thomas R. Schreiner • Concise Article

Brad Green: Critical Race Theory’s Confused Doctrine of Sin

By Brad Green • Concise Article

Ardel Caneday: The Forgiveness of Sin

By Ardel Caneday • Concise Article

Hans Maudeme: Original Sin – A Biological or Spiritual Problem?

By Hans Maudeme • Longform Article

Greg Scott: A Review of Yuval Hurai’s Non-religious Morality

By Greg Scott • Concise Article

Kyle Claunch: When Do We Get Our Souls? And How Does that Affect Original Sin?

By Kyle Claunch • Concise Article

Abigail Dodds: When Women Sin: Recognizing the Subtleties of Feminine Vice

By Abigail Dodds • Concise Article

Gina Cross: Are Women Morally Responsible for their Abortions?

By Gina Cross • Concise Article

Bob Jones: A Practical Guide to Overcoming Besetting Sin

By Bob Jones • Concise Article

Robert Gagnon: A Critique of Richard Hays’ Affirming Christianity

By Robert Gagnon • Concise Article

Jared Moore: An Exegetical Critique of “Side B” Christianity

By Jared Moore • Concise Article