January 2022 Ordained Servant

From the Editor. The December 2021 issue marks the end of thirty years of publication. Thankfully, what leads to the failure of many periodicals, especially those with a limited market, is not a problem for Ordained Servant—finances. That is because OS is a ministry of the church financed through Worldwide Outreach to serve the officers of Christ’s church. It has been a great honor with much joy in the labor to serve as editor for the past sixteen years.

This issue contains several reflections on the thirtieth birthday of Ordained Servant: mine as editor, “Grace in Winter: Reflections on Ordained Servant at Thirty,” Danny Olinger from a historical perspective, “Ordained Servant at Thirty,” and several who have helped to produce OS over the years, Ann Hart, Darryl Hart, Diane Olinger, Stephen Pribble, James Scott, and Ayrian Yasar, “Editorial Reflections on Ordained Servant at Thirty.”

Danny Olinger presents chapter 7 of The Writings of Meredith G. Kline on the Book of Revelation: Chapter 7 – “Har Magedon: The End of the Millennium” (1996). This is a valuable compilation and explanation of the writings of biblical theologian Meredith G. Kline on the book of Revelation. Remember that the final online issue of OS in 2021 contains the entire 1946 Masters thesis of Meredith G. Kline, A Study in the Structure of the Revelation of John.

Alan Strange continues his commentary on the Form of Government, “Commentary on the Form of Government of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Chapter 23, Part 2.” Every officer and would-be officer in our church will benefit from this wise exposition.

T. David Gordon reviews a significant book, written for a targeted audience of those who teach and/or administer in Christian schools, Digital Life Together: The Challenge of Technology for Christian Schools by David I. Smith, Kara Sevensma, Marjorie Terpstra, and Steven McMullen.

Ryan McGraw reviews an important new publication of Brill, Duplex Regnum Christi: Christ’s Twofold Kingdom in Reformed Theology by Jonathon D. Beeke. The important distinction between Christ’s twofold kingdom and two kingdoms is explored in light of sixteenth and seventeenth century theology in its context. The last section deals briefly with contemporary two-kingdom literature.

The Committee on Christian Education, through its Subcommittee on Serial Publications, has decided to once again survey the readers and potential readers of Ordained Servant to assess the value of OS for the officers of the OPC and see how we might improve this thirty-year-old publication. We would very much appreciate it if you would complete this brief survey in order to help us minister to the officers of the church in the best way possible.

Finally, as we begin a new year, I offer a poem, “The Calendar of Life.”

Blessings in the Lamb,
Gregory Edward Reynolds

FROM THE ARCHIVES “ORDAINED SERVANT”

http://opc.org/OS/pdf/Subject_Index.pdf

• “Introducing Ordained Servant.” (G. I. Williamson) 1:1 (Jan. 1992): 1–2.
• “Reflections on Twenty-five Years of Ordained Servant” (Gregory E. Reynolds) 25 (2016): 6–9.

Ordained Servant exists to help encourage, inform, and equip church officers for faithful, effective, and God-glorifying ministry in the visible church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Its primary audience is ministers, elders, and deacons of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, as well as interested officers from other Presbyterian and Reformed churches. Through high-quality editorials, articles, and book reviews, we will endeavor to stimulate clear thinking and the consistent practice of historic, confessional Presbyterianism.