The Notations of The Masoretic Text
Knowing the Hebrew notations can determine interpretation, and thus, meaning. The Extraordinary Hebrew Text behind Your English Bible Continue reading The Notations of The Masoretic Text
The Democracy of the Dead-Church History
It is fair to say that a large portion of the body of Christ, the church, is in heaven: But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits … Continue reading The Democracy of the Dead-Church History
The Moral Majority Redux-The Bait and The Trap
The Separation of Church and State I opposed the Moral Majority at its conception in the late 1970’s and oppose any of its successors today. What I am saying is that the church and the state should be separate: So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s (Mt. 22.21 NIV). The issue of paying taxes to Pagan Overlords in … Continue reading The Moral Majority Redux-The Bait and The Trap
Contra Replacement Theology: Who are the “People” in Mt. 21.43?
Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit (NIV) This statement of Jesus comes on the heals of the Parable of the Tenants of the Vineyard. The parable is recorded in Mt. 21.33-45, Mk. 12.1-12, and Lk. 20.9-19. Mark and Luke use the term others instead of people … Continue reading Contra Replacement Theology: Who are the “People” in Mt. 21.43?
The Angelic Fall
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment (2Pet. 2.4 ESV) The Separation of Two Peoples Simon Peter, in warning his readers of false teachers, writes about some who were judged for their wickedness, all to encourage the letter’s recipients to stay true to the … Continue reading The Angelic Fall
In Search of Meaning: The Doctrine of Angelic Replacement
This is a previously published post substantially revised and retitled. Also, since these brief thoughts have been brewing in my theological history for many years, I place them at the top of my site. Angel Definition Angels can be thought of as God’s assistants: Who makes his angels spirits, His ministers a fire (Ps. 104.4 Sept.). The popular conception of angels, chubby infants with wings, … Continue reading In Search of Meaning: The Doctrine of Angelic Replacement
How Ephesus causes problems for Skeptics
John the Apostle, the brother of James, ministered in Ephesus during his later years and was exiled to the isle of Patmos, not far from Ephesus. Of the seven letters of Revelation 2&3, Jesus wrote to Ephesus first, mediated through John. Rev. 2.1-7 is the only letter to the Ephesians. It is fairly clear that the Apostle John was the younger brother of James and … Continue reading How Ephesus causes problems for Skeptics
The Body Of Christ in 1Cor. 11.29: Who or What?
Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep (1Cor. 11.28-30 NIV). The bible can be hard to understand sometimes. Even the Apostle Peter … Continue reading The Body Of Christ in 1Cor. 11.29: Who or What?
The Two Leavened Loaves at Pentecost-Lev. 23.15-17
From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave … Continue reading The Two Leavened Loaves at Pentecost-Lev. 23.15-17
Death for a Christian
The old saying holds true: “One is not ready to live life until they are prepared to die.” We all know death is inevitable. Christ’s promise of life (immortality) is the antidote for the second death, To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God (Rev. 2.7b NIV). Those … Continue reading Death for a Christian
Calvin was Not a Cold Ivory-Tower Systematizer
Jean (John) Calvin was a pastor who struggled against much opposition. His remedy was to look for the Return of Christ and have the love of Christ in his heart as the means to faithfully lead his flock. He commends these two qualities for those seeking the pastoral office. John Calvin: The Struggling Pastor’s Best Friend Continue reading Calvin was Not a Cold Ivory-Tower Systematizer
Muller’s Defense of Aquinas’ Use of Ex. 3.14
In focusing on the identity of the First Mover as “He who is,” the existent One, opens up a philosophy that can argue creation ex nihilo and a doctrine of providence, specifically on the ground that the One in whom there is no real distinction between essence and existence can know the essences of potential things and confer existence. Misrepresenting Aquinas with Prejudice — Credo Magazine Continue reading Muller’s Defense of Aquinas’ Use of Ex. 3.14
The Lord’s Prayer Teaches Us How to Pray Every Other Prayer
A Prayer Model The Lord’s Prayer is a model for us. It’s not the only prayer that we ever pray, and Jesus is not telling his disciples (or telling us), You just have to say this one prayer with these words. It’s a very short prayer, but it really is a model. And it helps us… The Lord’s Prayer Teaches Us How to Pray Every Other Prayer … Continue reading The Lord’s Prayer Teaches Us How to Pray Every Other Prayer
How Often Do You Think About Heaven?
1Cor. 13.12-13a speaks about the Christian’s hope: For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love (NIV). Mirrors, in ancient times, were not very good at revealing an image. Water in … Continue reading How Often Do You Think About Heaven?
Perfection (Completion) Through Suffering
It was fitting for God, from whom are all things and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the Prince of their salvation through suffering. (Heb. 2.10) Jesus is the eternal creator through whom the Father enlivens fallen creatures. Jesus took on flesh, lived among men for 33 years and never once broke any Mosaic Law. After all, He … Continue reading Perfection (Completion) Through Suffering
The Divine Advance of Redeeming Materiality: The Incarnation
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth (Jn 4.24 NIV) is what Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well who sought from Him living water. Of course, since the material and spiritual rulers were created by Him and for Him (see Col. 1.16), He could enter the physical realm and appear in various forms to His people … Continue reading The Divine Advance of Redeeming Materiality: The Incarnation
A Womb of Compassion? Col. 3.12
Here is an interesting take on splanckna. Most rendering of this word has “bowels,” which seems a bit odd. Womb, however, makes more sense and is in the same region. In the O.T. one of the names of God derives from being “many breasted” implying never-ending sustenance. God made females perfect in His wisdom, just as He did males. What a wonderfully wise and appropriate … Continue reading A Womb of Compassion? Col. 3.12
The Structure of Psalm 22
Two Heads are Better than One-Reading Primary Sources
Eccl. 4.9-12 tells us that two are better than one when it comes to labor, partnerships, and other practicalities. Older books and primary sources have a way of teaching us better than mediated works, which often fail. Secondary sources can, of course, greatly instruct by their analysis of things which we would not have noticed first hand. However, for the most part, I agree with … Continue reading Two Heads are Better than One-Reading Primary Sources
Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart
Lean Not upon Your Own Understanding J. I. Packer and Our Search for the Stationmaster Continue reading Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart
Aldous Huxley’s Devils of Loudun and the Providence of God
Devils in the Mind | Algis Valiunas | First Things Continue reading Aldous Huxley’s Devils of Loudun and the Providence of God
Finding the Bible’s Meaning
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit (1Cor. 2.14 NIV). This verse is complementary to the previous one where the NIV footnote has a reading that makes more sense: interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. James Murphy … Continue reading Finding the Bible’s Meaning
Ernst Lohmeyer Biography
#ICYMI- An Interview with James R. Edwards- Author of ‘Between the Swastika and the Sickle: The Life, Execution, and Disappearance of Ernst Lohmeyer’ | Zwinglius Redivivus Continue reading Ernst Lohmeyer Biography
The Psalms Versus Present Commercial Christian Music
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it (Heb. 2.1 ESV). Sure, I like to listen to some of the better contemporary music by Christian artists, but most offerings are along the lines of only one theme. A few songs of praise aren’t too bad, but, overall, really insightful, melodious songs are scarce. More often … Continue reading The Psalms Versus Present Commercial Christian Music
Doing Missions When Nationalism Is the Local Religion
Doing Missions When Nationalism Is the Local Religion Continue reading Doing Missions When Nationalism Is the Local Religion
A Doctor Shares the Secret to Dying Well
A Doctor Shares the Secret to Dying Well Continue reading A Doctor Shares the Secret to Dying Well
Calvin was Right
How Psalms Anticipate Christ-By Greg Lanier
(Courtesy of The Gospel Coalition) If we can forgive Lanier’s alliteration (surprised he didn’t use “praise”), he traces the rich use of how God interprets and fulfills scripture. The Father, Jesus, and the Spirit have eternal relations as shown in the Psalms. Jesus was “Lord” (Ps 110.1) before His incarnation. His ascension, I believe, recorded in Acts 1 was to His priestly throne (see Zech. … Continue reading How Psalms Anticipate Christ-By Greg Lanier
Ingenious Sluice Gate Found in Hezekiah’s Tunnel
In early June I toured this site and walked the Canaanite tunnel and then returned northward through the drainage channel to the Davidson Archaeological Park. I did not walk Hezekiah’s Tunnel as I didn’t want to get my gear soaked. Another historical site at The City of David Archeological Site was the Ancient Cardo which is not ready for public viewing due to safety reasons … Continue reading Ingenious Sluice Gate Found in Hezekiah’s Tunnel
Victimhood as the Refusal of Self-Knowledge
In Er (He), a collection of notes from 1920, Franz Kafka makes the following remark: Die Erbsünde, das alte Unrecht, das der Mensch begangen hat, besteht in dem Vorwurf, den der Mensch macht und von dem er nicht abläßt, daß ihm ein Unrecht geschehen ist, daß an ihm die Erbsünde begangen wurde. The original sin,… “The Old Wrong”: Victimhood as the Refusal of Self-Knowledge — Ad … Continue reading Victimhood as the Refusal of Self-Knowledge
Our Sexy Life
My wife and I got married in the autumn after we graduated from college. We were both virgins. Our first son was born ten months later, and for the next fifteen years we had a child every two years or so. They were more spaced out at the end, and by the time the dust… Our Sexy Life — First Things RSS Feed – Web Exclusives … Continue reading Our Sexy Life
The Jefferson Bible
Throughout History, some very smart people have had erroneous ideas about the text of scripture. Just because a person is a hero or learned in one area of expertise, it doesn’t mean that their expertise transfers to other fields such as textual criticism or theology. Even among textual critics and theologians there is a polarity of opinion, sometimes, resulting in opposite opinions by equally competent … Continue reading The Jefferson Bible
Submerged Ruins of 3,400-Year-Old Mitanni City Revealed by Drought
Summary: Severe drought in Iraq revealed an ancient city from the Mitanni Empire. Will it shed light on the biblical period of the Judges? Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia [Mitanni]. – Judges 3:8 (ESV) Severe Drought Exposes City… Submerged Ruins of 3,400-Year-Old Mitanni City Revealed by Drought — Patterns … Continue reading Submerged Ruins of 3,400-Year-Old Mitanni City Revealed by Drought
High Places, Altars and the Bamah
This rock-hewn altar was carved out of limestone and was approximately 8 feet on each side and 5 feet high. It is located about a mile from Shiloh, and the four corners point to the four directions on a compass (Exodus 27:1-2). The remains clearly demonstrate that animals were sacrificed on this high place. Photo:… High Places, Altars and the Bamah — Biblical Archaeology Society Continue reading High Places, Altars and the Bamah
Christ’s Threefold Ministry from Heaven’s Throne
A Jewish tour guide described Israel’s God as the “Transparent God.” This is probably a better word than “invisible.” The idea of transparency indicates more of a presence than “invisible,” at least to me. Anyway, here is a rich scriptural description that encompasses O.T. figures such as the Divine King, The High Priest, and Israel’s prophets who said “Thus says The Lord.” Jesus in His … Continue reading Christ’s Threefold Ministry from Heaven’s Throne
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