Generally speaking, it was previously thought that most copyists of Christian sacred texts were unimpressive amateurs given how rapid and wide-spread the message of the Messiah dispersed during the middle and later half of the first century. I have stated as much in some blog posts. Of course, I need to acknowledge further research and, if needed, be corrected with subsequent evidence. I am now happy to report … Continue reading New Testament Transmission

A nice article on the history of Gaza, written by Ben Piven, has just appeared in the Huffington Post. In the article, Ben surveys the history, and ups and downs, of Gaza thru the ages – and … Source: HuffPost article on the history of Gaza Continue reading HuffPost article on the history of Gaza

John William Burgon became Dean of Chichester Cathedral in 1876 and is usually referred to as “Dean Burgon.” He is remembered for his passionate defence of the historicity and Mosaic authorship of Genesis and of Biblical inerrancy in general. (Wikipedia) While he may be commended for his defence of the Bible’s veracity, he was also somewhat simplistic and took seemingly leaps of faith where empirical evidence … Continue reading Credibility: A Terrible Thing to Lose

Besides constructing a Tiberieum at Caesarea Maritima the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate issued a series of bronze coins—perutahs honoring the Emperor Tiberius.  He minted these coins in Jerusalem b… Source: One of Pilate’s Coins — Emperor Worship in Judean Territory Continue reading One of Pilate’s Coins — Emperor Worship in Judean Territory

Pontius Pilate was the Prefect of Judea that condemned Jesus to death (Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 18 and 19). He is mentioned 61 times in the New Testament.  He governed Judea from A.D. 26 … Source: Pilate’s Tiberieum at Caesarea Maritima Continue reading Pilate’s Tiberieum at Caesarea Maritima

There is abundant evidence of the presence of the Romans in Jerusalem and the land they would later call Palestine. Now comes specific evidence of the place where Titus’ army breached the Third Wall of the city. The Israel Antiquities Authority released this information earlier today. — “ — Impressive and fascinating evidence of the […] via Where the Romans breached Jerusalem wall — Ferrell’s Travel … Continue reading Where the Romans breached Jerusalem wall — Ferrell’s Travel Blog

At one time I saw an advertising slogan which, to me, seemed very effective: “The closer you look, the better we look.” This slogan invited the prospective buyer to carefully examine the product on offer  to see the manufacturer’s attention to the minute details of the item. This same slogan may be applied to the bible. We moderns possess a staggering wealth of relevant historic … Continue reading NT Inscriptions — Gallio Proconsul of Achaia (Acts 18:12)

Part of a pavement found near the theater of Corinth which mentions “Erastus” who was the aedile of the city. An “aedile” was in charge of the financial matters of the city — and was very wealthy. The pavement was laid about A.D. 50. The New Testament book of Romans was written by Paul from […] via New Testament Inscriptions — Erastus of Corinth (Acts 19:22; … Continue reading New Testament Inscriptions — Erastus of Corinth (Acts 19:22; Romans 16:13; 2 Timothy 4:20) — HolyLandPhotos’ Blog

A truly fascinating discovery occurred recently in the field of Biblical Archaeology. The suggestion of symbolic defilement by use of representative articles at worship sites informs much to us about ancient cultic practices. Of course it validates Israel’s ancient existence (some groups deny Israel existed in antiquity) and is  consistent with the biblical record. Haaretz; Hamevaser; The Jerusalem Post, September 29, 2016 An Israel Antiquities Authority … Continue reading Gate Complex at Tel Lachish, Israel and Hezekiah’s Reforms Connected by Archeological Discovery

October 1st, 2016 Excerpts of an interview published in Unio Cum Christo. International Journal of Reformed Theology and Life, Vol. 2, No. 2 (October 2016). Since Martin Luther’s reformation, three major events in the life of the Roman Catholic Church have marked its reaction not only to Protestantism but also to developments in the modern… via 129. Roman Catholic Theology after Vatican II: An Interview — … Continue reading 129. Roman Catholic Theology after Vatican II: An Interview — Vatican Files

George Athas claims that Gen. 19 uses the rhetorical device of “detail omission” to tell its story and to “surprise” the reader later with additional information  with which the reader can finally make an informed decision regarding the “righteousness” of all the actors in the account. I find the argument Dr. Athas has put forward convincing and pass it along. This view aligns very well … Continue reading Genesis 19: Has Lot Lost The Plot?

By Michael Patton (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) http://credohouse.org/blog/christianity-falling-down One of the first things that I have to teach my students this: The Christian faith is not a house of cards. Most assuredly, there are foundational issues of the faith that, if taken away, will destroy Christianity. Issues like the existence of God (there is no such thing as a “Christian atheist”), the resurrection of Christ, the … Continue reading House of Cards?

From tests done on archeological finds near Arad in the Negev, scientists are reconsidering the literacy skills of the Jewish people with respect to dating the writing of historical writings in the Bible: http://www.timesofisrael.com/new-look-at-ancient-shards-suggests-bible-even-older-than-thought/ via Bible Texts Written Earlier — Streams in the Negev       Continue reading Bible Texts Written Earlier — Streams in the Negev

Here is an interview with textual scholar Alan Millard concerning how the bible was produced. Often, today, there is an almost clamor to fix (or unfix) the historicity of Jesus by means of the evidence from the period. This interview succinctly explains why that task is so difficult. Though the topic of transmission has been an area of study for me, I picked up new … Continue reading Aspects of Textual Transmission

August 1st, 2016 As the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation is approaching, it is no surprise to find books wanting to offer fresh accounts of Martin Luther’s theology and legacy. Who was this man? What was his message then and how do we understand it five centuries after? Walter Kasper’s recent volume on Luther… via 127. Is the Ecumenical Martin Luther the Real Luther? — … Continue reading 127. Is the Ecumenical Martin Luther the Real Luther? — Vatican Files

In a post reviewing an intermediate grammar the reviewer notes the authors’ guidance towards the exercise: Prioritize Synchrony over Diachrony – here the importance of contemporary meaning and semantic shift is highlighted, along with the dangers of the etymological fallacy (i.e., thinking the history of a word’s meaning has any necessary link to the word’s current meaning – it doesn’t). Do Not Confuse Words and Concepts … Continue reading Bible Word Studies (Greek)

George Athas is Dean of Research at Moore Theological College, Sydney. Here is a post of his where he analyzes this account in the Book of Judges. I believe his post highlights how sometimes readers of the text (me included) take certain things for granted. I, along with most readers assume too much from a story we think we know without taking the time to … Continue reading Delilah, the Israelite

[Apology for the formatting-it seems the software has undergone a change in the platform (WordPress) rendering it onerous to editing] Here is an illuminating study highlighting some history of how Rabbis approached Gen. 3.15 and Gen. 4.1. I knew that Gen. 4.1 was a reference back to the Promise in 3.15 but didn’t know all the issues of the grammar. HaDavar Ministries has a good … Continue reading Jewish Rabbis and Gen. 3.15

I’ve now uploaded the pre-publication form of my essay in a recent volume engaging N.T. Wright’s massive two-volume work on the theology of Paul, my essay focusing on Wright’s claim that the theme of “YHWH’s return to Zion” functions as “the catalyst” for Christology in the New Testament. The upload is available here. I’ve mentioned […] via YHWH’s “return to Zion” — Larry Hurtado’s Blog A fascinating … Continue reading Hurtado Engages Wright

Gen. 3.15 can be seen as the theme verse for all of redemptive history contained in the bible. The sacred material which precedes God’s judgment upon the “serpent” functions as a prologue while the description of the eternal state (after Rev. 20 where the “old serpent” is dispatched) is an epilogue of the redemptive record. So when another allusion to Gen. 3.15 is rediscovered, it is … Continue reading Another Allusion to Gen. 3.15

http://triablogue.blogspot.com/2016/06/denying-christ.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2Ftriablogue+%28Triablogue%29 Here is a post by Steve Hays which reflects some of my thoughts, but, as usual, he says it better.   Denying Christ I. 4-point Calvinists raise a stock objection to limited atonement: How can they be blameworthy for refusing to believe in Jesus if Jesus never died for them or made atonement for them? I. One way 5-point Calvinists respond is to note that … Continue reading Culpability, Calvinism, and Classification

[adapted from “Oxyrhynchus” http://www.csad.ox.ac.uk/POxy/mainmenu.htm ]   Once it had walls three miles round, with five or more gates; colonnaded streets, each a mile long, crossing in a central square; a theater with seating for eleven thousand people; a grand temple of Serapis. On the east were quays; on the west, the road led up to the desert and the camel-routes to the Oases and to Libya. … Continue reading Oxyrhynchus: City of the Sharp-Nosed Fish

When we hear the word “apology” today it is always tied to the idea of conceding fault, at least in American vernacular. However, in New Testament times, the word from which we derive “apology” meant virtually the opposite it does today. In Acts 22.1, Paul uses apologia when giving his defense before the king. He is not apologizing in the modern American sense of the word … Continue reading I Apologize

Sheila Walsh (The Stream) captures the essence of the Christian walk in the last sentence of her description of orphaned lambs. What a person really believes works its way out in their conduct, it manifests itself. The orphaned lambs knew the shepherd’s care by previous association, they trusted him and so were the first to run to him. We often fail, but Jesus never fails so … Continue reading Poignancy Illustrated

 http://triablogue.blogspot.com/2016/04/roman-catholicism-distorts-biblical.html Leonardo De Chirico has revised and re-posted an article of his that demonstrates how the Roman Catholic distortion of time plays a major role in its current ecclesiology (which is, as I’ve mentioned, its major selling point in the post Vatican II era). He focuses on two words, two biblical measures of time, “hapax” (“once for all”) and“mallon” (“for evermore”) As Protestants, we believe … Continue reading Temporal Distortions: Rome

Mark Oppenheimer distinguishes the level of commitment by whether one uses an adjective or noun as a descriptor:  With Christians, the answer will vary depending on the kind of Christian you’re talking to. Liberal Protestants may say, “I’m Christian,” using the adjective, but many evangelicals, born-again Christians, and other passionate believers will say, “I’m a Christian.” It sounds a little jarring to more secular or … Continue reading Noun or Adjective?

If we consider the Gospel of John a sort of “Day Planner” for Jesus, we have nearly complete activity recorded for two weeks of the earthly ministry of Jesus. The first is in John 1:19—2:11 where a… Source: The week leading to the crucifixion & resurrection Continue reading The week leading to the crucifixion & resurrection

In another post I mentioned how the Quintcentenial of Erasmus’ Greek New Testament is approaching (March 1, 2016). Just about a year and a half later (Oct. 31, 1517), after its publication, Luther tacked his 95 theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg Castle. So Erasmus’ work was in many ways pivotal yet it lacked integrity to a certain degree. One area of … Continue reading The King James and The Comma Johanneum

Ex. 23.19 (also Ex. 34.26, Dt. 14.21) gives a seemingly strange prohibition: “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.” (ESV). So observant Jews today do not eat cheeseburgers or pepperoni pizza in case the cheese and beef are some how related. What did this ancient ban mean? One consideration should be pointed out when reading the Old Testament text: the Hebrew was … Continue reading Boiling a Kid in its Mother’s Milk

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or … Continue reading Melchizedek “Made Like” the Son of God