The ‘Isaiah Bulla’ and the Putative Connection with Biblical Isaiah: A Case Study in Propospography By Christopher Rollston, George Washington University (rollston@gwu.edu) The Old Hebrew bulla excavated by Dr. Eilat Mazar, and published in Biblical Archaeology Review (March-May 2018) in an article entitled _Is this the Prophet Isaiah’s Signature(pages 65-73, notes on page 92) is… via The ‘Isaiah Bulla’ and the Putative Connection with Biblical Isaiah: … Continue reading Weighing the Identity Options of “The Isaiah Inscription”

Here is a succinct yet fairly comprehensive post on the authorship of the first five books of the Bible. It includes a writer profile and footnotes at the end. http://thetorah.com/who-wrote-the-torah-according-to-the-torah/ Jewish and Christian tradition ascribes authorship of the Pentateuch to Moses in the 13th century B.C.E. Is this what the Pentateuch itself implies about who wrote it and when? People participate in helping a scribe complete a … Continue reading Who Wrote the Torah According to the Torah? Prof. Christopher Rollston

The Shema (Hear!) Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. (Dt. 6.4-5 NRSV) The focus of this post is whether Dt. 6.4 teaches a strict and overt singularity of personality in God. The interpretation of this text, I will argue, is not definitive for a singularity of … Continue reading The Shema: Dt. 6.4-5

The story of deciphering The Rosetta Stone is nearly 200 years old. Here is a brief synopsis: https://www.history.com/news/the-quest-to-decipher-the-rosetta-stone       Continue reading The Phonetics of Hieroglyphics

Some Christians maintain that the blasphemy of the Spirit cannot be committed today since Jesus is now resurrected and no one can attribute an “impure spirit” to Him since Mark 3.30 defines precisely what this particular sin means. I will argue that people today as well as people in the Old Testament committed the sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. A prooftext for my … Continue reading Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

Here is the substance of Frame’s post which cuts to the essence of the offered solutions. Click the link for introductory remarks and 2 notes:  Scholasticism and the Gospel   All the religions and philosophies of the world agree that something is wrong with us. We are beset by pain and suffering, weakness, poverty, moral weakness, and wickedness. But among those philosophies and religions, there … Continue reading Scholasticism and the Gospel – John Frame

Some reactions are now appearing to the Pope’s suggestion of changing the language of The Lord’s Prayer. The best response I have seen is Dan Wallace’s treatment of the issue. Dr. Wallace helped produce the New English Translation (NET Bible) and explains some challenges which translators face. He surveys some English versions and their philosophy. The analysis and exegesis of the text what Francis failed … Continue reading Dan Wallace Corrects Pope Francis

In all of these [canonical] books, those who fear God and are of a meek and reverent disposition seek the will of God. And in pursuing this search the first rule to be observed is, as I have said, to know these books, if not yet with the understanding, still to read them so as to commit them to memory, or at least so as … Continue reading Augustine of Hippo: Understanding the Scriptures (De Doctrina Christiana 2.9)

 Genesis 1.1: In the beginning God created the heavens and earth I stop here, struck with admiration at this thought. What shall I myself say first about it? Where shall I begin my story? Shall I demonstrate the vacuity of the pagans? Shall I exalt the truth of our faith? The philosophers of Greece have made a great fuss over explaining “nature,” but not one … Continue reading Basil the Great on Materialistic Atheism (On the Hexameron 1.2)

It is by no means appropriate for every person to discourse about God. Indeed, it is not for everyone. The subject is not as cheap or vulgar as that! What is more, it is not proper to do so before any audience, at any time, or on every point; only on certain occasions, in the presence of select people, and within certain limits. It is … Continue reading Gregory of Nazianzus- First Theological Oration (Oration 27.3)

The Desiring God website and Piper like to dish it out but take no comments. Obviously, they don’t want their views scrutinized and are not willing to respond and defend their statements. Just another “steam roller preacher.” Here is a current post: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/did-public-controversy-over-the-nashville-statement-hurt-the-cause I should note I am affirm completely the ethos and moral stance on a personal level but refrain from pronouncing it as … Continue reading John Piper is Wrong

I have been interacting with Dr. Edward Fudge (best known for his views on hell being temporary rather than eternal) through email for a brief interview on his thoughts on hell, and he was kind enough to say “yes” to the interview. I have been waiting for his responses to four questions but was […] via Goodbye Edward Fudge — Overthinking Christian Continue reading In Memory of Biblical Scholar Edward Fudge (1944-2017)

John Frame is one of my theological heroes. This review is of a book that severely criticizes most current Christian theologians and illustrates why John Frame deserves plaudits for cutting through the book’s arguments. Frame incisively analyzes the issues but in a gracious manner and yet with warning. For those who are theologically minded, this review explores what scripture tells us about God and His … Continue reading John Frame Takes James Dolezal to Task

Craig Keener observes the the need of keeping ritual purity in the account of The Lord seeking to kill Moses. God had just commissioned Moses but now threatens to kill him because he had failed to circumcise his son. Ritual purity is vital since it relays information about the status of a follower. It is important to observe the signs God tells us to keep. … Continue reading Ritual Faithfulness in Service

Here is an important and insightful post from Dr. Michael Kruger at Canon Fodder. A crucial issue for all humans is whom they should believe, or, who or what is ultimately a valid authority, an anchor for the soul. Dr. Kruger believes it is the canonical scriptures which I heartily affirm. Paul states that the Corinthians can be assured of the truth since Paul is … Continue reading The Heresy of Orthodoxy: What Do the NT Books Tell Us About Early Christian Diversity? — Canon Fodder

The bible was written for adults to understand sufficiently. The recipients of O.T. Israel were not sophisticated moderns who had access to a wide array of information. The N.T. folks, likewise, in many instances, lacked developed learning. This does not mean that some brilliant folks in those eras did not interact with the bible. Neither am I saying that moderns should stay unlearned. Historical background … Continue reading PhD Not Required

So pray this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we ourselves have forgiven our trespassers. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Mt. 6.9-13 literal translation). Perhaps a quibble about the label “The Lord’s Prayer.” The text doesn’t … Continue reading The Lord’s Prayer

Various Views of the Rock Many Christians, since before the time of the Great Church Councils of the 4th Century, have believed that Jesus has built the Church on Peter’s ministry. Some Protestants, Baptists particularly, believe Christ’s Church is built on Peter’s confession. Other Protestants believe “the rock” upon which the Church is built is Jesus since the bible speaks of Christ as the cornerstone … Continue reading Upon This Rock I will Build My Church – Matthew 16: 13-19

Yesterday, I posted about narrow theological allegiance. Today, I take issue with overly puritanical narrowness. Merely knowing the bible on a superficial basis along with an anachronistic viewpoint, where interpreting biblical narratives through the lens of our own culture, is distinctly dangerous. Historically, in Christian America, alcohol use has been greatly proscribed as an evil with most Protestants being teetotalers. Only one time have I … Continue reading Combating Puritanical Narrowness

The intolerance to which I refer is the perceived Christian intolerance which has been unabated from various quarters from Christianity’s inception. The charge, with its fear, raises its voice from time to time to claim Apostolic Christianity is overly “narrow.” This is an unfounded fear or perhaps one is really outside the bounds. Then the person who is charging intolerance is the one who is … Continue reading The Two Sides of Christian Intolerance

In the previous post, I noted how Gen. 3.15 spoke of The Redeemer having His heel pierced in death. When God announced the heel piercing, during The Judgment after the Fall, it constituted a promise and therefore a certainty that He would redeem humankind. This piercing of the heel happened already as was mentioned at Calvary. God committed to its fulfillment when He announced it … Continue reading From Before the Foundation of the World – Part 2

The first instance of the use of the phrase “the foundation of the world” occurs in Matthew’s account at 13.34-35: Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds; he did not speak to them without a parable. This fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has been hidden from the foundation of the world” (NET). … Continue reading From Before The Foundation of the World Part 1

Jerome (On Illustrious Men 1) writing about 400 C.E. noted that some Christians of his day rejected the epistle of 2 Peter as canonical due to its difference in style with 1 Peter. This discrepancy of expression may be accounted for if a co-author of 1 Peter is recognized. The Second Epistle of Peter is probably his native style while his first letter was written … Continue reading Difference in Style between 1&2 Peter

In response to the charge that He was casting out demons by the power of the Devil, Jesus deftly provided clear reasoning of what His ministry consisted: So he called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom will not be able to stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not … Continue reading The Gates of Hell

Students (we all are students who need to keep learning about God and His creation) should be familiar with the 5 “Ws”- Who, What, When, Where, Why. There is more: “How” (what way, what means) “How much” (to what extent). Also, an elaboration of “Why”, further significance to fundamental meaning beyond a pedestrian “reason, motive.” God wants us to meditate on His word. Ps.1 says … Continue reading Study Tips

“In Christ infinite greatness and infinite goodness meet together, and receive luster and glory one from another. His greatness is rendered lovely by his goodness. The greater anyone is without goodness, so much the greater evil. But when infinite goodness is joined with greatness, it renders it a glorious and adorable greatness. So, on the other hand, his infinite goodness receives luster from his greatness.” Continue reading God’s Greatness in Relation to His Goodness – Johnathan Edwards

Here is an overview of Greek paleography and and early printing (copying). It is also an excursus of linguistics and philology. This post reveals the punctilious care employed across the spectrum of time and places in producing the text even in instances where the meaning was not affected but only differences in spelling and accentuation. Observing this extraordinary effort of conformance and accuracy instills deep … Continue reading Production of the New Testament Text