Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.
Summary In what follows, I will consider the “year-stamps” employed in Scripture, i.e., statements of the form, “Such-and-such an event took place in the Xth year of Y.” In the process, I will suggest some ways in which the Biblical narrative might relate to events in the extra-Biblical world, though…
In the first essay on the parable of the Prodigal Son, I suggested that the problems commentators and others encounter in interpreting Jesus three-part parable are not accidental. These are not just problems in our ignorance of cultural background. They are intentional features of the stories —stories designed to poke…
The story of the Prodigal Son is perhaps the most well-known story in the Bible. As others have observed, it may also be one of the most misunderstood. In two short essays, I will point out features of this story that are commonly neglected, aspects of Jesus’ parable that might…
The parable of Lazarus and the nameless rich man is not an independent story. It is part of a long context that begins in Luke 15:1, where Jesus is eating with tax collectors and sinners and the scribes and Pharisees grumble. In response to their hardheartedness, Jesus tells a three-part…
The Bible is written so that even when a reader cannot pick up on what might be deeper or more detailed aspects of a text, there is virtually always a message to be heard. In the ancient world, where the “reader” of Scripture would likely be a church official facing…
The distinction between garden (or vineyard) and field begins in Genesis 2. This relates to the ordering of the formless world. Plants of the field are contrasted with the garden planted by God in Genesis 2:5&8. Later on, under the Old Covenant the Israelites will be required to keep their…
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Paul’s discussion of Adam and Christ (Romans 5) is chiastically arranged: A. Sin enters the world and death through sin, vv 12 B. Sin before Law, but sin not imputed where there is no law, v 13 C. Transgression of Adam v free gift vv 14-16 D. Death reigned/reign in…
Romans 4 has been a central text in historic debates about justification. Naturally so, since here Abraham is presented as the model believer, who is reckoned righteous because he believes God’s promises. That’s accurate. Despite some denials from New Perspective commentators, Romans 4 does speak of Abraham as a model…
In a brief discussion of Genesis 1 in his Reading Genesis Well , C. John Collins summarizes the "illocution or rhetorical force" of the passage. What's the author trying to persuade his readers about? The narrative, he says, "shapes for Israel their vision of the good human life, as participating…
Alessandra Bocchi writes about the fate of Hong Kong's Christians at FirstThings.com . The freedom struggle there is about Hong Kong's independence. It's also a struggle for the freedom of the churches. Bocchi writes that "Hong Kong citizens fear that this extradition bill would give the Chinese government power to…
In Romans 3:21-22, Paul writes, "But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe." Paul has already mentioned the righteousness of God. It's…
David French writes that the civil rights movement should give beleaguered Evangelicals hope in the current cultural malaise. He's partly right, partly wrong. He's right that white Christians have much to learn from the history of African American Christianity. Once Protestants formed the American elite. Nowadays, though theologically conservative Protestants…
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