Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.
1 Kings 17, which abruptly introduces Elijah into the history of the northern kingdom, is a carefully constructed literary unit. In its basic structure, it follows a clear exodus-return pattern. Like Jacob and his sons, Elijah was driven out of the land by a famine (vv. 1-4). In exile, Elijah…
Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and they were scoffing at Him. And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is…
In the year 3119, Ahaziah of Judah and Jehoram of Israel were both slain by Jehu as he carried out his God-appointed task of eliminating the seed and house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:13-33). Since the kings of Israel are usually counted as beginning their reign in the same year…
One of the most important developments in Biblical studies in recent years has been a movement of scholars devoted to studying the literary techniques of the Biblical writers. Tremper Longman, III of Westminster Theological Seminary has treated this movement from a Reformed perspective in his Literary Approaches to Biblical Interpretation…
And because [Paul] was of the same trade, he stayed with [Aquila and Priscilla] and they were working; for by trade they were tentmakers (Acts 18:3). The fact that Paul was by trade a tentmaker has usually been taken as the springboard for a discussion of whether pastors should have…
I pointed out in Chronologies and Kings Part 9 that the years of Judah’s kings are given in chronological fashion. "When we read of a Judahite king’s reign as lasting 4 years, it means that 4 years of the chronology have been given to him, and there is no chronological…
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During 324-5, Constantine, in Timothy Barnes’s summary, “outlawed the performance of animal sacrifice, ordered that no new cult statues of the traditional gods be dedicated, and forbade magistrates and governors to begin official business with the traditional act of casting incense or some other similar offering on an altar standing…
One of the delicious results of McCain’s Palin pick is that it exposes Obama as just another politician, willing to get down and dirty with the rest of them. No more Obama the transcendent, Obama the supra-partisan, Obama the inventor of a new politics. Of course, nothing wrong with being…
David Garland notes that the transfiguration narrative in Matthew is chiastically structured: A. Narrative introduction, 17:1 B. Transfiguration of Jesus, 17:2-3 C. Peter’s response, 17:4 D. Divine Voice, 17:5 C’. Disciples’ response, 17:6 B’. Jesus speaks, 17:7 A’. Narrative conclusion, 17:8 Garland also notes that the transfiguration shares a number…
INTRODUCTION Death shadowed Jesus from His infancy, when Herod slaughtered the children of Bethlehem. After Peter’s confession, though, Jesus begins to talk openly about the cross that awaits Him (16:21). Predictions of the cross replace Matthew’s summary statements of Jesus ministry (17:22-23; 20:17-19; 26:1-2; cf. 4:23-25). Jesus doesn’t withdraw anymore,…
Revelation 19:6-7: And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude and as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, Hallelujah, for the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to…
Americans always want a formula. We want 12 steps to serenity and 12 to sobriety and 12 to fitness and 12 to happiness. And we want a step-by-step process to ensure success in courtship and marriage. It’s true that many lives have been transformed by the original 12-step program created…
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