Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.
Inspired by our recent podcast on Christmas and Advent music recommendations, we offer here a list of excellent recordings that are sure to enrich your Advent and Christmas season. Praetorius: Mass for Christmas Morning Paul McCreesh with the Gabrieli Consort and Players Amazon | Spotify | Apple Music 2. Christmas…
In the year 1483 in the city of Nuremberg, the leaders of the renowned Saint Lawrence Church were seeking to redesign their altar, and above the table where the priests presided over the eucharist, they wanted new art installed above the prestigious Krell altar. What they decided on took everyone…
The consequences of disobedience start with exile from the garden of God and the Tree of Yahweh, but they do not end there. They cascade down through the structure of the dynastic order. Everything which had previously been given in the Kingdom of Elohim is either taken back or curtailed…
Parallelism: A Course Correction If you have ever studied Hebrew poetry, you have probably heard its basic poetic feature described as “parallelism.” Hebrew poetry is not metered, it does not rhyme, it does not employ many of the common poetical tropes, but its distinctive (and almost universal) feature is commonly…
In The Crown and the Courts , David C. Flatto traces the development of the idea of judicial independence in Jewish commentaries on the Scriptures – particularly Deuteronomy 17 – from the Second Temple and early rabbinic periods. These periods roughly span 400 BC to 300 AD. Flatto does not…
A curious feature of the Infancy Narratives in the Gospel of Luke is the naming of John the Baptist. When the angel appears to Zechariah, he is instructed to give his promised son the name John (Luke 1:13). On the day of John’s circumcision, Luke tells us that “they [presumably…
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John sees Jesus the Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes, the latter being “the seven Spirits of God” (Revelation 5:6). What are the seven Spirits? There are many dimensions to the answer: Seven is the number of creation, seven the rhythm or melody of the Creator Spirit; there are…
Jesus says, “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42). We immediately qualify. We soften and ease the command. “It’s an exhortation to develop an instinct for generosity. We may have good reasons not to give,…
There has been a great deal of debate about what Paul means in his various references to ta stoicheia tou kosmou (the elementary principles of the world). Are the stoichea they teachings, practices, beings, stars? This line of reflection might help to resolve that debate: Whatever stoicheia refers to, it…
In a post yesterday , I urged Protestant churches to move toward a consensus that can be characterized as “classical Protestantism.” That phrase needs some clarification. The Reformation was not , as I argued at Biola, simply a doctrinal movement. It certainly was that, but it also involved liturgical Reformation.…
Protestants confess sola scriptura , the Scriptures as the final rule of faith and practice. “Reformation by the word of God” is the watchword of Protestantism. The Scriptures that are our final rule teach us that the church is one, that she ought to be in reality what God has…
To state my biases: Of all the superheroes, I’ve always been partial Spider-Man. Flash was a close second. I have nothing against Peter Parker or his alter ego. I wish them the best. I haven’t seen the latest Spidey flick, but Isaac Chotiner’s analysis at the New Republic discourages me…
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