Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.
The sin of Ham in Genesis 9 continues to elicit comment, since it seems mysterious. We read in 9:21-23 that Noah uncovered himself inside (the covering of) his tent, that Ham (entered the privacy of Noah’s tent) and saw his father’s (not “Noah’s”, n.b.) nakedness, that Ham told his two…
Recently the magazine Tabletalk published a series of essays against Calvinist theologian N. T. Wright. The black cover of this issue lets us know just how dangerous this man is. But how dangerous is N. T. Wright? Well, he’s dangerous to some people, but not to others. Let’s see: He…
You need to read Rob Rayburn’s defense of his presbytery to the PCA SJC (Standing Judicial Committee). If you’ve been out of the loop on this, that’s okay. But what has happened in the last few years is that people have made accusations against Peter Leithart, and in response the…
What does it mean to read the Bible as inspired literature? The method is not new nor is it uncommon in Dutch Reformed circles. Exegesis must be Christocentric, plenary (all the text serves a theological purpose), respect the context in God’s redemptive plan, and plumb the full literary depth of…
Reading in John Calvin’s sermons on 2 Samuel today, I came across this wonderful statement. This comes from a sermon preached on July 3, 1562, “The True Worship of God,” an exposition of 2 Sam. 6:1-7. Calvin is discussing the implications of the affirmation that Yaweh, the God of Israel,…
A great deal of confusion about the relative value of “virginity” and marriage can be avoided if one pays careful attention to the text of Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 7. The two most important observations are: 1) that Paul’s specific recommendations are made because of the “impending crisis” (v.…
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Four times Babylon is called “Babylon the great” ( Babulon he megale ) in Revelation, and the uses of the phrase form a simple chiasm: A. Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, 14:8 B. Babylon the great is remembered before God, 16:19 B'. “Babylon the Great” on forehead of harlot,…
Stan Van Hooft's Cosmopolitanism pays closer attention to religion themes than many works on this theme. He clearly recognizes the role that religion plays in human life, and criticizes Martha Nussbaum for her avoidance of the point: Despite basing her description on an analysis of the cultural productions and literatures…
Paul-Francois Tremlett ( Levi-Strauss on Religion ) provides this neat precis of the central claim of Levi-Straussian structuralism: “new way of thinking about questions of culture and cultural difference. Language had been seen as a transparent medium for expressing thoughts and for describing or re-presenting objects. In structuralist thought, however,…
When Paul lived among the Thessalonians, he wasn't a layabout and didn't ask them for any necessities. He paid for everything he got (2 Thessalonians 3:7-8). Paul did have the right ( exousia ) to ask for food and shelter. He brought spiritual gifts, and could have expected material gifts…
It took a parody. I devoted a section of a chapter in Deep Exegesis to Peter Enns’s work, I’ve critiqued him on my blog here and here and here , as well as the similar work of John Walton, here and here . To my knowledge, neither Enns nor Walton…
The verb “descend” ( katabaino ) is used ten times in Revelation, and the uses form a neat pattern: A. Jerusalem (3:12) B. Angel in cloud with book (10:1) C. Devil (12:12) D. Fire of false prophet (13:13) E. Hailstones (16:21) B'. Angel with glory (18:1) C'. Angel to bind…
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