Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.
In an earlier paper 1 I argued that the story of Jonah belongs in the book of KINGS. Jonah and the unnamed Judean prophet in 1K13 are paired by the author through literary links. The Judean prophet travels longitudinally to confront national paganism and is killed but not swallowed by…
The Scriptures have much to say about “the day.” “This is the day that the Lord has made,” sings the Psalmist (Psalm 118:24). But what exactly is the day ? Or, more broadly, what even is a day? Days make up human life like water, light, and air. There’s no…
According to the Westminster Confession of Faith 21:5, “God is to be worshipped everywhere, in spirit and truth, …” A similar phrase is found in the OPC’s Directory for Public Worship (II.6). In my experience in the OPC and other Reformed churches, the phrase is often interpreted to mean that…
Introduction In Genesis 3:16, after the fall, God said that Eve would “desire” her husband and that her husband would “rule” over her. It is popular for Christians to interpret Eve's desire as sinful, that she would try to usurp her husband's authority. Likewise, some interpret Adam's rule as sinful,…
White Western/Christian society has long discriminated against lesbians and homosexuals — ever since the days of Moses — who was neither white nor Christian, but that is beside the point — who claimed that God gave him revelation about what a man or woman is and how they should relate…
They Found a Book in a Wall, You Won’t Believe What Happens Next The secret behind the history of quiet times will make your quiet times more effective than ever. One of the enduring mysteries of American Evangelicalism is the question of the source of Quiet Times: A Handbook ,…
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John Courtney Murray was a defender of the just war tradition, but recognized that it was more honored in breach than observance. In a 1959 article, he wrote: “The tendency to query the uses of the Catholic doctrine on war initially rises from the fact that it has for so…
John Barach writes: “I’ve been working on Psalm 5 and happened to read Van Gemeren’s treatment of it in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary today. In connection with verse 10 (‘Declare them guilty’), Van Gemeren writes: “’ . . . the psalmist prays for their demise. The declaration of their ‘guilt’…
I’ve learned that Engaging with Barth: Contemporary Evangelical Critiques , a thoughtful evangelical critique of Barth, is now available inNorth America, published by T&T Clark. More information about the UK edition is available at the book’s website, www.engagingwithbarth.com .
Paul expresses amazement that the Galatians could return to the “weak and poor elements” after being liberated by Christ (Galatians 4:9). But were the elements always so weak and beggarly? It seems not. They were powerful enough to enslave (4:3). To be sure, they enslaved children, but that does take…
Galatians 3-4 is constructed with a fairly neat chiasm: A. Abraham, Spirit, faith, 3:1-14 B. The Law is not mediator of one, 3:15-22 C. We were under tutors, 3:23-26 D. Baptism, 3:27-29 C’. Under stoicheia, 4:1-11 B’. Personal appeal, 4:12-20 A’. Abraham’s two sons, one by the Spirit, 4:21-31 The…
Paul begs the Galatians to become as he is (Galatians 4:12). In context, this means, “Give up circumcision, the Jewish food laws, observance of days, months and seasons.” Why should they? The basis for Paul’s exhortation is the fact that he has become as they are: “Become as I, because…
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