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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Zechariah 8:4-5: “Thus says Yahweh of hosts: Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of age. And the squares of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in the squares.” Zechariah prophesied…
America has always been committed to equality; “all men are created equal” is a cornerstone of our founding documents. The promise of America is not that everyone will turn out the same. America promises instead to minimize “artificial” inequities of birth or privilege, and give everyone a chance to pursue…
God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth: have mercy upon us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world: Have mercy upon us. God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the faithful: have mercy upon us. You are the God of all nations, and we confess that You, Father, Son and…
A couple of insights from the redoubtable Aaron Wildavsky’s The Rise of Radical Egalitarianism (1991): He points out that early American individualists saw the central government as the main source of corruption and inequality. That all changed after the Civil War. Wildavsky poses some historical questions that go to the…
Son of seven years [was] Yeho’ash in his reigning-as-king. In the seventh year to Yehu’ reigned-as-king Yeho’ash And forty years he reigned-as-king in Yrushalaim. And the name of his mother was Tzivyah from Be’er-sheva’. And did Yeho’ash the upright-thing in the eyes of Yahweh All the days which Yehoyada’ the…
Now ‘Atalyah mother of ‘Achazyahu And she saw that her son died And she arose and she destroyed all the see of the kingdom. And took Yehosheva’ daughter of the king Yoram sisterof ‘Achazyahu Yo’ash son of ‘Achazyah and stole him from the midst of the sons of the king…
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