Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.
Midwives are rarely mentioned in Scripture, but play a prominent role in the first chapter of Exodus. The word midwife is used seven times in verses 15-22, though it is used only twice elsewhere in the Old Testament. The reason, I think, is not merely that the midwives were heroic…
Leviathan (41:1-11) is the climax of the theophany, the culmination of the Lord’s speech. His final answer to Job’s injudicious charges against God’s justice. After hearing God rehearse the characteristics of Leviathan and His absolute power over him, Job instantly repents in dust and ashes. He confesses, "I know now…
Our purpose in this study is to lay out the chronology and history of the Kingdom of Judah from the reign of King Josiah to the completion of the exile of the Jews under Nebuchadnezzar, with particular attention to the events recorded in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The Empire of Assyria…
Protestants have always insisted that the sacraments bring no benefit without a response of faith, but this seems to undermine infant baptism, since infants do not appear to be able to exercise faith. Luther and Calvin held together their insistence on faith with infant baptism by claiming that infants can…
Traditional Presbyterian theologians regularly cite 1 Corinthians 11:28 as an argument against the practice of paedocommunion. Children must be able “to examine themselves” before they come to the table. Supposedly this text demands a certain level of intellectual capability as well as the capacity to engage in self-conscious introspection, both…
Yahweh’s two speeches at the end of the book of Job (38-41) should bring some closure to the book. The prologue has the whole cosmic order arrayed against the blameless and upright Job, "a man who feared God and shunned evil" (1:1, 8; 2:3). Yahweh’s capstone speeches affirm God’s absolute…
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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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