Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.
Optimism is “an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome.” 1 On the other hand, pessimism is “an inclination to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions, and possibilities or to expect the worst possible outcome.” We can see that optimism and…
If we wish to understand the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, we must begin with seeing them as a part of the creational order. Trees, along with plants and seed-bearing things, come to life by the word of God as part of…
“I chant slips and irreversible disasters, wiltings, failures, scars, the little disappointments and the large, blue streaks down a world that wishes it was only suncolors.” Paul J. Pastor from Kintsugi Song I recently lost something very valuable. Something I’d had for years and used every day. But, it wasn’t…
In his eponymous book, Jonah follows an exodus pattern. He travels through the waves and east of the city into the wilderness. On a first reading, it looks like another use of this common literary shape in the Old Testament: salvation through the waters of death and the wilderness of…
“Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” The unknowing master of ceremonies didn’t know how right he was. We see this play out in John’s apocalypse. The end is like the beginning,…
Read in isolation, The Test of Adultery (Num 5:11-31) presents the reader with a seemingly bizarre ritual, conjuring up ideas bordering on the Salem Witch Trials. Beyond this, pressing questions linger—such as, “Why is the woman in particular singled out, while no test is provided for the husband of a…
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Putin had a shrewd comment about the outcome of the election: “If Bush wins, then I can only feel joy that the American people did not allow itself to be intimidated, and made the most sensible decision.” What message would have been sent if the US had pulled a Spain…
Now the queen of Sheba heard the hearing of Shlomoh to the name of Yahweh And she entered to test him in riddles. And she entered Jerusalem with a retinue of very great glory Camels carrying Balsam-oil And gold, a very great amount And stone rare And she entered to…
INTRODUCTION 1 Kings 10 continues to show the ambiguous character of Solomon?s reign. On the one hand, Solomon attracts the notice of Gentile rulers who seek to learn wisdom. On the other hand, Solomon continues to violate the laws of kingship by multiplying gold and guns. Corruption is spreading in…
The proposition: We tell stories only because God is Triune. The argument: 1) A story depends on an initial breach. There must be something to separate from, and something separating. There must be some move that takes hero from the father?s house and into his own adventures. 2) Otherwise, what…
Merold Westphal is a remarkable philosopher. Extremely well-informed and careful, he is also remarkably lucid, even when he writes about philosophers that, to put it delicately, are far less so. In his dauntingly titled 1979 History and Truth in Hegel?s Phenomenology , a commentary on Hegel?s Phenomenology of the Spirit…
Merold Westphal is a remarkable philosopher. Extremely well-informed and careful, he is also remarkably lucid, even when he writes about philosophers that, to put it delicately, are far less so. In his dauntingly titled 1979 History and Truth in Hegel?s Phenomenology , a commentary on Hegel?s Phenomenology of the Spirit…
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