Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.
I thought it might be good to put this up here, since it is 14 years old, and itself reflects earlier discussion. From this you can see that we at BH have been considering this notion for quite some time. Clearly, the last word has not been said. — James…
Hopefully, my commentary on James will be out later this year. But here are a few chiasms for your consideration. I think the James 5 chiasm orginally came from Doug Jordan. The entire book of James is focused on how the pastors and leaders (“brothers”) of the church use their…
In my first post I noted that the parables of Jesus were not simply illustrative stories. They are really nothing like the kind of simple, homely illustrations that preachers often use to explain difficult concepts to their congregations. Just to be clear: there’s nothing wrong with illustrating one’s sermonic statements.…
Ephesians is often treated as a pure type example of the Pauline method that “the indicative preceds the imperative.” But what Paul does first is pray . Simply reading verse 3 and following involves readers in a prayer of thanksgiving to God–and much more so for those listening to the…
Yesterday, I took part with my oldest son in a church-sponsored city outreach project (not because I’m especially prone to such behavior but because my son has a Boy Scout requirement that this would help him meet). Before we were sent out on our various jobs, the leader gave a…
There is a scene in Prince Caspian , the second in C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia that helps explain why it is we have four Gospels, that is four accounts of the Good News of Jesus Christ—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It is the account of Lucy’s longed-for experience…
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Andrew Sullivan and others have concluded that the Donald’s candidacy is a blast from the last trump, announcing the end of democracy. These underestimates the federal government's blessed capacity for gridlock, and Trump's chameleon capacity for compromise, change, and moderation. The real worry is less that, if elected, Trump will…
I n answer to the question, Who may sojourn in Yahweh's tent, or dwell on His holy mountain? Psalm 15 answers: A man without defect. The word translated in the NASB as “with integrity” is the Levitical term tamim , “without defect,” and usually describes sacrificial animals (e.g., Leviticus 1:3,…
C hristians are often accused of being obsessed with sexual sin. Why can’t two people, of whatever sex, do whatever they please in the enclosure of their own room? Who is hurt if a guy wants to get off looking at tantalizing pictures and videos on his computer? What’s the…
W hen David was exiled to the stronghold to flee Saul, warriors from Israel's tribes gathered to him. 1 Chronicles 12:16-18 records his reception of men from Judah and Benjamin. He greets with understandable suspicion; these are Saul's kinsman, after all. He asks if they have come in peace or…
T he key to grasping the argument of Hebrews 9:1-10 is to follow the use of the word “first” (Gr. protos ). There is a first covenant with its regulations of worship (v. 1) and the parable ( parabole , v. 9) of this first covenant is the erection of…
L eviticus 20 is mainly concerned with the penalties for sexual crimes. Adultery, homosexual sodomy, bestiality, and some forms of incest are capital crimes. Yahweh Himself punishes other crimes. The chapter begins and ends with more general exhortations to avoid the customs and ways of the Canaanites. Near the end,…
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