Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.
One common trope which is regularly invoked in current debates about the defensibility versus the danger of Christian engagement with critical theories (or, species of Critical Theory) is the idea of “ eating the meat but spitting out the bones .” Usually not far behind is a nod to the…
I am writing about the book of Proverbs in the Bible and “Eschatology.” I don’t refer only to the end of time, or “last things” that will happen in history before it ends as we know it. I am referring to all times of God’s judgment wherein He ends an…
“Unity” is the word of the day. In his inaugural address, Joe Biden invoked St. Augustine to inspire Americans to come together around certain shared values. As others have recently argued, Biden misreads Augustine in important ways. My argument here is that if we seek political unity and civic health…
This is part two of a series which began here ( The Half Shekel Temple Tax ) in which I answer back, hoping not to rebut but to glorify, some observations Peter Leithart made in a thought-provoking piece about the Temple Tax as atonement ( Atonement Money ). Adding economic…
It is now commonplace to characterize Wokeness (or “ Wokeism ”) as a religion , or at least religion-like . What I would like to explore is an elaboration on this emergent consensus, supplementing it with some theological analysis. Wokeness, I propose, is a form of post-Protestant neopaganism. It resembles…
Science Fiction movies often retell old stories and myths with greater impact for modern people. A being from another world or a technologically advanced human can embody an ancient god or demon and viewers are suddenly unwittingly enthralled by Ur tales that emerged from hundreds of years of human experience.…
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Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10). That means He cares for His flock, leading them to pasture and water (Psalm 23; 1 Peter 5:2; Revelation 7:17). The Good Shepherd is a gentle, nurturing shepherd. Also a shattering shepherd. Jesus shepherds ( poimaino ) with an iron rod, suitable for…
Revelation 3:1-2 is organized in a new chiasm: A. Thus saith He who has seven Spirits, even the seven stars B. I know your deeds ( erga ) C. You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead D. Wake up and strength the remainder C’. Which…
Psalm 26 is a chiastic text: A. I have walked with integrity and truth, vv 1-3 (Yahweh 3x) B. I don’t sit with the deceifful or wicked, vv 4-5 C. I wash in innocence, process around the altar, love Yahweh’s house, vv 6-8 (Yahweh 2x) B’. Do not take me…
Jesus’ message to Sardis uses the word “name” ( onoma ) four times, first in the sense of “reputation” (Revelation 3:1), then as a stand-in for person (v. 2), and finally twice in Jesus’ promise to those who keep up with their laundry (v. 5). We have the odd phenomenon…
Peter Winch argues that any comparison of social realities across cultures is self-contradictory ( The Idea of a Social Science , 108). We say X is a social fact, that it is what it is only because of the way social actors use and evaluate it. The “natives” deny that…
Bard Eirik Hallesby Norheim summarizes what Practicing Baptism means. It is “about letting oneself to be made a receiver, a beggar over and over again (204). It is about renunciation, the call to give up our lives to gain them (205). Baptism is practiced well only if it is practiced…
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