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Writing

Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.

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Art

The Second Word IV: Implications

What About Catholics? (continued) Usually, such people are not seeking graven images, but rather their idolatry is of a broader character. They are seeking a home on earth. Scott Hahn’s book is called Rome Sweet Home . This is the essential sin, for there is no home on earth. The…

by James B. JordanDecember 7, 1994
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Biblical Studies

The Gospel and the Virtues

Reading the earliest Christian apologists is like watching a movie in which the hero has the means to demolish his opponents in his grasp but never realizes it. The apologists come across as men not altogether aware of the radical character of the gospel they defend. In response to charges…

by Peter LeithartNovember 23, 1994
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Biblical Studies

Suffer the Little Children

Then [Elisha] went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, ne`arim came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!" When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in…

by Peter LeithartNovember 23, 1994
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Biblical Chronology

Genesis 5 & 11: Chronological-Theological Reflections (Part 2)

Further Numerical Items of Interest Umberto Cassuto points out some other numerical factors in Genesis 5. 1 For one thing, he observes that every number in Genesis 5 is a multiple of 5, sometimes with the addition of 7. We have, in essence, made this point already. He also points…

by James B. JordanNovember 7, 1994
Biblical Horizons

The Second Word III: Exposition; Implications

Prostration God has designed the human body in a marvelous way, and Biblical religion is very physical. We believe in the resurrection of the body, against all pagan ideas of the immortality of the soul. We bury our bodies, not burning them. Human beings in their totality, including our bodies,…

by James B. JordanOctober 7, 1994
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Revelation

The Last Eight Visions of Revelation

Since Revelation is laid out in serieses of sevens, it is worth investigating to see if there is a series of seven after the seven libation-bowls of chapter 16. I believe there is, and it is the burden of this essay to expose it. The series of sevens, or heptamerous…

by James B. JordanOctober 7, 1994

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Synoptic dating

Austin Farrer said, “The datings of all these books are like a line of tipsy revellers walking home arm in arm . . . The whole series can lurch five years this way or that without colliding with a solid obstacle.”

June 2, 2008

Domesticating Jesus

The people of Nazareth find Jesus too familiar to take seriously. How can this son-of-a-carpenter make these kinds of demands on us? It’s a perennial temptation. The more familiar Jesus becomes, the more we’re apt to blunt the force of His radical demands: The Jesus I know wouldn’t ask me…

June 1, 2008

Jesus is Israel

Jesus’ parables seem to apply neatly to His own ministry. They also seem to apply neatly to the history of Israel. Which is it? No need to choose, of course. It’s fundamental to Matthew’s gospel story that Jesus is the true Israel, reliving Israel’s history. We should expect the shape…

June 1, 2008

Eucharistic meditation

Matthew 13:44: The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field. In the two brief parables in our sermon text, Jesus emphasizes the surpassing value of the kingdom. It is of such value that we must give up everything – abandon all other plans and aspirations and…

June 1, 2008

Exhortation

When He visited His hometown, Jesus didn’t do many acts of power. Matthew tells us He didn’t do much “because of their unbelief.” We Reformed Christians have a hard time taking this seriously. Matthew doesn’t sound truly Reformed. Isn’t God’s grace irresistible? Isn’t God sovereign? Does He have to wait…

June 1, 2008

Jesus’ sources

When Jesus visit Nazareth, the people ask “where did this man get this wisdom, and these powers?” and “where did this man get all these things?” Though not as overt, this is the same question raised earlier by the Pharisees, who charged that Jesus cast out demons through Satan’s power.…

May 31, 2008

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