The concept of a “new covenant” (Luke 22:20) in early Christianity naturally brought to the fore a host of questions concerning the nature of the church, Israel, and how to interpret Scripture—questions that remain relevant to this day. This paper will examine the approach to this problem in the fourth century writer known as “Macarius.” … Read more
Chronic anxiety, affecting over 40 million U.S. adults annually (National Institute of Mental Health), distorts worldview, convincing sufferers that hope is futile, suffering lacks purpose, and God is distant, leading to despair and isolation. Interventional methods, such as therapy and medication, aimed at regulating the body and calming neural patterns, cannot fully reorient these perceptions … Read more
On the night of April 18, 1775, the sexton of the Old North Church in Boston lit two lanterns in the church tower, alerting Paul Revere and William Dawes of the movement of British troops up the Charles River toward Cambridge. The expeditionary force of British regulars was under orders to march from Cambridge to … Read more
The significance that the book of Ruth plays in the story of the Messiah can be seen clearly at the end of the book, with the genealogy connecting the child given to Naomi through Ruth to David. This is routinely noted by biblical theologians, seen recently in T. D. Alexander (1998), Kaiser (2008), and Schreiner … Read more
Massive debates have erupted over whether Paul calls Junia an apostle alongside her (presumed) husband Andronicus (Rom 16:7). There are three main interpretive issues: (1) whether Junia (or Junias) is even a woman, (2) whether he or she is “outstanding among the apostles” (and therefore an apostle) or “outstanding to the apostle” (and therefore highly … Read more
Many of those dedicated to the furthering of the English Reformation were forced into exile during the reign of Mary I (1555-1558). Her goal of returning England to Roman Catholicism by force drove many reform-minded figures away from their country in order to escape the storm of persecution. This became one of the most critical … Read more
Early Christians followed their pagan counterparts in marking the graves of their people. Yet, there were distinct elements that Christians sought to include in their burial inscriptions. Much has been written about these distinctions in the literature, and yet there are more avenues to consider. For instance, while extant epigraphic and funerary epitaphs of members … Read more
Preaching is not merely the proclamation of biblical truth; it is also a pastoral act that shapes the emotional and spiritual life of a congregation. Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST) has been widely applied to leadership and church dynamics emphasizing the importance of a well-differentiated leader—one who remains steadfast in conviction while resisting the pull … Read more
The saga of the Underground Railroad looms large in the national Canadian consciousness. Canada views itself, especially when juxtaposed with the United States, as a bastion of freedom for fugitive slaves and free Blacks looking to preserve their liberty. The national identity rest largely on Canada being one of the primary destinations on the Railroad. … Read more
In this essay, I argue that John Owen’s views of the Old Testament’s inherent Christological frame of reference and the nature of the literal sense of holy Scripture can correct and guide our own reading of Scripture today. Though quality work has been done on John Owen’s hermeneutics (e.g., Tweeddale, Howson, McGraw, Knapp, Hindsman), a … Read more