This paper contends that the allegation that Jesus is possessed by Beelzebul in Mark 3:20–22 is not a baseless fabrication that Jesus’s opponents invented purely to discredit him. Although the claim that Jesus is possessed is undoubtedly false and is motivated in part by his opponents’ desire to undermine his ministry, their diagnosis is based … Read more
This essay argues that the short parable in John 16:21 is a double entendre, referring not only to a woman’s child-bearing experience in general but also to a specific woman’s child-bearing experience—her hour [ἡ ὥρα αὐτῆς], foreshadowed in this parable and realized at the foot of the cross in chapter 19, where Jesus announces that … Read more
In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” In response, the disciples tell Jesus, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Matt 16:14). Why would the Jews identify Jesus with Jeremiah, the weeping prophet of the exile?(1) … Read more
Hebrews uses “tabernacle” rather than “temple” language in its cultic discourse. This preference raises the question of why the author avoids temple terminology, despite Hebrews’ clear emphasis on priesthood and sacrifice. Some scholars suggest that Hebrews grounds its cultic system in the authority of the Pentateuch, viewing the wilderness tabernacle, rather than the post- exilic … Read more
The Harrowing of Hell, also known as the Visit of Christ to Hades is certainly one of the most intriguingly enigmatic passages in 1 Peter, perhaps the entire New Testament. From early times (the first century), writers have elaborated and expanded on the event. The earliest form (after the New Testament period) occurs in the … Read more
New Testament fulfillment, as indicated by the term πληρόω, has received considerable attention. It is often assumed that when the biblical authors used the term πληρόω, they intended to indicate the fulfillment of predictive prophecy or messianic-predictive fulfillment (e.g., Guthrie, Longenecker, Menken, Konradt, Hays, among many others). This assumption about predictive prophecy and fulfillment is … Read more
The Gospels uniformly identify John the Baptist’s precursory role ahead of “the one coming after.” All four Gospel writers also emphasize John’s role as herald in this precursory role, each including the reference to Isaiah 40:3, “the voice of one calling in the wilderness.” In Matthew’s Gospel in particular, however, John’s role extends well beyond … Read more
This paper considers whether memory provides knowledge of the historical event itself or only to the author’s mind. Is it a matter of only how it was remembered, or can we postulate what likely happened? The example of whether Jesus was crucified is considered in conjunction with the epistemic theory of remembering. It is argued … Read more
Martin Hengel (1926–2009) was a German Neutestamentler of the 20th century and early 21st century, known for his work in Second Temple Judaism and early Christianity, as well as in a broad number of areas within New Testament studies including Pauline studies. His historical-critical approach differed significantly from his Tübingen and German predecessors, as Hengel … Read more
This presentation will address the nature of miracles in Luke-Acts to clarify the Holy Spirit’s activity in divine judgment. Doing so will contribute to the enduring discussion about the primary role of the Holy Spirit in Luke-Acts. My thesis is that God’s Spirit effects judgment—salvific and condemnatory—through miracles that drive individuals to a decision point … Read more