There is a long-standing pattern of interweaving Jesus’ Last Journey to Jerusalem found in the Synoptics (Matt. 16:13-20:34; Mk. 8:27-10:52; Lk. 9:18-19:28) with the events of Sukkot (Jn. 7:1-10:21), Hanukkah (Jn. 10:22-42), and the raising of Lazarus (Jn. 11:1-54). This is done without any parallel verses between the Synoptics and John. It also creates numerous … Read more
While belief in the Holy Spirit is affirmed as an article of faith within the Nicene Creed (325 CE), the person and work of the Holy Spirit awaited the more robust, Trinitarian definition provided by the Constantinopolitan Creed of 381 CE. As Jaroslav Pelikan opined: “At Nicea the doctrine of the Holy Spirit had been … Read more
This paper equips listeners to better preach NT passages which reference non-canonical texts. Some Christians are quite disturbed to hear that the Bible sometimes references non-inspired texts, like Jude’s references to Enoch or the many allusions to the rabbinic oral tradition in the Gospels. Paul quotes Greek plays (1 Cor 15:33), pagan poets (Acts 17:28), … Read more
Church historians know little about nineteenth-century Scottish Baptists. This presentation will further acquaint hearers with the preaching of the Scottish Baptist, Peter Grant (Pàdraig Grannd), during the 1800s. Peter Grant, the hymn writer, is well-known, but his preaching is unfamiliar to most, although he was an able expositor and experienced significant revivals in Scotland under … Read more
Commentators are divided on the meaning of הַצִּרְעָה in Exodus 23:28, Deuteronomy 7:20, and Joshua 24:12.(1) The term has been taken literally for the flying insect.(2) Other commentators have suggested a representative usage, where the hornet stands for the Egyptian Pharoah and is iconic of Lower Egypt.(3) Still others suggest a psychological interpretation, where “hornet” … Read more
2 Kings 22:8-11 tells a remarkable story of how the Book of the Law was found in the temple; it had been lost for many years, both literally and philosophically. As a result, Judah had been led into sin. Today, the United States—and churches in general—can be said to have “lost” the Word of God, … Read more
co-authored proposal Abstract: Epic stories like The Odyssey, the Aeneid, or more recently The Lord of the Rings are universally accepted and beloved stories. But beyond mere entertainment, these fictional accounts engage humanity at deep formative levels, especially utilizing the genre of myth to interact with and promote metaphysical and ethical realities deemed key to … Read more
This paper will compare and contrast five distinct models of union with Christ in 16th and 17th century Reformed theology. The “models” to be discussed will be restricted to the various understandings of what the union actually is, rather than the more commonly-discussed benefits of the union. The models discussed will be those of John … Read more
This essay will explore the explicit aspect of transitioning the community of Samaritans from worship practices on Mt Gerizim to worship in “spirit and in truth” πνεύματι καὶ ἀληθείᾳ. Jesus expressed a divine need to go through Samaria as recorded in John 4. The Greek verb, ἔδει, is used as a literary device to direct … Read more
Abstract: This paper examines the Petrine household code (1 Pet 2:11–3:12) through the lens of Greco-Roman voluntary associations. Part one interprets the peculiar emphasis on slaves and wives in 2:18–3:6 through the larger context of 1 Peter, the New Testament, and Greco-Roman household codes. The focus on slaves and wives is not unusual compared to … Read more