In the introduction to his magisterial commentary on John’s letters, Robert Yarbrough devotes two paragraphs to what these letters contribute to our understanding of pastoral ministry. I have not found any similar attention to examining what we see of John as a pastor in his letters in other commentaries. However, John invites us to see … Read more
Historical and theological inquiry into the eighteenth-century pastor-theologian John Gill has taken a sharp turn from the critical reproachments of the mid-twentieth century to appreciative assessments with calls for retrieval. Whereas previous interpreters made much of Gill’s Hyper-Calvinism, treating it as an utterly compromising facet of his theology, the newer scholarship has tended to either … Read more
[Ideally intended for a Septuagint section, but there is none this year for some reason!?] In the last three centuries before Christ, the books of the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek at various times and in various places. For some books, the original translation (the Old Greek, OG) was also accompanied by later translations … Read more
Scholarship is now decades removed from the era and influence of Martin Dibelius’s view that the letter of James has no essential structure and therefore no theology. Recent commentaries routinely treat James as a structured composition and usually include a section on the letter’s theology and/or prominent themes. Although the theology of James is “assumed … Read more
In 1986 James Hoffmeier published his groundbreaking Biblica article “The Arm of God Versus the Arm of Pharaoh in the Exodus Narratives.” That same year, Manfred Görg released his study “Der starke Arm Pharaos” in the Festschrift honoring François Daumas. Both men demonstrated that the Old Testament seizes Egyptian victory language and applies it to … Read more
Critics like Scott Aniol argue that emotionality in music is a manipulative distraction from true spiritual engagement. But does the Bible share this concern? This paper challenges Aniol’s assessment of music’s ability to evoke emotion by redefining manipulation as influence, and by examining 1 Samuel’s use of music and its broader cultural and theological implications. … Read more
The possibility that Cain and Abel were twins, though not explicitly affirmed in Genesis 4:1-2, arises from the text’s ambiguity and has sparked diverse interpretations. Scholars like Gordon Wenham argue against it, asserting, “There is no indication that Cain and Abel, unlike Esau and Jacob, were twins,” emphasizing Abel’s younger status as theologically significant. Early … Read more
In the current literature concerning Jewish law and legal practice in Ptolemaic Egypt it is often remarked that Jewish residents of Ptolemaic Egypt charged interest in their business dealings with each other in contrast to the (alleged) unanimous injunctions from the Torah that prohibit these actions (i.e., Exod 22:24(25); Lev 25:36–37; Deut 23:20–21[19–20a]). One such … Read more
Interest in the thought of Andrew Fuller (1754–1815), British Particular Baptist pastor and theologian, has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years. Energized by the ongoing publication of the critical edition of his works as well as a journal devoted to his theology, scholars are finding in Fuller’s thought a rich source for historical research. To … Read more
Few genres have challenged Christian interpreters and preachers more than legal texts in the Old Testament. As Allen Ross noted, “One of the most difficult problems of biblical interpretation is knowing how to interpret and apply the law in the church. No one has it all figured out because the debates continue, as they have … Read more