While it has been notoriously difficult to pinpoint the center of 1 Corinthians among commentators, as Malcom states, “There is broad agreement that certain topics are crucial. The three that are repeatedly mentioned in recent scholarship are: the cross, holiness, and unity” (Matthew R. Malcolm, “The Structure and Theme of First Corinthians in Recent Scholarship,” … Read more
Paul’s claim in 1 Timothy 2:15 that Eve “will be saved through childbearing” perplexes many Bible readers. Modern commentators can seem as confused as the rest of us, offering a variety of solutions. This paper will make the case for a neglected reading of the key preposition (διά) as a way beyond the impasse. By … Read more
Richard Bauckham, N. T. Wright, and Crispin H. T. Fletcher-Louis, among others, have argued that Paul’s confession of “one God, the Father . . . and one Lord, Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 8:6) includes both the Father and Jesus Christ within the Shema, the Jewish confession of monotheism (Deut. 6:4). This interpretation has met resistance … Read more
Scholars typically interpret προγινώσκω in Romans 8:29 as (1) an act of foreknowledge (“know beforehand”) or (2) an act of unconditional election (“choose beforehand” and synonyms). The second interpretation is by far the majority view among Romans commentators, but scholars often assume rather than argue that προγινώσκω can have this meaning. The present study argues … Read more
Scholars hotly debate whether Romans 9:20–23 depicts God as unconditionally electing individuals to salvation. One text that has played a surprisingly small role in this debate is 2 Timothy 2:20–21, where Paul uses imagery very similar to Romans 9:20–23. The present study surveys the neglect of 2 Timothy 2:20–21, discusses the reasons for it, and … Read more
In Matthew Bates’s influential Salvation by Allegiance Alone (2017) and Gospel Allegiance (2019), the content of the gospel is said to consist of a series of 8 or 10 “Christ events.” Thus, for Bates, Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox all agree on the gospel’s content. This article argues that Bates’s definition would not differentiate between Paul’s … Read more
The meaning of πίστις Χριστοῦ has long been questioned and debated since the late nineteenth century. This paper argues that, contrary to the widespread lack of confidence and interest in linguistic approaches to the issue, a linguistic reading still can shed light on this deadlocked issue. The study employs the SFL (Systemic Functional Linguistics) notion … Read more
Acts 17 records Paul in Athens alone, following time spent with Silas in Thessalonica and joined by Timothy in Berea. Paul had preached the gospel in the synagogues of these cities for multiple Sabbaths, with recorded conversions in both locations, and the converts included Jews, devout Greeks, and what the author describes as leading women … Read more
Many scholars have noted similarities between the discussions of idolatry and resulting sinfulness in Wis 13:1–14:31 and Rom 1:18–32. Several scholars have also noted where Paul differs from his alleged source and have offered general explanations for this disagreement. My paper advances this conversation by providing a detailed study of specific passages in Wisdom of … Read more
Precise grammatical interpretation of the Pauline phrase ἐν Χριστῷ has continued to draw the attention of New Testament scholarship. Recent proposals (Morgan 2020; Beyer 2024) have suggested that Paul’s usage should be understood as an instance of a common but overlooked Greek construction, attested in all periods of ancient Greek. This use metaphorically portrays an … Read more