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It is often said that when it comes to interpretation, context is king—well, in Zech 6:13 the high priest is prophesied to be king, a prophecy which the post-exilic context renders (to say the least) far-fetched. Interpreters have wrestled with how to understand the implications of Zechariah 6 as a whole, and particularly with v. … Read more
This paper examines and compares how Augustine and Calvin are similar and different in their scriptural interpretation of 1 Cor 16-17 on the teaching of unity. Augustine’s Sermon 227 was preached on Easter Day of ca. 414-415, in which he explained the meaning of Eucharist following the thought of Paul in 1 Cor 10:16–17: “Is … Read more
As the ideology of the sexual revolution has taken root and abortion has been readily available to sever sex from its natural consequences and corresponding obligations, sex outside of marriage has become normalized in society. American culture has progressively accepted sexual libertinism and promoted the idea that sex is necessary for self-actualization and is a … Read more
2 Samuel 11:1-5 provides an account of David’s sexual encounter with Bathsheba. The text records that the event occurred during the war, but David remained at his Jerusalem home. One evening, David sees Bathsheba from his balcony, asks about her identity, and discovers that she is Uriah’s wife. He has her brought to him and … Read more
This paper will briefly summarize the methodology employed in constructing a definition of what the believer’s union with Christ actually is. After noting the need for a methodological approach in the introduction due to the multitude of models proposed since the Reformation, the first main content section will discuss the “creational solidarity” between God the … Read more
While the Colossian and Ephesian Haustafeln issue different commands to masters, both commands use language which, if pressed literally, threatens to undermine the distinction between master and slave. The command, τὴν ἰσότητα τοῖς δούλοις παρέχεσθε (Col 4:1), can easily be read as a command to treat slaves as equals, while the command, τὰ αὐτὰ ποιεῖτε … Read more
From Nathan’s ovine rebuke of David through Bunyan’s Pilgrim and Lewis’ Narnian fantasies, stories have been used throughout history to precipitate encounters with truth. In the twentieth century, through the work of philosophers like Sartre and Derrida, story has been, in a sense elevated from a tool available for communication and instruction to sum of … Read more
In the “About” section of its website, the Evangelical Theological Society states that it is an organization “devoted to the inerrancy and inspiration of the Scriptures and the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Yet a compelling question necessary arises: What, exactly, constitutes “the gospel” for this society of scholars? ETS’s Doctrinal Basis affirms two articles—the inerrancy … Read more
An important feature of Hebrew wisdom literature is the use of a prologue and an epilogue to frame the main body of the work. In Proverbs 1–9, Lady Wisdom creates an appetite for the banquet which is given in chapters 10–30, and in chapter 31 she gives her final goodbye. Without the prologue and epilogue, … Read more
There are moments when the biblical writer will arrest the reader’s attention by featuring literary closural devices in the narrative. By these devices, the narrator signals much more than a plot climax that leads to a reader’s sense of “closure” in the narrative unit. Through closural devices, the author highlights critical actions of the biblical … Read more