Submitted – Page 4 – Evangelical Theological Society

“Does It Not Seem to You as Nothing?” Political Theology in the Persian Period Prophets

An enduring biblical-theological question is the posture of the people of God toward governing authorities, especially when these authorities do not recognize God’s reign. The biblical witness attests to many different configurations of such relationships, with attendant challenges and opportunities. This paper explores this question by looking at the experience of the Judahite community, focusing … Read more

The Beginning is Half the Whole: Implications of Chronicles versus Psalms Beginning the Ketuvim

Since the publication of the BHK in 1906, biblical scholars have read the Writings/Ketuvim with Psalms at the beginning and Chronicles at the end. The BHK/BHS arrangement is a mix of the order of the MT and the Rabbinic tradition found in baba bathra 14b. Actual manuscripts with the BHS order come from Spanish manuscripts … Read more

Παράκλητος in the Johannine Corpus in Light of Anatolian Epigraphic Evidence

A cursory summary of English translations reveals agreement on the translation of παράκλητος as “advocate” in 1 John 2:1, but the other four occurrences of the noun in John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7 reveal a stunning lack of agreement: “advocate,” “helper,” “comforter,” and “counselor.” Commentators discuss the translation problem, but do not solve it, and … Read more

The Emptied Word – Revelation, Power, and Kenotic Inspiration

As Gerald O’Collins has recently observed, much contemporary bibliology has left the theme of inspiration “out in the cold.” Indeed, across dogmatic treatments of scripture’s unique qualities, one is hard-pressed to find detailed treatment of either the history of the idea of inspiration or constructive theological reflection on the mode and operation of inspiration. This … Read more

Biblical Foundations for the Necessity of Spiritual Mothers in the Church

Recently, evangelical scholars have argued that the pastor plays a fatherly role in the life of a church. Building on the works of these scholars, this paper calls attention to the necessity for women to serve in a motherly role in both unofficial and official capacities in the church, a role this paper calls “spiritual … Read more

The Kansas City Prophets in London, 1990: Charismatic Controversy in Transatlantic Perspective

The so-called “Kansas City Prophets” were a group of charismatic leaders associated with the “New Apostolic” movement, including Paul Cain (1929-2019), Bob Jones (1930-2014) and Mike Bickle. For a crucial period in the late 1980s and early 1990s they were brought within the Vineyard Movement by John Wimber, and via Wimber they gained access to … Read more

Still Seeking an Autograph: The Protomasoretic Tradition and OT Autographs

Last year’s paper, “Seeking an Autograph: an Investigation into OT Autography,” looked into the issues of OT autography and Article 10 of the Chicago Statement on Inerrancy. This presentation continues that investigation by looking at the possibility of locating the original autograph(s) in the protomasoretic tradition. The study engages articles and publications from scholars such … Read more

“Abide in Him”: A Trinitarian Reading of 1 John 2:28–3:3

Interpreters of 1 John have long observed a fair degree of ambiguity in the use of the personal pronoun (αὐτός) with respect to God, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. There are several cases where the referent of the pronoun is difficult to determine in the immediate context and the language of God is … Read more

Ancient Kings and Modern Rulers: Israel’s Monarchy and the Construction of Political Power

This paper examines some ways the Old Testament narrative accounts of Israel’s monarchy have, and might continue to, contribute to western political theology. Mostly, the narratives of Israel’s great kings have been used as exemplars of what righteous political rule should be like. There are plentiful examples. As we saw recently, English monarchs continue to … Read more

The Anti-Feast of Purim? Esther and YHWH-less Israelite Nationalism

If Esther were an independent book, the reviews would be mixed. Some, due to its “godless” brutality and vengeance, deny its canonicity alongside that of apocryphal works. Others, due to its preservation of Israel under foreign rule, claim it as the undeniable, sovereign “background” working of YHWH on behalf of his people. But what if … Read more