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This paper examines how the so-called formula quotations in the first section of Matthew’s Gospel (Matt 1:1–4:16) work together to portray Jesus as ‘fulfilling’ (πληρόω) key Old Testament (OT) themes. While scholarship often treats each of Matthew’s formula quotations in isolation, this paper argues that in 1:1–4:16 they function collectively to connect Jesus with Israel, … 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 recent years there has been increased attention on the potential benefits of applying Bayes’ Theorem to arguments in biblical studies. Scholars such as Christoph Heilig, Laura J. Hunt, and myself have, in different ways, appealed to Bayes’ Theorem—a fundamental formula used in statistics—in their research, while a small but engaged community has sprung up … Read more
The question of the genre of Luke and Acts (or Luke-Acts) is one that continues to bedevil Lukan scholarship. Proposals run the gamut, from the fairly standard (e.g., Bios and “general history”), to the esoteric (e.g., “eschatological kerygmatic biblical historical biography”). This paper will seek to cut through some of the confusion by employing a … Read more
The relationship and integration of different religious traditions within the Hebrew Bible remains a vexing question. Recent studies in Jeremiah have explored aspects of wisdom and so-called wisdom traditions, such as its structural and rhetorical role binding together chapters 7–10 and its theological connections to creation and the created order more broadly. However, the specific … Read more
Paul’s interpreters are perpetually wrestling with whether the future judgment portrayed in Romans 2 is a part of Paul’s gospel of grace through faith, or a foil for it. Versions of each interpretation abound. Those who argue persuasively for a real judgment “according to works” of both believers and unbelievers must reason from elsewhere in … Read more
In their theological debate with Eunomius of Cyzicus, it is well-known that the Cappadocians strongly disputed their opponent’s claim that “God knows no more of His own substance than we do” (Socrates, Church History IV.7) by appealing to the absolute incomprehensibility of God’s essence (e.g., Gregory of Nazianzus, Or. 28). What is less often recognized … Read more
The concept of a “new covenant” (Luke 22:20) in early Christianity naturally brought to the fore a host of questions concerning the nature of the church, Israel, and how to interpret Scripture—questions that remain relevant to this day. This paper will examine the approach to this problem in the fourth century writer known as “Macarius.” … Read more
Over the centuries there have been several attempts to show from general revelation that God is triune: e.g. Richard St Victor, Edwards, and, more recently, Swinburne. In modern times, with the increasing interest in AI and Information Theory, it is not surprising that there have been suggestions that these domains have something to contribute to … Read more
This paper addresses the exegetical impasse regarding κατοπτριζόμενοι in 2 Corinthians 3:18, where Paul calls readers to “gaze as in a mirror” at the Lord’s glory that they might be transformed into the image of what they see. While some (e.g., Belleville, Wright) take this to mean “reflect,” the majority rightly affirm the more traditional … Read more