February 2012
5 posts
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Temptation and Intertextuality
I am teaching Matthew this semester and today we looked at the Temptation narrative in Matt. 4:1-11. I am utilizing an edited and improved post from a year ago. which has to do with the subject of “The Temptation of Jesus and Intertextuality.”
Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness following his baptism in the Jordan is recorded in all three Synoptic Gospels, although Mark only describes it briefly...
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Kept From the Hour (2)
Could this promise in Rev. 3:10 to be kept from this great test just be a reference to some immediate testing that the Philadelphian believers in the first century would face? No, because the promise refers to a world-wide testing, not one of the local periods of severe persecutions encountered in the first and second centuries. There actually were not empire-wide persecutions until the 3rd-4th...
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Kept From the Hour (1)
I am a firm pre-millennialist, since I think that a future national conversion of Israel is the clear teaching of both the OT and the NT (Zech. 12:10-13:1; Rom 11:25-27; see also Rev. 20:1-6). I also favor a pre-tribulation rapture, although I admit that it is not as clear as the millennial issue. I recently was asked to write about the rapture but to limit my discussion to the Apocalypse, the...
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RIP Frederick W. Danker (1920-2012)
Last Thursday I heard about Frederick W. Danker’s passing. His memorial service will be Saturday Feb 18, in St Louis, and I wish I could be there to pay my deep respects.
Frederick Danker was a Lutheran scholar who was best known for his work on the second and third editions of the great Walter Bauer NT Greek Lexicon. Those three editions were known to generations of Greek students by...
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Lynda
Yesterday, January 31, would have been my daughter’s 33rd birthday. Lynda Joy died in a car accident July 4, 2005, at the age of 26. I have never shared publicly what one of her friends wrote after hearing me at her funeral mention Job’s statement: “The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” David Gunderson wrote the following poem and...
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Glories of the Son (Hebrews 1:2-4)
Someone looked at my last post, with all the Greek, and responded that she felt illiterate. Sorry. Every believer will resonate, however, with the seven glorious aspects and actions of the Son in Hebrews 1:2-4:
1. God appointed the Son heir of all things.
2. God made the universe through the Son.
3. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory.
4. The Son is the exact expression of His...
January 2012
20 posts
2 tags
Hebrews 1:1-4
ὁ θεὸς … ἐλάλησεν SUBJECT and PREDICATE
God Spoke
_____ λαλήσας
_____ having spoken
_________τοῖς πατράσιν
_________to the fathers
_________ἐν τοῖς προφήταις
_________ by the prophets
_________Πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως
_________ in may parts and various ways
_________πάλαι
_________ of old
___________ (ἐλάλησεν) ἐπʼ ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν τούτων WHEN
___________...
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Pauline Authorship of Hebrews?
A pastor asked a good question in response to my suggestion that Jude was the author of Hebrews: “How does one go about determining authorship, when the majority of early, external material attributes authorship to Paul? Other than Origen, why is Paul not the favorable author?”
Earliest writers on the subject, Clement of Alexandria and Origen, wrote that the Greek in Hebrews was not...
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Earliest Copy of Hebrews
This is the first page of the earliest copy of the Letter to the Hebrews which has been found - second century AD. It is part of the P46 codex and is in the Chester Beatty Museum in Dublin. My wife and I saw it a couple of years ago. The end of Romans is at the top of the leaf and the title of Hebrews is simply “Pros Hebraious” or “To the Hebrews.” Enjoy.
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Jude the Author of Hebrews
(I posted this before, but it may be time for it again).
1. Jude started to write an epistle about the “salvation” he shared in common with his readers but changed to writing his shorter epistle (Jude 3). I suggest that he later completed this postponed work and it is the Epistle to the Hebrews.
2. I also suggest that the epistle that Auctor (my name for the author of Hebrews) wrote...
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To Hebrews
I start teaching Hebrews from the Greek text Tuesday night, so I thought that this would be a timely post.
When Helen and I were in Dublin in the summer of 2008, we were waiting for our timed entrance to Dublin Castle. When we realized that we had almost an hour’s wait, I saw that the Chester Beatty Library was next door. Now for most folks that may not mean much, but I recalled that the famous...
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Hebrews - What's the Main Message? (2)
There is a second way in which Auctor effectively but succinctly presents his message. Beginning in Heb. 2:9, he mentions Jesus by his personal name in the first of ten times. But the way in which he does it is obscured by most of the English translations. He piles up the titles and activities of Jesus first and then concludes by mentioning his name. This rhetorical device (climax) builds...
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Hebrews - What's the Main Message?
I am about to work through Hebrews with my Greek Exegesis class, so I am reminded of a discovery I made in Hebrews a few years ago. I am happy to follow up my post of a couple of days ago with some fresh ideas.
Recently I have discovered two effective ways in which Auctor (Latin for author of the Letter to the Hebrews) exhorts us to recognize the main theme in his book - Jesus. First, twice he...
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“Fingerprints of a Real Religion” James 1:26, 27
Some practical thoughts from my commentary on James:
“Religion” is a word that can mean many things to many people. Some Evangelicals don’t even like the word being applied to them. But James is not afraid of the term. It simply means the outward manifestations of one’s personal faith. But James does not define the word “religion” in abstract terms. He describes how real religion “looks” in real...
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Hebrews, Angels, and Us
I had an email exchange with a brother about Hebrews 1:1-4 and thought that it might interest some readers. He asked if I viewed 1:1-4 as a section or if 1:4 is part of the next section on angels. He also wondered what might be the semantic connection between 1:14 and 1:5-2:4. There is some Greek here, but I have translated it for you!
“I think that Black’s discourse analysis of Heb...
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Theology in Life - Psalm 139
Yesterday’s post on Theology as Story struck a responsive chord in some readers. This post is from last Winter, so I put it up here again in case you missed it. It is about how the Bible itself teaches theology, and surprisingly it is not the usual way we teach it!
In the opinion of many a Biblical scholar, Psalm 139 is one of the most profound meditations on God in the entire Psalter, yea...
Theology as Story
Someone asked me how we should teach the attributes of God if we don’t use the systematic theology approach. Well, perhaps expounding the profound theological texts about God’s deeds in history is a place to start. Like this one!
The first Biblical reference to a song and singing is in Exodus 15:1-21. Moses and his sister Miriam lead the children of Israel in what has been called “The Song of...
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Restoring a Brother - James 5:19-20
There is a reason why I am diverting from the little series on Psalms taken from my upcoming commentary, Awake O Harp. A wayward husband has repented, asked forgiveness, broken off a sinful relationship, and returned to his wife! I thought of the following words that I wrote in my devotional commentary on James, To Love God and to Love Others.
“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from...
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Sickness and Sin - Psalm Six
This psalm grew out of an experience of sickness and pain, when David thought he was going to die. Besides his pain, he had to put up with the attacks of his enemies who wanted him to die. It is part of those psalms (Psalms 3–7) that were composed during the Absalom Rebellion. It was a time of deep personal anguish for David. How tragic for him and also for parents today who suffer distress over...
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Encouragement for the Slandered - Psalm Five
When he served in King Saul’s court, David was often attacked by some of Saul’s officers who flattered the king and lied about David (vv. 4–6, 9). King Saul wrongly believed that David was trying to steal his throne. Because of this he acted out his sad paranoia and eventually destroyed himself, not David!
Psalm 5:1-12
When people slander you, follow David’s example and pray about the matter,...
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A Prayer for the Evening - Psalm Four
Among liturgical Christians who pray the “offices,” the prayer before retiring for the night is called “Compline.” Psalm 4 is prayed during this very personal quiet time before sleep. You may not pray the “hours” but this one surely is appropriate at night–or for anytime when darkness enters the soul!
Read Psalm 4:1-8
David wrote this psalm as he was about to retire for the night (Ps. 4:8),...
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Advice for Insomniacs - Psalm Three
If worry keeps you from getting a good night’s sleep, Psalms 3 and 4 were written for you. Psalms 3–7 were evidently composed when David was exiled from Jerusalem because his son Absalom had stolen the kingdom (2 Sam. 15–18 and see the Titles of Psalms 3 and 7).
A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
3:1 O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
2 many are...
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Father and Son - Psalm Two
There are psalms that portray Israel’s ideal ruler as a King. Sometimes the language about this King goes beyond the power and influence of even a David or Solomon. These are known as the Messianic Psalms, of which the first is here in Psalm Two. These psalms speak about the future “anointed one” (Ps. 2:2) and often portray Him as Ruler and Judge. On the other hand, some of them portray him as a...
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Only Two Ways - Psalm One
This Psalm of the “Two Ways” draws on a Jewish teaching paradigm shared by the Wisdom Literature (Pr. 1–9), Him who is Incarnate Wisdom (Matt. 7:13–14), and THE Wisdom writing of the NT (Jas. 3:13–18).
1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law...
What the Psalms Do to Us
The Psalms teach us to be deeply occupied with our God. They magnify and exalt Him as the Sovereign Creator and Ruler of the universe. What is it to be much occupied with God? It is to treasure His Word, to delight in His worship, to reflect on His glorious attributes, to rehearse His great acts in history, to trust in His care, to glory in His gospel and to anticipate His final victory. The more...
December 2011
26 posts
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My Favorite Reads of 2011
How can you compile a “Best of” list unless you have read all them? This is just a list of books that I read in 2011 and really liked.
1. Life of Elizabeth I by Alison Weir. In depth and readable, this biography helped me to better understand the woman who was probably the best ever British monarch. It also illumined the many personalities around her. The dynamics of Catholicism and...
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What is the Ultimate Message of the Psalms?
From Awake O Harp, to be published in February.
The Book of Psalms is ultimately a message about the Messiah, our Lord Jesus. We find Jesus here because he found himself here. As he walked with two of his disciples on the day of his resurrection, Jesus ‘expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself ’ (Luke 24:27). Later that day he appeared to other disciples and said:...
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Message for the Sunday After Christmas
What do you preach on the Sunday AFTER Christmas? Perhaps an event which took place 40 days AFTER the birth is appropriate. This examination of the words of Simeon in Luke 2:22-35 can offer some seed-starters for your own further reflection.
When Jesus was 8 days old he was circumcised (Lk. 2:21). When he was 40 days old he was presented in the Temple as part of the ceremony of the Redemption of...
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Calvin on the Christmas Message
Comments by John Calvin on Galatians 4:4:
When the fulness of the time had come. He proceeds with the comparison which he had adduced, and applies to his purpose the expression which has already occurred, “the time appointed by the Father,”—but still shewing that the time which had been ordained by the providence of God was proper and seasonable. That season is the most fit, and that mode of...
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God Moved Into the Neigborhood
The Message often paraphrases a verse into something almost humorous, but Eugene Peterson’s rendering of John 1:14 is striking in its simple, straightforward, in-your-face starkness:
“The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
...
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"I Desire to Do Your Will" - Psalm 40
My devotional commentary on the Psalms (Awake O Harp) will be published in February. This meditation on Psalm 40 is excerpted from the commentary, and is appropriate for Christmas.
Much has been written about the Messianic Psalms. Some argue that no psalms are Messianic because they all refer to David or some other psalmist. Others argue that every psalm is Messianic because of Luke 24:44. There...
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Full of Grace and Truth
John 1:14 says that the Word was “full of grace and truth.” This statement is probably a deliberate echo of the great self-revelation of Yahweh in Ex. 34:6: “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth” (Hebrew: hesed and emet). Jesus, therefore, is the embodiment of Yahweh! Later Pilate asked Jesus: “What is truth?” (John...
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Christmas Flesh
The title sounds a bit shocking, doesn’t it? But Christmas Flesh is the real message of the Nativity season. We evangelicals emphasize so strongly that Jesus was DEITY incarnate that we forget to think through what it meant for Him to come in the “flesh” (John 1:14 and 1John 4:2). “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). The Word who is Life, the Word who is...
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What Does Hanukkah Have to Do with Christmas?
I often use the word Messiahmas, simply to emphasize the Jewishness of the Christian Natvivity message. But is mixing Hanukkah with Christmas just going too far?
Let me explain. Hanukkah begins on Chislev 25 and continues for eight days. The correspondence with the number of December 25 is only a coincidence and really has no significance because the Jewish holiday falls on different dates on...
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What Was the Purpose of the Magi's Gifts?
Readers of my blog and my students know that I am not afraid to suggest fresh ways of looking at old texts. An upcoming article in the Biblical Archaeology Review suggests a view, however, that in my opinion just stretches my imagination too far to accept. But here is a summary of the contents of the article.
“Were the gifts of the magi meant to save Jesus from the pain of arthritis? It’s...
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The Dark Side of the "Light"
Christmas is a time of light and joy, but a book published last year develops a neglected but solidly Biblical theme: That the original Nativity stories were set in a time of darkness and conflict. A Not So Silent Night by Verlyn Verbrugge (Kregel) uncovers the darker side of Christmas, a side that exposes pain, humiliation, fear, and danger. The author maintains (quite accurately) that until we...
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When God Moved Into the Neighborhood
“Here we come to the sentence for the sake of which John wrote his gospel: John 1:14. He has thought and talked about the word of God, that powerful, creative, dynamic word which was the agent of creation, that guiding, directing, controlling word which puts order into the universe and intelligence into human beings. Now he says the most startling and incredible thing that he could have said. He...
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The Shepherds and the Savior
Today I offer some observations on the role of the shepherds in Luke 2, some of which I have adapted from Ben Witherington.
The episode about the shepherds, which takes up more space than the discussion of the birth itself, has a real historical plausibility to it, since Bethlehem was one of the main areas near Jerusalem where sheep were raised for the sacrifices in the Temple. Due to their...
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Mary's "Firstborn"
I have done a lot of thinking about the Messianic role of our Lord Jesus, and published a book about the subject titled The Messiah: Revealed, Rejected, Received. After nearly forty years studying the Messianic idea I am still discovering wonderful new facets of this subject. To limit one’s study to the individual Messianic prophecies is actually to cover only one area of this great theme. As...
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Mythology of the Mean Innkeeper
The Christmas portions of the gospels are at once the most beloved and the most mythologized texts in the New Testament. Like works of art that have been lacquered with coat after coat of varnish, the details of the original stories are sometimes hard to see clearly. In the last few posts I suggested that a close reading of Matthew’s account (chapter two) reveals that the star may be something...
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When Will the ESV Cease Evolving?
Are you aware that the ESV continues to evolve? When will it grow up? I was sent the link below by a friend today and it troubles me. The document lists nearly 300 changes and this group is only one in a series of revisions that have appeared (quietly) since its publication over a decade ago.
I think that the changes are mostly good, but that is not my point. With this series of almost annual...
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The Mythology of the Magi (3) That "Star"
With the OT background for the Magi that we examined yesterday, what help can also be found in the OT for the correct interpretation of the star? The supernatural character of this brightness is implied by being described as “his star” (Mt. 2:2). I suggest that this unique shining was the glory of God described so often in the OT as the visible manifestation of God’s presence (e.g., Ex.16:10;...
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Mythology of the Magi (2)
Yesterday we looked at a few myths surrounding the visit of the Magi to the child Jesus in Bethlehem. We questioned the ideas about the sources of their knowledge of the star and the “King of the Jews” as lying in astronomical phenomena or in astrological “signs.” What is an alternative explanation for their knowledge?
It is possible that the oracles of Balaam served as the source for their...
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The Mythology of the Magi
The visit of the magi to the Child-Messiah, recorded in Matthew 2:1-12, is one of the most familiar biblical scenes to most Christians. The perception of this event has been unfortunately marred by a large number of popular misconceptions. Some of these derive from the popular song, “We Three Kings of Orient Are.” Consider the following list of erroneous assumptions about the wise men:
1. They...
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Matthew and the Young Messiah
The following sections are five slides from a power point presentation that I give at Christmas. I focus on the way that Matthew develops the four sections of his Nativity account. Maybe it will stimulate your thinking.
I. The Four Sections of Matthew’s Nativity
These four “pericopes” are each anchored by the fulfillment of an OT statement:
Matt. 1:18-25 (Joseph) ...
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Merry Messiahmas and Happy Hanukka
The title of this post is a Jewish approach to what we all know is a quite “Christian” observance. Christmas Day falls within the observance of Hanukka this year (December 20-28). By the way, the Jewish holiday can be spelled about a half dozen ways in English. Please don’t correct me!
The Messianic Hope of the Hebrew Scriptures is not limited to the individual prophecies about...
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The "Best Religious Joke Ever"
This was voted on in the UK as the best religious joke ever. Do you agree?
“Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, “Don’t do it!”
He said, “Nobody loves me.”
I said, “God loves you. Do you believe in God?”
He said, “Yes.”
I said, “Are you a Christian or a Jew?”
He said, “A Christian.”
I...
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Now What? Public Discourse in Retrospect
Well yesterday was the busiest day for my blog since my controversial post following the killing of bin Laden! Now to reflect a little bit.
It seems that I did hit a responsive nerve in expressing my disgust over the vituperative slandering of our President by evangelical Christians. Almost everyone who responded agreed with me. No one challenged my use of the Bible, and some even strengthened...
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Bad Words About Obama
Frankly I am sick and tired of hearing - on Facebook and in person - expressions of disdain, name-calling, and outright slander of the President of the US, Barack Obama. Yesterday I was surfing some FB posts and I encountered some of the most vile language you could imagine coming from some “friends” calling Obama shameful names. I immediately de-friended this person who calls himself...
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A Tribute to the KJV at 500 (2)
Genesis 4:5 And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
(I know a guy named Jerry Roth, but Very Wroth?)
Genesis 25:8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age,
(This expression appears 19 times in the KJV and has become part of our English idioms. Neither the Hebrew nor the Greek say anything about a ghost or spirit. They just say “he expired.” I like “he...