Aune argues that Jesus is not dressed as a priest when John first sees him, but his argument is odd. He notes that the Greek wor for “robe” ( poderes ) is used twelve times in the LXX, always of an article of priestly gear. But the word is used for five different articles of gear, five . . . . Continue Reading »
When he hears the voice like a trumpet, John turns to “see” the voice. This is an odd turn of phrase, but, as David Aune points out, not unprecedented. At Sinai, Israel saw the voice that spoke (Exodus 20:18), and later in Deuteronomy, Moses says that he saw the voice (7:11; LXX). Some . . . . Continue Reading »
In his Church History , Eusebius makes it clear that he believes that John was exiled to Patmos during the reign of Domitian. In the Demonstration of the Gospel (3.5), he perhaps implies something else. He summarizes the persecutions of Christians that began with Stephen in this way: “Herod . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah 10:5-15 seems to be organized in a chiastic order. A. Rod and staff, v 5 B. Plunder, v. 6 C. Boast of Assyria, vv. 8-11 D. Yahweh’s response, limiting Assyria’s power, v. 12 C’/B’. Assyria’s boast/plunder, vv. 13-14 A’. Axe, Saw, Rod, Staff, v. 15 This . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah 10:6 warns that the Assyrians are coming to “spoil spoil, and to prey prey.” Both words are doubled, and the poetic equality of the phrase is enhanced by the fact that the Hebrew word for “prey” is baz - bazaz in its verb form, baz in its noun form. In Isaiah 10:6 . . . . Continue Reading »
In Isaiah 10:6, Yahweh describes Israel as a “people of wrath” ( ‘am ‘avrati ). Like other phrases that Isaiah uses to describe godless Israel, this one is a pun. ‘avarah puns first with ‘ever , or Eber, the ancestor of the Jews and the source of the name . . . . Continue Reading »
Brock notes that the root of worship is the church’s common trust in the Word that calls them. Worship is a school in trust, where the church listens for God’s word to them. Worship develops a taste for trust in communication, and thus subverts the subversive suspicions of our culture. . . . . Continue Reading »
Brian Brock argues that the church’s diversity of gifts should not be understood as a “division of labor.” That conforms the church to the social models of technological society in which “individuals [are] so organized that they can productively live out the fully formed . . . . Continue Reading »
John’s description of the Enthroned matches in a number of details Ezekiel’s description of the “king of Tyre” in Ezekiel 28. The stones that adorn the king of Tyre are the same stones to which John compares the Lord’s appearance, and the king of Tyre wears a crown . . . . Continue Reading »
In Revelation 4, the Enthroned is like “jasper” and “sardius.” Both stones are part of the high priest’s vestments (Exodus 28:17-18). the priest is the image of God; the Enthroned the Enthroned priest. Isaiah 54:12 describes the city in the same terms. Restored . . . . Continue Reading »
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