Joshua Davis gives a deft summary of J. Louis Martyn’s understanding of Pauline theology in the introduction to Apocalyptic and the Future of Theology: With and Beyond J. Louis Martyn, which Davis co-edited with Douglas Harinck.Building on but going beyond Kasemann, Martyn attempts to . . . . Continue Reading »
The Sacrificial Body And the Day of Doom: Alchemy And Apocalyptic Discourse in the Protestant Reformationby Urszula Szulakowska links together early modern alchemy with Reformation sacramental theology, art, and interpretations of Revelation. At the center she places Stefan Michelspacher’s . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah 60:19-20 is a Celtic knot of a text. The obvious structure is a parallelism:\A. No longer sun for lightB. Nor moon for brightnessC. Yahweh will be everlasting lightD. Your God for your beautyA’. Your sun will not set any moreB’. Nor will the moon waneC’. For Yahweh will be . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah 60 forms a distinct unit, with a generally chiastic structure:A. Light has come and the glory of Yahweh, vv 1-3B. Caravans of kings will be treasures to Zion, vv 4-9 (including gold and silver, vv 6, 9)C.Foreigners build walls and gates open, v 10-11aD.Kings will serve you, vv 11b-14E. From . . . . Continue Reading »
Yahweh promises to upgrade Israel: In place of their bronze, iron, wood, and stones He will give gold, silver, bronze, and iron (Isaiah 60:17). It’s a myth of decline in reverse, with the golden age following rather than preceding the bronze (see Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, & Hope In . . . . Continue Reading »
Christopher R. Smith’s After Chapters & Versesis a systematic critique of the current format of the Bible, its division into chapters and verses, its book divisions, and its ordering of books within the canon. He wants to erase the chapter and verse markings, and put the books into a . . . . Continue Reading »
Using an unusual transsexual image, Isaiah promises that Israel will “suck the milk of nations and suck the breast of kings” (Isaiah 60:16). Gentile kings will take the place of Moses, the “nursing father” of Israel (cf. Numbers 11:12).And not just Moses: Most of the . . . . Continue Reading »
When Israel’s light shines, kings will flock to Zion to “serve” (sharat) Israel. The word typically describes priestly ministry. In the Pentateuch “stand to serve” is a thumbnail description of priestly ministry (Numbers 16:9; Deuteronomy 10:8; 17:12; 18:5, 7), and . . . . Continue Reading »
Irene Backus began her study of Reformation Readings of the Apocalypse: Geneva, Zurich, and Wittenbergout of frustration that Protestant commentaries on Revelation were widely unavailable. Her book is a straightforward summation of the ways Calvinists and Lutherans read the book.Those in . . . . Continue Reading »
When Jesus called the disciples to be “fishers of men,” he was riffing on imagery from the prophets. Yahweh fishes for Israel as He gathers exiled Jews from the sea of nations in His nets.Isaiah 60:5 gives an additional angle on the imagery. In the parallel lines at the end of the verse . . . . Continue Reading »
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