What sort of religious vision animates the novels of Cormac McCarthy? That’s the question Todd Edmonson examines in a comparative study of McCarthy and Wendell Berry, Priest, Prophet, Pilgrim.It’s not an easy question to answer, given McCarthy’s famous reticence about himself . . . . Continue Reading »
In her book on The Jews under Roman Rule(225-6), Mary Smallwood observes that the Jews of Alexandria sought to retain their cohesion not only by synagogues but through formation into quasi-civic organizations known as politeumata: “A polieteuma was a recognized, formally constituted . . . . Continue Reading »
Pastor Rich Lusk observed in a sermon that the name “Jairus” (Mark 5) means “Yah awakens” (yah ‘ur). Others have suggested an etymology that connects ”-rus” with the verb “to give light - “Yah illumines.”Both fit with the baptismal . . . . Continue Reading »
Yahweh makes water in the wilderness, and where there is water there is a city (Psalm 107:33-38).Water may not seem a very stable foundation for urbanization, but it is the necessary basis for the life of any human community. Without water, people can’t live, their livestock won’t . . . . Continue Reading »
Near the end of his The Great Degeneration, Niall Ferguson quotes Geoffrey West’s analysis of the increasing economies of scale that come with urbanization. West argues,“the bigger the city, the more wages you can expect, the more educational institutions in principle, [the] more . . . . Continue Reading »
What do we think with? wonders Craig Keen in After Crucifixion(xii). We think we think with the brain, that “elongated sphere suspended on a thin neck between the brilliant, ethereal blue sky far above to which it is drawn, and the thick, heavy torso with its stabilizing limbs held . . . . Continue Reading »
Ancient worshipers inspected entrails to see if their sacrifices had been accepted. Israel apparently never did so. There was nothing visible to tell them that Yahweh received them. Only His word: “that he may be accepted.” In this as in other ways, sacrifice was a pedagogy in faith . . . . Continue Reading »
Maya Jasanoff reviews Rose George’s Ninety Percent of Everything, a study of the gigantic and largely unnoticed shipping industry.Shipping is one of the key factors in globalization, and today’s shipping is cheap and efficient as a result of “containerization”: “In . . . . Continue Reading »
Jezebel’s appearance in 1-2 Kings is part of a continuing story of Israel’s relationship with Tyre and Sidon. During the days of David and Solomon, Hiram king of Tyre was an ally of Israel. This is the ideal relationship between Jew and Gentiles, Israel and the nations.Jezebel . . . . Continue Reading »
Jesus appears with fiery eyes, more specifically with eyes that are “flame(s) of fire” (Gr. hos phlox/phloga puros, 1:15; 2:18). The phrase has Old Testament roots. Moses sees the angel of the Lord en phlogi puros on Sinai (Exodus 3:2; LXX), and in the plague of hail fire is seen . . . . Continue Reading »
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