With characteristic gleeful verve, Rodney Stark assaults secularization theory in his Triumph of Christianity.Secularization theory revived, he says, a charge brought against religious pluralism by “monopoly religions: that disputes among religious groups undermine the credibility of . . . . Continue Reading »
Latin America was supposed to become Protestant by now. In one of the major non-developments of the past quarter-century, it didn’t.Catholics didn’t take predictions of a Protestant Latin America lightly, and responded with renewal efforts of their own. Rodney Stark (Triumph of . . . . Continue Reading »
Revelation 3:1-2 is organized in a new chiasm:A. Thus saith He who has seven Spirits, even the seven starsB. I know your deeds (erga)C. You have a name that you are alive, but you are deadD. Wake up and strength the remainderC’. Which is about to dieB.’ for I have not found your deeds . . . . Continue Reading »
Jesus searches the entrails and hearts of His people (Revelation 2:23), but then judges everyone “according to your deeds” (erga).Why does He need the internal inspection when he’s going to judge by behavior in the last instance?That question highlights what might be called one . . . . Continue Reading »
Carol Wilson’s For I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Foodis a well-researched and illuminating piece of social-scientific scholarship on the New Testament.Picking up on recent work that places Matthew’s gospel in a Greco-Roman imperial context (e.g., Warren Carter), Wilson focuses . . . . Continue Reading »
Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10). That means He cares for His flock, leading them to pasture and water (Psalm 23; 1 Peter 5:2; Revelation 7:17). The Good Shepherd is a gentle, nurturing shepherd.Also a shattering shepherd. Jesus shepherds (poimaino) with an iron rod, suitable for smashing and . . . . Continue Reading »
At the Atlantic, Adam Grant describes the findings of his study, Give and Take, where he compiled “evidence that being a ‘giver’ who enjoys helping others can be inefficient in the short run but surprisingly productive in the long run.”He elaborated, “Givers tend . . . . Continue Reading »
The Spirit is the Spirit of creation, hovering over the waters.The Spirit is the Messianic Spirit, equipping the Servant of Yahweh with wisdom and understanding, counsel and strength, filling His breath with the power to kill and make alive.But the Spirit who brings new creation out of the old is . . . . Continue Reading »
Psalm 26 is a chiastic text:A. I have walked with integrity and truth, vv 1-3 (Yahweh 3x)B. I don’t sit with the deceifful or wicked, vv 4-5C. I wash in innocence, process around the altar, love Yahweh’s house, vv 6-8 (Yahweh 2x)B’. Do not take me away with wicked, vv 9-10A’. . . . . Continue Reading »
Jesus’ message to Sardis uses the word “name” (onoma) four times, first in the sense of “reputation” (Revelation 3:1), then as a stand-in for person (v. 2), and finally twice in Jesus’ promise to those who keep up with their laundry (v. 5).We have the odd . . . . Continue Reading »
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