1 Corinthians 11:18-20: when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the . . . . Continue Reading »
The men of Babel set out to make a great name for themselves, and after them Achilles, Alexander, Caesar, and countless others sought an everlasting name on the battlefield, by sexual conquests, or by political success. Making a name is what ancient heroism was all about. We have not outgrown this . . . . Continue Reading »
In City of God 5.11, Augustine rhapsodizes concerning the works of God the Triune Creator. His works are works of gift-giving. Three times Augustine uses the verb “gave” ( dedit ), and the gifts go from angels to men to animals to seeds to stones, and include intellectual gifts, beauty, . . . . Continue Reading »
In his contribution to In the Shadow of Empire: Reclaiming the Bible as a History of Faithful Resistance , Richard Horsley notes that “the temple-state had been set up in Jerusalem in the sixth century by the Persian imperial regime,” and that through the Roman period the Jerusalem . . . . Continue Reading »
Some scattered notes on Books 1-5 of City of God , dependent to a large degree on Gerard O’Daly’s Augustine’s City of God: A Reader’s Guide . 1) Book 1 is the book most focused on the particular circumstances of the fall of Rome and the sufferings of Christians in that . . . . Continue Reading »
I wrote this early this morning and forgot to press “Publish,” First Things posted an exchange between Christian Smith and me on the topic of biblicisim: http://www.firstthings.com/ . . . . Continue Reading »
Garments cover nakedness for the Laodiceans (Revelation 3:18). The only other place in the book where garments and nakedness are mentioned together is 16:15, where Jesus warns that He is coming like a thief and will surprise the sleeping and those who are found naked. The Laodiceans buy garments in . . . . Continue Reading »
The Laodiceans are invited to buy gold, garments, and ointment, preparations for a wedding. They are also invited to buy the equipment to rule. White raiment is worn by the elders who sit enthroned in heaven at the beginning of Revelation. They are also wearing gold crowns (Revelation 4:4). The . . . . Continue Reading »
Jesus tells the church at Laodicea to go shopping (Revelation 3:18). They’re supposed to buy purified gold, white clothing to cover their nakedness, and eye salve to anoint their eyes. Why these particular items? Because they are the necessaries as Laodicea prepares to be the bride for the . . . . Continue Reading »
Fairbairn gets patristic interpretation exactly right: He admits they were “overly exuberant,” but argues that they were excessively excited about the right thing: “They correctly understood that the key to good interpretation is discerning the whole message of Scripture well, and . . . . Continue Reading »
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