1 Corinthians 10:14-22 forms a paragraph of its own. Prior to this section of 1 Corinthians 10, Paul is drawing out an extended comparison between Israel’s exodus and wilderness wanderings and the state of the Corinthian church. After verse 23, he draws the conclusion that eating and drinking . . . . Continue Reading »
Paul’s hymn(s) to Christ in Colossians 1-2 are constructed as a large chiasm: A. 1:16-20: head; “rulers and authorities” B. 1:19-20: fullness of deity in Christ; reconcile through cross C. 1:21-23: formerly hostile, now established and steadfast D. 1:24: rejoice, flesh E. 1:26-27: . . . . Continue Reading »
In Genesis, circumcision is a sign of the weakness of flesh. Abraham’s flesh is a good as dead, and Sarah’s womb is barren. Yahweh’s promise will be fulfilled only if Yahweh does something that flesh cannot do. Circumcision is a renunciation of hope in flesh, a confession of . . . . Continue Reading »
In his commentary on Genesis (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible) , Rusty Reno cites a number of patristic sources to support his claim that the new covenant does not mean a rejection of circumcision but rather its expansion. Ambrose: “Circumcision of the past ceases when circumcision . . . . Continue Reading »
Assmann points out that monotheisms of various sorts arose in the ancient world along various paths. Gods might be translated from one religion to another, from one nation to another. Gods might take on an ever-expanding list of hyphenated names. Gods might eb re-imagined as the soul of the cosmos. . . . . Continue Reading »
The Economist ‘s “Lexington” correspondent offers a cheer or two to the Tea Party movement. It starts snidely: “They are not French.” Snarky, but it has a serious point: For all the frothing attacks on the Tea Party from Democrats, none of them have barricaded streets . . . . Continue Reading »
Israel worshiped the gods of Egypt while in Egypt (Joshua 24:14). What did that involve? As explained by Jan Assmann ( Of God and Gods: Egypt, Israel, and the Rise of Monotheism (George L. Mosse Series) ), it involved participation in the whole religio-political system of ancient Egypt. Much of . . . . Continue Reading »
Is the Reformation dead? It may be a surprising question to us, especially since we’re commemorating Reformation Day this morning. But it’s a question worth asking. When we assess Protestantism honestly, we find that there are good reasons to wonder. Over the past couple of centuries, . . . . Continue Reading »
Luther wrote: “The ‘righteousness of God’ . . . is the righteousness by which God is righteous, and we are righteous by the same righteousness, just as by the same word God makes us be and we indeed are what he is, so that we may be in him and his being may be our being.” . . . . Continue Reading »
Genesis 17 is chiastically organized, with internal chiasms spinning out of it. The overall chiasm is: A. Abe 99, v 1a B. Yahweh appears, v 1b C. El Shaddai: establish covenant, v 2 D. Abram falls on face, v 3a E. God speaks: changes Abe’s name, vv 3b-8 F. Circumcision, vv 9-14 E’. God . . . . Continue Reading »
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