Communion in Body

Bonhoeffer notes that the disciples had “bodily fellowship and communion” with Jesus, and that to follow Him they had to “cleave to him bodily.”  Because He was incarnate, “they live and suffer in bodily communion with him.” The necessity of bodily communion . . . . Continue Reading »

Justice of Zeus

Taking up and extending the argument of Hugh Lloyd-Jones’  The Justice of Zeus , William Allan argues that, contrary to common opinion, there si no real contrast between the operations of justice in the two Homeric epics.  Nor is “popular picture of ‘amoral’ . . . . Continue Reading »

Limited justice

In a 1982 article on justice in the Oresteia in the American Political Science Review , Peter Euben observes that the dualism of passion and action, violence adn renewal, obliteration and revelation that stymies politics and ethics in Argos seem to be overcome in the just city of Athens: . . . . Continue Reading »

Sermon notes

INTRODUCTION Isaiah “sees” a “vision” (1:1), but what he sees is a call to “hear” (1:2; cf. 2:1: “the word that Isaiah . . . saw”).  Like John, Isaiah turns to the Lord to “see” the voice speaking to him (Revelation 1:12).  It’s a . . . . Continue Reading »

Save, Salvation, Savior

From what I can see, Isaiah uses the root yasha , “save,” 48 times in his prophecy.  ”Salvation” ( yeshua ) appears 19 times, while the verb, used both in the perfect/imperfect (“save”) and as a substantive participle (“Savior”) appears 29 times. . . . . Continue Reading »

Cucumber field

Because of an invasion (probably of Assyrians), Daughter Zion  is left like a hut in a “cucumber field” (Isaiah 1:8).  It’s clearly an image of diminished glory: Jerusalem or the temple was once a glory of the earth, now it’s no more than a hut. But Isaiah probably . . . . Continue Reading »

Inverted Blason

Borrowing from the Song of Songs, Isaiah describes Judah the Bride from head to foot.  He moves from head to heart to foot and back to head (1:5-6).  Four body parts are mentioned (3 different, with “head” used twice).  He is inspecting Judah to the four corners. Instead . . . . Continue Reading »

Insurrection

Isaiah begins with the charge that Yahweh’s “sons,” the people of Judah, have “rebelled” against Him.  The word is frequently used of political insurrection (1 Kings 12:19; 2 Kings 1:1; 3:5, 7; 8:20).  Judah has become a nation of insurrectionists against her . . . . Continue Reading »

Hear, give ear

Isaiah opens his prophecy with a call to heaven and earth to bear witness as Yahweh presents His case against Israel (1:2).  Heaven is called to “hear” and earth to “give ear,” a testimony of two witnesses. The same words in different combinations are found at the . . . . Continue Reading »

Shame and Guilt

Ruth Benedict gave classic formulation to the contrast of shame and guilt cultures: “True shame cultures rely on external sanctions for good behavior, not, as true guilt cultures do, on an internalized conviction of sin.  Shame is a reaction to other people’s criticism.  A man . . . . Continue Reading »