Clean and Unclean

In his treatise against Faustus the Manichean, Augustine cites 1 Timothy4 in a discussion of clean and unclean foods.  He is trying to demonstrate the harmony of Old and New, and parrying Faustus’ claim that Catholics as much as Manicheans reject the Old Testament.  Augustine . . . . Continue Reading »

In a name, 2

Supporting his criticism of Arians using the name of their teacher instead of the name of Christ, Athanasius points to the fact that Greeks who turn to Christ and join the church cease to be called Greeks and become known as Christians ( anti Ellenon archontai christianoi kaleisthai ).  In . . . . Continue Reading »

In a name

Athanasius condemns the Arians for taking the name of Arius their teacher rather than Christ: “never at any time did Christian people take their title from the Bishopsamong them, but from the Lord, on whom we rest our faith. Thus, though the blessed Apostles have . . . . Continue Reading »

Shekinah

“I will return and dwell ( shakan ) in the midst of Jerusalem,” Yahweh promises (Zechariah 8:3). Then: “I will being them back, and they will dwell ( shakan ) in the midst of Jerusalem” (Zechariah 8:8). Israel, renewed in covenant with Yahweh, is His glory, as a bride is the . . . . Continue Reading »

Radcliffe and the novel

The Gothic romance of Ann Radcliffe are still in print, but who reads them besides students taking courses in the early English novel or specialists in English literature?  Yet, Radcliffe has some claim to being the proto-inventor of the modern novel. Austen read Radcliffe and laughed; her . . . . Continue Reading »

True fast, true feast

Zechariah 8:19 answers the initial question about fasting posed in 7:3.  Zechariah says: Thus says Yahweh of hosts The fast of the fourth, And the fast of the fifth, And the fast of the seventh, And the fast of the ninth, Will be to the house of Judah Festivities Gladness Good assemblies Truth . . . . Continue Reading »

Not the former days

Zechariah 8:9-13 forms a single unit within the chapter, and is organized chiastically: A. strong hands, v 9a B. house of Yahweh, v 9b C. no wages, v 10a D. no peace, v 10b E. Not according to former days, v 11 D’. peace for seed, v 12a C’. produce of the land: inherit, v 12b B’. . . . . Continue Reading »

Ten Words

Zechariah 7-8 form a unit, enclosed by references to fasting (7:4-7; 8:18-23) , within which Zechariah reviews the warnings of the early prophets about Israel’s social injustices (7:9-14; 8:14-17). Chapter 8 includes two major speeches, marked by the phrase “the word of Yahweh of . . . . Continue Reading »

Living Word

“Let Romamti-ezer bless with the Ferret- The Lord is a rewarder of them, that diligently seek him” (A 43). Sherbo notes that this connection is not necessarily arbitrary: “the association is with activities of the ferret as exemplified in the verb ‘to ferret . . . . Continue Reading »