The Hebrew word for “marred” occurs in only two places in the Old Testament: It describes the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:14) and it is used to refer to disfigurements that disqualify a descendant of Aaron from being priest (Leviticus 22:25). The connection doesn’t seem . . . . Continue Reading »
The “sixth day” section of Isaiah is arranged as a five-point chiasm, organized around the exhortation to Zion to awake from her drunken stupor, her death in the dust, to greet her returning husband, Yahweh: a. Zion’s complaint, 49:1-26 (v. 14) b. Obedient Servant, 50:1-51:11 c. . . . . Continue Reading »
Theories of the atonement are usually categorized as “objectivist” or “subjectivist.” Objective theories claim that the death of Jesus paid for sin and therefore reconciled God and man. Subjective theories claim that the real action of the atonement isn’t in the event . . . . Continue Reading »
Is the Servant of the Lord in Isaiah collective (Israel or a faithful remnant) or individual (a prophet or Messiah)? Commentators have chosen sides, but Hans-Judgen Hermisson (in The Suffering Servant: Isaiah 53 in Jewish and Christian Sources , 20) says that it’s a bad question. The point of . . . . Continue Reading »
Leviticus 5 prescribes a trespass offering for various sins in which a person violates God’s holy things or His holy name. But then there is also a requirement of a trespass offering when someone steals from a fellow Israelite. Many follow Jacob Milgrom in claiming that there is a violation . . . . Continue Reading »
The flood of Gentiles overwhelms Judah in three waves in the book of Isaiah. The first of these is the threat from Aram and Israel, from Syria and the Northern kingdom. Assyria is the rising power to the east, and that power is threatening to overrun the nations to the west of Assyria. The kings of . . . . Continue Reading »
Revelation 18 calls on the Lord to pay back the harlot city for all that she has done, and elaborates by asking the Lord to return her “double for her all her sins” (18:6). Restitution, it seems, is double restitution. What is the double restitution and why? Apparently, the harlot city . . . . Continue Reading »
Daniel Stanley muses on the fire of God at the Trinity House site. . . . . Continue Reading »
Paul says that the gospel brings to light the mystery that had been hidden in God, and that this revelation of the mystery aims to make the wisdom of God known to “the rulers and the authorities in the heavenlies” (Ephesians 3:8-10). Who are these rulers to whom the mystery of the . . . . Continue Reading »
David Dorsey ( Literary Structure of the Old Testament, The: A Commentary on Genesis-Malachi ) outlines Isaiah as a sevenfold chiasm: A. Condemnation, pleading, promise of future restoration, 1:1-12:6 B. Oracles to the nations, 13:1-26:21 C. Woes, 27:1-35:10 D. historical narrative, 36:1-39:8 . . . . Continue Reading »
Subscribe
Latest Issue
Support First Things
