Jesus warns that His coming will be like the coming of a “thief” at night (Matthew 24:43; cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 4; Revelation 3:3). This specific image - a thief breaking in at night - comes in part from the law, Exodus 22 gives regulations about how to deal with a thief breaking . . . . Continue Reading »
The greatest truth ever known to man is quite obviously the Good News of our salvation. The Lord Jesus came to be our sinless substitute, providing the necessary payment for sin through his death, resurrecting three days later. Now, through the work of the Holy Spirit, those whom he calls may abide . . . . Continue Reading »
Women need to hear from other women. This is a truth impressed upon us through stories in scripture about women like Ruth & Naomi and Mary & Martha. In scripture, we see that women are called to teach and influence other women about how to live out their lives to the glory of God, and . . . . Continue Reading »
Yahweh delivered Israel from the yoke of Egypt (Leviticus 26:13), and put her to work in His own field. He warned, though, that they would receive an iron yoke if they failed to plow faithfully (Deuteronomy 28:48). That heavier yoke first takes the form of the yoke of Solomon. The word . . . . Continue Reading »
A “Well, duh” moment. Yahweh regularly charges Israel with harlotry. This is not just serial adultery, though it is that. It is also commercialization. Yahweh loves His bride and calls her to intimate love. She wants to buy him off with sacrifices and trinkets. . . . . Continue Reading »
In the article mentioned in my last post, Kloos argues that Augustine moves beyond allegorical and figural exegesis in the process of writing the Contra Faustum . Figural exegesis plays into Faustus’s hands: If the Old Testament physically figures spiritual realities, why not dispense . . . . Continue Reading »
Portier-Young notes that during the Ptolemaic domination of Palesting, “some families were taken captive and enslaved.” She cites Hengel, who claims that the slave trade flourished under the Ptolemies. Josephus claims that “soldiers sold slaves independently of imperial policy as . . . . Continue Reading »
Josephus ( Antiquities 12) cites this intriguing decree ( programma ) from Antiochus III: “It shall be lawful for no foreigner to come within the limits of the temple round about; which thing is forbidden also to the Jews, unless to those who, according to their own custom, have purified . . . . Continue Reading »
In an older article on purity in ancient Israel, Jacob Neusner makes the trenchant observation that purity concerns arise primarily within sectarian disputes among Jews: “When gen- tiles profane the Temple, the language of cultic purity is not apt to enter into the description of the event, . . . . Continue Reading »
Another paper from Warren Gage, “The Typology of the Word,” is available here. Just click on “Downloads” and look for the paper. . . . . Continue Reading »
Subscribe
Latest Issue
Support First Things
