BEN: As a matter of clarification, some of your readers may be confused when you so stress the ANE and Intertestamental context of the ideas in this book about the devil, demons etc. while at the same time denying Zoroastrian notions about cosmic dualism in regard to Satan and the cosmic struggle with God. Can you help them to better understand the differences between filling in the picture with help from the outside sources, and claiming that the outside source... Read more

BEN: You make a good point about the story about deviled ham (i.e. the Gerasene demoniac). If the story is in its origins about political rejection of imperial Rome, this does not comport with the fact that Jews in Jesus’ era were not all worked up about Gentile rulers in pagan places. It was their own land that they had concerns about. On the other hand, if Mark is written to largely Gentile converts in Rome after the martyrdoms of... Read more

BEN: I think a more cogent explanation for no exorcisms in John has to do with the Judean and Samaritan focus or provenance of that Gospel. The only Galilean miracle in all four Gospels is the feeding of 5,000 and walking on water tandem. I don’t see evidence that Jesus performed exorcisms in or around Jerusalem. It is true Jesus himself is once accused of having a demon when he does and says what he does in John, but that... Read more

BEN: Your discussion of unclean spirits in Chapt. 10 is fascinating. But I wonder if any of the hearers or readers of the NT could have possibly known to associate that terminology with the spirits of the dead Nephilim? Or for that matter could Mark’s audience, even the Jewish Christian ones, in Rome really be expected to know all the ANE and 2nd temple speculations about evil spirits and demons? It seems unlikely. And we have to remember there was... Read more

BEN: Your qualifications in the demon possession discussion are helpful, especially the evidence that ancients could distinguish between diseases or conditions caused by natural forces, and the effects of demon possession, which rules out the prevalent assumption of many that ‘bless their hearts, they just didn’t know about modern medicine and so they attributed all those problems to evil supernatural causes’. And I certainly agree with you that the NT does not suggest Christians can be possessed by demons— pestered,... Read more

BEN: One of your most helpful qualifications comes on p. 190—“Though many Bible readers (even scholars) presume otherwise, spirit beings in rebellion against God are not portrayed as remaining in God’s service. The presumption confuses God’s sovereign status over evildoers with the notion that they are, so to speak, yet in God’s employ.” This is followed by a useful analogy. What I take away from this is that God’s sovereignty, including over evil, is one thing, the notion that whatever... Read more

BEN: I am not much convinced by the new exodus readings of especially the beginnings of Jesus ministry by Watts and Wright etc. It seems rather clear to me, especially for example in the genealogy in Luke 3, that Jesus is portrayed not as Israel gone right, but rather as humanity rebooted, the Son of Man is his preferred term. He even disputes whether Son of David is an adequate title for him. This is also why Paul calls Jesus... Read more

Even when the ill winds of Corona keep blowing in America, John Grisham keeps cranking out thrillers that make for good summer beach reading, and uniquely this one also deals with Camino Island, in a sense a sequel to the novel of that name. Here’s the official summary of this novel… “Welcome back to Camino Island, where anything can happen—even a murder in the midst of a hurricane, which might prove to be the perfect crime . . . Just... Read more

Michael Gerson, a columnist for the Washington Post wrote the following a month ago: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/what-one-of-the-founders-of-evangelicalism-can-teach-us-about-racism/2020/06/15/efbfea02-af40-11ea-8758-bfd1d045525a_story.html “By instinct and conviction, Wesley was a Tory — the God-and-country, law-and-order party of his day. He was a firm believer in benevolent monarchy and would entertain no nonsense about power originating in the people. After some initial sympathy with the complaints of the American colonists, Wesley became a vigorous, public opponent of the revolution. According to modern political categories, Wesley would be an unlikely... Read more

If you, like me, are sick and tired of politicians disrespecting and maligning their opponents in tweets, in ads, in person and then claiming they are Christians, then it would be wise to point them to Mt. 5.22 if they care about their eternal destiny. Jesus said the following: “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca’ is answerable... Read more