Luke 3-7 Chiasm

Last updated on: September 7, 2017 at 12:10 am By Peter Leithart

A somewhat more expanded treatment of the chiasm of Luke 3-7. Jesus’ baptism and temptation still don’t fit well, but the rest hangs together pretty nicely. Some comments are appended below. A. John the Baptist’s ministry, 3:1-20 B. Jesus’ baptism, genealogy, temptation, 3:21-4:13 C. Jesus at Nazareth, 4:14-30 Isaiah 61 Elijah Elisha Enters Capernaum D. Jesus at Capernaum, 4:31-44 Teaching Exorcism (amazement) Simon’s mother in law General statement about healing and exorcism Prayer Moves on from Capernaum E. Call of... Read more

Luther on Adam

Last updated on: September 7, 2017 at 12:10 am By Peter Leithart

A wonderful quotation from Luther’s late commentary on Genesis. He notes that law exists already in Eden, but he also makes it clear that this does not make the Edenic situation a “covenant of works”: “And so when Adam had been created in such a way that he was, so to speak, drunk with joy towards God, and rejoiced also in all other creatures, then a new tree was created for the distinction of good and evil, so that Adam... Read more

Hegel on Love

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:43 pm By Peter Leithart

Hegel’s Lectures on the Philosophy of Religion includes the following: “Love is a distinguishing of the two, who nevertheless are absolutely not distinguished for each other. The consciousness or feeling of the identity of the two – to be outside of myself and in the other ?Ethis is love. I have my self-consciousness not in myself but in the other. I am satisfied and have peace with myself only in this other ?Eand I AM only because I have peace... Read more

Thoughts Inspired by Dollimore

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:51 pm By Peter Leithart

Some thoughts inspired by Dollimore’s book: It would seem that desire is inherently tragic. First, because desire arises from lack. We only desire what we do not yet have. But when our desires our satisfied, our lack is filled. When ALL our desires are satisfied, then all lack is filled, and we reach a static perfection. Which is death. Therefore, desire is always desire for death. Second, as an alternative to the first reason, we might say that desires (which... Read more

Dollimore on Christianity

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 10:53 pm By Peter Leithart

As I suspected, Dollimore gives Christianity’s cultural influence short shrift. He has a lot of insightful things to say about the ancients, but then he sees almost total continuity through early Christianity ?Ethe same links of desire and death, the same kind of anguish in the face of mutability. Maybe I missed something but by my reading he goes through a chapter on the early Christian view of death without ONCE mentioning the resurrection. He reads Augustine as if Augustine... Read more

Temptation and Passion

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:56 pm By Peter Leithart

J. Neyrey points out the links between the temptation of Jesus early in Luke and the passion narratives later in Luke. Luke’s account of the temptation ends with Satan leaving until a more opportune moment, and it is commonly noted that Satan reappears in the passion narrative, entering Judas (Lk 22:3-6), attempting to sift Peter (22:31), and overseeing the “power of darkness” that reigns at the time of Jesus’ betrayal and trial (22:53). Neyrey also links the “temptations” from the... Read more

Chiasm in Luke 3:1-7:35

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 10:49 pm By Peter Leithart

There appears to be a chiastic structure at work in Luke 3:1-7:35. Not everything fits, but there is enough to be suggestive: A. Ministry of John, 3:1-17 B. Jesus preaching and teaching in Nazareth, 4:16-30 (1. Quotes Is 61 2. Refers to Elijah’s aid to a widow and her son 3. Refers to Elisha’s aid to Naaman) C. Calling of disciples, 5:1-11 D. Cleansing of leper/healing of paralytic (Pharisees present and in opposition), 5:12-26 E. Meal at Levi’s house, 5:27-39... Read more

Perception

Last updated on: September 7, 2017 at 12:05 am By Peter Leithart

Perception is never merely sensible. A professional photographer points out that our “visual” impressions of people are formed not merely by visual factors but by such factors as the context in which we see someone, their personality and our rapport, and so forth. We can come away from an encounter thinking that someone is far more visually attractive than they really are. A camera, which captures only the visual impression and not other factors, makes a person look “uglier” than... Read more

Thanatos and Eros

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:56 pm By Peter Leithart

Jonathan Dollimore argues in Death, Desire and Loss in Western Culture that the West has been defined by a particular linking of thanatos and eros, which is associated with the problem of mutability. He quotes Yeats to the effect that we love what vanishes, and there is no more to be said. This can lead in a hedonistic (eat, drink, be merry; carpe diem ) direction or toward a kind of grim Stoic resignation, but in either case the problematic... Read more

Exhortation, December 28

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:40 pm By Peter Leithart

Exhortation for December 28: New Year’s is frequently a time for assessment, and for making resolutions and setting plans for the coming year. With New Year’s Day coming up this week, I am devoting the sermon to sketching what we want the church to be and to do in Moscow. Central to the whole vision, and to the life of every church, is the worship of the Lord’s day. That’s a point I plan to make in the sermon, but... Read more