A few weeks ago, I noted (citing Galatians 4) that Paul does not observe the common Protestant stricture on drawing doctrinal conclusions from types and allegories. Not surprisingly, the same is true of Thomas. Thomas answers the question of whether Christ ought to have suffered on the cross ( ST III, 46, 4), he answers with a series of analogies and allegories: The cross was suitable because Adam fell at a tree; because being elevated purified the air; because being... Read more
The Greek word hilaterion has been one of the most disputed Pauline terms in the past century. Traditionally translate as “propitiation” or “propitiatory sacrifice,” many recent scholars have disputed the notion that Jesus died to appease an angry Father. In a 2000 article in the Tyndale Bulletin , Daniel P. Bailey observes that this debate has unfortunately shown precious little attention to the actual use of the term in the LXX or other Greek literature. The debate has been conducted... Read more
My colleague Toby Sumpter offers these additional thoughts on the disciples as “friends of God”: “When Jesus tells His friends about the ‘fire falling.’ it’s hard not to think of Pentecost. Jerusalem is a new Sodom, but this time the judgment falls with even more potential for escape and mercy first. Of course the Christians still end up fleeing the city, but first it gets filled with tons of ‘angels’ warning, preaching, proclaiming until one of them, Stephen, gets murdered,... Read more
Angels are active in the book of acts, opening prisons (5:19; 12:7-11), directing preachers (8:26), assuring the Roman centurion Cornelius that his prayers are heard (10:3; 11:13). After chapter 12, angels virtually disappear. There are references to angels in 23:8-9, and Paul says that an angel assured him that he would stand before Caesar (27:23-24). But we never see an angel doing anything after the angel releases Peter from prison. Angels are Old Covenant mediators and helpers. For both Peter... Read more
A student, Kellen Meyer, points out the Abrahamic roots of John 15:14, where Jesus calls the disciples “friends.” Abraham too was called a “friend of God” (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8). In designating the disciples as “friends,” Jesus is in effect calling them “true sons of Abraham.” As a display of his friendship with Abraham Yahweh discloses what He plans to do with Sodom (Genesis 18), and this too fits with Jesus’ words to the disciples: “the slave does not... Read more
Pastor Mark Horne shows the pathway into Romans at the Trinity House site. Read more
“Conservatives are fighting a losing battle of moral arithmetic,” writes Arthur Brooks of the American Enterprise Institute. “They hand an argument with virtually 100% public support—care for the vulnerable—to progressives, and focus instead on materialistic concerns and minority moral viewpoints.” He thinks the solution is to “make improving the lives of vulnerable people the primary focus of authentically conservative policies.” Entitlement reform is needed to help the “neediest citizens” and education reform is needed not to turn the clock back... Read more
Alexander Nazaryan writes with discomfiting honesty about how his own failure at novel-writing and envy of published novelists has affected his book reviewing: “I had started reviewing books, a dangerous occupation for an aspiring novelist, sort of like inviting an arsonist to join the fire department. As my own rejection letters piled up, it became unbearable to stomach the notion that others — many of whom seemed, from their biographies, to have sacrificed much less than I had — were... Read more
The vine and fig tree are symbols of Israel’s safety from enemies during the days of Solomon (1 Kings 4). The fact that each Israelite has his own orchard and vineyard is a sign of national prosperity and widespread distribution of wealth, as well as a sign that there are no invaders coming to take Israel’s harvest (as does happen later). But the phrasing of 1 Kings 4 is interested: Israel dwelt in safety, every man “under his vine and... Read more
INTRODUCTION Yahweh promises to comfort Zion, but when Yahweh brings comfort He doesn’t just sooth pain. He changes Zion’s condition (Isaiah 51:3, 12, 19). He comforts by bringing His righteousness, which is His salvation. THE TEXT “Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore... Read more
Leithart
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