It was “not good” for Adam to be alone. But he wasn’t alone. He was alone with God . But God judged that “alone with God” was “not good.” Adam’s state became fully good only when another person joined him. As John Paul II says ( Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology Of The Body p. 149-50), Adam began to discover his identity even in his solitude by naming the animals. But the discovery of himself in solitude... Read more
The Leviticus system has five basic offerings. Below I use the more literal translations of the Hebrew terms that I’ve used for years: What’s usually called the “whole burnt” offering is better translated as “ascension” offering; the word for “grain offering” really mean “tribute”; I retain the traditional “peace” offering; as Jacob Milgrom has argued, “purification” is better than “sin” offering; and I retain “trespass.” The offerings can be taught with these chants, the offerings in the order they appear... Read more
Apropos of my posts in the past couple of weeks about Warfield, mediation, regeneration, and changing natures, here is a lengthy and very helpful quotation from Michael Horton’s The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way (pp. 572-4). Thanks to Pastor Garry Vanderveen for sending it along. Most of the remainder of this post is from Horton. “The question at least among the Reformed is whether the effectual call is synonymous with regeneration or whether regeneration is... Read more
I’ve been teaching an Old Testament survey class to the 5-11 year olds at church this summer. It’s a five-week overview, and I’m trying to teach them the overall structures of the Old Testament and of particular books. In short, I’m trying to James-Jordanize them before they know what hit them. I’m trying to embed certain basic biblical-theological structures and concepts by using chants, clapping and drumming along, acting out various stories and rituals, etc. For parents who wonder what... Read more
Depending on the Greek text used, the word “Lamb” appears in Revelation 28 or 29 times. Why is Jesus identified so frequently as the Lamb? There’s obviously a rich Old Testament and Johannine background to that title, but, as James Jordan has pointed out, the key seems to be the rather obscure feast of the first sheaf (Leviticus 23:9-14). Israel could celebrate Passover with either a lamb or a kid, but when they came to the feast of the first... Read more
In his farewell letter to the PCA, Jason Stellman says that he has concluded that “the teaching that sinners are justified by a once-for-all declaration of acquittal on God’s part, based upon the imputation of Christ’s righteousness received by faith alone, is not reflective of the teaching of the New Testament as a whole.” Instead, he thinks that “a much more biblical paradigm for understanding the gospel” is this: “the New Covenant work of the Spirit, procured through the sacrifice... Read more
In a treatment of envy and gratitude, Visser ( The Gift of Thanks: The Roots and Rituals of Gratitude , p. 362-3) notes that the Latin invidia comes from videre and means “‘seeing with intensity,’ paying meticulous and malevolent attention, eyeing in order to measure and compare one’s own lot with that of another, while feeling, if the other is deemed to be better off, the injustice of teh difference.” She connects this to belief in the evil eye, according... Read more
What follows is an oblique contribution to a debate between my friends Doug Wilson and James Jordan. Doug has recently addressed an issue – regeneration – on which he and Jim have disagreed for a number of years. I hope that the brief discussion below will untangle the debate somewhat. In my view, the question is not whether we can have personal assurance, but how. The question is not whether there are false sons in the church, but how to... Read more
Isaiah 41:17: The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst; I, Yahweh, will answer them Myself. As the God of Israel I will not forsake them. Three times in this chapter Yahweh reassures Israel. Do not fear, do not fear, do not fear. Don’t look to other gods in panic; I am with you. Don’t worry about those who attack you; I am your God. I will uphold you. I... Read more
In the sermon text, Yahweh addresses His people with three names: Israel, Jacob, and seed of Abraham. Israel is a corporate and political name; as Israel, the people are Yahweh’s servant with a task. The name Jacob is more personal, and as Jacob the people has been chosen. But Yahweh reaches back beyond Jacob to Abraham, Yahweh’s beloved, His “friend.” Yahweh doesn’t cling to His bride because of what He can get from her. God doesn’t choose Israel to use... Read more
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