UnBride

Last updated on: April 12, 2011 at 4:44 am By Peter Leithart

Twice in the Song of Songs, the lover delightedly enumerates the beauty of the bride. In Revelation 9:7-10, we have a macabre variation on this style in the description of the locorpions or scorpusts that arise from the abyss. John lists seven features: heads, faces, hair, teeth, breastplates, voices, and tails (compare the seven features of Jesus in Revelation 1). But the composite description is appalling not enticing. The locorpions constitute an abyssal glory cloud, but also an abyssal bride. Read more

Imperial Anticolonialism

Last updated on: April 11, 2011 at 4:17 pm By Peter Leithart

Jay Sexton opens his The Monroe Doctrine: Empire and Nation in Nineteenth-Century America by noting the “ambiguous and paradoxical” character of President Monroe’s 1823 message to Congress, the document that served as the basis for Monroe’s famous document: “The message proclaimed American opposition to European colonialism, but within it lurked the imperial ambitions of the expansionist United States. It sought to further America’s independence from Britain, yet its achievement resulted from the fact that Britain’s Royal Navy deterred the European... Read more

Regent College Theology Conference, September 2011

Last updated on: April 11, 2011 at 1:33 pm By Peter Leithart

Click here for more information on the conference. Click image to view full size. Read more

Call to War

Last updated on: April 11, 2011 at 11:56 am By Peter Leithart

Apocalyptic, sociologists of religion often claim, is the genre of comfort for marginal minorities. Or, more cynically (Engels) it is the revenge fantasy of the oppressed. Despite all appearances, when the veil is pulled back, it turns out that the oppressed are on the winning team. In a 1992 article in Sociological Analysis , David deSilva contests this orthodoxy as it applies to the Apocalypse. Far from providing comfort, Revelation is a call to arms; throughout it sharpens boundaries and... Read more

Structure in Isaiah 11

Last updated on: April 11, 2011 at 5:25 am By Peter Leithart

A variation on J. Alec Motyer’s suggested outline for Isaiah 11:1-10. A. Shoot from Jesse, v 1 B. Spirit: knowledge, v. 2-3a (Yahweh, 3x) C. Righteous judgment for the poor and afflicted, vv 3b-4 D. Clothed in righteousness, v 5 C’. Reconciliation of beasts, vv 6-8 B’. Knowledge of Yahweh, v. 9 (Yahweh) A’. Root of Jesse, v 10 Within this, verses 6-8 are in a parallel structure: (more…) Read more

Sermon notes

Last updated on: April 11, 2011 at 5:12 am By Peter Leithart

INTRODUCTION Yahweh sends Assyria as an axe to lop down the proud trees of Judah (10:33-34). But the Lord will also bring new growth from the stump of Jesse, a new Davidic king (11:1). THE TEXT “Behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, will lop off the bough with terror; those of high stature will be hewn down, and the haughty will be humbled. He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall by... Read more

Priestly Messiah

Last updated on: April 9, 2011 at 10:43 am By Peter Leithart

Aune argues that Jesus is not dressed as a priest when John first sees him, but his argument is odd. He notes that the Greek wor for “robe” ( poderes ) is used twelve times in the LXX, always of an article of priestly gear. But the word is used for five different articles of gear, five different Hebrew terms – the breastplate (Exodus 28:15, 22), the ephod (Exodus 28:31), the robe (Exodus 28:4; 29:5), a linen garment (Ezekiel 9:2),... Read more

Seeing voices

Last updated on: April 9, 2011 at 10:35 am By Peter Leithart

When he hears the voice like a trumpet, John turns to “see” the voice. This is an odd turn of phrase, but, as David Aune points out, not unprecedented. At Sinai, Israel saw the voice that spoke (Exodus 20:18), and later in Deuteronomy, Moses says that he saw the voice (7:11; LXX). Some prophetic texts also speak of “seeing words” (Isaiah 2:1; 13:1; Jeremiah 23:18; Amos 1:1; Micah 1:1; Habakkuk 1:1). Seeing the voice puts John in a Sinai setting,... Read more

Eusebius contra Eusebius?

Last updated on: April 9, 2011 at 10:29 am By Peter Leithart

In his Church History , Eusebius makes it clear that he believes that John was exiled to Patmos during the reign of Domitian. In the Demonstration of the Gospel (3.5), he perhaps implies something else. He summarizes the persecutions of Christians that began with Stephen in this way: “Herod again later on, the King of the Jews, killed James the brother of John with the sword, and cast Peter into prison, as is written in the Acts of the Apostles.... Read more

Chiasm in Isaiah 10

Last updated on: April 7, 2011 at 4:24 pm By Peter Leithart

Isaiah 10:5-15 seems to be organized in a chiastic order. A. Rod and staff, v 5 B. Plunder, v. 6 C. Boast of Assyria, vv. 8-11 D. Yahweh’s response, limiting Assyria’s power, v. 12 C’/B’. Assyria’s boast/plunder, vv. 13-14 A’. Axe, Saw, Rod, Staff, v. 15 This structure helps solve the question of where the break comes in these verses. In earlier chapters, Isaiah has given a series of woes, followed by a “therefore” (5:8-17, 18-25). Here again, he gives... Read more