Hindus often claim yoga as their own ancient practice, and non-Hindus accept the claims. Mark Singleton ( Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice ) sets out to debunk these claims. It’s true that the word “yoga” appears in some ancient texts, and it’s true that there are a few ancient depictions of people sitting in what may be (or may not be) “yoga” positions. Singleton argues, however, that the roots of modern yoga are not found in ancient... Read more
Jesus prays in Gethsemane, and the Father sends an angel to strengthen Him. That means prayer time is over, right? The angel soothes Him. Not for Jesus. Jesus begins to pray so intensely that he sweats blood, and this happens after the angel comes. Angels don’t come to end prayer. They come to strengthen us for even more intense prayer. So too the Angel-Spirit, who prays along with us with groans that cannot be uttered. Read more
Yahweh put Adam into deep-sleep, death-sleep, in the garden. When he woke he found Eve waiting for him. So too the last Adam, who does into death-sleep, and whose first sight after waking are the women come to minister to Him. Read more
Exodus 19:12: You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, Beware that you do not go up to the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall sure be put to death. Yahweh cannot remind the Israelites often enough not to touch the mountain. “Beware that you do not go up to the mountain or touch the border of it” (v. 12). When Moses goes up to the top of the mountain, Yahweh sends... Read more
INTRODUCTION Because of King Ahaz’s lack of faith in Yahweh, and his trust in power politics, swift judgment is coming on Judah. Yet, Judah’s defeat will not be final. God is with His people even in this, and the nations will be shattered as swiftly as they have plundered Israel. THE TEXT “Moreover the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll, and write on it with a man’s pen concerning Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz . . . .” (Isaiah 8:1-22). (more…) Read more
On this last Sunday of Epiphany, the Collect and the Gospel reading focus on the Transfiguration. Long before Jesus, Yahweh appeared in glory on a mountain and Moses entered that glory. When Jesus is glorified on the Holy Mountain, Moses is there again, along with Elijah. Christians frequently think of the Transfiguration as proof of Jesus’ divinity. Jesus normally kept His divine nature concealed behind the veil of His humanity, but on the Mount, for once, the divinity shines through.... Read more
Grace and peace come from the seven Spirits of God (Revelation 1:4). In 4:5, John identifies the seven Spirits with the seven lamps that are before the throne. Spirit is light. In 5:6, the seven Spirits are identified with the seven eyes of the Lamb. Spirit is not only a light source, but eyes. Eyes in the ancient world were believed to radiate, not merely receive, light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Eyes are of course organs... Read more
Hengstenberg claims in his massive commentary on Revelation that that “all antiquity agrees in the opinion of Domitian’s being the author of John’s banishment” (he’s quoting another scholar but approving the conclusion). What is the evidence? Irenaeus, of course. Clement of Alexandria is quoted as saying that “John after the death of the tyrant returned to Ephesus from the isle of Patmos.” There’s no name, but, says Hengstenberg, Clement speaks as if citing a well-known tradition and besides Domitian “pre-eminently... Read more
Alison Trites ( The New Testament Concept of Witness ) finds parallels between the use of witness in the fourth gospel and that found in Isaiah 40-55: “There the controversy between Yahweh and the false gods turns out to be a lawsuit between God and the world. God is represented by Israel and the world by the pagan nations. Similarly, in the Fourth Gospel God incarnate has a lawsuit with the world. His witnesses include John the Baptist, the scriptures,... Read more
Isaiah 8:1-3 is puzzling. Yahweh tells Isaiah to take a large tablet (Heb. gillayon ) and write “with the stylus of a man” the phrase Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Isaiah doesn’t write anything, but instead “approoached the prophetess” so that she conceives and gives birth to a son (v. 3). The son becomes the placard bearing the name. Does Isaiah disobey Yahweh? Does he sleep with the prophetess instead of writing a billboard? This makes best sense if verse 1 is taken as... Read more
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