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Christ the Cornerstone of Christian Hope: Theological Reflections from 1 Peter 2:4-10
Read more: Christ the Cornerstone of Christian Hope: Theological Reflections from 1 Peter 2:4-10In the Gospel of St. John, Jesus warns his disciples that those who persecute him will likewise persecute those who believe in him (Jn. 15.20). The encouragement and consolation penned to the recipients of 1 Peter deem these prophetic words true. While the details of their adversity are unclear, 1 Peter addresses the Christian communities…
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The Greek New Testament (Cambridge/Crossway edition): I Like Big “Buts” & I Can’t Elide
Read more: The Greek New Testament (Cambridge/Crossway edition): I Like Big “Buts” & I Can’t ElideMy first exposure to The Greek New Testament published jointly by Cambridge University Press and Crossway was at the recent SBL conference in Boston (if you’re interested in all of its unique features, methodology, rationale, etc, you can check out a little explanation here; similarly, here is a detailed blog that addresses several issues surrounding the…
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How to Argue from the Bible Poorly
Read more: How to Argue from the Bible PoorlyLately, I have noticed a particular bent in conservative evangelical circles toward a special type of biblicism. This biblicism is characterized by a style of argumentation that loosely takes after the preaching of early modern preachers in their common (or plain) sense hermeneutic. The arguer cites chapter and verse as a premise in the argument…
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The Art of Translation: An Example from Luke 2.49
Read more: The Art of Translation: An Example from Luke 2.49The Text that Started It All I received this text message from a friend: “Quick…need a translation/explanation of Luke 2:49.” I found the necessity of a hurried response to be a bit peculiar. Who would need a translation of a verse so promptly? Nevertheless, I supplied my quick, and rather ‘wooden’, translation from the Greek…
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Where did Christian Baptism Come From?
Read more: Where did Christian Baptism Come From?Question of Origins What are the origins of Christian baptism? A quick perusal of the biblical texts might leave one perplexed as to the sudden appearance of baptism in the New Testament.1 Immediately and without explanation one is confronted with the appearance of John “the Baptist” and the practice of baptizing in water (Matt 3:1ff)….
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Israel’s Cry for a King, Our Cry for a Nominee: Reflections on 1 Samuel 8 – 12
Read more: Israel’s Cry for a King, Our Cry for a Nominee: Reflections on 1 Samuel 8 – 12We’re on the home stretch of the next presidential election, and we’re left with three possible candidates: Bernie “Feel the Bern” Sanders, Hillary “Email Extraordinaire” Clinton, and Donald “I Have Big Hands” Trump. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I don’t fully identify with any particular candidate (though I do have my leanings,…
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Review of The Many Faces of Herod the Great by Adam Kolman Marshak
Read more: Review of The Many Faces of Herod the Great by Adam Kolman MarshakAdam Kolman Marshak. The Many Faces of Herod the Great. Eerdmans, 2015. 400 pgs. $35 (Paperback). ISBN 978-0-8028-6605-9. In The Many Faces of Herod the Great, Adam Kolman Marshak offers a fresh and compelling historiographical account of one of the more misunderstood figures in antiquity. While he agrees that Herod does, at times, play the…
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Review of As it Was in the Beginning by Mark D. Owen
Read more: Review of As it Was in the Beginning by Mark D. OwenOwens, Mark D. As It Was in the Beginning: An Intertextual Analysis of New Creation in Galatians, 2 Corinthians, and Ephesians. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2015. Paperback. 241 pages. Retail: $29.00. ISBN: 9781498202404 In As It Was in the Beginning, Mark D. Owens compares “new creation” concepts in Galatians, 2 Corinthians, and Ephesians through an intertextual…
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A Memorial for I. Howard Marshall
Read more: A Memorial for I. Howard MarshallI once attended a funeral for a man (lets call him “Joe-Bob”) who was renowned in our little town in South Dakota for his regular place at the local bar. It was a unique affair with testimonials that praised Joe-Bob’s happy outlook on life, his ability to hold his alcohol, and his consistent appearance at…
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I. Howard Marshall, a Legend
Read more: I. Howard Marshall, a LegendI first received the news of Howard Marshall, one of the most influential New Testament scholars in the world, passing away late Saturday night. Several blog posts are cropping up containing tributes and summaries of his life and work. In this blog post, I thought I might add a few personal notes about my experience…