I think it’s easy to read the Bible as though written by the “Bible author” to you the “Bible reader.” We can flatten the text out and disregard the circumstances of life in which certain passages were written. In many cases, we do not know when or where a passage was written. This is true… Read More »
I wrote something recently for the group for my church that I’m taking to Israel next month. While it is geared for those going to Jerusalem, I think it is just as suitable for those who have already been to Jerusalem (and that is most, if not all, of the readership here). It’s always good… Read More »
I don’t plan on switching to the new NIV. I’m not opposed to reducing offense when possible, but the price is too high. This blogger says it well: If I had to name my biggest beef with the new NIV, it would be its frequent decision to reword language that applies to an individual and… Read More »
I have much I would like to say about this most important psalm, but in these days as I continue to focus on keeping everything from falling out of my brain before my oral exams (assuming I passed the writtens), I will limit myself to just one quote from Derek Kidner that I think is… Read More »
“I find myself aware that in reading the Hebrew scriptures [the Old Testament] I am handling something that gives me a closer common link with Jesus than any archaeological artifact could do.” Christopher Wright, Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament (IVP Academic, 1992), ix.
I’m not sure if I still have any readers after my vacation and recovery, but if so, I ‘ll continue the Bible Reading Guide with Psalms. I ‘ll just say by way of preface that in my arguments, I spent more time with this book than any other (two weeks compared with not more than… Read More »
The relationship of the OT to the NT is highly disputed, even among evangelical believers. One approach is to read the OT on its “own terms” and to exclude any meaning that we gain from the NT. There is much to be said for this approach, because great damage has been done in “finding” things… Read More »
I’m working on Psalms now, and as usual, I’m not going to be able to comment here on most of it given my weariness and my continued development of thought. But a brief thought tonight. The book of Psalms advances the narrative of the Old Testament. It’s not “off on the side,” sort of a… Read More »
This evening’s quotation comes from a book that came in the mail today. At every point early Christians attempted to understand their Scriptures in the new light of the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They used the Old Testament to prove their Christian theology and to solve Christian problems. The Old Testament provided… Read More »
I’ve been asked to explain my thoughts behind giving a poll asking which Bible book you would take to a desert island if you could only take one. The inquiry was a good one, as there a little bit of thought behind the poll. In order to answer the question, you had to think through… Read More »