Old Testament: Messianic Expectation
The Old Testament establishes a robust messianic expectation that becomes increasingly apparent through a careful biblical-theological analysis. The following essay briefly analyzes the biblical-theological approach and then mentions a few necessary theological...Theology of Jonah
IntroductionThe overall theological message of the book of Jonah has been debated throughout the centuries. The vast number of themes in Jonah surely contribute to the diversity of the debate. A popular proposal is to read the book of Jonah typologically where Jonah...Ecclesiastes and Psychoanalysis
The book of Ecclesiastes has a long and storied history of interpretation. From the arguments at the Council of Jamnia over canonicity, Jerome’s Neoplatonic allegorical reading, and the literal and theological readings of Luther and Melanchthon during the...Ancient Near East Background of the Bible
The similarities between ancient Near Eastern texts and the Old Testament are palpable, which has spawned a multitude of cross-cultural and comparative studies. Based on the significant relational connections, some conclude that the Bible is one of many ancient myths,...Ecclesiastes 9:1-10: Exegetical Analysis
The book of Ecclesiastes has a long history of interpretation. On the one hand, it would be easy for some scholars to suggest that significant portions of the text are heretical. On the other hand, it might be tempting for conservative scholars to contort...Figurative Language of the Old Testament
The abundant use of figurative language within the Old Testament’s prophetic corpus requires a thoughtful interpretive approach. The following essay first expounds on the metaphorical language in prophetic rhetoric in the Old Testament and then distinguishes...Jeremiah 20: Literary Features
Prophetic rhetoric utilizes the structure and form of language to effectively communicate a message, and the prophet Jeremiah represents one of the finest rhetoricians of all time. A key question for interpretation is how literary features inform understanding....Relevance of Prophetic Preaching
IntroductionThe issue of idolatry continues to pervade the life of many Christians. An important question is how the Old Testament prophets point to timeless, practical principles related to idolatry that inform and enhance a modern believer’s life. By ignoring...Ezekiel 36: Recovery of Honor
IntroductionIn Ezekiel chapter 36, Yahweh conveys a message to His prophet in the form of a divine monologue that evolves into a transformational message to the Israelites. Famously, the promised heart transplant continues to astound and amaze both its readers and...Background and Themes of Judges
Engaging any literary masterpiece requires more than a simple reading of the text. In the case of biblical literature, and especially with regard to the fascinating historical narratives in the book of Judges, an understanding of the broader landscape of the ancient...The Functions of Old Testament Law
The relationship between the two Testaments has been debated from a time even before Marcion made his infamous assertion that the Testaments must be referring to two completely different Gods. Questions remain regarding the exact meaning of the Old Testament law, its...Galatians 3.19-29: Participation In Christ
The debate between the relationship between the Old Testament and the gospel message began with the arrival of Christ and continued into the New Testament writings and beyond. However, the Apostle Paul emphatically asserts that the law and promise are not...Exodus: Ancient Near East Context
Within any study of biblical interpretation, meaning is found within context. Without context, words, phrases, chapters, books, and canons are impossible to understand. In the modern world, any attempt to understand Christianity in America apart from the broader...Living Life In Christ
PropositionsExegetical Proposition: In Galatians 3:19-29, Paul asserts that the law points to a Messianic age where believers are transferred into a new realm through their participation in Christ. Theological Proposition: Christians no longer live under the law...Head Coverings in 1 Corinthians 11
The Apostle Paul’s language in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 regarding head coverings has vexed scholars for centuries. Several questions still remain with regard to the interpretation of Paul’s passage, especially in light of the ancient situational...Exegesis of Romans 8.18-28
Romans 8 may arguably be the most profound chapter from the entire Pauline corpus. The broad thematic initiatives and deep theological messaging require careful examination. To misinterpret such an essential chapter risks missing the message of the gospel of Jesus...Exegesis of 1 Peter 2.4-10
An ongoing debate continues regarding how the Old Testament and, more specifically, Jewish tradition informs a believer’s understanding of salvation and their relationship to Christ. Without a proper understanding of how Jewish tradition informs New Testament...Literary Correspondence of 2nd Peter and Jude
The literary correspondence between the books of 2 Peter and Jude is unmistakable. Determining the type of literary correspondence between the two books and in which direction the dependency flows offer an important issue for analysis. A proper understanding of...1 Corinthians 1.18-31 Historical Context
In his first letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul asserts that the crucifixion of Christ is a stumbling block to the Jews and folly or foolishness to the Gentiles. Three questions arise from this assertion: What did Paul mean by stumbling block? What was...
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