I am thinking this morning that some of the conversation about Christ and the Law have resulted in through developments in English language regarding the word “fulfilled.” The Greek word, used in the New Testament, carried the idea of “bringing something into its fullest expression.” Over time, we have seen “fullfilling” as meaning that something […]
Our highest aim, as things stand, is that on occasions, we, in the guise of one exceptionally called an exceptional prepared, may pass through the holies place and return to the mundane alive with news of peace with the Holy One. So, the problem remains how God’s presence can walk among his people. The problem that remains is how God ‘s presence can rest and remain among an unholy people.
A friend of mine, years ago told me, “We always go to a liturgical worship service when we travel because regardless of anything else in the service, we can at least know that we will hear readings from the Bible.” My friend offered sage advice, and yet I have a serious problem with the Christian […]
I was told recently that I might not be a good PhD candidate because of my academic bias. I written this person saying I had grown up thinking of the Hebrew Scriptures less of religious text and more as a family history. Further, I read the New Testament for the first time as an adult […]
In this note, we consider what the writer of Hebrews meant when quoting Psalm 40, and whether recent Christian commentators have been adequately nuanced in their interpretations of the writer’s meaning. The language of Psalm 40 regarding sacrifice is notable, but not unique. The biblical writers expressed this thought in several variations. Below are a […]
Mark 7 finds Jesus engaged in a normal discussion about the Torah and tradition, that seems to many Christians, to end in a note lifting Torah and tradition. Jesus argues that the Pharisees and Scribe’s means of following the traditions of the elders invalidates the Law of the LORD. However, if Jesus did as Christians […]
Last January, I wrote this little book for my friend Dan. I was not able to finish it in time for him to get to read it. However, it is ready in time for you. My greatest hope is that you will have hope. In hopeless times, we need a hope that comes from outside […]
Recently Netanyahu used reference to Amalak in the Bible as the basis for the war against Hamas. Often, I have heard “this is just Isaac and Ismael over and over again.” These are two deeply unhelpful ways of talking about a tragic situation. One demonizes an entire people. The other makes it seem as though […]
Sandmel responding the 19-20th century portrayals of 1st Century Judaism quips, “it is always called ‘arid and dry’ never one or the other, always both ‘arid and dry’. Bible scholarship has tended to lean on the words of Jesus and the words of Paul to develop a picture of 1st Century Judaism. The resulting portrayal […]
The complaint is often made that religion causes wars. It divides people, we are told, and they fight over whose God is right. As many wars as I have seen and read about, in the end, few of them appear to be over who is the true prophet, or which is the true God. We […]
