Last Thursday was one of those high wind, low humidity, fire watch days that are not uncommon in Spring. Unfortunately, a barn in our neighborhood caught on fire, which spread to the adjoining field. It was big enough that the fire departments from the three closest towns were called in, so it was a day …
There are two legitimate ways to translate Gen 1:1, depending on how the verb “to create” is understood. That verb is roughly equivalent to the English perfect tense and can either be understood as ongoing activity or as a snapshot of a process. The NRSV opts for understanding creation as an ongoing activity, and renders …
We have arrived at 2 Pet. 2:4-22, a text that embarrasses some because it sounds so fantastical to our modern ears. Rather than try to describe what he’s saying, it’s best to hear it in Peter’s own words, but it’s a long text, so I will include the text at the end of this essay. …
Hebrews 12 caroms around from topic to topic so quickly and unexpectedly that it’s hard to keep up with the argument. The author begins with self-discipline, turns immediately to parental discipline, suddenly contrasts peace and holiness with turning away from God and then ties that to the passions (that is, desires which take control of …
We have arrived at the final warning passage in Hebrews. In a previous warning passage, the author was emphasizing self-discipline. I said (in that essay) the challenge was not unlike the challenge of becoming an athlete and the author brings us back to this metaphor in ch. 12. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so …
There is a biblical sensibility that privilege comes with responsibility. Paul goes into some detail about this in Rom. 2. God’s people, because they were given the law by God (which is divine grace, a privilege from God), will be held to a higher standard of life. He then asks, what advantage is there to …
The first section of Hebrews is often entitled, “The Son is Superior to Angels.” Many commentators call the next section, “The Son is Superior to Moses.” There is a certain logic to this because in 3:3 the author says that “Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses.” But this is actually a …
Continue reading A Primer on Avoiding the Rebellion (Heb. 4-6)
I noticed a Sabbath reference in the Noah story, and in my years in school and as a pastor I never ran across anyone who's talked about it. No doubt someone has explored it, but it's new to me. The reference is quite explicit but not particularly obvious because of the vagaries of how we …
In my rereading of Church Dogmatics, by Karl Barth, I’ve arrived at IV/1 §61, “Justification.” My first time through CD was back in the late 80s and early 90s, when I was a newly minted Presbyterian pastor. I underlined frequently and made a number of marginal notes in this section. I was clearly impressed with …
I went to a funeral of the parent of an acquaintance this week. My acquaintance is that flavor of Baptist that is very knowledgeable about the Bible, can slip his faith or God’s blessing into every conversation almost without fail (ie, “witnessing”), and has a very specific and narrow meaning of being a Christian and …
Just Another Jim 