Archive for category: Exegesis

kta,omai is a Greek verb used seven times in the New Testament (101 times in the LXX). It is used mainly by Luke (five times), once by Paul, and once by Matthew, in Matthew 10:9. In that verse it is rendered “acquire”: “Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts.” This is part of Jesus’ instructions to the

As I work on preparation for our conference and debate next week, I cannot help but rejoice, repeatedly, in the wondrous glory of God’s Word. Over and over again, as it comes under the most close scrutiny and attack, it shows itself to stand far above its most voracious opponents. There truly is a confidence that comes from facing the

Preaching again in 1 Corinthians 1 today , following the concept of “those who are perishing” from 1 Corinthians 1:18: For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Note the parallels to: But thanks be to God, who

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor. 1:18) This is directly connected to what came before: why is it that preaching the gospel with the words of wordly wisdom, with “wise speech,” speech marked by earthly wisdom, can empty

Last Sunday morning I began a series of sermons drawn from 1 Corinthians 1 and 2. Toward the end of my time I commented briefly on Paul’s words in verse 17: For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

I had written about two pages in response to “Crimson Catholic” but decided I just didn’t have the time this weekend to continue it. I have to fly up to Mill Valley Sunday afternoon after preaching the morning service at PRBC, tomorrow is my wedding anniversary (talk about a patient woman!), and next week I talk with Bethany House about

The writer to the Hebrews presents an apologetic defense of the supremacy of Christ throughout his epistle, seeking to demonstrate that there is nothing in the “old ways” to attract the follower of Christ. In every aspect Christ is superior to the former administration, so that there is nothing in the “old ways” to attract the believer in Him. It

The issue here is not, “Is there more to the Scriptures than mere human words?” All Christians gladly confess this. Surely there is a spiritual, living dimension to the Word. We truly must separate the method of determining the intended meaning of the author from other issues such as, Is the meaning of the author in his own time and

First, many kind thanks to the kind brother who sent me my own copy of this as a gift. It is much appreciated–especially since it is large print. Not sure how Dan Wallace swung this, but I’m sure glad he did. The NET’s NT translation is quite good (sorry, have major reservations about the OT); and one of the greatest

A while back I mentioned that Solid Ground had published a hardback edition of Fairbairn’s 1858 work, Opening Scripture. Fairbairn was a leading Scottish Presbyterian in the mid-19th century, and this work provides a wide-range of exegetical discussions on important issues. We have the hardbacks in now, and, Solid Ground has done a run of softbacks as well. I’d recommend

I made a mistake tonight. I hit the FM button on my car radio and accidentally tuned in Harold Camping. I haven’t listened to him for many months, and my blood pressure and over-all health has benefited greatly. But there he was, and the first call I heard enraged me. The caller first asked about “fasting.” I was unaware that

It is fairly clear “Mr. Holding” (not his real name) has a lot of time on his hands. Long, rambling, insult-filled responses have already been posted on his site. Feel free, if you wish to abuse your sensibilities, to peruse them. I could only sit and read with a bemused awe as this man, a librarian (M.L.S.) seeks to impress

In the preceding installment we addressed J.P. Holding’s claim that Paul is using a “negation idiom” in Romans 9:16, based upon his particular interpretation of Jeremiah 7:22. We demonstrated that there is no reason to accept this argumentation, and good reason to reject it, from the text of Romans 9 itself. But there is another good reason to reject it:

So then it not on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. (Romans 9:16, NASB) So then it is not of the man willing nor of the man running but of the God mercying.  “For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I

Libronics is happy again. Norton re-installed (n.b. to anyone who tries to de-install and re-install Norton SystemWorks: DON’T!), BibleWorks fonts close to where they were, things looking pretty much as they were (just running a LOT faster), and all the humorous Mac e-mails filed away (even got a blog entry out of my comments about the Mac cult–maybe Mac’s don’t

I was translating John 9 last night before going to bed, and was struck by the following dialogue (super-functional translation warning): The blind man said to Jesus, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshipped Jesus. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see, and so that those who see may become

Someone came into channel last evening and posted a statement from a Ph.D. student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School regarding the interaction between myself and Holding. Specifically, he was making a comment based upon John Piper’s September 1979 JETS article that I cited as I began my response. Specifically, he asked about the following: Heck, for that matter Piper and

At the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church we read through the New Testament in our AM services on the Lord’s Day, and the Old Testament in the evenings. Last night I read Isaiah 17. I noted the following as I was reading: 4 Now in that day the glory of Jacob will fade, And the fatness of his flesh will become

The discussion of Mr. Holding’s comments on Romans 9 has once again raised the issue of the importance of exegesis in theology and apologetics. For those whose faith is determined by externals (various forms of tradition, ecclesiastical, historical, philosophical, etc.), the text of Scripture is more a field of prooftexts that are malleable in nature: they can be formed to

Paul Owen, well known to our readers, has been reviewing Guy Prentiss Waters’ new work, Justification and the New Perspectives on Paul (P&R, 2004). J. Ligon Duncan had spoken with me about this work while I was speaking at the 400th anniversary celebration of the beginning of the translation of the King James Version in Manhattan last year. He then

Some friends of mine recently showed me their new copies of A Reader’s Greek New Testament from Zondervan. I was immediately in love. There is nothing more enjoyable than spending some time in the text, just reading, and this particular volume will help all of you who have studied the language through “first year” in the past to pick up

With this installment I conclude my response to Dr. Svendsen on the issue of the extent and intention of the atoning work of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Dr. Svendsen expressed what he sees as the most fundamental disagreement between us in these words: Here I think is our most fundamental disagreement. I think this statement assumes something like “the death

I continue with the second part of my response to Dr. Eric Svendsen comprising our discussion on the extent and intention of the atoning work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.    2) Other than the issue of the unity of the work of sacrifice and intercession, the issue of substitution and union with Christ seems the most important difference

Both Eric Svendsen and I are very busy these days, and as I’m sure he will affirm, most of that busy-ness has nothing to do with Dave Armstrong. I have so many articles to write I can barely keep track of them all (in fact, I have this horrible feeling I’ve forgotten one), and an exciting book project to work

Psalm 138:6-8 For though the LORD is exalted, Yet He regards the lowly, But the haughty He knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness,

I just saw a notification on PaleoJudaica.com that the Leningrad Codex is online and searchable. Here it is. Please try to contain your excitement. Your co-workers will wonder why you are shouting when you see it.

First, a blessed Christmas to you all. For those rejoicing, may you do so to His glory. For those of you bearing burdens at this time of year, especially those who have lost a loved one in the past year, may you find God to be your consolation and comfort in all things. Just one entry today (and yes, I

Every apologist knows the passage by heart: 1 Peter 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; (NASB) But did you know this passage identifies Jesus as YHWH? Note the Greek

I will be preaching on the Isaiah 7-9 section (“Immanuel” and “Mighty God” passages) next Sunday at the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church. I just love this section (my first sermon at PRBC was on Isaiah 6, actually). Keil and Delitzsch made a comment regarding the use of “mighty God” that I’ve noted in the past: The name gibbor is used

 Gal. 5:3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.  Not only will Christ not allow himself to be joined to human self-righteousness, but the Apostle makes sure everyone understands that there is no such thing as partial righteousness in the law: one either follows the whole of

Gal. 5:2: Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.  Here is the outward manifestation of the yoke of slavery, circumcision. But here we see clearly the relationship that is being missed by many today. Why would Paul say to anyone, “Christ will be of no benefit to you”