Biblical Studies

Thumbnail image for Ecclesiastes, Heraclitus, and the Second Law of Thermodynamics

Ecclesiastes, Heraclitus, and the Second Law of Thermodynamics

20 August 2010 Biblical Studies

In Plato’s dialogue Cratylus, Socrates gives us one of Heraclitus’s most important ideas: You cannot step twice into the same stream. For Heraclitus, this idea epitomized his doctrine of flux — everything is constantly changing. Though it may seem as if you are stepping into the same stream a second time, so much has changed since you have stepped into it — you are feeling different water molecules, there are microscopic shifts in sediment, the temperature has changed by a thousandth of a degree, etc.

Tagged as: bible, cratylus, entropy, god, greek philosophy, hebrew bible, heraclitus, old testament, philosophy, physics, plato, second law of thermodynamics, socrates, theology, thermodynamics

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Thumbnail image for Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 8)

Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 8)

19 April 2010 Biblical Studies

Part eight of the series “Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace.” Thus, we have demonstrated the importance of patristic evidence for the textual criticism of Heb 2:9. Because Origen’s citations pass the appropriate tests (the grammar of the citation is not significantly affected; the author may be quoting directly from a text; our critical edtion is reliable; and the readings are preserved in the original Greek), it should be reckoned as a powerful witness to the text of Hebrews during that time period. Moreover, since in context it makes little difference which variant he chooses, Origen’s witness seems rather strong, at least for Alexandria.

Tagged as: hebrews, New Testament, textual criticism

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Thumbnail image for Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 7)

Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 7)

12 April 2010 Biblical Studies

Part seven of the series “Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace.” Irenaeus seems to be fighting the same battle in Book 3 of Adversus haereses. In III.16.9, he lays out the testimony of Paul in an attempt to refute the notion that there is a divine Christ distinct from a human Jesus; he wants to show that they are one and the same.

Tagged as: hebrews, New Testament, textual criticism

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Thumbnail image for Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 6)

Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 6)

5 April 2010 Biblical Studies

Part six of the series “Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace.”

Origen mentions the χωρίς reading of Heb 2:9 six times, four of which are preserved in Greek, two in the Latin translations by Rufinus. ((Commentary on John, I.35, XXVIII.18 (bis); Dialogue with Heraclides, 27; Commentary on Romans III.8 and V.7. See Garnet,“Hebrews 2:9.” I have adopted where applicable the Sources Chrétiennes system for labeling chapters, rather than the system used by Garnet.)) While Origen does not seem to declare a preference for either reading, he does seem to favor the χωρίς reading over χάριτι.

Tagged as: hebrews, textual criticism

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Thumbnail image for A Trustworthy Word (2 Tim 2.11-13)

A Trustworthy Word (2 Tim 2.11-13)

2 April 2010 Biblical Studies

Earlier this week, I briefly discussed the poem in 2 Tim 2.11–13 in my post about parathēkē. Here, I’d like to explore this passage a bit more, line-by-line. First, let’s set the context. The purpose for 2 Timothy, predominantly, is to encourage a co-worker in Christ to continue to preach boldly the gospel, and to avoid apostasy at all cost.

Tagged as: 2 timothy, apostasy, apostate, couplet, faith, hymn, pastoral epistles, paul, poetry, theology

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Thumbnail image for <em>Parathēkē</em>: The Beautiful Thing Entrusted to You (Part Two)

Parathēkē: The Beautiful Thing Entrusted to You (Part Two)

31 March 2010 Biblical Studies

In a previous post, I made the point that the parathēkē (παραθήκη), the beautiful thing that God has entrusted to us (in the parlance of the epistles of to Timothy), is not necessarily the Gospel, but really a certain kind of doctrine or orthodoxy — right teaching. First, in order to understand this, we must understand the difference between Gospel and Orthodoxy or Gospel and Teaching.

Tagged as: 2 timothy, bible, New Testament, pastoral epistles, paul, timothy

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Thumbnail image for What’s Wrong with Systematic Theology.

What’s Wrong with Systematic Theology.

29 March 2010 Biblical Studies

Allow me to draw your attention to the period (.) ending the title of this post. Normally I would have a question mark (?) here, but I am making a grand statement! Yes, I think there is something inherently wrong with the idea of systematic theology.

Tagged as: bible, systematic theology, theology

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Thumbnail image for Treasure in a Field: Thoughts on Matthew 13.44

Treasure in a Field: Thoughts on Matthew 13.44

21 March 2010 Biblical Studies

I thought it would be nice to take a moment to look at the two possible interpretations of the parable in Matthew 13.44. I am indebted to Jack Wisdom, elder at Ecclesia and all-around exegetical ninja, whose sermon this morning highlighted two different interpretations of this parable.

Tagged as: gospel of matthew, interpretation, parables

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Thumbnail image for <em>Parathēkē</em>: The Beautiful Thing Entrusted to You (Part One)

Parathēkē: The Beautiful Thing Entrusted to You (Part One)

14 March 2010 Biblical Studies

Whatever your opinion of the authorship of the pastorals, there is no doubt that the letters to Timothy paint an interesting picture of discipleship for us. Looking specifically at 2 Timothy, we find a word that is not often used in the New Testament: parathēkē (παραθήκη) — “deposit; thing entrusted to someone.” As far as I can tell, this word appears only in these letters to Timothy. Check out 2 Tim 1.12 and 1.14.

Tagged as: 2 timothy, bible, New Testament, pastoral epistles, paul, timothy

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Thumbnail image for Turn:Serve:Wait :: Faith:Love:Hope

Turn:Serve:Wait :: Faith:Love:Hope

28 December 2009 Biblical Studies

Yesterday, Jack Wisdom preached a challenging sermon at Ecclesia. With his usual comedic bravado and bluster, Jack laid out Paul’s situation and the situation of Thessaloniki at the time of the writing of 1 Thessalonians. He then looked at 1 Thessalonians 1:2–10, focusing on three action verbs found in vv. 9 and 10: ἐπιστρέφω, δουλεύω, ἀναμένω — turn, serve, wait.

Tagged as: 1 thessalonians, bible, ecclesia, faith, hope, jack wisdom, love, New Testament, paul

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