This article considers the interpretation of Jeremiah 7:22.

This article reflects on the interpretation of James 1:18, and the first-fruits offering.

This chronicle draws attention to a number of significant and important studies that have appeared on the life and work of Martin Luther.

The study considers the present reality of the kingdom of God in the coming and preaching of Jesus Christ, but also the fact that there are future aspects of this kingdom that still need to be revealed and manifested.

This paper demonstrates the antiquity of certain concepts found in the Old Testament. It indicates the antiquity and objective reality of certain concepts that were part of the common intellectual, religious and technical heritage of the Old Testament and ancient Near East. Most of the comparative material is taken from Egypt.

A theme for which the writings of Tertullian may be studied with profit is the place of prayer in the life of the church. This study draws attention to and serves as an introduction to a field of study on prayer that has many riches for those who will mine there.

This short paper considers the relationship between the concepts of the "everlasting" and the "new covenants" of Scripture. It concludes that it is the relationship between God and man that is the permanent feature in the covenants.

Abram, when he reached Shechem, built an altar and "called upon the name of Yahweh". According to many scholars, the patriarchs used the name "El Shaddai" as the name of God. They argue that the name of Yahweh was not known before the time of Moses, and so Genesis 12:8 does not portray the true reality. The purpose of this study is to give some reasons for thinking that the author of Genesis 12 rightly used the name Yahweh.

The purpose of this short note is to restate an old explanation of the first clause of Isaiah 40:20.

This article gives an overview of the teaching of both the Old and the New Testament on the issue of wealth, and then makes a comparison of biblical and modern human attitudes to a few features of economics.

This article offers a critical discussion of the revised Cambridge Ancient History, Volume 2. It reviews aspects of early Hebrew tradition like the sources (internal and external), the nature and historical status of the patriarchs, and the possible date of the patriarchs.

This article considers the best translation and interpretation of Genesis 2:5-6. The discussion revolves around whether these verses describe a dry or a wet world.

What is the exact meaning of the "thirtieth year" in Ezekiel 1:1? This article submits its own proposal.

The doctrine of Christology is of central importance in Christian thought. More recent scholarship has questioned the view that an understanding of the person of Jesus as the Son of God in a real or essential sense is to be found in the mind of Jesus and in the thought of the early church, and that such understanding can for the basis of a modern Christology. This article addresses the scholarship that denies the above contentions, questioning whether they demonstrate a true reading of the New Testament evidence.

Did Jesus see himself as the servant referred to in Isaiah 53? This understanding of Jesus' view of his mission has come under attack. This article concerns itself with a response to the work of C. F. D. Moule, C. K. Barrett, and Morna Hooker who are all critical of the view that finds Jesus' self-understanding steeped in Isaiah 53.

There are only three explicit Old Testament references to the doctrine of the image of God in man: Genesis 1:26, Genesis 5:2, and Genesis 9:6. However, the importance of the doctrine is out of all proportion to the limited treatment it receives in the Old Testament. That man is a [creature]] implies limitations upon the range and degree of his similarities to God.

This study considers two of the prepositions used in New Testament statements on the subject of the atonement to see what contribution they have to make. Four prepositions are used in the New Testament statements about the death of Christ, but only two are examined here, i. e. "for" (ἀντί) and "on behalf of/for the sake of/for the beneft of" (ὐπέρ).

This article considers the matter of editing of a prophetic text, and it does so by using as example the "Servant passages" in Isaiah, particularly Isaiah 7:14, its context and content. The author argues that the concept of the editing of a text is not itself at fault; rather, this concept is simply not taken with sufficient seriousness by those who appeal most frequently to it.

The only divine names used in the book of Jonah are Yahweh and Elohim (including El once]]). This short study considers the distribution of these names in Jonah.

Was there a development in the eschatology of Paul? This article examines 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, highlighting three issues arising from the passage that are relevant for this discussion on the development in Paul's eschatological thought. First, the author reflects on Paul's personal relationship to the return of Christ. Next, it considers the time of the receipt of the spiritual body.

The Hebrew expression "saraph me'opheph" occurs twice in the Old Testament, and both times in Isaiah. Isaiah 14:29 refers to the "fiery flying serpent" and Isaiah 30:6 the term is usually understood as a reference to the sand-viper. Such interpretations imply that these creatures were semi-mythological. This article calls into question this interpretation, showing from contemporary data that these creatures may have been some kind of poisonous winged insect.

How are we to understand the relationship between the wrath of God and the love of God? This article wants to point out some aspects of divine wrath.

This paper wants to re-examine the interpretation of Malachi 1:11 that suggests that worship offered in sincerity and truth under the auspices of any religion whatsoever is in effect offered to the one true God. Is this interpretation consistent with Old Testament teaching as a whole on the subject of the worship of the nations? Is it consistent with the prophet's teaching in the rest of Malachi? The author examines these questions, and then takes a fresh look at the text and its interpretation.

The Gospel of Matthew's account of the resurrection of Jesus is regarded by many scholars as the least reliable historically. This article does not provide definitive answers to the questions raised, but it indicates some of the avenues that could be further explored. The relationship of Matthew 28 to the other gospels is examined. The major arguments that supposedly justify treating Matthew 28 with suspicion are each considered in turn.

The purpose of this essay is to discover the historical basis that lies behind Luke's account of the resurrection of Jesus. The focus is on solving the historical question through an attempt to set down the historical evidence Luke supplies.

This essay attempts to explain the belief that the death of Christ on the cross had the character of penal substitution, and that it was by virtue of this fact that it brought salvation to mankind. First, the author clears up some questions of method. He then continues to explore what it means to call Christ's death substitutionary.

The concepts of wisdom and knowledge in 1 Corinthians have been studied from two general approaches. One approach derives the apostle Paul's usage from nonmythological understanding of the concepts in the Old Testament and later Judaism. The second approach sees an influence of mythological origins that may or may not have been mediated through Judaism.

One looks almost in vain for a major discussion of sin during the twentieth century. Does guilt before God still have meaning in the context of modern developments such as Marxism and psycho-analitical approaches to who man is? This essay attempts to examine the way that theology has sought to come to terms with the idea of sin during the twentieth century.

The aim of this essay is to survey approaches to the parousia (return of Christ) in modern theology. It wants to describe and assess these modern approaches within their own proper theological and historical context. It is followed by the author's own approach to the subject, showing where he thinks he may draw fruitfully upon modern insights and where we must take warnings from modern misunderstandings.

The author addresses questions about the interpretation of the Bible's ethical material. These are questions about the meanings of moral words, to be distinguished from questions of normative ethics and of descriptive ethics. By defining "ethics" formally, rather than by its content, O'Donovan has included within the scope of ethics two spheres that are sometimes distinguished from it, i.e., the religious and the aesthetic.

This article draws attention to the fact that it is no longer possible to describe Nuzi customs as customs of Hur simply on the basis that they show some divergence from better-known Mesopotamian practices, and because there was considerable influence of Hur at Nuzi. In Near Eastern Studies there is an increasing awareness that the similarities between Nuzi and other Mesopotamian text groups are, in fact, greater than was formerly supposed.

Does preaching still have any meaning in our time and age? Is the sermon a relic of the past? This essay wants to reflect on the theological question of what preaching really is. The true renewal of preaching can only happen in the way of understanding the real nature and function of preaching. A renewal on the level of preaching technique alone is not really a renewal at all. In the New Testament, we find the origin of what Christian preaching is. Some key terms used for preaching are examined.

The approach of this article to the Scriptures is the conviction that they mean exactly what they say. However, it is not true that the Bible means nothing more than that. The author grapples with the divine as well as the human element in the Bible. It reflects on how readers can hear what God's timeless message is from any given passage. It is within this context that the article reflects on the idea of sensus plenior (the "fuller sense").

In Old Testament scholarship, there is a general recognition of the unique importance of the Decalogue in Israel's understanding of her relationship with God. The article states that the last six commandments are in themselves not at all unique. Is there significance in the explicit listing of these otherwise very general moral obligations at the foundation of the nation as the covenant people of Yahweh?

In Israel's history and in the development of her faith, there is evidence of the importance of the "Bamoth" shrines of the Canaanite religion. This article surveys the study of the significance of the Bamoth for the life of Israel.

What is the relationship between the name of God and the glory of God? In OT studies there has been a change in the conception of the ark of the covenant in Deuteronomy. The ark is no longer seen as the footstool of God in his glory, but merely a receptacle containing the stones on which the law is written. This study is concerned with the fact that God's name has been used to demythologize the ark. Exodus 33:18ff.

This article is part of the search for possible Hebraic antecedents to the formulae spoken at the Last Supper.

The doctrinal convictions of popular Christianity cannot be ignored when writing the history of doctrine. The author wants to encourage evangelical Christians to become more self-conscious about doctrinal development as an evangelical phenomenon. It is argued that evangelical thinking about the doctrine of Scripture has not remained immune to change.

This article's main point is that if the Gospels of Matthew and Luke did use Mark, they also knew early non-Marcan traditions of the life and teaching of Jesus well. Matthew 24:10-12 functions as a case in point.

This paper discusses the discipline commonly called Hebrew-Ugaritic studies. The author explores the relationship between the Old Testament and one part of its environment, namely Syria-Palestine, or the Eastern Mediterranean seaboard.

This essay wants to concentrate primarily on the very sensitive area of the selective treatment of handicapped newborn babies. It is a response to the trial of Leonard Arthur. It is argued that there is a moral dimension to medical decisions that may not be within the scope of particular medical technical competence.

What is the literary structure of the composition of the oracles against Babylon in Jeremiah 50 and Jeremiah 51? This study hopes to demonstrate that the composition of the oracles is not disordered but rather a well-ordered complex of structurally related elements. The thesis is that the composition is comprised of six movements set within a common framework.

Psalm 45 forms part of the forty-two psalms in the "Elohist Psalter." Having surveyed the setting and content of the Psalm, the author considers the translation options of "Elohim" in verses 7-8.

What is romantic love? This study says it refers to the love of two persons of the opposite sex for one another, understood and expressed in terms of attraction and devotion. This love includes delight and joy in appreciation of each other, including the sexual and physical aspects. The study offers a fresh look at the Bible's understanding of romantic love especially in relation to courtship and marriage.

World poverty is widely considered to be one of the major moral issues of today. This article wants to examine attitudes to poverty among evangelical Christians.

This article wants to discuss the genre of the book of Jonah and what its readers are to make of the miracles recorded in the book.

What are the extra-biblical sources for the history of Israel? There is an Assyrian text that offers an account of dealings with Judah, a text renowned since the beginning of Assyriology. That text is Sennacherib's report of his attack on Judah and Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah. This article examines mainly this text.

This essay wants to place 2 Corinthians in the life of the apostle Paul as a missionary and church leader whose apostoleship was a subject of controversy at Corinth. It sketches the course of apostolic history in outline and indicates the way Paul's vocation was shaped by the flow of events that led to the composition of the letter.

Luke presents the ascension as the climax of his gospel. He also presents it as the most striking element in the introduction to Acts. By using these ascension accounts to form the link between the Gospel of Luke and Acts, Luke seem to indicate its significance for a proper understanding of his theology and purpose.

This article is an account of the political thought of the book of Revelation. It reflects on how the goodness of creation is questioned by the apparent meaninglessness of the historical events. Only if history can be shown to have a purpose can the praise of creation resume. The sacrificial death of the Messiah of God is the event that interprets all other events.

What is the relationship between Christ and Christian ethics? The article asks the question: If Christians are what they are by virtue of their participation in Christ, then what room is left for human ethical activity? What is the relationship between grace and morality? Webster wants to explore this relationship by giving close attention to the New Testament material on the imitation of Christ.

This essay describes the view of E. P. Sanders with respect to Jesus Christ and repentance, and that description leads to the identification of a problem within Sander's view. Sanders argues that Jesus offered the kingdom of heaven to the wicked without repentance. The article analyzes how this problematic view arose.

What is nationalism and how did it play a role in the life of Israel as the people of God? This article examines the characteristics of neo-Babylonian nationalism before looking at two biblical examples of nationalism. The focus is on some of the eschatology concerned with Israel's future, which also involves the nations.

This article wants to consider the value of William Paley (1743-1805), Archdeacon of Carlisle, as Christian ethicist. Paley propagated theological utilitarianism that raises fundamental questions about the relationship between faith and ethics. Paley's problem was how to discover the will of God.

The purpose of this article is to re-examine some aspects of the kingdom of God, especially in the light of certain evidence about the Son of Man, and the relation of the kingdom to Jesus' person and mission. It focuses on two logia in the Beelzebul controversy as presented in Matthew 12:25-32 and its parallels in Mark 3:23-30 and Luke 11:17-30 and Luke 12:10,3.

When we consider the relationship between Ugaritic literature and the Old Testament, we are to make a comparison between different genres of literature. It has become customary in modern scholarship to hold that Habakkuk 3 was influenced by Ugaritic poetry. This article questions whether this pays necessary attention to the difference in their literary genre.

This essay examines the contrast in Scottish and American church history from the 1730s to the 1840s, and focuses on the difference in theological development. The author argues that the study of the relationship between formal religious thought and its social, political, and intellectual contexts shows why theology developed differently in the two regions during this period.

This article examines the speech of the apostle Paul in Acts 20:17-38. It offers a good prospect of direct comparison between the Paul of Acts and the Paul of his letters.

This article reviews the book of E. W. Nicholson on the covenant in Old Testament, with the title God and His People, Covenant and Theology in the Old Testament.

This article is the second part of a two-part article. This article argues for the authenticity of the Areopagus speech in Acts 17 as Pauline rather than a reconstruction of Luke. It responds critically to the views of Dibelius.

Does the rabbinic tradition have a concept of original sin? This article first gives an overview of the view in the rabbinic tradition of the origin of evil and original sin. Next, it gives a thorough treatment of the apostle Paul's idea of original sin by examining Romans 5:12-21, Romans 7:7-25, and 1 Corinthians 15:20-22.

The release of CO₂ and other so-called greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, leading to the "greenhouse effect," has caused a major concern about man's environmental and ecological responsibilities. This paper asks whether Christians have a distinctive viewpoint on these matters. First, it is noted that the issues raised go far beyond scientific analysis; profound consequences for economic life can follow.

The argument of the apostle Paul in Romans 5:7 forms the focus of the study. The author considers the possible difficulties of verse 7. He argues that the verse can be divided into two clauses: 7a, "for scarcely will anyone die for a righteous man," and 7b, "though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die." The recent history of interpretation of this verse is surveyed and a possible understanding of verse 7 is offered.

What were the appropriate Christian responses to the complexity of daily life presided over by the deities in Corinth, as portrayed in 1 Corinthians 8-1 Corinthians 10? This essay responds to this question by first describing the religious pluralism of Roman Corinth, which took for granted the legitimacy of all its many gods and many lords.

This paper explores the issue of head-coverings and hair-styles in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 against the background of Roman portraiture. It is part of a wider project to provide the cultural background to the apostle Paul's correspondence with the church in Corinth.

1 Peter makes extensive use of the Old Testament. This article reflects on how the author of 1 Peter used the Old Testament to develop Christian ethics. It indicates how Peter's selection of texts was based upon the correlation between the situation of the people of God in the Old Testament and that of his readers. The teaching from the Old Testament was then developed in the author's own terminology to show its relevance for the suffering Christian churches.

Can the themes of redemption and eschatology contribute significantly to the discussions about ecology? This article sketches some of the connections between ecology and eschatology.

This article considers the translation of Ruth 4:5.

A Jewish inscription from Aphrodisias is used to reflect on who the God-fearers were. The relevance of Acts 18:7 for this problem is indicated.

According to the book of Acts, the apostle Paul was imprisoned for in excess of four years. How did he cope? This article draws attention to the helpers the apostle received. It indicates different kinds of helpers, like friends, slaves, jailers, disciples, and churches, and how they gained access to him. The article notes further the kind of help and support the apostle received.

Even though the term "Biblical Theology" is widely used today, there is not a generally accepted definition of its purpose and scope. The approach of J. P. Gabler is examined in this article. An alternative approach is offered that seeks to define Biblical Theology in relation to the Christian tradition rather than over against it. The merits of these two approaches are assessed in the light of the history of Biblical Theology over the past two hundred years.

Metaphors referring to family life played an important role in the formation of the New Testament and the early church. This article explores one aspect of the use of family metaphors, namely, the image of a father, used metaphorically by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:14–21 to assert his apostolic authority in the church in Corinth.

What is the meaning of "kathegetes" in Matthew 23:10? This article proposes that the papyrus P.Oxy. 2190 (c. AD 70–90) could help in understanding its meaning. In this papyrus the term occurs more frequently than in most literary sources. It is then argued that "kathegetes" in Matthew 23:10 refers to a tutor

Revelation 13:16 refers to the mark of the beast on the right hand or the forehead, which gives one admission to the market. This article considers whether this is an imaginary symbol of something else, or whether one can envisage an actual practice of market control based on marks.

What is the significance of man being created in the image of God? This article outlines the current state of exegesis on this doctrine and the problems connected with the traditional theological interpretation of Genesis 1:26. Next, he considers the newly recognized importance of intertestamental Judaism for a Christian doctrine of the image of God.

The resurrection of Jesus is central to the Christian faith. This article argues that resurrection is essentially a feature of the last times and the outstanding aspect of the Christian hope. The New Testament makes it evident that the resurrection of Jesus was linked not only with his death but also with his parousia. The major theme of this study is the nature and significance of this connection.

This article reflects on the interpretation of the writing on the wall of Daniel 5:26-28. The article starts to consider the particular problem why the Babylonians could not read these Aramaic words when Aramaic was an official court language. It is proposed that the inscription was a number written in cuneiform, which was translated into Aramaic and then interpreted.

What is the significance and intention of the call in Deuteronomy 12:5? How should readers understand this command and its application in the historical books of the Old Testament? This article argues that the Old Testament record is sufficiently clear and consistent, and that the traditional view adopted by Thompson, Craigie, Kitchen, and others has support from the ancient Near East.

This article first gives a survey of scholarship on the study of Genesis 12, Genesis 20, and Genesis 26, passages where Abraham and Isaac claim that Sarah (12:11-16; 20:2-3) and Rebekah (26:6-11) were their sisters. Next, it develops suggestions that have been considered only in passing by a few scholars, and that is that some type of diplomatic marriage may be involved in the stories.

How relevant is the Old Testament for Christian ethics and how should it be used? The purpose of this first part of a two-part article is to survey some approaches to the question, both ancient and modern, examining assumptions and methods. Special notice is given to the early church, the time of the Reformation, and the modern period.

What is the intended meaning of the rhetorical question in 1 Corinthians 10:22? This article argues that an investigation of the Old Testament background to verses 1-21 suggests a likely origin for 10:22b, and also clarifies its precise intent, significance, and force.

This article provides an overview of the discussions on the description of the siege of the city of David in Isaiah 29:1–8. The main focus is on the suddenness with which the picture changes from judgment and devastation (vv. 1-4) to deliverance (vv. 5-8), which has occasioned much debate among commentators.

In this second part of a two-part article, the author wants to look at a variety of evangelical approaches (Walter Kaiser, John Goldingay, Dispensationalism, Theonomy, Jubilee Centre, etc.) to the question of the ethical authority of the Old Testament.

This essay wants to contribute to the discussion about biblical inspiration. Two modern but very different views of biblical inspiration are examined (those of B. B. Warfield and James Barr). Begby argues that despite their strengths both would have benefited from sustained attention to the trinitarian context of the work of the Spirit in inspiration.

This article argues that careful lexicological investigations in 1 Timothy 2:12 have undermined the traditional interpretation of "authenteō" ("to have authority over") and brought to light various shades of meaning, without demonstrating their relevance to the passage. The argument of this paper is that if closer attention is paid to the structural and figurative character of the passage, the result is a reading that takes into account both the proper sense of "authenteō" and the particular social context and circumstances of the apostle's message.

In John 6:69, Peter confesses Jesus as "the Holy One of God." Scholarly opinion on the meaning of the Holy One of God is deeply divided. The most common solution is that the title simply means "Messiah." This article argues against such a position and suggests instead that the primary meaning of the title is that of "representation" or "agency." In Mark and Luke, it is an agency of judgment on the demons.

Is there a link between worship and ethics in Romans 12? Too often the main inspiration for Paul's thinking behind this text is ignored. The biblical-theological background to Paul's argument and the wider context of Romans must be taken into consideration. Peterson argues that the first two verses of Romans 12 proclaim a reversal of the downward spiral depicted in Romans 1.

Is there a dichotomy between fact and faith? A frequent cause of mutual alienation among Christians is the charge of too much certainty on the one hand and too little certainty on the other. Is it possible to find a kind of certainty that is confident and yet humble and teachable? We live after the Enlightenment, which looked for the ideal of knowledge in an "objectivity" that pretended to eliminate all the subjective factors in human knowledge and to provide undisputed certainty.

What was the timeframe anticipated by Jesus for the fulfillment of the promises in Luke 22:29-30? This article argues that on the basis of verbal, grammatical, contextual, logical, and other factors, it is the eschaton that is in view. The author explains further that neither the differences between Luke 22:29-30 and Matthew 19:28 nor the limited thematic likeness between Luke 22:29-30 and apostolic activity in Acts count against his conclusion.

Ephesians 5:18 contrasts drunkenness with fullness with the Spirit. This essay explores behavioural patterns followed at various Greco-Roman convivial gatherings. Accordingly, the present study suggests that the statements of Ephesians 5:18-20, and ultimately others made throughout the moral teaching in Ephesians, simply reflect the writer's assumption that his readers regularly gathered in a mealtime context.

This article explores the importance of a right understanding of the preposition "anti" ("instead of") in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 (v. 15). Padgett argues that various lexical choices make no difference in this case. Paul is stating that nature has given women hair instead of a covering. This conclusion adds probability to the alternative reading being proposed.

With the resurgence of spirituality has come a renewed popular interest in angels. Thus, angels figure far more extensively in New Age thought than they have done in Christianity over the last two or three centuries. This essay explores the role angelology could potentially play in contemporary orthodox theology.

Robert Cook evaluated the post-mortem evangelism position held by Clark Pinnock in a recent article. He found Pinnock’s position rationally consistent. This article rejects Cook's analysis and the position Pinnock takes. It also suggests that this position is part of a failure to understand the radical nature of evil.

Opinion is divided over the meaning of the Hebrew term "hesed." This article examines the use of ִ"hesed" in the Old Testament, particularly in the setting of human relationships and the relationship between God and his people. It also considers the Hebrew terms with which ִ"hesed" is most closely associated. It concludes that at the heart of ִ"hesed" is loving commitment within the context of a relationship.

This article makes a case for the possibility of written literature and thus the skill and knowledge of writing existing in Palestine from at least the tenth century BC onward.

This article assesses the common positioning of the Pastoral Epistles at the transition from second to third generation Christianity. The conclusion is that while there is validity in recognizing theological development in the Pastoral Epistles, this need not be explained in terms of late discontinuity with the theology of Paul. Towner argues that it is more likely that the Pastoral Epistles develop the theology of Paul.

Both the Old and New Testaments mention marriage covenants that God contracted between himself and his bride. The aim of this essay is to examine whether or not the several authors and the two Testaments contradict each other in this matter. The article demonstrates that in both Testaments God is described as someone who subjects himself to his own law with regard to regulations concerning marriage, separation, divorce, and remarriage.

Greek hero cults consisted of sacrifices offered at the grave of deceased human beings. There was a belief that the hero was still active and able to exercise a powerful influence. In this article, this evidence is compared to Mark’s portrayal of Jesus’ empty tomb to show that it is not the empty tomb of a hero, but of one who has been raised from the dead.

This essay examines the Greek conventions surrounding a "herald’s" official introduction of a new god into the Pantheon in Athens. It wants to throw light on Paul's Areopagus address and suggest an alternative translation of Acts 17:19-20.

This article wants to examine how commentators over the centuries have interpreted Genesis 4:17-24. It asks how far their views reflect the influence of the cultures to which they belonged. Particular attention is paid to early and medieval Jewish commentators. This is followed by a representative selection from the Christian exegetical traditions.