Some have described Christ as a sort of “fruitful eunuch.” Others have pointed out that he in fact has a bride. While these would be mutually exclusive in a literal sense, does the Bible require us to choose between them when taken as metaphors?
Category: Hermeneutics
Is The Widow With The Two Mites A Positive Example Of Sacrificial Giving?
The story of the widow and her two mites (Luke 21:1-4) is often used to commend sacrificial giving. However, the immediate context contains Jesus condemning the Scribes for “devouring widows’ houses” and promising to destroy the temple. Is the story primarily about sacrificial giving? Or, is this story about a corrupt religious system that was devouring widows rather than caring and providing for them? The Macedonians in 2 Corinthians 8 gave out of their poverty, but it was in response to the gospel and doesn’t seem to have been their pennies.
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What Are The Benefits and Dangers of Bible Software?
Do you use any Bible software (e.g., Logos) to support your studies? Do you have any thoughts on how they might help or hinder our study and perception of the written word?
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Why Does Figural Preaching Matter?
I would like to ask a two-part question: (a) could you give a defense from the Scripture for figural preaching and typological reading; (b) how would you respond to the criticism of typological exegesis as a way seeking hidden meanings and connection that probably no one else has noticed, thus focused a lot on novelty?
What Should We Make of the Curious Numbers of Acts?
What is the significance of the book of Acts recording the number of people being saved (3000 in Acts 2, 5000 in Acts 4)?
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Tips For Reading Your Bible Better
How do you go about noticing intertextual links? Is is mostly intuitive based on large exposure to the Bible? Do you do particular searches? Is it just checking cross-references (is there a similar apparatus for the BHS like there is for the NA28, for instance)? Any insight is appreciated.
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Do you have any set notetaking when it comes to Scripture in order to remember insights, intertextual links, important points on tricky passages, etc.? If yes, how do you go about it and organize it?
What Is Paul’s Allegory of Sarah and Hagar About?
Why does Paul say that Sarah and Hagar represent two covenants in Galatians 4:21-31? Where can we see this reality in the Old Testament?
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Transcript of Video on Jeremiah’s New Covenant
I wanted to experiment with producing a transcript of my talks, to see how much effort it would take. The following is my first attempt, a transcript (somewhat polished up in places) of my recent video on Jeremiah 31.
All of these videos are produced without any notes whatsoever, pretty much off the top of my head. Consequently, there is a fair amount of rambling and the transcript isn’t anywhere near as tight as it would be if I were giving a prepared presentation.
If people really want transcripts, I would be prepared to produce them if I had more Patreon support. As things stand, however, it is a task that is costly in time and effort and neither a very wise nor economic use of my time.
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Why is Lot Called ‘Righteous’ Even Though He Offered His Daughters to the Men of Sodom?
How are we to interpret Lot’s offering of his two virgin daughters to the men of Sodom when they surround his house and demand that he brings out his guests so that they may have sex with them in Genesis 19? Was it such an unthinkable breach of hospitaility to let his guests be molested in this way that he desperately resorted to a lesser of two evils? Or was the offer simply a stalling tactic as he knew that the men of Sodom would not accept it anyway? How does 2 Peter 2:7 control our interpretation of the passage and of Lot’s life in general?
What Should We Make of Jeremiah’s Prophecy of a New Covenant?
As a paedobaptist, I am curious how would you respond to the credobaptist argument from the nature of the new covenant as described in Jer 31:31–34. They argue that Jeremiah pictures the newness of the new covenant consisting in its being made with an entirely regenerate/forgiven/saved community. Credobaptists then would argue that this change in the nature of the covenant people implies a change in the administration of the covenant sign as well, such that it should now only be applied to those who evidence themselves to be regenerate by means of a credible profession of faith. In addressing this question, I would love to hear your basic view of how the various covenants in Scripture relate to one another and develop over time.
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