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Leviathan & Co.: More Canaanite Mythology in the Hebrew Bible
In this third (and final) look at Canaanite beliefs, we meet a strange array of monsters, such as Leviathan. They also make an appearance in the Hebrew Bible. What do we make of this and…
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Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon
How great was Babylon the Great? A brand-new book with awesome illustrations gives us a taste. Have a look! (And download the book at www.zaphon.de.)
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The Council of El: Canaanite Mythology in the Hebrew Bible?
Although Baal worship is strongly condemned, the Old Testament surprisingly integrates fragments of Canaanite mythology (such as Baal as the rider in the clouds) in its portrayal of the God of Israel. How are we…
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Canaanite Religion in the Bible
Various gods and goddesses of Canaan make their appearance in the Hebrew Bible. It is easy to get confused. In Judges 2:13, for instance, the Israelites serve “the Baals and the Ashtaroth”; in Judges 3:7,…
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Toledot in Genesis – What Are They and Why Do They Matter?
To define the structure of a book, we may have more than one valid option. Sometimes, a different way of looking at it opens new insights into meaning and message. This is certainly true for…
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A Pilgrimage through the Gospel of John: Grace and Truth
As explained in the previous issue, my pilgrimage through Italy on the Via di Francesco turned into a pilgrimage through the gospel of John, using something akin to the Ignatian approach to Bible meditation. Jesus…
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A Pilgrimage through the Gospel of John: How I Got There
The key to understanding the gospel of John is not studying but meditation. At least for me it turned out to be that way. I have always had a hard time getting into this book.…
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The Atonement 3: Back to the Church Fathers
Does Christus Victor trump penal substitution? In two previous issues, I began to present images, models, and explanations of the atonement. I have two more models to discuss (first and foremost Christus Victor). I will…
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The Atonement 2: Models and Explanations
In the previous issue, I looked at terminology and I introduced five (or six) groups of images or metaphors that illustrate the atonement. It is now time to attempt a more thorough explanation. This is…
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The Atonement 1: Introduction
The atonement: what is it, and how does it ‘work’? This is a big – and beautiful – question, touching on the very heart of salvation: why did Christ die on a Roman cross?
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Redefinitions II: The Righteousness of God
In the previous issue, I wrestled with objective and subjective genitives and whether the phrase “faith of/in Christ” needs reinterpretation. This month, I do the same with a different phrase, one that is perhaps of…
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Redefinitions I: Faith or Faithfulness?
I am gearing up to write on models of the atonement: different ways to explain what Christ accomplished by dying on the cross. This is a big topic, and a contested one. Traditional understandings get…