In an earlier post, I asked the question of what it would take for us to be, as Paul says in Titus 3:1, “ready to do good works.” What sort of things prepare us for improvising our role in the theodrama?
First, I think it is important to point out that unlike actors preparing for a [...]
Archive for the ‘Biblical studies’ Category
10 Nov
How Can We Be Ready?
15 Oct
Outlining the Plot of the Theodrama
If you were to outline the plot of Scripture, what would it be? Something I am wrestling with in my studies right now is if we consider Scripure the transcript of the theodrama, then how should we identify its various acts? Different scholars have various proposals, like the following:
N. T. Wright (The New Testament and [...]
11 Sep
The Dance of Exegesis and Theology
A big debate in academic theology circles is the relationship between exegesis and theology. Which comes first? How is one related to the other? Which is a bigger priority? Last night I ran across a colorful explanation by Kevin Vanhoozer:
“Exegesis and theology are not in a relay race but rather in a dance: an exegetical-theological [...]
17 Aug
How Comprehensive is the Gospel?
As I was preparing for a sermon this morning, I read over various study notes on Romans 1, and I was struck by the following note in the new ESV study Bible for Romans 1:1.
“Gospel (Gk. euangelion) means “good news.” This included not just a call to initial saving faith but Paul’s entire message about [...]
11 Jun
Jesus Demonstrated Transformation
As we saw in the last post, Jesus proclaimed transformation by preaching the gospel of the kingdom and the necessity of repenting from old ways and living by faith in kingdom ways. But Jesus wasn’t just a preacher. He was a doer, a symbolizer, and act-er. Matthew 4 describes Jesus as a preacher, but also [...]
10 Jun
Jesus Proclaimed Transformation
Last week, I indicated that I would continue to explore the drama of transformation and how it finds its climax in the person and work of Jesus. In doing so, we will see how Jesus proclaimed, demonstrated, and accomplished transformation.
When Jesus began his ministry, he started to preach from the prophets. Luke records Jesus’ inaugural [...]
1 Jun
Transformation through the Exile
When David was king of Israel, and then his son Solomon, God’s promises to transform deformed relationships between himself and his people, among his people, and between his people and creation seemed to be reaching fulfillment. The kingdom was growing, with God’s people in God’s place living under God’s rule. But kingdoms easily become corrupt, [...]
29 May
Transformation through the Kingdom
After God’s people finally made it through the wilderness and settled in the land of Canaan, the people were ruled by a series of judges until the people cried out for a king. Unfortunately, their desire for a king “like all the other nations” proved disastrous, since Saul rebelled against God and was not a [...]
28 May
Transformation through the Wilderness
As we have seen, transformation begins with sure promises of God and mighty, salvific acts of God. But transformation is not immediate and it is not without struggle. In fact, for the Israelite people, pursuing transformation meant wilderness wanderings. It meant encountering scalding desert heat, debilitating hunger, and dangerous thirst. It meant encountering enemies, both [...]
27 May
Transformation through the Law
After the Exodus, the people of God’s covenant are a separate, unified nation for the first time since God’s promise to Abraham. When the people had arrived at Mount Sinai, God reminds them of his mighty act of salvation: “’You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ [...]
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