(I alluded to this article in my previous entry on “Reflections on the COVID season”) In his class on the Doctrine of Man, my professor of Systematic Theology, Dr. Bob Strimple, quoted from a French writer and statesman, Andrea Malraux. Malraux fought against the Nazis during World War II and served as a cabinet member…
Read MoreReflections on the COVID-19 Season
Like so many others, this past spring and summer of 2020 was a growing and learning time for me. Painfully and regretfully so. As time progresses, these lessons may grow dimmer, so I wanted to record them and share them here with all of you (sorry, this turned out to be a much longer entry…
Read MoreETS Presentation 2023: “The Great Nation of Abraham: An Analysis of Gen 12:1-3”
The importance of Genesis 12:1–3 cannot be overstated. Gordon Wenham alludes to this when he says: “[Genesis 12:2–3] is generally regarded as the key to the Yahwist’s interpretation of the patriarchal history . . . Whatever one’s critical position, there is no doubt about their cardinal importance for the understanding of Genesis.” Wenham is correct,…
Read MoreDeuteronomy for Asian Americans, Part 7 (Covenant Renewal)
Covenant Renewal: Marks of Godly Leadership Once a treaty was drafted and ratified, it became binding upon both the suzerain and the vassal. However, as is the case in life, people die. If one of the two covenant parties passes away, his successor is required to go through a covenant renewal ceremony where he must…
Read MoreDeuteronomy for Asian Americans, Part 6 (Passing It On)
Another important feature in ancient treatises is the preservation of the treaty documents. This is done in several ways. One is what is called a “documentary curse,” which is a statement within the treaty that says all the curses found within it will be executed upon anyone who adds or takes away any portion of…
Read MoreDeuteronomy for Asian Americans, Part 5 (Sanctions)
Sanctions: Covenantal Blessing and Curse Within the ancient treatise are found an elaborate series of covenantal sanctions, i.e., blessings and curses. If the covenantal parties conform to the stipulations of the treaty, there is blessing. If, however, they violate those stipulations, there is curse. Deuteronomy has a rather extensive section on covenant sanctions, chapters 27-30.…
Read MoreDeuteronomy for Asian Americans, Part 4 (Stipulations)
Stipulations: Covenantal Life In the literary order of an ancient treaty, once the identity of the great suzerain is established (preamble) and his major achievements have been described (historical prologue), then the demands upon the vassal are made (i.e. commandments). The rationale for this order is clear: in light of who the suzerain is…
Read MoreDeuteronomy for Asian American Christians, Part 3 (Historical Prologue)
Historical Prologue: The Works of God We move from the Preamble to the Historical Prologue, where the great suzerain describes his great accomplishments. The purpose of this is to instill a proper motive for the vassal to conform to the covenantal stipulations that follows. In other words, in light of all the major things the…
Read MoreDeuteronomy for Asian American Christians, Part 2 (Preamble)
Preamble: The Name of God We begin by focusing our thoughts on the first section of Deuteronomy, namely the preamble. In the ancient world, this is where the great king (the suzerain) establishes his covenantal relationship with a vassal by revealing his name. In Deuteronomy 1:1-4, this is done when the Lord reveals to Israel…
Read MoreDeuteronomy for Asian American Christians: Intro (Part 1 of 8)
The Book of Deuteronomy is extraordinary. I’ve been studying, teaching, and writing about this book for many years. Each time I read it, I’m reminded of how it is packed with so much spiritual vitality and wisdom. It was written during a time of transition for the ancient people of Israel. After the Lord…
Read More12 Ways to Keep Up the Biblical Languages
I teach Biblical Hebrew at Reformed Theological Seminary. Usually, after the completion of Introduction to Biblical Hebrew course, that is when I’m asked this question: how can I keep up my language skills and not forget everything? If I received a nickel every time I was asked this question, I would have enough money to….OK,…
Read MoreThe Rise of the Next Generation of Gospel Leaders
It is May 2023, and it is graduation season. Many schools are celebrating the class of 2023 and it is an exciting time. I teach at Reformed Theological Seminary, and we also had our recent graduation ceremony. It was a fantastic time of reflection on the Lord’s work in the lives of a wonderful group…
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Redeeming Chillingworth 