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Category Archives: bible
Matthew 2:19-23
Why such a short passage? Once again, the background story is huge. To make full sense of what Matthew is telling us, we need to be aware of at least some of what was common knowledge in the time this … Continue reading
Posted in bible
Tagged Bible History, Edom, Intertestamental Period, King Herod, Maccabees
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New Testament Doctrine: Matthew 2:1-15
It’s not possible to make sense of this passage without a substantial look at the historical background. Astrology figures large in our text as the presumed background of the visiting Magi. While Matthew’s comment that they came from “the east” … Continue reading
Posted in bible
Tagged ANE, astrology, Bible History, Herod the Great, Messiah, Persian Empire, Roman Empire, Zoroastrianism
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New Testament Doctrine — Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7
We continue our efforts to demythologize the gospel. Upon returning from her three-month visit with Elizabeth, Mary had no doubt that she was pregnant. It would start to show soon. We can be sure she tried to explain the whole … Continue reading
Posted in bible
Tagged ancient hebrew culture, Bible History, jesus the man, messianic prophecy, Roman government, scripture
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New Testament Doctrine — Luke 1:26-38
Whence came the Messiah? Part of what we do here is demythologizing the narrative, removing the gilding from the lily. What we need is to breathe life into the narrative as it stands. We’ve looked at the Forerunner, and we … Continue reading
New Testament Doctrine — Luke 1:57-80
The very last three verses of the Old Testament (Malachi 4:4-6) mention the Forerunner of the Messiah coming in the spirit of Elijah. Luke notes for us that the Messiah is a cousin of His Forerunner (their mothers were cousins). … Continue reading
Posted in bible
Tagged John the Baptist, Luke's Gospel, Messiah, messianic prophecy, shalom
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New Testament Doctrine — Luke 1:5-25
We seek shalom — peace with our Creator. The Messiah came to offer His Nation one last chance to retain all the promises and blessings of the Covenant of Moses. This ancient covenant — a suzerain-vassal treaty — had to … Continue reading
Law of Moses — Nehemiah 13
We skip over some chapters that recount lots of names and details. Chapter 9 is a rich confession of how Israel had failed to honor the Covenant. It’s very worthy of reading purely on a devotional basis. In the following … Continue reading
Law of Moses — Nehemiah 8
Once the walls were finished, Nehemiah appointed a governor over the city and organized security. Given how the Persians had in recent memory come to break down the walls, the people were a little skittish about living there. The rubble … Continue reading
Law of Moses — Nehemiah 4
In the previous chapter is a long list of the groups and their assigned sectors on the wall. Those who lived behind the wall built the section nearest their homes. A primary issue is that the entire city was still … Continue reading
Law of Moses — Nehemiah 2
So far as anyone can tell, Ezra remained in Jerusalem after his book ends with the reforms in 457 BC. The various nations around them had lost all their hopes of seducing the Judeans. So they began a campaign of … Continue reading
Posted in bible
Tagged Jerusalem, Law of Moses, old testament history, Persian Empire
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