Category Archives: bible

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Law of Moses — Ezra 10:1-17

Before his trip to Jerusalem, Ezra had already been involved in a project of collecting various manuscripts and documents associated with Moses and Israel, and assessing which were to be considered Scripture. It’s almost guaranteed this was a large project … Continue reading

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Law of Moses — Ezra 8:15-36

We now jump roughly 58 years later from the work on the Temple. During that time, Esther was able to save her nation from a plot to have them slaughtered. Thus, a certain descendant of the High Priestly line, Ezra, … Continue reading

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Law of Moses — Ezra 6

We jump a couple of chapters. In them, we see that the mixed multitude of pagans Esarhaddon had shipped into the northern kingdom, eventually called “Samaritans,” came and asked to participate in building the new temple. Keep in mind that … Continue reading

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