Ched Myers, Binding the Strong Man, comments on the withered fig tree incident like this: The curse/exorcism of the fig tree/temple is more than a political protest; Mark means for it to be a “proleptic” sign within his own narrative. When Jesus later speaks of the end of the temple state in his second sermon, [...]
As I’ve caught various whiffs of Glenn Beck’s calls to America to turn back to God, I’ve simultaneously felt the biblical currents that enliven such a dream. Thought it is sometimes hard to see, and requires a little bit of reconstruction, Beck’s vision of a Christian nation is a thoroughly biblical idea. We catch sight [...]
A couple of questions for my Christian readers: Have you ever taken comfort in the fact that you are justified in Christ, and therefore assured of your standing before God? Have you ever prayed for God’s kingdom to come and God’s will to be done on earth? Have you ever pointed to someone spiritual growth [...]
I have a mixed relationship with “Judge not, lest you be judged.” Whenever I hear it my antenna goes up, listening intently for how someone is about to tell me that they don’t have to listen to what the rest of the Bible says about how Christians should act since Jesus tells us we’re not [...]
It has come to my attention that Michael Pahl has started blogging through his excellent book, From Resurrection to New Creation. The book is an excellent entry point into not only the significance of the resurrection per se but also the importance of narrative theology and knowing how the end of the story transforms the [...]
I’d like to be a universalist. Or, at least, something more like a universalist than I am now. The more I ponder the ramifications of the traditional idea that anyone who doesn’t put faith in Jesus going to Hell, the more I hope that there’s more than one loophole. My thoughts have been pushed on [...]
“What we do in life echoes in eternity!” Thus saith Maximus, the Gladiator. Now the question we’re all asking: is Gladiator good theology? I’ve been reading through Revelation, and today came through a few chapters close to the end. This is where the great whore goes up in flames and becomes sport for her own [...]
On Jesus clearing the temple and cursing the fig tree, William Telford says this: The Lord whom they sought had suddenly come to his Temple (cf. Mal. 3.1 and Mk. 1.2) but had condemned rather than restored it! Elijah the prophet had been sent before the great and terrible day of the Lord (Mal. 4.5; [...]
Way back in January, when I launched Storied Theology, I posted a few thoughts on why I got back into blogging. Having been in the saddle now for eight months or so, I have a few more reflections. I think it’s good for our theological debates and it’s a wonderful source of continuing theological education. [...]
Over on the post, “After Inerrancy,” Dan Wallace has jumped in to offer some dialogue and push-back on some of my meanderings. He is pressing some good points, so I thought it worth starting a new post to respond to some of those and to invite you all to join the conversation as well. One [...]
