Brevard Childs writes (481), “the major function of Biblical Theology is to provide a bridge for two-way traffic between biblical exegesis and systematic theology’s reflections on the subject matter.” Here’s my view (“Biblical Theology and Preaching,” 199) of what we’re after when we do biblical theology: “When we do biblical theology we are trying to …
Category Archives: Biblical Theology
Brevard Childs on the One Basic Fault of OT Theologies (according to James Barr)
James Barr (Concept of Biblical Theology, 49) recounts that in B. S. Childs’ essay “Old Testament in Germany 1920–1940”: “Childs argues that the acceptance of the historical-critical method as a base is the one basic fault running through the entire series of modern Old Testament theologies before his own.”
A Prophet Like Moses: Jeremiah 1
Derek Kidner could really write. Here are the opening paragraphs of his book on Jeremiah: “In the last decade of the longest, darkest reign in Judah’s history, two boys were born who were to be God’s gifts to a demoralized and damaged people. The reign was that of Manasseh, a half-century of deliberate reversion to …
Three Sermons on Biblical Theology: Story, Symbol, Church
Between Mark and Jeremiah, I felt led to preach three sermons on biblical theology at Kenwood. The goal was to have the Bible’s big story give us perspective for our plunge into Jeremiah’s jeremiads. I’ve noted the first two sermons, one on the Bible’s story, another on the use the biblical authors make of symbol, …
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Schreiner Reviews Webb
I love reading reviews written by Thomas R. Schreiner. He is patient, charitable, and insightful. Here are two paragraphs from his review of William Webb’s book on corporal punishment in the Bible: “The key question, however, is whether Webb is right about corporal punishment. The answer is no. First, Webb doesn’t understand redemptive history, even …
Typology and Political Discourse
People notice patterns. We interpret the world in light of archetypes, repetitions, and symbols. The biblical authors made massive use of typological interpretation as they interpreted earlier Scripture, redemptive history, and the events they were either narrating (in the Gospels, for instance) or addressing (in the letters, for example). Have you noticed how often this …
A Separate Peace and the Symbolism of the Bible
Did you read A Separate Peace by John Knowles? Two friends, Gene and Phineas (nicknamed Finny), in a tree. Gene shakes a branch, Finny falls, breaks his leg, and the halcyon innocence of the summer ends. Previously a great athlete, Finny will never play sports again. When he finally returns to school, the other students …
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Interview in the Pastor’s Study on #GGSTJ
Not literally in the Pastor’s Study, but on the radio program by that name. We had a good discussion of this recent book on biblical theology. Interested? Segment One. Segment Two. Enjoy. And love to hear what you think. Thanks to Jon Osburn and Tom Brock for having me on!
The Bible’s Sprawling, Ramshackle Narrative
Before we launch into Jeremiah, Lord willing, I’m doing three sermons on Biblical Theology at Kenwood. This past Sunday, August 21, 2011, it was my privilege to preach “A Story of Stories: The Bible’s Sprawling, Ramshackle Narrative.” The title of the sermon comes from a phrase used by David Steinmetz in an essay about the …
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Skype Lecture on 1 Corinthians
Technology is amazing. A couple Saturdays ago I did a lecture for the Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies at Randolph Street Baptist Church in Charleston, WV. I never left my home in Louisville, KY. They beamed me in via Skype from my basement. Here’s the lecture: Jim Hamilton – Overview of the Bible – …
Appreciation, Agreement, and a Few Minor Quibbles: A Response to G. K. Beale
I have mentioned before how much I’ve learned from Prof. G. K. Beale. In November of 2010 he delivered the Sizemore Lectures at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The lectures have now been published in the Midwestern Journal of Theology, and I was honored to receive an invitation to respond to Beale’s lectures. Prof. Beale asked …
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The Manliest of the Theologies: Mark 15:1–39
I opened my sermon this past Sunday with this quote from Mike Wittmer’s book Christ Alone: Critiquing Rob Bell’s Love Wins, Mike Wittmer writes, A real rescue beats an imaginary rescue every day of the week, because it involves actual risk. . . . It’s one thing to pretend that we’re drowning or being chased …
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Is God’s Mercy More Than Favoritism on a Cosmic Scale?
Mike Wittmer and I explore that and other mysteries in an interview on his blog about God’s Glory in Salvation through Judgment – thanks again, Mike!
Interview on Revelation
The good folks at Randolph Street Baptist Church have posted a discussion between me and their pastor, Jason McClanahan, on Revelation. Questions include: Why is Revelation important for us today? What is John’s primary purpose in the book of Revelation? What are the most common errors in interpreting or handling Revelation? Can you summarize the …
Mohler’s 10 Books Every Preacher Should Read in 2011
I’m thrilled to see Dr. Mohler’s list of the “10 Books Every Preacher Should Read in 2011,” and I’m deeply honored that this one made the list. Praise God!
Credo Magazine Interview on #GGSTJ
The interview that @achanbury did with me on God’s Glory in Salvation through Judgment for The Towers (SBTS Campus paper) has now been posted over at Credo Magazine.
Study Guides for “God’s Indwelling Presence”
As I noted yesterday, my book God’s Indwelling Presence is summarized in about 1,000 words over at The Gospel Coalition. For a summary in about 5,000 words, see this article. Amazon Marketplace has copies of the book for $5. Have you thought about working through this book with others at your church? Some students pursuing …
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The Failure of the Disciples and the Brothers Karamazov
On the night in which he was betrayed, Judas sold Jesus for money. When they arrived to arrest Jesus, Peter tried to help in a way contrary to Jesus’ teaching (taking up the sword, when Jesus has been teaching he would go to Jerusalem to die). When he was arrested, all the disciples fled. These …
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The Gist of “God’s Indwelling Presence”
My book God’s Indwelling Presence seeks to answer the question “were old covenant believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit?” Over at The Gospel Coalition I give my answer to that question in 1,000 words.
Revelation 19:1–10, The Harlot and the Bride
It was my privilege to preach about the downfall of the harlot Babylon and the readiness of the bride for which Christ died, the bride invited to the wedding feast like no other, on June 19, 2011 at Randolph Street Baptist Church in Charleston, WV: Revelation 19:1–10, The Harlot and the Bride This sermon has …
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