“The Babylonian captivity figured out our spiritual bondage under sin and Satan” Andrew Perriman Thu, 04/11/2024 - 14:26 Matthew Poole was a seventeenth century English Presbyterian minister. Towards the end of his life he started work on a commentary on the Bible called Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Wherein The Sacred Text is Inserted, and various Readings Annex’d, together with the Parallel Scriptures, the more difficult Terms in each Verse are Explained, seeming Contradictions Reconciled, Questions and Doubts Resolved, and the whole Text opened. They don’t write titles like that any mo ..read more

Now let’s go over this again: historical narratology and the horizons of the New Testament Andrew Perriman Thu, 04/04/2024 - 19:13 I am writing this in answer to some questions sent to me about the reading of the New Testament presented on this blog and in my books. The specific point at issue is my contention that we now understand the New Testament best if we map most of the stuff of New Testament eschatology—the weird future stuff—on to two foreseeable historical events. But let’s back up a bit first and briefly address the underlying hermeneutics. Read more about Now let’s go ove ..read more

Did John think that Isaiah saw the glory of the exalted Jesus in the temple? Andrew Perriman Fri, 03/29/2024 - 15:25 According to James White, when John says that “Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory” (Jn. 12:41), the allusion is to the glory of YHWH revealed in the throne vision of Isaiah 6:1-3. Since John is speaking about Jesus in this passage, we may infer that John in some way identifies Jesus with the glorious figure on the throne, whose glory, according to the Septuagint version, filled both the temple and the whole earth. Read more about Did John think that Isai ..read more

The disruptive dramas of Holy Week Andrew Perriman Mon, 03/25/2024 - 21:17 How should Good Friday be observed? With mournful solemnity because this is the death of Jesus? Or with subdued but joyful celebration because this is the death of Jesus for our sins? Read more about The disruptive dramas of Holy Week Read time: 7 minutes ..read more

Is Jesus Yahweh? “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” Andrew Perriman Sat, 03/23/2024 - 16:03 I’m not sure how much more I can do with the debate between James White and Dale Tuggy over the question of whether Jesus is regarded by the writers of the New Testament to be, in some sense, Yahweh. Tuggy’s approach doesn’t lend itself to the same sort of analysis, and after that it all gets a bit ragged. Read more about Is Jesus Yahweh? “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” Read time: 7 minutes ..read more

Is Jesus Yahweh? Sanctify Christ as Lord Andrew Perriman Wed, 03/20/2024 - 11:54 The last passage that James White puts forward in support of his view that the New Testament identifies Jesus with Yahweh is 1 Peter 3:13-17*: And who is harming you if you should be zealots of the good? But if indeed you should suffer because of righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear their fear nor be troubled, but sanctify the Lord, the Christ, in your hearts, always prepared for a defence to the one asking you for a reason for the hope in you, but with gentleness and fear, having a good conscience ..read more

Is Jesus Yahweh? Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess… Andrew Perriman Mon, 03/18/2024 - 13:04 The third passage that White considers in his opening presentation in the “Is Jesus Yahweh” debate with Dale Tuggy is what he calls the “hymn to Christ as to God” in Philippians 2:6-11. It’s not a hymn and it’s not addressed “to Christ.” It’s effectively an encomium or paean, perhaps a condensed piece composed independently in praise of Christ. That aside, White says that Read more about Is Jesus Yahweh? Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess… Read time: 7 minutes ..read more

Is Jesus YHWH? God of the political-religious order to come Andrew Perriman Thu, 03/14/2024 - 18:27 The first passage which James White considers in his debate with Dale Tuggy is Hebrews 1:10-12, in which the writer directly applies Psalm 102:25-27 to the Son. You can find my treatment of the second passage, which I did first, here. Read more about Is Jesus YHWH? God of the political-religious order to come Read time: 7 minutes ..read more

Is Jesus YHWH? Isaiah saw his glory… Andrew Perriman Wed, 03/13/2024 - 12:12 For no particular reason, I have started listening to a recent debate between James White and Dale Tuggy on the question “Is Jesus Yahweh?” I’m thinking I’ll pass a critical eye over contributions made on both sides, just to see what we can learn, starting with White’s claim that when John says that Isaiah “saw” Jesus’ glory (Jn. 12:41), he implicitly identifies Jesus with YHWH seated on the throne in the vision in Isaiah 6:1-3. Read more about Is Jesus YHWH? Isaiah saw his glory… 1 comment Read time: 4 m ..read more

Building and rebuilding the people of God: it’s child’s play Andrew Perriman Wed, 02/28/2024 - 10:27 The Bible tells the story of the building and rebuilding of the people of God. I think that the church today is having to rebuild again, and I have been looking for a simple image or metaphor that captures the process and the basic components. This tower of five wooden blocks is about as simple as I can make it, and the explanation will have to be over-simplified to fit within a single article. Bear with me. Read more about Building and rebuilding the people of God: it’s child’s play ..read more