Abstract: The present article explores John’s distinct use of “signs” as part of his “theological transposition” of the Synoptic Gospels by which John transforms the Synoptic concept of “miracle” into that of “signs” pointing to Jesus’s messianic identity. The article proposes that Isaiah was the source for John’s signs theology by demonstrating significant links between… Read More
Where Was Jesus Born? – 5 Things to Know about Bethlehem
Where Was Jesus Born? The Bible tells us that Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem, which is just south of Jerusalem. It’s a fact that most Christians and many non-Christians know, due to its inclusion in several popular Christmas carols and hymns. Even if someone only goes to church once a year, there’s a… Read More
Visions of the End: Interpreting Revelation
Apocalyptic Literature When approaching apocalyptic literature, we must first define our terms: Apocalypse: a particular genre of literature written between approximately 200 B.C. and A.D. 200; Apocalyptic: an adjective “describing either the literary genre or the worldview; Apocalypticism: a worldview, ideology, or theology merging the eschatological aims of particular groups into a cosmic and political… Read More
A Call for Discernment: Interpreting the Parables
The Parables of Jesus In our book Invitation to Biblical Interpretation, we define a parable as “a short narrative that demands a response from the hearer” (426). Parables are realistic in that they do not contain fanciful elements that would be found in myths or fairy tales, yet they are not true stories like historical narratives…. Read More
Introduction to Hebrews: Who Were the Readers?
Introduction to Hebrews Throughout this blog series, we’ve been exploring introductory matters related to the book of Hebrews. Thus far, we’ve tried to detect clues within the letter as it pertains to the identity of the author and the central message of the book. In the final post of this series, we’ll turn our attention… Read More