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- October 28, 2024

The Gospel is Bigger than You Think by Anthony Delgado is an ambitious work that seeks to reshape contemporary understandings of the Gospel by moving beyond a commonly accepted minimalist approach. Delgado takes readers on a journey to explore the Gospel’s breadth, depth, and transformative power. He argues that what he describes as the "Gospel of Middle America"—a reductionist, simplified Gospel often presented in Western Christian circles—fails to connect believers with the Gospel's true richness and power. His thesis is that the Gospel, properly understood, is deeply rooted in both the Old and New Testaments, encompassing God’s overarching plan for redemption, kingdom living, and individual transformation within the larger narrative of God’s kingdom. Delgado's critique of the "Gospel of Middle America" is foundational to his argument. He posits that this common approach to the Gospel often boils down to a personal salvation message focused almost exclusi

- October 23, 2024

John of History, Baptist of Faith offers a substantive exploration of one of the most enigmatic and influential figures in Christian history. The author embarks on a dual quest, aiming to uncover both the historical figure of John the Baptist and his theological significance within the Christian tradition. This study balances historical rigor with theological inquiry, making it a valuable contribution to scholarship on early Christianity and Second Temple Judaism. The strength of this work lies in its meticulous historical analysis. The author draws upon a wide range of primary sources, including the Synoptic Gospels, the writings of Flavius Josephus, and other ancient texts, to reconstruct a historically grounded portrait of John the Baptist. The book takes care to place John within the social, political, and religious milieu of first-century Judea, exploring how his message of repentance and his practice of baptism resonated with and challenged the Jewish communities of his ti

- October 10, 2024

The State of Pauline Studies: A Survey of Contemporary Scholarship is a thought-provoking and insightful look into the dynamic and evolving world of Pauline studies. This book brings together a range of voices and perspectives that capture both the complexity and richness of studying the Apostle Paul today. The book offers an accessible yet detailed map of where the field stands, making it useful for both seasoned scholars and those who are just beginning to engage with Paul’s writings. The book is organized into clear sections that tackle different aspects of Pauline studies—his theology, letters, historical background, and the various ways scholars have interpreted his work. Each section offers its own distinct angle on Paul, ranging from how his relationship with Judaism has been understood over the years to more contemporary debates about Paul’s relevance for issues like politics and ethics. The range of topics is impressive, but this broad scope also means the book sometimes feel

- October 10, 2024

What does it mean to read John's Gospel as an intra-Jewish source for Jewish Christian relations in the 1st Century? To see John's Gospel as "intra-Jewish" means to interpret it within the context of Jewish life, thought, and debates during the Second Temple period, rather than as an anti-Jewish text or as something entirely outside of Judaism. This perspective recognizes that the Gospel of John is deeply rooted in Jewish scripture, theology, and messianic expectations, and that its audience included Jews who were wrestling with the identity of Jesus as the Messiah within their existing religious framework. An intra-Jewish reading of John understands the Gospel as part of an internal Jewish conversation, where the tensions presented in the text reflect real debates within different Jewish groups about key theological issues. For example, the interactions between Jesus and "the Jews" (often rendered in Greek as "hoi Ioudaioi") can be seen as a ref

- October 09, 2024

The message of Christianity was another key factor in its rise, particularly its emphasis on universal salvation and a personal relationship with God. In the context of the socio-political instability of the late Roman Empire—marked by economic crises, military threats, and the collapse of traditional social structures—the Christian promise of eternal life offered a powerful form of solace and hope (Brown 1988, 22-25). Christianity's emphasis on personal transformation, forgiveness, and the afterlife provided a stark contrast to the transactional nature of many traditional Roman religious practices, which focused more on propitiation and civic duty rather than individual salvation. Moreover, Christianity’s inclusivity appealed to a wide range of social classes, particularly those marginalized by the existing Roman order. Unlike the traditional Roman religions, which often reinforced social hierarchies and were closely tied to the elite, Christianity preached a radical equality bef

- October 08, 2024

The intertwining of Christian and imperial authority created an environment in which dissent against Christianity was increasingly equated with dissent against the state. By the late 4th century, the Christian church had become a partner of the Roman state, and its leaders played an active role in shaping imperial policy. Bishops, such as Ambrose of Milan, not only influenced theological debates but also exerted political power, advising emperors and, in some cases, enforcing ecclesiastical discipline over imperial rulers themselves (Markus 1990, 88-90). The close relationship between church and state meant that the suppression of paganism was not simply a matter of religious intolerance but a political necessity for maintaining unity within the empire. The state’s enforcement of Christian orthodoxy extended to the use of law and coercion to root out heresy, as well as pagan practices. Theodosius’s laws did not merely target polytheistic traditions but also sought to eliminate Christi