In this article, Jefferson Vann provides an example of biblical theology, as he traces the promise of a future permanent life from creation to David. That promise of a future permanent life to believers of all nations is the message within the message of both the Old and New Testaments. That message was concealed within the Old Testament, but can be clearly seen by reading it … [Read more...]
Articles in this subcategory either trace a subject through the 39 books of the Old Testament (Genesis to Malachi) or focus on the subject as revealed in a particular book or group of books. The books may be grouped by historical period or author. The articles serve as a basis for a biblical theology on their particular subject.
swept away
In swept away, Jefferson Vann discusses a fourth Old Testament word for final punishment that implies literal destruction.We conditionalists are often accused of using words like “destruction” in a simplistic, non-biblical sense. But in three previous articles, I examined the Old Testament Hebrew concepts of חרם (charam)1 and אבד (abad)2 and שחת (shachat),3 and showed that … [Read more...]
Perish the thought
In "Perish the thought" Jefferson Vann explores the Old Testament background behind the term “perish.”When I taught Bible College, I told my students to always try to get into the bubble. By the term ‘bubble’ I mean the historical and literary background that original readers and listeners shared with the biblical authors. Since we cannot get into a time machine and go back … [Read more...]
Limited to the visible
A study of the Law and Prophets in the Old Testament has shown that the normal, usual meaning of the Hebrew words shamayim and erets is the sky above and the land beneath. The popular concept of heaven as the place where God lives is almost entirely absent – at least it does not fit into what is usually being expressed by the biblical authors. Likewise, the idea of earth as a … [Read more...]
Attention, witnesses!
In his commentary on Isaiah 1-39, Marvin A Sweeney explains the purpose of the call to attention formula as it appears in the writings of the Old Testament. "The CALL TO ATTENTION formula is a typical means for a public presentation or address and functions in a variety of contexts. Here it is addressed to heaven and earth and corresponds to the pattern of the TRIAL GENRE, … [Read more...]