40 Questions about the End Times is the latest installment in Kregel’s helpful 40 Questions series. Eckhard Schnabel, Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, answers the following questions: PART 1: GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE A. The Future of the World 1. When Do the End Times Begin? 2. What Is the … More 40 Questions about the End Times
I recently took a one-day Ph.D. colloquium on the Messiah in the Old Testament. The entire day consisted of student presentations where each student summarized and critiqued a relevant book. Though time and content required that we paint in broad strokes, it was still an insightful day — mostly education by general exposure. Here are the books … More The Messiah in the Old Testament
From the “Exodus” entry in the New Dictionary of Biblical Theology: More directly than any other NT book, Hebrews argues for the superiority of the new epoch. In this new Exodus (3:7-19), Jesus, attested by signs and wonders and gifts of the Spirit (cf. Is. 63:11; Num. 11:25), is greater than both the angels who gave the … More The Exodus Pattern in Hebrews
On Saturday morning our newly adopted daughter Ember Noella and I were diagnosed with mumps. The source of infection is pure speculation, of course, but an incubation period of two weeks places us right back at our sleepless five-city flight from Addis Ababa to Louisville and all the airborn pathogens that accompany international travel. Prior to … More Mumps, Mirrors, and Knowing Myself
In reading through the Psalms recently (especially 130-150), the Holy Spirit showed me that the Psalms can provide powerful motivation and encouragement for evangelism. Although the psalmists wrote mostly from the come-and-see mentality of ancient Israel, their desire was the same ultimate desire that we see expressed throughout Scripture: the pure, worldwide worship of the one true God. Here … More How the Psalms Encourage Evangelism
The identity of the unnamed author of Hebrews has been discussed for centuries. In discussions like these, it can be helpful (as long as it’s not overdone) to identify likely characteristics of the author based on writing, context, theology, intercanonical connections, and other legitimate categories. Long-time New Testament professor Robert Thomas provided these eleven “facts” on … More 11 Characteristics of the Author of Hebrews by Robert Thomas
“Why People Stick by Scandal-Plagued Pastors” by CNN’s John Blake is a brief foray into the blind loyalty that many knowing parishioners maintain toward their scandalized pastors. Sue Thompson, a public speaker herself, has been burned before. She explains that followers often build a “spiritual firewall” around their pastors so that reasonable suspicions and legitimate … More When the Pastor Falls: Lessons from Church Scandals & Blind Loyalty
In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus tells a story about a landowner who hired laborers to work his vineyard for a day. Jesus was responding to Peter’s question about what kind of reward he and the other disciples would have since they had made such great sacrifices to join Jesus in his mission (19:27), in contrast to the rich young ruler who had … More Bargaining with God (Matthew 20:1-16)
The crucifixion account in the Gospel of John is full of glorious irony. In fact, John’s entire narrative, along with the discourses of Jesus, are filled with striking ironies, stark contrasts, and deeper meanings. The story whispers to those who have ears to hear. By John 19:16, the mockery of Jesus’ hasty trial had come to an … More King on a Cross: “What I Have Written I Have Written”
The Bible is full of Cinderella verses — plain-looking, hard-working, easily-ignored verses that will one day be unveiled at the grand eschatological ball, blowing us all away with their beauty and significance. It won’t just be the atheists and the agnostics and the rebels standing aghast and amazed at these unveiled truths. We will all realize just how … More The Verses We Skipped
Of all the things we dream of being, an eighty-four year-old widowed prophetess fasting throughout the day and praying deep into the night is not high on the list. Not many of us would choose Anna as our model. But what a precious, old, soft-hearted woman who must’ve been a joy for heaven to welcome … More Anna’s Hope
James, some of us are interested in teaching — you know, preaching in church, teaching the Bible, writing good books, leading small groups, blogging biblical insights, posting instructive Facebook notes. What do you think? Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers. Why not? There are two main reasons. What’s the first reason? We who teach will … More A Word to the Would-Be Teacher (James 3:1-13)
Five times in his pastoral letters Paul passes down a “trustworthy saying” to his pastors-in-training. Twice he says that these sayings are “deserving of full acceptance.” He is not saying that the rest of his statements are throwaways — only that these five are distinctively fundamental, foundational, and firm. They are worth reflecting on. The saying is trustworthy and … More Trustworthy Sayings
When did God first speak to His people? Long ago. How has God spoken to His people in the past? At many times and in many ways. Who did He speak to? He spoke to our fathers, the patriarchs. Who did He speak through? He spoke by the prophets. What about now? These are the … More God Has Spoken by His Son (Hebrews 1:1-4)
Perseverance demands power. Perseverance demands more than power, but not less. You also need faith, and hope, and love, and many other biblical fuels, but without the sheer power to keep going, perseverance is impossible. So where do we get this power, how do we get this power, and in what measure? Paul gives one striking answer in … More Power to Persevere
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” — Hebrews 13:8 Who is Jesus Christ today? The same as He was yesterday. Who will Jesus Christ be tomorrow? The same as He was yesterday and the same as He is today. Who was Jesus Christ yesterday? The same as He is today and the … More Jesus Christ Is the Same Yesterday and Today and Forever
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