The Finger of God and the Kingdom, 3

[Part 1]  [Part 2]
In Luke 11.14-21 the evangelist has demonstrated great fidelity in his work. His text is in close agreement with the independent Matthean tradition. Additionally, he has preserved an obscure word, a redundant clause, and a difficult Hebraism.
These last two things also tell us that Luke has gotten us very close to the [...]

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James Barr on Pure Biblical Theology

In The Concept of Biblical Theology, Barr writes on approaches to this enterprise and how it is conceived of as different from and located between biblical studies and doctrinal theology (biblical theology/biblical theology). In chapter eight Barr quotes Brevard Childs on how he perceives the difference between what he does and the History of Religion [...]

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The Finger of God and the Kingdom, 2

[Part 1]
Having examined Mt 12.25,26 and Lk 11.17,18 it is readily apparent that Matthew and Luke preserve the same story of Jesus’ confrontation with his opposers. Close analysis reveals both the earlier, underlying form of the story and the proclivities of the individual evangelists. In this portion of the narrative Matthew leans toward editing his [...]

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The Finger of God and the Kingdom, 1

The Beelzebul controversy at Mt 12.22-31/Lk 11.14-21 and to a lesser extent Mk 3.23-30 provides an interesting window into Jesus’ life and thinking. I should like to explore at another time how a key phrase in this encounter, “the finger of God,” might inform our understanding of his pneumatology and theology proper, but here I’m [...]

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Nomenclature Redivivus

I’ve been thinking about a minor, unresolved issue for me relating to the terms we use for the two parts of the Bible. When I wrote on this before (see Nomenclature) I had forgotten an option I came across when reading John Goldingay’s Models for Interpretation of Scripture. A footnote lead me to an earlier [...]

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Postmodern Jesus

Silviu N. Tatu at WP weblog Studiul Vechiului Testament wrote something (in Romanian, be forewarned) here about yet another book attempting to wipe away the encrusted religious establishment and revealing a relevant Jesus. Tatu notes not only the myopia of emphasizing the brighter, easier biblical doctrines, but the danger of the church using this partial [...]

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