Hermeneutics

Episode 43: Hans Boersma on Sacramental Ontology and Scripture

May 11, 2021 by wagraham 1 Comment

In this episode, I talk with Hans Boersma on sacramental ontology and Scripture. Basically, we talk about how creation exists sacramentally in relationship with God and how Christians have and can approach Scripture.

Here is his Amazon (.ca) page with books.

Make sure to subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and/or Apple Podcasts. Also, see the host page at Anchor and the Youtube page. And bookmark this page to see every episode. [Read more…] about Episode 43: Hans Boersma on Sacramental Ontology and Scripture

Episode 5: Mitch Chase on Typology and Allegory

June 16, 2020 by wagraham Leave a Comment

Heaven & Earth features conversations between myself and another person who knows something fascinating. In these conversations, I play the role of the listener and ask questions to learn more about a topic.

In this episode, Mitch Chase and I discuss allegory and typology and their relationship to biblical interpretation.

Make sure to subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and/or Apple Podcasts. Also, see the host page at Anchor. And bookmark this page to see every episode.

Scripture Has a Theological Context

May 11, 2020 by wagraham Leave a Comment

Since I conceive of God as impassible, Spirit, simple, then my conception of God differs from someone who sees him as passible and similar to us (though much greater) on a scale of being. When we think of God, we think of two different entities. It’s not the same.

Granted, many people think of God as “greater” than us but on our scale of being today. It is a problem, but the real issue lies with how we talk about God from the Bible. If history is our only context when we interpret Scripture (and not theology/metaphysics), then it is evident that we will only speak of God who participates in history in ways similar to us (though much greater than us).

That still results in a God unrecognizable to Christian theology as expressed in creeds and confessions. Pastoral theology then cannot stop at teaching Scripture within its historical context. It must take the next step to interpret it within its theological context—the reality of the triune God and incarnate Christ.

Jesus Fulfills Some Old Testament Passages about Conquering Gentiles by Saving Gentiles

February 22, 2020 by wagraham Leave a Comment

One of the most unrealized yet central scriptural patterns of New Testament proclamation is Christ’s fulfillment of eschatological promises. This fulfillment of the universal and eschatological passages in the Old Testament is the reason why the Gospel goes to all nations.

Through Christ, the end has begun to be realized. The Gospel, by its very nature, is eschatological. It is the last hour. The kingdom of God is near. Hence, the Gospel saves all who believe since Jesus reigns over all creation.

In this regard, the New Testament applies passages about the subjugation of gentiles to the church. To be more accurate, the New Testament sees Gentile conquest passages as first all a subjugation by faith and inclusion into the people of God. And then second, in the end, these passages point to Christ’s subjugation of the nations by force (e.g., Rev 19).

Let me explain how this works before spending time in Romans 15 to see an important example of this apostolic proclamation in practice. [Read more…] about Jesus Fulfills Some Old Testament Passages about Conquering Gentiles by Saving Gentiles

Does The New Testament Reinterpret the Old Testament?

November 4, 2019 by wagraham 1 Comment

Does the New Testament reinterpret the Old Testament? No. Instead, the New Testament and specifically the Holy Spirit through the New Testament writings reveals the real meaning of the Old Testament. By using the word “reveal,” I mean the more technical sense of apocalypse—an unveiling or revelation.*

Here are a couple reasons why I argue that the Spirit unveils the meaning of the Old Testament. [Read more…] about Does The New Testament Reinterpret the Old Testament?

What Is Genesis 1 about?

May 1, 2019 by wagraham 1 Comment

Why do we read the Bible? Ask yourself this question. What’s the point? “Do I read to understand history? Do genealogies, timelines, and charts sum up my reading habits?” If so, you probably read to understand history. “Do I read Genesis 1 to argue for evolutionary creationism?” If so, you probably read Genesis 1 to buffer a preferred scientific theory.

And while we can read the Bible and ask any question from it, we need to realize that Holy Scripture has a purpose, which directs how we ought to read Genesis 1 or any text for that matter.

[Read more…]