The Greek word “gospel” (εὐαγγέλιον) enjoyed popular usage in both pagan and Jewish spheres long before early Christians appropriated it as a summary of their preaching. Though Christians have since emptied the word of its political content—leaving only the gospel of personal, otherworldly salvation—the first Christians chose to deliver their message as “gospel” because of—not […]Israel’s... Continue Reading →
Katapetasma (Blogger): A Symbolic Defeat
Katapetasma, "The Demonized Gerasene and the Paganized Greek: Eschatological Allegory in Mark 5:1-20" (8.17.20), scribesofthekingdom686237748.wordpress.com. This deliverance of the gentile wrought by the destruction of Legion also brings judgement upon those who refuse to abandon the defunct pagan order—and herein lies the source of the people’s anxiety and of their request for Jesus to relinquish... Continue Reading →
Katapetasma (Blogger): The Healing of the Nations and the Exorcism in Gerasa
Katapetasma, "The Demonized Gerasene and the Paganized Greek: Eschatological Allegory in Mark 5:1-20" (8.17.20), scribesofthekingdom686237748.wordpress.com. When the Gerasene man is at last healed and the Legion is expelled into the sea, he comes to represent Greeks cured of idolatry and relieved of its symptoms (cf. Revelation 22:2). Like the nations liberated from the power of... Continue Reading →
An “Eschatological Allegory” – Katapetasma on the Exorcism of the Demon-Possessed Man of Gerasa
It seems that every time I read a post by blogger Katapetasma that I walk away from it not only having learned quite a bit but also envious that I lack the insight and writing ability to bring biblical texts to life as he so effortlessly seems to do. (And that, kids, is why you should read to become... Continue Reading →
Bibhistctxt: The “Surprising Twist” in the Dating of the Song of Deborah
Biblical Historical Context, "Israelite Origins: The Song of Deborah" (8.10.20), biblicalhistoricalcontext.com. In a surprising twist, the consensus view of modern scholars dates the song to an earlier period than traditional views would. As we’ve seen, modern scholarship dates the written form of the song to the 12th/11th centuries BCE, but the Talmud, in Baba Batra 14b, explains that “Samuel wrote the... Continue Reading →
Chuck Norris and the Prophet Jeremiah: Kipp Davis on Jeremiah’s Reputation in the Dead Sea Scrolls
Back in 2016, scholar of the Dead Sea Scrolls Kipp Davis (PhD, University of Manchester) gave a lecture on the prophet Jeremiah that discusses the ancient figure’s reputation in literature other than the canonical book that bears his name, particularly in the DSS. The talk, “Forging Reputations of National Icons: Chuck Norris and the Prophet Jeremiah,” opens... Continue Reading →
Bibhistctxt: Biblical Hebrew Isn’t Uniform
Biblical Historical Context, "Israelite Origins: The Song of Deborah" (8.10.20), biblicalhistoricalcontext.com. Using English translations of the Bible it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the uniform English we read represents a uniform Hebrew beneath it. What’s actually the case is that different phases of the development of the Hebrew language are represented... Continue Reading →
The Song of Deborah and Israelite Origins: The Latest Post from @bibhistctxt
Over on his blog, blogger @bibhistctxt has posted the latest in his series on the origins of ancient Israel, this time covering the Song of Deborah found in Judges 5. There is a general consensus among scholars that the Song of Deborah is old, perhaps even one of the oldest texts in the Hebrew Bible. As @bibhistctxt points... Continue Reading →
Lawrence Stager: The Miracle at Jericho Has “No Archaeological Reflex”
Lawrence Stager, "Forging an Identity: The Emergence of Ancient Israel," in The Oxford History of the Biblical World, Michael D. Coogan, editor (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998), 95-96. After crossing the Jordan River, Joshua and his troops conquered Jericho (Josh. 6). They blew the rams' horns and shouted in unison until the walls of Jericho... Continue Reading →
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