Issue
The Book of Hebrews
Vol. 24, No. 1 • Jan/Feb 2015
There’s so much we don’t know about the Epistle to the Hebrews. We don’t know who wrote it or when. We don’t know for sure where or to whom it was written. We don’t know exactly what challenge its recipients faced, or exactly how they were tempted to compromise in response. But here’s one thing […]
All Articles (14)
Worship, Ministry, and Discipline in the Epistle to the Hebrews
There’s so much we don’t know about the Epistle to the Hebrews. We don’t know who wrote it or when. We don’t know for sure where or to whom it was written. We don’t know exactly what challenge its recipients faced, or exactly how they were tempted to compromise in response. But here’s one thing […]
Heroes of the Faith
There are some specialized chapters in Scripture, such as the “love” chapter (1 Cor. 13), the “godly woman” chapter (Prov. 31), and the “resurrection” chapter (1 Cor. 15). But the best known is Hebrews 11, the “faith” chapter. One of the challenges to a right understanding of Hebrews 11 is our temptation to extricate it […]
God’s Assuring Promise
I admit that I was (and am) an athletic misfit, but I suspect I wasn’t the only one always picked last for kickball in school. Did you ever eat alone in the cafeteria? Were you ever rejected by the “cool kids” in high school? We all need to know that we are accepted, valued, and […]
Jesus Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King
In the Old Testament, three different kinds of people take center stage in the story of God’s salvation of hispeople Israel: prophet, priest, and king. These were real offices filled by real people. Prophets rebuked sin, proclaimed mercy to the crushed, and interpreted events of the past, present, and future. They functioned as mediators proclaiming […]
“The Essence of Christianity”
In the Lutheran tradition, three names stand out above all others: Martin Luther (1483-1546), Martin Chemnitz (1522-1586), and Johann Gerhard (1582-1637). As the father of the Reformation, Luther needs no introduction, even among non-Lutherans. Chemnitz is also well-known, primarily for his role in the production and propagation of the Formula of Concord (1577) and his […]
The Old Testament in the Book of Hebrews
This series of sidebar articles from Dennis Johnson is adapted from the presidential address atthe annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society Far West Region, “From All the Scriptures (Luke 24:27): Preaching Jesus from the Old Testament” (April 2012). Dennis Johnson is professor of practical theology at Westminster Seminary California in Escondido. 1. The Sermon […]
The Bible
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What Did Jesus Write in the Ground? The Controversy and Mystery in John 8
“The Pharisees were guilty of the same kind of sin they wanted to see this woman executed for. And that’s why they walk away from the scene with their tails between their legs. The story ends with Jesus showing mercy to the woman and calling her to repentance, highlighting the fact that contrite sinners make […]
How God’s Promise to Abram Is Fulfilled in Christ
There is more to the Abrahamic covenant than just this family and just that land. As will become clear from the rest of Genesis and from the New Testament, Abram knew that the earthly land of Canaan was just a picture of heaven itself (Heb 11:10). Likewise, he came to understand that the key to becoming a vast nation was a single son. From the one, special boy of Abram, the blessings would flow to the nations, who is Jesus Christ (Gal 3:7–9). By faith in Christ, we become the heirs of these ancient promises.
Our Victory Is Between the Flags of Sound Doctrine
Following sound doctrine requires our eyes to remain fixed on Jesus. It also requires that our faith rests in him. Faith opens the door to God’s plan and allows us to accomplish his will for our lives. It does so chiefly because it fosters a heart that yields to the counsel and leading of God. In this way, we remain on the road of truth.
Four Tips for Reading the Bible’s Prophetical Books
The Prophets are not just abstract apocalyptic literature, included in the canon of Scripture because of their audience or subject matter. No, they—like the rest of Scripture—are the divinely inspired word of God. They are included in the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan and written within the covenant context of God and his people for a theological purpose, reflecting a specific historical and geographical context.
