May 7, 2014
Joel’s lament liturgy in the first half of the book envisioned the devastation of Israel by a locust plague (or perhaps an invading army). That impending disaster also represented a future apocalyptic disaster. Joel is working at two levels–the immediate moment but also a future cataclysm. Israel’s response to such news, as with all other […]
7 Comments | Biblical Texts, Theology | Tagged: Acts 2:17-21, Ecclesiology, Galatians 3:28, Gender, Holy Spirit, Israel, Joel 2:28-32, New Creation, Pentecost, Restoration, Resurrection, Spirit, Women | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks
April 23, 2014
Joel’s propehtic liturgy previously announced the coming of the great “day of the Lord,” which functions at multiple levels. On the one hand, it envisions any impending disaster that is coming upon Israel–whether it is a locust plague, an invading army, or some other communal crisis. On the other hand, it describes an apocalyptic event […]
No Comments » | Biblical Texts | Tagged: Creation, Ecology, Environment, Joel 2:18-27, Joel 2:21-27, New Creation | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks
October 17, 2013
While the Jerusalem Micah knew was built by blood, destined for destruction, and soaked with injustice (Micah 3:9-12), the future Jerusalem is exalted above the mountains, committed to God’s agenda for the world, and enacts peace within the world. Rather than present injustice and war, the future Jerusalem secures justice and peace. The contrasts are […]
No Comments » | Biblical Texts | Tagged: Micah 4, New Creation, Peace, Poverty, War | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks
September 24, 2013
“There is the earnest preaching of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come; the development of the guilt of man, the grace of God, the love of Christ, the mystery of the Cross, sin pardoning mercy, adoption into the family of God, with the unction of the hope of the resurrection to everlasting life, of the […]
4 Comments | Theology | Tagged: Christology, Creation, Eschatology, New Creation | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks
May 10, 2012
In this story Jesus confronts the limiting rationality of Sadducees who think it impossible that God should raise the dead. Their theology is limited by their own experience and rational argumentation. I dare say that is not too uncommon in our present moment as well. For example, it is not unusual to hear, “If God is like […]
2 Comments | Biblical Texts, Theology | Tagged: Bible-Gospel of Mark, Bible-Mark, Hermeneutics, Mark 12:18-27, New Creation, Omnipotence, Resurrection | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks
March 11, 2012
Moses Lard, as Randall noted in a comment on my previous post, was a premillennialist. So, when did he think the earth would be renewed? Further, would the renewed earth be the eternal home of the saints or only one for 1000 years (as many contemporary premillennialists think)? Here is Lard’s answer. This is take […]
4 Comments | Stone-Campbell, Theology | Tagged: Eschatology, Moses Lard, New Creation, New Earth, Revelation 21:1-4 | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks