June 27, 2015
This is a key moment in Peter’s letter, both rhetorically and theologically. Rhetorically, it heads the major body of the letter (1 Peter 2:11-4:11) as the letter moves from identity to exhortation. Theologically, it describes how disciples of Jesus live faithfully in a hostile culture. In terms of identity, though exiles and aliens within Roman […]
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Biblical Texts | Tagged: 1 Peter 2:11-12, Church, Culture, Ethics, State, Witness |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
August 13, 2013
The opening Psalm functions as a kind of preface or introduction to the whole collection. It orients the worshipper to a particular path and the value of pursuing the life the Psalter envisions. Indeed, it offers us a choice. There is the way of the wicked (sinners, scoffers) and the way of the righteous. There […]
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Biblical Texts | Tagged: Choices, Ethics, Freedom, Psalm 1, Psalms, Psalter, Two Ways, Wisdom |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
January 16, 2013
Amos continues his prophetic word against the sins of the nations in Amos 1:11-2:3. He first addressed Damascus, Gaza and Tyre (Amos 1:3-10) which lie to the north and southwest of Israel and Judah. Now he addresses Edom, Ammon and Moab which lie to the east and southeast of Israel and Judah. The pattern of […]
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Biblical Texts | Tagged: Ammon, Amos, Edom, Ethics, justice, Moab, Nations, Violence |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
January 9, 2013
International ethics are important to Amos. He condemns violent aggression (perhaps even torture and wanton killing), enslavement of populations, and the slave trade. The oracles against the nations are intricately structured. They each follow the same rhetorical pattern. Address: “The Lord Says” Proverb: “Because of the three transgressions of … and because of four, I […]
3 Comments |
Biblical Texts | Tagged: Amos, Amos 1:3-5, Amos 1:6-8, Amos 1:9-10, Ethics, Nations, Violence |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
March 12, 2012
It may sound rather strange to some ears, but at the turn of the 20th century there was some debate among Churches of Christ whether the Sermon on the Mount was intended for Christians. For example, Lipscomb was asked on one occasion whether he could “show that it s a Christian duty to try to […]
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Stone-Campbell, Theology | Tagged: David Lipscomb, Ethics, Hermeneutics, James A. Harding, Matthew 5-7, Paul, Sermon the Mount, Stone-Campbell |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
October 4, 2011
Whatever the nature of the pause in Job 28, the narrator resumes Job’s voice in Job 29-31. This is Job’s final speech (“the words of Job are ended,” 31:40). It divides into three sections: (1) Job remembers the past (Job 29), (2) Job protests the present, and (3) Job swears out a writ (Job 31). […]
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Biblical Texts | Tagged: Bible-Job, Ethics, Job, Job 29, Job 30, Job 31, Lament, Self-imprecation, Wisdom |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks