“Reading through the Old Testament, there are numerous places where the modern reader walks away puzzled…. One such example is something that shows up repeatedly throughout the first few books of the Bible: cities of refuge. How exactly do these cities work? Why did God set them up? And why did ancient Israel solve the problem of murder this way?” - P&D
“The text of the Genesis Flood categorically underscores what God did to ‘preserve’ life in spite of the disaster. Dustin even quotes another scholar who calls this a ‘flood of grace.’”
This is a review of the book The Words of the Covenant: A Biblical Theology Volume 1 – Old Testament Expectation, by Dr. Paul Martin Henebury, published by Xulon Press Elite (Paperback 467 Pages).
I came across Paul Henebury many years ago through his blog “Dr. Reluctant.” He refers to himself as “A Reluctant Dispensationalist.” To find out why, you’ll have to look it up for yourself. One of the things he states is that,
Any approach to theology must be concerned with only one thing—its adequacy as an explanation of the whole Bible.
“Most ancient people were polytheistic, believing in many gods. Today, most people, most human beings on planet Earth are monotheists…. How and when did this human transition from a pantheon of deities to a single solitary deity take place?” - Gavin Ortlund
“As the three travelers feasted, Abraham realized somehow that he was hosting the Lord himself. God! The God who had called him out of Ur, who had promised a son and a future, had come to dinner.” - IFWE
“Is it just about using God’s name irreverently, or is there more to it?….the historical, linguistic, and theological dimensions of this command, including how it relates to bearing God’s name as His people.” - Word by Word
“Piper reinforced that while the Old Testament’s harsh penalties served to highlight sin’s seriousness, the New Testament’s emphasis is on redemption through Christ.” - CPost
“Scripture nowhere references the use of trees to commemorate the birth of Jesus. Nevertheless, on several occasions the OT prophetic books anticipate certain aspects of the Messiah’s ministry with a metaphor that’s related to a tree.” - BJU Seminary
“The conquest of Canaan may be the most difficult part of the Bible for modern readers…. Those of us who are followers of Christ should take all concerns about evil and violence seriously.” - Gavin Ortlund
“With a hole drilled through it, the seal was likely worn around the neck and served as both the personal seal and as a protective amulet of a local official….it may have originally been owned by a man named Hoshʼayahu, who held a senior position in the kingdom of Judah.” - Biblical Archaeology Review
