Archives For Biblical Theology

A Grammatical Historical Exercise in Missing the Point

Byron Yawn —  March 14, 2013

This is a guest post by Byron Yawn

I recently encountered a blog post discussing the hazards of a “redemptive historical hermeneutic” (RH). The author, a dispensationalist (and friend of mine), was contrasting RH with that of a grammatical historical method (GHI) of interpretation. The post was dealing with Jesus’ dialogue as he walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)   

This particular passage is somewhat of an exegetical battleground in the discussion regarding the redemptive view of biblical interpretation and biblical theology.

As I am currently preaching through the historic books of the Old Testament, hold to a Christo-centric view of the Bible, practice grammatical historical interpretation, am a committed five point Calvinist and a premillennialist to boot (in the tradition of S. Lewis Johnson), I was intrigued. With the current push away from pietism/fundamentalism and the resurgence of law/gospel distinction underway in the church – the relationship of the Old Testament to the New Testament is back up as a hot topic.

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Proverbs Can Hit the Gospel Notes

Erik Raymond —  March 5, 2013

In the past I have been guilty of treating the Book of Proverbs a little bit like a commute to work. I sped through familiar passages and topics while aiming to get where I needed to go. Often times this destination has been a rebuke that I needed to hear concerning my tongue or some help toward counseling people more effectively. In short, I did not enjoy the commute through Proverbs like I should.

However, I recently begun reading this book on my days off, leisurely making my way through and highlighting along the way. You’ll never guess what happened. I began to see and smell the gospel flowers in full bloom. I heard the chirping birds with their songs of deliverance. The gospel notes are hit surprisingly well in this wisdom book. Some days I feel like Jacob grabbing ahold of that text, “I will not let you go until you bless me.” (Gen. 32.26) God has been good; I’ve been greatly blessed to say the least.

In effort to share and shamelessly disrupt others’ “commute” through this book, I have compiled a short list of verses along with some personal reflections on them. (Note: I quote the verse first and then a gospel meditation in italics after)

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Pastors: An Idea for your next Sermon Series

Erik Raymond —  February 12, 2013

ezra nehemiah emmaus bible church

Preachers love to preach. We love to dive down deep, mining God’s Word for glorious, eternal treasures and then to swim back up to the service, sharing them with our church each week. But sometimes we get a little preacher’s cramp in so far as what to preach next. After preaching through Ezra and Nehemiah, I am thoroughly convinced that pastors, in particular church planting pastors, should prayerfully consider preaching through these books.

Here are some reasons…

New Beginnings: Ezra starts out with the people of God in Babylon. Within a verse or two God is strirring the heart of a pagan King (Cyrus) to send his people back to Israel to rebuild the temple and reestablish the covenant community. It is time for a new day. In particulur for a church plant this helps to show how God works in people and communities to build something new.

Idolatry: The books are repleat with examples of what idolatry is. Everywhere from the neglegence of the weak in Nehemiah 8 to the ignorance of the Sabbath in order to make wine in Nehemiah 13, God shows how the elevation of good things to ultimate things is actually a replacement of what is ultimate, namely the worship and adoration of the Lord God. This primes the pump for a crucial discussion on idolatry.

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The Embassy of Joy

Erik Raymond —  May 30, 2012

On occasion we read international news stories that detail how people seeking safety will make a mad dash to an embassy Whether because of political, legal or some other issue, the people have gotten into some trouble with the local officials and they need asylum. They need protection.

While stories like this pique our interests they seem foreign. They might as well be tales from another world. Most of you reading this blog live in a nation that affords you tremendous safety and privilege. We don’t feel this type of pressure.

At the same time, we do have trouble and we do seek refuge.
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Nehemiah Sets the Table for Christ’s Feast

Erik Raymond —  May 1, 2012

The scene may be hard to imagine: people in the covenant community pawning their fields, homes, and vineyards in order to put food on the table. Worse still, the people that were fronting the money were other members of the covenant community. However, this was the reality for post-exilic Jews in Nehemiah’s day.

Nehemiah would have none of this. In chapter 5 he gets after his people like a spiritual Orkin man. He diagnosises the infestation of selfishness and calls them to repentance. Thankfully, the people respond. In repentance they restore what was taken.

This is a great story of concern and service by a man of God for the people of God. But it doesn’t end there.

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When you are so “biblical” that you are unChristian

Erik Raymond —  April 18, 2012

We all have blind spots. We have our issues. Whether we are talking about personal, social, or theological blind spots, we have them. And to say you don’t, is to, well, make my point.

The important thing for us to look for said weaknesses, identify them and replace them. This is living life as a fallen sinner it is reality.

But sometimes our blind spots are our hobby horses. And this is a problem.

I can remember arguing about abortion with a friend who is pro-choice. In the midst of the discussion (it was civil) he called me out on my flippancy concerning life in the various wars that the US is involved in. He had a point. My issue was inconsistent. I had a blind spot.
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On Preaching the Old Testament

Erik Raymond —  April 2, 2012

I love to preach the Old Testament. I love the challenge and the treasure. Admittedly I also love it because, even though it is growing in popularity, it is not widely done today by Christian preachers.

Having preached through the books of Leviticus, Ruth and now most recently Ezra, I find the Old Testament preaching to be so very helpful to my New Testament preaching. It is probably something of an oversimplification but in the Old Testament you have many narratives that correspond to and illustrate New Testament doctrine.

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