Loving and longing for the appearing of our Lord is not cowardly escapism, but the triumphant expression of our sure and blessed hope. -BA Purtle

Jesus’ followers in the year 30, however, innocent of the future—of this future—were not burdened by the need to explain the temple’s destruction in 70. They never saw it coming. The trauma that compelled them, rather, was the crucifixion of their beloved leader. Their experiences of Jesus raised— which eventually blended into their evolving expectations for Jesus’ second, public debut as the eschatological warrior-messiah—was their response. They too scoured scriptures, as would the evangelists long after them. They modified Jesus’ prophecy of the coming Kingdom by linking its arrival to his second coming. That revamped message provided the core of the good news that they began to proclaim to holiday crowds in Jerusalem: the Kingdom was coming, and Jesus was coming back.  -Paula Fredricksen, When Christians Were Jews, p.113

“Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood

  Shall never lose its power,

Till all the ransomed Church of God

  Be saved, to sin no more.”

-William Cowper (1731-1800)

Unlike Christoplatonism, which generally interprets “seen” and “unseen” in metaphysical terms (material vs. immaterial), the Scriptures primarily refer to “seen” and “unseen” in historical terms (this age vs. the age to come). Such an approach is based upon the day of the Lord and the “appearing” of God (cf. Ps. 21:9; 102:16; Zech. 9:14; Mal. 3:2), when humanity will “see” him in his glory (cf. Ps. 97:6; Isa. 33:17; 52:8). Such language is assumed in the New Testament and applied to Jesus’ own “appearing” (Col. 3:4; 1 Tim. 6:14; Titus 2:13; 1 Peter 5:4; 1 John 2:28). Thus, “when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2), for “he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him” (Rev. 1:7; cf. Matt. 5:8). -John P Harrigan

The double appropriation of this aspect of the David-traditions happened quickly, within two-plus decades of Jesus’ death. Already by the late 50s of the first century, on the evidence of Paul’s letter to Rome, the association of Jesus with David, both past and future, was firm. Paul uses it as the springboard for his own self-introduction:   

Paul, slave of Jesus Christ, called to be his messenger, set apart for God’s good news— 2 promised beforehand through his prophets in the sacred scriptures— 3 the good news concerning his son, from the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead: Jesus Christ our lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship in order to bring the obedience of faithfulness on behalf of his name to all the nations/gentiles/pagans, 6 including to you. (Romans 1.1–6; my translation)   

Paul simply asserts Jesus’ Davidic lineage here. He does not argue it, but ties it immediately to Jesus’ impending apocalyptic reappearance, when the dead would be raised. The claim of Jesus’ past Davidic descent, in other words (and for all the interest that Paul shows in it here), seems “caused” by expectations about Jesus’ future eschatological performance. - Paula Fredricksen, When Christians Were Jews, p.102-103

“Israel is the carnal anchor that God has sunk into the soil of creation.” - Wyschogrod, Body of Faith

Christian Bible teaching and preaching is primarily based on the writings of the Apostle Paul. No exaggeration to say that Protestant churches especially stand upon a Pauline foundation. That means that, if we got Paul wrong, then we've got everything wrong. - Daniel Thomas Lancaster

"For if you live according to the flesh [in this age] you will die [on the Day of the Lord], but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body [in this age], you will live [on the Day of the Lord]." (Romans 8:13)

“We sing not because the present is enjoyable, but because the future is glorious.” - Christopher Ash

Theology 101: As in textual criticism, so in the history of doctrine—an earlier, well-established theological position is to be preferred to a later majority position. It is not those who hand down the teaching that made the error, but those who failed to receive it. -Dr. Michael Svigel 

My teaching on fasting from Luke 5. Notes. Audio 1. Audio 2. 

Theology 101: “That’s just a symbol” is a lazy hermeneutical cop-out. Literally every word on your page is a symbol. That’s the nature of written language. The interpreter’s burden is to determine the meaning of the term; and if a figure of speech or symbolic vision, the referent of the image. Too often I feel people say “that’s just a symbol” to dodge the implications of the likely interpretation or to relieve themselves of the burden of thinking. -Dr. Michael Svigel 

“Christ . . . will appear a second time . . . to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:28

The fact that we *have been* saved (Eph. 2:8) and *are being* saved (1 Cor. 1:18) means that we are irrevocably united to the One who *will save* us from coming judgment. - John Piper

“It is a general methodological assumption of the early church fathers, as well as those modern renewalists, that John’s vision of the new heavens and new earth in Revelation 21 must be read in light of Isaiah 65–66. To read this as annihilation and re-creation ex nihilo is to read into it meanings for “pass away” and “new heavens and new earth” that are foreign to the sum of biblical teaching.” -Dr. Michael Svigel, The Fathers on the Future, p.164

Leonard Ravenhill: The devil is not afraid of a busy church, but he trembles at a praying church.

"The Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion." Isaiah 34:8

In an age of theological self aggrandizement and ministry clout farming, choose Christ instead.

Reject the clamorous dove sellers for the quiet service of, to, and for, Christ. - Aaron in Writing

I get the impression when reading some commentaries on Romans 9-11 that the authors have given more time to reading other scholars than they have to reading the Hebrew Bible (or rest of the NT for that matter). They seem likewise to think that Paul has forgotten about it as well. - BA Purtle

The Spirit sanctifies the gentiles by bringing them into a state of faith and hope in the crucified Jewish Messiah—both in regards to his death which makes them righteous in God's sight and in regards to His Parousia which delivers them from this present evil age. - John P Harrigan 

It is quite vital to understand the various literary genres in Scripture and to bear them in mind when studying. It is unfortunately common, however, among those who recognize the genres, to exaggerate their importance and focus on them in such a way that actually disfigures the purpose of certain God-breathed passages.

This happens very often when men study the biblical books which tend to fall under the "apocalyptic" category. It happens in such a way that excessive allegorization takes place in the treatment of Daniel, Ezekiel, or Revelation. 

For many, apocalyptic invariably necessitates the expectation that in reading a passage like Matthew 24-25, for instance, you will be pummeled on every side with imperceptible symbols and wild-eyed and elusive visionary pictures. There is little hope for understanding it at all. 

While no one would deny that apocalyptic books and prophetic passages often contain types and symbols, there is much that should be taken at face value that gets sidelined in the name of allegory, and this often produces a kind of exegetical agnosticism. Such cases produce men who make light of biblical eschatology, for if the scholars count virtually all of it unclear, what hope is there for the man in the pew?

It happens also in the treatment of narrative portions of Scripture, to such a degree that some men posit that there is virtually nothing in terms of application that can be drawn from the books of Genesis, the Kings, Samuel, the Chronicles, or Acts in the New Testament. Virtually nothing therein could be prescriptive for a Christian or for the Church.... after all, these books are in the narrative genre! If only you were a scholar, those books might somehow be of help to you! "I speak as a fool."

To be sure, a lack of understanding genre has led to foolish proof-texting on the other end, but I'm addressing the other side of the pendulum, one which can be just as problematic. 

This is what it looks like when you take otherwise helpful hermeneutical principles, stretch them to the point of breaking, and make them chief and decisive factors in Bible interpretation, without holding them in tension with other vital hermeneutical practices.

The man who does this will invariably end up with a threadbare grasp on the whole of Scripture, and the analogy of the Bible -- it's profound unity and unique glory -- is thereby smeared. One may be able to impress a few friends with lofty language regurgitated from scholars.... but it may also be that in the last analysis he has no true knowledge of God at all. That would be a tragedy.

Let us see to it that we labor to get to the bedrock and heart of authorial intent -- what the biblical human authors really intended their recipients to understand. And let us not forget along the way that "all Scripture is God-breathed," and profitable for salvation, for the knowledge of God, and for an understanding of His holy will. Therefore, whoever has the Spirit of God may be helped greatly (even salvifically!) by it, whatever his level of education may be. And he may be helped yet further by some good hermeneutical practices.

Let us walk the long road of "pressing on to know the Lord" in the manner of our reading, study, and meditation upon His Word. 

Read the whole Book. Read it humbly, hungrily, and hopefully. Couple your reading with much prayer. Learn from able teachers, and "train yourselves for godliness."

The Word of the Lord is precious beyond compare, after all, brothers and sisters.

"More to be desired are they (God's Words) than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey

and dripping of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them is Your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward." -David (Ps. 19)

-BA Purtle

One precious reality about the age to come, rarely considered, but which I very much anticipate: The people of God will never again harbor mistrust for one another.

No more bearing false witness. No more coldness. No more envy or insecurity. Never again. What a day that will be. -BA Purtle

The logic of [1 Cor. 15:50-53] is fairly straightforward: if creation is going to be purged of all sin, death, and corruption, then those who will participate in the new creation must also be without sin, death, and corruption. - John P Harrigan 

This closing invocation remains as a rare Aramaic outcropping in Paul’s Greek: “Marana tha! Our lord, come!” Surviving as it does in the vernacular of the original community, this summons again gives us a glimpse of these people’s apocalyptic mind-set. Imagining ourselves back into the weeks following Jesus’ execution, when his apostles repeatedly experienced him as raised and present, we can still catch a sense of their focused anticipation in the urgent query that remains in Luke’s mannered narrative: “So when they had all come together, they asked him, ‘Lord’—addressed to the risen Christ —‘will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’” The imminent restoration of Israel, soon, that defining eschatological event, was for his community the original significance of Jesus’ resurrection. - Paula Fredricksen, When Christians Were Jews, p.88

That Christians of every generation since the first century have eagerly anticipated the future, physical, personal coming of the Lord is clear and unambiguous. - Dr. Micheal Svigel, Fathers on the Future

Many Christians dismiss God's many, clear, literal promises to give Israel the land. Instead of accepting God at his word, they spiritualize these things into meaninglessness. Jesus is not the land of Israel. He is the King who will fulfill the land promises to his people Israel. -Joel Richardson 

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." (Luke 6:27-28)

The words of Jesus. The way of life. May we be quick to obey them. - Joshua Hawkins

Gratitude is such a powerful tool to lift our gaze off of the disappointments and discouragements of this age and to remind ourselves that the world is not going to be this way forever. - Joshua Hawkins

Many of Jesus' teachings only make sense to obey if we believe that a great reversal is coming - when the last will be first, and the first will be last. - Joshua Hawkins

"One-third of the Bible does what most of us pastors won't do: Preach on prophecy." - Dr. Walter Kaiser Jr. 

Why his (Jesus's) followers had this experience is an interesting question. After all, many other Jews in this period followed other charismatic, prophetic figures (John the Baptizer comes readily to mind); but none of their movements outlived the death of their founder. Why was this group different? - Paula Fredricksen, When Christians Were Jews. 

The first-century C.E. Roman orator Quintilian nicely described the social function of this Roman mode of execution: “Whenever we crucify criminals . . . [we place them] where the greatest number of people can watch and be influenced by this threat; for every penalty is aimed not so much at the offense, as at its exemplary value.” - Paula Fredricksen, When Christians Were Jews. 

My commentary: Agreed, the cross of the Christ has exemplary value for all of his followers. 

Theology 101: As a general rule, not everything about the church you grew up in was right, and not everything about the church you grew up in was wrong; graciously correcting the bad and gratefully embracing the good—these are marks of spiritual maturity. - Dr. Micheal Svigel

My teaching on Jesus's use of parables. Notes. Audio 1. Audio 2. 

Many debate whether we should interpret the biblical more literally or more spiritually. I'd suggest it should be understood through the same lens that we understand most human communication—the lens of simple, rational literalism. Those who lean too heavily on a spiritualized lens may be likened to someone with schizophrenia who sees imaginary code words everywhere. Those who lean too heavily on a hyper-literal lens like someone with autism, often unable to recognize the world of subtle inferences. - Joel Richardson

"...salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed." -Paul the apostle

"...the time is near." -John the apostle

"Surely I am coming soon." -The Lord Jesus Christ

-BA Purtle

My teaching on the resurrection of the dead from 1 Corinthians 15. Notes. Slides. Audio 1. Audio 2. Video. 

Theology 101: The more firmly I embrace the catholicity of the church, the less likely I am to leave my church tradition for another. - Dr. Micheal Svigel

Most religious writings from the Second Temple Period are categorized as either Gnostic or Jewish Apocalyptic. Today, much of the Charismatic AND Reformed worlds are increasingly becoming far more Gnostic than Jewish or Apocalyptic. - Joel Richardson 

Theology 101: The Bible isn’t a guide for dieting, a manual for leadership and management, an outline for economics, a playbook for politics, a textbook for science, or an anthology of frame-worthy quotes to hang in your office. It is an account of God’s story of redemption to make us wise for salvation and to lives that glorify him. - Dr. Micheal Svigel

To study the scriptures, and neglect the Spirit, who ‘searcheth out the deep things of God’, leaveth us in darkness about God’s mind. —Thomas Manton, Works 8:76

Jesus never warned his audience to change their way of thinking. He likely spoke in Aramaic and sometimes in Hebrew. Greek word studies when looking at the words of the master are only indirectly helpful. He wasn’t speaking in Greek.

Rather, he (like John before him) warned men that they must change and turn (a common idiom for behavior and actions in the Hebrew Bible) in light of the coming Day of God. - Bill Scofield

Theology 101: In two centuries, the church grew from a single room in Jerusalem to countless congregations in Africa, Europe, and Asia without government power or acts of violence. - Dr. Micheal Svigel

Once typology drifts from its Jewish apocalyptic moorings, its flights of fancy know no end. - John P Harrigan 

If we ask, What is God ultimately doing in this age? then we must answer: He is showing love and offering mercy to his enemies in light of his coming severity and eternal recompense. Redemptive history is cruciform-apocalyptic, and consequently the mission of the church is to “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor. 11:26). - John P. Harrigan

It is the prerogative of Christ alone to break the knees of those who refuse to bow down before him. - Aaron in Writing

My teaching on Genesis 3:15 as the metanarrative to the Bible. Slides. Audio 1. Audio 2. 

Everything begins, and events unfurl, from Zion, that is, from God’s “holy mountain,” Jerusalem. 

Further: it would be to Jerusalem that all the families of man, at the End time, would flow. Biblical tradition had long distinguished the human family as comprised of two groups. The first, by far the smallest, was Israel, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Their plenum number, at the End, corresponding to Jacob’s twelve sons and grandsons, would be all twelve tribes. “The nations,” by far the larger group, were themselves divided into seventy “families” or “peoples,” the biblical number derived from the total count of descent-groups from the three sons of Noah in Genesis 10. These seventy nations are distinguished from each other according to their kinship groups, their lands, and their languages. All humanity, in brief, is summed up in this eschatological arithmetic: the twelve tribes of Israel and the seventy nations. - Paula Fredriksen, When Christians Were Jews.

"A saint is often under a cross, but never under a curse." — Charles Spurgeon

Theology 101: In the kingdoms of this world, people seek power to exercise authority and make servants of others. In the Kingdom of Heaven, God grants power to people to divest themselves of power and become servants of others. - Dr. Michael Svigel

I often think about how the average person doesn't understand the judgment of God that is coming because they misinterpret common grace.

"The sun is shining today, I have a good job, and things are pretty good, so I must have nothing to worry about."

That's common grace you are receiving, which God bestows because of His kindness. I mean, He can't have a world where the minute you do wrong you get smoked and turned into a vapor. The world just couldn't function that way. Plus He wants to give people time to repent and live faithfully.

But common grace is not a sign of God's ultimate pleasure or displeasure towards you. There is a day when common grace ends and God comes to settle accounts. - Travis M Snow

May we seek the good of wherever we have been assigned, and renounce every cultural ambition for dominion and control so that we are freed up simply “to serve,” lest we instead build a culture wherein we ourselves are served. May we be unthreatened by the strength of Babylon—she’ll collapse one day, and it’ll only take an hour —so that we beautify her in bearing witness of the better Beautiful.

May we match Wilberforce’s fervor and diligence to plant gardens in Babylon, and may we even see them bloom before we pass into the sleep of the saints—until He comes. - Stephanie Quick, Planting Gardens in Babylon