The Heavenly Temple in the Psalms

Heavenly temple imagery in the Psalms paints some fascinating pictures, even if these pictures are not always fully understood

The Fatherhood of God

The Christian religion, like every other religion, stands or falls by its conception of God, and to that the conception of God the idea of the Fatherhood of God is integral. How do we understand the concept of God? Where do we draw our ideas from

A Biblical and Historical Reflection on the Theology of Ordination and Whether Women May be Ordained as Ministers in the Seventh-day Adventist Church

The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church has tried on at least five previous occasions to resolve the issue of whether or not to ordain women ministers. Opposing sides use the same passages of Scripture, demonstrating convincingly that there are more layers to this issue than many care to admit. The chapter explores some of these layers, including historical roots for current practice, a review of the biblical practice of installing leaders, and how various models of Church determine ministry functions. Finally, an evaluation of the reasons given to prevent modern women from following in their steps

Creator, Judge and King: God in the Heavenly Temple in the Psalms

The purpose of this chapter is to make a preliminary exploration of the Psalms to observe this rich spectrum of ideas on the heavenly sanctuary. The chapter is divided between two themes: God as King, and God as Judge. Underscoring these main themes are the subthemes of creation and worship. The first part will examine the passages about God being the eternal King enthroned in heaven. This will include his conquest over evil, his throne’s position in heaven instead of on earth, his holiness and his praise. The second part will examine the theme of God as Judge, first as the one presiding in the heavenly council, then his observance of events on earth – including the pleas for rescue from his subjects – and finally his decision to come in judgement to the earth. In this endeavour only verses from the Psalms that refer to the heavenly palace/temple will be examined. To date there have been few studies on the theme of the heavenly temple imagery in the Psalms, so this chapter aims to offer an initiatory exploration of this fascinating topic

The Spirit of God. Part 1

In the first part of this two-part series, the author focuses on the fact that the Holy Spirit is referred to more than 100 times in the Old Testament in a number of ways: the Spirit of God (Elohim); the Spirit of the Lord (YHWH); and simply, the Spirit

Education in Ancient Israel: Across the Deadening Silence

In this groundbreaking new book, distinguished biblical scholar James L. Crenshaw investigates both the pragmatic hows and the philosophical whys of education in ancient Israel and its surroundings. Asking questions as basic as Who were the teachers and students and from what segment of Israelite society did they come? and How did instructors interest young people in the things they had to say? Crenshaw explores the institutions and practices of education in ancient Israel. The results are often surprising and more complicated than one would expect. Education, for the people who lived in the biblical world, was more than a simple matter of memorizing information and taking tests. It was a search for the hidden plan and presence of God. Knowledge was gained, according to biblical texts such as Ecclesiastes and Proverbs, not only by means of patient observation and listening, but through communication with Wisdom, the feminine incarnation of the Divine. Drawing upon a broad range of ancient sources, Crenshaw examines this religious dimension of education in ancient Israel, demonstrating how the practice of teaching and learning was transformed into the supreme act of worship.[from publisher website]

The Challenge of Generational Change

The church has been rocked by many controversies. Too many people have been hurt in the crossfire. The question is, “are we able to learn from these and move on, or is it necessary to withdraw into the cocoon of some past golden age?

Ruach Elohim: The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

What do the Hebrew Scriptures teach about the Holy Spirit? R. A. Torrey once wrote, “Before one can correctly understand the work of the Holy Spirit, he must first of all know the Spirit himself.” With this admonition in mind, my intention is to glean some insight from the Hebrew Scriptures to understand a little more of the Person of the Holy Spirit. In so doing, I will avoid imposing New Testament structures upon the Hebrew Scriptures, but let them speak for themselves

Divine Fatherhood: Re-Examining the Paradigm

This article examines various approaches to the understanding of the father-God concept, recognizing that much that has been said up to this point has been influenced by sources other than either the Hebrew Scriptures or their Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) context

Neglect or Nurture

The author discusses Ellen White\u27s legacy to the world