In 2 Peter 3 the Day of the Lord refers to the utter destruction of the present created order, either by annihilation or through renovation. As Revelation 20 puts this destruction a thousand years after the setting up of Christ’s earthly Kingdom[1] it means in 2 Peter 3:10-12 the Day of the Lord is confined to that final conflagration. The NT does not employ the phrase “Day of the Lord” to refer to historical visitations of divine wrath …
Author: Hunter Hays
Biblical Covenantalism and First Peter Turning now to 2 Peter, I will assume that the author is the apostle who wrote 1 Peter. As with the first chapter of 1 Peter, 2 Peter 1 is a wonderful summary of Christian discipleship goals. This letter is shorter than 1 Peter and the themes are different; they deal with false teachers and the dissolution of the present order in terms of judgment. This makes it much closer in content to Jude, …
The book of 1 Peter is also marked by a Jewish flavor. This comes across pointedly in 1 Peter 1:18[1] which talks about “the tradition of your fathers.” The book certainly possesses strong Jewish overtones.[2] Jim Sibley writes, The available textual data most often cited that bears on the nature of the recipients are found in 1:1, 14, 18; 2:10; and 4:3–5. Most commentators decide that the audience must have been Gentile on the basis of 1:14 and 18, and …
The Epistle of James begins with a sentence that again may rattle the cages: James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. – James 1:1. The principal addressees of this epistle then are Jews. To state the contrary is in my opinion to indulge in flagrant misinterpretation. Why would the leader of the Church in Jerusalem address Gentiles in such a way? This is especially true …
This is from an older post from 2010. I’m too busy right now to write anything new 🙁 What is the basic Dispensational interpretation of Israel and the Church? Here is a quick answer: Once again I want to state that I think “Dispensationalist” is a lousy and inaccurate name for this type of theology. Firstly because dispensations are largely theologically mute. Secondly, because the real crux of the matter are the Biblical Covenants! I hope this response will be …
I have been asked by a lot of people when the second part of my Biblical Theology, The Words of the Covenant will be out. Thank you to everyone who has enquired. Here is an update. The Words of the Covenant: New Testament Continuation is nearing completion, although there is still a lot of writing and editorial work to do. Presently it is 450 pages long, but more must be added to the Introduction and Appendices. Lord willing I will …
Review of Adam Lloyd Johnson, Divine Love Theory: How the Trinity is the Source and Foundation of Morality, Grand Rapids, Kregel, 2023, 256 pages, pbk. This book is something of a hybrid; a mix between a philosophy of religion text, an ethics text, a written debate, and a theology book. It’s author is a professor of Rhineland School of Theology in Germany, and also teaches at Midwestern Baptist Seminary. Divine Love Theory makes an important contribution to Christian ethics in …
I have written a lot recently on the warning passages in the Book of Hebrews. I took the time to explain that Hebrews is a carefully constructed and precise piece of literature. The author does not write like the Apostle Paul, who is apt to digress from his main themes (such is the occasional nature of his correspondence). The writer of Hebrews is very premeditated, and this fact must be taken into consideration when reading the letter. Not only that, …
Part Five No Continuing City: The Eschatology of Hebrews The opening verses of the book of Hebrews include the line ἐπ᾽ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν τούτων which literally translated is “at the end of these days” (Heb. 1:2). The phrase is translated by Lane and by Attridge as “in these final days.”[1] Lane has a note claiming it is “a common Septuagintal idiom.”[2] The phrase likely refers to the times after the ascension of Christ to the second advent.[3] I …
Part Four The New High Priest Jesus then is the High Priest who replaces the Aaronic-Levitical High Priest. This high-profile replacement of a cultic officiant was absolutely necessary, otherwise Christ’s mediatorial work could not have gone forward. It would not be in the character of God nor patterned after the divine economy with men for Christ to bullishly take up the Davidic throne in Jerusalem and by simple irresistible fiat make Himself the High Priest. But also, as Hebrews …
