Regular Baptist Press Has a New Director
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“David Gunn has been named director of Regular Baptist Press. Gunn, who joined the staff of RBP in 2014, assumed his new responsibilities in early September.”
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Theology Thursday - Slavery and the Bible - Part 2 (ca. 1850)
Today, we conclude this article from the September 1850 issue of DeBow’s Review. The anonymous author presents a “Scriptural defense” of slavery from the Bible.1
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Mysterious Melchizedek: A Working Theory of Hebrews 7 (Part 2)
Read Part 1.
Part Two: The Argument from Midrash
There are different approaches to the subject of midrash (or its plural, midrashim). Put simply, a midrash is a Jewish style of elaboration, exposition, or “mining” of a text. The idea is to find both obvious teachings and teachings not immediately obvious—but still latent within the text. In my view, when a New Testament author “unlocks” teachings not immediately obvious, he has uncovered a “mystery.” Jesus did this to prove the resurrection from the Torah, much to consternation of Sadducees (Matthew 22:29-32).
The Book of Hebrews is one midrash after another. For example, chapter 6 is a midrash of Numbers 13-14. Chapter 7 is a midrash on Genesis 14:17-20 and Psalm 110:4, and it highlights the “loud silence” in these Old Testament texts.
To our thinking, midrash can sometimes be a bit of a textual stretch. That is why we trust the New Testament writers: they were supernaturally inspired of God. On the other side of the coin, we should demonstrate hesitation toward non-canonical midrash.
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Sorry to Tell You, But Jesus Is Not Returning on September 23
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“Jesus told His followers what had to take place before He returned, and those things have not yet happened, nor can they happen in just a few days. That’s why I’m quite certain that His return is not scheduled for September 23, 2017.” CPost
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