Hebrews 10:1-4

This is a homily for communion for the preaching course I’m taking. We’ve backed away for a time from full sermon preparation to homilies. For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can...

Justice and Mercy Revisited, Part 3

This is a continuation of “a fuller consideration” of “Matthew’s and the Holy Spirit’s word choices”1 in Matthew 12:18-21. It became apparent in another essay that Behold, my servant whom I have chosen2 wasn’t a quotation from Isaiah 42:1 exclusively: Behold my...

A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 4

Cain complained to יְהֹוָ֑ה (yehôvâh): Masoretic Text Septuagint Genesis 4:14 (Tanakh) Genesis 4:14 (NET) Genesis 4:14 (NETS) Genesis 4:14 (English Elpenor) Behold, Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the land; and from Thy face shall I be hid; and I...

A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 1

Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things? Jesus said to Nicodemus.  I tell you the solemn truth, we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.  If I have told you people...