Papyri and the First Systematic and Empire Wide Persecution of Christians

Quest Post this week is from Clint Burnett.  I am delighted to have a friend and former student write this week’s post. Clint has academic training that has given him the opportunity to study the historical backgrounds of early Christianity.  Clint has completed the MDiv degree from Harding School of Theology and the Master of … Continue reading Papyri and the First Systematic and Empire Wide Persecution of Christians

The New Creation in Revelation 21-22, Summary & Musical Remix of Stories in the book of Acts

Next post is Guest Post ~~~ you will not want to miss it!Post 07 [Whew!, the last one]SummaryTonight I have not wanted to spend my time illustrating John’s imagery and teachings against the important backdrop of Second Temple Judaism or against the backdrop of important sources from the Graeco-Roman world.  Although I do enjoy doing … Continue reading The New Creation in Revelation 21-22, Summary & Musical Remix of Stories in the book of Acts

The New Creation in Revelation 21-22, Part 06

  Life in the New Jerusalem Continuation of Previous post, https://richardoster.com/2014/02/06/the-new-creation-in-revelation-21-22-part-05/ Third, it is important to highlight the fact that John sees the New Jerusalem as a utopia and Babylon as a dystopia.  If dystopia is a new term to you, think of literary works and movies such as 1984, Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451, … Continue reading The New Creation in Revelation 21-22, Part 06

The New Creation in Revelation 21-22, Part 05

Post 05New Perspectives on the Heavenly JerusalemMany Christian hymns of an eschatological emphasis have used the language of John’s picture of the New Jerusalem extensively, a Jerusalem situated in the very heart of the new heaven and earth.  In the past generation especially, there has been increased momentum for questioning whether John intended his picture … Continue reading The New Creation in Revelation 21-22, Part 05

The New Creation in Revelation 21-22, Part 04

Post 04 Trash-Talking Hymns While there can be no doubt that competing religions of the Ancient Near East were sometimes crassly ridiculed and trashed in Israelite Scripture and worship (Ps. 31:6; 96:5; 97:7; 115:4; 135:15; cf. Isa. 44:18-20), the Psalter of Israel was sung largely by Israelites, for fellow Israelites.  Like Revelation, many statements of … Continue reading The New Creation in Revelation 21-22, Part 04