Proverbs and OT Theology(?) (Waltke)

 Some OT scholars find Proverbs problematic because as wisdom literature it doesn't seem to fit into the OT.  Proverbs never mentions covenant for example, nor does it have a messianic emphasis.  G. E. Wright said that OT wisdom literature like Proverbs "is something of a problem."  I appreciate how Bruce Waltke responded to this discussion …

The Importance of the 10 Commandments

Have you ever wondered why historic Christian churches and their creeds/confessions put so much emphasis on the Ten Commandments?  For example, both the Heidelberg Catechism and the Westminster Catechisms have a commentary type section on the Ten Words, as do Luther's Catechisms.  But why?  Simply put, we emphasize the Ten Commandments because Scripture does.  Here's …

The Man of Sin: Sitting in the Temple?

2 Thessalonians 2:4 says that the man of sin/lawlessness will take his seat in God’s temple and declare himself God.  So what does it mean that he will sit in “the temple of God?”  Baptistic Dispensationalists take this to be a physical temple in Jerusalem.  For one example, John MacArthur says in the future the …

God’s Kingdom: From OT to NT

In chapter six of An Old Testament Theology, Bruce Waltke argues that the center of the OT is that Israel’s God, who is holy and merciful, glorifies himself by establishing his rule through the Messiah; the Lord’s Prayer “Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come” encapsulates this center, Waltke notes.  After discussing this theme in …

The “Trivial” Old Testament?

Do we really need to read and study as well as preach and teach from the Old Testament?  Can’t we just stick with the Gospels and Paul’s letters? To answer these questions briefly, it would be unbiblical and unchristian to avoid and ignore the Old Testament.  I appreciate Bruce Waltke’s words on this topic: “The …