In early Christian practice, it was standard to renounce the devil and his works (abrenunciatio) in the sacrament of baptism.

I think we should continue this. It reminds us we are making a supernatural declaration in a world mired in “naturalistic” ways of thinking. 🧵 Tertullian stated that “we declare to renounce the devil, his pomps, and his angels” before entering the water (De corona, 3).

Matthew 2:23 is one of my favorite passages to explore with students to show them the depth and riches of the Scriptures. 🧵

They are surprised to hear that no prophet has the explicit words that Matthew cites about Jesus being a Nazarene. But Matthew knew what he was doing. He is begging interpreters to look more carefully at his words and the Hebrew Bible. He indicates we need to go to multiple sources by the plural use of "prophets" (προφητῶν).

I was glad to see another review of my Matthew book in the most recent JETS issue by Charlie Ray. This one was a more critical review than most I have seen.

Below are a few thoughts. Forgive the long thread. 1. Authors should always be glad that someone has thoughtfully interacted with their work and move forward with humility and view it as a way to learn, challenge their thinking, or better communicate.

I begin teaching Ephesians @WesternSeminary on Monday. This is my second time through the letter. Each time it gets better. I could spend the whole semester on Eph 1.

Here is a biblical theology thread 🧵 on "filling" and its relationship to "blessing" from Eph 1. Ephesians 1:3 begins with an emphasis on blessing.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places"

This should cause readers to think back to the OT and blessing texts.

You can't have a temple theology without passing through Stephen's speech in Acts 7.

It might be my new favorite speech in the Bible. So many exegetical gems in there. Here is one exegetical nerd note. 🤓

In Acts 7:41-43 Stephen collapses Israel's history into a story of false worship. He draws a line from the exodus (the golden calf), to the exile (Amos quote), then finally to the present day (Amos quote; see note on 'beyond Babylon' below).

I made some progress on the role and function of the Spirit in Acts today. Many just relate the Spirit in Acts to mission, but there is more.

The Spirit in Acts "empowers" but does so in three distinct but related realms: soteriological, missiological, and ecclesiological. The Spirit is not only a missiological force, but a soteriologically related gift. The Spirit restores, cleanses, liberates, and transforms Israel and then the nations.

Here are some verses and categories for God’s “meticulous providence” that my pastor gave this past week. Though God’s “comprehensive sovereignty” is sometimes questioned (because of questions of how this coincides with human responsibility or God’s goodness) these verses seem quite clear and should drive us to worship.

Brief thread on women Acts.👇🏼 One thing that has surprised me in working on Acts: the Western editors of Acts don't like women!

I have read this before, but to see it in action is something else. The editor/s consistently delete or change wording that exalts women in Luke's narrative.

He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.

(1 Tim 3:16)

#AscensionDay "For Christ left us in such a way that his presence might be more useful to us….He withdrew his bodily presence from our sight, not to cease to be present with believers….but to rule heaven and earth with a more immediate power."

#AscensionDay

I'm reflecting on John Barclay's argument that Paul "relegated" and "consigned" Rome to an insignificant player by hardly ever speaking of her power and how this could inform how Christians engage in politics today. 2. Barclay argues Paul’s most subversive act in regard to the Roman Empire was not to oppose it but to deny its principal significance.