Blogging has been a bit tough lately. This post (like everything else I’m working on presently) is overdue. Some have asked for some comments about the validity of the gap theory – the idea that Genesis 1:1 speaks of the initial creation, while Genesis 1:2...
Biblical Theology
Genesis & Creation – Class 1 of 4
Editor's note: Original broken link replaced. Here is the first in a series of four lectures about Genesis and creation that Dr. Heiser gave at Grace Church Bellingham in September to October 2010. In this lecture, Dr. Michael Heiser tackles one of the most debated...
On John Walton’s Understanding of Hebrew Bara’
Some of you have asked for a summary of where I disagree with Walton on bara’. What follows below is an exchange between John Hobbins (another friend of mine and Hebrew scholar) and Walton. My reservations are essentially those that are expressed by Hobbins....
Genesis 1 and Its ANE Polemic, Part 2
Here’s a recent article by John Walton on this issue. it is more up-to-date than Hasel. You’ll notice that he cites Tsumura and others in objection to seeing tehom as the primeval opponent. Tsumura favors a Genesis polemic that more or less has Canaanite,...
God as Creator of All Things — Including the Material Already Present at Genesis 1:1
For this post (and the next one) to make sense, you need to recall the initial post on Genesis 1. The conclusion of that post (and the powerpoint video) was that, according to the Hebrew syntax of Genesis 1:1-3, Genesis 1:1 (“when God began to...
Genesis 1 as a Polemic Against Ancient Near Eastern Religious Cosmologies
We might as well jump into this. As a way to get everyone into the conversation, here is an article to read. It’s by Gerhard Hasel and entitled, “The Significance of the Cosmology in Genesis 1 in Relation to ANE Parallels.”
Genesis 1 and Creationism, Part 2
In this post I want to hit on what is known as the “literary framework” view of Genesis 1. Basically, this view suggests that what happens on each of the creation days makes no scientific sense — but makes very good sense in terms of a deliberate...
Focus on Fornication
I’ll admit up front that I never thought I’d post on this subject, but it was brought to mind recently by a request I had via email to comment on the meaning of “fornication” (Greek: porneia). The question was put in the context of how some...
Walton and Van Wolde: Hebrew Bara’ Does Not Mean “To Create”
John Hobbins has a helpful post offering links to the critiques of the thesis of Ellen Van Wolde that Hebrew bara’ does not mean “create”. John Walton’s recent book The Lost World of Genesis 1, positively reviewed by me here and (soon) in...
Taxation in Ancient Israel
Pretty informative article. I came across it while prepping for a course I'm teaching at the local university next quarter (Ancient Cities). Editor's note: Abstract from the article by Robert A. Oden, Jr, included below: ABSTRACTThis essay represents an initial...
The Almah of Isaiah 7:14
What follows is the text (pre-edit) of an article I’ve written for Logos’ print magazine, Bible Study Magazine .  I thought it was worth a post at this time of year. ————— The Almah of Isaiah 7:14—Virgin or Not? The prophecy...
Where Did the NT Writers Get the Idea of Jesus as Co-Creator?
Last Sunday I gave a talk at church on Jesus as co-creator. Specifically, the discussion focused on the embodied "Word" idea and "Wisdom" in the Old Testament. Here it is: Editor's note: broken video removed. Michael Heiser December 6, 2009 from Grace Church...
Away in a Manger, but Not in a Barn
That’s the title of one of the articles in the upcoming (Nov-Dec) issue of Bible Study Magazine . As many of you know, I am the Academic Editor for the magazine. I don’t make a habit of plugging work stuff on the blog, but this is a cool article that may...
Does Hebrew bara’ Mean “to Spatially Separate” Instead of “Create”?
That’s the contention of Dr. Ellen van Wolde. The problems in translation and interpretation in Genesis 1:1-3 are well known to Hebraists, but it’s rare for any of them to claim that the Bible teaches that God did *not* create matter, which Dr. van Wolde...
A Brief Note on Contextualizing the Bible (Especially OT)
One of the responders accuse me of being extrabiblical in my approach to Romans 5:12. Actually, I’m being explicitly biblical, since I refuse to de-contextualize the Bible in favor of rendering interpretations that are comfortable, or that are European,...