This is Part 8 of the guest blog series by Dr. Ronn Johnson. The archive of previous installments is located here. I ended my last post by painting myself into a theological corner. In wondering what to do with the brick which says Jesus’ priestly work (atonement,...
temple
Naked Bible Podcast Episode 157: Ezekiel 40-48: Temple, Part 2
This episode continues our discussion of Ezekiel’s temple vision. Whereas Part 1 noted the problems a literalistic approach produces for both coherent interpretation and consistency in biblical theology, this episode looks at positive indications in the text that...
Naked Bible Podcast Episode 156: Ezekiel 40-48, Part 1
These final chapters of Ezekiel are known for the prophet’s vision of a new temple. However, scattered within that vision is an enigmatic figure referred to as the “prince” (Hebrew: nasiʾ). In this episode we discuss whether or not Ezekiel’s temple vision should be...
Did Yahweh Demand Blood for a True Relationship with Him? Part 3: Bloodless Atonement and New Testament Justification
[MSH: When readers finish this essay, they will recognize its internal consistency with my argument in The Unseen Realm that salvation was the same across the board in both testaments. The issue was believing loyalty to Yahweh. Dr. Johnson raises the question of how...
Naked Bible Podcast Episode 119 – Ezekiel 10-11
Ezekiel 10-11 are the concluding chapters to a prophetic vision that began in chapter 8. In this episode we discover how these chapters provide more Godhead talk from the Old Testament and the departure of the glory of God from the temple. The episode is now live. In...
Works of George Wesley Buchanan Available on Logos Platform
Logos is publishing a compilation of George W. Buchanan’s works. Why do I mention this item out of the 3-4,000 items Logos publishes each year? Because I helped put this on the radar. Buchanan is one of the few serious NT scholars who is open to an alternative...
Naked Bible Podcast Episode 117 – Ezekiel 8 & 9
The episode is now live. In this episode, Dr. Michael Heiser explores Ezekiel 8-9, one of the most revealing sections about spiritual corruption and sacred space in the Old Testament. This episode takes listeners inside the Jerusalem temple, where God reveals to...
Naked Bible Podcast Episode 112 – Ezekiel 1
The episode is live, here. Short version: It wasn't a UFO. In this episode, Dr. Michael Heiser explores the powerful and controversial throne vision of Ezekiel 1—a passage often misunderstood and misused by modern UFO theorists. Heiser takes listeners on a guided tour...
The Myth of Gobekli Tepe: What the Archaeological Fringe Isn’t Telling You
If you're into archaeology, neolithic civilization, ancient religion and, of course, paleobabble, you've head of Gobekli Tepe. But in case not, Gobekli Tepe is an archaeological site in Turkey whose use dates back to the 10th-8th millennium B.C. The site has been...
Free Book (PDF) on Temples and Temple Cosmology in Antiquity
The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago recently posted a new volume in the Oriental Institute Seminars series: Heaven on Earth: Temples, Ritual, and Cosmic Symbolism in the Ancient World (Edited by Deena Ragavan). You can download the book as a PDF for...
Some Book Reviews of Note for Biblical Studies
The online Journal of Hebrew Scriptures announced a few new book reviews today. Some are noteworthy for material covered on this blog: Michael Hundley, Keeping Heaven on Earth: Safeguarding the Divine Presence in the Priestly Tabernacle (FAT II, 50; Tübingen: Mohr...
Recent Finds Involving Israel's Jerusalem Temple Mount
Many readers have no doubt heard about the recent reports of the discovery of a ritual bath underneath the western wall of the Jerusalem temple mount, along with four First Century AD coins. You can read about the discovery here in the press release from the Jewish...
Islamic Temple Mount Conspiracy?
Read about it here (the details of secret, off-limits digging are real; the motivation or object is the question). My guess is "no." It wouldn't matter with respect to attempts to erase the Jewish altar remnants if Leen Ritmeyer is right (see the link at the bottom...
A (Really) Brief Return to Eschatology
Pardon me for the brief transgression. Came across an article you'll all be interested in today. It's called "Measuring the Temple of God: Revelation 11:1-2 and the Destruction of Jerusalem." Has obvious implications not only for the dating of the book of Revelation...
ZIBBC: Rest of Volume 1 (Pentateuch)
I'm finishing my comments on volume 1 of Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (ZIBBC). I hope to post once on each of the other four volumes before leaving for the ETS and SBL meetings in mid-November. I was looking for specific items in the treatments...