Most Christians today will associate the original promise of victory over the serpent by the woman’s offspring (Gen. 3:15) with the death and resurrection of Jesus. However, it’s easy to see in the New Testament that Satan is still active in the world (e.g. 1 Pet. 5:8) after Jesus ascended. While Christ was victorious, HeContinue reading “Reading Scripture Like a Novel: Plot, Part 3”
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Reading Scripture Like a Novel: Plot, Part 2
The great plot conflict of Scripture is the battle for kingship of earth, a battle between the serpent and the woman’s offspring. Hostility between these two parties was promised by God (Gen. 3:15), and throughout the Old Testament physical violence and hostility ensued. The Israelites committed genocide against the Canaanites (as to why God wouldContinue reading “Reading Scripture Like a Novel: Plot, Part 2”
Reading Scripture Like a Novel: Plot, Part 1
In just the first few pages, Scripture reveals itself to be an epic, cosmic tale about the rulership of the heavens and the earth, with the promise of marital drama (Gen 3:16), blessing and curse, political subversion, war, and the battle for cosmic kingship (Gen. 3:15), all held under the watchful eye of Yahweh Almighty.Continue reading “Reading Scripture Like a Novel: Plot, Part 1”
Reading Scripture Like a Novel: Characters, Part 3
To compare the Biblical narrative to modern novels as it relates to characters, the primary protagonist throughout is the woman’s offspring (Gen. 3:15). It is the woman’s offspring who will deal with the serpent. However, Scripture is unique in comparison to a novel because, like the serpent’s offspring, the woman’s offspring is not necessarily restrictedContinue reading “Reading Scripture Like a Novel: Characters, Part 3”
Reading Scripture Like a Novel: Characters, Part 2
As mentioned in Part 1, Genesis 1-3 provides Scripture’s own unique character categories that subsequent characters often fall into. Grasping these character categories is key to both understanding the plot conflict and perceiving the unified nature of the metanarrative. (For ease of use and understanding, we’ll use the terms “actor” instead of “character” or “individualContinue reading “Reading Scripture Like a Novel: Characters, Part 2”
Reading Scripture Like a Novel: Characters, Part 1
Just as the first three chapters of Genesis provide the initial taste of the cosmic setting of the Biblical metanarrative, these same chapters also provide the prototype for the characters to follow. And similar to the way the named characters in a modern novel fit into our larger storytelling categories of protagonist, antagonist, and others,Continue reading “Reading Scripture Like a Novel: Characters, Part 1”
The Problem of Pain: 10. Why Death?
Of all the consequences that God could give to Adam and Eve, why death? Why not a good talking to, or a grounding, or having to wear clothes for a week? Why death? It seems a little excessive for one little act of disobedience, doesn’t it? Let’s back up and look at what Adam andContinue reading “The Problem of Pain: 10. Why Death?”
The Problem of Pain: 9. Is God a Helicopter Parent?
If God knows the future, then He must have known that Satan would deceive Eve. So, if God is good, why didn’t He stop it? Now we’re getting into philosophical questions that people have been asking for ages. But let’s dive in for a little bit and see where swimming in this sea gets us.Continue reading “The Problem of Pain: 9. Is God a Helicopter Parent?”
The Problem of Pain: 8. When was Satan Kicked out of Heaven?
Why is this such an important question in a discussion about God’s goodness and the problem of pain? Let’s put it this way. What kind of God would Yahweh be if He kicked Satan out of Heaven (remember, Eden was Heaven on earth) prior to creating mankind only to let the devil back in toContinue reading “The Problem of Pain: 8. When was Satan Kicked out of Heaven?”
The Problem of Pain: 7. What’s Up with the Talking Snake? Part 2
The huge red dragon—the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world… Revelation 12:3, 9 NET Strange, isn’t it? To my mind, a dragon and a serpent aren’t the same. Maybe you could say that a dragon has a serpentine-like body or that they’re both reptilian, but that’s aboutContinue reading “The Problem of Pain: 7. What’s Up with the Talking Snake? Part 2”
Epic Gospel 