The Prophetic Presbyterian & His Narrow Way

There are multiple ways to outline Matthew’s Gospel.  One way is to follow the form of a suzerain covenant,  Here is another approach from an application of that approach, keeping in mind that the temptation narrative itself follows the form of a suzerain covenant.  I. Matthew 1 - 3  : Introduction The author/authors introduce us to Yeshua via a gematria laden eschatological genealogy, a very brief birth narrative, a note about Yeshua’s ascent into manhood, & His baptism by John the Baptist that ends in a theophany. II. Matthew 4  : Prophet, Priest, King   Each of the 3 temptations highlights one of Yeshua’s 3 offices —- Prophet, Priest, & King, in that order. This provides the narrative framework (ie outline) for the remainder of the Gospel. Yeshua calls His disciples, essentially putting together a school of highly prophetic people who would serve as functional levites ministering to the poor, the sick & infirm, the marginalized, even Rom...

MCDOWELL : The basis of the affirming position seems to be that biblical writers did not understand sexual orientation or have knowledge of the kinds of consensual, committed, loving same-sex relationships we see today. How do you address this claim? That may be what a great many affirming writers believe, but that’s direct function of Ecclesiastical Tradition & Liturgical Philosophy that has ruled the hearts & minds of people for several centuries.  What the biblical authors believed isn’t really germane to this discussion.    What made it to the page is the determinant of what the Bible teaches, not what the author may or may not have believed. SPRINKLE: It’s a great point to raise, and evangelicals need to understand and consider the argument. My response it twofold: First, we do see examples of adult consensual same sex relations in and around the first century. So those who say that “they didn’t exist” are simply wrong. I show why in my book. True. Second, th...

Shema Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.  Historical Prologue  2  And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 3  And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?”  General Stipulations  4  He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,  5  and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?  6  So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”  Specific Stipulations  7  They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?”  The Historical Regulation 8  He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you ...