Category Archives: OT

The Cup of the Adulteress: Understanding the Jealousy Ritual of Numbers 5

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Alastair Roberts

The ritual of jealousy in Numbers 5:11-31 is a law that disturbs and perplexes many people. Many regard it as if it were some bizarre and ridiculous process lying somewhere between a superstitious magical ceremony, a Jeremy Kyle paternity test, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, NT Theology, Numbers, OT, OT Theology, Sacramental Theology, The Atonement, The Atonement, The Sacraments, Theological, Theology, Worship | 59 Comments

Exodus as New Birth

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Alastair Roberts

I just wrote a guest post for the Big Bible Project, presenting a reading of the Exodus as new birth. Take a look – it is extremely short, as my posts go. I would love to hear people’s thoughts!

Posted in Bible, Exodus, Guest Post, On the web, OT, OT Theology, The Blogosphere, Theological | 3 Comments

Links and Jottings 2

Posted on July 8, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

Having a lot of half-formed thoughts prompted by various articles in my mind at the moment, I thought that I would quickly post a few of them here, along with some interesting links. 1. David Brooks writes about the crisis … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Culture, Ethics, In the News, Just for Fun, Music, On the web, OT, Quotations, The Blogosphere, Theological, Uncategorized, Video | 1 Comment

Links and Jottings

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

Having not blogged much here for a little while, I thought that I would quickly post a few miscellaneous links and thoughts. I regularly post links in my Delicious account, which is linked in my sidebar (more general and less … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Culture, Ethics, My Reading, OT, Philosophy, Quotations, Theological, What I'm Reading | 2 Comments

Sex and Death on the Threshing Floor

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

A friend asked me yesterday about the significant of the threshing floor in Scripture. I briefly sketched a response to his enquiry, but thought that it would be good to fill out this response in the following post. Perhaps some … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Deuteronomy, NT, NT Theology, OT, OT Theology, Ruth, The Church, The Sacraments, Theological | 27 Comments

Introduction to Bible Themes for Kids

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

I am loving the following Bible chants for teaching basic biblical-theological structures to kids (all of you adults know the sacrifices of Leviticus, right?): Ox, Lion, Eagle, Man Priest, King, Prophet, Man Moses is an ox; David is a lion; prophets are eagles; Jesus is da man (for little kids, this is best … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, OT | 4 Comments

Mediations Wrapped in Mediations

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

I recently wrote a piece contrasting the Song of Solomon with pornography. It has now been posted over on The Media Res (lots of other great stuff there – do take a look!): The Song is a celebration of mediation. It … Continue reading →

Posted in On the web, Song of Solomon, Theological | 1 Comment

The Psalms in Worship

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

Ben Myers has some wonderful thoughts on the place and importance of the Psalms in worship: I sometimes worry that our hymnbooks – where you have a more or less arbitrary selection of songs, arranged by various doctrinal and liturgical … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian Experience, OT, Psalms, The Church, Theological, Worship | Leave a comment

Eschatologically Weighted Ontology and the Fall

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

Maximus writes this section in a metaphysical idiom, but his argument helps fill out the importance of recognizing the eschatological aspiration that was inherent in Adam’s situation.  If Adam was fulfilled, perfected from the outset, then we are almost inevitably … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, OT, Theological | 2 Comments

Finding Joy in the Vapour

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

“Vapour of vapours,” says the Preacher; “vapour of vapours, all is vapour.” Perhaps there are few more potent and fecund metaphors for human life, activity, and thought than that of vapour, breath, or mist. Life is like groping through a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Ecclesiastes, OT | 2 Comments