Monthly Archives: April 2017

Barclay-the gift and worth in Galatians

Posted on April 27, 2017 by theoutwardquest

John Barclay, in his lecture on Grace and Salvation in Galatians and Romans, first gives us his view of Galatians. He is speaking largely to Italian priests and scholars, so he uses an analogy about the change in currency.  Not so long ago the lira … Continue reading →

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Barclay-introduction on grace

Posted on April 25, 2017 by theoutwardquest

John Barclay gave this lecture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Don’t be put off by the short introduction being in Italian.  Barclay’s lecture is in English.  Of course, if you are Italian, you may be put off by … Continue reading →

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Bronze Age epidemic

Posted on April 24, 2017 by theoutwardquest

A terrible epidemic, probably the Bubonic Plague, in the 14th century before Christ prompted one of the exodus-like events–or so I have speculated on the basis of Manetho’s claim that lepers or diseased quarry workers were quarenteened.  Here is the quotation from … Continue reading →

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Levenson, Barclay and the New Perspective

Posted on April 21, 2017 by theoutwardquest

I am in a quandary about my next project. The Jon Levenson book,  The Love of God, is the first part of an idea for looking at the love of God or the grace of God from both a Jewish and … Continue reading →

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Graves in Egypt (Exodus 14:11)

Posted on April 19, 2017 by theoutwardquest

Already in 2017 there have been 3 major archeological finds in Egypt.  The two tombs are from the New Kingdom period -1500 to -1000.  This is of interest to me because I have been arguing that it was during this … Continue reading →

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The Benedict Option considered again

Posted on April 18, 2017 by theoutwardquest

I have been thinking about what is called the Benedict Option for a while. It is Rod Dreher’s proposal for Christians to strategically withdraw from the political culture wars.  Last August in the midst of America’s train-wreck of an election, I … Continue reading →

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Psalm 78 and the plagues of Egypt

Posted on April 14, 2017 by theoutwardquest

The Passover/Exodus story in Exodus 7-11 tells of ten plagues that befell Egypt.  But there are shorter, poetic accounts of the plagues in Psalm 78:41 ff. and Psalm 105:27 ff.  Actually, since the word plague has come to mean a … Continue reading →

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Out of Egypt

Posted on April 12, 2017 by theoutwardquest

I sometimes hear or read that the exodus never happened, even that there is not a shred of evidence for it in the Egyptian records.  People who say this are probably rejecting a theological or sensational Hollywood version of the … Continue reading →

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Some old gossip about Moses’ marriage

Posted on April 10, 2017 by theoutwardquest

This week I am going to post some things that relate in one way or another to Moses and the Exodus.  It is Passover week, after all. I am a sucker for stories from the Daily Mail, even though I … Continue reading →

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Habiru, the verb

Posted on April 6, 2017 by theoutwardquest

My opinion, contrary to a lot of people who want to find Israel present in Canaan in the 14th century B.C.E., is that the habiru of the Amarna letters are not Hebrews.  The equation of the two seems like wishful … Continue reading →

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