“Why do we teach Greek and Hebrew at the seminary? Don’t we already have good translations of the Bible?” … We don’t teach Greek and Hebrew so that the students can produce their own translations of the Bible, but so that they can understand the decisions that the translators have made on their behalf
How to dream in the language the Apostle Paul spoke
David Maxwell reflects on – and plays – the Bach hymn “Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now.”
…and why seminary students take Summer Greek
How Bach transforms, as only Bach can, an ancient hymn to the Holy Spirit
How a theologian programmed an A.I. network … and what he learned from it
By David Maxwell The Breath of God “[Jesus] breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld” (Jn 20:22–23). This is not the first time that God breathed on human beings. By breathing ..
By David R. Maxwell This text emphasizes the transcendence of God. The question for the preacher is, “Why do we need to know that God is transcendent? How does God’s transcendence function in our theology and our lives?” In the context of Job, God’s transcendence serves to undermine any claim we may have on God. We like to ..
By David R. Maxwell New Creation, New Identity In this reading, Paul employs two dominant themes: 1) new creation and 2) reconciliation. Are these the same thing? Or does reconciliation correlate with justification, while new creation correlates with sanctification? Or is there some other distinction being made here? I would suggest that new creation and ..
By David R. Maxwell God Has Glorified His Servant Jesus This pericope recounts Peter’s speech to the crowds after he heals a lame beggar. There are at least two “big picture” questions the preacher needs to wrestle with in order to preach on this text. First, what are we to infer from the miracle? Unlike ..
Homiletical Helps on LSB Series C—Old Testament
by David R. Maxwell
By David R. Maxwell The Slave of All The Passion Prediction (Mark 10:32-34) This is the third time Jesus predicts his death and resurrection in Mark. The first time, Peter takes him aside and rebukes him (Mk 8:31-32). The second time, the disciples do not understand and are afraid to ask him about it (Mk ..