Biblical Studies / Old Testament

  • The Everlasting Kingdom by Robert Rothwell

    FROM TABLETALK | February 2006

    Even though the 2004 U.S. presidential election was not even two years ago, the media is already looking ahead to the 2008 campaign cycle. This reporting can be exasperating, but it is not surprising. In biblical terms, the attention …Read More

  • Conquest and Settlement by Bryan Estelle

    FROM TABLETALK | February 2006

    Deuteronomy is the linchpin to the historical books. Deuteronomy is a covenant document that is the foundational constitutional document of the emerging Israelites. There is an astounding preview of Israel’s history at the end of Deuteronomy (chap. 27–30 …Read More

  • An Historic Faith by R.C. Sproul

    FROM TABLETALK | February 2006

    “Once upon a time….” These words signal the beginning of a fairy tale, a story of make believe, not an account of sober history. Unlike beginning with the words “once upon a time,” the Bible begins with the words, “In …Read More

  • Exile and Restoration by David Howard Jr.

    FROM TABLETALK | February 2006

    When the Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar finished its work in destroying Jerusalem and carrying off the cream of its citizenry into exile in 586 BC, God’s people faced their greatest crisis ever, both politically and spiritually. This was the …Read More

  • Old Expectations by Iain Duguid

    FROM TABLETALK | December 2007

    When Jesus started his earthly ministry, he began by “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom” (Matt. 4:23). Yet nowhere in the Gospels do we see Jesus giving a clear definition of the kingdom. The reason is simple: Jesus didn …Read More

  • Christ the Conqueror by Charles Spurgeon

    FROM TABLETALK | February 2006

    “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15 KJV). This is the first gospel sermon that was …Read More

  • Can Snakes Talk? by Derek Thomas

    FROM TABLETALK | February 2006

    With the possible exception of John 3:16, no verse in the Bible is more crucial and definitive than Genesis 3:15: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall …Read More

  • Freedom and Its Obligations by Chris Donato

    FROM TABLETALK | February 2006

    If ever there were a free man, Adam was he. And all he and his wife had to do was exercise that freedom to the glory of God. But somewhere, and at some time, disobedience seemed like a viable option …Read More

  • The Historical Book by Gene Edward Veith

    FROM TABLETALK | February 2006

    Non-Christians assume that the Bible is a collection of myths. So do theological liberals, which is why they feel free to support abortion, homosexual marriage, the validity of all world religions — and they have constructed a whole vein of scholarship …Read More

  • The Suffering Servant and Conquering King by Alec Motyer

    FROM TABLETALK | April 2011

    John the Baptist was the last of the “Old Testament” prophets, and his message — “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” — tells us in a nutshell what the task of the prophets was and how they went about …Read More

  • One God, Two Testaments by Robert Rothwell

    FROM TABLETALK | May 2008

    Like me, many of you reading this article did not grow up in a church that is part of the Reformed tradition. You did not have the benefit of being catechized in the Westminster Standards or the Heidelberg Catechism. Calvinism …Read More

  • The Christ of the Old and New by Burk Parsons

    FROM TABLETALK | April 2011

    We have all heard the ancient maxim about the relationship between the Old and New Testaments: “The new is in the old concealed, and the old is in the new revealed.” While the words concealed and revealed do not entirely …Read More

  • The Prophets by O. Palmer Robertson

    FROM TABLETALK | February 2008

    Ezekiel and Daniel experienced exile. The words slip over the tongue with such ease. We are glad to know this “brute fact” about these two prophets. Next time we get involved in a Bible trivia quiz, we will be sure …Read More

  • Moses by Robert Vasholz

    FROM TABLETALK | October 2008

    Generally speaking, the mention of canon or “canonicity” of the Bible is considered a topic for seminary professors and specialists in theology. It appears to have small relevance to “faith and practice.” But when one realizes that canonicity deals with …Read More

  • The Royal Genealogy of Jesus by T.D. Alexander

    FROM TABLETALK | April 2011

    The five books from Genesis to Deuteronomy form the first section of the Hebrew Bible known as the Torah. Unfortunately, the Hebrew term torah is often misleadingly translated into English as “law.” Torah is better understood as meaning “instruction.” As …Read More