Bible and Beyond

The Fertile Crescent and Egypt
By December 16, 2021 Read More →

The Fertile Crescent and Egypt

  Courtesy of Biblical Archaeology Society

Posted in: Introduction
Mad to See the Monuments, Steven W. Holloway, <i>Bible Review</i> (17:6) Dec. 2001.
By October 19, 2021 Read More →

Mad to See the Monuments, Steven W. Holloway, Bible Review (17:6) Dec. 2001.

In August of 1847, the British Museum mounted the first major display of Assyrian antiquities in England. For a year, the public had pored over sketches from Austen Henry Layard’s Mesopotamian excavations in the Illustrated London News. Now, it was possible to inspect the impassive, chiseled faces of the Assyrian kings during a comfortable excursion to […]

Posted in: Introduction
Isaiah 8:12 – Do not be in fear
By August 19, 2018 Read More →

Isaiah 8:12 – Do not be in fear

In the New Testament, Peter said there would be persecution but not to be afraid. “Do not fear their threats and do not be troubled” (1Pet 3:14). Having said that, he turns around in the next verse (1Pet 3:15). and says that they ought to fear God. These two verses of Peter compare with a similar two verses in the Hebrew […]

Isaiah 64: 4-9, Filthy Rags
By August 19, 2018 Read More →

Isaiah 64: 4-9, Filthy Rags

The statement, “All our righteousness is like filthy rags”, is found in the middle of a Biblical poem in Isaiah (Isaiah 64:4-9). The kingdom is upheld with righteousness A theme in the Hebrew Bible in the Book of Isaiah is the promise of the coming Messiah , and one of his marks is righteousness. “Behold I lay in Zion […]

Isaiah 8:14 – Stone of stumbling
By August 19, 2018 Read More →

Isaiah 8:14 – Stone of stumbling

The New Testament writers Peter and Paul, draw on the words of Isaiah the prophet Paul, like Peter, links the two passages in Isaiah (Romans 9:30-33). It is interesting, incidentally, to note how Paul edits the passages. As we would say today, he does a “cut-and-paste”, omitting the words in Isaiah 28:16, “a choice stone, a precious corner stone”, and […]

The Mind of the Lord —The Potter and the Clay
By August 16, 2018 Read More →

The Mind of the Lord —The Potter and the Clay

“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways… for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). In parallel to the quote from the Hebrew Bible above, the New Testament also refers to the analogy in Isaiah […]

Isaiah 55:3 – The Blessings of David
By August 16, 2018 Read More →

Isaiah 55:3 – The Blessings of David

Although David’s name is written only ten times in all the book of Isaiah, his memory was highly honoured in Isaiah’s time. King David had established the throne in Jerusalem almost three centuries earlier. He was the patriarch and hero of Jerusalem’s royal family. Isaiah 7:2,13 In Isaiah’s time, the royal family of Jerusalem was known […]

Isaiah 66:1- Heaven is my throne
By August 16, 2018 Read More →

Isaiah 66:1- Heaven is my throne

In the Hebrew Bible, the book of Isaiah acknowledges the majesty of God and speaks of him as “high”. “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted” (Isaiah 6:1). The king of Babylon said, “I will raise my throne above the stars of God… I will make myself like the Most High…” (Isaiah 14:13-14). He was arrogant to so exalt […]

Isaiah 59:20: A Day of Salvation
By August 13, 2018 Read More →

Isaiah 59:20: A Day of Salvation

A main thread running through the book of Isaiah is the message of salvation. It says in the Hebrew Bible: “All flesh will come to bow down before me says the Lord. Then they shall go forth and behold the corpses of the men who have transgressed against me. For their worm shall not die, […]

Isaiah 29:13 – Vain Worship
By August 13, 2018 Read More →

Isaiah 29:13 – Vain Worship

The belief in the centrality of genuine worship is central to Isaiah. In the Hebrew Bible it states: “…these people draw near to me with their mouths, and honour me with their lips, yet have removed their hearts far from me. Moreover, their worship toward me is the doctrines of men.” (Isaiah 29:13) In contrast, in the […]