Author: Skip Moen, Ph.D.

  • With a Capital “S”

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness;  2 Timothy 3:16 NASB Scripture – You can’t get far in a discussion of the authority of the Bible without running into this verse.  Of course, there’s a lot of debate about the phrase “inspired by God,” but that…

  • The Shema

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!”  Exodus 24:7 NASB 1995   We will do – Do you remember Sacks’ comment: “The entire drama of Torah flows from this point of…

  • Comments on Cooperation

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.  Job 42:9 NIV   Accepted – What is implied in the verb “accepted”?  Interestingly, the Hebrew root is nāśāʾ, the same verb that is used for carrying away sin.  When the text tells us that God accepted Job’s prayer, it is telling us…

  • Character Assassination (2)

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,  Hebrews 1:3  NASB   Nature – hypóstasis.  One of the most important Greek words in the Bible.  Before we dive into the theological implications,…

  • Character Assassination (1)

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,  Hebrews 1:3 NASB    Radiance/ exact representation – Okay, first let’s deal with the pronouns: “He” and “His.”  You see that they are capitalized in…

  • Guilt and Repentance

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    “Speak to the sons of Israel: ‘When a man or woman commits any of the sins of mankind, acting unfaithfully against the Lord, and that person is guilty, then he shall confess his sin which he has committed,  . . . “ Numbers 5:6-7a  NASB Is guilty – Are you guilty?  Well, that depends.  Is guilt a forensic condition or…

  • The Great Debate (Again)

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,  Ephesians 3:6  NASB    Fellow heirs and fellow members – Put aside, for a moment, the great theological themes of Paul.  You know, those doctrines like justification by faith, election, righteousness, predestination, and ecclesiological formation.  Just for a moment, ask…

  • A Rush to the End

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5 NASB   Every intent – Was the world so profligate that God had to destroy it?  Was every person filled with corruption, power-hungry, exploitative?  Or was there something else that brought about the end…