Author Archives: Benj

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About Benj

I’m a native North Jerseyan, transplanted to Pennsylvania...lived and taught in Eastern Europe for six years…Old Testament professor, author, minister, musician, liturgist…husband to Corrie…father to Daniel and Elizabeth.

“Satan” versus “the Śaṭan”

Posted on 30 March 2016 by Benj

“Śaṭan” in the Hebrew Bible is not a proper name, but rather a role of one of the heavenly beings in YHWH’s heavenly court: “the adversary.” Continue reading →

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The Early Christian Understanding of Easter

Posted on 27 March 2016 by Benj

“The fact that Jesus’ resurrection was, and remains, without analogy is not an objection to the early Christian claim. It is part of the claim itself.” Continue reading →

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JMH, 1954-2016

Posted on 16 March 2016 by Benj

It is with sorrow that I must report that my father-in-law, Rev. Joe Hesh, passed away last Tuesday afternoon, March 8, 2016. Continue reading →

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Links: 3 March 2016

Posted on 3 March 2016 by Benj

Variety show… Continue reading →

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Links: 20 February 2016

Posted on 20 February 2016 by Benj

Mostly politics this week… Continue reading →

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Links: 12 February 2016

Posted on 12 February 2016 by Benj

Wheaton, the Pope, Target and “big data”… Continue reading →

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International Septuagint Day

Posted on 8 February 2016 by Benj

Happy International Septuagint Day! Continue reading →

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Links: 3 February 2016

Posted on 3 February 2016 by Benj

An eclectic mix of stories this week… Continue reading →

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Links: 12 January 2016

Posted on 12 January 2016 by Benj

‘The tendency of religious pluralists is to flatten out the distinctives of each religion and try to compress them onto a procrustean bed of universal religion rather than allow them to articulate their own God, in their own grammar, narrative, diversity, and history. The greatest respect we can pay to the adherents of other faiths is not to tell them who their God is – “Your God is just like ours but with a few funny quirks,” which sounds terribly condescending – but to allow them to speak of their own God as their God without turning him/her/it/them into an avatar of one’s own God. Respect for “others” is not about denying the differences, but respecting those differences as what makes someone else’s faith precious to them.’ Continue reading →

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Not Just Treading Water

Posted on 8 January 2016 by Benj

There is fruit along the way. The fruit may come in small, airplane-sized cups. It may be fruit salad that’s mostly honeydew. (Honestly–who likes honeydew, anyway?) But it’s still fruit. Continue reading →

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