Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Exegesis

Our Priest in the Pattern of Melchizedek: Eight Conclusions Hebrews 5–7 Draws about Jesus the Messiah from Genesis 14:18–20 and Psalm 110:4

by

New article:

Naselli, Andrew David. “Our Priest in the Pattern of Melchizedek: Eight Conclusions Hebrews 5–7 Draws about Jesus the Messiah from Genesis 14:18–20 and Psalm 110:4.” Christ Over All, 5 July 2024.

Summary: Because Jesus the Messiah is our priest in the pattern of Melchizedek …

  1. he is the supreme priest (Heb. 4:14–5:10).
  2. he has entered the Most Holy Place on our behalf (Heb. 6:19–20).
  3. he is both king and priest (Heb. 7:1–2).
  4. his priesthood is eternal (Heb. 7:3).
  5. he is greater than both Abraham and Levitical priests (Heb. 7:4–10).
  6. he is better than Levitical priests, and he fulfills the Mosaic law (Heb. 7:11–17).
  7. he guarantees a covenant that is better than the Mosaic covenant (Heb. 7:18–22).
  8. he can save his people completely (Heb. 7:23–28).

My Publications in 2023

by

Here are my publications that released in 2023—plus some books I endorsed. (I prepared this list so that I can conveniently link to one post.) As I explain in the article “Three Reflections on Evangelical Academic Publishing,” I aim to be academically responsible more than academically respectable. The ultimate reason I research, write, teach, and shepherd is to glorify God by serving Christ’s church.

Books

Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament

Predestination: An Introduction

  1. Tracing the Argument of 1 Corinthians: A Phrase Diagram. Bellingham, WA: Logos, 2023.
  2. Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Edited by G. K. Beale, D. A. Carson, Benjamin L. Gladd, and Andrew David Naselli. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2023.
  3. Predestination: An Introduction. Short Studies in Systematic Theology. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, January 2024. (The official publication date is January 2024, but it is available early because Crossway was able to print it ahead of schedule.)

Articles

[Read more…] about My Publications in 2023

Videos of Israel’s Tabernacle, First Temple, and Temple at the Time of Jesus

by

1. Israel’s Tabernacle

“Illustrated Tabernacle (Exodus 26-27)” (6:24 min.): This video illustrates the dimensions and instructions God gives in Exodus 26–27.

“3D Tabernacle of Moses” (1:52 min.)

“Tabernacle of Moses” (3:49 min.)

“The Tabernacle and What It Reveals to Us” (5:17 min.)

2. Israel’s First Temple (Solomon’s Temple)

“Solomon’s Temple 3D” (3:42 min.)

“Solomon’s Temple Explained” (10:20 min.)

3. Israel’s Temple at the Time of Jesus (Herod’s Temple)

Second Temple Judaism refers to Jewish history and literature from the time that Zerubbabel completed the second temple (c. 516 B.C.) to when the Romans destroyed Herod’s temple in A.D. 70.

“Jerusalem Temple at the Time of Jesus” (1:51 min.)

“3D Model of Herod’s Temple” (4:02 min.): Leen Ritmeyer comments, “This is the best 3D rendition of the Temple Mount I have seen so far” (“Herod’s Temple Mount in Jerusalem in 3D).” (Ritmeyer is an archaeological architect who has been involved in all of Jerusalem’s major excavations.)

“Herod’s Temple Mount – 3D Information Videos” (23:57 min.)

“Jerusalem’s Temple: Building the Most Detailed Depiction of Herod’s Temple” (14:50 min.): Leen Ritmeyer comments, “This is truly a masterful video that aims to bring together the extensive research that began at the Temple Mount Excavations in Jerusalem in 1968, directed by the late Professor Benjamin Mazar. Many scholars have analysed the result of this and other excavations in Jerusalem to get a full picture of what Herod’s Magnum opus may have looked like. We understand that this 3D video is the first of a series designed to help people better understand this sacred structure.”

Compare images of the temple in the ESV Study Bible.

(Feel free to contact me to alert me to similar videos.)

Related sermon: “The Temple and Light in the Bible’s Storyline” (11/27/2022):

Yet Another Attempt to Justify What God Forbids: A Response to Cynthia Lang Westfall, “Male and Female, One in Christ” (on Galatians 3:28)

by

The latest issue of Eikon is mostly a chapter-by-chapter review of the third edition of Discovering Biblical Equality.

I contributed an article on Galatians 3:28:

Naselli, Andrew David. “Yet Another Attempt to Justify What God Forbids: A Response to Cynthia Lang Westfall, ‘Male and Female, One in Christ.’” Eikon: A Journal for Biblical Anthropology 5.1 (2023): 32–39.

Here’s my phrase diagram of Galatians 3:26–29:

[Read more…] about Yet Another Attempt to Justify What God Forbids: A Response to Cynthia Lang Westfall, “Male and Female, One in Christ” (on Galatians 3:28)

Tracing the Argument of 1 Corinthians: A Phrase Diagram

by

My latest book just released:

Naselli, Andrew David. Tracing the Argument of 1 Corinthians: A Phrase Diagram. Bellingham, WA: Logos, 2023.

Women and Head Coverings: Explaining and Applying 1 Corinthians 11:2–16

by

This short article released today:

Naselli, Andrew David. “Women and Head Coverings: Explaining and Applying 1 Corinthians 11:2–16.” Christ Over All, 8 March 2023.

I answer three questions about 1 Corinthians 11:2–16:

  1. How does Paul argue?
  2. What is the historical-cultural context?
  3. How should we apply it today?
    • 1. Dress in culturally appropriate ways when the church gathers to worship.
    • 2. Recognize that God has designed men and women to relate to each other in different ways.
    • 3. Show that God’s design for husbands and wives is beautiful.

Related:

  1. Do Complementarians Consistently Apply How Paul Argues from Creation in 1 Cor 11:8–10 and 1 Tim 2:13–14?
  2. My Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians

How Should You Approach Apparent Contradictions between the Gospels?

by

I attempt to answer that question in this article:

Naselli, Andrew David. “Harmony of the Gospels.” In The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, 2022.

Outline:

1. Presuppose That the Gospels Do Not Contradict Each Other

  • Reason 1: The Gospels Are God-breathed Scripture
  • Reason 2: The Gospels Are Historically Reliable

2. Understand Why the Gospels Have Apparent Contradictions

  • Reason 1: The Gospels Paraphrase and Interpret Events and Sayings
  • Reason 2: The Gospels Abbreviate and Omit Events and Sayings
  • Reason 3: The Gospels Reorder Events and Sayings
  • Reason 4: The Gospels Report Similar Events and Sayings

3. Compare the Gospel Accounts with Each Other, and Responsibly Discern How They Harmonize

4. Focus on Understanding Gospel Passages in Their Literary Context

Further Reading

My Two New Books on Romans: A Concise Commentary and an Annotated Phrase Diagram

by

My two new books are on Romans:

Romans: A Concise Guide to the Greatest Letter Ever Written

Tracing the Argument of Romans: A Phrase Diagram of the Greatest Letter Ever Written

Naselli, Andrew David. Romans: A Concise Guide to the Greatest Letter Ever Written. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2022. [Available from Logos, Amazon, and Westminster Bookstore.]

Naselli, Andrew David. Tracing the Argument of Romans: A Phrase Diagram of the Greatest Letter Ever Written. Bellingham, WA: Logos, 2022. [Available only electronically from Logos.]

Each book can stand on its own, but I designed the book with Logos to supplement the book with Crossway:

  • The book with Crossway is a concise commentary on Romans. It emphasizes tracing Paul’s argument, and I designed it for Bible study—alone or as a group. (See endorsements from my two favorite commentators on Romans—Doug Moo and Tom Schreiner—as well as Tim Challies and Abigail Dodds.)
  • The book with Logos is an annotated phrase diagram of Romans. An argument diagram graphically displays the text’s logical flow of thought by dividing up the text into propositions and phrases and then specifying how they logically relate to each other. It’s the most respectful and fruitful way I know of to take God’s words seriously. (I explain this method in chapter 5 of my book How to Understand and Apply the New Testament: Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology.)

More:

  • Tim Challies reviews the book with Crossway (8/19/2022).
  • Matt Tully interviews me on “the greatest chapter of the Bible” for the Crossway podcast (8/22/2022).
  • Terence Tan reviews both books (10/2/2022).

Update: On 11/16/2022, I recorded some short videos for Crossway on Romans:

The Message of the Book of Romans in One Sentence (2:39 min.)

Why Did the Apostle Paul Write the Book of Romans (1:47 min.)

I’ve Heard It Said, “Once Saved, Always Saved” (2:54 min. | transcript)

I’ve Heard It Said, “God Will Accept Me Because I Know I’m a Good Person” (2:21 min. | transcript)