Theological Term of the Week

mirror reading
Reading a biblical epistle with the assumption that most of what is written by the author reflects a particular problem within the church receiving the letter; the practice of reading statements or assertions in a biblical epistle and attempting to identify the circumstances that elicited the (supposed) response given by the author.

• From Tom Schreiner in From Heaven He Came and Sought Her, on the context of 1 Timothy: 

As most commentators agree, a mirror reading of 1 Timothy suggests that in this epistle the apostle Paul confronts some kind of exclusivism heresy. Perhaps Paul’s opponents relied on geneologies to limit salvation to only a certain group of people, excluding from God’s saving purposes those who were notoriously sinful or those from so-called inferior backgrounds (1:4; cf Titus 3:9). Paul writes to remind Timothy and the church that God’s grace is surprising: his grace reaches down and rescues all kinds of sinners, even people like Paul who seem to be beyond his saving grace.1

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Linked Together: Scripture

A Verse
Romans 8:32 says this,”He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” So what are the “all things” that come with the “love of the Father expressed in the sacrifice of the Son”? Derek Thomas answers — and it’s good news.

A Passage
”Have you noticed the double brackets in the ESV that surround John 7:53–8:11? Those double brackets mean that the ESV’s translation committee does not consider this passage to be original to John’s Gospel.” Because this passage is not original to John’s Gospel, Jim Hamilton argues it should be in a footnote.

A Book
I’m always looking for new books to add to my list of books of theology every Christian woman should read, and this one looks like a good candidate.

Update 1: Tim Challies reviewed it today, too.

Update 2: Here’s a study guide for it (pdf) from Westminster Books.

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 31. Why is [Jesus, the only Saviour,] called “Christ”, that is, Anointed?

Answer: Because he is ordained by God the Father, and anointed with the Holy Spirit, (a) to be our chief Prophet and Teacher, (b) who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption; (c) and to be our only High Priest, (d) who by the one sacrifice of his body, has redeemed us, (e) and who continually intercedes for us before the FAther; (f) and also to be our eternal King, who governs us by his word and Spirit, and who defends and preserves us in the salvation he has purchased for us. (g)

(Click through to see scriptural proofs.)

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