Articles by Dr. John Herbst
Originally from New York City, John W. Herbst earned his PhD in Bible, majoring in Old Testament, from Union Presbyterian Seminary in 2014. He is the Scholar-in-Residence for the Virginia Peninsula Baptist Association. He wrote Development of an Icon: Solomon Before and After King David (Pickwick, 2016). An ordained Baptist minister, he has pastored churches in Farmville, VA and Lawrenceville, VA, and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses on Bible and Religion. He and his wife, the Reverend Anne R. Kirchmier, live in Newport News, VA.
Miroslav Volf and Matthew Croasmun. For the Life of the World: Theology that Makes a Difference. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2019. Pp 196. ISBN 978-1-58743-401-3. $21.99 hardback.
For the Life aims to motivate us to focus our theology on …
For many modern Bible readers, the words “dream” and “vision” are equivalent, which is unsurprising as the Bible itself often uses these terms in parallel. But the two are not the same. While visions can …
Carolyn B. Helsel. Preaching about Racism: A Guide for Faith Leaders. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2018. 132pp. $33.95.
In 2020 many of us sense a nagging call to address racism from the pulpit. Unfortunately, we do not have …
by John W. Herbst
Feasting is fun. Human beings eagerly anticipate elaborate planned meals as an essential element of celebration. We design these events to help ourselves enjoy ourselves, spending some time pushing aside cares of …
by John Herbst
“Every dream represents a wish as fulfilled. Thanks to a relative relaxation of censorship in sleep, a dream expresses repressed desires whose satisfaction is forbidden during the waking state.”
—Sigmund Freud
Freud’s statement rings true …
by John W. Herbst
We live in an age of distrust, far from Isaiah’s ideal. Individually and collectively, people seek security. The church needs to promote Isaiah’s solutions to local and global disharmony: concentration on God’s ways and values, and the promotion of justice for all people, everywhere. It is only in knowledge and justice that our society will experience true shalom.
by John W. Herbst
The most fundamental of Old Testament ideas is Yahweh as Creator. The concept of Yahweh as creator points obviously to God’s omnipotence and rightful place as ruler of the universe. For people of the Old Testament however, Yahweh’s role as creator implies the power to “recreate,” that is, to restore that which is barren and lifeless.
by John W. Herbst
The Old Testament Books of Judges and Ruth are set in the same time period—Israel prior to the establishment of the monarchy—but hospitality clearly “works” in one but does not fare so well in the other. This intriguing article explores the reasons why.
