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The Old Testament Theology of Walter Christian Kaiser, Jr.

  Introduction This article will discuss the overarching understanding of Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.’s Old Testament [1] theology. In doing so, it discusses the standpoint which made Kaiser propose an alternative methodology different from his predecessors. It also investigates the overview of Kaiser’s methodology for OT theology and briefly examines Kaiser’s understanding of the “centre” in OT theology. Ultimately, it critiques and evaluates Kaiser’s methodology of various scholars. In doing so, we start by looking at who Kaiser is. 1. Biography Walter Christian Kaiser, Jr. is a prominent academic specializing in OT studies within the American evangelical tradition. Kaiser was born on April 11, 1933, in Folcroft, Pennsylvania. According to Kaiser’s assessment, his fascination with the OT was initially ignited during a biology class in high school, wherein the Genesis narrative was resolutely discredited. His scholarly pursuit of OT started at Wheaton College, and he pursued postgrad
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Dropping off our Baggage

  If you have ever travelled by aircraft, you will know that we cannot take our most oversized luggage to our seats, but we must drop our baggage at the flight counter before taking off. But doesn’t that ring a bell to you regarding our spiritual journey? In our Christian life, we have one baggage: anxiety. We carry it daily, and it is hard to let it go. However, God wants us to drop it and never claim it again. Being anxiety-free in the present world is challenging. Still, Jesus told us not to be anxious about our life because God is there to provide for our needs (Matthew 6:26). Why did he say that? Because he knows that sin is not the only factor that hinders our spiritual journey but anxiety too. Hebrews 12:1 confirms that by saying, “...let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely...”. You see, weight (anxiety) can also impact our relationship with God, and we cannot take off with it in our journey with the Lord. So how do we deal with it? Peter says w
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RiSophia is taking off!

Yay! you’re here. Thank you for visiting! Welcome to my blog, where I share my thoughts through writing, be it the devotions, academic-related topics such as theology, ancient Hebrew, philosophy, biblical economics, and so much more. You might ask, Why start a blog in a world where people rarely read? The answer is simple: I want to share my thoughts and help anyone in the slightest way possible, be it one or two. I hope you enjoy reading it. Please do share it if you think and find it helpful. Any feedback from your side is welcome. Feel free to contact me through the mail at aibantei.tj@gmail.com   ADIEU FOR NOW! Photo by Pixabay.
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Ask, Seek and Knock - Matthew 7:7-11

Prayer is the lifeblood of a Christian; it gives us hope when hopeless and peace when the world around us is chaotic. In this passage, Jesus encourages a prayerful life, which entails. Asking, Seeking, and Knocking. The context of this passage is not a call to pray for whatever we want, but a call to pray for whatever we need. The three imperatives here are in continuous form, meaning that it is not a one-time act, but you keep asking, seeking and knocking.  Asking  is an invitation to be diligent in prayer, a call to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17).  Seeking  is an invitation to pursue God and His will. Because those who seek him find him (Proverbs 8:17).  Knocking  is a picture of entering into God’s presence and blessings, which David loves to do (Psalm 27:4). And Jesus promises that He will surely answer to those who sincerely need what they ask, seek, and knock.   Jesus says in Luke 11:13, ask for the Holy Spirit, and the heavenly Father will give to you. Then the
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A Life of Integrity - Psalm 26

We live in a world where integrity is not a treasured virtue anymore. Sadly, duplicity is evident even among Christians. Therefore, let us look at the three anchors of integrity that David practiced in his life. 1. A Life of Consistency: Verse 1 says, “ Vindicate me, O Lord , for I have walked in my integrity; And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.” David here pleads before the LORD that he has kept his integrity. In Verse 2, David tries to make a case that he is not lying. He is consistent both then and now and even in the future (v.11). 2. A Life of Confession: A Confessions of God’s Love . Verse 3 says, “For Thy lovingkindness is before my eyes.” He confesses that God’s love for him is always before him. It is not behind him nor far away from him. A Confession about God . Verse 7 says, “That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and declare all your wonders.” Here is giving thanks to God with his voice and declaring God’s wonderous works to himself and othe
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Assurance in the Journey of Life (Psalm 23:1-3)

Life has been uncertain since the pandemic, and most of us have questioned the presence of God in our life. However, David reminds us of the assurance of life’s journey in a broken world like this. David here paints a picture of God in the form of a shepherd who takes care of his sheep, which highlights the three assurances that God promises through this Psalm: Assurance of Supply(V2) :  ‘Green pastures and still waters’  represent the essential needs of everyday life. David reminds us that we should trust in God and not worry about our daily basic needs. Assurance of Salvation(V3a) :  ‘Restores my soul’  signifies a relationship that God has mended. David reminds us that our relationship with God is in a broken state. Still, God himself restores that back through His gift of salvation. Assurance of Guidance(v3b) : David says, “He leads me in right paths.” Sometimes, we cannot choose between right and wrong in life, but God will help us determi
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The Boldness of Broken-Hearted Sinners

“But as for me, I will be on the watch for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation.  My God will hear me…” Micah 7:7-8.   David says in Psalm 51 that our sin is always before us, and we all agree. As Christians, we end up in a freeze mode whenever we fall into sin, and we rarely know what to do. However, Micah gave us hope in these verses and showed us what to do when we fall into sin.   A) The Boldness to Watch(7a):  Micah calls us to look unto the Lord for help, not to ourselves because he knows that we cannot cleanse our sins; only God can. We should rest assured as Christians that Christ’s atoning death on the cross is enough for us. The wrath that was supposed to be upon us, Christ, died for us. The only act we can do is to confess our sins before him.   B) The Boldness to Wait(7b):  Micah then exhorts to wait upon the Lord because he knows that salvation comes from God alone. Micah hopes that God will not only forgive his sin but that God’s grace in forgivenes
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