Edmond Smith

Mirrors in Mark

Edmond Smith

Do you desire to go deeper still in your understanding of the New Testament Scriptures? In Mirrors in Mark you will find a fresh and arresting approach to most of the New Testament, drawing on the mnemonic methods that were common to the ancient world and employed by writers of the Scriptures. Much of the fascination of Mark's Gospel–Mark receives particular attention in this book–lies in the use of catchwords and catch-phrases to stamp on our minds the words and works of Jesus.
The other works of the New Testament treated in this way are Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, Jude, and Revelation. The book of Revelation features quite largely, yielding up many invaluable insights into its apocalyptic nature.
This book will prove to be a constant companion to the serious student of the sacred writings.

The Scandal of God’s Forgiveness

Edmond Smith

Do we appreciate to the full why the Jewish believers of the early church «were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on Gentiles»? Why they were amazed that «God had granted repentance» to Gentiles for eternal life?
Sacred history is to be seen through enlightened Jewish eyes, revealing that Israel was initially the sole beneficiary of God's revelation before Christ. For the most part the Gentiles were «allowed . . . to walk in their own ways.» Such was according to divine predestination and the prerogative that God has the freedom to be merciful on whom he desires to be merciful. At the coming of Christ–to the surprise of Jewish believers–Gentiles in numbers became subjects of God's electing love as well. Jesus died for «the world» in the sense that he died for Jew and Gentile.
And God's freedom in predestination continues to be manifested in the election of both Jew and Gentile, with Christ dying specifically for all those elected of God, as a wide survey of New Testament texts verify.