Boom! My verse-by-verse commentary on 1 Peter is now available from Pronomian Publishing! It's the 1st volume in the new Messianic Jewish Application Commentary Series (MJAC), edited by Dr. Igal German. Praying it blesses the body of Messiah. Learn more: a.co/d/2dcTbwI

Many Christians are rethinking Halloween and opting for alternatives like church-sponsored "harvest festivals." I think that's great. But God already gave us harvest festivals to celebrate. They're in the Bible (see, e.g., Lev. 23; Deut. 16). So if you're looking for an alternative to Halloween, you don't need to come up with your own harvest festival. God has already given us the biblical harvest festivals.

Most people don’t intend to be hurtful. We know this because we know our own hearts and motivations. Yet when someone offends us, even in small ways, we often fail to extend to them the same grace we give ourselves. Instead, we let feelings of rejection and false assumptions take over: “They must not really value our relationship.” Such thoughts can grow into insecurity and bitterness. Scripture calls us to live self-controlled lives, not ruled by emotion. We must resist assumptions, pause to reflect, and humbly approach the person to share our feelings and seek understanding. Most conflicts can be resolved through simple, honest conversation.

Origen’s Commentary on Romans offers a fascinating perspective on the Apostolic Decree in Acts 15. Rather than seeing the Jerusalem Council as setting aside the Torah for Gentile believers, Origen argues that the apostles looked to the Torah itself to determine what God required of Gentiles. This video explores his reasoning concerning blood, strangled meat, and circumcision, and what it might contribute to the larger question of Gentile Torah observance. davidwilber.com/videos/orige…

In this week's Torah Portion, Lech Lecha, we read, "Now the Lord said to Abram..." Have you ever wished God would speak to you the way he spoke to Abraham? Imagine how much easier life would be if God simply told you what to do and where to go. But while Abraham experienced some incredible encounters with God, those encounters were much less frequent than we might imagine. The good news is that we have something Abraham didn’t have: the written Word of God. davidwilber.com/articles/wan…

Good stuff here from Dr. Imes! Sabbath matters.

How often have we seen people led astray due to the failure of leadership, either in their bad example or their false teachings, or both? God does not take such irreverence from leaders lightly. Leaders will be held accountable for abusing their position of influence. "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness" (James 3:1).

Shabbat Shalom! May you all have a blessed and peaceful day of rest!

Another article of mine was just published in an academic journal. Neat! The article looks at Leviticus 18:18, which is a verse traditionally understood as prohibiting a man from having two sisters as wives at the same time. I argue that this verse actually prohibits polygamy in general and respond to recent scholarly objections to this reading. Read the article here: faithcivilizationtheology.or…

In 2 Peter 3:15–17, Peter warns his readers against those who twist Paul’s letters, and he associates their misinterpretations with “the error of lawless people.” In this article, I examine both the immediate and broader context of this passage as well as the specific language Peter uses to characterize those who twist Paul’s letters. I argue that 2 Peter 3:15–17 constitutes a warning against antinomians who misinterpret Paul’s letters to justify and encourage transgression of the Law of Moses. davidwilber.com/articles/pet…

If you're a genuine follower of Messiah, the world will see that you're different. Your values and priorities won't match the world's values and priorities. Many people will hate you because of your beliefs and lifestyle: "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). But others will be drawn to the Lord and will glorify Him because they see your good works: "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

If Ben Shapiro were really so terrible, you’d think his critics on the fake Right wouldn’t have to rely on making stuff up to attack him all the time. They’d just be able to argue against his actual positions.

In this video, I address a TikToker's bad pro-abortion argument. davidwilber.com/videos/are-p…

In spite of current circumstances that point to fear and gloom, followers of Yeshua respond properly by rejoicing. Even though the present situation might seem bleak, we know how the story is going to end. The living hope we've been born into through Yeshua's resurrection prompts us to rejoice. "In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials" (1 Peter 1:6).

Was God attacking the inviolability and dignity of the person when he prescribed the death penalty?

Shabbat Shalom, everyone! May your day of rest be blessed!