James M. Hamilton Jr. > Quotes

“In the old covenant God faithfully remained with His people, accompanying them in a pillar of fire and cloud, then dwelling among them in the tabernacle and the temple. Under the new covenant, the only temple is the believing community itself, and God dwells not only among the community corporately (Matt 18:20; 1 Cor 3:16; 2 Cor 6:16), but also in each member individually (John 14:17; Rom 8:9–11; 1 Cor 6:19). This is the overarching thesis this book seeks to establish.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments

“3.5 The Book of the Twelve Hosea identifies Israel’s idolatry as spiritual adultery. Joel connects a locust plague to the curses of the covenant Yahweh made with Israel. Amos calls Israel to seek Yahweh, the roaring lion, and live. Obadiah denounces Edom for violence to Jacob. Jonah sees Nineveh repent in response to the proclamation of coming judgment. Micah beholds the mountains melt when Yahweh treads on them to judge and save. Nahum prophesies the fall of Nineveh. Habakkuk questions Yahweh, and trusts him, regarding the judgment Babylon brings against Israel, then experiences. Zephaniah proclaims that those who seek Yahweh will be hidden on the day of his wrath and delivered, and that he will sing over them. Haggai calls the people to rebuild the temple. Zechariah declares it will be rebuilt not by might or by power but by the Spirit of Yahweh. Malachi assures Israel of Yahweh’s love and points to the day when Elijah will prepare the way for Yahweh to be glorified in a decisive act of salvation through judgment.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment

“The love of Jesus upholds justice and extends mercy.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment

“The indwelling of the Spirit is God's favorable presence abiding with those who enjoy His merciful establishment of a covenant relationship. John Frame explains, “God is not merely present in the world; he is covenantally present. He is with his creatures to bless and to judge them in accordance with the terms of his covenant.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments

“This reality is not limited to the Old Testament: Jesus spoke of his death as a baptism (e.g.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., What Is Biblical Theology?: A Guide to the Bible's Story, Symbolism, and Patterns

“God’s righteousness condemns every attempt to be justified by works.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment

“If old covenant believers were regenerated by the Spirit, what is new about the new interiority promised in Jer 31:31–34? The newness does not consist in the Spirit's regenerating ministry of enabling people to hear God's word and believe. What is new is the indwelling ministry of the Spirit and the spiritualized view of the temple.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments

“If biblical theology is a way to get into another world, the world inhabited by the biblical authors, you have a right to understand my intentions. My hope is that you cross the bridge into their thought-world and never come back. I hope you will breathe the air of the Bible’s world, recognize it as the real Narnia, and never want to leave.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., What Is Biblical Theology?: A Guide to the Bible's Story, Symbolism, and Patterns

“In other words, why does Luke tell his readers that certain Christians are prophets (e.g. 11:27; 13:1; 15:32) if in fact all Christians have the Spirit of prophecy?”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments

“Reading stories forces us to exercise our empathy and imagination muscles, and that helps us conceive what the Bible depicts or demands, helps us connect with others, helps us illustrate what the text teaches, and helps us apply the text’s truths.”
― James M. Hamilton

“From eternity past God planned for his ministers to suffer as they proclaim the gospel in the face of hostile opposition from Satan, sin, death, and hell.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment

“Churches that do not discipline jeopardize the lives of those who, like Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10), disregard God’s instructions as they approach him and risk being consumed by an outburst of his holiness (cf. 1 Cor. 11:27–32).”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., What Is Biblical Theology?: A Guide to the Bible's Story, Symbolism, and Patterns

“Though God is beyond our comprehension, we can know him and speak meaningfully about him because he has revealed himself to us in the written and living word.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment

“it is righteous for God to seek his own glory. He is God and has no other gods before himself.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment

“The path to wealth is the path of trusting Yahweh, not the path of greed.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment

“El tema central de la Biblia es la gloria de Dios en la salvación a través del juicio.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., ¿Que es la Teologia Biblica? : Una guía para la Historia, el Simbolismo y los Patrones de la Biblia

“God saves Christians not because they have been righteous but because he is merciful”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment

“Si bien la santidad de Dios se ve con frecuencia en el juicio, y la misericordia de Dios se ve con frecuencia en la salvación, también es cierto que Dios revela su santidad cuando salva, porque cuando salva cumple las promesas que ha hecho.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., La Gloria de Dios en la Salvación a través del Juicio (Volumen 1: Antiguo Testamento) : Una Teologia Biblica

“Jesus exhaustively receives the wrath of God.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment

“What I’m suggesting is that the Bible teaches Christians how the Bible should be read. Studying biblical theology is the best way to learn from the Bible how to read the Bible as a Christian should. By the same token, studying the Bible is the best way to learn biblical theology.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., What Is Biblical Theology?: A Guide to the Bible's Story, Symbolism, and Patterns

“The cross uniquely displays that both Jesus and the Father are committed to justice and mercy, even unto death.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment

“Long ago a brother in Christ wrote to Diognetus about Christians:   They love everyone, and by everyone they are persecuted. They are unknown, yet they are condemned; they are put to death, yet they are brought to life. They are poor, yet they make many rich; they are in need of everything, yet they abound in everything. They are dishonored, yet they are glorified in their dishonor; they are slandered, yet they are vindicated. They are cursed, yet they bless; they are insulted, yet they offer respect. When they do good, they are punished as evildoers; when they are punished, they rejoice as though brought to life . . . and so Christians when punished daily increase more and more. (Diognetus 5:11–16; 6:9b)   Don’t miss what that quotation communicates: these Christians live in a way that says that knowing God is better than freedom from persecution. Knowing God is better than avoiding martyrdom by denying him. Knowing God is better than money. Knowing God is better than worldly fame. Knowing God is better than doing evil to avoid persecution from a criminal government.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., Revelation: The Spirit Speaks to the Churches

“Great books make great readers,129 and exposure to lofty thoughts is a challenging and inspiring experience. Loftier thoughts than Isaiah’s, recorded in chapters 40–66 of his prophecy, are scarcely to be found.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment

“to know God is to perceive his worship-inspiring holiness and love, severity and kindness, righteousness and mercy.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment

“God judges all human pride and presumption based on worldly estimations of beauty, and he hears the humble who cry to him.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment

“Luke describes Stephen, Barnabas, and the disciples as “full of the Spirit” (Acts 6:5; 7:55; 11:24; 13:52) and notes that the deacons were expected to be the same (6:3).33 This pipe is made not for a wind that comes in explosive power resulting in extraordinary deeds, like the mighty rushing on the day of Pentecost (2:2). Rather, this pipe is designed for the continual presence of the Spirit which transforms people downcast by persecution into those who experience the unexpected emotions of joy (13:52), contentment (7:59), and forgiveness for their persecutors (7:60). This is not the music of ecstatic utterance but of characteristic constancy.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments

“If Yahweh’s worth is not so great that those who reject him have committed a crime that cries out for infinite justice, then the zero-tolerance policy against the people of the land is a brutal, unjust, egomaniacal atrocity.3 But Yahweh’s policies are not like those of mere men, whose importance does not warrant the slaughter of their opponents. Nor is this a kind of immature self-centered phase that Yahweh eventually grows out of when he decides to be nice and send his Son, Jesus. Rather, the ban on the Canaanites heralds the infinite majesty of the justice of Yahweh, whose holiness demands perfect loyalty, whose worth is such that anything less than absolute allegiance defiles unto death.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment

“Yahweh is the central reality in the universe, and seeking to understand life apart from him is folly.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment

“Eden apart from God’s presence would be a hellish absence of the one thing that makes life sacred. Life in Eden without God would be no different from godless life in some lush place now (Breckenridge, Colorado; Beverly Hills, California; or the South of France). Heaven without God is nothing but a pretty hell.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., Work and Our Labor in the Lord

“From eternity past God purposed to visit judgment on Jesus so that he could show mercy to the elect.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment