The Reformed Olive Press

W hen Gods Strike: Cautionary Tales and Instant Death in the Ancient Near East Stories of sudden death at the hands of a deity aren’t unique to the Bible. Across the Ancient Near East (ANE), myths, inscriptions, and legal texts regularly warned people that touching the wrong thing, lying to the gods, or mishandling sacred rituals could bring instant death. These stories functioned as cautionary tales, teaching reverence, obedience, and respect for the divine order. Touching the Sacred In the Hebrew Bible, Uzzah’s story (2 Samuel 6:6–7) is striking: he reaches out to steady the Ark of the Covenant and is immediately struck dead. This is far from an anomaly. Mesopotamia: Temple inscriptions warned that unauthorized handling of sacred objects—like the Tablets of Destinies or ritual vessels—could bring instant death by divine decree. Egypt: Tombs and temples were full of curses threatening death for those who touched sacred objects or entered holy spaces unclean. The Opening of the Mouth r...

I dols in the Bible Were Literal Gods — Not Abstract Ideas In today’s churches, you’ll often hear people warned against “idols” of success, entertainment, romance, or money. Sermons tell us that “anything you put before God” can become an idol. It sounds profound and practical — but it’s not biblical. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the word idol never meant “something you love too much.” It referred to real deities represented by physical images, worshiped through sacrifice, prayer, or ritual. The prophets weren’t diagnosing misplaced priorities — they were calling out literal spiritual treason. Idolatry Was a Theological Problem, Not a Psychological One When the prophets spoke against idolatry, they weren’t talking about bad habits or internal attachments — they were describing covenantal disloyalty to Yahweh. “You shall have no other gods before Me.” — Exodus 20:3 “They sacrificed to demons, not to God.” — Deuteronomy 32:17 The issue wasn’t what people loved; it was...

20 Major Ethical and Theological Problems with Ulrich Zwingli Ulrich Zwingli (1484–1531) is often overshadowed by Luther and Calvin, yet his influence on the Reformation was profound—especially in Switzerland. Though he sought to purify Christianity from superstition and papal corruption, his version of reform introduced its own deep ethical and theological problems. Below are 20 major issues that continue to spark debate among historians, theologians, and ethicists alike. 1. State-Controlled Religion Zwingli fused church and state into a single authority, making the magistrate the enforcer of doctrine. This erased the distinction between conscience and civil law, producing a “theocratic authoritarianism” that later reformers like the Anabaptists rejected. 2. Persecution of the Anabaptists Despite preaching reform, Zwingli sanctioned the drowning of Anabaptists in Zurich—a grim irony since they championed adult faith over infant baptism. His willingness to kill fellow reformers exposed...

F rom Assyria to Jerusalem: Isaiah 26 and Revelation 20–22 as the Death of the Old Covenant For centuries, readers have treated Isaiah’s vision of fallen nations and John’s vision of final judgment as two separate worlds—one ancient, one apocalyptic. Yet when we read Isaiah 26 alongside Revelation 20–22, a striking continuity emerges. Both prophets describe the same drama of covenantal death and renewal: the fall of oppressive powers and the rise of a new, living community. Isaiah’s “they shall not rise” becomes John’s “lake of fire,” while the restoration of God’s people blossoms into the New Jerusalem where His throne now resides. This is not an afterlife realm of torment, but a transformation within history itself—the moment when God’s dwelling moves from temples of stone to the hearts and names of the redeemed. Isaiah’s Vision of the Fallen Powers Isaiah 26 is a song of triumph over Israel’s oppressors. Verse 14 declares: “They are dead, they shall not live; they are shades, they s...

  20 Major Ethical Problems and Tensions in Augustine’s Thought Augustine of Hippo (354–430 CE) is one of the most influential thinkers in Western Christianity. His writings shaped the theology, politics, and psychology of the medieval and modern church. Yet, beneath his eloquence about love and grace lie deep contradictions—especially between his ideals of divine love and his acceptance of social and political cruelty. Many of his ideas became foundations for centuries of religious intolerance and moral confusion. Here are 20 major ethical problems and tensions in Augustine’s thought and influence. Slavery & Violence 1. Endorsing Slavery as Natural and Providential Augustine accepted slavery as part of the world’s fallen order, describing it as a consequence of sin but still “natural” under divine providence. Instead of condemning the system, he urged slaves to obey their masters and masters to rule “kindly.” This moral acceptance of bondage helped Christianize slavery rather ...