The Reformed Olive Press

  Respecting, Not Obeying: Rethinking Leadership and Submission in the Body of Christ In many church circles today, Hebrews 13:17 is often cited to demand blind obedience to church leaders: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls…” (ESV) But a closer look at the Greek word translated “obey” reveals a different picture. The word peitho carries the idea of being persuaded, not simply submitting to a hierarchical command. Many translations and lexicons support this softer, more relational nuance: “Be persuaded by your leaders” — implying a mutual dialogue, not top-down rule. This understanding harmonizes with Acts 26:28, where King Agrippa says to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” The same Greek word is used — peitho — and it clearly has nothing to do with obedience by force, but with reasoning and influence. Church leadership, then, should be about persuasion and guidance, not control. Humility, Not Hierarchy Peter echoes ...

  "Delivered to Satan": A Reflection on Church Discipline The phrase “delivered to Satan” appears a few times in the New Testament and has often raised questions—and sometimes fear—among believers.  “You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 5:5 “Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.” — 1 Timothy 1:20 Not the Lake of Fire, but Separation First, “delivered to Satan” does not refer to eternal damnation. In both cases, the intent is restorative — not punitive destruction. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5 that the man’s spirit may be saved. In 1 Timothy, the goal is that the offenders LEARN not to blaspheme. This is about correction, not condemnation. So what does it mean? Delivering someone to Satan meant removing them from the protection, fellowship, and spiritual covering of the covenant community. It was a h...

C hrist's Proclamation to the Dead: Unlocking the Scroll of Judgment (1 Peter 3:19–22, God's Word Translation-GW) There are few verses as mysterious—and as misused—as this one in 1 Peter 3:19. For generations, theologians have debated what it means that Christ “proclaimed his victory to the spirits kept in prison.” The mystery becomes clearer, and more glorious: this is not a moment of purgatorial rescue, but of judicial proclamation—a key moment in Christ’s eschatological vindication and the closing of the old covenant age. 1. The Context: 1 Peter 3:19–22 (GW)  "19 In it he also went to proclaim his victory to the spirits kept in prison. 20 They are like those who disobeyed long ago in the days of Noah when God waited patiently while Noah built the ship. In this ship a few people—eight in all—were saved by water. 21 Baptism, which is like that water, now saves you. Baptism doesn’t save by removing dirt from the body. Rather, baptism is a request to God for a clear conscie...

  The Song of Solomon: A Love Story of Lost and Restored Presence Fulfilled in 70AD The Song of Solomon is often viewed simply as a love poem, but it unfolds as a grand allegory of God's covenant relationship with His people throughout redemptive history, culminating in the permanent indwelling of His Presence in  70 AD. In this reading, Solomon represents God the Father Himself, not Jesus, through the principle of agency. The Shulamite woman symbolizes Israel, especially the faithful remnant longing for reunion with God's true glory and presence. Chapter 1: Egypt — The Courtship Begins In chapter 1, the beloved reflects on the hardship of labor, much like Israel's suffering in Egypt. Their "darkness" is not sinfulness but affliction under harsh oppression. Yet amid bondage, God's covenant love seeks them out. This is the beginning of their relationship: not fully consummated yet, but a promise and courtship. God, represented by Solomon, draws near to Israel, ...

  From Sacrifices to Spirit: How Jewish Good Works Transitioned After 70 AD Under the framework of Full Preterism, we understand that the eschatological events foretold by Jesus and the apostles—especially judgment on Jerusalem and the temple—culminated in AD 70. This event marked the end of the old covenant age and the full arrival of the new covenant order. When we pair this with the New Perspective on Paul, which emphasizes covenant membership, faithfulness, and participation in the life of the Messiah, a compelling picture emerges of how Jewish obedience and “good works” transitioned over time. Pre-AD 70: Lawful Works Within Covenant Before AD 70, faithful Jews, including those who followed Jesus as the Messiah, were still able to participate in the temple cultus. Offerings, Sabbaths, feasts, and other markers of Torah-faithfulness were not viewed as obsolete but as still having relevance during the transition period. The early Jesus movement (Acts 21:20-26) testifies to Jewish...

  Faithful Through the Fire: 1 Corinthians 10:13 in Context of Covenant Transition "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." — 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) Too often, 1 Corinthians 10:13 is lifted from its context to offer comfort in any kind of personal struggle. And while God's faithfulness is always present, this verse comes alive in a deeper way when we understand it within its original covenantal and historical framework. Paul’s words are not just general moral encouragement—they’re covenantal assurance to a church caught in the tension of Old Covenant pressures and the coming New Covenant glory, all in the waning moments before AD 70. The Wilderness Pattern: A Covenant Warning In the verses leading up to 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul draws a direct parallel between the Exodus generation a...

  Prophecy Then and Now: From Prediction to Participation Prophecy is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Scripture today. For many, it still conjures up images of ancient seers forecasting world events or modern "prophets" predicting national politics and global timelines. It’s time we distinguish Old Covenant prophecy from New Covenant prophecy—not just in method, but in purpose, function, and duration. 1. Old Covenant Prophecy: Divine Decrees Within a Covenant of Shadows Under the Old Covenant, prophecy was authoritative revelation given directly to specific prophets to warn, instruct, or reveal what God had sovereignly planned for Israel and the nations. The prophetic word came as a "Thus says the Lord" directive, often accompanied by strong warnings of judgment or promises of future deliverance. Why? Because Israel lived under a covenant of law, land, and lineage. Their history was intimately tied to covenantal blessings and curses (Deut. 28). God, as the...