The Biblical Annals

'To Serve the Egyptians' vs 'To Serve God' (cf. Exod 14:12; 35:19): Service as a Key Motivation For the Exodus

2026-04-30T13:27:21+02:00

Contemporary studies of the Book of Exodus accord significant importance to the theme of Israel, the people of God, being emancipated from a state of ‘service to Pharaoh’ to ‘service to God’. However, our understanding of this is underdetermined. Many see it merely as a pretext for the exodus; others link the idea of ‘service to God’ with worship. A literary analysis of the places in Exodus that feature the theme of ‘service’ makes it possible not only to confirm the relevance of ‘service to God’ to the book as a whole but also to define it outside its usual cultic context as the ‘life’ of God’s people.

The Keeper of the Wardrobe (2 Kgs 22:14 || 2 Chr 34:22): A Historical and Exegetical Study

2026-04-30T13:27:19+02:00

This article analyses the office of the ‘keeper of the wardrobe’ ( שֹׁמֵֵֹר הַבְַּגְָדִִָים šōmēr habbᵊḡāḏîm) mentioned in 2 Kgs 22:14 and 2 Chr 34:22, marginal in exegetical literature, yet important for reconstructing the realities of ancient Israel. The study presents three main interpretations of this role: keeper of the Temple wardrobe, overseer of the royal wardrobe, and an official with an undefined role. A philological and comparative analysis, supported by rabbinical sources and the testimony of Josephus, indicates that the keeping of the wardrobe had practical, prestigious, and symbolic significance, closely linked to institutions of worship and authority. The findings open new perspectives for research into the functioning of temples and the role of garments in the religious and political structures of the ancient Near East.

Shared Motifs, Distinct Functions: Theological Transformation in Ancient Near Eastern Lament Traditions

2026-04-30T13:27:17+02:00

Current comparative approaches to Mesopotamian city laments and biblical Lamentations face methodological limitations in distinguishing shared literary conventions from distinct theological interpretations. While formal parallels have been identified (Dobbs-Allsopp 1993, Cohen 1988), existing frameworks have not systematically examined how identical motifs serve different theological purposes. This study proposes theological transformation analysis that evaluates functional differences alongside formal similarities. Through comparison of three shared motifs – divine abandonment, communal grief, and restoration vision – this analysis suggests identical literary forms serve distinct functions: ritual appeasement versus covenantal repentance, ceremonial performance versus moral transformation, and cosmic order restoration versus ethical renewal. Rather than direct dependence or independent development, these traditions demonstrate how shared ancient Near Eastern conventions could be transformed through distinct theological frameworks, offering methodological tools for comparative studies.

The Hymns of Amos and the Cosmic Temple: Salvation as Creation, Decreation, and Recreation

2026-04-30T13:27:16+02:00

Salvation in Amos is typically viewed through the lens of a Deuteronomistic covenant. This article argues for adopting a broader paradigm, contending that Amos’s vision is fundamentally oriented toward the restoration of Yahweh’s cosmic temple. Analysing Amos’s hymnic passages (4:13; 5:8–9; 9:5–6) through the lens of cosmic temple imagination reveals that the prophet’s message follows a pattern of creation–decreation–recreation. The hymns establish Yahweh’s sovereignty as Creator, framing Israel’s sin as a cosmic rebellion that provokes decreation. Salvation thus emerges not as a nationalistic restoration but as the eschatological recreation of the divine dwelling place, affirming Yahweh’s triumph as the Cosmic King.

The Presentation in the Temple (Luke 2:21–24): An Intertextual Reading in a Communicative Approach

2026-04-30T13:27:12+02:00

The presentation in the Temple (Luke 2:21–24) is a key text for understanding Jesus’ infancy. Through a rich intertextual dialogue, which includes the first two textual quotations from Luke, the importance of the Law of Moses in understanding the Messiah of Israel is shown. Circumcision, the naming, the offering, and the ransom of the firstborn form the first stages in the life of Jesus. The journey proposed starts from the text in its literary context, analysing textual cohesion and communicative coherence, and concluding with a pragmatic focus.

Will There Really Be Greater Joy for One Repentant Sinner than for Ninety-Nine Righteous Ones (Luke 15:7)?

2026-02-17T08:55:34+01:00

Luke 15:7, a theological summary of the parable of the lost sheep, is a pivotal New Testament text on divine mercy. It is commonly interpreted as asserting that heaven rejoices more over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous individuals who need no repentance. However, the Greek text lacks a complete comparative structure, raising questions about whether the conjunct ἤ alone suffices to support a comparative interpretation. This article investigates this issue through a detailed syntactic analysis of Luke 15:7 and evaluates arguments traditionally used to favor a comparative reading. The findings suggest that the independent use of ἤ in the verse indicates an alternative or disjunctive function (‘or’) rather than a comparative one (‘than’), challenging the traditional interpretation of the text : “In the same way there will be rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents or over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Theology of the Eucharist in Erasmus' and Titelmans' Paraphrase of John 6

2026-04-30T13:27:13+02:00

This article explores theological differences in biblical paraphrases of Erasmus of Rotterdam and Francis Titelmans. Erasmus’ biblical scholarship included paraphrases of New Testament books; a genre of biblical commentary that he effectively reinvented. His paraphrases were acclaimed by fellow humanists but criticised by many theologians, including Noel Beda. Meanwhile, Beda’s protegee, Francis Titelmans prepared his own paraphrases, borrowing from Erasmus his innovative form, but filling it with conservative content. This article concentrates on their respective paraphrases of John 6. It demonstrates Titelmans’ indebtness to the older humanist in terms of styles and explores theological differences between them. Erasmus departed from the traditional, eucharistic reading of John 6 and emphasised ethical issues. He often described the Lord’s Supper as symbolic and mystical, which entangled him in accusations of sharing eucharistic theology of Swiss reformers. Titelmans, on the other hand, upheld in all aspects traditional, Catholic teaching and read John 6 through a sacramental prism. The analysis of those early 16th century paraphrases sheds light on pre-Tridentine Catholic biblical exegesis and shows methodological developments that came to full fruition after the Council.

Academic Activities of the Institute of Biblical Studies at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin in the Year 2024/2025

2026-03-25T21:07:24+01:00

Suzanna Millar, Animals, Power, and Intersectionality in the Books of Samuel (The Bible and the Humanities; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2026)

2026-03-31T15:08:58+02:00

Book review: Suzanna Millar, Animals, Power, and Intersectionality in the Books of Samuel (The Bible and the Humanities; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2026). Pp. xi + 281. ISBN: 9780198973997.