Browse all RAF articles, newest first.
What Paul Assumed — and What Later Theology Tried to Fix
Explore the shared biblical world Paul assumes in his letters, and why later theological categories should be tested against that original setting.
Paul assumes far more than he ever explains, and modern readers keep tripping over the gaps like they’re missing pages (they’re not).
Paul’s letters often assume teaching his churches already knew. Explore how audience, prior instruction, and local circumstances shape interpretation.
Why Paul Wrote So Many Letters: Mission, Distance, and Pastoral Care
Why did Paul write so many letters? Explore mission, distance, pastoral care, and the particular churches and problems behind his correspondence.
Luke, Paul, and the Myth of Apostolic Harmony
Compare Luke’s account in Acts with Paul’s letters, considering genre, purpose, and the challenges of reconstructing history from different witnesses.
The Holy Spirit: Presence, Allegiance, and the Myth of “Receiving”
Explore the Holy Spirit through biblical language of God’s presence, power, and covenant life, with attention to the interpretive categories readers bring.
Did God Lie?—What Scripture Actually Tells Us
Did God lie in 1 Kings 22? Follow Micaiah’s vision, Ahab’s prophets, and the narrative’s portrayal of divine judgment and human refusal to listen.
The Apostolic Preference for Narrative Over System
Why begin with the apostolic narrative before building a theological system? Explore how setting, sequence, and audience shape the meaning of Scripture.
The Bible Isn’t Clean: Why Faith Requires Backbone
Scripture contains tension, difficult language, and human particularity. Explore why honest interpretation begins by attending to the text as it stands.
Philippians 2—Authority, Obedience, and the Shape of Exaltation
Read Philippians 2:5–11 as a movement through humility, obedience, and exaltation, with attention to Paul’s appeal for the community to imitate Christ.
Authority Before Ontology (Explained)
Explore the distinction between authority and ontology in early Christian claims about Jesus, and why narrative context matters before later definitions.
Restoring Apostolic Faith 