I am Emeritus Professor of Old Testament at Northern Baptist Seminary. I was born in Brazil. I graduated from California Baptist College, Golden Gate Baptist Seminary, The Southern Baptist Seminary, and have done additional graduate work at the Graduate Theological Union. I have pastored churches in California, Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois. I have published more than 200 articles and book reviews in English, Spanish, and Russian. My academic works have been published in The Anchor Bible Dictionary, The Mercer Dictionary of the Bible, The Holman Bible Dictionary, Jewish Bible Quarterly, Perspective in Religious Studies, The Expository Times, Biblical Illustrator, Old Testament Abstracts, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, The Journal of Biblical Literature, and Biblical Archaeologist.
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>This site also seems to be the nexus of the ongoing struggle between religious factions and secularists in Israeli society:http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1131599.html
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>Nate,Thank you for the link. It was a very interesting article. I was unaware of the conflict that the rebuilding of the synagogue had caused.I hope readers will follow the link and read the article.Claude Mariottini
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>If rebuilding a synagogue is this controversial, imagine the conflict rebuilding the TEMPLE would cause!
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>Nate,You are right. Remember the old saying: When two Jews get together there are always 3 different opinions.Claude Mariottini
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>Greeting Dr. Mariottini,The idea of a 'third temple' being built in Jerusalem only seem to serve as plow machine working–chopping down trees and smoothing the ground–for a major mid-east conflict. Though I doubt the nations that are opposed to the idea will ever voice it publically or take actions of that nature, I'm certain (and this is with great certainty) that violent anti-Jewish sects from all corners will show their disapproval. I do have a question in mind concerning a passage that I've been trying to deal with, and though I acknowledge that this is not the best venue in terms of topic (smile), I thought it is as close to temple/priest as I can get right now (smile).I wanted to know the significance of the wine and bread that Melchizedek brought out in Genesis 14. Being that this is the first time that the word "kohen" (my rendering of the Hebrew for priest) appears and that there is no other mention of bread and wine in priestly function before this context (to my knowledge, I should say). I'm conducting a study on Melchizedek (personal study) and I haven't found much on his actions here.Thanks,Jerry
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>And if that third temple is built, and sacrifices brought as in the Old Testament – the old covenant, what will be the impact on Christianity? Will it not be a return to that which Christ has abolished? Will the sacrifices not be an affront to God the Father, who sent His Only Begotten Son to die, and to bring in the New Covenant in Grace? I will say with complete confidence in the Word of God that those who would look forward to the building of a third temple in Jerusalem would be antichrists. For what they hope for is opposite of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.Joe
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