Eskénosen

I am starting this blog as a space to be able to share the insights, however limited they happen to be, I have about scripture and preserve them. I hope to also be able to keep a record for years to come on my journey in the bible, wrestling with texts and ideas, and hopefully learning from anyone who cares to comment on the entries that I post.

The title of my Blog is Eskénosen, which is a New Testament word that comes from John 1:14. It literally translates to 'tabernacled'. The word that most of our bible's use for Eskénosen is 'dwelt', which is a fine translation. Both convey being in the midst of God, but the Greek does so in a powerful and obvious way that resonates with the Old Testament. It conjures up images of God's covenants with his people, the sanctuary space of the Garden serving as a prototype of the temple, God walking with mankind in the coolness of the afternoon, and God dwelling with his people in the tabernacle and the temple. All throughout scripture the theme of God dwelling with people is vital to the unfolding of Redemptive History. This theme is powerfully displayed in the New Testament. Christ tabernacles among us, in flesh, at his birth. Christ's death destroys the old way that God had tabernacled among the people, the temple, cleaving the curtain between the Holy Place and The Holy of Holies. The Apostle Peter, along with Paul, teaches us that by our faith union with Christ, we who are living stones are being built into a Holy House, and thereby are the temple of God. This is true of us because, in union with Christ, we participate in Him, the God who temples among us. Paul adds that our bodies are temples of the deposited Holy Spirit, like treasure in earthen jars. It finally looks ahead to the final two chapters of the bible, when the City of God is fully established on the earth, where there is no need for a temple because God directly dwells with his people and is the temple, and by extension the temple is everywhere.

The ubiquitous theme of 'Temple/Tabernacle/Dwelling' is central to the Redemptive history of the bible. For the, often sojourning, People of God the temple was the one fixed point in their culture. In this theme, we have the beginnings of an outline of Redemptive History. The story of God with us, from Garden to Garden-City is laid out through the scriptures. The theme of dwelling requires a Canonical reading of the bible to rightly understand what God is teaching humanity in this one word. I have chosen this name because I hope to have my thoughts and insights reflect the kind of reading that this concept demands. I also have chosen this name because the primary privileged, and responsibility, of people is to dwell with God, being his people. I see the purpose of this blog in at least three ways; the first is Building.  I hope to build up the double love for God and man in myself, and that my insights might edify others. The second is Dwelling; I hope that, through comments of readers, I might be able to dwell in some small measure with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and ultimately dwell in a more consistent way with God, my King. The third way is Thinking; as I hope to always be thinking about God and the world when posting, and thus refreshing my mind and soul. Bernard of Clairvaux reminded the world, seeking knowledge in order to edify, is to love. May this be the goal of my thinking.

May all who read this, Dwell in the House of the Lord with great joy. May you rest in his steadfast covenant love and Truth. Finally may you always be found happily in Coram Deo, in the presence of God.

Grace and Peace,
Sean