My Personal Week in Review
Volume 1, Issue 1
Scholarly Week: Four Major Publications Released
This week marked an exceptional period of scholarly productivity, with four substantial blog posts published across theological and philosophical domains. The week began with a Dutch-language exploration of substitutionary suffering, followed by a comprehensive English analysis of Isaiah 53. Both pieces challenge traditional Christian interpretations of atonement theology, arguing from Jewish exegetical perspectives that the Hebrew text does not support the notion of vicarious death.
כִּ֤י נִגְזַר֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּ֔ים מִפֶּ֥שַׁע עַמִּ֖י נֶ֥גַע לָֽמוֹ׃
The theological work was complemented by philosophical contributions on Hegel’s political thought. An essay on morality and politics examined the tension between Hegel, Levinas, and Trigano regarding the relationship between ethics and the state. A personal reflection on ‘Philosophy as Dialogue’ revisited a 1994 publication, tracing three decades of philosophical development. The week represents a convergence of interests: biblical exegesis, Jewish-Christian relations, continental philosophy, and political theology.
This Week’s Publications
Theological Research
Isaiah 53 Exegesis
The English blog post on Isaiah 53 presents a detailed philological analysis, examining key Hebrew terms like נָשָׂא (nasa, “to carry”), סְבָלָם (sebalam, “to endure”), and אָשָׁם (asham, “compensation” or “reparation”). The argument challenges Christian interpretations by demonstrating that the passage describes Israel’s suffering under the nations, not a messianic figure dying for others’ sins. The text does not teach substitutionary atonement but rather the vindication of the suffering servant.
Substitutionary Suffering
The Dutch piece ‘Het Lijden als Plaatsvervanging’ explores fundamental differences between Jewish and Christian theology regarding atonement. Drawing on Ezekiel 18 (“The soul that sins shall die”), Psalm 51 (“A broken and contrite heart you will not despise”), and Hosea 14 (“We will offer the fruit of our lips”), it argues that teshuva (repentance and return) rather than blood sacrifice forms the biblical path to forgiveness. The article demonstrates that vergeving (forgiveness) comes through personal responsibility and return to God, not through vicarious death.
Audience Response
Reader Jan Luiten engaged thoughtfully with the substitutionary suffering post, raising important questions about the nature of suffering in Isaiah 53 and the purpose of sin offerings in the Tenach. The exchange demonstrated the value of public theological dialogue, with responses clarifying the crucial distinction between representational suffering (Israel suffers “for” the nations as a witness) and substitutionary suffering (one dies “instead of” another). This kind of reasoned discussion strengthens the theological conversation between Jewish and Christian perspectives.
Philosophical Reflections
Hegel, Levinas, and Political Ethics
The philosophical essay posted to HegelCourses examines a fundamental tension in political philosophy: the relationship between morality and politics. Hegel argues that the state cannot be subordinated to individual moral conscience, while Levinas insists ethics must always judge politics. Shmuel Trigano offers a third path, suggesting that Jewish covenantal thought transcends this dichotomy.
“The covenant is a political form that binds individuals to one another through a transcendent ethical command.”
The essay demonstrates how these three thinkers represent distinct approaches to the ethics-politics relationship. Hegel begins with the collective whole, Levinas with the singular Other, and Trigano with a covenantal community that is simultaneously ethical and political. The tension between these positions cannot be easily resolved, but precisely in that tension lies the richness of contemporary political philosophy.
Scholarly Platforms
Koinonia Bijbelstudie
The Dutch theological blog Koinonia Bijbelstudie continues to serve as the primary platform for exploring Jewish-Christian relations. With 66,790 lifetime hits and 415 email subscribers, it reaches a dedicated audience interested in biblical Hebrew, rabbinic literature, and theological critique.
HegelCourses Platform
The HegelCourses WordPress site focuses on continental philosophy, particularly Hegel’s political and social thought. With 2,034 email subscribers, it attracts readers interested in German idealism, phenomenology, and the intersection of philosophy with contemporary issues.
Bilingual Scholarship
Writing in both Dutch and English allows engagement with different audiences. The Dutch posts reach Reformed and Mennonite communities in the Netherlands, while English posts connect with international scholars in philosophy and Jewish studies. This dual-language approach reflects a commitment to both local and global theological dialogue.
Next Week’s Research
Continuing the Dialogue
The coming week promises further exploration of the themes introduced this week. The Isaiah 53 analysis opens questions about other contested passages in Jewish-Christian interpretation. The philosophical work on ethics and politics invites deeper engagement with Levinas’s concept of the face and Hegel’s understanding of Sittlichkeit.
The ‘Philosophy as Dialogue’ series will continue, exploring subsequent chapters of the 1994 book and tracing intellectual development over three decades. There are also plans to engage with reader responses and questions, particularly around the nature of biblical sacrifice and the theological implications of teshuva. The work continues at the intersection of text, tradition, and contemporary thought.
“Philosophy concerns the correct understanding of the fundamental truths and values of life, theoretical and practical wisdom.”