Skip to main content

Tab Malfa

Followers

52

Following

57

Public Views

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Alumnus, Liberty University,
and the American College of History & Legal Studies. Phi Alpha Chi Honor Society. MA Urban Ministry-concentration Biblical Studies, GCTS, MA Biblical Languages & Exegesis, Liberty University. Ph.D. Bible Exposition (candidate) Liberty University.

less

י"מ שורקין

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Shulamit Elizur

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

יואל פיקסלר

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Jacob Israel Stal

University of the Free State

יוסף יובל טובי

University of Haifa

Bar Ilan

דוד סבתו

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

InterestsView All (20)

Uploads

Papers by Tab Malfa

Word Study: Extent of the Flood: אֶרֶץ and כֹּל

This paper is a word study relating to the extent of the Noahic flood as recounted in the book of... more This paper is a word study relating to the extent of the Noahic flood as recounted in the book of Genesis chapter 6 through 9. Two words have been selected for this particular study, namely, אֶרֶץ and כֹּל. Ideally, the parameters for the study of these two terms would be the entire Hebrew Old Testament, namely the Masoretic Text. If time limits restricted that venue, the second choice would be the entire text of Genesis. Time restrictions, however, have prevented the writer from extending the examination to that portion of the Hebrew text. In consolation, this author has had to resort to scrutinizing every time the two proposed words occur within Genesis chapter 6 through 9, the locus of the flood narrative. Other select passage of Scripture also have been included in the study and will be identified as they emerge in the discussion.

Word Study: Is procreation a possible interpretive option for קָנָה?

This study will demonstrate why the Biblical Hebrew word קָנָה can be used as an interpretive opt... more This study will demonstrate why the Biblical Hebrew word קָנָה can be used as an interpretive option for procreation. The most obvious reason is that קָנָה is used synonymously with the word יָלַד which primarily means to bring forth or to give birth to, to beget, bear a child in Genesis 4:1.

New Testament Textual Criticism: External Evidence, Internal Evidence and Weighing the Byzantine Text-Type by Tab Malfa 11/15/2022

Here are some basic notes on New Testament Textual Criticism. A discussion of external evidence, ... more

ESSAY Lexical Study of μορφη

The phrase “in the form of God’ in Philippians 2:6 is referring to the deity of Jesus Christ. Th... more The phrase “in the form of God’ in Philippians 2:6 is referring to the deity of Jesus Christ. The reason that this term was selected is that out of the three times it is used in the New Testament, two of those instances are in Philippians 2:6-7. In addition to being rare, the term is also ambiguous and has been misunderstood by scholars. This essay will begin with the analysis of the term by evaluating every text in the Septuagint that contains the term and then some extrabiblical texts. The three New Testament occurrences of the term will be considered immediately afterward. Following the examination of the term in the context of ancient texts, lexicons will be consulted and then contributions from various scholars will be evaluated. The conclusion of this lexical study agrees with the traditional understanding of the Christian Church, namely, that Christ was God the Son prior to his incarnation, and at the incarnation, he took on human nature in addition. All translations are by the author unless otherwise specified.

Romans 1:29 Textual Criticism

This essay will examine the text-critical issues in Romans 1:29. There are five main variant read... more This essay will examine the text-critical issues in Romans 1:29. There are five main variant readings in the text with a number of manuscript support for each one of them. The aim of the essay is to ascertain the reading that best represents the text of the original New Testament autograph. The two main approaches for the task will employ the methods of external and internal evidence. Once the evidence is examined and the data is obtained, the process of evaluating the data will be conducted with caution as the various ancient manuscripts are examined and the text of Romans is scrutinized, in order to draw a valid conclusion.

Genesis 1:1-2 Versus The Restitution Hypothesis

This brief essay is a refutation of the Restitution Hypothesis also known as the gap theory. It w... more This brief essay is a refutation of the Restitution Hypothesis also known as the gap theory. It will be demonstrated in this essay that the Hebrew grammar, lexical features and overall context violently contradict this view. The traditional view is still popular, but it does not adequately address the issue of this paper. This is an old debate, but Bible readers still hold to the view of the gap theory. This theory is wrong on its face and needs to be cast into the abyss of forgetfulness.

The Nakedness of Noah

This brief essay is a critique of John Sietze Bergsma and Scott Walker Hahn's article on the nake... more This brief essay is a critique of John Sietze Bergsma and Scott Walker Hahn's article on the nakedness of Noah. These authors understand the Nakedness of Noah to mean that Noah had sexual relations with his mother. Other commentators understand the term to mean that Noah had sexual relations with his father. I argue here that the term simply means that Noah uncovered himself and was naked, exposing his shame.

The Debate on NT Greek Verbal Aspect Rages On By Tab Malfa 02/15/2023

After twenty-five years of debate, one would think that the death knell would have already been s... more After twenty-five years of debate, one would think that the death knell would have already been sounded for the nontemporal view of aspect for the verb of the Greek New Testament. The nontemporal view has been and still is the minority view. The temporal view of the aspect for the verb of the Greek New Testament is the norm for the experts who work in the field of linguistics, and they have much to say to those who still attempt to promote the nontemporal view. The temporal view embraces the idea that temporal reference is encoded in the Greek verb in the indicative mood. The nontemporal view believes that temporal reference does not exist at all in the Greek verb, but is a matter of context. This discussion will begin by describing Daniel B. Wallace's temporal aspect view and then will describe the view of Constantine R. Campbell's nontemporal view before comparing the two. Afterwards, contributions from other scholars will be discussed, and finally, the views of linguists will be heard.

Runaway Prophet Rejects Heathen Reception of Divine Mercy

This is an exegesis paper of the book of Jonah chapter 3. The introductory material is brief due ... more This is an exegesis paper of the book of Jonah chapter 3. The introductory material is brief due to the requirements of the paper. The question of historicity is not addressed, which is not crucial for exposition of the text, because whether it is historical or fiction does not change its interpretation. The fundamental purposes of the Sacred texts are theological not historical nor scientific. There is no modern science in the Bible. There is history in the Bible, but frequently, the theological priorities of the text override historical accuracy. The narrative of the book of Jonah is well known, but few have delved into the actual riches of the book. It is a literary and theological gold mine that has been stripped of historical details regarding its date. For this reason, the arguments for it being a fictional work are strong but not necessarily accurate. The most obvious problem with the book’s veracity is Jonah’s being swallowed by the huge fish and surviving a three-day sojourn. To say that this event is impossible is to espouse an antisupernaturalist bias.

The ancient people, however, probably thought that it was possible for a person to be swallowed whole and survive the three-day trip. There is no indication by the text that the event was viewed as a supernatural miracle, which weakens the idea as to the text’s historical veracity. For practical reasons, therefore, a decision of historical reliability is moot. This paper will examine every verse of the Hebrew text of Jonah chapter 3 and will convey the exegetical landscape to the reader. I plan to write a fuller version of the paper at some point in the future, perhaps the entire book will be included since it is only four short chapters. At that point, the paper will be transformed into a commentary.

Exaltation Through Humiliation

This paper is an exegesis of Philippians 2:1-11. The book of Philippians is a literary treasure t... more This paper is an exegesis of Philippians 2:1-11. The book of Philippians is a literary treasure trove. It contains some of the Apostle Paul’s finest literary work. It is a letter to the first century church in the Roman colony of Philippi. It was written with appeal for unity to the church dressed in rhetorical and cultural garb of the first century literary conventions of the Roman Empire. Special attention will be given to the Christ Hymn (2:6-11) and it will be articulated how the author used the theme of exaltation through humiliation of Christ to effect his purpose.

Stephen's Final Speech

This paper is an exegesis of Acts 7:30-43. Stephen, a Hellenist and one of the church’s first de... more This paper is an exegesis of Acts 7:30-43. Stephen, a Hellenist and one of the church’s first deacons, has been accused of speaking blasphemously against the Mosaic Law and the holy temple in Jerusalem. He has been dragged before the high council in Jerusalem by some members of a Hellenist synagogue where they will hear his defense. The present exposition is a refutation of Ernst Haenchen’s supposition that Stephen did not really give a defense and that Stephen’s speech “is simply sacred history told for its own sake and with no other theme” (Haenchen-288). It will be demonstrated that Stephen renders an accurate and adequate defense by recounting salvation history through a survey of the OT. He reveals that the Israelites have had a long-time pattern of repeatedly rejecting God’s true messengers who have been sent to them.

Exegesis of the Gospel of John 14:1-14

This paper is an exegesis of the Gospel of John 14:1-14. It focuses on the trust in God and that... more This paper is an exegesis of the Gospel of John 14:1-14. It focuses on the trust in God and that Jesus is the only way to God, which is essential to the Christian faith. It is followed by a sermon manuscript as the appropriate application of the exegesis. The appendix contains diagrams of the Greek text and notes that led me to the derived conclusions. The paper is fairly easy to read.

URBAN THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS

Traditional theological education is increasingly losing its relevancy; therefore, a more context... more Traditional theological education is increasingly losing its relevancy; therefore, a more contextualized approach is needed. The present work is a proposal made to Gordon-Conwell’s Center for Urban Ministerial Education program (CUME) in order to establish an urban theological education program for church leadership in the city of Lowell, Massachusetts. The proposal begins with an analysis of the targeted community followed by an analysis of CUME. It then offers two models to evaluate and use as guides in this endeavor. A brief survey of theological education in general is then offered followed by a small section on globalization, and then a lengthy explication of urban theological education is rendered. This paper includes discussions of constituency, contextualization, and curriculum. The intention of this proposal is to convince the reader that the realization of this program could prove to be significantly instrumental in participating in the earthly expansion of the reign of God.

The Gospel According to Abraham

In the beginning God created the universe for his glory (Isa. 43:7; Ps. 19:1) and for his pleasur... more In the beginning God created the universe for his glory (Isa. 43:7; Ps. 19:1) and for his pleasure (Rev. 4:11). The opening chapters of Genesis depict the process of this creation with humankind as his royal vice regents. The narrative implies that God also affirmed a covenant with his creation. With the fall of humankind, this covenant was breached. The rest of both canons of Scripture, beginning with Genesis, is devoted to the unfolding of God’s plan in salvation history as to how he reconciles this breached covenant with creation. The present essay focuses on a particular part of the narrative in Genesis related to God’s reaffirming his covenant with creation through a particular man, whom God in his sovereignty has chosen. The man’s name is Abram, a descendant of Noah, who lived in Ur of the Chaldees in approximately 2100 B.C. The following is an exegesis of Genesis 17:1-8. In this exposition the covenant between God and Abraham will be examined. It will be shown that at the heart of this covenant is God’s desire to have a relationship with people who will love him and trust him for who he is. The element of trust is integral to any intimate relationship. Without trust there is no relationship. That is why God puts such a high value on faith. In fact, God goes so far as to equate it with righteousness (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3, 6, 9). For faith is simply trusting God. It will be demonstrated that the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant were not just for Abraham and his natural descendants, but for all believers. Hopefully, this will invigorate all Christians to boldly proclaim to all the nations of the earth the hope that is in them.

Gnosticism and the Apostles Creed

The following exposition examines how the early Christians fought to preserve the truth. With th... more The following exposition examines how the early Christians fought to preserve the truth. With the emergence of Christianity, almost immediately, enemies of the faith arose. A sect called the Gnostics claimed that they were Christians with the true gospel. The present work will examine their claim and the response from their orthodox critics. To preserve the essence of the Christian faith, the orthodox Christians formed summarized statements that embraced the essential elements of apostolic teaching. The present essay will trace these statements of faith and how they developed into what is known today as the “Apostles’ Creed.”

Worshipping the Rich

This brief essay was written in 2008 which was a revision of another short essay I had written on... more This brief essay was written in 2008 which was a revision of another short essay I had written on the subject. There was and still is a need to address this taboo issue which scholars do not want to go near for obvious reasons. However, my prophetic personally compels me to speak out concerning the greed and idolatrous nature that is characteristic of a capitalist society. The New Testament is also quite explicit on the subject even though it is largely glossed over among professed people of faith.

Word Study: Extent of the Flood: אֶרֶץ and כֹּל

This paper is a word study relating to the extent of the Noahic flood as recounted in the book of... more This paper is a word study relating to the extent of the Noahic flood as recounted in the book of Genesis chapter 6 through 9. Two words have been selected for this particular study, namely, אֶרֶץ and כֹּל. Ideally, the parameters for the study of these two terms would be the entire Hebrew Old Testament, namely the Masoretic Text. If time limits restricted that venue, the second choice would be the entire text of Genesis. Time restrictions, however, have prevented the writer from extending the examination to that portion of the Hebrew text. In consolation, this author has had to resort to scrutinizing every time the two proposed words occur within Genesis chapter 6 through 9, the locus of the flood narrative. Other select passage of Scripture also have been included in the study and will be identified as they emerge in the discussion.

Word Study: Is procreation a possible interpretive option for קָנָה?

This study will demonstrate why the Biblical Hebrew word קָנָה can be used as an interpretive opt... more This study will demonstrate why the Biblical Hebrew word קָנָה can be used as an interpretive option for procreation. The most obvious reason is that קָנָה is used synonymously with the word יָלַד which primarily means to bring forth or to give birth to, to beget, bear a child in Genesis 4:1.

New Testament Textual Criticism: External Evidence, Internal Evidence and Weighing the Byzantine Text-Type by Tab Malfa 11/15/2022

Here are some basic notes on New Testament Textual Criticism. A discussion of external evidence, ... more

ESSAY Lexical Study of μορφη

The phrase “in the form of God’ in Philippians 2:6 is referring to the deity of Jesus Christ. Th... more The phrase “in the form of God’ in Philippians 2:6 is referring to the deity of Jesus Christ. The reason that this term was selected is that out of the three times it is used in the New Testament, two of those instances are in Philippians 2:6-7. In addition to being rare, the term is also ambiguous and has been misunderstood by scholars. This essay will begin with the analysis of the term by evaluating every text in the Septuagint that contains the term and then some extrabiblical texts. The three New Testament occurrences of the term will be considered immediately afterward. Following the examination of the term in the context of ancient texts, lexicons will be consulted and then contributions from various scholars will be evaluated. The conclusion of this lexical study agrees with the traditional understanding of the Christian Church, namely, that Christ was God the Son prior to his incarnation, and at the incarnation, he took on human nature in addition. All translations are by the author unless otherwise specified.

Romans 1:29 Textual Criticism

This essay will examine the text-critical issues in Romans 1:29. There are five main variant read... more This essay will examine the text-critical issues in Romans 1:29. There are five main variant readings in the text with a number of manuscript support for each one of them. The aim of the essay is to ascertain the reading that best represents the text of the original New Testament autograph. The two main approaches for the task will employ the methods of external and internal evidence. Once the evidence is examined and the data is obtained, the process of evaluating the data will be conducted with caution as the various ancient manuscripts are examined and the text of Romans is scrutinized, in order to draw a valid conclusion.

Genesis 1:1-2 Versus The Restitution Hypothesis

This brief essay is a refutation of the Restitution Hypothesis also known as the gap theory. It w... more This brief essay is a refutation of the Restitution Hypothesis also known as the gap theory. It will be demonstrated in this essay that the Hebrew grammar, lexical features and overall context violently contradict this view. The traditional view is still popular, but it does not adequately address the issue of this paper. This is an old debate, but Bible readers still hold to the view of the gap theory. This theory is wrong on its face and needs to be cast into the abyss of forgetfulness.

The Nakedness of Noah

This brief essay is a critique of John Sietze Bergsma and Scott Walker Hahn's article on the nake... more This brief essay is a critique of John Sietze Bergsma and Scott Walker Hahn's article on the nakedness of Noah. These authors understand the Nakedness of Noah to mean that Noah had sexual relations with his mother. Other commentators understand the term to mean that Noah had sexual relations with his father. I argue here that the term simply means that Noah uncovered himself and was naked, exposing his shame.

The Debate on NT Greek Verbal Aspect Rages On By Tab Malfa 02/15/2023

After twenty-five years of debate, one would think that the death knell would have already been s... more After twenty-five years of debate, one would think that the death knell would have already been sounded for the nontemporal view of aspect for the verb of the Greek New Testament. The nontemporal view has been and still is the minority view. The temporal view of the aspect for the verb of the Greek New Testament is the norm for the experts who work in the field of linguistics, and they have much to say to those who still attempt to promote the nontemporal view. The temporal view embraces the idea that temporal reference is encoded in the Greek verb in the indicative mood. The nontemporal view believes that temporal reference does not exist at all in the Greek verb, but is a matter of context. This discussion will begin by describing Daniel B. Wallace's temporal aspect view and then will describe the view of Constantine R. Campbell's nontemporal view before comparing the two. Afterwards, contributions from other scholars will be discussed, and finally, the views of linguists will be heard.

Runaway Prophet Rejects Heathen Reception of Divine Mercy

This is an exegesis paper of the book of Jonah chapter 3. The introductory material is brief due ... more This is an exegesis paper of the book of Jonah chapter 3. The introductory material is brief due to the requirements of the paper. The question of historicity is not addressed, which is not crucial for exposition of the text, because whether it is historical or fiction does not change its interpretation. The fundamental purposes of the Sacred texts are theological not historical nor scientific. There is no modern science in the Bible. There is history in the Bible, but frequently, the theological priorities of the text override historical accuracy. The narrative of the book of Jonah is well known, but few have delved into the actual riches of the book. It is a literary and theological gold mine that has been stripped of historical details regarding its date. For this reason, the arguments for it being a fictional work are strong but not necessarily accurate. The most obvious problem with the book’s veracity is Jonah’s being swallowed by the huge fish and surviving a three-day sojourn. To say that this event is impossible is to espouse an antisupernaturalist bias.

The ancient people, however, probably thought that it was possible for a person to be swallowed whole and survive the three-day trip. There is no indication by the text that the event was viewed as a supernatural miracle, which weakens the idea as to the text’s historical veracity. For practical reasons, therefore, a decision of historical reliability is moot. This paper will examine every verse of the Hebrew text of Jonah chapter 3 and will convey the exegetical landscape to the reader. I plan to write a fuller version of the paper at some point in the future, perhaps the entire book will be included since it is only four short chapters. At that point, the paper will be transformed into a commentary.

Exaltation Through Humiliation

This paper is an exegesis of Philippians 2:1-11. The book of Philippians is a literary treasure t... more This paper is an exegesis of Philippians 2:1-11. The book of Philippians is a literary treasure trove. It contains some of the Apostle Paul’s finest literary work. It is a letter to the first century church in the Roman colony of Philippi. It was written with appeal for unity to the church dressed in rhetorical and cultural garb of the first century literary conventions of the Roman Empire. Special attention will be given to the Christ Hymn (2:6-11) and it will be articulated how the author used the theme of exaltation through humiliation of Christ to effect his purpose.

Stephen's Final Speech

This paper is an exegesis of Acts 7:30-43. Stephen, a Hellenist and one of the church’s first de... more This paper is an exegesis of Acts 7:30-43. Stephen, a Hellenist and one of the church’s first deacons, has been accused of speaking blasphemously against the Mosaic Law and the holy temple in Jerusalem. He has been dragged before the high council in Jerusalem by some members of a Hellenist synagogue where they will hear his defense. The present exposition is a refutation of Ernst Haenchen’s supposition that Stephen did not really give a defense and that Stephen’s speech “is simply sacred history told for its own sake and with no other theme” (Haenchen-288). It will be demonstrated that Stephen renders an accurate and adequate defense by recounting salvation history through a survey of the OT. He reveals that the Israelites have had a long-time pattern of repeatedly rejecting God’s true messengers who have been sent to them.

Exegesis of the Gospel of John 14:1-14

This paper is an exegesis of the Gospel of John 14:1-14. It focuses on the trust in God and that... more This paper is an exegesis of the Gospel of John 14:1-14. It focuses on the trust in God and that Jesus is the only way to God, which is essential to the Christian faith. It is followed by a sermon manuscript as the appropriate application of the exegesis. The appendix contains diagrams of the Greek text and notes that led me to the derived conclusions. The paper is fairly easy to read.

URBAN THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS

Traditional theological education is increasingly losing its relevancy; therefore, a more context... more Traditional theological education is increasingly losing its relevancy; therefore, a more contextualized approach is needed. The present work is a proposal made to Gordon-Conwell’s Center for Urban Ministerial Education program (CUME) in order to establish an urban theological education program for church leadership in the city of Lowell, Massachusetts. The proposal begins with an analysis of the targeted community followed by an analysis of CUME. It then offers two models to evaluate and use as guides in this endeavor. A brief survey of theological education in general is then offered followed by a small section on globalization, and then a lengthy explication of urban theological education is rendered. This paper includes discussions of constituency, contextualization, and curriculum. The intention of this proposal is to convince the reader that the realization of this program could prove to be significantly instrumental in participating in the earthly expansion of the reign of God.

The Gospel According to Abraham

In the beginning God created the universe for his glory (Isa. 43:7; Ps. 19:1) and for his pleasur... more In the beginning God created the universe for his glory (Isa. 43:7; Ps. 19:1) and for his pleasure (Rev. 4:11). The opening chapters of Genesis depict the process of this creation with humankind as his royal vice regents. The narrative implies that God also affirmed a covenant with his creation. With the fall of humankind, this covenant was breached. The rest of both canons of Scripture, beginning with Genesis, is devoted to the unfolding of God’s plan in salvation history as to how he reconciles this breached covenant with creation. The present essay focuses on a particular part of the narrative in Genesis related to God’s reaffirming his covenant with creation through a particular man, whom God in his sovereignty has chosen. The man’s name is Abram, a descendant of Noah, who lived in Ur of the Chaldees in approximately 2100 B.C. The following is an exegesis of Genesis 17:1-8. In this exposition the covenant between God and Abraham will be examined. It will be shown that at the heart of this covenant is God’s desire to have a relationship with people who will love him and trust him for who he is. The element of trust is integral to any intimate relationship. Without trust there is no relationship. That is why God puts such a high value on faith. In fact, God goes so far as to equate it with righteousness (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3, 6, 9). For faith is simply trusting God. It will be demonstrated that the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant were not just for Abraham and his natural descendants, but for all believers. Hopefully, this will invigorate all Christians to boldly proclaim to all the nations of the earth the hope that is in them.

Gnosticism and the Apostles Creed

The following exposition examines how the early Christians fought to preserve the truth. With th... more The following exposition examines how the early Christians fought to preserve the truth. With the emergence of Christianity, almost immediately, enemies of the faith arose. A sect called the Gnostics claimed that they were Christians with the true gospel. The present work will examine their claim and the response from their orthodox critics. To preserve the essence of the Christian faith, the orthodox Christians formed summarized statements that embraced the essential elements of apostolic teaching. The present essay will trace these statements of faith and how they developed into what is known today as the “Apostles’ Creed.”

Worshipping the Rich

This brief essay was written in 2008 which was a revision of another short essay I had written on... more This brief essay was written in 2008 which was a revision of another short essay I had written on the subject. There was and still is a need to address this taboo issue which scholars do not want to go near for obvious reasons. However, my prophetic personally compels me to speak out concerning the greed and idolatrous nature that is characteristic of a capitalist society. The New Testament is also quite explicit on the subject even though it is largely glossed over among professed people of faith.