"One must not put a loaded rifle on the stage if no one is thinking
of firing it."--Anton Chekhov in a letter to Aleksandr Semenovich Lazarev,
1899.
Chekhov is considered to be the father of the modern short story.
"Chekov's Gun" is a literary device. He wrote of it in several
letters. A prop, a character or an action that seems meaningless in the early
stages of the story is found to be significant later on. In fact, if it is not,
it should not be there.
Jude speaks of the Faith once delivered. But that faith was not
delivered all at once. The Bible is a history that unfolds over time. It
follows the progress of redemptive history from the first word of God to the
final glory of His Christ.
The problem is introduced early. The commandment had been broken in the Garden. "You shall surely die" had not been an idle warning. Camouflaged leaves would not protect them.
If God wanted them dead they would already be dead. He wanted them back. So he introduces a mysterious plan through a mysterious character. A son. From the sinful woman herself. God's hostility is not directed at the humans, but at the evil one. And this son would crush his skull.
The problem is introduced early. The commandment had been broken in the Garden. "You shall surely die" had not been an idle warning. Camouflaged leaves would not protect them.
If God wanted them dead they would already be dead. He wanted them back. So he introduces a mysterious plan through a mysterious character. A son. From the sinful woman herself. God's hostility is not directed at the humans, but at the evil one. And this son would crush his skull.
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel." Gen 3:15
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel." Gen 3:15
Chekhov's gun is on the stage...
