The Bible must be read in context. This seems obvious enough, but how does that work out in terms of its literary and historical context, and how does this make a difference? Watch more as Dr. Bill Arnold and Dr. Ben Witherington help us understand why context matters.
When it comes to biblical interpretation, Christians must do their best to leave their biases aside and be open to how the text might challenge our long-held beliefs and way of life. For this reason,
Is the Shroud of Turin the burial shroud of Jesus? Watch this Seven Minute Seminary with Dr. Ben Witherington III to learn more about the perspective that considers this burial shroud an authentic first century artifact.
The church should read the Bible as more than literature—but never less than literature. In this Seven Minute Seminary video, Dr. David Grubbs suggests that when the church begins to read the Bible as literature, it opens up fresh insights that honors this remarkable gift from God.
The church’s earliest and simplest creed was, “Jesus is Lord.” Against the backdrop of the Roman empire, this had immense political implications, not least because Caesars’ title was “lord.” But is this what the gospels and Paul are getting at when they make bold claims about Jesus and the kingdom of God? Watch this Seven Minute Seminary with Dr. John Barclay for more insight into the ultimate enemies to the cause of God’s kingdom.
The parable of the Good Samaritan continues to be one of the most well-known stories of Scripture. There remain, however, treasures to be gleaned by reading it with fresh eyes and from insights of different people groups. In this Seven Minute Seminary video, Dr. Mark Allen Powell shows the surprising results of simply empathizing with an unsuspecting character in the story.
The truth is that grace, or gift, was not a concept unique to the Christian faith in the first century. In fact, even pagan religion afforded grace a role in the relationship between the gods and their followers. What makes the grace of the Christian gospel unique? In today’s Seven Minute Seminary video, Dr. John Barclay explains that it’s the nature of the recipients—us—that is so telling about the grace of God in Jesus Christ.
Did Adam and Eve really exist, and why does it matter? Randy Hardman reviews John Walton’s book, the Lost World of Adam and Eve, and evaluates Walton’s argument in light of reconciling science and faith.
Some think that the ancient Israelites were nearly identical to their cultural neighbors, while others claim they were completely different. How similar were they to their neighbors, really? Dr. Bill Arnold outlines the differences and similarities, showing a biblical picture of a nation that lived in the world, but was not of the world.
It is said that you can make the Bible say almost anything you want it to say. In this series of Seven Minute Seminary videos, Dr. Craig Keener walks us through a number of biblical passages that are often ripped out of context and forced to say something the Bible never intended to say. He then illuminates their meaning by simply paying careful attention to the context.
The English-speaking world has an abundance of Bible translations. Selecting a Bible from the Christian store can be overwhelming. What’s the difference between them all? Are they all equal in value? Watch this Seven Minute Seminary with Dr. Bill Mounce to find out more.
The church has always had a dynamic relationship with science—sometimes a positive one while other times a rather stifling one. In today’s Seven Minute Seminary, Dr. John Walton explains the key to understanding the creation account found in Genesis 1-2, and how this relates to scientific theories.
