How do we make sense of those thorny issues related to the Old Testament, such as the raw episodes of violence, sex, and suffering and evil? In this new book, Matthew Schlimm provides a new resource for wrestling with the issue, both for pastors and the church. Read more from Guy Williams’ review today.
The great flood we find in the story of Noah was bad news for most people. But when read attentively and against its ancient background, the story of Noah and the great flood turns out to be good news in a surprising way. Read more today from Bible teacher Brian Russell.
What is the Apocrypha? Why is the Protestant Bible shorter than the Catholic Bible? Should these books be considered inspired by God? In this Seven Minute Seminary video, Dr. Bill Mounce answers these questions and more.
How do we bridge the chasm between having a high reverence for the Bible and struggling with its meaning and appropriation in our lives? Listen in as Michael Halcomb leads us on a journey of understanding how to interpret the Bible (Part 2).
Anyone interested in gaining a more vivid, authentic picture of Jesus and his environment—only within which his words and deeds are properly understood—should read the work of Amy-Jill Levine. In today’s post, Nathan Brasfield review her most recent work, Short Stories by Jesus.
What was the first Christmas really like? When did the Magi visit Jesus, and how about the shepherds? In this video, Dr. Craig Keener shares historical background that illumines the Christmas story found in the Gospels. He reveals how the Gospels choose to contrast the powerful with the weak and the illuminating parallels between Jesus and Caesar Augustus.
Can we trust the Bible? In this Seven Minute Seminary video, Dr. Bill Mounce responds to the notion, made popular in recent years by writers like Bart Ehrman, that the Greek manuscripts of the Bible are too different to provide reliable testimony concerning its claims.
Did the exodus happen? In this Seven Minute Seminary video, Dr. John Oswalt explains reasons to believe the event was in fact a historical reality. He focuses on three questions: 1) Does it matter whether the exodus was a historical event? 2) What is the difference between “historical” and history? 3) What do we learn from the exodus?
Is Advent in the Bible? In this Seven Minute Seminary video, Dr. John Oswalt explains how the Old Testament’s story about promise, tragedy, and hope all point to the highly anticipated Messiah, and which serves as a unifying thread from Genesis to Malachi.
How should Christians read the Psalms? In this video, Dr. Brent A. Strawn reminds us to slow down, observe features like parallelism, metaphor and imagery, and remember that each psalm is only a snapshot view of God and the world. By respecting their genre as poetry, we may be able to engage this spiritual resource in a richer way.
How people pray greatly impacts what they believe. The early Church taught its people prayers and how to pray so that their faith would be correct and intact. It was one of the ways the Church discipled its people and encouraged them in their spiritual life and growth. Read more from Steven Bruns as he continues his series on discipleship in the early church.
What are the Dead Sea Scrolls? In this Seven Minute Seminary, Dr. Brent A. Strawn answers, providing the archaeological background and historical details that make this what some have called the discovery of the century.
