When reading biblical poetry, one must learn to connect with the poem on more than one level. While it is important to carefully define the Hebrew words being employed in any passage, and to track a poem’s use of parallelism and word pairs, and to follow the overall...
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June 28, 2017 Andrew Sargent
Biblical Studies, Biblical Theology, Inductive Study Methods, Old Testament Studies
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A centipede was happy – quite! Until a toad in fun Said, “Pray, which leg moves after which?” This raised her doubts to such a pitch, She fell exhausted in the ditch Not knowing how to run. (Katherine Craster (1841-74) A spider met a centipede while hurrying down...
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June 26, 2017 Andrew Sargent
Communication
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Don’t allow self-defensive thoughts like, “So, everything I’ve done for X years was a misguided waste?” “So, I’m not good enough?” “So! You think I can’t properly interpret the Scriptures in English?” prevent you from taking that next vital step in your dedication to radically improving your knowledge...
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June 23, 2017 Andrew Sargent
Biblical Language Issues, Biblical Studies
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When I passed inspection for receiving my ministerial license, the individual responsible for my review spread out, like a row of piano keys, the many pages of answers I gave to the theological questions I was asked to address in the process. He ummm-ed a bit, scratched his...
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June 21, 2017 Andrew Sargent
Biblical Theology, Theology
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Poetry, by definition, is usually regarded as distinct from another category of writing called Prose. To express it simply, Prose is normal writing. It reflects the speech patterns of typical daily conversation, even if a bit more planned and carefully refined. Poetry then is an alternate way of...
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June 19, 2017 Andrew Sargent
Biblical Language Issues, Biblical Studies, Inductive Study Methods, Old Testament Studies
I realize that the second someone makes a statement like, “Every Christian leader should learn biblical languages,” feelings of condemnation erupt. “So, everything I’ve done for X years was a misguided waste?” “So, I’m not good enough?” “So, I can’t properly interpret the Scriptures in English?” If I...
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June 16, 2017 Andrew Sargent
Biblical Language Issues, Biblical Studies
If I had to describe my rather short life on social media, I would depict the bulk of it as “THE MEME WARS.” Since you are reading this online, I doubt I have to explain to you that memes are those pictures that people post with snappy little...
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June 14, 2017 Andrew Sargent
Communication, Ethics, Society, Theology
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If I am to judge by our government, our media outlets, and by the American people’s voting habits, America is suffering from a horrible condition known as stupidity. Stupidity is not a lack of facts, for we have never had a greater capacity to garner facts if we...
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June 12, 2017 Andrew Sargent
Society
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Ruth is one of my favorite books, but I have a serious problem with it. The problem is the name. Now, I know that the Jews also called the book “Ruth” and that I should respect that, but honestly I just can’t bring myself to do it. The...
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June 9, 2017 Andrew Sargent
Biblical Theology, Old Testament Studies
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Pain is the common lot of humanity. We cause most of our own pain directly or indirectly, and find the ultimate source of our deepest pain in the general human condition… caused, if one believes the Scriptures, by man. Somehow, even in the church, we have bought into...
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June 7, 2017 Andrew Sargent
Uncategorized
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One of my goals in writing each week is to help people become better Bible readers. Part of being a better Bible reader is being a better thinker. Part of being a better thinker is to learn to look beyond the surface of an issue to discover the...
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June 2, 2017 Andrew Sargent
Society
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