September, 2016 - Biblical Literacy

One of the challenges of being a Biblical theologian rather than a systematic theologian (no disrespect to Systematic theology or Systematic Theologians intended) is to speak about theological issues rooted…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Bible Backgrounds Biblical Studies HAGALAH Inductive Study Methods New Testament Studies NT's Use of the OT

He’s No Idiot: Peter’s Interpretation of the Vision of the Sheet in Acts 10

September 28, 2016 Andrew Sargent

In an earlier post, we discussed how common interpretations of the words spoken from heaven to Peter in Acts 10:13, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat” and in Acts 10:15, “What…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Bible Backgrounds Biblical Studies HAGALAH Inductive Study Methods New Testament Studies NT's Use of the OT

Peter & Ezekiel Argue with God and Win: Acts 10 in Light of Ezekiel 4

September 26, 2016 Andrew Sargent

We’ve been discussing the Traditions of the Elders, Halakah and food laws in Mark 7. Convinced that the Christian church is not responsible to keep Torah food laws (And rightly…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Bible Backgrounds Biblical Studies HAGALAH Inductive Study Methods Intertestamental History & Literature New Testament Studies NT's Use of the OT

Some Traditions Deserve to Die: The Traditions of the Elders in Mark 7

September 23, 2016 Andrew Sargent

In previous posts, we’ve discussed the misconception that many people have about the discussion that Jesus has with the Pharisees over “The Traditions of the Elders” in Mark 7. That’s…

New Testament Studies

Jesus’ & Peter’s Love Struggle in John 21:15-17: A Common Fiction

September 22, 2016 Andrew Sargent

I love word studies. This is one passion that I share with many a pastor… for whose ministries I am grateful. If everyone had my particular gifting, the church would…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Bible Backgrounds Biblical Language Issues Biblical Studies HAGALAH Inductive Study Methods New Testament Studies NT's Use of the OT

Mark 7:19 and the Little Participle that Could

September 21, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Recently, we’ve discussed the controversial aside which Mark seems to have added in Mark 7:19 to the effect that Jesus’ debate with the Pharisees over the “Traditions of the Elders”…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Bible Backgrounds Biblical Studies HAGALAH New Testament Studies NT's Use of the OT

Jesus vs. the Law: Torah, Halakah, and Jesus’ Declaration of Dietary Deliverance in Mark 7:19

September 19, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Anyone who knows me knows that I enjoy the gastric freedom of gentile existence. Whether my arteries enjoy it is another discussion altogether. I love lobster, shrimp, and bacon, and…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Bible Backgrounds Biblical Language Issues Biblical Studies HAGALAH Meeting the Jesus of Mark New Testament Studies

Jesus May Have Declared All Foods Clean But I Still Won’t Eat Chilled Monkey Brains

September 16, 2016 Andrew Sargent

I learned Hebrew from a Rabbi. Then I had to re-learn it from other sources. The Rabbi, you see, had a rather relaxed philosophy of language learning. He immersed our…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Biblical Language Issues HAGALAH Inductive Study Methods Old Testament Studies

What You Didn’t Know You Didn’t Know about the “Still Small Voice” Could Fill A Blog Post

September 14, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Today we have a recently engaged guest Blogger. John Donnelly is a Biblical Literacy Ministries Educator, Church Planter, & Part-year missionary to India. John has a Master’s in Old Testament…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Bible Backgrounds Biblical Language Issues

Though Your Sins be Made White as Snow, You Still Might Goof Isaiah 1:18: Part 1—Red to White

September 12, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Isaiah 1:18—almost every Christian I know can quote it. It is a common favorite of preachers who see in this verse a solid Old Testament promise of forgiveness in Jesus,…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Bible Backgrounds Biblical Language Issues HAGALAH Inductive Study Methods Old Testament Studies

Though Your Sins be Made White as Snow, You Still Might Goof Isaiah 1:18: Part 2—Nasty Grammar Questions

September 9, 2016 Andrew Sargent

In part 1 of this series, I focused on the tendency to make too many assumptions about color terms in the Bible. The dilemma is that while we have no…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Bible Backgrounds HAGALAH Inductive Study Methods Old Testament Studies

Though Your Sins be Made White as Snow, You Still Might Goof Isaiah 1:18: Part 3—Context

September 7, 2016 Andrew Sargent

In parts 1 & 2 we discussed the wide range of possibilities available to us for Isaiah 1:18 in keeping with both the flexibility of dye/color imagery in the Biblical…

Communication Society

Addiction, Too, Can Be a Weasel Word

September 5, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Weasel words are highly emotive words that are used to manipulate perception, transferring feeling to ideas or products or policies. Weasel words take people hostage emotionally pressuring them to buy,…

Communication Society

Abuse Can Be a Weasel Word

September 2, 2016 Andrew Sargent

In every area of life, one needs to be cautious with highly emotive words…. especially highly emotive words that, like most highly emotive words, have no clear definition, or no…

Torah Food Laws & Gentile Lobsters