Author: Andrew Sargent

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

Historical Hermeneutics and Saul’s Grabbing of Samuel’s Hem in 1 Samuel 15:23-31

January 20, 2017 Andrew Sargent

The garment hem plays an unexpected role in many Scriptures. It is unexpected because we have nothing like it in our western world. Below is a link a recent lecture…

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

Nazarenes, Rednecks, and Other Well-meaning Slurs

January 18, 2017 Andrew Sargent

I love puzzles, always have. Growing up, I saw puzzles of all kinds as a natural exercise of my desire to be a detective someday, tracing out subtle clues to…

Biblical Studies HAGALAH Inductive Study Methods New Testament Studies

A Better Question is, “Who wouldn’t”: The Prodigal Son in Reflection, Part 3

January 16, 2017 Andrew Sargent

One of my favorite gags in the old 1980’s TV show, Taxi, has a nervous Tony Danza shaving several times throughout the day to keep himself fresh looking for an…

Ethics Society

Do You Really Have a Big Heart?

January 13, 2017 Andrew Sargent

There is an old saying that goes, “If you’re not a liberal at 20 you have no heart, if you’re not a conservative at 40 you have no brain.” Indeed,…

New Testament Studies Old Testament Studies

The Failed Gentile Mission and Jesus: The Prodigal Son in Reflection, Part 2

January 11, 2017 Andrew Sargent

How many Israelite characters can you name who ministered to Gentiles? Moses came out of Egypt with a mixed multitude who were absorbed into Israel. David had Gentiles as part…

Biblical Studies HAGALAH Inductive Study Methods New Testament Studies

I’ll Take Allegories & Analogies for 200: The Prodigal Son in Reflection, Part 1

January 9, 2017 Andrew Sargent

I’m sure most of you have heard at least five prodigal son sermons in your lifetime… I’ve been around a while and can lay claim to at least 20 myself……

Contexualization NT's Use of the OT Society Theology

Weirdo Fixations and the Heart of True Religion

January 7, 2017 Andrew Sargent

During my recent convalescence after surgery I received a disturbing letter from an earnest young man who was understandably distraught over his shunning from a congregation for whom he felt…

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

Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me as Quote NOT Statement: Psalm 22:1 in the New Testament

January 5, 2017 Andrew Sargent

Matthew 27:46 reads, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken…

Biblical Studies Biblical Theology Systematic & Historical Theology Theology

Forensics, Not Just for CSI Anymore: Atonement & The Cross

January 4, 2017 Andrew Sargent

You can question in faith. You can doubt in faith. You can also question and doubt in unbelief, in a heart deep challenge to the truths of God and His…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Biblical Studies Biblical Theology New Testament Studies NT's Use of the OT Systematic & Historical Theology

A Quote is Not a Direct Statement: Psalm 22 & The Forensics of the Cross

January 2, 2017 Andrew Sargent

One of the most popular quotes by Christians about Jesus on the Cross is a quote by Jesus on the Cross. In Matthew 27:46 it says, “About the ninth hour…

Biblical Language Issues Biblical Studies HAGALAH Meeting the Jesus of Mark NT's Use of the OT Text Criticism Issues

Fun with Hebrew Poetry: Isaiah 40:3 in the New Testament

December 30, 2016 Andrew Sargent

I’ve been teaching an Isaiah class of late and we had an amusing time last night considering the way the New Testament Scholars have handled the quote from Isaiah 40:3…

Biblical Studies Old Testament Studies

God’s Will by God’s Means: Did Jacob NEED to Trick Isaac to Fulfill God’s Plan?

December 28, 2016 Andrew Sargent

I had the pleasure of attending the President’s Chapel recently at Northpoint Bible College. I co-authored the book 40 Days With the Savior with Jonathan Cashman and have been traveling…

Contexualization Ethics Society

The Obliterating Folly of Single Text Christians

December 26, 2016 Andrew Sargent

There’s been a lot of chatter on social media of late about torture. Now, torture is a powerful weasel word… i.e. a term that comes pre-loaded with good or bad…

Text Criticism Issues

Escaping the Tyranny of Certainty: Text Criticism in Isaiah 40:3

December 23, 2016 Andrew Sargent

A few posts back, I began a discussion on the contrast between the scholarly handling of Isaiah 40:3 in the Hebrew and its appearance in both the Greek versions and…

Text Criticism Issues

How to Think Like a Text Critic

December 21, 2016 Andrew Sargent

I launched a few posts back into a discussion of the scholarly handling of Isaiah 40:3 in both the Hebrew texts and the Greek texts. In the Hebrew, a voice…

Text Criticism Issues

The Tyranny of Certainty: In Defense of Text Criticism

December 19, 2016 Andrew Sargent

I’ve mentioned previously that I tend to be rather open to discussions about theology and the meanings of Biblical texts, but that I also have two groups running around the…

Biblical Theology Communication Contexualization Systematic & Historical Theology Theology

Confessions of a Middle Aged Professor, Part 2

December 16, 2016 Andrew Sargent

In my last post, I took an honest look at my early years as a biblical studies professor. I considered a handful of things I could have done better as…

Biblical Theology Communication Society Theology

Confessions of a Middle Aged Professor, Part 1

December 14, 2016 Andrew Sargent

In studies of cross-cultural communication, I have never ceased to be amazed at the potential for a disconnect even between those raised together. The unique struggles between nature & nurture,…

Society

Why You Must Watch the Documentary Poverty, Inc.

December 13, 2016 Andrew Sargent

When I first saw the advertisement of the documentary advertised above, POVERTY, INC. I thought, “Great, another conspiracy piece about how nobody should ever make a profit, how all profit…

Ethics Society

It’s Not MY Fault: Denying Our Humanity In Denying Our Culpability

December 12, 2016 Andrew Sargent

A lot of people have terrible things happen to them. Some children are beaten, sexually assaulted, feast on a steady diet of verbally demeaning rhetoric. There is war and oppressive…