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Archive by category Biblical Studies (Page 2)
Matthew 18:20 is often misinterpreted to be talking about prayer… encouraging group prayer as more powerful, more special than private prayer. Matthew 18:20, however is about church discipline and how to conduct that discipline in as redemptive a way as possible. In Part Two, I zero in on...
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May 25, 2024 Andrew Sargent
101 Most Misunderstood Verses, Biblical Studies
In this Video I begin my discussion of Matthew 18:20 and why it is so badly misunderstood in the Church. Jesus is not talking about prayer, but about church discipline and the processes for using discipline redemptively in order to save people from themselves and others from their...
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May 25, 2024 Andrew Sargent
101 Most Misunderstood Verses, Biblical Studies
There is an interesting twist, if you’ll pardon the pun, in the tassel command from Numbers 15:38-41 when it is woven (sorry I just can’t stop myself) into the new context of Deuteronomy 22:9-12. Here we have a series of commands against mixtures followed by the Tassel Command....
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March 4, 2023 Andrew Sargent
101 Most Misunderstood Verses, Bible Backgrounds, Biblical Studies, HAGALAH, Old Testament Studies
The giving of the tassel to the Israelites in Numbers 15:38-41 is a powerful symbol of God’s love and acceptance, a divine gift to aid them in their struggles against sin, and an ever visible reminder of their privilege and responsibility as a kingdom of priests.[1] The shocking...
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March 3, 2023 Andrew Sargent
101 Most Misunderstood Verses, Biblical Studies, HAGALAH, Inductive Study Methods, Old Testament Studies
I’ll never forget a visit I made many years ago to a full scale temple model with my wife. The woman running the guided tour was just chuck full of… interesting tidbits… you thought I was going to write nuts didn’t you… well shame on you. Actually she...
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March 2, 2023 Andrew Sargent
101 Most Misunderstood Verses, Biblical Language Issues, Biblical Studies, Old Testament Studies
The tassel attached to the Hebrew male’s outer garment is a wonderful example of artifact communication in the Bible. That is, the tassel is an item used in Israel to communicate a particular meaning within that culture… one which is foreign and, thus, unintelligible to most of the...
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March 1, 2023 Andrew Sargent
Bible Backgrounds, Biblical Studies, Biblical Theology, Communication, Old Testament Studies, Theology
Extreme stress has a way of bringing out your true nature. In dire circumstances, some reveal the selfish and corrupt side of being human, others, however, rise above the fear and panic and reveal godly character. In them, some small part of the image of God shines forth in...
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September 28, 2022 Praveen Hiwale
Biblical Studies, New Testament Studies
Question: How do you think the newly formed church thrived in the face of persecution and prospered spiritually in spite of the martyrdom of Stephen and James? First Answer: The Twelve Apostles were leading the church through the power of the Holy Spirit in effective witness to the...
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September 26, 2022 Mithun Borde
Biblical Studies, New Testament Studies, Uncategorized
I love discovering deeper layers of meaning in books and movies than stand out on the surface. I thrill when, having read or watched something on one level, I discover upon further personal meditation or discussion with others the true profundity of the work. Of the many things...
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September 23, 2022 Andrew Sargent
New Testament Studies, NT's Use of the OT, Uncategorized
When Jesus called Peter to become a fisher of men, I seriously doubt he had any thought of the role he would someday play in fulfilling Israel’s sacred mission to the Gentiles. For him, one who most closely related to the older brother in The Parable of The...
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August 8, 2022 Andrew Sargent
Biblical Studies, New Testament Studies
Jesus’ manifesto in Luke 4:18-19 says: THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE...
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August 5, 2022 Andrew Sargent
Biblical Studies, New Testament Studies
When trying to understand one of Jesus’ parables, there are four vital questions to answer about it. Let’s go over them. Question #1: What is the nature of the details in a parable? Is it a pure Allegory? Allegory is an extended metaphor. Metaphor equates two things...
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August 3, 2022 Andrew Sargent
Biblical Studies, HAGALAH, New Testament Studies
In our last two posts on the incident at Nain, we discussed the importance of geographical study as something deeper than map investigations, and the importance of typology for an author’s theological goals, bringing meaning to his subject by portraying it in the contours and colors of meaningful...
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July 4, 2022 Andrew Sargent
101 Most Misunderstood Verses, Bible Backgrounds, Biblical Studies, Biblical Theology, HAGALAH, Inductive Study Methods, New Testament Studies, NT's Use of the OT
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December 9, 2021 Andrew Sargent
101 Most Misunderstood Verses, Biblical Studies, Contexualization, Old Testament Studies
John 8:7 is especially popular with non-Christians who resent any suggestion within Christianity that they are sinners in need of salvation. It is usually paraphrased, “He who is without sin, cast the first stone.”[1] Sounds good doesn’t it?— Don’t judge me! John 8:7 is a “Get-out-of-Jail-free card” for...
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October 8, 2019 Andrew Sargent
101 Most Misunderstood Verses, Bible Backgrounds, Biblical Studies, Biblical Theology, HAGALAH, Inductive Study Methods, New Testament Studies, NT's Use of the OT, Old Testament Studies
There was once a man with a great prayer life and a bothersome cat. Wishing to be left alone while he prayed, he leashed the cat to the post of his bed where it couldn’t reach him. That man had a daughter who wanted a great prayer...
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October 6, 2019 Andrew Sargent
Biblical Theology, Old Testament Studies
If one reads the prophets, he or she will notice rather quickly that one of the great themes of the prophets is a call for justice in society. The wealthy and powerful have a way of getting what they want in life and protecting what they get. Those...
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October 4, 2019 Andrew Sargent
Biblical Theology, Old Testament Studies
One can hardly keep from noticing that the writing prophets (Isaiah through Malachi) seem a tad preoccupied with combating the societal inclination in Israel (and the nations) to Idolatry. We can speculate as to the exact process by which men became idol worshippers—many speculate based on Scriptural passages...
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October 2, 2019 Andrew Sargent
Old Testament Studies, Society
An atheist close to me was raised as a conservative Christian. The gospel never penetrated his heart, but he was, on the whole, a well behaved kid who absorbed a strong sense of morality, obedience to authority, concern for his neighbor’s well-being, work ethic, sobriety and self-restraint. He...
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September 30, 2019 Andrew Sargent
Old Testament Studies, Society
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Mat 18:20 ” For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” We may as well get this out of the way right up front. Matthew 18:20 has NOTHING to do with prayer, corporate or otherwise. Now, don’t get me wrong. Prayer...
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September 24, 2019 Andrew Sargent
101 Most Misunderstood Verses, Biblical Studies, Inductive Study Methods, New Testament Studies
