Category: Theology

Biblical Studies Biblical Theology Church Life Contexualization Systematic & Historical Theology Theology

Bemoaning “Naked” Baptisms & Klinefelter syndrome

October 29, 2025 Andrew Sargent

Had a brief engagement the other day with a person who seemed bent on using an out of context fact about some early church baptisms among the Greek believers to…

Society Theology

“Egad! You Painted Yourself as Jesus!”

October 24, 2025 Andrew Sargent

I am not an art historian, but as I understand the matter, it was not uncommon for great painters of old to put themselves into Biblical scenes as either the…

Reviews Theology

My Review of Biblical Critical Theory by Christopher Watkin

July 10, 2024 Andrew Sargent

Shared with Permission from Criswell Theological Review Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible’s Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture. By Christopher Watkin. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2022,…

Bible Backgrounds Biblical Studies Biblical Theology Old Testament Studies

I’d Like to Sucker Punch Genesis 1-11

July 2, 2024 Andrew Sargent

I’ve found myself in a bit of a quandary when trying to help other believers see Genesis the way that I have come to see it after years of studying…

Biblical Theology Society

Wisdom, Folly & “Blaming the Victim”

April 4, 2023 Andrew Sargent

I recently saw a picture of young woman from India holding up a sign that read “Don’t ask your daughters not to go out, Ask your SONS to BEHAVE.” (sic)…

Bible Backgrounds Biblical Studies Biblical Theology Communication Old Testament Studies Theology

Why Hassle with a Tassel?

March 1, 2023 Andrew Sargent

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…

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

Jesus, The Prophet of Prophets

July 4, 2022 Andrew Sargent

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…

Contexualization Question Posts Theology Worship

Do Muslims worship the same God as Christians and Jews?

May 16, 2022 Andrew Sargent

No matter what you think I’m saying at any given point in this article. Please read to the very end. Wisdom dialogue takes time and makes turns in the hope…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Biblical Studies Contexualization Old Testament Studies

“Train up a child” and your good? Proverbs 22:6

December 9, 2021 Andrew Sargent

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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

What the Woman Caught in Adultery Shouldn’t Teach Us: Law, Grace & Bad Hermeneutics

October 8, 2019 Andrew Sargent

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,…

Biblical Theology Old Testament Studies

Three Great Prophetic Truths that Transformed the World Part 4: True Worship Springs from the Heart Not From Ritual

October 6, 2019 Andrew Sargent

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…

Biblical Theology Old Testament Studies

Three Great Prophetic Truths that Transformed the World Part 3: Justice in Society is a Must

October 4, 2019 Andrew Sargent

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…

Biblical Theology Contexualization Systematic & Historical Theology Theology

The Three Amigos: Biblical, Systematic & Historical Theology… the radio spot, take a listen

September 28, 2019 Andrew Sargent

This is another one of my audience-less lectures. Tame, steady, devoid of my shrieking “pay attention! This is important” moments. I discuss the vital role that all three major methods…

Biblical Theology Theology

The Three Amigos: Biblical, Systematic & Historical Theology

September 26, 2019 Andrew Sargent

As a constant advocate for Biblical Theology, some imagine that I want Biblical Theology instead of Systematic Theology. I don’t. Systematic Theology does not hold as much interest for me…

Communication Contexualization Society Theology

Woe the Implacable Heart

April 30, 2019 Andrew Sargent

One of the transforming insights I’ve gained over the last few years regards the blindness, deafness, insensibility of the human heart. I sit stupefied at the depth of human evil…

Bible Backgrounds Biblical Language Issues Biblical Studies Biblical Theology HAGALAH Inductive Study Methods Meeting the Jesus of Mark New Testament Studies

Jesus as Gospel: Is there Emperor Typology in Mark 1:1?

April 25, 2019 Andrew Sargent

Some have suggested that the “OF” case in Mark 1:1 in the phrase “Gospel of Jesus” is objective… meaning that Jesus is the gospel and not merely the preacher of…

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

Getting out the Pagan Within Part 1: A Biblical Theology of I Samuel 15:27-31

April 23, 2019 Andrew Sargent

Even a brief scan of 1 Samuel 15 should be enough to perplex the average reader. Here YHWH commands Samuel to command Saul to utterly destroy a people called the…

Bible Backgrounds Biblical Language Issues Biblical Theology HAGALAH Inductive Study Methods Intertestamental History & Literature Meeting the Jesus of Mark New Testament Studies NT's Use of the OT

A Baptism in Confusion: 3 Baptisms in Mark 1:2-13

April 18, 2019 Andrew Sargent

In our last episode, we introduced the bare bones essence of water baptism as an ancient covenant ratification act saturated with typical death imagery and corresponding OT interests in ordeal…

Bible Backgrounds Biblical Theology HAGALAH Inductive Study Methods Meeting the Jesus of Mark New Testament Studies NT's Use of the OT Old Testament Studies

A Baptism in Baptism

April 16, 2019 Andrew Sargent

So you read the whole Old Testament. You read it several times. Having immersed yourself in the literature that your Bible, by its basic structure, seems to promise as the…

Bible Backgrounds Biblical Studies Biblical Theology Inductive Study Methods

Historical History & the Little Scholar Who Could

April 12, 2019 Andrew Sargent

One of the benefits of a being raised in a blue collar environment and receiving academic training is that I tend to experience the full force of learning. This means…