Category: Biblical Theology

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

Law, What’s it Even Good For?

October 5, 2016 Andrew Sargent

So, in a recent post I discussed the church’s first heresy (Judaizers/the circumcision party) who sought to require gentiles to become Jews before becoming Christians, or in addition to becoming…

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

The First Christian Heresy & First Church Council

October 3, 2016 Andrew Sargent

So, I’ve been discussing Torah food laws and how the two main texts that Christians appeal to for ignoring them are improperly interpreted. Mark 7 is talking about Halakic regulations…

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

Torah Food Laws & Gentile Lobsters

September 30, 2016 Andrew Sargent

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 Language Issues Biblical Theology HAGALAH Inductive Study Methods Old Testament Studies

Re-imagining David and Goliath: Foreheads, Legs, and Sling Stones

August 26, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Imagination has a good deal to do with how the story of David & Goliath is used in modern times, even among scholars and in commentaries. Given its status as…

Biblical Theology Old Testament Studies Society

And Justice for All: The Theological Thrust of Psalm 82

August 5, 2016 Andrew Sargent

I’ve been asked to preach Psalm 82 in a couple weeks. I was a bit wary at first. The text is rife with scholarly controversy and I was uncertain that…

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

Take My Daughters, Please!—The Righteous Offering of Lot’s Daughters

August 3, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Yes, you read that title correctly, but don’t throw stones, yet. There are things to be discovered in this event that our modern gender issues, word meanings and culture may…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Biblical Language Issues Biblical Theology Old Testament Studies

The Great HE in Isaiah 44:18: Does God Keep People from Repenting?

July 29, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Who is the grand “HE” in Isaiah 44:18. Of Idol makers and Idol worshipers, Isaiah says, “They do not know; they do not understand because he plastered over their eyes…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Biblical Studies Biblical Theology Old Testament Studies

Drama and Ditty in Isaiah 28:1-13

July 27, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Isaiah 28:10 is one of those verses that people love to use as a tagline to add a feeling of dedicated, diligent, and trustworthy study of Scripture in their endeavors,…

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

Getting out the Pagan Within Part 5: The Significance of the Central Saying—A Biblical Theology of I Samuel 15:27-31

July 25, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Samuel’s speech to Saul in 1 Samuel 15:28-29 contains an important theological message for both Saul and the reader. It’s meaning, however, has been concealed within rather strange cultural practices…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Bible Backgrounds Biblical Language Issues Biblical Studies Biblical Theology Old Testament Studies

Psst…. Yahweh Doesn’t Mean “I AM”

July 18, 2016 Andrew Sargent

In a place like the world of the Bible where people were given names like “Festive” (2 Samuel 3:4~ Haggith), “Hot” (Genesis 10:1 Ham), and “Wild Goat” (Nehemiah 7:58~Jaala), you…

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

Getting out the Pagan Within Part 6: A Biblical Theology of I Samuel 15:27-31 in Context

June 3, 2016 Andrew Sargent

In our last few posts on 1 Samuel 15:27-31, we attempted to unpack the text in context in order to draw out of it, the narrator’s intended theological message… i.e.…

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

Getting out the Pagan Within Part 4: The Sanctimonious Serenades of Saul—A Biblical Theology of I Samuel 15:27-31

May 30, 2016 Andrew Sargent

So far, we have considered 1 Samuel 15 from a different angles. We have discovered how serious Saul’s sin is. A sin akin to defiling the Ark of the Covenant…

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

Getting out the Pagan Within Part 3: The Sense of Snatching Samuel’s Skirt—A Biblical Theology of I Samuel 15:27-31

May 27, 2016 Andrew Sargent

We are looking at the divine condemnation of Saul’s dynasty in 1 Samuel 15, having already considered the seriousness of the sin which lead directly to it. In the midst…

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

Getting out the Pagan Within Part 2: The Seriousness of Saul’s Sin —A Biblical Theology of I Samuel 15:27-31

May 25, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Okay, Saul goofed. He failed to perfectly enacts a rather brutal command to exterminate another people group. It’s hard to get our modern hearts around this too much. We aren’t…

Biblical Studies Biblical Theology HAGALAH NT's Use of the OT Old Testament Studies

This Little Light of Mine: Life in the Presence of a Consuming Fire

April 29, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Even though I specialize in Old Testament Studies and interpretive methodology, I still find certain areas of study quite difficult to unravel. The world of the Old Testament has many…

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

The Unseemly Assumptions about Samson

April 25, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Today we have a guest Blogger. John Donnelly, Biblical Literacy Ministries Educator, Church Planter, Part-year missionary to India. John has a Master’s in Old Testament Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary…

Biblical Theology Meeting the Jesus of Mark

Putting a Ring on It: The Holy Spirit, Baptism & Covenant

April 18, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Joseph Bonham, M.A. is today’s guest blogger. Joseph has his own blog called the Biblical Bean, linked below. In addition to a Bachelors in Biblical Studies, he holds a master…

Bible Backgrounds Biblical Language Issues Biblical Studies Biblical Theology HAGALAH Old Testament Studies

Freeze! This is the Covenant!

April 13, 2016 Andrew Sargent

We’ve been discussing some important points about Covenant both in Scripture and in the ancient world. So, if you’ve been following my string of posts on Covenant, here are our…

Bible Backgrounds Biblical Theology Old Testament Studies

A Crash Course in Covenant Cutting: The Essence of Covenant

April 11, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Since we live in a contractual world, not a covenantal world, a crash course in biblical era covenant cutting is in order. Now, don’t get me wrong, we still have…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Biblical Studies Biblical Theology New Testament Studies

Jesus, Blank Checks, and Getting a Clue: “Whatever You Ask in My Name” in John

March 9, 2016 Andrew Sargent

John 14:13 says “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do…” I have to admit, I find this very exciting… No, dizzying! A Jet Ski! I’ve always wanted…