Did God come strolling through the Garden? Maybe we have some translation issues.
Home » Archive by category Uncategorized (Page 5)
Which Translation Should I Use? Does it really matter?
Where 2 or 3 have gathered, someone is going to start a service off with this verse. Should we?
Jesus’ Parables: Why Matters
If you ever find yourself confused by Jesus’ parables, don’t feel too bad. Jesus’ parables befuddled His own disciples. When they ask for clarification, Jesus reveals that an important part of understanding His parables is understanding why He’s using them in the first place. So, why does Jesus...
Continue reading
One Man’s Reception of the Reception History Conference of the Society of Pentecostal Studies’ 2019 Annual Meeting
I have just returned from my first SPS annual meeting. As a newbie, I was less than impressed. Rats! There goes the tension spring in another understatement meter; I should buy those by the dozen. The diatribe comes below, but first, let me briefly explain “Reception History,” which...
Continue reading
Is The Bible Anti-Science?
One of the many things that I do that annoys the easily-annoyed is that I complicate supposedly simple things. When people denounce the Bible as “anti-science,” I annoy them with questions about the definition and limits of science. Then I challenge their perception of Scripture as merely a...
Continue reading
The Weird and Wild World of Genesis 3
Genesis 3 has some interesting challenges for the average modern reader. We have a special garden in the midst of an uninhabited world, two seemingly magical trees… one a source of life the other a source of death. We have two fully developed baby-adults, a talking serpent, and...
Continue reading
Fun with Mourning: The Disconnected Roots of Biblical Mourning Rituals
The late questionably great comedian Andy Kaufman, apart from his iconic role as Latka on Taxi, spent his days devising comedy routines that played the audience for fools. His manager once asked him, (I paraphrase) “Who are you trying to entertain, the audience or yourself?” This might describe...
Continue reading
What’s in a Name?
In our own western culture the connection between names and meaning is rather slight. I know this, in part, because I am one of those annoying, but well meaning, people who goes about attempting to engage others in witty conversation, only to discover 7 times out of 10...
Continue reading
A Painful Father’s Day
Pain is the common lot of humanity. We cause most of our own pain directly or indirectly, and find the ultimate source of our deepest pain in the general human condition… caused, if one believes the Scriptures, by man. Somehow, even in the church, we have bought into...
Continue reading
Controversial Christ… the Radio Spot. Take a Listen.
This is the 3rd narrative sermon in the gospel of Mark. In it, Mark uses a repeated story pattern to develop the increasing tensions between Jesus and the religious leaders as they progress from criticizing him in their hearts to plotting his death, after he turns the...
Continue reading
Successful Charity vs. Dysfunctional Enablement
When do you know that your charity efforts have been successful? You have not succeeded when a stream of the same hungry people eat from your hand day after day for years… though you will think so because you’ll tell yourself that this is better than having them...
Continue reading
Why Does the Media Lean So Far Left?
Why does the media lean so far left? You might say, “It doesn’t lean left! It’s not biased!” In which case I imagine that you are left leaning and quite content with a sweeping bias that snuggles so nicely into your own perception of the world… and you...
Continue reading
Should Christians be Patriotic?
Should Christians be patriotic? Great question, I’m glad you asked. The best answer I can give up front is, “What do you mean by patriotic?” Definition is always the best place to begin. Without definition of key terms each person in a discussion fills in those terms with...
Continue reading
Biblical Literacy: Share my posts if you like them; comment if you want to shape my subjects
I want to thank those faithful folk who have been reading my blog Biblical Literacy where I seek to help you become a better Bible interpreter. I need your help to developing the blog & to extend its reach. Sign up to receive notifications by email at drandrewsargent.com. Open...
Continue reading
101 Most Misunderstood Verses: A Biblical Literacy Ministries Series
If you love juicy tidbits about the Bible that help you understand it better, go to drandrewsargent.com. I’m Dr. Andrew Sargent and I write a blog called BIBLICAL LITERACY. I have a PhD in Theology & Two master’s degrees in Biblical Studies… BUT I try to explain even complex...
Continue reading
