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101 Most Misunderstood Verses
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Tweaking Your Enemies Hebrew Style
In my previous blog, “What’s in a Name?” I started a discussion on the importance of paying attention to the meaning of names in the Bible. Sometimes what comes out…
A Tribute to the Musical Story Teller
One of the great things about learning Hebrew is the ability to share in the feel of the stories beyond raw content. Good writing uses language as more than just…
The Power of Women in the Ancient World
I am not insensible to the rage many women feel over the modern misconception that the plight of women in the world is almost solely the result of a grand…
101 Most Misunderstood Verses
Bible Backgrounds
Biblical Language Issues
Biblical Studies
HAGALAH
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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…
101 Most Misunderstood Verses
Biblical Language Issues
Biblical Studies
New Testament Studies
Old Testament Studies
Hallelujah is a Sentence
At the risk of sounding like a petulant child… well, a petulant child that complains about the frequent misuse of ancient Hebrew in weekly church services…. Which now that I…
The Engendering of Gender Generalities
Doing biblical theology requires one to lay aside even precious biases in order to hear the message of Scripture speaking from foreign lands in foreign tongues out of foreign cultures.…
The International Root Beer Incident
If you are ever bored, call any missionary friend who is able to take your call and ask them to tell you some stories about cross-cultural confusion. This, of course,…
Bible Backgrounds
Biblical Language Issues
Biblical Studies
Biblical Theology
HAGALAH
Old Testament Studies
Theology
The Limits of Biblical Theology
One of the advantages, or disadvantages as the case may be, of being a biblical theologian, in which my phenomenological (i.e. believer’s) approach to the text within a historical grammatical…
101 Most Misunderstood Verses
Bible Backgrounds
Biblical Language Issues
Biblical Studies
HAGALAH
Old Testament Studies
Concubine as Paradigm
In considering the meaning of a simple word like concubine one finds an excellent example of the challenges that face modern attempts to represent many biblical terms. Sometimes we not…
6 Pieces of Practical Advice about Learning Biblical Languages
In a busy world, I find that most prefer to give me advice rather than help. “You should be doing X,” (not ecstasy, just X as in “blah” or “fill…
Bible Backgrounds
Biblical Language Issues
Biblical Studies
Biblical Theology
HAGALAH
Inductive Study Methods
Old Testament Studies
Theology
How to Think Like a Biblical Theologian
To those who mainly regard the Bible as a source for answering their every question about God and the world, biblical theologians can be a real pill, and biblical theology…
Artifact Communication in the Bible
I’d like to draw your attention to artifact communication—the use of things to affect the understanding of another. Things have shared meaning within a community. Like a band of gold…
The Danger of Using Matthew 18:19-20 to Speak about Prayer
Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them…
Bible Reading is Cross-cultural Communication
Communication at its most basic is the use of symbols to affect the understanding of another. The symbols at a communicator’s disposal are both verbal and non-verbal. Verbal tools are…
An Additional 3 Reasons Every Christian Leader Should Learn Biblical Languages
If you still aren’t convinced that learning biblical languages is worth the effort and time it will take to learn them (which is not as much as you imagine), I’ll…
Left Brained Readings of Right Brained Scriptures
Well, now I’ve done it. I’ve brought up right brained and left brained in a public setting. I’m sure I’ll hear about it from critics. So, let me ward off…
I Feel Baruch’s Pain
I have a vision for the rest of my life. You may not care for it, but it sure means a lot to me. I want a cabin in the…
5 Ways to Avoid Miscommunication
Let’s be honest, when you understand what communication is at its roots, you’ll realize that you cannot avoid miscommunication… not altogether. It takes two to tango (That’s what my betters…
Yet 3 More Reasons Every Christian Leader Should Learn Biblical Languages
I don’t know about you, but I am constantly bombarded by “helpful” suggestions about all the things I ought to be doing about my health, my work, my family, my…
Passion and Awe in Psalm 8
When reading biblical poetry, one must learn to connect with the poem on more than one level. While it is important to carefully define the Hebrew words being employed in…