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…
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…
Mao + Stalin + Hitler + Modern Technology = X. Solve for X.
The struggle for power is as natural to human nature as love and hate. On a sociological scale it is as fundamental to the patterns of history and culture as…
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…
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…
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
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,…
Three Great Prophetic Truths that Transformed the World Part 4: True Worship Springs from the Heart Not From Ritual
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…
Three Great Prophetic Truths that Transformed the World Part 3: Justice in Society is a Must
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…
Three Great Prophetic Truths that Transformed the World Part 2: Idolatry is an Abomination
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…
Three Great Prophetic Truths that Transformed the World, Part 1: Did Judaism & Christianity Improve the World?
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…
The Three Amigos: Biblical, Systematic & Historical Theology… the radio spot, take a listen
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…
The Three Amigos: Biblical, Systematic & Historical Theology
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…
Wherever Two or Three are Gathered in His Name, They are Almost Certain to Misinterpret Matthew 18:20
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…
Woe the Implacable Heart
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…
Natural Rights are Boring, I Want Something for Nothing
The first Law, planted in Genesis 9:6 like a seed in the human race, sprouting into all just law as the ages have passed, is rooted in that one all…
Depends What the Meaning of “OF” Is
Grammar stinks…. just kidding; I love grammar, but I’m hoping that by pretending not to that you will suck it up and actually read all the way to the bottom…
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?
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…