Hermeneutics - Biblical Literacy

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

What’s Good for the Gander is Good for the Goose: “The Foreigner at the Well” in Ruth

April 4, 2018 Andrew Sargent

In recent blogs, I’ve been considering the alluring and powerfully theological type-scene “Foreigner at the Well.” It is common for people to develop in their entertainment of any form typical…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Biblical Studies Biblical Theology HAGALAH Old Testament Studies

I’ll Have One “Foreigner at the Well” with a Twist

March 30, 2018 Andrew Sargent

In my recent post, “Wells: The Singles’ Bars of the Ancient Near East,”—I just call ‘em like I see ‘em Folks! Don’t judge me—I discussed the beauty of the ancient…

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

Wells: The Singles’ Bars of the Ancient Near East

March 28, 2018 Andrew Sargent

One of my great-uncles, a true good-ol’boy from west Texas, once said to my great-grandmother, “Mamma, it’s hard to find a good woman like you out there.” She replied, “There…

101 Most Misunderstood Verses Bible Backgrounds Biblical Language Issues Biblical Studies NT's Use of the OT Old Testament Studies

Hallelujah: Call “of” Praise or Call “to” Praise

March 12, 2018 Andrew Sargent

After discussing, in my recent blog post, “Hallelujah is a Sentence,” that the biblical “term” Hallelujah has grammar and that we should both be aware of that grammar and use…

Biblical Theology HAGALAH Inductive Study Methods Theology

What I Mean by Biblical Theology

December 8, 2017 Andrew Sargent

How hard could it possibly be to find agreement on the meaning of a phrase as simple as biblical theology? In truth… harder than I’d like. Biblical theology is not,…

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

Hallelujah is a Sentence

August 11, 2017 Andrew Sargent

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…

Biblical Language Issues Biblical Studies Communication HAGALAH

Bible Reading is Cross-cultural Communication

July 14, 2017 Andrew Sargent

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…

Communication

5 Ways to Avoid Miscommunication

July 5, 2017 Andrew Sargent

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…

Communication

Learning How Communication Works, So You Can Work it Better

June 26, 2017 Andrew Sargent

A centipede was happy – quite!Until a toad in funSaid, “Pray, which leg moves after which?”This raised her doubts to such a pitch,She fell exhausted in the ditchNot knowing how…

Biblical Theology Theology

A Biblical Theologian in a Systematic Theology World

June 21, 2017 Andrew Sargent

When I passed inspection for receiving my ministerial license, the individual responsible for my review spread out, like a row of piano keys, the many pages of answers I gave…

Biblical Language Issues Biblical Studies Inductive Study Methods Old Testament Studies

10 Things You Need to Know About Hebrew Poetry

June 19, 2017 Andrew Sargent

Poetry, by definition, is usually regarded as distinct from another category of writing called Prose. To express it simply, Prose is normal writing. It reflects the speech patterns of typical…

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

Nazarenes, Rednecks, and Other Well-meaning Slurs

January 18, 2017 Andrew Sargent

I love puzzles, always have. Growing up, I saw puzzles of all kinds as a natural exercise of my desire to be a detective someday, tracing out subtle clues to…

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

Body Parts, Wives and Other Stuff in 1st Thessalonians 4:4

June 20, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Let’s consider three different translations for 1 Thessalonians 4:4 in context. Paul uses a figure of speech that has many people scratching their heads. The King James takes a rather…

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…

Society

My Ethics of Ethics

April 22, 2016 Andrew Sargent

It is a complex world with complex problems. The desire for sure answers and ethical certainty in my own religious community has not, however, historically, driven them to examine issues,…

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…

Biblical Language Issues Biblical Theology Communication Inductive Study Methods Meeting the Jesus of Mark New Testament Studies

Beginning Mark with Beginning: Is there New Creation in Mark 1:1?

March 7, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Some words require a serious amount of cultural packaging to define… (A Technical Term is not just a different Word; it’s a different World.) …such as our past discussion on…

Communication Society

Weasel Words & the Domination of Public Narrative

March 4, 2016 Andrew Sargent

Words have a lot more than just a definition. Words have associations. Words have rich emotional content. That emotional content is a powerful tool in communication. Choosing the right word…