Taylor JonesIt’s a heart-rending scene: Their husbands are dead. Their prospects in Moab are bleak. But a rumor stirs in the fields: The devastating famine that brought Naomi and her daughters-in-law from Bethlehem to Moab has ended. It’s time for...
What would it have been like to step into the empty tomb on that first Easter morning? This isn’t just idle speculation. When we take the time to understand the ancient culture and customs of the biblical world—when we reconstruct the world in...
What do you do when your biblical commentaries contradict one another? And what if two lexicons seem to support opposing translations? Responsible biblical interpretation requires listening to a range of voices, understanding relevant literature...
We often forget that cutting-edge technology helped make the Reformation possible. But in fact, sixteenth-century publishers turned to a new-fangled device called the printing press to share the messages of Reformers at mass scale. And when they...
John Calvin loved the book of Hebrews. “There is indeed, no book in Holy Scripture which . . . so fully explains that Christ is the end of the Law,” said the great Reformer. But it’s that very connection to the Old Testament that...
As society and technology careen toward an uncertain future, what does the future hold for Christian ministry? I sat down with Dr. Randy Roberts, president of Western Seminary, for his insights on the next generation of pastors, how technology...
“Let me get back to you on that.” Years ago, an older, wiser Christian taught me how those eight little words would help me better serve other believers. As an eager, young church leader, I would over commit, agreeing to take on responsibilities...
A few years ago, researchers discovered that our memories might not be as reliable as we think. In fact, every time you recall a memory, your brain distorts it a little. Like making a copy of a copy of a copy, you reproduce the event in your mind’s...
It’s easy to forget that a chasm of difference lies between our time and the people, customs, and culture of the Bible. It’s only when we take the time to understand those differences when we reconstruct the world in which those stories took place...
What would it have been like to pray with Jesus in the garden? To watch as he was led to his death? To enter a tomb one early Sunday morning and find only a few discarded rags? When you explore the culture, history, theology, and literature of the...
God’s Word is eternal, but between us and its earliest readers lies a chasm of time, culture, and language. Before we can apply Scripture to twenty-first-century life, we must first understand the world in which it was written. Ask celebrated...
It’s been half a millennium since Martin Luther struck the spark that lit the fire of Reformation across the world. Much has changed since that revolutionary act, but one thing is certain: we are living in the legacy of Luther. In the new...
In biblical studies, there are a few series singled out by scholars for their consistently stellar contribution to the field. The Hermeneia and Continental Commentary series, which is 30% off this month, is one of them. If you’re looking for a...
“Measure twice, cut once.” It’s a memorable adage, and good advice with application beyond carpentry. But after measuring and cutting for years, you may be tempted to cut the measuring frequency in half. After all, you’re an expert. But even experts...
By the end of the fourth century, the common language of the Western world was Latin, but a complete and cohesive Latin translation of the Bible had yet to materialize. It wasn’t until A.D. 405 that a scholar named Jerome completed a Latin...
From 1946–1956, the discovery of 11 caves on the West Bank of the Jordan River shook the world of biblical scholarship. Tucked away in those caves were ancient, earthen vessels containing what we now know as the Dead Sea Scrolls—a cache of...
The International Critical Commentary has long held a special place among works on the Bible. It brings together everything you need for responsible exegesis; linguistic, textual, archaeological, historical, literary, and theological issues are all...
Photo: TimothyKeller.com It’s ironic that the two Christian holidays most widely appropriated by secular culture, Christmas and Easter, celebrate events secularism necessarily denies. Indeed, the miracles of the virgin birth and the resurrection are...
Photo courtesy ERLC As we emerge from a political season that exposed the cultural divides of our country, American Christians may feel the temptation to retreat from the public square. But now more than ever, a truthful, winsome, and loving...
Nobody enjoys an awkward silence—especially when you’re trying to lead a Bible study of small group. Plenty of issues could derail the conversation: everything from the temperature of the room to the mix of personalities. While there’s no sure-fire...
If you’re a church leader, by now you’re probably knee-deep in preparation for Christmas. From planning extra services to crafting upcoming sermon series to fit the season, there’s a lot to keep track of. And there are plenty of...
There are plenty of unexpected things in the Bible: floating axe heads, a talking donkey, water turned to wine, apocalyptic horsemen. But scour the New Testament all you like, and there’s one thing you’d be hard pressed to find: a churchless...
The Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology calls inspiration the “cornerstone of evangelical theology.” But how God’s Word moved from the mind of God to the biblical writers, to their immediate audience, and finally, to the translations you and...
A seminary professor once relayed the story of an idealistic church member who complained that pastors should get “real world experience” before beginning pastoral ministry. The professor listened at first, but soon grew impatient with the...
You’ve seen it plastered on tee shirts, coffee mugs, bookmarks and Bible covers; it’s cross-stitched on throw pillows and wall art. Its words have comforted thousands of Christians in their darkest moments. But do you really understand the...
I remember the first time my personal devotions finally started to click. After growing up in the church, earning a Bible degree, and working in ministry, I developed the habit of separating my “study time”—which I spent preparing sermons, lessons...
Many Christians believe that for faith to be authentic, it must be free from any doubt. While this may be an ideal, it’s far from realistic. Many characters in God’s Word—including Abraham and John the Baptist—experienced episodes of doubt. Though...
On April 27, Faithlife is partnering with Dr.’s Les and Leslie Parrott, authors of the much-praised premarital resource Saving Your Marriage before It Starts, for a free webinar on premarital counseling especially for pastors and ministry leaders...
It’s hard to overstate the significance of Athanasius’ On the Incarnation of the Word of God. Athanasius ministered in a time when many Christians believed what we today would recognize as heresy. This embattled saint set himself against...
This Easter season saw the release of two major films about Jesus: The Young Messiah, based on Anne Rice’s 2005 novelization of Jesus’ earliest years, and Risen, a biblical epic recast as a historical mystery starring Joseph Feinnes. Depicting...