Dispensationalism is a theological system for interpreting the Bible that views the history of God’s engagement with humanity as divisible into typically seven distinct periods. The system relies upon a literal hermeneutic and the recognition of...
Mark S. Gignilliat | Beeson Divinity School The proverbial mid-life whatever-you-wish-to-call-it exists in one form or another, and the academic is especially vulnerable. The hamster’s wheel of academic life can charm and dull at the same time. In...
A group of European designers recently released something called Bible The. They took all the words of the King James Bible and rearranged them in alphabetical order. Bible The—get it? Bible The presents 18 pages of the word “shall,” one instance of...
Who are the Nephilim? In the sixth chapter of Genesis, we’re confronted with a curious reference to the Nephilim. Who are they? Were they a race who came to be through the mingling of divine beings and the daughters of men? Were the Nephilim...
Elisha’s healing of Naaman in the Bible (the leper [and] commander of the army of the king of Syria) is a familiar story to many (2 Kgs 5:1–27). Naaman hears that Elisha, the prophet of Israel, can heal him, so he makes the trip. When the two meet...
Millennials and Gen Z are weighing heavy on pastors’ hearts these days. According to Barna, When presented with a list of possible challenges facing their church today, half of Protestant pastors note that “reaching a younger audience” (51%)...
Should Christians study fringe topics like UFOs and the Bible and whether aliens exist? The existence of UFOs has topped news headlines over the past few weeks, generating quite the buzz, primarily in response to the Pentagon’s soon-to-be-released...
The bivocational pastor is one of the most unique, gifted, and selfless individuals in the Church. That’s because they serve churches that can’t compensate them with full-time pay (or they choose to stay in another job to save the church money)...
It’s probably not a stretch to say that suicide has impacted every church. Nor is it a stretch to say that many church attendees—even the ones who show up every week—have never heard a sermon on suicide. And yet, it’s become the eleventh leading...
Pastor H. B. Charles Jr. began ministry at age 17 when he inherited the pulpit at his father’s church. Now with more than 30 years of ministry experience, Charles has written books on prayer, preaching, and ministry. He is a popular conference...
SETH M. EHORN | WHEATON COLLEGE There it was—the most beautiful cathedral I had ever seen. But not just beautiful. Enormous! It was the summer of 2011, and I was spending the month of July studying French in Paris. As part of my experience, I...
The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is difficult. It strikes many readers as harsh, a return to Old Testament retribution. Consider why Luke, under the Spirit's inspiration, may have included the story in Acts.
Nancy Guthrie did what Christians are supposed to do: she read her Bible. And she noticed things, especially things that hinted at more connections between the Testaments than she had been aware of. There’s a second Adam? The blood of Abel gets...
If you’re in the mood for some profoundly thought-provoking reading, I recommend working your way through some of Thomas Howard’s books. Whether you adhere to the teachings of the Catholic church, or find your comfort in Evangelical...
Learn little-known facts about polygamy in the Bible, what Jesus says about polygamy, and whether Jesus and Paul changed God’s commands.
The Lord Jesus told his disciples after his resurrection that the Psalms had spoken about him: “Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44 ESV). It doesn’t take long to find him. In...
What is the Pentateuch? Though the name sounds theological, it’s really not. The Pentateuch is just the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. In the Hebrew Bible it’s known as the Torah and is...
By Murray J. Harris What does “lead us not into temptation” mean in the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:13? In this excerpt adapted from Navigating Tough Texts: A Guide to Problem Passages in the New Testament, Murray J. Harris explores this part of the...
At the beginning of The New Testament in Its World, authors N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird ask this question: “How does God’s great drama work, and what part are we called to play in it?” Wright and Bird answer their own question: You’ll only...
These days, many people are talking about unity in diversity. But what does that mean for the body of Christ? What are our biblical models, and how can we learn from them? In the following excerpt from the excellent Mobile Ed course Ministry in...
By John Bornshein Why is it important to pray? Knowing the answer—and then doing something with that knowledge—has the power to change our lives. How, exactly? Read on. This excerpt comes from A Prayer Warrior’s Guide to Spiritual Battle: The Front...
Ten years ago, we traveled to the Holy Land. It’s a little humbling now to recognize how much of our precious trip has faded from our memory banks. But the 10-year mark is also a good time to reflect on the abiding value of our tour. What has stuck...
In the following interview, Jacob Cerone discusses his recent translation of Adolf von Harnack’s work on 1 Clement. This book is an invaluable addition to Early Church studies as well as another window into the scholarship and teaching of...
A young child is trying valiantly to climb a tree on her own. Her father says, “without me you won’t be able to do that.” Instinctively, the child understands “without me” to mean “without my help”—not “without my physical presence here watching...
We’ve written about how to introduce new worship songs to your church. But that assumes you’ve found new songs to lead, which raises another question: What new worship songs should you be singing? With innumerable choices, how do worship...
The intersection between Christianity and science is fascinating subject material, especially in regards to the question of origins: is the Christian faith intrinsically opposed to evolutionary theory, or can Christian exegesis and doctrine find...
Eugene Peterson’s The Message elicits strong feelings on the internet. Quite a number of Christian YouTubers, for example, have insisted that it is fit only for the flames. When I posted a (basically positive) video about The Message, I soon...
Is one Bible version enough for good Bible study, and if not, how is a person supposed to know how to choose a good Bible translation? An experienced pastor I greatly respect, a truly world-class Bible expositor whose series through Ephesians...
There are lots of different resources to help you study the Bible, from commentaries and concordances to devotionals and dictionaries. But by far the most powerful is a solid Bible app. Wouldn’t it be great if you could get a free Bible app with...
In this excerpt from the May/June 2019 edition of Bible Study Magazine, Bronwyn Lea shares why author and Bible study teacher Jen Wilkin refuses to leave biblical literacy to the experts—and why she’s passionate about teaching others how to study...
