DidaktikosProfessors and aspiring writers who know I have authored or co-authored over thirty books and many smaller pieces often ask me, “How do you do it?” I am always glad to share my thoughts on this subject, particularly with those who are struggling to...
Michael S. HeiserSometimes when a New Testament writer quotes the Old Testament, the two passages do not match precisely. Is the New Testament writer misquoting the Old Testament? Or is there another explanation? Luke records that when Jesus began his ministry, he...
By John D. Meade In biblical and theological instruction and writing, it is common to refer to “the LXX” or “the Septuagint.” Old Testament/Hebrew Bible scholars refer to the LXX as the oldest translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, and scholars in...
Logos StaffWe talk with Dr. David Baker about studying the Old Testament (0:10), and Dr. Steve Runge shares some gems from Philippians 3 (5:30). Dr. David Baker is a professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Ashland Theological Seminary in...
Tavis Bohlingerby Tavis Bohlinger* Yesterday we celebrated International LXX Day by publishing an essay on The Origin of the LXX. Today we are pleased to present the second half of that essay, because, well, we just love the Septuagint here at Logos (this proves...
It is one of the most painful deficiencies of Biblical study at the present day that the reading of the Septuagint has been pushed into the background, while its exegesis has been scarcely even begun. —Adolf Deissmann, The Philology of the Greek...
One of the most distinguished commentary series of the modern era is the International Critical Commentary, or ICC. The ICC has been around for over 130 years, but the history of the series is a bit hard to trace.
by Craig A. Evans The last quarter-century has seen some impressive advances in biblical archaeology, especially relating to the time that we call the First Temple period (roughly 1000–600 BC) and the time of Jesus and the beginnings of the...
Brian OrrThe God of the Old Testament wants his enemies’ blood shed for their abominations; the God of the New Testament wants to shed his own blood for his enemies’ abominations. Since the first century, this dilemma has led many Christian (and non...
Study the Kings of Israel with Dr. Lamb Learn what Samuel and Kings say through their own words and through the lens of their original contexts, and discover how they shape discipleship today. This two-course Kings of Israel Bundle will not only...
Mark WardI could tell by the faces of my amazing adult Sunday School class, with whom I have such enriching discussions, that what I had just said did not register. I needed to call an audible. It was time to ditch (temporarily) my planned lesson and start a...
Dale BrueggemannDo we know for certain that Jesus can be found in the OT? In our efforts to “read backwards,” are we finding Christ where perhaps he should not be found? Or do we have license as Spirit-led interpreters of Scripture to allegorize as we see fit, and...
One of the things I enjoy telling people in conversations about Bible study is that “if it’s weird, it’s important.” Numbers 5:11–31 certainly qualifies in both respects. The strangeness of the passage is easily detectable, but only careful Bible...
joeydodson“Revisionist history” is inherently redundant, since all history is revised. As George Bernard Shaw writes: “History is always out of date,” and is rewritten to lie, to burn, and to stick in our throats. That is to say, a revision may seek to...
Paul Himes“Context is king” runs the common mantra in biblical studies, and to a certain degree this is true. Yet the “king” cannot rule without some sort of legitimization from the people, and that’s where “semantic range” comes in. If “context is king,”...
Josh WestburyThe following is Part 1 of a two-part guest post by Josh Westbury (PhD, Stellenbosch), a scholar-in-residence at Logos Bible Software. What comes to mind when you hear the word “Oath”? Perhaps you think of a politician taking an oath of office, or a...
Miles CustisThe books are long and complex. They include strange visions, speak of skeletons come to life, and frequently describe God’s wrath and judgment. Studying the Major Prophets can be intimidating to say the least. The language, imagery, and poetry of...
Guest AuthorIt’s easy to become confused while reading the prophets’ depictions of God. Malachi, for instance, warns that God is a powerful warrior who will consume all evildoers in the fire of his judgment (Mal 4:1). In contrast, Isaiah anticipates God’s...
Ryan NelsonGoliath, the infamous giant and “champion of the Philistines,” first appears in the Bible in 1 Samuel 17:4—but he also shows up in other Old Testament books, and ancient Jewish writings not included in the Bible. In this video, adapted...
Last week I asked a question that struck a chord in readers. I promised that your answer to that question would “reveal everything you believe about the Old Testament.” Who knew so many people cared so deeply—and had done so much thinking—about...
Answer me one question about an obscure story in Judges chapter 11, and I’ll tell you what your view of the whole Old Testament is. I’ve argued before that your view of the trees is determined by your view of the forest, and I think the story of...
What if taking the Bible “literally” doesn’t mean what you think it means? In The Lost World of Genesis One, Dr. John Walton of Wheaton college affirms that Genesis 1 is talking about a literal seven days of creation—but he also...
Jake MailhotThere are numerous passages in the Bible that are odd, confusing, or downright weird. Often, these passages occur at the intersection of our world and the supernatural. Our modern viewpoint has taught us to ignore or gloss over these difficult or...
Liz MeltonIn OT291 The Jewish Trinity: How the Old Testament Reveals the Christian Godhead, Dr. Michael Heiser explores the identity and role of the Godhead in the Old Testament. He discusses the notion that “Two Powers in heaven”—Yahweh and the “second...
Jonathan WatsonFrom the new perspective on Paul to dispensationalism, covenant theology, and theonomy, every major theological issue is impacted by how you think about the biblical law. The problem for many of us is that we are unsure where to start. Dr. Tom...
The Bible was written thousands of years ago. The languages it was written in bear little resemblance to English. The people who wrote it saw the world differently than we do. The culture the Bible emerged from was radically different than the...
Ryan RotzLast week we had the privilege of working with Dr. David Baker in the Mobile Ed studio, filming a few of his upcoming courses on the Old Testament. Dr. Baker is a highly respected Old Testament scholar and prolific author. Some of his works include...
There has been a recent influx of successful Hollywood films based on biblical stories. Last year’s Noah and the more recent Exodus: Gods and Kings have been popular at the box office, but controversial among Christians for their departures from the...
Ray Deck IIIThanks to Mobile Ed, you can sit under the dynamic instruction of professors like Dr. John Walton of Wheaton College from the comfort of your own living room. Dr. Walton has been teaching about the the ancient cultures in which the Bible was written...
The Bible is the foundational text for all Christians. We read it, study it, and hear sermons on it, but many Christians don’t think about how we got it. We take for granted the 66 books—39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New—that make up our...