Bible Study Magazine—September–October 2017 Issue

Get Bible Study Magazine now by purchasing the September–October 2017 back issue for $3.95. That’s 20% off the newsstand price of $4.95!

Bible Study Magazine is a print magazine (not an emagazine) published by Lexham Press. Six times a year, Bible Study Magazine delivers tools and methods for Bible study as well as insights from respected teachers, professors, historians, and archeologists.

Read pastor profiles, author interviews, and stories of individuals whose thoughtful engagement with Scripture has shaped their thinking and defined their ministries. Bible Study Magazine reveals the impact of God’s Word in their lives—and the power of Scripture in yours.

• Feature Stories
  Discover new ways to connect the Bible with your ministry and life through in-depth interviews and articles from the biggest names in the church and biblical scholarship.
• Bible Study Tips
  Explore the Word—thoughtful and engaging authors tackle the tough passages in Scripture, explain difficult concepts, and confront complex interpretations in a way that helps the Gospel make sense in your life.
• On the Cutting Edge
  Keep up to date on the latest news in biblical research, including archaeological and historical findings.
• A New Kind of Bible Study
  Encounter God by yourself or with other believers with an ongoing Bible study in each issue.
• On Teaching
  Get advice on how to preach or teach the Bible in any setting from well-known pastors and teachers who use the Bible every day.
• Tool Box
  Learn how to effectively use the latest Bible study tools with our how-to guides.
• In the News
  Keep informed about the latest news in biblically related topics, discoveries, and events.
• Thoughts from the Ancients
  Read the Bible together with those who have come before you, and learn from the wisdom of the early church—in its own words.
• Word Studies
  Get a close-up view of the Bible! Each issue contains insights about specific words found in the Bible and tutorials on how to do word studies.
• If Only Someone Would Explain It to Me
  Enrich your understanding of the Bible with explanations of biblical and theological concepts by top scholars.
• Did You Know?
  Discover interesting facts about the place of the Bible in the contemporary and the ancient world.
• What They Don’t Tell You in Church
  See things you never noticed in biblical passages you have read dozens of times.
• Biblical Humor
  The funniest stories and the best comics related to the Bible, useful for any setting.
• Book Reviews
  Stay on top of the latest books about Bible study. Each issue contains reviews of books and commentaries to equip you in your study of God’s Word.

How Martin Luther Revolutionized Bible Study

In 1501, a 17-year-old German boy named Martin Luther entered the University of Erfurt. He had some knowledge of the Bible—having learned a few of its stories from the artwork of St. George’s church, just up the hill from his parents’ smelting operation in Mansfeld—but he may not have been able to distinguish clearly between the legend of St. George slaying the dragon and the biblical account of Samson wrestling a lion. Two decades later, young Luther was reading the Bible in a wholly different light: In the pages of Scripture, he had discovered, God was actually speaking.

—Robert Kolb

Immerse Yourself in Scripture: The Museum of the Bible Explores the World’s Most Powerful Book

Students of the Bible will have a new way to explore God’s word when the Museum of the Bible opens in November in Washington, D.C. The six-story, 430,000-square-foot museum will display thousands of artifacts spanning biblical history from ancient to modern times. The goal, organizers say, is to create an experience that helps all people better understand the story, history, and influence of the Bible.

—Jenna Nellis

Set Apart to Serve God: Luther and the Priesthood of All Believers

It was many years ago, so I don’t remember the specific idea the pastor put forward at our congregational meeting that day. What I do recall is the loud objection of one member who jumped to his feet and appealed to the “priesthood of all believers,” claiming an authority equal to the pastor’s. I also recall that this episode made me wonder: When Martin Luther discussed the priesthood of all believers, did he really intend for the church to become radically democratized? Was he calling for each Christian to be spiritually autonomous?

—Karen H. Jobes

Finding Life in the Midst of Death

Probably the most significant contribution of the Reformers was their emphasis on teaching the Bible and, more specifically, applying its message of God’s commands and promises to the everyday life of Christians. Martin Luther occupied himself almost constantly with Bible teaching through his vocation as a pastor and professor. During the last 10 years of his life (though with several long interruptions), he lectured twice a week on the book of Genesis.

—John A. Maxfield