When we think about “context” there are certain concepts that come to mind involving grammar, genre, literary devices, and other linguistic features. But there’s much more to the issue of context than that! Here’s an excerpt from my upcoming book that gives an introduction to thinking about interpreting the Bible well.
What kind of relationship did God have with Adam and Eve? Depending upon how you understand a particular pericope in Genesis 3, it may alter your entire understanding of the nature of God’s relationship to his first imagers. Was God in the garden a “man,” or a “myth?”
While we’d all like to think we are prone to rational discourse, we nevertheless can be deceived into thinking that just because someone is smart, they are a careful thinker. As the example of Jesus, Paul, and parents everywhere shows—this is not necessarily the case.
I’ve recently been in a discussion with a friend of mine (and faithful reader of the blog!) about the divine council worldview. Among other things, we discussed concerns about the “gods” of Psalm 82. Just who are they, anyway?
What is ministry? The word “ministry” has a variety of contexts, and I think it’s something quite often misunderstood. It’s much more than a profession.
Do miracles happen? One of the primary reasons people take issue with religious thought is that it almost necessarily involves a concept of the miraculous—an offensive idea to one living in the 21st century West. We’ve got it all figured out, right?
Without a doubt, one of the most important questions one can ask is, “How can I know I’m saved?” In many ways, this is the most basic question a person can ask! And yet, the question is actually quite complex. As we explore a biblical answer to this question, it may be as good a time as any to reflect honestly on your answer.
We’re just off the heels of another Easter season, which should be a favorite time of year for all Christians. I know it is one of mine! We not only get to celebrate our Savior’s Passion for us, but we are presented with new opportunities to present it in the public arena.
Many make the mistaking of thinking marriage is more of a constitutional union. In other words, one is married insofar as they have a piece of paper that declares it to be so. This isn’t necessarily wrong, but it is not the full picture.
Much time, money, and effort is given to the process of discovering the accurate reading and understanding of biblical texts. With the availability of God’s Word in unprecedented abundance, a question is raised in the minds of many Christians today—is it important to study the original languages of the Bible?
