Author: S&P
Should the Different Genres of the Bible Impact How We Interpret It?
A valuable clue in understanding the Bible is knowing the passage’s genre. It is important to determine the genre because it helps us interpret, understand, and apply any portion of God’s word. Different Genres in the Bible The Bible is filled with a variety of literary genre. Our Jesus used a variety of literary types to teach the Truth (e.g., hyperbole: “If anyone comes to me and does not ...
Is Jesus in the Old Testament? Examples and Their Meaning
There are a few instances of Jesus Christ appearing in the Old Testament. These are called Christophanies. And in a metaphorical sense, Jesus appears in many more stories throughout the Old Testament. After Jesus’s resurrection, he enlightens two disciples about this: “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (...
How Do God’s Sovereignty and Our Free Will Work Together for Salvation?
God’s absolute authority over everything and our freedom to choose—we see evidence of both in Scripture, yet they seem so juxtaposed. So how do these principles work together in our salvation? Spiritual deadness can only be reversed by a sovereign God, which then frees us to exercise our free will and make choices—choices with everlasting significance. Our Condition Scripture is teeming with examp...
What Are the Names and Titles of the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit—one of the persons of the Trinity, referred to as “God” in Acts 5:3-4—has many other names and titles. Most of them indicate an aspect of His function in, or ministry through, the Christian’s life. Here are a few that might be highlighted. 1. He is “the Spirit.” “The Spirit” and “Holy Spirit” are the most commonly used names for the Spirit of God. People sometimes use the word “it”...
Who Are the Seraphim? The Seraphim in the Bible
The prophet Isaiah tells us that the seraphim are six-winged “fiery” angels who surround God as He sits upon His exalted throne and who worship God continually (Isaiah 6). The seraphim also minister to the Lord and serve as His agents of purification, as demonstrated by their cleansing of Isaiah’s sins before he began his prophetic ministry. Seraphim Angels in the Bible: 4 Things to Know 1. The wo...
Is the furnace of fire in Matthew 13:40-42 a reference to hell?
I have a book on hell coming out in June, titled What is Hell? You can pre-order the Kindle version on Amazon. Between now and then, I will be focusing my podcasts studies on some of the content from the book. We will look at the eight key terms that are often equated with hell, and about a dozen key passages that are thought to teach about hell. If you want to learn the truth about hell, and what...
What Does Namaste Mean? Should Christians Say It?
Namaste is a Sanskrit phrase combining two phrases to mean “I bow to you” or “The divine in me bows to the divine in you.”It is a common Hindu/Indian greeting. Not only is it a salutation but it is used as a sign of reverence and respect. However, in some Hindu areas it simply means good morning as well. Namaste Definition and Meaning The word namaste, pronounced “NUHM-uh-stay,” is a Sanskrit...
Does God Care about the Little Things that Happen in Our Lives?
The short answer – “yes.” God absolutely cares about the little things in our lives since He’s numbered the hairs of our head (Luke 12:7). From another perspective, if the nations are “as dust on the scales,” what is big to God? (Isaiah 40:15). Let’s look at a few little things in our lives that matter to God. 1. God Cares about Little Worries “Do not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:6). ...
What Is Mercy? Why Is It Important?
In the Bible, God’s mercy means His pity, compassion, and kindness toward people. His mercy shows up in the believer’s life at salvation, and then God continues to show mercy in forgiveness. Mercy triumphs over judgment but refusing God’s mercy is disastrous. Mercy: Meaning and Definition Theologians have defined “mercy” in clear terms. In The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Edwards said it most graphi...
What Does 666 Mean in Christianity?
The number 666 is the mark of the beast, as referenced in the Book of Revelation. In apocalyptic end times, the mark of the beast is taken by those who value personal safety over fidelity to Christ. The mark of the beast is the mark of mankind. It is the opposite of the divine plan of salvation. 666 in the Bible Revelation 13:16-18 sounds as if it could be the script for one of those remarkable fi...
NICNT and NICOT on Sale at Logos
The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (NICOT) and New Testament (NICNT) is easily my favorite series of commentaries. I own almost all of them in the hardback versions, but recently had the chance to fill out my set through Logos Bible Software. I chose the volumes on Job, Psalms, Matthew, John, and Hebrews. Logos is having a major sale on the sets, with the full collection (53 vol...
Who Was Methuselah in the Bible?
What does the expression as “Old as Methuselah” mean? This idiom, rooted in the Bible, means someone or something is very old! The book of Genesis says that Methuselah lived for 969 years. Who was Methuselah? Methuselah is the oldest person mentioned in the Bible. He lived to be 969 years old (Genesis 5:27). In Genesis 5, Methuselah is listed as a descendent of Adam, who also lived nearly a millen...
