Measuring the Temple
We're now on the cusp of Revelation 11, perhaps the most bewildering chapter in the Bible. We've learned about the crucial scroll (introduced in chapter 5) which contains God's plan…
God’s Mystery
We're building up to Revelation 11, arguably the most puzzling chapter in the Bible. Chapter 11 will reveal the contents of the scroll which we first encountered in the right…
The Wrong Holiday
Christmas is rapidly approaching. Most churches are well into the advent season; Poinsettias and garland adorn their sanctuaries. There is one dynamic which can be reliably observed in evangelical churches…
Closing the Canon
Athanasius (296-373 AD) had a remarkable but tumultuous life. His physical appearance was apparently quite striking: he was very short with a dark complexion and black hair. His opponents dubbed…
Elections & Consequences
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that a Presidential election is rapidly approaching. Many Americans are no doubt worn out by the relentless political ads. Most Christians…
Heresy and the Canon
Around 140 AD, a wealthy shipowner named Marcion arrived in Rome. He was originally from Sinope, a city in Asia Minor on the coast of the Black Sea. Although he…
Translation of the Seventy
The last few weeks we've been tracing the formation of the Old Testament. Let's summarize what we've learned so far. The key criterion for inclusion in the sacred writings was…
The Hebrew Canon
Here are the closing words of the Torah: "Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, who did all those miraculous…
The Bible Examined
The Bible has had a profound effect upon Western Civilization in general & the United States in particular. Depending on which survey you look at, the typical American household owns…
The Promised Land
In our last two blogs, we've been exploring the New Exodus theme found throughout the New Testament. The disciples of Jesus were Jews who cherished the grand story of how…