As we are studying this week about how to deal with difficult texts I think one solution is to allow for the possibility that God was using what we call a “figure of speech,” which is when a word or phrase is used in a non-literal sense for rhetorical or vivid effect. Maybe even allow … Continue reading –>
I have published a couple of posts recently giving accounts of the history of the Bible and its translation, particularly for the English language. You can follow these links to read them if you wish: A Short History of the King James Version Transmission and Translation of the English Bible I purposely left out the … Continue reading –>
Avianca Flight 52 left Bogotá Columbia January 25, 1990 headed for JFK airport in New York. That particular day there were several storms on the eastern coast of the United States forcing Flight 52 to go into holding patterns over a few cities to avoid the storms. Because of this, once they got to New … Continue reading –>
So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested[a] from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work … Continue reading –>
In this current lesson study sequence, we are urged to use “Scripture only” as the basis for our faith. Most of us in this forum probably take the Bible as we read it today for granted. We may argue over which version is best, but we largely accept Scripture as the basis of our faith. … Continue reading –>
Seventh-day Adventists are familiar with something Jesus said in the sermon on the mount. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by … Continue reading –>
I suppose most Christians around the world would agree that the Bible takes precedence over culture as far as deciding what is right and wrong. At the same time I think all of us are sometimes confused, thinking we are following the Bible instead of culture, not realizing that our culture heavily influences how we … Continue reading –>
Study Bibles for the most part can be a huge blessing. However as a young Bible worker back in the 1990’s I found them to be very challenging. Numerous times I would begin Bible studies with someone who knew very little about the Bible. They would run out to a bookstore in the community and … Continue reading –>
There is a joke I like to tell whenever anyone mentions the dictionary. I tell people, ” I tried reading the dictionary, but I could not follow the plot”. It brings chuckles because, of course, there is no plot. The dictionary is simply a collection of definitions and facts with no plot or story line. … Continue reading –>
A while back I was talking with one of my former students from the Adventist school where I taught and gave Bible studies. She is now attending a public college in a different city, and she told me how sad she is that at least half of her school population is self-proclaimed atheist. She said … Continue reading –>
