Latest Blog Posts
My Recommendation: Qumran Interpretation of the Genesis Flood
Jeremy D. Lyon, Qumran Interpretation of the Genesis Flood (Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2015) focuses on four key Qumran fragmentary manuscripts with significant contributions to the study of the Genesis Flood: the Genesis Apocryphon (1QapGen), a commentary on Genesis (4Q252), an admonition based on the Flood (4Q370), and a paraphrase of Genesis and Exodus (4Q422). Lyon
Shalom Living for God’s People
In 2014, as part of my participation in the ministries of Abraham Lincoln Foundation of Albania (ALFA), Robb Provost (ministry director) asked me to prepare and present a study about “shalom living” from the Old Testament. Throughout the history of ALFA team members sought to demonstrate this kind of living and ministry in the country of
Uncommon Wisdom: Old Testament Wisdom Books
Introduction Overall, Old Testament (OT) wisdom books are fairly anthropocentric (man-centered) since they address the issues of everyday living faced by God’s people. That does not mean that they are not also theocentric (God-centered). God instructs His people to live their lives in view of His existence, presence, righteousness, and justice. Studying these books provides
Daniel 11—Amazing Prophetic Accuracy
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself attributed the book of Daniel to the prophet bearing that name (cf. Matthew 24:15). The Book of Daniel itself indicates that Daniel was the author (“I, Daniel,” 8:1). Details in the Book of Daniel concerning the history, locale, and culture of Babylon and Medo-Persia favor a firsthand witness of the
Daniel 8–Focus on a Key Individual
Daniel 7 repeats the same series of six kingdoms as Daniel 2, but uses different figures to represent them. However, Daniel 8 focuses only on the 3rd through the 6th of those kingdoms. Daniel’s prophetic revelation highlights Antiochus Epiphanes as the historico-prophetic springboard. The prophecies pertaining to Antiochus Epiphanes act as an introduction to the
The Structure of Daniel’s Prophecies
God’s Kingdom stands out as the major theme of the Book of Daniel. Daniel presents God as sovereign over all the kingdoms and empires of mankind. Prophetic themes include the times of the Gentiles, the time of Jacob’s trouble, the second advent of the Messiah, and the final resurrections. The book exhibits a certain amount
The Synoptic Gospels’ Inerrancy: Entering or Leaving Jericho?
Earlier we discussed whether Jesus healed one man or two men on His journey between Jericho and Jerusalem (Matthew 20:29–34; Mark 10:46–52; Luke 18:35–43). At least one additional problem presents itself in these three passages. Luke 18:35 says that Jesus was approaching (or, entering) Jericho. But Mark 10:46 says, “as He was leaving Jericho,” and
The Synoptic Gospels’ Inerrancy: What Did Peter Say?
The synoptic Gospels seem to put different words into Peter’s mouth when he makes his statement regarding the identity of Jesus. Compare the following: Matthew 16:16, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Mark 8:29, “You are the Christ.” Luke 9:20, “The Christ of God.” In our thinking the event was so
The Synoptic Gospels’ Inerrancy: How Many Walking Sticks?
In ancient Israel people often used the Persian reed (Arundo donax—a tall reed growing up to eighteen feet or more high; also known as giant cane) for a walking stick. Other uses for this reed included fishing rods, measuring rods, and musical pipes.[1] Some individuals may have chosen a wooden stick (a staff) for greater stability
The Synoptic Gospels’ Inerrancy: How Many People?
Let’s return to the synoptic Gospels’ reporting of the healing of the demon-possessed men (or man?) from Gadara (Matthew 8:28–34; Mark 5:1–20; Luke 8:26–39). We dealt with the apparent geographical contradiction in our first post. At least one more problem exists when we compare these passages. According to Matthew, two demon-possessed men approached Jesus. However,