The Bible offers stories on how God created the world. Yet in the beginning, “the earth was barren, with no form of life,” and “there was no one to work the land”. If no people were there to witness the events of creation, how did the Biblical writers know what… Read More

Agricultural practices provided a framework for the lives of many Ancient Israelites. It’s no accident that the Bible is filled with farming and land references and metaphorsmost people were immersed in this work. Agricultural practices provided a framework for the lives of many Ancient Israelites. It’s no accident… Read More

The Bible has an awful lot to say about wisdom and leadership. Some of it is not all that different from what one could find in a good book on leadership in business, the military, or politics. But in the Bible, being a wise leader is not primarily about being… Read More

In a time when we are inundated with competing claims regarding the ways in which humans use and misuse the environment, the Bible offers clear principles that can serve as a framework for Christians as they consider issues around creation care. In a time when we are inundated with… Read More

What role does the Holy Spirit play in the lives of believers? Check out what the Old and New Testaments say about the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God’s presence at work in the world. The Jewish Scriptures (Old Testament) declare that the Spirit of… Read More

In the New Testament world, genealogies were important. In fact, two of the four Gospels include records of Jesus’ ancestry. Find out more about Jesus’ lineage and its significance. Family roots were very important to the Jewish people. In traditional cultures, genealogies identify the status of people in relation… Read More

Who were these bandits who attacked the stricken traveler? There are two distinct terms in the Greek language of the New Testament. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke chooses the term “lestes,” which describes a violent member of a group. Before one can fully appreciate the story… Read More

For many North Americans, interactions with animals are summarized neatly in terms of pets, pests, and meat. Yet the lives of the ancient Israelites and the early Christians were filled with animals. They play important roles in Biblical stories as a source of praise to God and revelation of the… Read More

The Letters of Paul include some of the oldest writings in the New Testament. The dates of his earliest letters most likely fall in the period A.D. 50–60 and were written before the Gospels, Acts, and other New Testament writings. The Letters of Paul include some of the oldest… Read More

Education in Israel remained a constant and powerful force in Israelite homes and society. The form and content of education changed with the needs of various times and places. In early days, the educational needs had primarily been served by the tribe and the family. By the first century B.C.,… Read More