A Bible scholar is someone who has devoted much time and effort to studying the Bible in great depth. Bible scholars utilize various academic disciplines and textual analysis techniques to better understand the meaning and context of biblical texts. Some key aspects of being a Bible scholar include: Advanced Biblical Languages Most Bible scholars learn biblical languages like Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek. Knowing the original languages allows them to study biblical manuscripts and translations. It also aids their exegesis of biblical texts in their original linguistic and cultural contexts. Textual Analysis Bible scholars carefully examine the extant biblical manuscripts…
Author: Tim Collings
The Bereans were a group of Jews living in Berea mentioned in Acts 17 in the New Testament. They were commended by the apostle Paul for their eagerness to study the Scriptures and confirm the truth of his teachings about Jesus Christ. Background on Berea Berea (modern Veria) was a city located in Macedonia about 45 miles southwest of Thessalonica. In Paul’s time, it was part of the Roman province of Macedonia. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a sizable Jewish community living in Berea during the 1st century AD. Many Jews fled to Berea and other cities in Macedonia after…
The Bible warns us that Satan, the devil, masquerades as an angel of light. This phrase comes from 2 Corinthians 11:14, which says “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” But what exactly does this mean and why is it important? 1. Satan’s nature is deceptive First, this reminds us that Satan’s very nature is deceptive. Jesus called Satan the “father of lies” (John 8:44). Deception is how he operates. Satan doesn’t show up with horns and a pitchfork announcing he is evil. Rather, he masquerades as something good and appealing in order to…
The fact that God is eternal means He has no beginning or end. He has always existed and will continue to exist forever. This is a core truth about the nature of God that sets Him apart from His creation and reveals something profound about His character. The Bible repeatedly affirms the eternal nature of God. He is called the “Everlasting God” (Genesis 21:33), the “Ancient of Days” (Daniel 7:9), and the one who remains forever the same (Psalm 102:27). Scriptures also state that God has been God from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2) and exists from eternity to eternity…
Cleopatra was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. She was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, a royal family of Macedonian Greek origin that ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great’s death during the Hellenistic period. Cleopatra originally ruled jointly with her father Ptolemy XII Auletes and later with her brothers Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV, whom she married as per Egyptian custom, but eventually became sole ruler. As pharaoh, she consummated a liaison with Julius Caesar that solidified her grip on the throne. She later elevated her son with Caesar, Caesarion, to co-ruler in name. After…
A synagogue is a Jewish house of worship. The word “synagogue” comes from the Greek word meaning “assembly” or “congregation.” Synagogues serve as places of prayer, study, and community gathering for Jewish people. While the primary purpose of a synagogue is as a place to pray and read from the Torah, it also serves many other roles in Jewish religious and community life. Synagogues have been part of Jewish worship and community for over 2,000 years, since before the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. Before this time, Jews gathered at the Temple in Jerusalem for sacrificial worship.…
The Synoptic Problem refers to the question of the literary relationships between the first three gospels of the New Testament – Matthew, Mark, and Luke. These three gospels are called the “Synoptic Gospels” because they share a similar outline and content in many places. The Synoptic Problem seeks to understand the origins of these similarities and differences between the Synoptic Gospels. There are several main theories that attempt to explain the Synoptic Problem: The Augustinian Theory This theory, proposed by Augustine of Hippo in the 5th century, argues that Matthew was written first, followed by Mark using Matthew as a…
Restlessness is a feeling of unease, dissatisfaction, and agitation that many people struggle with. It can lead to anxiety, lack of purpose, and spiritual disconnect. The Bible has much to say about finding peace and contentment in the midst of restlessness. One of the most common causes of restlessness mentioned in Scripture is looking for fulfillment in the wrong places. King Solomon, traditionally believed to be the writer of Ecclesiastes, embarked on a search for meaning through wealth, pleasure, and accomplishments. But in the end he concluded that it was all “meaningless” and “a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:11).…
A millstone in the Bible refers to a heavy stone used to grind grain into flour. The Bible mentions millstones frequently as an important part of daily life in ancient times. Here is an overview of the significance and symbolism of millstones in the Bible: Literal Uses of Millstone in the Bible Millstones were literally used to grind grain in Bible times. Some key verses that mention millstones being used to prepare flour include: – “When the Philistine rulers saw her, they brought her before the people and they killed her. Then they took her, cut her open and used…
The term “lost books of the Bible” refers to writings that some people think should be part of the biblical canon but were excluded for various reasons. These writings date from both Old Testament and New Testament periods but were not included when the Bible was compiled. Some examples of lost books include: Old Testament Lost Books Book of Jasher The Book of Jasher is mentioned in Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18 as a source for additional information about the sun standing still for Joshua and David’s lament over Saul and Jonathan. The book was lost for centuries but…