The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by over 40 different authors over a period of 1500 years. These authors came from diverse backgrounds and wrote in different times and places, yet their writings all tell one unified story centered on God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. Knowing about the authors can give us insight into the meaning and context of each book. Old Testament Authors The Old Testament has 39 books written by numerous authors across Israel’s history. Some of the major authors include: Moses: Wrote the first five books of the Bible – Genesis, Exodus,…
Author: Tim Collings
Having an abortion can be an emotionally difficult experience. Even if you feel like abortion was the right decision at the time, you may still struggle with feelings of grief, regret, anger or guilt afterward. Know that you are not alone in experiencing these feelings – many women go through the same process of healing after ending a pregnancy. The good news is that there are steps you can take to find healing, closure and peace after undergoing an abortion. God’s love, grace and forgiveness extend to all people, including women who have had abortions. By turning to Him and…
The concept of “New Israel” refers to God’s spiritual kingdom that was inaugurated through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It represents the community of all believers in Christ, both Jews and Gentiles, who place their faith in Him for salvation. The New Testament develops this idea of a “new” covenant people of God in contrast to “old” Israel under the Mosaic covenant. The term “New Israel” does not imply a replacement of ethnic Israel, but rather an expansion and fulfillment of God’s purposes for Israel in including Gentiles as equal heirs of the promises of God. The…
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is one of the most significant events in human history. All four gospels in the New Testament provide details about Jesus’s crucifixion, including the location. Based on the biblical accounts, Jesus was crucified just outside the walls of Jerusalem on a hill called Golgotha or Calvary. The Gospel of John provides the most detailed information about the location. John 19:17 states, “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha.” Golgotha is an Aramaic word meaning “skull place.” The Latin word…
2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” This verse encourages us as Christians to handle God’s word properly and accurately. But what exactly does it mean to “rightly divide” the word of truth? The Context of 2 Timothy 2:15 First, it’s important to understand the context of this passage. Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, his protégé in the faith, when Paul was nearing the end of his life. He wanted to encourage Timothy in his calling…
The Bible has a lot to say about teaching children the faith and bringing them to know Christ. Here is an overview of key biblical principles related to evangelizing and discipling children: Children can have faith The Bible shows us that children are able to exercise faith in God from an early age. Jesus himself said “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). He did not consider children too young to understand and believe. Elsewhere when children praised Jesus in the temple, he affirmed their…
The Bible does not directly address the modern concept of bisexuality, as it emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries. However, there are several passages in Scripture that are relevant to discussions of same-sex attractions and behavior in general. Old Testament perspectives The Old Testament clearly prohibits sexual relations between men. Leviticus 18:22 states, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” Leviticus 20:13 prescribes the death penalty for men who engage in same-sex relations: “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination;…
The Bible does not directly address feminism, as the feminist movement arose in the 19th and 20th centuries. However, the Bible does speak to issues of gender, equality, and roles of men and women that relate to modern conversations around feminism. Equality of Men and Women The Bible teaches that men and women are both created in the image of God and are equal before Him. Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” The implication is that both men and women reflect…
The term “Godspeed” is an old expression that is rarely used today. It is a blessing or well-wishing for someone’s success and prosperity on a journey or mission. The word “Godspeed” comes from the expression “May God speed you” or “May God cause you to succeed.” It conveys the idea of wishing someone a safe and fortunate voyage or journey. In the King James Version of the Bible, the word “speed” is used several times to mean “to succeed” or “to prosper.” For example, in Romans 1:10, the Apostle Paul says, “Making request, if by any means now at length…
Bibliology is the study of the Bible, including its inspiration, inerrancy, authority, canonicity, transmission, and preservation. Here is a 9000 word overview of key topics in Bibliology: Inspiration of the Bible The inspiration of the Bible refers to the divine influence on the human authors of scripture, guiding them to write down God’s message without error. Though the authors wrote in their own styles and with their own purposes, God worked through their personalities to ensure the original writings were free from error (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21). There are several views on the mode of inspiration: – Verbal…