Dive Deeper – Biblical and Theological Teaching Kits:
The Lay Academic
-
666, Mystery Babylon, the Mark of the Beast and the Old Testament
Explore the meaning of 666 in Revelation and how it points to idolatry, empire, and covenant unfaithfulness, via Babylon’s counterfeit power vs. Christ’s reign.
-
Can God be around sin?
From Eden’s exile to the torn temple veil, discover how God’s holiness and love meet in Christ, making His people the dwelling place of His presence.
-
Who is All Israel?
Introduction Ever since the dawn of the church, tensions regarding law and grace have been the center of attention, and the 21st-century church is just as susceptible as the church was in 1st-century Rome. Once a Pharisee (Acts 23:6), the Apostle Paul knew all too well the struggle between obedience and freedom from the law,…
-
The Narrative and Apocalyptic Styles of Daniel 3:25 and 7:13
The Book of Daniel is replete with both narrative and apocalyptic passages, and how they relate to the overall message of Daniel will inevitably connect to the soteriological framework of the Biblical message. Daniel, a Jewish exile in Babylon who was elevated to positions under governments like Nebuchadnezzar’s and Darius the Mede, chronicled his ascension…
-
The Christian’s Role in Cultural Change
As the ebb and flow of cultures change, the role of the Christian should remain constant. To proclaim the good news to the nations about the risen Christ. But how does the presence of the Christian outwardly affect a culture that changes rapidly in polarized environments where Christian identity is often convoluted with political ideology? …
-
Aren’t Atheists Just Agnostic?
Billions of people throughout the world believe in something outside of space and time. What I mean by this is that the belief in a God/gods of some sort is fairly consistent among human beings. Whether it is a single, all-supreme God like Yahweh or Allah, which is called monotheism, or perhaps it’s polytheistic like…
-
Where is Sodom and Gomorrah?
The contention for the location of Sodom and Gomorrah continue to this day, and while some biblical archeologists claim they have been found, many others believe they never will be. Often times these conclusions are influenced by the polarized paradigms concerning biblical history. However, the biblical data is clear as to the whereabouts of both cities are,…
-
What is the “Desire” in Genesis 3:16?
What exactly is God telling Eve here? Is it a curse? Is it grace under pressure? Is it both, or does it have a deeper meaning that can be found elsewhere in Scripture?
-
The Elder Shall Serve the Younger
The Biblical data suggests that God’s formal decree to Rebekah regarding ‘The elder shall serve the younger’ is worth considering. (Exodus 22:29; Numbers 8:14-17; Deuteronomy 21:17; cf. Genesis 25:23). “This was contrary to ancient Near Eastern custom, but the elective purposes of God transcend custom,”[1] and eventually, Esau would become “a servant forever in bondage…
-
Did Jesus Christ Exist?
Often times the question whether Jesus existed or not seems to be a point many laymen and scholars have to contend with. Most Christians will affirm this to be the case, however, this response must go much deeper, and providing accurate and reliable reasons for this conviction is necessary in this day and age. While…
-
Five Facts for the Resurrection of Jesus
The minimal facts approach seeks and succeeds to undermine the arguments used against the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This approach “considers only the data that are so strongly attested historically that they are granted by nearly every scholar who studies the subject, even the rather skeptical ones.”[1] Simply put, “They are well evidenced and nearly…
-
Evangelizing in a Pluralistic Society
Amidst many different cultures represented by an array of religions around the world, the question whether Jesus is the only way to God, might sound like a faded whisper in some areas. More alarmingly, it could get one killed in quite a few places by preaching the very notion of it. Suggesting that Jesus Christ…
-
Why do people reject the Gospel message?
In our culture, people can be vehemently opposed to the Gospel message, indifferent to it, or welcoming, and several ways in between. When the gospel is opposed, the New Testament asserts it is because people are suppressing the truth (Romans 1:18-19), who are rebel against the revelation that God exists (vs. 20). People who are…
-
The Jesus Myth
The most radical statement I have heard in the last few years is that Jesus Christ is a myth, and His characteristics were borrowed from several ancient religions and myths that existed before and after His time. “Maurice Casey, professor at Nottingham, has taken on the rather thankless task of refuting recent claims that Jesus…
-
The Division in the Church of Romans
Although it doesn’t include the founders of this particular church,[1] the book of Acts highlights that “Jews from Rome were among those who saw the pouring out of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost.”[2] It can be assumed that these Jews made their way back to Rome and established a church there.[3] However, it…
Ken G. Palmer 