Biblical Studies / Bible Interpretation

  • Jacob Outwits Laban

    Genesis 30:37–43

    It is a great comfort to know that when the Lord purposes to bless us, there is nothing that can stop Him. We who confess Him never take this for granted, but live holy lives in gratitude for choosing us ...Read More

  • Judgment on “the Earth”

    Isaiah 24

    Read Isaiah 24 today. What is your impression of the Lord after you read this pronouncement of judgment? Salvation from God’s wrath can come only through the promise of Christ that He will save those who turn from their ...Read More

  • Listening to the Law

    Galatians 4:21–24

    Tomorrow we will examine in more detail the actual approach Paul takes in Galatians 4:21–31. For now, note that the search for hidden meanings in Scripture violates the perspicuity or clarity of God’s Word. The Bible is ...Read More

  • Paul’s View of the Apostles

    Galatians 2:6

    Critical to today’s passage is the understanding that the Jerusalem apostles added nothing to Paul’s gospel. Paul was called later, but that did not make his preaching deficient. At any rate, in the final analysis there are no ...Read More

  • Peter, the Rock

    Matthew 16:13–20

    When we study Scripture, we should be careful not to let the excesses of opposing positions unduly influence our own applications of the text. All the teachings of those with whom we disagree may not necessarily be wrong, and we ...Read More

  • Running for the Hills

    Matthew 24:15–22

    Jesus words in today’s passage indicate that it is not necessarily wrong for believers to flee when calamity comes or when men rise to persecute the church. Certainly, if we are caught we must be willing to die for ...Read More

  • Signs of the End

    Matthew 24:9–14

    The fact that the Gospel had been proclaimed to the Roman world by the late middle of the first century does not mean that the task of world evangelization has been completed. People from every tribe, nation, and tongue will ...Read More

  • The Authority of Jesus

    John 8:12-30

    Today’s lesson is one sustained argument for the inerrancy of the Bible. Reread the lesson carefully and then close the book and see if you can rehearse the argument to an imaginary friend. Master this argument today, both for ...Read More

  • The Baptism of the Spirit

    Acts 11

    Orthodoxy does not deny that many people have had wonderful reviving experiences in their lives. What orthodoxy denies is that these reviving experiences are to be identified with the baptisms of the Spirit recorded in Acts. The Spirit baptizes every ...Read More

  • The Beauties of Heaven

    Revelation 21

    The greatest aspect of heaven is the presence of God. Our worship should serve as a brief taste of the glories of being in His presence. Remember as you go to public worship this Sunday that you are entering the ...Read More

  • The Canon of the Bible

    2 Peter 3:10-18

    While the church has had some disputes over exactly which books belonged in the Canon, it always agreed that the Canon was closed with the death of the last apostle. While no Christian today seeks to add to the Canon ...Read More

  • The Galatian Problem

    Galatians 1:6–7

    Martin Luther’s commentary on Galatians states, “Since Paul by his own experience teaches us that congregations which are won by great labor are easily and soon overthrown, we ought with singular care to watch against the devil ranging everywhere ...Read More

  • The Inerrancy of the Bible

    2 Timothy 3:10-17

    We can rejoice that the Bible is free of error in all its claims. God wants His people to have confidence in Him, so that we can know Him and His will, doing what we are called to do without ...Read More

  • The Judgment of Jerusalem

    Matthew 24:29–31

    Today’s passage reminds us of our need to read each biblical passage according to the type of literature it happens to be. For example, passages that are apocalyptic (symbolic depictions of God’s wrath and vindication) cannot be read ...Read More

  • The Neo-Orthodox View

    Matthew 4:1-11

    Just because humans can err does not mean they must or will err in every situation. It is not a necessary part of the human condition. We can all pass spelling and simple math tests. If Barth were right, he ...Read More