This material I cut from my previous post as it involved another theme to the point I was making. However, studying the prophets is both explicitly and implicitly urged in order to better understand God’s person and program. Biblical exhortations are important because they are from God. They are also important since in the whole of scripture exhortations are what called the people back to … Continue reading II Peter 1.19: Why Study the Prophets?

Initially, I planned to distill the concept of the unity of the book of Isaiah in Peter Gentry’s “How to Read and Understand the Biblical Prophets.” He, however, presents this material in several places so that the full explication is not laid out very conveniently or discretely in his book. I do not fault him in the least since the object of his work was … Continue reading The Unity of Isaiah

The former things I declared of old; they went out from my mouth, and I announced them; then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. (Is. 48.3) ESV Since the judgment scene in the Garden of Eden recorded in Gen. 3.15 as the sentence upon the serpent, we humans have known of the promise of the Lord who will come from the seed … Continue reading The Big Picture of God’s Disclosure

Courtesy Allard Pierson Museum Continue reading Oil Lamp with Staurogram

Courtesy Allard Pierson Museum Continue reading Oil Lamp with Christogram

Courtesy Allard Pierson Museum Continue reading Caesar Augustus: Colorized Version

Without chronology history becomes a muddled mess. The bible seems to urge us to deeper study since it references so many markers of time in its narratives and prophecies. In several places of the text apparent disagreements occur with other witnesses to the same event. However, I counsel to suspend judgment about any perceived contradiction until further or more analysis is completed. Even then, if … Continue reading The Backbone of History

Here is a helpful post which shows the accuracy of the Biblical Account. I learned these facts while still in bible college but want to repost them here for the benefit of non-technical readers. I am a Bible believer who holds it as God’s word to humanity. This is why I resist most modern attempts from linear Greco-Roman thinking to date the writings other than … Continue reading Biblical Reign Dating Minutia

In the beginning God Created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was topsy turvy. Darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day”, … Continue reading Genesis 1.2 Indicates Need for Replacement Angels

The Golden Gate of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem https://www.ritmeyer.com/2019/03/11/the-golden-gate-of-the-temple-mount-in-jerusalem/ — Read on http://www.ritmeyer.com/2019/03/11/the-golden-gate-of-the-temple-mount-in-jerusalem/ Continue reading The Golden Gate of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem

So pray this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we ourselves have forgiven our trespassers. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Mt. 6.9-13 literal translation). Perhaps a quibble about the label “The Lord’s Prayer.” The text doesn’t … Continue reading The Lord’s Prayer

Many sections of the bible (pericopes) lend themselves to memorization. For myself, hortatory, practical extracts are chosen. This does not mean these sections are without catechesis. Often, greater biblical insight and clarity of thought can be achieved by memorizing and meditating on a section of text (see Ps. 1 on the blessed person). I am not a Greek or Hebrew scholar or seek to be … Continue reading Free-Flowing English: Romans 5.1-11

Acts 2.33: Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. The “Filioque Clause,” an addition to the Nicean Creed, states that the Spirit proceeds from the Son as well as the Father. The Eastern Church was correct to reject this clause as the Acts passage clearly … Continue reading Prooftext Contra The Filioque

This verse is interpreted by Paul in 1Cor. 9.8-10 and yet few Christians understand it (or, possibly, I understand it wrong). I am fairly sure I grasp what Paul meant. Here is Paul’s take on this command only given once in Dt. 25.4: Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?  For it is written in the Law … Continue reading Do Not Muzzle an Ox While it is Treading Out the Grain (Dt. 25.4)

Six times in the Gospel of John (and found in no other account), the terminology of “the beloved disciple” is presented: 13.23, 25, 19.26, 20.2, 21.7, 21.20. The Apostle John, writing toward the end of his life, identified himself as author of this gospel which we know by account comparison: This is the disciple who testifies about these things and has written these things, and we … Continue reading The Beloved Disciple

Please don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against gaiety and fireworks, in having a good time and letting loose (all with holding on to God). I believe in enjoying alcohol without going overboard. But to focus on celebrating a purely calendar event and infusing it with mystical notions is crazy. New Years Day makes nothing new. The same problems are still here for most … Continue reading The Failed Holiday

Julius Wellhausen was a sensitive Protestant professor who developed The documentary hypothesis by use of source criticism. This is an Enlightenment effort, the scientific examination based upon human reasoning and standards. Joshua Berman is a Jew who seems to believe the Torah is from God as written. I hold with Joshua Berman the belief in the Old Testament pretty much as written. Here is an … Continue reading Julius Wellhausen Vs. Joshua Berman

https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2008/05/tsunami-and-theodicy Continue reading Unnecessary: Theodicy

Pete Williams notes the reality of formal contradictions in literature (and, if we think about it, formal contradiction features in everyday speech), yet some are put off studying the bible when they encounter such devices. Its almost if some folks want a tidier communication from God. However, God’s word is perfectly designed to communicate the things His people should know. https://www.crossway.org/articles/do-the-gospels-contradict-themselves/ Continue reading Deliberate Gospel Contradictions

Here is an interesting essay by Kyle Harper, the senior vice president and provost of the University of Oklahoma: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-emperor-and-the-empty-tomb-an-ancient-inscription-an-eccentric-scholar-and-the-human-need-to-touch-the-past/#! Continue reading The Nazareth Inscription

Here is a ‘bone box’ (ossuary) displayed at The Allard Pierson Museum (Amsterdam). The burial practices during the time of Jesus seemed generally to place the deceased body on a ledge in a cave for a year until only the bones remained. These bones were then deposited in a box like the one pictured as the final resting place of the physical remains of the … Continue reading Ossuary from Second Temple Israel