S.D. Smith

Noah’s Flood is referenced multiple places in the Bible outside of Genesis, retold by Josephus, included in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and believed to be the same Flood account as recorded in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Details regarding Noah’s life and the Flood are also scattered throughout the books of Enoch, and I thought it would be fun to summarize them collectively. I did not include many of the repetitive passages on judgment but only those which may enhance our understanding o

Does Genesis 1-2 leave you with unanswered questions about the hows and whys regarding creation? Fortunately, other biblical passages provide details that Genesis omits. Perhaps you have noticed God’s involvement with nature described in Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Peter, or Revelation. Whereas a complete study could fill a book (and probably has), I will highlight Paul’s perspectives on creation. This will not focus on his teachings

Is the universe expanding, and does the answer to this question have theological implications? Only as far back as the twentieth century do we see the first suggestions from scientists that the universe is expanding. The previous thought, given the stationary appearance, was that the cosmos is static (not in motion). Since then, countless astronomical observations have led to the conclusion that the universe is indeed expanding. Measurements provided by Hubble telescope image

The Lamentations (of Jeremiah) speaks plainly for itself; nevertheless, I have chosen to reflect upon some of the themes and passages. Israel’s continual disobedience toward the Lord, idolatry, and perversion preceded Jerusalem’s destruction for multiple generations. We know this because Isaiah’s prophecies were written least 100 years beforehand. Were this a one-time season of rebellion, I may have a different outlook (which I’ll get to), but Israel repeatedly disgraces the

Open any modern commentary on a Bible book and you will find what literary genre(s) might have been used by the biblical author. Among these genres is poetry, which is used most often to describe the books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. However, we must be careful not to mistake the term poetry for unreal. Imagery is provided to aid readers in comprehending the message, but there is a very real message that needs to be understood and the nature of

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Pet. 3:10, NKJV). In my youth these words of Peter communicated plainly to me that this planet I live on will not last forever. This interpretation posed no doctrinal conflict in my mind because my church at that time taught very little regarding the d

Jonah is unlike any of the other eleven minor prophetic books. Instead of focusing on the prophecies, the author focuses on the prophet, Jonah. This odd nature makes scholars question its placement within the Minor Prophets as opposed to the historical books. Perhaps the canonical and historical context shed light on its place in Jewish literature. Jonah was a contemporary with Hosea, Amos, and Micah during the eighth century BC. His recorded ministry confirms this timeframe

I have never cared much for poetry. It seems so specific to the perspective of the individual that it has rarely made an impact on me. Not that poetry is meaningless (no pun intended for those familiar with Ecclesiastes 1), but it is not the sort of writing that is effective in communicating impactful sentiments upon a personality such as my own. There was even a brief period in my life when I wrote poetry. However, I was fully aware that others would be incapable of apprecia

Tim LaHaye’s Left Behind series misled many evangelical Christians into thinking . . . well, to stop thinking. Unfortunately, LaHaye’s fictional works are not his only misleading writings. His scholarly defenses of his eschatological beliefs are also riddled with presumptions and contradictions. A serious study of Scripture reveals the emptiness with which he bases his interpretations. Following, are seven examples of the errors LaHaye made claiming that certain Bible passage

Did you know that God may not listen to your prayers? Our behavior may affect our prayers and worship as in biblical times. The Israelites often strayed from the Lord’s path in the Old Testament. Their behavior became so despicable that their godly deeds, religious celebrations, and even their prayers became repugnant to the Lord. It came to the point where Jerusalem was so corrupt that God’s people were unknowingly in rebellion against the Lord and weighed down with guilt (I