Biblical Literacy Podcast

05/28/2023 Chapter 27, The Old Testament Minor Prophets; Concludes with Malachi. In this last Book of the Minor Prophets , Mark addresses the book of Malachi with respect to, 1.Background 2.Book 3.Points for home The Background is an extensive review of the history of the middle east as seen today and what it looked like from the days of Abraham, as he walks us through the Exodus, the 12 tribes an...

5-21-23 - Biblical-Literacy Dr. David Capes interviewed Dr. Daniel Wallace, Executive Director of The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts, CSNTM, & Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and Dr. Tommy Wasserman, Professor of New Testament at Orebro School of Theology in Sweden. Dr. Wallace and Dr. Wasserman discussed the accuracy of the New...

5-14-23 Biblical-Literacy Mark completed the book of Zechariah in the Study of the Minor Prophets. He offered a three-step approach to looking at Zechariah: read the passage, understand it, and apply it to our lives. Mark discussed dark passages which are there for a reason and not to be scanned over. He shared evil has no place among God’s people. Jesus is Lord of all, and He came to dwell with H...

Biblical - Literacy May 7, 2023 Mark continued with Zechariah in The Minor Prophets series. Scripture is for all people for all times, pointing to Jesus as the Bread of life. Mark focused on various passages in Zechariah : to read them, understanding them, and apply them to our lives. God is at work in us and for us, which means we need get to work with God. Listen to Mark show us that we are the...

Biblical-Literacy 4-30-23 Dr. David Capes taught from the book of Zechariah as part of the Study of the Minor Prophets series. We were reminded that the prophet’s name Zechariah means "God remembers”. David divided the lesson: Define Messiah: The one who is anointed; Christ—the one who is anointed; the anointed one; Liberating Jesus. God would return to be king.  Matthew’s use of Zechariah: The Ne...

4-23-23 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued the study of the Minor Prophets with the book of Zechariah. Today he provided an overview of the book written around 518 BC sharing: Historical context: God relates to amazing people to reflect His image. When humanity fell from God, He promised a male redeemer from the offspring of Eve. Throughout the Old Testament, God promises a Messiah. He is faithful d...

Biblical Literacy -4-16-23 Dr. David Fleming taught the book of Haggai as part of the Study of Minor Prophets. A book only 2 chapters in length not of Haggai’s opinion but God’s word to his people thru the prophet. The context of Haggai was during the reign of King Darius who allowed the Jews in Babylon to return to Jerusalem from exile, but they are dissatisfied. Themes included: God speaks -a ti...

Apr 6, 2023 Mark continued the study of the Minor Prophets with the book of Habakkuk. Mark started his review of Habakkuk with some context. Neither the writer nor the date of Habakkuk is known, leaving the reader to also question why, how, and where. Jesus and other New Testament writers quoted from Habakkuk. He continued analyzing the dialogue. We learn that Habakkuk protests against God. We rea...

Mark discusses passages in the book of Zephaniah. Lesson objectives include: 1. Looking at the passages in a different way 2. Apply the passages to me and you 3. Wash, Rinse and repeat Zephaniah 1:1 Mark breaks down the meaning of each name and why the name Zephaniah is followed by his family linage and how the Name of God is incorporated in the name. Key point is, make a name for yourself by how...

Dr. David Capes delivered an overview of Zephaniah in the Study of The Minor Prophets. Zepaniah's name means God has hidden. Names that contain the name of God, those ending in iah or el, are theophoric. Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of King Josiah in 640-630 BC. Dr. Capes focused on three areas: Oracles against nations - who have sinned against God. Utter destruction of creation. Oracles...

Note: Last week's lesson from Feb 26 was not published due to technical difficulties. It was addressed in this week's lesson. Summary: Mark Lanier continued the study of the Minor Prophets with Nahum. An oracle to Nineveh in the Assyrian Empire. Mark reviewed: What in the world was going on? The reign of Ashurbanipal - 668-627 BC called himself the King of the World, the King of the Underworld. He...

Mark hosted a special guest during today’s class - Dr. Havila Dharamraj from India. Dr. Dharamraj is from Bengaluru, India, and a third-generation Christian. She is currently Head of the Department of Biblical Studies at South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies in Bangalore, India. Her country has four basic religions: Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Christianity. Christianity dates back to...

Mark continued the Study of the Minor Prophets with the book of Micah. He characterized Micah as a concept book focusing on three aspects: 1. Authenticity: Good and evil lead to different places. Micah is authentic to this reality.  2. Justice:  Justice is more than a courtroom. Justice is part of God’s character. Micah understood good and evil and how it applied to life. Consistency is key. 3. Pr...

2-12-23 Biblical-Lit Mark moved forward in the Study of Minor Prophets with the second lesson in Micah. Todays lesson had 3 points 1. A story of bookends Who is like Yahweh? Nobody is like the Lord 2. The meat of the sandwich God is the witness Israel was warned, and God was not amused. 3. Points for home Expect the unexpected. Is 55:8 Remember the bookends. God pardons iniquity Listen to Mark tea...

2-5-23 Biblical LiteracyDr. David Capes continued in the Minor Prophets series by introducing Micah. Dr. Capes gave us the 30,000 foot view of Micah, including the history and setting. He continued with various oracles forSamaria showing judgment and the hope and promise of restoration in a world that recognizes God as God. Dr. Capes show how Micah warned the people of how God would destroy the pe...

Mark completed the study of Hosea in the Study of the Minor Prophets series with a focus of God going to trial with the Israelites. Trials in Israel at the time needed two to three witnesses for a capital offense - ones punishable by death. In Hosea, God takes Israel to court because Israel has broken covenant with God and committed adultery. Points for home: Time out. God wants best for you. God...

Mark interviewed Dr. Ingrid Faro, professor at Northern Seminary and the author of Encountering Evil. We learn that Dr. Faro wasn’t born in a Christian home. She found Jesus through Young Life and a Billy Graham Crusade. Through life experiences and multiple trials and sufferings, she learned God is good. Dr. Faro defines evil as the corruption of creational and relational goodness. She defines go...

1-15-23 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in the Minor Prophets Series with Part II of Hosea on metaphors. God uses all forms of communication, and metaphors link one idea to another. Use of agricultural related metaphors in Hosea show we reap what we sow. Some household metaphors reflect the tenderness of God. Points for home: What is sowing in your garden? Be touched by His tender love. How inten...

Mark continued The Minor Prophets series with an initial look at the book of Hosea. The Bible and Prophets are about God using people and language to communicate to humanity. Today's focus was with metaphors. Metaphors make us think. - Metaphors in Hosea applied to the people then with their culture and language. - Choices matter - Points for home 1. Wherever you are in life, make God the center....

Today Mark taught the final class for 2022 with a tour of Christmas Around the World. He shared results of his research of how different countries celebrate Christmas today and how historical traditions play a part. Mark selected a couple of better known countries: Germany and China and compared them with a couple of lessor know countries: Philippines and Uganda. He wrapped up by sharing some poin...

In today’s lesson, Mark took a journey of Christmas through the Ages. He grouped how Christmas was celebrated, or not, during three periods of time following Jesus’ birth. 1. Roman. There’s no record the first church celebrated the birth of Christ. But does that make it wrong? Consider Jewish feasts not in the Old Testament writings. Yet Jesus celebrated them. 2. Medieval. Began mid to late 300s....

Mark was interviewed by Brent Johnson. Mark identified several folks in the audience that would be more interesting to interview than him, but the focus was on Mark this day. Brent began by asking Mark: Some fun questions like; Wild Socks, Where and Why, Quarks, What and Why and Tennis matches planned soon. You will enjoy the answers to these questions as they show a very diverse and at the same t...

Pastor David Fleming continued the study in the Minor Prophets with Amos 5 & 6. His lesson contained three points: 1. What time is it? A time of peace and prosperity for Israel, but lamentations are coming. Time for God to stop the party. God is continually working out His plan and purpose. 2. What do we do? The faithful seek God and live. He is not the one lost or hiding. 3. What if we don’t? God...

11-20-22 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued the study of Amos in the Minor Prophets Series.today’s lesson focused on important passages in Amos. The Hebrew biblical language has only 6,000 to 7,000 words. Compare that with the average English speaking person who knows 20,000 to 30,000 words. The realm of meaning for a Hebrew word contains many similes and metaphors according to what the writer inten...

Mark continued in the study of the Minor Prophets with the final lesson on Amos. Mark focused on passages in Amos that reflected when they were written and what we can learn from those passages today. God’s word is inerrant, meaning no error. His Word is written exactly as He intended. Mark explained that we all look for Confrontation bias— confirmation that supports what we already believe. Liste...