Biblical Literacy with Mark Lanier

Dr. David Capes taught the next lesson in the Better Bible Study, BBS, series focused on Immanuel in the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew’s Gospel was placed first by the early church leaders. It’s a user-friendly handbook to the church. Dr Capes had three points. 1. Background of Immanuel in Matthew Fulfillment of Scripture […] The post Chapter 9: Better Bible Study series continues with the them...

Mark continued the Better Bible Study – BBS with a focus on the theme of exile—the state or period of forced absence from one’s home or country. 1. The “exile” began with the exile from the garden to restoration with God woven throughout the Bible. Sin resulted in exile. God had to clean us up. […] The post Chapter 8: Mark continues with the series Better Bible Study, as we look at the...

7-16-23 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in the Better Bible Study, BBS, series with the theme of Messiah throughout the Bible. Messiah is one who is anointed or consecrated to God’s purpose. The Bible speaks of 3 types of individuals who were Messiah’d: priests, kings, and prophets. Jesus fulfills all three as the ultimate Messiah. Mark divided […] The post Chapter 7: Mark continues w...

Mark continued BBS Better Better Study focused on the theme of sacrifice. The Bible was built over time, and associations are built into it. Mark defined sacrifice as the destruction or surrender for the sake of something else. Marks presents this lesson with two points: 1. Lessons on sacrifices from more obvious passages like with how Moses explained […] The post Chapter 6: Mark continues B...

7-2-23 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued BBB – Better Bible Study – with two themes: the Bible as a love story and giving. 1. Love story narrative First, what is love? Mark shares the Greek words for love and the Hebrew word. God centers His love for us throughout the Bible: starting in Genesis, we are created […] The post Chapter 5: Mark continues with the series Better Bible Stu...

6-25-23 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued BBB- Better Bible Study – with Lesson 4 using a hermeneutical approach. This week’s focus was on the Biblical theme of the temple. 1. What was the temple? Earthly home of a heavenly God, the presence of God among people, His dwelling and resting place. The tabernacle was a portable temple. 2. […] The post Chapter 4: A Hermeneutical Approach appe...

Mark taught Lesson 3 in the summer’s Better Bible Study series expanding on three themes. 1. The surviving and thriving remnant. A remnant is a small piece or amount that is left from a larger original or amount. Mark detailed how God referred to the remnant of his people throughout scripture. 2. Spiritual warfare. This […] The post Chapter 3: A Better Hermeneutic appeared first on Biblical...

Mark taught Lesson 2 in the summer’s Better Bible Study series with a hermeneutical approach, the study of the methods of reading and understanding Bible passages. Mark covered three themes: 1. The kingdom of God come among His people. God will bring His kingdom to the redeemed. 2. God as a just God. Humanity has a problem: […] The post Chapter 2: The Hermeneutical Approach appeared first on...

Mark started a new summer series on Better Bible Study, BBS. The goal of this series is to learn how to study the Bible with each lesson building on the previous. Today’s overview reviewed the why, what & how of bible study. Why? Timothy 3:12-17. The Bible is God-breathed, used for reproof, correction, train, inspired […] The post Chapter 1, Why? What? How? appeared first on Biblical Lit...

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 post Chapter 27, The Old Testament Minor Prophets; Conclud...

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 [&#8230...

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 […] The post Chapter 26, The Old Testament Minor Prophets; Continuing in...

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 […] The post Chapter 25, The Old Testament Minor Prophets; Continuing in Zechariah....

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 […] The post Chapter 24, The Old Testament...

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 post Chapter 23, The Old Testament Minor Prop...

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 […] The post Chapter 22, Old Testament Minor Prophets, Haggai. (pt...

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 […] The post Chapter 21, Old Testament Minor Prophets, Habakkuk . (pt1) appeare...

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 […] The post Chapter 20, Old Testament Minor Prophets, Zephaniah. (pt2) appeared first on...

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 […] The post Chapter 19, Old Testament Minor P...

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 – […] The post Chapter 18, Old Testament Minor Prophets,...

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 [...

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 […] The post Chapter 17, Old Testament Minor...

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. […] The post Chapter 16, Old Testament Minor Prophets, Micah. (pt2) appeared first on Biblical Literacy...

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 […] The post Chapter 15, Old Testament Minor Prophets...

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 […] The post Chapter 14, Old Testament Minor Prophets, Hosea (pt 3) appeared...