ProveText

In this Bible Scholar Reacts episode, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb responds to a viral video claiming that Paul never commands husbands to lead their wives and that the Greek word kephale (“head”) only means “source,” not authority. Is that linguistically accurate? Dr. Halcomb affirms what’s right in the argument — but also explains where the Greek is being stretched beyond what the evidence can supp...

In this episode of Sabbatical Insider, Dr. Fredrick J. Long reflects on editing a devotional on freedom, holding a bootleg copy of The Last Silver Snail, and wrestling with research on Philippians 2 and 1 Thessalonians 4. Are “heavenly, earthly, and under the earth” beings really people—or gods? Is Paul describing a cosmic battle at Christ’s return? And what does ancient rhetoric have to do with “...

In this episode of the ProveText Podcast, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb sits down with Dr. Robert Plummer (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Daily Dose of Greek) for an honest, lighthearted, behind-the-scenes conversation about studying and teaching Greek. This isn’t a technical lecture. It’s two Greek professors pulling back the curtain. We talk about: • What we believed about Greek early on — a...

The ancient world assumed that good was limited—honor, wealth, land, blessing. If someone gained, someone else must have lost. That assumption shaped how people heard Jesus. In this episode of Cultural Keys, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb explores the ancient “limited good” mindset and shows how it helps explain: - Why generosity felt unfair - Why Jesus’ parables provoked anger - Why fear—not economics...

Dr. Fredrick J. Long shares an honest update from sabbatical life — including “nil” writing progress, the pressure of productivity, and the challenge of balancing kingdom work with measurable output. In this episode, he reflects on writing a devotional on freedom (and why 400 words wasn’t enough), ongoing GlossaHouse publishing projects, committee work, financial responsibilities, and meaningful c...

Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb and Dr. Fredrick J. Long are back together after a long break — and they’re jumping into a brand-new, conversation-style, verse-by-verse series through 1 Corinthians. In this kickoff episode, they set the stage: - Why Corinth is such a “messy” but crucial church to study - The social pressure-cooker of status, patronage, slavery, honor/shame, and empire - Paul’s contested...

When we hear the word gift, we usually think “no strings attached.” But that’s not how the ancient world worked — especially in the New Testament. In this episode of Cultural Keys, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb explores reciprocity: how gifts, meals, and hospitality created obligation, loyalty, and relationship in the biblical world. Why was table fellowship so controversial? Why did Jesus eating with...

In this episode of Sabbatical Insider, Dr. Fredrick J. Long reflects on a difficult week marked by stress, controversy, chronic pain, and the emotional toll of public discourse — even while on sabbatical. He shares the completion of his fantasy novel The Last Silver Snail, discusses the unexpected realities of faculty life (yes, syllabi are still due), explores the growth of Gamma Rho Kappa Greek...

In this ProveText Podcast conversation, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb sits down with Old Testament scholar Dr. David Firth (Trinity College Bristol) to discuss foreigners, immigrants, and belonging in the Old Testament—especially across Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. Dr. Firth challenges the common assumption that the Old Testament is broadly hostile toward foreigners and argues that the biblical...

Modern readers often confuse biblical collectivism with modern political ideologies—but the ancient world wasn’t ideological, it was relational. In this episode of Cultural Keys, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb explains how identity, obedience, blessing, and even sin were understood communally in the biblical world—and why Scripture constantly speaks in terms of family, people, and belonging, not isolat...

In this episode of Sabbatical Insider, Dr. Fredrick J. Long shares a behind-the-scenes look at what sabbatical really looks like—beyond rest, into creativity, reflection, and meaningful work. The episode begins with highlights from a fishing trip through Arizona and Lake Havasu, capturing moments of recreation, beauty, and unexpected success on the water. From there, Dr. Long walks viewers through...

In this up close and personal conversation, Dr. Dan Wallace opens up about his faith journey, a devastating health crisis that radically disrupted his memory, and the remarkable experience of having to relearn Greek—using his own textbook. Known worldwide for his work in biblical Greek and New Testament manuscripts, Dr. Wallace shares a side of his story that’s rarely told: suffering, perseverance...

The Bible wasn’t written in a political vacuum—it was written under empire. In this episode of Cultural Keys , Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb explores how concepts like empire, power, peace, and allegiance shaped the biblical world—and why the gospel of Jesus was a direct counterclaim to imperial rule. From Rome’s propaganda to Mark 1:1, from “Jesus is Lord” to the cross as a throne, this episode shows...

What does a sabbatical really look like? In this episode of Sabbatical Insider, Dr. Fredrick J. Long shares an honest update from his time away from the classroom — from fishing trips in Arizona and caring for his 90-year-old mother, to ongoing creative projects like The Last Silver Snail and an unfinished (but deeply important) commentary on Ephesians. Along the way, he reflects on the challenges...

Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb sits down with longtime friend Aaron Shafovaloff—coder, Greek nerd, and Utah street evangelist—to explore what it actually looks like to talk with Mormons in real-world settings. Moving beyond stereotypes and megaphones, this conversation focuses on respectful, conversational evangelism and why theology, language, and definitions truly matter. Drawing from years of street...

Most modern readers assume “clean” means good and “unclean” means sinful—but that’s not how the biblical world worked. In this Cultural Keys episode, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb explains how purity in Scripture is about order, boundaries, and proximity to God, not moral guilt. Once you see this, the ministry of Jesus changes everything—because instead of becoming polluted, He makes others clean. #bi...

What do you actually do on sabbatical? In this episode of Sabbatical Insider, Professor Frederick J. Long shares a candid look into his sabbatical life in Arizona—from family time and pacing work, to writing a fantasy/sci-fi novel he began over 20 years ago. Along the way, Fred reflects on: - Writing fiction as a form of theological reflection - Theodicy and the meaning of evil as “bad on purpose”...

Why should Christians still care about biblical languages today—and what does that have to do with Chinese, Aramaic, and Navy chaplaincy? In this episode of the ProveText Podcast, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb talks with Dr. Scott Callaham, biblical language scholar, author, missionary, and Navy chaplain, about a life devoted to Scripture, languages, and the service of the global church. We discuss: -...

A viral Instagram video claims that homosexuality was added to the Bible in 1946—and that before then, the prohibition didn’t exist. In this episode, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb breaks down the Greek, the Hebrew, and the actual history of Bible translation to show why this argument collapses under scrutiny. Sincerity isn’t a substitute for accuracy—and social media isn’t a lexicon. #Bible #Biblestud...

In this episode of Sabbatical Insider , Dr. Frederick J. Long shares how he approaches project planning during sabbatical—and what happens when plans take unexpected turns. From academic writing and Greek grammar to a long-shelved fantasy novel, this episode explores productivity, creative freedom, and why diversions aren’t necessarily distractions. #bible #podcast #jesus #faith #christian #christ...

What is revelation—information on a page, or a living encounter with the risen Christ? In this episode of ProveText, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb is joined by Dr. Andrew Ray Williams (pastor-theologian, Foursquare minister, and contributor to the CPT Journal) to explore Emil Brunner’s theology of revelation and why it still matters for Christians today. Together, they discuss: - What it really means...

When the Bible talks about family, it means something very different than we do today. In the ancient world, kinship wasn’t just emotional—it was your identity, security, and future. In this episode of the Cultural Keys series, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb explores how Scripture uses family language to describe salvation, the church, and belonging in the kingdom of God. God doesn’t just save individu...

What happens to email when a professor goes on sabbatical? In this episode of Sabbatical Insider, Dr. Fredrick J. Long pulls back the curtain on faculty email overload, boundary-setting, and why protecting your best thinking hours matters—especially during a season of focused research and writing. From mentoring students to turning on the vacation responder, this episode offers a realistic look at...

What does it really mean to be a pastor theologian? In this episode of the ProveText Podcast, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb sits down with Dr. Gary L. Shultz (Baptist University of Florida) to explore the vocational identity of the pastor theologian—and why this calling matters for the health of the church today. Drawing from Dr. Shultz’s recent article in the Center for Pastor Theologians Journal, th...

Most of us read the Bible through a guilt-and-innocence lens—but that’s not the world Scripture was written in. The biblical world was shaped by honor and shame: public reputation, social status, and communal identity. In this episode of the Cultural Keys series, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb explores how this lens reshapes the way we understand Jesus, the Pharisees, the cross, and even familiar stori...