ProveText

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...

In Episode 3 of Sabbatical Insider, Dr. Fredrick J. Long reflects on the calling of biblical scholarship and the often unseen work of faculty life. He shares how research, writing, teaching, and publishing function as stewardship in service of the church, the academy, and the mission of God. #bible #jesus #teacher #education #biblestudy #bibleverse #teaching #scholar #faith #learning #christ #chur...

How should Christians read Scripture today? And can we really encounter God in the biblical text? In this episode of the ProveText Podcast, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb sits down with Rev. Dr. Michael Niebauer to explore ancient Christian exegesis, typology, imagination, and the question of whether Christ is present throughout the Old Testament. We discuss: - What exegesis really is (and how it diffe...

In Episode 2 of Sabbatical Insider, Dr. Fredrick J. Long reflects on the pressures and decisions that shape a sabbatical. From personal fatigue and disruption to competing scholarly opportunities, he shares the real challenge of choosing a focus when multiple meaningful projects demand attention. ***GlossaHouse resources are available at our website! - https://glossahouse.com/✏️ ***Sign up for cla...

In this first episode of Sabbatical Insider, Dr. Fredrick J. Long explains what a sabbatical is, why faculty take them, and why extended time for rest, research, and writing is essential for biblical scholarship. He introduces his sabbatical journey and the projects he’ll be working on in the months ahead. Subscribe to follow along his journey! ***GlossaHouse resources are available at our website...

What is apologetics really for in today’s cultural moment? In this episode of ProveText, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb sits down with Christian apologist and doctoral candidate Ryan Pauly to discuss deconstruction, Gen Z apathy, cultural engagement, and how the church can cultivate a faith that actually endures. Ryan shares insights from his academic research, teaching experience, and public apologeti...

In the first episode of our Cultural Keys to Reading the New Testament mini-series on the ProveText Podcast, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb introduces the patronage system—the social and economic backbone of the ancient Greco-Roman world. Patronage shaped everything from politics and economics to daily relationships of loyalty, honor, and obligation. It also shaped how early audiences heard words like...

Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb sits down with historian and pastor theologian Joey Cochran to unpack Jonathan Edwards’ “harmony of the Word of God,” the history of redemption, typology, and why biblical fluency in America is far weaker than we think. They explore how Edwards understood Scripture, how the Holy Spirit shapes interpretation, and why deep, communal immersion in the Bible is urgently needed...

In this episode of Bible Scholar Reacts, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb responds to a viral Instagram video from a female pastor who claims that “Bible-based church” is just code for biblicism, fundamentalism, and elevating the text above Jesus. Link to the Instagram video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DP4xBtokiQA/ #bible #faith #viral #reaction ***GlossaHouse resources are available at our website! - h...

What does Deuteronomy really say about children—and what does that mean for the church today? In this episode of the ProveText Podcast, Dr. Michael Halcomb talks with Dr. Harold Shank about his essay on “Children in Deuteronomy” from the GlossaHouse Festschrift Teaching God’fs Sons and Daughters . They explore: Why Deuteronomy mentions children so often Children as full members of the covenant com...

A Swiss church just created an AI-powered “digital Jesus” for people to confess to — and Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb has thoughts. In this episode of Bible Scholar Reacts, Dr. Halcomb breaks down the theology, the tech, and the deeper cultural issues behind this experiment called Deus in Machina. Why are we so quick to replace real human connection — and even sacred practices — with machines? What d...

Elizabeth Woning, co-founder of the CHANGED Movement, joins Dr. Michael Halcomb for a powerful and deeply thoughtful conversation on identity, sexuality, queer theology, political engagement, discipleship, trauma, and what real spiritual transformation looks like. Elizabeth shares her personal journey out of LGBTQ culture, her encounters with the Holy Spirit, how Scripture reshaped her understandi...