Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes
According to J. Julius Scott, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes were Jewish sects or denominations (Scott, 200). Due to the emphasis on orthopraxy, it is common for the differences between the groups to pertain more to activity than theology (Scott, 201). However,...Matthew’s Purpose in Telling Jesus’s Birth
Thomas D. Lea and David Alan Black explain that Matthew’s purpose in the telling of the birth of Jesus was to persuade the Jews of Jesus’s Messiahship (178). Accordingly, Matthew juxtaposed Jesus, the legitimate king of the Jews, with Herod, and likely...Jewish Worldview Intertestamental Period
Julius Scott summarizes the Jewish worldview during the Intertestamental Period in four phases. First, the Jews of the first century believed that God continues His involvement in a universe that He created separate from Himself and inherently good (Scott, 268). In...Jewish Attitudes Toward Gentiles
The basic attitudes of first-century Jews toward the Gentiles were diverse. According to J. Julius Scott, the evidence suggests a general disdain by Jews toward the Gentiles (335). However, exceptions to the general attitude did exist with an acceptance of certain...Intertestamental Sources
Julius Scott provides a rather comprehensive list of major sources used to reconstruct the history of the Intertestamental Period. The sources include the Hebrew Old Testament, the Septuagint, the Apocrypha, the Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament, the Dead Sea...Historical and Literary Criticism
The critical methods of Carson and Moo fit into two broad categories, which include historical criticism and literary criticism. Historical criticism attempts to discover the “historical reality behind the text” (Carson and Moo, 61). Although literary...Christianity and Hellenism
Julius Scott suggests Hellenism originated with Alexander the Great who sought to integrate Greek culture into the vast empire absorbed during his short reign (112). Hellenism then expanded under Alexander’s successors. Through military force, Antiochus...Authorship of Matthew and Mark
This discussion explores the external and internal evidence for authorship along with the purpose and destination of Matthew and Mark followed by an explanation regarding the importance of author identification to modern readers. Thomas D. Lea and David Alan Black...Top Tasks of a Pastor
Before identifying the top five tasks of a pastor, a definition of pastoral ministry is in order. James Thompson (2006, 19-20) suggests that pastoral ministry is “participation in God’s work of transforming the community of faith until it is...Relating to the Muslim Community
The central issue surrounding the article, “Muslims in Evangelical Churches,” pertains to how Christians should interact with the Muslim community in America. James Hood identifies two extremes, which highlight the peripheral issues. He explains that...God does Nothing Apart from Prayer
The conundrum of providence and prayer has precipitated a longstanding debate. On the one hand, if human prayers limit God’s freedom to act, then God’s sovereignty is at risk. On the other hand, if God’s sovereign plan is fixed, then what would...First Century Life
The difficulty in generally summarizing the life of people in the first century lies in the diversity between the Jewish and Roman societies as well as the diversity within the Jewish and Roman segments of society. For example, Thomas D. Lea and David Alan Black...Fleece Praying
Since first hearing about the famous story of Gideon in Sunday School, many believers have likely considered putting out a fleece to determine the will of God. In a reference to Judges 6:36-38, Dave Earley (2008, 118) appears to support fleece praying by explaining...Successful Christian Intercultural Living
Two principles of successful intercultural living, communication, and ministry are belonging and identification. A. Scott Moreau, Gary Corwin, and Gary McGee suggest that the principle of belongingness is difficult for new missionaries.[1] It is difficult to leave old...Paul’s Missionary Methods
Paul utilized numerous missionary methods to support his ministry efforts. The following analysis highlights five characteristics of Paul’s missionary methods. First and foremost, Eckhard Schnabel’s list of Paul’s missionary methods begins with the...Impact of Samuel Zwemer on Missions
The impact of Samuel Zwemer on the history of Islamic missions is difficult to overstate. According to J. Christy Wilson, Zwemer was born in Michigan in 1867 to a Christian family with a Dutch reformed background, attended Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and then...Difficulties of Non-Western Missionaries
Describe the current phenomenon of missionary movements from the non-Western world. What are the advantages and difficulties for non-Western missionaries?ResponseOver the last century, sweeping changes have occurred with regards to the geographical shift in Christian...Defining Missions
How is mission and missions defined? How is this similar to or different from your previous ideas about missions? Finally, tell us about any involvement in missions that you have previously had (i.e., short-term missions, praying for missionaries) and what you hope to...Incarnational Apologetics
PART 1This discussion board post is a reaction to David Wheeler’s article, “Incarnational Apologetics.” Wheeler defines Incarnational Apologetics as the “public and private lifestyle of a Christian that validates to the world the absolute...
Freedom: How Grace Transforms Your Life Now
Minds on Fire: What Is Wrong With Our Thoughts..And How To Fix It