Matthew BoffeySome versions of the Apostles’ Creed say Jesus descended into hell. Did he? For centuries, Christians have proclaimed, “. . . he [Jesus] descended into hell . . .” Other versions of the creed say “the grave.” Why do we say those words at all, and...
Faithlife StaffWho can we know about the historical Jesus? While according to Barna most Americans (92%) believe Jesus was a real person,many know nothing about him—or what they know is wrong. As Eugene Peterson puts it, “Rumor, conjecture, salacious gossip...
Adam B. ShaefferIn the first chapter of the Gospel of John, the author refers to Jesus as “the Word” (ho logos). This formulation has resonances in the Hebrew Bible, Greek philosophy, and Hellenistic Jewish thought. But does this formulation appear anywhere else...
Michael S. HeiserIf you’ve been a Christian for very long or were raised in a Christian church, chances are that you’ve heard that the Bible is really all about Jesus. That cliché has some truth to it, but it’s misleading. The truth is that there’s a lot in the...
By Kevin Vanhoozer This excerpt from Kevin Vanhoozer highlights the importance of not just hearing God’s voice but truly listening with the intent to obey what he says. In perhaps the most famous Arabian Nights story, Aladdin discovers a magic...
It’s easy to imagine what Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, or the Magi were thinking and feeling when they encountered the baby Jesus for the first time. I can imagine the mix of excitement, nerves, and expectation as they wondered when God would...
One of the most fascinating developments to follow through the Bible’s storyline is the concept of God dwelling with his people. God, the creator of all that exists, gradually reveals his desire to be present and active with those who belong to him...
“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah!… I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt 16:17–18). The “gates of hell”? Why did Jesus respond to Peter’s confession, “You are...
Samuel LamersonDid Jesus have a sense of humor? Explore the possibility in this article by Dr. Samuel Lemerson, professor of New Testament and president of Knox Theological Seminary in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Tayler BeedeWhen I meditate on Christmas, I think about our Jesus—about the miracle of our Savior. About being free from my sins and being able to rest in his grace all because he came here to save us. But I don’t often think about the fact that people longed...
Derek FekkesOne of the most fascinating developments to follow through the Bible’s storyline is the concept of God dwelling with his people. God, the creator of all that exists, gradually reveals his desire to be present and active with those who belong to him...
Ray Deck IIIIt’s easy to imagine what Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, or the Magi were thinking and feeling when they encountered the baby Jesus for the first time. I can imagine the mix of excitement, nerves, and expectation as they wondered when God would...
Ryan NelsonIsaiah’s magnificent prophecy spans not only history, going from creation (e.g., 42:5) to eternity (e.g., 9:7), but also geography, with an interest ranging between God’s own people through all of humanity (e.v., 2:2). Containing both...
Miles CustisDr. Craig Evans is an expert in the background of the New Testament, the historical Jesus, and ancient manuscripts. He is also an excellent communicator. In the six-course Mobile Ed: Craig A. Evans New Testament Backgrounds Bundle, Dr. Evans...
Elizabeth VinceIf we’re truly honest, few of us would want to fill Mary’s shoes in real life. Being an unwed mother is no easy task in our society; in Mary’s culture, it could merit the death penalty. Yet when Gabriel burst into Mary’s home and announced the risky...
Jayson D. Bradley“Paul’s overriding interest is not in evil men who have done a wicked thing but in a good God who has done a gracious thing.”—Gerard S. Sloyan, The Crucifixion of Jesus: History, Myth, Faith Like many, I was enthusiastic about Mel Gibson’s The...
Jeffrey KranzSometimes I wonder if God is setting me up to fail. Do you? When you read a passage like 1 Corinthians 5:7–8, do you wonder if God’s asking you to do something you cannot? “Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in...
Amanda OlsonIn many Christian traditions (Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Anglican and Presbyterian), this Wednesday marks the first day of Lent. For 40 days, observers everywhere will be forsaking things like meat, chocolate, or television—all in preparation...
“How am I going to handle this one?” If you lead any sort of church small group or Bible study, you ask yourself this question all the time: My pastor preached on gender roles—how am I going to handle this in group discussion? We’re supposed to...
Nate SmoyerIn slightly less than 58 years, Charles Spurgeon, the British Baptist preacher, wrote and preached the hundreds of sermons that made him one of the most influential preachers ever. Mark Driscoll called Spurgeon, one of today’s most quoted preachers...
The word “lemma” shows up everywhere in original-language books and tools, including Logos 5 features—but what is a lemma? Obviously, it’s a key concept when it comes to digging deeper in Bible study. So What Is a Lemma, Anyway? A lemma is the...
Today’s post continues Logos Talk’s Christmas Bible study. Check back throughout December for more ways to study the birth of Jesus! You probably remember the first time someone told you about doing Bible study by looking at Greek and Hebrew, the...
Christmas is coming, and we’re all excited to celebrate the Lord Jesus Christ's coming to dwell among us. But how many of our ideas about Christ's birth come from the Bible, and how many from Christmas carols, TV specials, nativity scenes, and the...
Rebecca BrantThere’s no better time of year to explore the life of Mary than now, as we head into the Advent and Christmas season. The Gospels mention Mary in only a few verses, so we easily assume there’s not much to learn about her life. Yet she was present as...
Jennifer HendrixAs believers, we all have a part in the story that God is telling, the great drama of redemption that he is unfolding. But sometimes we struggle to understand: What is my role in God’s story? We know now that Mary, the mother of Jesus, had a pivotal...
As the saying goes, a man is only as good as his reputation. Unfortunately, reputations are fragile: anything from whispered insinuation to broadcast slander can shatter even the most guarded image. While this is especially true in our world of...
"Lord Jesus, it is for thee that I patiently endure this cruel death. I pray thee to have mercy on my enemies."—The last words attributed to John Huss At the end of the fourteenth century, John Wycliffe's influence was beginning to permeate the...
What Happened to Peter? Like Steve Runge, I identify with Peter. Not only am I encouraged by Peter’s missteps, foibles, and failures, but I’m also challenged by the post-resurrection dynamo that Peter becomes. For Peter, Jesus’...
Steve RungeLogos Talk is bringing you special Holy Week devotionals from a number of authors. If you’d like more resources to prepare your heart for Easter, Logos has discounted a number of Holy Week titles. Expectation Expectations play a huge role in how we...
Rick BrannanJesus and his disciples entered Jerusalem and spent the night in Bethany (Mark 11:11). Jesus knew that he would be arrested, tried, and crucified later that week. How does he use this last stretch of time? He curses the fig tree (Mk 11:12-14, 20-25;...