Tag: bible study

The Holy Land, Part 2: Who or What is Israel?

On By Tyler BoydIn Holy land

The term “Holy Land” is frequently used today to describe the modern nation of Israel.

In the first part of this study we asked the question, “What does it mean to be holy?” Throughout the Bible, holiness is about being set apart for God’s presence and for God’s purpose. With that foundation in place, we now turn to a second essential question: “Who – or what – is “Israel”?

Many people today refer to the modern land of Israel as the “Holy Land.” But in doing so, they often assume a definition of “Israel” that doesn’t line up with the way the Bible itself uses the term. If we’re going to come to grips with what the Bible teaches about a holy land, we must also understand who or what “Israel” is.

A People, Not a Place

The word “Israel” in the Bible never refers to a piece of land. Yes, God gave the people of Israel a land to dwell in, and yes, that land had deep spiritual significance. But the term “Israel” itself always refers to a people – a special group of people who were in a covenant relationship with God, set apart for His purposes.

The name “Israel” comes from Genesis 32, when Jacob wrestled with a mysterious man, who was later revealed to be the angel of the LORD. It was this Angel who gave Jacob a new name: Israel, meaning “He who strives with God” (Genesis 32:28). Jacob’s twelve sons would become the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel. From that moment forward “Israel” referred to the descendants of Jacob – not a geographical area, but a people in a covenant with the LORD.

Not Defined by Race

A common misconception, not only during the time of Christ, but extending even to today throughout much of modern evangelicalism, is that “Israel” refers to the ethnic Jewish people. Since “Israel” was used to refer to the descendants of Jacob, it is easy to see how many would easily draw this conclusion. However, a careful reading of Scripture quite clearly reveals that from the very beginning, the people of Israel included those from other nations who had chosen to align themselves with the LORD.

Here’s a few examples:

  • Exodus 12:38 says that a “mixed multitude” left Egypt along with the Israelites
  • Numbers 12:1 describes Moses’ wife as a Cushite
  • Rahab, the woman who protected the spies in Jericho, was a Canaanite from Jericho (Joshua 2:1; 6:25)
  • Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David, was a Moabite (Ruth 1:4)
  • Uriah the Hittite, one of David’s mighty men, wasn’t ethnically Jewish (2 Samuel 11:3)
  • Esther 8:17 tells us that “many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews” out of fear and reverence

In Zechariah’s prophetic vision where God promises to restore and dwell in Jerusalem after Israel’s exile, an Angel proclaims that the time is coming when God’s covenant family will expand far beyond ethnic Israel to include people of all nations.

And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.

Zechariah 2:11

Clearly, the biblical category of “Israel” was never tied exclusively to ethnicity. Instead, Israel has always included anyone who turns to the LORD in faithful obedience. This is exactly the point that the apostle Paul makes in Romans 2:28-29, when he says,

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

According to Paul, being an Israelite, a true Jew, is a matter of faithfulness. Rather than being marked out by a physical feature such as circumcision, they are marked out by the Spirit. The same God who welcomed foreigners in the Exodus, and welcomed Ruth and Rahab into the family of Israel, welcomes all those who turn to Him in faithful obedience today.

A Family Bound by Faith

In the first century, this non-ethnic definition of Israel stirred up controversy. Many Jewish people feared that including the Gentiles among God’s people would mean that God had abandoned His promises to Abraham. This concern stands behind much of what Paul said throughout his letter to the Romans. For instance, consider Paul’s words in Romans 9:6-8

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of promise are counted as offspring.

Here, Paul draws a sharp line between ethnic descent and those to whom God has promised an inheritance. God’s promises were never about bloodlines; they were about faithfulness. The true children of Abraham are those who act out of trust in God’s promises.

Jesus made this same point when speaking to a group of Jews:

They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did.”

John 8:39

Then, just a few verses later, He declares that their true father is not Abraham, but the devil (John 8:44). Why? Because they rejected the truth of God’s Word.

And let’s not forget John the Baptist’s bold statement to the Pharisees:

And do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father,” for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

Matthew 3:9

In other words, physical descent means nothing without faithfulness to God.

Not the Modern Nation-State

Since Israel is not defined as the land itself, and not defined by an ethnic group of people, it should also be plain to see that the biblical definition of “Israel” does not apply to the modern nation-state of Israel. While some may contend that today’s Israel (founded in 1948) may have some distant cultural and genealogical connections to the people of the Bible, it is fundamentally a secular political entity, not a “holy nation” in the biblical sense.

The modern state of Israel does not function as a covenant people living under God’s law. Its borders are not defined by faithfulness to God. For this reason, it is a serious error to equate modern Israel with biblical Israel, or to take what the Bible says about Israel and apply it to modern Israel.

A Holy Nation

Peter calls the church, Jew and Gentile alike, “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” (1 Peter 2:9). This echoes the very language used by God for Israel at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:6).

So yes, we may rightly speak of Israel as a “holy nation.” But only if we are using the term the way the Bible does – to describe a people, not a plot of land; and to describe a people who are set apart by the Spirit through their faithfulness to God.

Having carefully defined the term “holy,” and now having a biblical understanding of the term “Israel,” we can now return to the study of the land itself. In the next article we’ll ask the question “Why was Israel’s land considered holy?”

Better Bible Study Tip #88: Read Books on Topics That Interest You

On By Tyler BoydIn Better Bible Study

Developing a habit of reading Bible study or theology books can help you develop a deeper understanding of Scripture. But how can you develop that habit if you don’t enjoy reading in the first place?

When I was younger and in school, many of my teachers often gave reading assignments that didn’t interest me. Reading felt like a chore – a task I “had to” complete. That sense of feeling forced to read material I didn’t care about let me to believe I didn’t like reading at all! For many, similar experiences turn reading into a chore, draining it of all joy and excitement.

But here’s the good news: reading doesn’t have to be boring, and it shouldn’t feel like a chore. There are books on virtually every biblical topic, written in ways that can capture your curiosity and draw you in.

That’s why it’s helpful to choose books on biblical topics that genuinely interest you. For example, when I first began reading, I was curious about getting a better understanding of God’s providence – how He works in the world and in our lives. A friend recommended a book on the subject, and to my surprise, I found it fascinating! Not only did I enjoy reading it, but it also gave me many insights into Scripture that I had never noticed before.

Your interests may be entirely different. Maybe you want to explore what the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit, or about the ancient near eastern cultures in which the Bible was written, or Biblical archeology and its role in confirming Scriptural truths. Or perhaps you’re looking for practical biblical wisdom on marriage or raising children, or managing finances from a Christian perspective.

The key is to read books that match your personal curiosity. Boring books may teach you information, but they often fail to keep you engaged. On the other hand, books that align with your interests make the process enjoyable, and you’ll find yourself looking forward to your next reading session.

So if you’re looking to begin the habit of reading books, choose some that explore your current questions. You’ll not only grow in knowledge, but you’ll also discover that reading can be enjoyable!

Better Bible Study Tip #87: Pick the Time of Day That Works Best For You

On By Tyler BoydIn Better Bible Study

Establishing a good routine is one of the most important steps for consistent Bible study. Choosing a specific time of day to study helps you build a daily rhythm. This makes your study time feel natural and sustainable.

For me, early mornings work best. Before the rest of my family wakes up, the house is quiet, and distractions are minimal. I enjoy studying while sipping my coffee. I find that my mind feels fresher, and its easier to focus. Of course, the hardest part about mornings is that they start so early! It can be difficult for me to get myself out of bed, especially if I’ve fallen into a bad habit of staying up too late or pushing my snooze button. But I’ve learned that consistency makes a big difference. Once I commit to getting out of bed on time, it becomes easier as my body begins to adjust to the routine.

Others might find evenings work better. You may find that nighttime offers a peaceful window to reflect after the day’s busyness has finally settled down. For some, this is the perfect moment to wind down with Scripture.

If your schedule allows, you mind the opportunity to take a break in the middle of the day. The time you choose doesn’t matter as much as the habit you create. The key is to pick a time that works for you, and commit to it. Setting aside a specific time each day creates a structure and helps you prioritize Bible study.

Better Bible Study Tip #85: Use Artificial Intelligence Wisely

On By Tyler BoydIn Better Bible Study

As mentioned previously (Bible Study Tip #84), Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not inherently good or evil. While it has the potential to be used as an extremely useful tool for Christians as they study their Bible, there is also a very real danger of AI being misused to promote any number of false doctrines.

As an extreme example, I asked ChatGPT to write a short two or three sentence Biblical argument in favor of abortion. Here’s the response I was given:

The Bible does not explicitly address abortion, leaving room for interpretation. Some argue that personhood begins with “the breath of life” (Genesis 2:7), not conception. Exodus 21:22-25, the law concerning a pregnant woman who is injured and loses her child due to a fight, suggests a distinction in the value between a fetus and a fully born person, in that a fine is prescribed rather than the death penalty, which is required for murder. These interpretations, along with principles of grace and compassion, support a nuanced view of abortion in certain circumstances.

Of course with further study, a wise Bible student should recognize that Genesis 2:7 describes the unique creation of Adam rather than identifying the beginning of life for all human. And while Exodus 21:22-25 does distinguish between penalties, the same text can be used to affirm that a fetus is more than simply a clump of lifeless cells. Elsewhere, the Bible explicitly affirms that life begins before birth (e.g. Psalm 139:13-16).

But the point is that AI can be used to craft a dangerously “biblical” sounding argument for virtually any position a person wishes to argue, no matter how unbiblical that idea may be. It does this not because the program is designed to have bias, but simply because it responded to my prompt. Although there is nothing new about people twisting scripture out of context to try to make it say what they want, AI can make the process of doing so quick and easy for anybody, no matter how biblically illiterate they may be. With the help of AI, almost anybody can artificially develop a façade of biblical intelligence.

Not only can AI be used by those who willfully desire to be dishonest with the text, but it also enhances the risk of confirmation bias among more honest Bible students. Since AI can develop arguments for virtually any position, I could easily use it to develop a biblical sounding argument for a position that I sincerely believe to be true, even if I’m mistaken in my position. Since AI simply responds to human prompts, it will not argue back or point out errors in my understanding unless I ask for it to.

This is not to suggest that AI cannot be genuinely helpful when used responsibly. AI can be utilized for many practical, non-interpretive tasks, such as looking up scripture references, understanding historical contexts, or exploring translation issues. If I want to know how much a denarius is worth, I can use AI to find that information in just seconds. If I want to know the cultural background of Paul’s instructions regarding headcoverings in 1 Corinthians 11, AI can quickly give me an overview.

Let’s say I want to develop a Bible study plan to memorize the Sermon on the Mount in three months. I can ask AI to develop a study plan for me, and it will generate one in about five seconds. If I’ve taken a bunch of disorganized sermon notes, I want to reorganize them in outline form, AI can quickly assist in that task. The capabilities of AI are almost limitless, including the ability to perform numerous helpful tasks.

AI can be a very useful tool in Bible study, but it must be used with wisdom and discernment. Remember that AI is a product of human design and may reflect the biases of its creators or data sources. Approach it’s output critically and thoughtfully, discerning how it aligns with biblical teachings in their original context.

In other words, don’t use AI to cheat yourself out of genuine study. Use AI to supplement your study, organize your notes, prompt deeper thinking, find additional resources, look up definitions, or find cross-references. But do not use AI as a replacement for Bible study. Humble, thoughtful, personal examination of the text can never be replaced. Christians can benefit from AI, but it is critical that they remain grounded and spiritually healthy if they are to use it wisely.

Better Bible Study Tip #84: If You Use AI (Artificial Intelligence), Be Careful

On By Tyler BoydIn Better Bible Study1 Comment

The book of Genesis has some interesting comments to make about the development of new technology. The first command given by God to mankind was to “multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen. 1:28) In Genesis 2, we see that Adam is to keep and till the garden (Gen. 2:15). The process of taking the raw, wildness of creation, and transforming it into what is useful for mankind is linked to our nature as beings created in God’s image.

But then in Genesis 4, we are given interesting details about three of Cain’s descendants: Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal-cain (Gen. 4:20-22). We are told that Jabel was “the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock,” Jubal was “the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe,” and Tubal-cain was “the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron.” While the Bible never tells us these technological advancements were bad things, it is interesting that they were originated within the wicked family of Cain.

Later in Genesis 11, we see the technological development of brick and mortar (Gen. 11:3-4). It is noteworthy that the first thing mankind did with this new technology was to build a tower to heaven in rebellion to God.

While the book of Genesis doesn’t come out and say that technological advancement is itself evil, it certainly doesn’t leave it a glowing review either. The ancient Jews noticed this problem as well. According to ancient Jewish folklore, many technological advancements (such as weapons of war, cosmetics, medicinal uses of plants, and astrology) were given by a group of rebellious angels before mankind had developed the wisdom to use them properly, leading to widespread corruption, violence, and moral decay (Enoch 8:1-3). Of course this legend is non-canonical, but it demonstrates that it has long been recognized that new technology has the potential to corrupt and lead people away from God if not used with wisdom and restraint.

One of the newest and most powerful study tools available is Artificial-Intelligence, or “AI”. AI refers to the ability of a computer to imitate human intelligence. AI programs have the ability to answer questions, decipher complex theological ideas, write articles, develop sermon outlines, and more.

Although AI chat-bots can imitate human intelligence, it is important to remember that their “intelligence” is in fact “artificial.” AI programs are written by people to use data and rules or instructions to solve problems. While it can perform interactions that appear intelligent, it does so based solely on the patterns and data it has been given, rather than having its own thoughts or consciousness. It combines internet searches with language tools (think of a super-advanced spell check) to generate responses. When you interact with AI, it’s “ideas” are simply a reflection and summary of the ideas of other people out there on the internet.

I do not believe that the development of AI is inherently evil, just as I don’t believe that Genesis intends to present the development of agricultural technology, metal working, or brick and mortar as inherently evil. I do, however, expect that just as with the development of other technologies, AI can and will be abused to corrupt people and lead many further from God.

For better or worse, AI is here to stay. It can and will be used as a tool to study the Bible. It’s not wrong to use it. In fact, there are many ways in which I expect AI will be used by faithful Christians in very good and helpful ways. But we must exercise great caution and wisdom if we are to use it appropriately.

Better Bible Study Tip #77: Teach a Bible Class

On By Tyler BoydIn Better Bible Study

Some of the best Bible study you will ever do is the study you do as you prepare to teach a Bible class. If you’ve been a Christian for more than a few years and you’ve never taught a Bible class, try it. You’ll see what I mean.

For one thing, when you agree to teach a class, this immediately creates a sense of accountability. Knowing that others are counting on you means that you have a responsibility to study, study diligently, and do your very best to understand the text accurately. Your first time teaching, this accountability may be stressful. But it will almost certainly motivate you to better study.

This preparation will involve spending a lot of time in the text, reading it repeatedly, studying its context, and consulting various resources, such as commentaries or study guides.

Teaching requires that you analyze the text carefully. Not only must you know what the text says, but it is up to you to be able to explain it to others. Not only must you be able to explain it, but you’ll also want to give some thought as to how it might apply to those in your class. This process will sharpen your analytical skills and enhance your understanding of the Bible.

Teaching a class forces you to think carefully about how to communicate what you have learned. The act of thinking about what you will say will help solidify your understanding, and often reveals gaps in your own knowledge. When you can’t figure out how to explain something effectively, this will drive you back into deeper study.

Most people feel nervous before teaching a class. This too can be a great asset. The more nervous you are, the more time you will spend looking over your notes again and again, while rehearsing to yourself what you will say, and how you will say it. This repetition will reinforce your study even more.

Finally, once the day has come for you to present your class, there’s a possibility that other students in the class will ask you questions. This can be a terrifying thought for first time Bible class teachers. But don’t sweat it. If you’ve spent time preparing for class, and a question is raised that you don’t know the answer to, there is nothing wrong with humbling confessing “I don’t know, but I’ll be happy to study that some more.” Even the best Bible teachers don’t know all the answers to all the questions. But once again, by putting yourself in a position where others will ask you questions, this will force you to further clarify your thoughts and articulate them clearly. The process of engaging with questions can also help you to consider perspectives you haven’t considered before.

By the time it’s all said and done, I think you will agree. There is no Bible study quite like the study you will do while preparing to teach a class.

It’s not easy. Yes, it can be scary. But it’s worth it. If you’ve never had the opportunity to teach a class, let one of your elders or deacons know that you would like the opportunity. It will be some of the best Bible study you will ever do.

Better Bible Study Tip #76: A Text Cannot Mean What It Never Meant

On By Tyler BoydIn Better Bible Study

It is very important not to read into a text things that were not intended by the original author. Let the text speak for itself rather than reading into the text things that aren’t there.

Keep in mind that the question of what a text means is fixed by the the author, and is not open to reinterpretation. The goal of the Bible student should be to determine the author’s intended meaning. A text cannot mean what the text never meant in the first place. Meaning is determined by the author, and discovered by the reader.

A common practice in Bible classes and small group studies is to go around the room after reading a passage of Scripture and asking, “What does this verse mean to you, Susan?”

Susan says, “You know, to me this verse really seems to be saying _____”

And the leader will say, “Oh, that’s interesting. I’ve never thought of that before. What does this verse mean to you, Larry?”

“To me this verse means something entirely different. It makes me think about _______”. And Larry goes on to give an entirely different interpretation.

To treat the interpretation of scripture as subjective by asking “What does this mean to you?” is completely wrongheaded. The question we need to be asking is “What does this verse mean?” Period. Or to be more precise, “What did this verse mean to the author?”

Someone may object, “But isn’t it possible for a text to have more than one meaning, beyond the original, intended meaning, such as in Old Testament prophesies that were never truly understood until the time of the New Testament?”

I’m not ready to shut the door completely on this line of reasoning as a logical possibility. After all, 2 Peter 1:20-21 seems to suggest that if Scripture is inspired by God, there may very well be times where God’s intended meaning transcends the human understanding of the prophet himself.

But (and this is very important) this is no reason to begin ripping Scriptures from their original contexts. Even though God might communicate through human language in terms that humans failed to understand, he still communicated through human language. The more I study Old Testament prophesies in their original context, the more I find myself discovering that the New Testament author’s didn’t rip those scriptures out of context and assign new meanings, but rather they began to connect the dots to recognize contextual truths that were there all along. Although I have more studying to do, I suspect that no prophecy ever had a new meaning assigned to it, but rather a newly recognized meaning that was there in the original context, yet often overlooked until the time of Christ.

The real issue with assigning a new non-contextual meaning to Scripture is a simple one: Who among us can speak for God? For this reason, we should be properly concerned anytime anyone says that God has revealed to them a deeper meaning to a text that goes beyond it’s original meaning. If God wanted to inspire a New Testament author to recognize a deeper meaning to a Scripture, fine, I can go with that, since God himself was the Divine author of the Scripture in the first place. But since none of us speak for God, we do not have the right to assign new meanings to Scripture. Scripture cannot mean what it never meant in the first place.

Better Bible Study Tip #70: The Setting of a Biblical Story Isn’t Necessarily When It Was Written

On By Tyler BoydIn Better Bible Study

When we read the Bible, it’s easy to assume that what we’re reading was written relatively close to the time of the events described in the book. Sometimes that may in fact be the case, but not always. For example, most scholars believe the gospels were written sometime between 40 to 80 AD. This delay makes sense, since the earliest Christians would have had more first-hand relationships with the apostles, but as the church grew, so did the need to record the events of Jesus’s life writing for posterity. This may seems like an insignificant detail, but understanding when the they were written can help us understand the author’s setting, his purpose for writing, and why he has chosen to arrange his book the way he did.

Of course, writing within a few decades of Jesus’s life is still a relatively short amount of time, but when it comes to the Old Testament, things are different. For instance, when Moses recorded events about the garden of Eden, the flood, and the lives of the patriarchs, he was writing about events that happened hundreds, if not thousands of years before he wrote. The fact that Moses wrote Genesis at a later date and to an Israelite audience as they left Egypt, helps us understand why he structured the book the way he did, and why he emphasized various points along the way.

The gap between an event and it’s recording is no reason to doubt the accuracy of Scripture. For instance, since Moses received the law first hand from God at Sinai (Ex. 19:9), he would have had direct revelation of those events. We know that Luke was able to consult multiple sources to make sure what he wrote was accurate (Lk. 1:1). Ultimately we can trust Scripture is true because it is God’s word, and God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Moreover, external sources and archeological finds have countless times verified that what we read in the Bible fits with what we know about ancient world it describes.

If you want to do better Bible study, don’t only pay attention to the timeline of the events that are described. Also think about who wrote about the events, when they wrote, and who they were writing to. The more we can understand the author’s original purpose for writing, and what he was trying to communicate, the more we can understand God’s purpose and what He was trying to communicate through that author.

Better Bible Study Tip #68: Try To Determine the Setting of the Book

On By Tyler BoydIn Better Bible Study

When I say “try to determine the setting of the book”, I mean try to determine it’s author, the approximate time when it was written, the situation, and the author’s purpose.

It is important to remember that the Bible was written by humans. Don’t misunderstand me. The Bible is absolutely 100% God’s divinely inspired word. It is 100% true. It is 100% authoritative. It is not simply a human book. But at the same time, God used humans to write the Bible (see Bible study Tip #30: The Bible is 100% Divine and 100% Human).

It would be a mistake to imagine the process of inspiration as if a person simply falls into a mindless trance while the Spirit of God overtakes the muscles in their hand to fill a scroll with God’s words. I have no problem believing that God could have given us scripture that way if that’s what he had wanted to do, but that’s just not how the Bible describes itself. Yes, the inspired writers were carried along by the Holy Spirit as they wrote (2 Peter 1:20-21), but this does not mean that the writers were separated from their own purpose and agenda for writing. There are several places in the Bible that make this really clear.

These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:31

I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

1 Corinthians 4:14

For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

2 Corinthians 13:10

Even when God directly commanded something to be written down, the Bible doesn’t describe the person as losing control of their mind as they wrote (Ex. 17:14; Num. 5:23; Deut. 31:19, 30). This doesn’t mean the Bible is any less reliable. If we take the Bible as the Bible describes itself, we must conclude that God is powerful enough that he doesn’t have to separate a person from their own natural purpose and agenda in order to supernaturally produce the precise words that he wants them to write. He’s powerful enough to do this, even without using mind-control! (I don’t know about you, but I think that’s every bit as impressive, if not more impressive than the “mindless trance” idea).

Understanding this has important implications for good Bible study. Since God used humans to write Scripture, the more we understand what those humans were trying to communicate, the more we will understand what God was trying to communicate through them. That’s why understanding the historical setting of a book is important.

Of course many books of the Bible were written anonymously, and that’s okay. And some books are easier to situate in a particular moment in history than others (it helps to be familiar with biblical chronology, see Tip #67). That’s okay too. We can also recognize that God had the ability to communicate divine truths that go beyond what even the prophets themselves could comprehend (1 Peter 1:10-12). But the more we understand about who the author was, the historical situation in which they were writing, and their purpose for writing, the better grasp we will have of why the author writes the things he does, what he is trying to communicate, and why those things are important.