SEARCH RESULTS

Janet Fisher, TBS Master of Arts in Biblical History and Archaeology student Throughout my 27-year career in law enforcement people repeatedly informed me that law enforcement officers (LEO) only lived an average of 5-years after retirement. Early deaths by several LEO in my agency and the surrounding area seemed to confirm the claim, including one former colleague who didn’t even live long enough to collect her first pension check. Those who did “beat the odds” often engaged in secondary employment, recreational activities, hobbies, and volunteer opportunities. While some distance themselves from law enforcement culture, others seem to find activities utilizing skills developed in their careers. At first glance, although archaeology may seem very different from law enforcement, both fields require organization, investigative, logistical, and communication skills. I first experienced archaeology in June 2023 at Tel Shiloh. I received a square assignment (the green square) and watched as square supervisors distributed necessary equipment and assigned tasks. LEO agencies are similarly divided into categories – precincts, teams, beats, and functional assignments. Crime scene investigations even use the square concept. LEO understand the necessity of making daily action plans and conveying instructions and priorities from higher ups. Our daily dig routine began with breakfast at 4:00 AM, leaving on buses at 4:59 am, and enjoying devotional messages while traveling from Jerusalem to Shiloh, somewhat similar to LEO briefings at the start of each workday. Throughout the day at Shiloh, finds of interest were reported square supervisors or assistant supervisors, and items determined important were documented and reported to dig leaders. Similary, LEO are required to report specific types of events up the chain of command and write reports as necessary or directed.    Our dig days at Shiloh ended with storing tools, washing pottery, enjoying beverages and/or ice cream at the visitor center, and riding back “home” to our hotel while comparing notes about our experiences. LEO similarly often gather after shifts for “choir practice” (debriefing and decompression). This is perhaps the greatest area of convergence between archaeology and law enforcement. Archaeological excavations involve detailed examinations of sites to determine who was there, when, what they did, even where “there” is (original site names are sometimes disputed), why, and how the site was abandoned/destroyed. Similarly, LEO collect evidence to determine who was involved in an incident, when it occurred, what occurred, how events unfolded, why, and where those involved may have gone. Then, collected information must be reported, cataloged, further examined, and written up. Dr. Scott Stripling, Shiloh Director of Excavations and Provost of The Bible Seminary, like to emphasize, “The goal of archaeology is to publish.” Similarly, successful prosecution of criminals or clearing suspects of charges requires accurate, detailed, often extensive, and timely reports from LEO. As Dr. Stripling reminded us, archaeology is destructive. To get to the lowest levels of occupation, upper level(s) must be removed. Thus, written reports, photographic, and video documentation is essential since those are the only means by which future researchers can “visit” the layers of a site. For example, Danish archaeologists labled a ceramic item found at Tel Shiloh in the early 1900’s a “stopper.” However, when current archaeologists reviewed the old report, they noticed a distinct similarity to a more recently discovered ceramic pomegranate. Further investigation indicated that “stopper,” although now significantly damaged, is most likely another pomegranate, which further supports the opinion that Shiloh was a cultic site (i.e. the location of the tabernacle during the period of Judges). Similarly, LEO interventions sometimes destroy evidence, so photographic, audio, and video documentation often contribute significantly to investigations. One distinction is that LEO, like Joe Friday in Dragnet, want “just the facts” without opinions. Presuppositional opinions can cause bias in interpreting collected data and result in prosecutions and even convictions of innocent people because investigators who find evidence to support their opinion may overlook exculpatory evidence. While archaeologists must similarly refrain from prematurely stating opinions, dig reports do include suggested interpretations and conclusions. Archaeological excavations require money and volunteers. Excavations at Tel Shiloh require a large hotel willing to open hours earlier than most hotels, chartered buses and vans, portable toilets, lots of onsite and offsite storage, tables, tents, food, and a wide variety of excavation equipment (dry sifting racks and stations; a wet sifting station with plumbing, pumps, water reservoirs, hoses, sprayers, and buckets; sand bags, shovels, picks, axes, trowels, brushes, brooms, picks, rubber buckets, and more; cameras, drones, microphones, lights, video screens, Ipads, and computers). Similarly, LEO agencies must budget for and acquire office space, vehicles, personal protective equipment, lethal and non-lethal weapons, safety equipment, and more for both routine and emergency operations. Well before a dig starts or officers hit the streets, leadership must engage in logistical planning, purchasing, and preparations. While the dig season at Shiloh only last four weeks per year, logistical planning and follow-up happens all year long. As one of the largest excavations in the Middle East for the last few years, logistics involves coordinating the activities of hundreds of people. Also, both my archaeological and LEO experiences included unexpected challenges that required immediate logistical adjustments and problem-solving actions.     LEO communicate using a wide range of modern technology – iPads, drones, and body cameras; radio terminals, multi-channel radios, dash cams, computers, phones, and GPS locators; live video feeds and recorded data; written logs (hard copy and electronic), investigation reports with physical evidence, photographs, and videos. Similarly, Shiloh square supervisors and assistants record data on iPads in real time, photographers and drone operators document daily progress in each square, the dig director meets together with the key leaders after the dig each day, and they all work together to publish final dig reports, sometimes in multiple volumes corresponding to one or more dig seasons.   Excavations can benefit from volunteers and retired LEO like myself who are seeking opportunities to continue to make positive contributions to society. Such symbiotic relationships can be win-win situations in which people like me can repurpose applicable skills, a mindset, and experiences in exciting new ways. Originally published in The Sentinel , Summer 2004, pp. 6-7. Audio Version

Noelle Martin, TBS Dual Degree Completion student My pastor once spoke about different concepts of sacrifice. While some associate waiting with statically “letting time pass,” there is a contrasting concept of “a living sacrifice” that implies that, well, there’s living to be done!   Consider Psalm 27:13-14, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Repeating “wait for the Lord” helps drive the point home, but also notice the reference to living  in the waiting. This kind of waiting requires strength and courage, like warriors ready for battle.  Remember Gideon in Judges 6-8? His family boasted no privilege or great family name. In fact, when God called, Gideon protested that he was the smallest of the small; neither he nor his family retained much importance in a nation whose significance was dwindling so rapidly that they were scrounging out a living in caves and cliffs. Constantly harassed, every time they planted a crop, Midianite raiders rode in and trashed any bounty prior to harvest. Life was hard.  In His grace, the Lord calls Gideon to first, go burn his father’s idolatrous tools, and then go fight for Israel. Yet, Gideon is afraid. Though he doesn’t initially seem to reflect the moniker “mighty warrior” (6:12), he does eventually rise to his calling and face the enemy.   Gideon begins with 32,000 men (nearly twice the seating capacity of Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion), but the Lord sifts them. “You have too many warriors for Me to allow you to defeat the Midianites. As it is now, the people of Israel would just deny Me the credit and claim they had won the victory on their own” (Judges 7:2). He directs Gideon to allow any who are fearful to go home, at which point 22,000 depart the ranks.     God sifts the remaining 10,000 by observing their drinking habits. He keeps those who stand to drink with cupped hands and releases everyone who kneels to drink. Isn’t that the image of a watchful soldier? Drinking in a ready position while looking out, rather than to surrender watching to become totally immersed in satisfying thirst?  Gideon ultimately ends up with 300 men. With his soldiers positioned in the hills surrounding the enemy camp, God drives the Midianites to destroy themselves in a desperate free-for-all that drastically decreases their numbers and sends the rest fleeing.  But here’s the deal: God asked Gideon to completely destroy the Midianites. So, Gideon goes after the stragglers. In an exhausting journey, their tiny army passes through two towns who refuse to provide aid, yet they trudge on and eventually completely defeat the 15,000 remaining Midianites in keeping with the Lord’s command.   Gideon’s waiting was anything but passive. His was taut, bowstring-ready-to-fling-a-deadly-arrow kind of waiting. So, while Gideon waited for the Lord to bring mercy to Israel, God worked in the hearts of the Israelites. In light of this, the call for courage in Psalm 27:13-14 makes a lot more sense.   Remember Russell Crowe in the movie Gladiator (2000)? The movie begins amidst the final battle of Caesar Marcus Aurelius. Although successful, the music cues in this bloody, brutal battle indicate that the General, framed center screen, is terribly tired of the business of war.  Following the battle, this sentiment becomes clear. When Caesar asks how he can reward Rome’s greatest General, Maximus plaintively requests leave to return home.  “Ah, home,” echoes Caesar. It is not an answer.     Fast forward in the movie: the General becomes a slave, then a gladiator, and pretty much behaves like a General again while leading gladiators in a staged Battle of Carthage in the Roman arena.   Before the mock battle begins, the General directs the gladiators to behave like soldiers who want to survive. They stand tightly together, knotted in the center of the arena with shields out as chariots armed with deadly spikes race in ever-tightening circles about them and quickly kill any stragglers. All the while, the General is yelling, “Hold! Stand as one – HOLD!”   The waiting is intense. A dangerous enemy with real weapons aims to hurt; aims to destroy peace, security, and a sense of purpose; and ultimately aims to destroy LIFE from the living.  Similarly, in times of intense waiting for the Lord, be strong, let your heart take courage, and wait for the Lord! Stand tightly with the Psalmist who shouts from the center, “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” (Psalm 13: 5-6) Even as forces come against us, at the appropriate time, and with the power of divine armies, our God who calls us will not disappoint.  Originally published in The Sentinel, Summer 2024 , pp. 3-5. Audio Version

In this issue Jesus and the Jihadis Seminar - Register! The Sentinel, Summer 2024 - Download our magazine Kevin Sorbo (Hercules) at The Bible Seminary   Fall courses at TBS  - Semester begins August 26. Just Show Up Book Club - Just Show Up! Support The Bible Seminary Jesus and the Jihadis Seminar Available Live AND Online | $89 per person | Register Saturday, September 21 | 9:00 AM - Noon | TBS Classroom 270 Join us for the " Jesus and the Jihadis " Seminar with Dr. Craig Evans and Dr. Jeremiah Johnston on Saturday, September 21, at The Bible Seminary. We'll explore the theology driving the ideology of ISIS and other extremist groups, based on the book, "Jesus and the Jihadis: Confronting the Rage of ISIS." This seminar will cover five key topics: Muhammad and the origins of Islam , the Qur’an and its relationship to the Bible , t he portrait of Jesus in the Qur’an , and Islam's violent history . Don't miss this AMAZING opportunity to engage with leading scholars and gain valuable insights.  The Sentinel , Summer 2024 The Summer 2024 edition of The Sentinel magazine is a rich compilation of more than twenty engaging articles contributed by students, faculty, and alumni. Enjoy educational and inspirational and insight by these authors, updates on personnel, the latest news from the ongoing archaeological work at Tel Shiloh in Israel, and summary historical reports on TBS enrollment and income. Dive into this comprehensive issue to stay informed and inspired by the remarkable progress and stories from members of the TBS family. Download your copy today! Kevin Sorbo at The Bible Seminary A well-known actor , producer, and director , shared his passion for bringing biblical truth to life and supporting the great work of The Bible Seminary. Fall Courses at TBS Dive deeper into your faith journey this fall! Explore archaeology, biblical languages, hermeneutics, leadership, spiritual formation, or theology. Enroll as a for-credit student, or audit a course to engage with the material at your own pace and level of commitment. Join our vibrant learning community and embark on a transformative educational experience that will equip you for a lifetime of service and leadership in your faith. Enroll today and unlock new possibilities! Just Show Up (JSU) Book Club Our new Just Show Up Book Club , launches Monday, August 26, at 10:30 AM. We will explore and discuss books together—no homework required, just come, listen, and share your thoughts. Afterwards, stay for a free lunch and The Public Reading of Scripture from Noon-1 PM. Participate in-person or online . We look forward to seeing you! Support The Bible Seminary Your donations help foster biblical literacy through studies of all 66 books of the Bible, cultivate professional and lay leaders, and deploy trained disciples in service worldwide. Together, we aim to glorify God by impacting multitudes of souls for Christ and fulfill the Great Commission by the power of God’s Spirit by training at least 5,000 leaders that each reach 200 people for Christ during their lifetime and together impact 1,000,000 souls. Donate by Mail The Bible Seminary, 23501 CINCO RANCH BLVD, STE H120-930, KATY TX 77494-3109 We are currently praying and fasting monthly on 2nd Tuesdays for TBS financial provision! Category May 2024 Jun 2024 Jul 2024 Monthly Income $191,878 $15,115 $65,851 Monthly Expense $65,734 $75,855 $75,855 Monthly Balance $126,144 -$60,740 -$10,786 Cumulative Balance -$233,646 $-294,386 -$305,172 TBS Resources TBS Moments - Short videos offering a great way to get a taste of TBS courses! The Bible Seminary (TBS) is an independent, non- denominational, 501(c)(3) charitable institution of higher education incorporated in Texas in 2010 to offer training for laity and vocational ministry professionals. TBS is an Accredited member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a participant in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) for Distance Education, and an approved CEU provider for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Goals include helping nurture a biblically literate populace via comprehensive, strategic, Bible-based training through classes and seminars, museum exhibits, productions and publications, and archaeological digs and study tours. “They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.” - Nehemiah 8:8 Campus 2655 S MASON RDKATY TX 77450-1772 Mailing 23501 CINCO RANCH BLVD STE H120-930KATY TX 77494-3109 E-mail: info@TheBibleSeminary.edu Phone: 281-646-1109 Office Hours : Mon-Fri, 9 AM - 4 PM

Embarking on a journey of understanding one's faith is a profound experience. Exploring the realms of knowledge and wisdom through Bible Seminary Courses is an enriching path that can deepen your comprehension of faith and spirituality. Exploring the Benefits Enrolling in Bible Seminary Courses can significantly enhance your spiritual growth journey by providing in-depth knowledge of biblical texts and teachings. These courses offer a structured learning environment that fosters critical thinking and a deeper connection to your faith. By delving into the historical context, theological principles, and practical applications of the Bible, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of your faith. Bible Seminary Courses equip you with the tools to interpret scriptures, engage in meaningful discussions, and strengthen your spiritual foundation. 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By immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of biblical teachings and theological studies, you can cultivate a stronger connection to your faith tradition and discover new insights that resonate with your spiritual journey. Bible Seminary Courses serve as a guiding light on your path to a more profound understanding of your faith. Curriculum Overview The curriculum of The Bible Seminary Courses are thoughtfully designed to provide a comprehensive exploration of the Bible, theological concepts, and practical applications of faith. With a focus on academic excellence and spiritual growth, these courses offer a diverse range of subjects that cater to varying levels of biblical knowledge and experience. From courses in biblical history and archaeology to specialized studies in biblical languages, church history, and theology, the curriculum covers a broad spectrum of topics essential for a holistic understanding of faith. Students have the opportunity to engage in deep theological reflection, biblical exegesis, and practical ministry skills training. The Master of Arts program offers specialized teaching on all 66 books of the Bible, providing a comprehensive overview of biblical texts and interpretations. For those seeking advanced theological training, the Master of Divinity program equips ministry leaders with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities of faith leadership. With a focus on in-depth biblical teachings and theological studies, this program prepares students for impactful ministry roles within their communities. The Certificate of Theological Studies offers graduate-level education for individuals serving in vocational or volunteer leadership roles, providing them with a strong foundation in biblical principles and theological understanding. 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By integrating theory with practice, students develop a holistic approach to ministry that is grounded in biblical principles and theological reflection. The practical application of biblical teachings in various ministry settings allows students to bridge the gap between academia and real-world challenges, empowering them to make a meaningful impact in their communities. Bible Seminary Courses offer a transformative educational experience that equips students with the skills and knowledge to serve effectively in diverse ministry contexts. Embark on a Profound Faith Journey with Bible Seminary Courses Dive deeper into the enriching world of faith and knowledge with The Bible Seminary Courses . These courses provide a gateway to a heightened understanding of spiritual truths and biblical teachings, nurturing your faith journey.

First Friday Podcast with Dr. K. Lynn Lewis, Dr. Scott Stripling, & Dr. Israel Steinmetz Lewis: Hello, welcome to the Bible seminary podcast First Fridays. Good to have you with us. I'm your host, Dr. Lynn Lewis. I serve as President at The Bible Seminary. And we've also got Dr. Scott Stripling, our Provost and VP of Donor Relations and Dr. Israel Steinmetz is our Graduate Dean and Professor. Our topic today is going to be "How To Read The Bible For All It's Worth". We have a great time today; I'm looking forward to it. I'm going to start us off, I'm going to read something. We love the Bible. that's inherent in our name. And at the beginning of the student catalog, we have this statement, and it's worth reading for our session today. So, we're going to talk about this book today. 66 books and its role in our culture and society. Our topic today, "How To Read The Bible For All It's Worth," is a book by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stewart. We teach Bible Study Methods here at TBS and we use this book as part of that teaching and training. Dr. Steinmetz, Dr. Stripling, good to have y'all with us. Let's dive in. And let's talk about this book, this book we call the Bible, and, how to read it for all it's worth. Dr. Steinmetz, you've been teaching that book, and as part of the courses, anything you want to offer as we get started here. Steinmetz: Yeah, thanks, Dr. Lewis, it's good to be on the podcast with you today. I have had the opportunity to teach the Bible study methods class using "How To Read The Bible For All It's Worth" and another textbook for the last couple of years here at TBS. And I would say the thing that stands out to me the most is early on in the class, typically the first day, maybe the second day of class, how students will say something along the lines of you know, I've been reading the Bible, I've been interpreting the Bible, I've been applying the Bible, studying the Bible for years, many of them, you know, their entire life, or, you know, 30,40,50 years, some of our older students will be able to say, I've been studying the Bible and I never knew how to study the Bible, before I started learning the actual tools. Or, I've been studying the Bible but despite all the time, it's been superficial. Or, probably the biggest one that comes out most consistently is, so much of what we do for Bible study today and Bible reading today is for immediate application to our lives today. You know, we open the Bible, we read a verse we ask, what does this mean for me today? How do I put this into practice? And the process of Bible study and reading the Bible for all it's worth really introduces students to the fact that what they're holding in their hands is a complex collection of 66 different pieces of literature, over 1500 years, 40 plus authors, ancient civilizations on the other side of the world, speaking different languages with different customs and cultures. They really get a sense of how foreign the word of the Bible is and about the time they start to feel overwhelmed with that we bring them right back to saying, but look how applicable it still is, because this is God's Word. And even if it wasn't written to us, it's written for us and we can continue to learn and lead our lives in accordance with the Scriptures, even though they are so ancient and so different from us in so many ways. Dr. Stripling, that raises a good point. Stuart addressed this in the book, what they call job genre awareness. And what does that mean? Like Simon just alluded to the habit. Share a little bit from your perspective on this. You're involved in a lot of different cultures and things through archaeology, and we've studied scriptures for many years. What does that mean genre awareness? Stripling: Well, they are exactly right, this is so important. I also have a master's degree in English. And so, I spent a lot of time studying English literature. And so, I taught genre awareness to my students in dealing with Shakespeare or Hawthorne, or you know, whatever the literature might be. It's even more important when we come to the Bible, because we have a bunch of different genres that all blend together. Sometimes you move directly from narrative into poetic and apocalyptic. So, one of the things that we must ask ourselves is, The reason these approach questions are so critical, is a lot of people may be doing what I used to do as a young Bible reader. I was very interested in being right so I could win arguments. And I wanted to validate my belief system by proof texting. And so, I read a lot and had all my arguments, you know, tightly arranged, but I was trying to manipulate the outcome, rather than I was reading into the text, which we call "eisegesis," instead of reading out of the text, which we call "exegesis." So, when we begin to ask those questions, if it's apocalyptic literature, how do I read that differently from narrative literature? The epistles for example, are didactic. They're very straightforward. Paul tells Timothy, "Until I come again, devote yourself to these things" (do these things don't do these things). Very, very clear. We're reading narrative literature. Now it gets more complex. It was written to them for me, and what steps do I need to go through just because they did something doesn't mean I'm supposed to do the same thing. So, we do get didactic material or teaching instructive material from narrative. But there's a different process through which we go when we're talking about genre. Lewis: For those people that might not know what genre means, what's a quick example of what you mean by genre? Stripling: Well, classification. So, we have various types, classifications or genres. Lewis: So, there's just different types of literature classifications, so can a passage or a book even be more than one genre? Stripling: Oh, absolutely. (For example) in Exodus, you're reading narrative literature, and then you get to chapter 15, you get the Song of the Sea and now suddenly, we've got poetic literature blended in. So absolutely and so, an alert Bible reader, what we call innocence of it, so I'm approaching scripture, as it for the very first time, I am reading it devotionally, but not just devotionally. I'm also reading it critically and analytically, trying to pick up just like, someone might watch a football game and just enjoy the, you know, when they're scoring touchdowns. But someone else might be analyzing defenses. And are they uncovering too? And is the quarterback going to be doing this or that? So that's the type of Bible reader we want to be we want to analyze, are we shifting into a different genre here, you know, what's going on to them then in there, so that then as Israel said, we can apply it correctly here and now. Lewis: I was going to say, I remember a scene from (the movie)National Treasure with Nicolas Cage when he puts on these glasses and he's reading a map. And he puts one lens down, and it's a blue lens and he sees something he didn't see before. He puts another lens down and he sees something else. So that might be different genre what you're seeing when you're reading it, yeah, Israel? Steinmetz: Well, that's a great segue to what came to mind as I was just listening to Scott talk, the reality that what we expect when we open the text goes a long way to controlling how we understand the text, you know, the anticipation we have and, you know, the most immediate one that comes to mind, the most controversial maybe is the book of Revelation, which identifies itself as a complex genre of three types of literature. Just in the first four verses, it calls itself an apocalypse, a prophecy and a letter. So, we have three different genres all blended, which makes it one of the most beautifully complex, but also controversial books of the Bible. But, what we expect when we look at that book, you know, if you go to it expecting a first century critique of the Roman Empire, versus a snapshot of the last generation of humans to live, versus whatever, whatever anticipation you have, that's going to oftentimes control and limit and like those lenses of the glasses, limb, it's going to, it's going to affect the way you read it and understand it. And in many cases, in a, unfortunately, in a negative way, if you don't know what genre of literature it is, or what to look for within that genre of literature, because what we expect from a straightforward letter or to a Christian leader, telling them how to lead in the church is very different from what we should expect from erotic love poetry, like the Song of Songs, or, you know, a creation narrative like the first couple of chapters of Genesis, we have very different types of literature being written that require a different approach. Just like you would approach a newspaper, showing my age here, a newspaper, different from a comic book, from a piece of fiction, to historical fiction to an owner's manual. Now, these are all different genres of literature and writing, and they all must be read differently. Lewis: So, and the truth is, the Bible is literature. It is a collection of different styles of literature. But also, as John points out, we're reading about the Word of God, the Word of God, primarily being Jesus, but it's the spoken word. It's the word in the flesh. And what we're doing is reading the word that God gives us as different forms of literature. So, it's a reality that extends beyond the words on the page, but we, we come to it as words on the page. So, what are some tips maybe? Or how do we kind of go at it from the literature (it is literature), but how? How does it become more than that? Stripling: Yeah, that's a great question. There's a text by Leland Ryken, that I have referred to over the years called The Bible as Literature. Higher critics have approached scripture and said, it's just literature. Well, they're kind of right. I mean, it is literature. But it's not just literature. But to be able to understand a simile, a metaphor, hyperbole, personification, point of view, all those things that we would study with any type of literature. It's asking the right questions to get the right answer from the text. So, those are the things the conventions that relate to genre that help us read the Bible for all it's worth. And so, let's say the first thing we ask is genre, maybe the second thing that comes to my mind is using Fenster Stuart's term is, it cannot mean to me here and now, what it could not have possibly meant to them then in there, that that single statement can help Bible readers immensely. And that keeps us from getting off into strange doctrines and seeing, you know, aliens and UFOs. And Nahum, chapter two, and all these things that we've come across, it cannot mean to me here and now, what it could not have possibly meant to them, then in there, he wasn't talking past them to me, he was talking through them to me. So, the hard exegetical work is going in there. The easy part is bringing it here. And now assuming we're willing to obey what it says. Lewis: Yeah, so that really, that's context. And we were talking about what's the pretext? What's the context? So like, in archaeology, a lot of what you're helping provide in the archaeological world, is helping us understand the contextual environment, the history, what was going on at the time, customs, things that would have meant something to them that we may not even be familiar with. So how does that context really define it? I used to hear that "context is everything." Without context, you've just, you know, there's nothing there really to read. But there's so much in scripture. Sometimes I think that people in the New Testament had a lot easier, because all they had was the Old Testament. And now we're supposed to know, the Old Testament, the interim period, the New Testament, and the 2000 years since all this was written down. So, we got a lot more to cover, like, knowing all the songs in the 20th century versus, you know, back in the 60s when there wasn't as much as today, right? Stripling: Yeah. So how does that context play in? Israel? You want to take that? Steinmetz: Well, let me follow up on what you said before Scott. And then if you want to tackle some of that material culture context, I would like to, I don't know if it's pushing back a little bit but add another layer here to this idea of meaning and finding a meaning in the text that goes beyond just the level of literature. But before I throw it back to you, Scott, the phrase that came to mind was, we don't always read the Bible literally. We should read the Bible. Because when we come across a parable in the Bible, we don't want to read that parable literally. We want to read it literarily as a parable. And oftentimes those parables, almost always those parables are within the context of a historical account. The Bible doesn't have just a book of parables. The books with parables are included in the narrative. So, reading literarily, instead of literally, I think is a nice kind of catchphrase for how we approach the Bible. If you can talk a little bit about material culture and that sort of thing in terms of providing context, then I'd love to come back and say one other word about the meaning in the text. Stripling: Yeah, absolutely. I'll give you one brief example, coins. we excavate lots of coins. They come into the archaeological record around the fifth century BC, we may excavate anywhere from 10 to 20 coins a day, we analyze these we have a numismatist on our staff. We know when it was minted, where it was minted, if it's gold, silver, or bronze. And something that helps us for example, with material culture, when you go to a place like Luke 15, where Jesus starts telling a story about lost things, a lost son, a lost sheep, and then a lost coin. And he says, "Behold, there was a woman who had 10 silver coins." Now, I read that passage for years and never picked up on the word silver, until I started analyzing coins. And I found out that silver coins are extremely rare and extremely valuable. So, like less than 1% of the coins are silver. And it's about two weeks wages typically in a silver coin. So, the woman in this parable, we are immediately the material culture is letting us know something we simply did not know before. And of course, the whole point of the parable is that we are the calling, you know, we are the thing of great value and rarity, and the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost. And I would suggest that everything that you're reading, as you're going through those passages, when it mentions a pottery vessel when it mentions a roof tiles, each one of those, there's a faith lesson involved in that. When you've seen a shattered storage jar, you'll never read Second Corinthians 4 and 5 the same, you know, that we have this treasure of the gospel in jars of clay susceptible to being broken. But guess what? We put them back together. So, what a picture that while we may be shattered, God puts us back together, just like we do with ceramic reconstruction. Steinmetz: Yeah, and that's the task of stepping back into the world of the Bible. To understand the places the climate, the culture, the language, the background, that would just be taken for granted by the original audience of that text. And so that takes me right back to the comment you made Scott that we can't look for, we can't look for meaning in the text that would be completely foreign to the author to the original author, audience. And I'm with you 99%. And here's the 1% is what makes scripture unique from all other literature is that it's dual authorship, that God is inspiring human writers. And that in the fullness of Christ, there may be things that looking back through the lens of Christ, we see something in the Old Testament they might not have seen. So, Paul will say in Galatians, you know, the scriptures preach the gospel and advanced to Abraham saying, in you all the nations of the earth will be blessed. It's not a different gospel. But it's the gospel, Abraham was able to understand without the full revelation of Christ, that we now see, well, how was the entire Earth blessed, that's through Jesus Christ. But the fact that the gospel was preached to Abraham, that's a powerful thing. Or Paul says, you know, the rock in the wilderness was Christ. They didn't know the rock was Christ, but we're able to see that backward through the lens of Christ. And so, I, I appreciate and share the concern about running off into false doctrine, you know, finding Apache helicopters in Revelation, whatever it might be, these are very real and recurring risks. And so, we do teach, you know, very, very significantly, we got to find out what it meant to them before we start talking about what it means to us. But I think once we've secured what it meant to them, there is something in the interpretive process, where as Christians, we look back through the lens of Christ. And we see how all the Old Testament is building up to Christ, all the New Testament is reflecting on to Christ and forward to his return. And so, there is some I'm leaving a little room for some reading, that maybe was only known to the author of the Divine author, that this is a dual authorship and so it wasn't known to the human author it might have been doing certainly no to the Divine author. And without going outside of what the divine author has revealed to us in the New Testament, we might see more in the Old Testament than we otherwise would. Does that make sense? Stripling: Oh, yeah, I don't disagree there. Now that's good. Lewis: I think too, part of the great thing about scripture is God wants us to know the stories. He wants us to know this literature. And part of what I see in the culture and the problems, not just our culture, but cultures throughout history. In fact, we see things in today's news that were going on 4,000 years ago. It is like headlines from Exodus or Genesis or Psalms, and we're reading them in our newspaper today. And I think, part of the reason why should we read the Bible for all it's worth is as we get to know God's Word, we get to know the character of God, the history of God's people, and then there are things applicable to our lives, you know? How do we live? What do we do? How do we handle this situation. And those texts were not written in that way, for that purpose at the time, but they do have interpretive meaning to us to teach and train us and guide us in the ways. And the truth is, if you go back, it's the same sense, throughout history, it's the same solution, Jesus is still the Savior from the beginning to the end. And same problems that we face are like problems they faced. And the stories, the texts, the literature that we read, The Psalms, the songs, the stories of prophets, priests, and kings, and prostitutes, and farmers and all the different stories that we read scripture, they do have relevance to our lives. And often, I think a lot of times we want to move much more toward the application. What I'm hoping we're doing through The Bible Seminary, and what I think a lot of people really appreciate is, they've never studied the Scripture at this level before. And then with this knowledge, and as they live their life, the Holy Spirit then begins to apply it in new ways because now they know the texts better. And they know they make connections that they never made before between the testaments, between books. And certainly, with the material culture, understanding those things really sheds light on, why were they saying this, and there's so much that we read in the text that they assume everybody knows, we're like, we've never seen the book of Joash, or whatever book they're referencing, and we don't know where that is, even though they know where it is. And, you know, the poles are still not sticking out of the temple curtain today, like they were when Kings was written. Yeah, so there's a lot of things they assume in the writing, that as we find those out, man, it opens a world to us at deeper levels in our current day, as well as understanding the past that we've never seen before. So that's exciting. Yeah. Stripling: Let me give you an analogy of why we have this problem. It's called distance ideation. We've got time and distance. So, it's almost like listening to one end of a phone conversation. Imagine the potential for misunderstanding if I think you're talking to Wendy but you're talking to someone else. And, you know, I kind of know what the conversation is about. Well, for example, in the New Testament epistles, that's what we have, we simply don't know all the particulars going on in Corinth and all the situations that Paul was addressing. We're in the right neighborhood, right zip code, but maybe not the right neighborhood within that zip code. And we have what I would call a hermeneutical spiral we're attempting, through our study of language and culture and spirituality, to get as close as we can to capturing the original message to the original recipient, so that then we can apply it accurately. And then here, let me bring up the next big principle. And we can decide, is it cultural? Or is it normative? Is it cultural? Or is it normative? Because I think we've all well, maybe 99% of us, reading through, say, First Corinthians would take passages like about women must be silent in church and about having your head covered your hair cut, there are maybe one or 2000, or one in 10,000, that might take that as literal today. But most of us would not read it that way. We would say that it's cultural. It's not normative. So how do we know when it's one on one? It's the other many times maybe all the time, Scripture interprets scripture, which is a huge hermeneutical principle. So, for example, take slavery. Paul gives commandments about how masters are to treat slaves and slaves are supposed to respond to their master’s authority. Is that cultural isn't normative? Most of us say that's, that's cultural. How do we know that though? Are we just saying that because it's uncomfortable? Well, we know it because Paul told slaves to gain their freedom if they could, he tells them to submit. And if there's a way for you to gain your freedom do so well, then clearly that's not normative, he was dealing with a situation, then in there. So those clues are normally embedded within the text. And I just love to say that scripture interpret Scripture. Steinmetz: Well, and that example calls to mind this bigger issue you're talking about, not only do we have this massive distance from the biblical audience in time, but we have all these other distances,, too. We have geographic distance, climate distance, political distance, cultural distance. And that's why in the Bible Study Methods class in the primary textbook we use called Grasping God's Word, the authors have an entire step of the interpretive journey that they call "measuring the width of the river to cross." We're going to take the meaning of the text for the ancient town into the contemporary day. One of the things we have to do is be honest and careful about how wide the differences are between us and the original text. And along those lines, something like slavery in the New Testament era, which as you said, Paul is telling slaves get out if you can, he's, he's using every legitimate power of persuasion, he must convince a Christian brother to release and give freedom to a slave that he was holding. But even understanding differences between slavery in the New Testament era and the transatlantic slave trade, for instance, in, in modern times here in the Americas and Europe, that's significant, because we have, we have places in the New Testament, that speak of kidnapping and trading of people stealing of people and selling of people human trafficking, as horrific offenses, and very different talked about in a very different way, than the sort of indentured servitude or household servant culture that Paul was largely speaking to when he encouraged his servants to submit to their masters and essentially work well within their economic condition. Lewis: We're going to open the opportunity up for some questions. So, we may take some questions before long. So, if you have some you can submit those. So, Scott, you mentioned earlier about the "innocence of eye"? What did you mean by that phrase? Stripling: "Innocence of eye" means the ability to create an environment where I'm seeing Scripture as if for the very first time. So, I'm bringing my experiences my previous knowledge, all to bear, of course, but then can I compartmentalize that, and ask the Holy Spirit to help me. And let's not underestimate the power of the Spirit, that the Holy Spirit is the great teacher of the church that makes the word come alive, so that it is more than just literature. But I will often pray and say, ask the Lord to give me a sense of what did it mean to them so the Lord can help me to set aside any preconceptions that I might have so that I can take this journey. You never stop taking this journey, you get better at it, so that I take it in there and then bring it here and now. And so that's why I call it a spiral that we go through. And let me say a word about Israel's last comment, which was so good about the household servant. And this is a little bit about the original languages. We teach the biblical languages at TBS, but we are in no way suggesting that the English reader of the Bible cannot accurately and clearly understand God's Word and God's revelation, you can't. But it's helpful to understand what a translation is and maybe a reliable study Bible to help with some of the cultural issues and language issues. But for those who do study the original languages, then they can then go to another depth of understanding through another lens, perhaps to use your original analogy of National Treasure, they can now see through another lens. And the household servant is what triggered my memory. In Galatians. Paul talks about the law was our master. In English it says, our "schoolmaster," our "tutor," or "governor" (depending on the translation), to bring us to Christ. What none of those really convey is the point of what we get in the original language. The Greek word is παιδᾰγωγός (paidagogos) which, to use Israel's term, was a household person responsible for the education of the children within that household. So, the pater familias (the head of the family) delegates to the paidagogos the responsibility for the children's education and when they get to advanced courses, that he can't teach them. His job is now to take them to the didaskolos (teacher). He transports them back and forth. Well, the paidagogos is the key because everyone in that culture knew what a paidagogos was. So, when Paul says the law was our paidagogos, it comes clear to me, it transports me from, you know, the elementary. Like, as a child I have no rights, I just do what I'm told until I am brought to the didaskolos, which is the great teacher Christ. Lewis: I'll say one thing I've done through the years, and it wasn't intentional, per se, but it did help me with coming at this with the innocence of the eye, is when I read through scripture, I'll read through in a certain translation, you know, King James Version, or long time ago, Revised Standard Version. But then when I go through again, I'll often get a different version that's not my marked-up version that I've been using for a while. And it forces me to read each passage anew because I don't just read it and think I've understood it. I'm having to look at the words. How do the New Revised Standard Version or the New King James Version say it? And so, I've been doing that. And then certainly, when you get into Greek or Hebrew or Aramaic and you're reading those languages, then you're really diving into the text deeply because it it’s totally a different language. But, I think one way that people can do that is you can look at the text and different versions as you're going through your life. And really, it is a lifetime adventure as we as we do this. There's a question here: Are you familiar with the books of Kenneth Bailey? I found his work to be insightful reading regarding the cultural context and understanding parables. Steinmetz: Yeah, just, I come across his name pretty frequently in commentaries and whatnot. Oftentimes, speaking to issues of daily life in the time of Christ, for instance, how shepherds operated or what a what a home or clothing might look like he, he from what I can tell, really specialized in kind of ancient Near Eastern, and then Second Temple Judaism, first century, Greco-Roman cultures, and provides a lot of that cultural background. He adds a lot of color to his commentary. He kind of creates an imaginative world for you when he talks about the world of the Bible. He makes it a lot more picturesque and easier to imagine because he draws in so many of the cultural and historical backgrounds. Stripling: Yeah, and I think we would all agree that there is some value in older commentaries, because we want to see how things were being interpreted in certain time periods. But when you're looking at good commentaries, you want something that's recent, because archeological data is fresh, it's impacting how we understand things, something post-Dead Sea Scrolls. I mean, if you're looking at commentaries that are pre-1947, you're not getting any benefit of what the Dead Sea Scrolls bring to us. So, these are some of the tools that the Bible reader has within his toolbox as well. Lewis: Yeah. Nikki , one of our students from Kentucky, wanted to express how much she appreciated Bible Study Methods and Dr. Steinmetz. The discussions and teaching are really helping her gain insight into the words and grasping Scripture as a whole. It's interesting, I've often thought of Scripture as a grocery store, and each aisle is a book of the Bible. And the more you go shopping in the grocery store, the more you go, the more you know, if your wife says to get whatever, you kind of know where the aisle is and you can kind of go that way. But, it's not just the grocery store, because we're all, you know, at least any of you who cook, and certainly those of us who eat, we're reading other things. You know, we go to the store, we buy the food, but I'm looking up recipes, you know, how can I use this item off the shelf? And well, how can I mix it with something else and come up with a good dish. The Bible is kind of that way. We're studying these individual items on the shelves, all the way down the chapter and book of Genesis, down the book of Matthew, and we'll get familiar with it. And the best thing to do is to get familiar with those foods. But things like Bailey's and taking classes and other commentaries, books, videos, even what we're doing today, begins to shed light on how it all fits together, and how can it be good spiritual food for our lives. Steinmetz: Yeah, one of the blind spots, I think, that we find so often in particularly modern Protestant circles is almost this blindness to Christian history, as if the Bible fell out of heaven at the time of Jesus's resurrection. And we picked it up the next day. There's two thousand years of Christians reading and reflecting on this book, this collection of books, and we are not the first ones to read it. We're not the first ones to ask the questions. We're not the first ones that come up with good ideas, and certainly not the first ones to have come up with terrible ideas. We benefit from reading the history of the church, the teaching of the Church throughout history across denominations, and then we benefit from the most current, as Scott said, the most current and reliable scholarship that we can get our hands on today. And commentaries are a mixed bag, I always tell my students, there's two important things to know about the commentaries. The first is you can learn a lot about the Bible from the commentaries. And the second is you can learn a lot about the commentaries from the Bible. So, we must read them in conversation with scripture with each other with the history of the church. But the people who write Bible commentaries have devoted their lives to studying scripture in a way that most of us never will. And we can benefit so much from their research and their teaching. And that's the opposite of the attitude that says, well, I just need me and my Bible and the Holy Spirit, as if that is, in any way a biblical way of approaching God and His Word and the community of faith and our mission. Stripling: Can I give a shout out to TBS Professor Craig Evans, who is has written several commentaries, including the Mark commentary in the Word Biblical Commentary series. And of course, his books are about this big, and, you know, kudos to people like that, who have developed that skill set, and then, kind of like common grace, we all benefit from it. Steinmetz: That's so exciting that the Word Biblical Commentary is getting an update. It was one of the best commentary series, and it was starting to get too dated to use in some situations, and it's awesome that it's been redone and updated. Lewis: We have another question from Greg Sheryl, "Are there differences utilizing the hermeneutical versus Judaic systemic method for interpreting scriptures specifically related to the Old Testament? So, are there different methods and differences for interpretation? Stripling: Okay, yes, right. Let's take the easy one. There are differences. I wish it was, you know, right in front of me and fresh on my mind. But normally, when you're talking about what Midrash says, so how are the Jewish writers approaching scripture and finding meaning with it, that is typically, you know, different from the historical grammatical approach that we might be taking today. In fact, we look at how the apostle sometimes interpreted Psalms. Now, how did Paul or Peter interpret Psalm 110? And you go, that's what it said, like really haven't had any come up with that. So yeah, our approach is a little bit different. But our place in history is a little bit different, too. And we now have the benefit of their interpretation of that. So, we don't need to reinterpret the passage, we already have the apostle’s perspective on various one. So yeah, Midrash is a little bit different as we think the three of us and maybe we bring Greg into the conversation. And as we're talking through this, it's kind of a yeshiva Midrash type of an idea. We're arriving at truth. We're doing hermeneutics while we're while we're talking. And that's a little different than the process we're talking about. Steinmetz: Yeah, and in addition to those I think this is just maybe saying the same thing. Scott just said, with a little different word, but that historical critical method that we're talking about, largely today as an approach to scripture, studying the background, studying the literature, trying to understand what it meant for the original audience. That's a method that's really become the most, the most widely used and accepted method in western circles since the 1800s. This is a kind of a product to post enlightenment product of biblical study that's different from the way that a lot of Christians interpreted scripture and read Scripture prior to that. Of course, they read it literally, they read it literary, but there was a lot of allegorical interpretation and spiritualizing of scripture that we tend to frown on today. And so, interpretation continues to evolve. And there's, I believe there's benefits of drawing from each of these different interpretive approaches and trying to find ways that are, that are most useful to the church to live out God's mission in the world. But the biggest difference that I would say in response to Greg's question is the, let's call it Jewish commentary on the Old Testament, that is Jewish commentary on their scriptures. And as Christians, we are looking at the Old Testament through the eyes of the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And so, we as Christians, to read the Bible "Christianly" is to read all of scripture from Genesis to Revelation through the lens of Jesus Christ. And that would be, to me the most significant difference. It's not necessarily a methodological difference. It's a perspectival difference. We approach scripture, as the revelation of Jesus Christ of God, the Triune God, in the person of Christ, and that's from beginning to end. A Jewish person who doesn't accept the Messiahship of Jesus Christ, reflecting on the Jewish scriptures is doing a fundamentally different task. Lewis: So, we've got time for maybe one more quick question. This is from Lily on YouTube. Do you have a Bible you recommend? Like? Is there a version that if you want to real quickly say that you prefer now? Stripling: English Bible, I assume? If she means my preferred translation, it would it be the NIV. And if I was put on the spot, I would recommend the NIV Study Bible is a great place to start this. Now for reading and preaching, I'd say NIV. If I'm doing more in-depth study in RSV, or NASB, and best study Bible I know is the Cultural Background Study Bible. I've probably got five that I use, probably overdoing it. But, I literally I'll look at a passage, I'll go look at it in several other study Bibles. Steinmetz: I like the New American Standard, you know, but its fair to say don't read just one. Yeah. Lewis: I have been reading the Bible for many years, probably several of my trips through the Bible have been NIV, but also the New King James Version (that's the one we're reading in Public Reading of Scripture). And so, there's advantages in those and then, you know, diving into the Greek and the Hebrew and Aramaic. Lily, our answer might be we like the Bible, and we like some of the different flavors and it's exciting. Stripling: I gave both Dr. Steinmetz and Dr. Lewis the chance to plug my new study Bible, but they didn't do it. So, I have something. So, later this year Lily, in 2024, I wrote the archaeological supplement for a new study Bible called the Open Study Bible that will be published by Thomas Nelson HarperCollins later this year. So, if you’re looking for a new study Bible, you might check that one out. Lewis: Yeah, good. On Mondays, I referenced that we do a Public Reading of Scripture. So, we meet here at The Bible Seminary and it's also available online. We do that from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM Central Standard Time. And if you're here in the Katy area, you can come and we, we have a great lunch. It's different every week. We sit together, and we hear a little bit about what we're going to do. We read through a psalm, then we get a passage from the Old Testament, usually two or three chapters, and two or three chapters from the New Testament and close with a psalm. And what we're doing is we're listening to a dramatized version of the New King James Version provided to us by the Grace and Mercy Foundation. And it's a great journey. We spend this hour together, really listening to Scripture and reading it together. And we're going to walk through the whole Bible together over, however long it takes, and then we'll do it again. But it's fun, because you're doing it with a group of people, and it’s always great food. So, we invite anybody and everybody to join us for that event. Dr. Stripling Dr. Steinmetz, I appreciate y'all joining us together today, and appreciate everyone online and listening. Really, the Bible is a great adventure, and a lifetime adventure. And, in fact, it's probably an eternal adventure because at some point we will be standing with the Word Himself and discussing and talking about lots of things. We'd love for everything to be super clear and just all neatly organized, but for whatever reason, God has given it to us in different genres, different pieces, and over a period (of time), and through a lot of different lenses. And the truth is, it's a great adventure, it's fun, it's exciting. At The Bible seminary, we love diving into it. And we appreciate y'all joining us together as we have looked at how to study the Bible for all it's worth. And we hope to see you again. We're going to do this Fridays at 1 PM Central Time. First Fridays (not every Friday, but once a month), the first Friday of every month. I appreciate everybody joining us today for The Bible Seminary podcast on First Fridays. Watch the full episode on The Bible Seminary YouTube Channel.

By Dr. Scott Stripling The Nuzi Tablets (1925) The city of Nuzi, east of ancient Asshur and a short distance west of Arrapkha in the area of modern Iraq, flourished in the middle centuries of the second millennium BC. Excavations at Nuzi (1925–1931) led by Edward Chiera of the University of Pennsylvania on behalf of the American School of Oriental Research in Baghdad and Harvard University yielded several thousand cuneiform texts which document the rise of the Hurrians (Horites) and illustrate several patriarchal cultural customs. The site of ancient Nuzi is today called Yoghlan-Tepe. It is a tell/mound located about 240 kilometers north of Baghdad, near the foothills of southern Khurdistan. The Hurrians, biblical Horites, gave the name Nuzi when they controlled the city. Archaeology has not only resurrected the ancient Hittites, who were for centuries practically unknown except for sporadic biblical references, but the enigmatic Horites also. The Pentateuch contains numerous references to this perplexing people called Horites. Chedorlaomer and his invading Elamite and allied armies from southern Mesopotamia defeated the Horites in what later became the nation of Edom (Gen. 14:6). The Bible states that chieftains governed the Horites in ancient Edom (Gen. 36:20–30) and notes that Esau’s descendants eventually destroyed them (Deut. 2:12, 22). The Hurrians/Horites used to be thought of by scholars as a very local, restricted group of cave dwellers in ancient Edom. Most researchers thought that the name Horite derived from the Hebrew word hor meaning “hole” or “cave.” Other than this false etymology, the Horites remained completely obscure, not appearing outside the Pentateuch or in extrabiblical literature. Within the last century, however, archaeology has resurrected the ancient Hurrians, the biblical Horites, and revealed that they played a prominent role in ancient history. The Hurrians/Horites, along with their allies the Tiras/Ras/Rosh people, formed the powerful Kingdom of Mitanni which conquered and ruled (c. 1595–1350 BC) the Assyrians and Arameans—including the Aramean city of Haran where Abraham had earlier lived. The Kingdom of Mitanni also attempted to expand into Lebanon and Canaan, which brought it into conflict with the Egyptians. The famous Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III (ca. 1504–1450 BC) undertook seventeen military campaigns during his reign, almost all of them against the Kingdom of Mitanni. However, the Hittites, not the Egyptians, defeated and ended the Mitanni Kingdom in ca. 1350 BC. Discovering the important role the Hurrians/Horites played in ancient history has convinced researchers to abandon the inaccurate etymology “cave dweller” assumption. Archaeological evidence now indicates that the Hurrians/Horites were a very advanced people who were both international merchants and expert metalworkers, especially proficient in smelting copper and bronze, which probably explains why some appear in the Bible around ancient Edom where copper ore was abundant. The Nuzi Tablets play an important role in illuminating patriarchal times and customs. Prior to the advent of modern archaeology, some of the cultural practices found in the patriarchal narratives in the Old Testament seemed strange and obscure. Numerous clay tablets from Nuzi and nearby Arrapkha have shed light on these cultural customs so that now we see a clear verisimilitude in their shared cultural practices. Although the Nuzi Tablets date to the fifteenth and fourteenth centuries BC, several centuries after the patriarchal period (c. 2100–1800 BC), they still illuminate the cultural practices of the patriarchs in earlier centuries. Ancient cultural practices tended to change very slowly. When Abraham departed Ur in about 2100 BC, he sojourned in the Aramean city of Haran, which was located very close to the original homeland of the Hurrians in northern Mesopotamia, with whom the Arameans had many trade and cultural contacts. It is thus not surprising that many of the same cultural customs prevailed among both the Hurrians/Horites and the Hebrew patriarchs, relatives of the Arameans who then controlled the city of Haran. For example, in Genesis 15:2, Abraham lamented his childless condition and the fact that his servant Eliezer was to be his heir. However, God assured the patriarch that he was to have a natural born son to inherit his property. The Nuzi Tablets explain the unusual custom of a servant becoming an heir. They relate how a trusted servant, a non-relative, could become the heir of a childless couple. In Hurrian society, it was customary for a couple who did not have a child to adopt a servant as a son to take care of them in their old age and to become their heir when they died. However, if a natural son was born, this agreement was nullified, and the natural son became heir. Eliezer was plainly Abraham’s adopted son, but the miraculous birth of Isaac, as the promised posterity, eliminated Eliezer as Abraham’s heir. Another example of a cultural practice common both to Hurrians and the patriarchs is the marriage contracts found at ancient Nuzi which sometimes include a provision that a slave girl was given as a wedding gift to a new bride, exactly as is seen in the marriages of Leah (Gen. 29:24) and Rachel (Gen. 29:29). Another provision sometimes found in Hurrian marriage contracts, especially those of the upper class, specified that an upper-class wife who was childless had to furnish her husband with a slave girl as a concubine to bear him children. In such a case, the wife was entitled to treat the concubine’s offspring as her own. It is for this reason that Sarah gave her slave Hagar to Abraham, resulting in Ishmael’s birth. Hammurabi’s Code (Paragraph 144) parallels a Nuzian practices. Per Hammurabi, a sterile hierodule wife, who gives her aristocratic husband a slave to produce children, becomes their legal mother, and her husband is forbidden from remarrying and having a son who could replace the adopted son. Interestingly, Hammurabi was an Amorite, and Abraham was once allied with three Amorite brothers in Canaan. Clearly the ancient Nuzians regarded marriage primarily as a means for producing children rather than as a vehicle for companionship. Procreation was the highest priority. One cultural practice found at ancient Nuzi illustrates why Abraham was reluctant to comply with Sarah’s demand that he expel Ishmael after Isaac’s birth. The son of a Nuzian concubine was not supposed to be expelled, even if a natural heir was born. In Abraham’s case, only a divine dispensation overruled human custom and motivated the patriarch’s compliance. The Nuzi tablets also illustrate cases involving the selection of the heir of the father as is seen in Genesis 27. In Hurrian society the birthright of an heir was generally, but not exclusively, passed on to the firstborn son. The father had the right to name any one of his sons as his heir, regardless of birth order. A Hurrian father’s selection of his heir on his deathbed was especially binding. The selection of an heir by a Hurrian father on his deathbed was generally made by the following introductory declaration: “Now that I have grown old,” which was then followed by the name of the heir and an unbreakable, divine oath. The fact that Jacob tricked Isaac in Genesis 27 into naming him as heir in place of Esau, and that Isaac could not rescind his choice once made under oath, perfectly matches the selection process of an heir in the Nuzi texts. Nuzian law also illuminates the importance of the obscure teraphim (“household gods”), which Rachel stole from her father as is related in Genesis 31:31–35. Teraphim were likely images of dead relatives used in ancestor worship. Possession of them implied family headship. In the case of a married daughter, possession could garner her husband the right to inherit her father’s property. Laban had sons of his own when Jacob left for Canaan, and they alone as sons had the right to their father’s teraphim idols. The theft of these important household idols by Rachel was therefore a notorious offense (Gen. 31:19, 30, 35) in which she unsuccessfully attempted to obtain for her husband the right to her father’s estate. In special circumstances, a father’s property could pass to a daughter’s husband, but only if the father had handed over his household gods to his son-in-law in a formal ceremony. Apparently, Rachel intended to claim after Laban’s death that he had named Jacob as his heir. Another ancient custom clarified by the Nuzi texts is found in Genesis 12:10–20; 20:2–6; and 26:1–11. In these passages both Abraham and Isaac introduced their wives to foreign rulers as their sisters. The texts from Nuzi show that among the Hurrians/Horites, marriage bonds were most solemn, and a new bride simultaneously obtained the status of both “sister” and “wife,” and these terms could be used interchangeably in documents. Thus, Abraham and Isaac were being deceptive in calling their wives their sisters, but not strictly dishonest. In ancient Egyptian love poetry, brides are frequently referred to as “my sister.” Abraham and Sarah were, in fact, half siblings, and Isaac and Rebekah were cousins. The Hurrian/Horite texts from Arrapkha and Nuzi illuminate many patriarchal customs. Thus, the Nuzi texts are an invaluable source of background information on the book of Genesis. ScottStripling.net © 2024 Scott Stripling

In this issue Boss Like God Seminar - Register! Support The Bible Seminary Summer/Fall courses at TBS - Register! TBS Resources - Videos and books Boss Like God Seminar Live AND Online | $99 per person | Register Starts NEXT Wednesday, April 17 & 24 | 9:00 AM - Noon | TBS Classroom 270 PLUS extended open discussion with lunch included for in-person attendees both Wednesdays Great for personal growth and continuing education, as well as staff and leadership team training (ask about group discounts), this contemporary, practical review of business relationships recorded in the Old Testament explores how the Supreme CEO hired, managed, fired, and helped employees leave well. Based on the book, Boss Like God: A Blueprint for Elite Workplace Performance, by TBS President Dr. K. Lynn Lewis and Beau McBeth. "I wish I knew these things years ago! It would have made so much difference in my life, ministry, and work." - Seminar attendee Support The Bible Seminary Your donations help foster biblical literacy through studies of all 66 books of the Bible, cultivate professional and lay leaders, and deploy trained disciples in service worldwide. Your gifts help glorify God by impacting multitudes of souls for Christ and fulfill the Great Commission by the power of God’s Spirit. Your support helps train at least 5,000 leaders that each reach 200 people for Christ during their lifetime and together impact 1,000,000 souls. Give Online Give by Mail The Bible Seminary, 23501 CINCO RANCH BLVD, STE H120-930, KATY TX 77494-3109 We are currently praying and fasting monthly on 2nd Tuesdays for TBS financial provision! Goal: Abundant financial blessings poured out from the Lord through faithful and blessed believers that result in Cumulative Balance reductions that reverse the negative to positive by May 31, 2024. Summer/Fall Courses at TBS Dive deeper into your faith journey this Summer and Fall with courses at The Bible Seminary! Whether you're looking to enrich your spiritual understanding or pursue a degree, we've got you covered. Explore our diverse range of courses covering topics like archaeology, biblical languages, hermeneutics, leadership, spiritual formation, and theology. With the option to audit any course, you can engage with the material at your own pace and level of commitment. Ready to take the next step in your academic journey? Apply for a degree plan and work towards earning a recognized credential while deepening your knowledge of scripture and theology. Join our vibrant learning community and embark on a transformative educational experience that will equip you for a lifetime of service and leadership in your faith. Enroll today and unlock new possibilities with The Bible Seminary! TBS Resources TBS Moments - An increasing collection of short videos shared regularly on our YouTube and social platforms and a great way to get a taste of TBS courses! Nehemiah Press Books TBS Podcast Watch the First Friday Podcast featuring Dr. Craig Evans, Dr. Scott Stripling, and Dr. Israel Steinmetz as they explore the enigmatic realm of Eclipses and Other Celestial Signs. Subscribe to the TBS YouTube Channel Catch Dr. Stripling's insightful interview on the CBN network as he delves into the correlation between the eclipse and Christ's crucifixion. Download the TBS App! Check out The Bible Seminary's app available on both Apple and Android stores! Enjoy an easy and convenient way to stay connected to The Bible Seminary. Features include instant access to courses, event notifications, and a rich library of video resources. It is the perfect tool for students, alumni, and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the Bible. The Bible Seminary (TBS) is an independent, non- denominational, 501(c)(3) charitable institution of higher education incorporated in Texas in 2010 to offer training for laity and vocational ministry professionals. TBS is an Accredited member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a participant in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) for Distance Education, and an approved CEU provider for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Goals include helping nurture a biblically literate populace via comprehensive, strategic, Bible-based training through classes and seminars, museum exhibits, productions and publications, and archaeological digs and study tours. “They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.” - Nehemiah 8:8 Campus 2655 S MASON RDKATY TX 77450-1772 Mailing 23501 CINCO RANCH BLVD STE H120-930KATY TX 77494-3109 E-mail: info@TheBibleSeminary.edu Phone: 281-646-1109 Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 AM - 4 PM

In this issue Help The Bible Seminary FREE Easter Resource - "Death and Triumph" with Dr. Scott Stripling Boss Like God Seminar - Register! Summer/Fall courses at TBS - Register! TBS Resources - Videos and books Help The Bible Seminary: Foster biblical literacy through studies of all 66 books of the Bible, cultivate professional and lay leaders, and deploy trained disciples in service worldwide. Glorify God by impacting multitudes of souls for Christ and fulfill the Great Commission by the power of God’s Spirit. Train at least 5,000 leaders that each reach 200 people for Christ during their lifetime and together impact 1,000,000 souls. Give Online Give by Mail The Bible Seminary, 23501 CINCO RANCH BLVD, STE H120-930, KATY TX 77494-3109 Join monthly 2nd Tuesdays prayer/fasting for TBS financial provision! Goal: Prayer and fasting that helps lead to abundant financial blessings poured out from the Lord through faithful and blessed believers that result in Cumulative Balance reductions that reverses the negative to positive by May 31, 2024. FREE Easter Resource Download and share this FREE Easter video from The Bible Seminary. Perfect for individual reflection, small group studies, or church-wide gatherings, "Death and Triumph" is a valuable tool for everyone from seasoned believers to persons exploring the Easter message for the first time. In this captivating video, Dr. Scott Stripling guides viewers through a profound exploration of the Easter story, delving into the depths of its meaning and significance. From the solemnity of Christ's sacrifice to the triumph of His resurrection, "Death and Triumph" offers a rich tapestry of inspirational and uplifting insights. With Dr. Scott Stripling's expertise in Biblical Archaeology and his passion for sharing the timeless truths of Scripture, this resource provides a unique perspective on the Easter narrative. Through engaging storytelling, vivid imagery, and thought-provoking commentary, viewers can reflect on the profound implications of Christ's death and resurrection for their lives today. Boss Like God Seminar Live AND Online | $99 per person | Register Wednesdays, April 17 & 24 | 9:00 AM - Noon | TBS Classroom 270 PLUS extended open discussion with lunch included for in-person attendees both Wednesdays Great for personal growth and continuing education, as well as staff and leadership team training (ask about group discounts), this contemporary, practical review of business relationships recorded in the Old Testament explores how the Supreme CEO hired, managed, fired, and helped employees leave well. Based on the book, Boss Like God: A Blueprint for Elite Workplace Performance, by TBS President Dr. K. Lynn Lewis and Beau McBeth. "I wish I knew these things years ago! It would have made so much difference in my life, ministry, and work." - Seminar attendee Summer/Fall Courses at TBS Dive deeper into your faith journey this Summer and Fall with courses at The Bible Seminary! Whether you're looking to enrich your spiritual understanding or pursue a degree, we've got you covered. Explore our diverse range of courses covering topics like archaeology, biblical languages, hermeneutics, leadership, spiritual formation, and theology. With the option to audit any course, you can engage with the material at your own pace and level of commitment. Ready to take the next step in your academic journey? Apply for a degree plan and work towards earning a recognized credential while deepening your knowledge of scripture and theology. Join our vibrant learning community and embark on a transformative educational experience that will equip you for a lifetime of service and leadership in your faith. Enroll today and unlock new possibilities with The Bible Seminary! TBS Resources TBS Moments - An increasing collection of short videos shared regularly on our YouTube and social platforms and a great way to get a taste of TBS courses! Nehemiah Press Books Download the TBS App! Check out The Bible Seminary's app available on both Apple and Android stores! Enjoy an easy and convenient way to stay connected to The Bible Seminary. Features include instant access to courses, event notifications, and a rich library of video resources. It is the perfect tool for students, alumni, and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the Bible. The Bible Seminary (TBS) is an independent, non- denominational, 501(c)(3) charitable institution of higher education incorporated in Texas in 2010 to offer training for laity and vocational ministry professionals. TBS is an Accredited member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a participant in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) for Distance Education, and an approved CEU provider for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Goals include helping nurture a biblically literate populace via comprehensive, strategic, Bible-based training through classes and seminars, museum exhibits, productions and publications, and archaeological digs and study tours. “They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.” - Nehemiah 8:8 Campus 2655 S MASON RDKATY TX 77450-1772 Mailing 23501 CINCO RANCH BLVD STE H120-930KATY TX 77494-3109 E-mail: info@TheBibleSeminary.edu Phone: 281-646-1109 Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 AM - 4 PM

In this issue Make Your Leap Day Donation Today! Tears of Sorrow, Tears of Joy - New book by Stan Goss Public Reading of Scripture (PRS) - Weekly on Mondays at NOON (CST) Boss Like God Seminar - Register today! Make Your Leap Day Donation Today! Don't miss this once-in-every-four-years opportunity TBS students (100+ enrolled this semester and 1,300+ since inception), alumni (92, all graduated free of seminary debt), and leaders currently live, work, and serve across America and on six continents. Students love that what they learn each week is immediately applicable in their lives and ministries. Your donation helps educate, encourage, support, train, and deploy TBS family members as we collectively minister to thousands of people weekly worldwide. THANK YOU for giving! Give Online TODAY: Safe and secure Give by Mail: The Bible Seminary 23501 CINCO RANCH BLVD STE H120-930 KATY TX 77494-3109 *All donations are charitable and tax-deductible as allowed by law. For legal questions, please see your tax advisor for more information. Help TBS maintain financial stability that honors the Lord, fulfill contracted promises, and model healthy financial practices. Help foster biblical literacy through studies of all 66 books of the Bible, cultivate professional and lay leaders, and deploy trained disciples in service worldwide. Help TBS devote robust time and vigor to training 5,000 leaders that each reach 200 people for Christ during their lifetime and together impact 1,000,000 souls. Click here to DONATE online Join Monthly 2nd Tuesdays Prayer/Fasting In January, TBS Board members covenanted to pray and fast on the second Tuesday of each month for TBS provision. Below is our January 2024 financial status including Income, Expense, Monthly Balance, and post-COVID-19 Cumulative Balance. Goal: Prayer and fasting by TBS family and friends that helps lead to abundant financial blessings poured out from the Lord through faithful and blessed believers that result in Cumulative Balance reductions of an average of $100,000 each month Feb, Mar, Apr, and May to reverse the negative to positive by May 31, 2024. Tears of Sorrow, Tears of Joy Rising from a childhood laced with devastation and heartbreak, Stan Goss reveals how he found immense inward healing and earthly successes with the Lord as his companion. Tears of Sorrow, Tears of Joy shares his journey of conquering hardships while also fully grasping the nature of both pain and joy, and shares his vibrant passion and strategies to inspire spiritual elders to fully live out their crown of glory years. Stan is a Master Executive Coach, community leader, family man, and passionate servant of the Lord devoted to inspiring Christian spiritual eldership. The book was published by TBS's publishing division, Nehemiah Press, Public Reading of Scripture (PRS) PRS at TBS is held weekly from Noon-1 PM (CST) on Mondays in Classroom 270 and hosted live online. Participants enjoy a free meal, dramatic audio of 2 psalms and several Old and New testament passages, and teaching notes and PRS instructions from TBS staff. A contemporary, practical review of business relationships recorded in the Old Testament books of the Bible exploring how the Supreme CEO hired, managed, fired, and helped employees leave well. Based on the book, Boss Like God: A Blueprint for Elite Workplace Performance, by TBS President Dr. K. Lynn Lewis and Beau McBeth. Great option for staff and team training! Enjoy continued interactive discussions during the lunch time following the seminar both Wednesdays. "I wish I knew these things years ago! It would have made so much difference in my life, ministry, and work." - Seminar attendee Dates: Wednesday, April 17 & 24 Time: 9:00 AM - Noon Location: The Bible Seminary 2655 S Mason Rd Katy, TX 77450 Cost: $99 per person Attend in-person or online. *Lunch provided for in-person with continued discussion. Download the TBS App! Check out The Bible Seminary's app available on both Apple and Android stores! Enjoy an easy and convenient way to stay connected to The Bible Seminary. Features include instant access to courses, event notifications, and a rich library of video resources. It is the perfect tool for students, alumni, and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the Bible. Download your TBS App today! TBS Moments Enjoy an increasing collection of short videos shared regularly on our YouTube and social platforms. A great way to get a taste of TBS courses! The Bible Seminary (TBS) is an independent, non- denominational, 501(c)(3) charitable institution of higher education incorporated in Texas in 2010 to offer training for laity and vocational ministry professionals. TBS is an Accredited member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a participant in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) for Distance Education, and an approved CEU provider for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Goals include helping nurture a biblically literate populace via comprehensive, strategic, Bible-based training through classes and seminars, museum exhibits, productions and publications, and archaeological digs and study tours. “They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.” - Nehemiah 8:8 Campus 2655 S MASON RDKATY TX 77450-1772 Mailing 23501 CINCO RANCH BLVD STE H120-930KATY TX 77494-3109 E-mail: info@TheBibleSeminary.edu Phone: 281-646-1109 Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 AM - 4 PM

In this issue Feb 2024 - Upcoming Seminar, "Lost Books of the Bible" with Dr. Craig Evans Jan 2024 - Book Launch Party for Tears of Sorrow, Tears of Joy Dec 2023 - Katy Christian Chamber Breakfast Nov 2023 - Evangelical Theological Society Meeting Weekly - Public Reading of Scripture (PRS) Ongoing - Support TBS Upcoming Seminar, "Lost Books of the Bible" Are there lost books of the Bible? What Jewish writings are preserved from the time between the Old and New Testament? What insights can the Dead Sea Scrolls and extra-biblical first century texts give us about Jesus? Scripture is the authority for Christians. But what about these other books? Can we learn from them? Join us to find out! Our presenter is Dr. Craig Evans, one of the world's leading experts on the Dead Sea Scrolls, intertestamental literature, and first century Judaism. Book Launch for Tears of Sorrow, Tears of Joy Over 140 attendees enjoyed a book launch party with TBS alum and Board member Stan Goss at Texas Traditions Bank on Thursday, January 11, 2024. Rising from a childhood laced with devastation and heartbreak, Stan's book reveals how he found immense inward healing and earthly successes with the Lord as his companion. Tears of Sorrow, Tears of Joy shares his journey of conquering hardships while also fully grasping the nature of both pain and joy, and shares his vibrant passion and strategies to inspire spiritual elders to fully live out their crown of glory years. Stan is a Master Executive Coach, community leader, family man, and passionate servant of the Lord devoted to inspiring Christian spiritual eldership. The book was published by TBS's publishing division, Nehemiah Press, Katy Christian Chamber Breakfast TBS hosted the area Katy Christian Chamber of Commerce in the Grace Fellowship Vista on Friday, December 15, 2023. Nearly 70 attendees enjoyed breakfast, an archaeological display of Christmas-related artifacts from the 3J Museum, and a presentation from Dr. Stripling along with other KCC business. See photos here. Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting Along with nearly 3,000 attendees from around the world, TBS leaders, staff, students, and alumni participated in the 2023 ETS Annual Meeting held in San Antonio, Texas November 14-16, 2023. Dr. Lewis, Dr. Stripling, alums Abigail Leavitt and Gary Urie, and student Clayton Van Huss gave presentations in the Near East Archaeology (NEAS) sessions. TBS Marketing Director Allison Taylor hosted a combined NEAS/TBS booth with archaeological exhibits and books for sale throughout the event. Public Reading of Scripture (PRS) PRS at TBS is held weekly from Noon-1 PM (CST) on Mondays in Classroom 270 and hosted live online. An average of 35 weekly participants enjoy a free meal, dramatic audio of 2 psalms and several Old and New testament passages, and teaching notes and PRS instructions from TBS staff. See photos here and here. Support TBS The Bible Seminary (TBS) benefits tremendously from dependable income that funds ongoing operations essential to executing the seminary’s mission and vision. Donors help TBS: Maintain financial stability that honors the Lord, fulfills contracted promises, and models healthy financial practices. Foster biblical literacy through studies of all 66 books of the Bible, cultivate professional and lay leaders, and deploy trained disciples in service worldwide. Devote robust time and vigor to training 5,000 leaders that each reach 200 people for Christ during their lifetime and together impact 1,000,000 souls. Give Online Safe and secure, our online giving platform is the easiest way to give. Give by Mail Send checks to: The Bible Seminary 23501 CINCO RANCH BLVD STE H120-930 KATY TX 77494-3109 *All donations are charitable and tax-deductible as allowed by law. If you have any legal questions, please see your tax advisor for more information. Download the TBS App! Check out The Bible Seminary's app available on both Apple and Android stores! Enjoy an easy and convenient way to stay connected to The Bible Seminary. Features include instant access to courses, event notifications, and a rich library of video resources. It is the perfect tool for students, alumni, and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the Bible. Download your TBS App today! Get a glimpse of TBS with TBS Moments. There are short videos we share daily on our YouTube and Social platforms. This a great way to get a view inside of The Bible Seminary. Watch TBS Moments. The Bible Seminary (TBS) is an independent, non- denominational, 501(c)(3) charitable institution of higher education incorporated in Texas in 2010 to offer training for laity and vocational ministry professionals. TBS is an Accredited member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), an approved participant in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) for Distance Education, and an approved CEU provider for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Goals include helping nurture a biblically literate populace via comprehensive, strategic, Bible-based training through classes and seminars, museum exhibits, productions and publications, and archaeological digs and study tours. “They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.” - Nehemiah 8:8 Campus 2655 S MASON RD KATY TX 77450-1772 Mailing 23501 CINCO RANCH BLVD STE H120-930 KATY TX 77494-3109 E-mail: info@TheBibleSeminary.edu Phone: 281-646-1109 Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 AM - 4 PM

In this issue Meet TBS alumni and students: Who benefits from charitable giving to TBS? Support TBS: Three ways to invest in the TBS family, mission, and vision this month TBS App: Download yours today! Public Reading of Scripture: Join in-person or online Mondays, Noon - 1:00 PM CST Share your experience: Help spread the word about TBS with your social media review Meet TBS alumni and students Krystyna Cawthorne (at right) is a 2020 graduate of The Bible Seminary where she earned a Master of Arts degree in Church History and Theology. With the encouragement of her husband of 39 years, Peter, and her two children Natalie and Marcus, Krystyna authored a Bible study guide for moms with children on the autism disorder spectrum (ASD) titled The Presence of God in Autism which is published through TBS's Nehemiah Press. [Watch Video] Paul Kabore and his wife, Bougma Sibiri Catherine, are living out the gospel by church planting in their home country of Burkina Faso in Western Africa. In 2013 they purchased a plot of land just east of the capital city of Ouagadougou where they began sharing the Good News and have grown their church to over 100 parishioners and it is still growing. While studying Ancient Greek and Hebrew in Israel, Paul met Dr. Stripling. With his passion to learn more, Pastor Paul enrolled at TBS in 2022 and is pursuing a Master of Arts in Biblical History and Archaeology. In Paul's spare time he teaches Hebrew to Christian schools and faculties. Catherine is also studying to earn her Bachelor of Arts in Theology. Together they spend their time reading, studying, practicing, teaching, and mediating on God's Word. [Watch Video] Manasseh Luka is currently studying to earn a Master of Arts in Biblical History and Archaeology through TBS. As an international student in New Delhi, India, Manasseh works as a social worker in the juvenile prison. He is the youngest of four children and along with a sister is the caretaker to their mother, a retired hospital clerk. Manasseh's father passed on in 2009, but he served the Lord faithfully as a priest in the church and community for 40 years. Manasseh serves The Bible Seminary as the Virtual Liaison for the Student Government Association, where he is extremely active in the student community and diligent in developing relationships within TBS's family. Upon his commencement, Manasseh will become the FIRST biblical archaeologist in India. [Watch Video] Anita Murillo (second from right above) is currently enrolled in the Certificate of Theological Studies program. She is joyfully married to her best friend and amazing husband of 32 years, Jody. Together they have three adult children Jacob John (29), Jordan Abigail (25), and Jonah Benjamin (23). She is the grateful grandmother to her first grandchild Arie Tinsley-Huoang Murillo. Anita is the Founder of Deborah's Arise Ministries, where the focus is to ignite, empower, inspire, equip, and encourage women through community and fellowship to fulfill their God-given purpose. [Watch Video] Shelley Neese is a distance student at The Bible Seminary who is studying to earn a Master of Arts degree in Biblical History and Archaeology. Shelley serves as President of The Jerusalem Connection Report, and her articles can be found in a multitude of publications including but not limited to The Jerusalem Report, Israel Today, FrontPage Magazine, and in TBS's yearly publication, The Sentinel. Along with these resource outlets, Shelley is the author of the #1 new release book, The Copper Scroll Project. She has made interview appearances on the Eric Metaxas Show on TBN, Jerusalem Dateline with Chris Mitchell on CBN, SkyWatch TV, and The Watchman with Erick Stakelbeck, to name a few. Shelley's extensive background in government and education has prepared her to help share the need Israel has to be supported by Christians worldwide which she also accomplishes through public speaking events. As a public figure, Shelley somehow finds the time to be a supportive wife to her beloved husband of 20 years, who serves as a Lieutenant Colonel and family physician for the U.S. Air Force and a hands-on mother to their 4 children. [Watch Video] Gabriel Orr is currently pursuing an Master of Divinity at The Bible Seminary. He serves the City of Houston as a full-time police officer, and Second Baptist Church as a Bible Study teacher and member of the security team. He is married to Corina and they have four adult daughters and a two-year old son, Gabriel Jr. [Watch Video] “If you want to know where your money is being spent, you’re looking at him. The things I’m being equipped with, the tools that I’m given at The Bible Seminary allow me to advance the Kingdom of God on this earth.” Meredith Ridenour and her husband Jon reside in Northwest Houston, Texas with their two sons, Jackson (13) and Lincoln (10). When they are not at a baseball field or watching a baseball game, Meredith serves as the Director of Ministry Operations at Windwood Presbyterian Church. She is currently enrolled at The Bible Seminary where she is diligently working to achieve a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. Meredith is also the Activities Director in the TBS Student Government Association. [Watch Video] Gary Urie is a 2022 graduate of The Bible Seminary where he earned his Master of Arts in Biblical History and Archaeology. He is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program studying Biblical History and Archaeology at Veritas International University. Gary is a retired Houston Police Department Detective who lives with his family in Belton, Texas where he teaches at his church in Temple, Texas. He also serves on the Shiloh Excavation dig staff with Associates for Biblical Research (ABR) and his photography is on display in the Joshua, Judges, and Jesus Museum. [Watch Video] Jenny Ward (above at left) resides just outside of Denver, Colorado with her husband Beau (they have recently celebrated their twenty-year wedding anniversary) and their three children. They love spending time together as a family while taking advantage of every season that Colorado offers. Jenny is currently enrolled in the Master of Arts Biblical History and Archaeology program at The Bible Seminary and is an active member in a moms and daughters group in her community. [Watch Video] Teresa Williams felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit in 2022 to pack up her two daughters and move from Maryland to Katy, Texas and become an on-campus student at The Bible Seminary. The past year, the Katy area has given her the opportunity to become employed as a technician in the medical field for a local doctor and to become plugged in to both Grace Fellowship Church and Life Church. Teresa is currently an audit student, looking forward to transitioning into a degree program. [Watch Video] Patrick Wise hails from England, but calls Katy, Texas home with (God's gift to him) his wife Amy of 13 years and their two wonderful children, Ashlynn (11) and Garrick (7). He manages the local favorite seafood, oyster bar, and steakhouse, Pearl & Vine Restaurant and serves at The Waters Church in a multitude of ways. Patrick is seeking to earn his Certificate in Theological Studies from TBS, where he has become involved in the archaeology department as a docent with the Joshua, Judges, & Jesus Museum and serving as Chaplain of the student body. [Watch Video] Ryan Wood is new to Katy, Texas and is currently pursuing his Master of Arts in Biblical History and Archaeology through the Dual Degree Completion program offered through The Bible Seminary. He is originally from the panhandle of Texas where his mother is an RN and his father is an entrepreneurial cattleman. As a new member of the Katy community, Ryan is looking for ministries to plug into and others to fellowship, network, and build a community. [Watch Video] Support TBS Invest in the seminary family, mission, and vision as part of your year-end giving and Jesus' birthday celebrations! Adopt-a-Book: Support the TBS culture of learning and a legacy of training 5,000+ disciples and ministry leaders Great Christmas gift idea for someone you love! Goal: 5000 books Current: 65 books Percent: 1.3% General Donation: Help fuel TBS educational ministries through your investments in facilities, personnel, and programming. You help make TBS happen! Goal: $250,000 Current: $75,000 Percent: 30% Great Commission Scholarship Fund: Help empower the next generation of leaders making a Kingdom impact. $50,000 available in a matching gift to help double your giving! Goal: $100,000 Current: $61,000 Percent: 61% Note: All donations are charitable and tax-deductible as allowed by law. If you have any legal questions, please see your tax advisor for more information. Donate ONLINE (click any link above), by MAIL (see mailing address at end), or by TEXT (see below). Text "Any Amount" to 84321 Follow prompt link. Search for "The Bible Seminary." Create your profile. Add or select a payment method. Submit a donation. After this one-time setup, you can TEXT your donation amount to 84321 to make an online donation. Public Reading of Scripture Download the TBS App! We are thrilled to announce the launch of The Bible Seminary's brand-new app, now available on both Apple and Android stores! Enjoy an easy and convenient way to stay connected to The Bible Seminary. Features include instant access to courses, event notifications, and a rich library of video resources. It is the perfect tool for students, alumni, and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the Bible. Download your TBS App today! Share your experience! Please take a moment to leave a review on Great Non-Profits and Google to let others know how awesome TBS is! Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve and serve our community better. Thank you! *Click a logo below to leave your review on that site. The Bible Seminary (TBS) is an independent, non- denominational, 501(c)(3) charitable institution of higher education incorporated in Texas in 2010 to offer training for laity and vocational ministry professionals. TBS is an Accredited member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), an approved participant in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) for Distance Education, and an approved CEU provider for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Goals include helping nurture a biblically literate populace via comprehensive, strategic, Bible-based training through classes and seminars, museum exhibits, productions and publications, and archaeological digs and study tours. “They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.” - Nehemiah 8:8 Campus 2655 S MASON RD KATY TX 77450-1772 Mailing 23501 CINCO RANCH BLVD STE H120-930 KATY TX 77494-3109 E-mail: info@TheBibleSeminary.edu Phone: 281-646-1109 Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 AM - 4 PM

By TBS MABHA student Manasseh Luka While residing in India's capital city of New Delhi, I read Jeremiah 1:5 (NRSV), "I knew you before I formed you in the womb, and I consecrated you before you were born; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." My special affection for this verse began during my transition from childhood to adolescence as I began to spend time in prayer and reading the Bible. When my father's life on this earth concluded, I especially witnessed God's incredible love, grace, and serenity for my family. As I bowed in prayer next to my father's deathbed, John 14:1-4 brought great comfort. “Believe in God, and believe in me, too. There are numerous dwellings in my father's home. Would I have informed you that I was going to set up a space for you if that weren't the case? And if I go and make a home for you, I'll come back and take you with me so that you can be with me wherever I am.” In these I felt God’s assurance and affirmation. While seeking His direction and calling in my life, I spent a year reading God’s Word and meditating. During Lenten prayer meetings in 2010, I felt God calling me to attend seminary and began theological studies in 2011. As I explored the Bible more, I understood that Biblical archaeology sheds light on how God has shaped human history, race, creation, and historical events, and confirmed His presence in people's lives. After finishing seminary in 2015, I found several graduate programs in biblical archaeology, but felt none were right for me at the time. I continued to pray and waited patiently for God to guide me in the right direction. I discovered the TBS Master of Arts in Biblical History and Archaeology (MABHA) degree through Dr. Stripling in 2019 and believed God finally granted my requests. As Dr. Stripling helped guide my study strategy, I enrolled at TBS in 2022 after eight years of waiting patiently for the Lord’s guidance and timing. I recently completed my second semester and am grateful to TBS for providing distance learning. While living and working in India, I am taking courses in leadership, archaeology, theology, and church history. My studies are helping improve my understanding of workplace ethics in light of the Bible and helping in my work with prisoners. As I observe remarkable changes in their lives, I believe my TBS education is playing a huge role as God guides me in working to help set spiritual captives free. I believe the training offered by TBS is top-notch. Although I never considered myself capable of distance learning, the cutting-edge technology used allows such a high level of interactive participation that I feel as though I am very present in class. I receive support from professors and peers, everyone is encouraging and friendly, and I am able to interact with others both during and between class sessions. One intriguing aspect of TBS is that students can audit courses and keep the graded assignments to apply toward degree credit in the future. I am enjoying my studies of the Bible, biblical lands and civilizations, and history, and believe TBS education and training for ministry is one of the finest I have seen.