SEARCH RESULTS

In this issue TBS 2023 Commencement: Celebrating seven new graduates! The Sentinel: Our annual magazine is now available. Top 10 Finds in Biblical Archaeology: Seminar starts NEXT Thu, Aug 24 at Parkway Fellowship Share your TBS experience: Leave your review on Google and Great Non-Profits 2023 TBS Commencement Read more about our newest graduates in The Sentinel, Summer 2023, pp. 32-33. 2023 Sentinel Edition The Sentinel magazine is now available! The Summer 2023 edition has articles and news about alumni (four have NEW jobs as pastors and one is heading to the mission field), archaeology (Mt. Ebal defixio, Shiloh excavations, and Tall el-Hammam), artificial intelligence (ChatGPT and computers debating the existence of humanity), BEYOND prayer campaign, the Didache, french cooking and the minor prophets, hymns in the Prison Epistles, public reading of Scripture, students in ministry worldwide, seven upcoming MA and MDiv graduates, TBS Faculty of the Year (Ralph Neighbour), new TBS app, rebranding, and more. Summer Seminar 2023 Top 10 Finds in Biblical Archaeology with Dr. Scott Stripling at Parkway Fellowship. This seminar investigates the significance of the Top 10 Finds in Biblical Archaeology. Dr. Scott Stripling juxtaposes the biblical text and the archaeological finds, while refuting inaccurate arguments from the past. Students will be inspired and informed. Date: Thursday, August 24, 2023 Cost: $85 per person Time: 9 AM Check-in; 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM Location: Parkway Fellowship, 27043 FM 1093 Rd, Richmond, TX 77406 Academic Calendar Upcoming courses available on campus and online. All courses also available to AUDIT for only $375! Fall Semester 2023 (Begins Monday, August 28, except APO 501 began July 22) ANE 501: Ancient Near Eastern Cultures – Ezra 4-6, Daniel 2-7 taught by Dr. Clyde Billington APO 501: Apologetics – 1 Peter taught in conjunction with the Colson Fellows program BSM 501: Bible Study Methods - Esther, Obadiah, Mark taught by Dr. Israel Steinmetz HEB 501: Hebrew Language and Culture I - Jonah, Nahum taught by Dr. Matt Glassman PRA 501: Prayer and Worship I - Leviticus, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Psalms taught by Dr. Lynn Lewis SFM 500: Spiritual Formation & Ministry (Bible Panorama) taught by Dr. Israel Steinmetz All courses available both in-person and/or online. You are our support! Text-to-Give is now available! Text "Any Amount" to 84321 Follow prompt link Find The Bible Seminary in search Create profile Add or select a payment method Submit a donate *This is a one-time setup. After setup, you can text your donation amount to 84321 to make an online donation. You help make all TBS does possible and we are grateful for your continued support! Regular Support Packages Yes, I want to support the educational ministries of The Bible Seminary! Visit TheBibleSeminary.edu/support * 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. 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), 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 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 each logo to leave your review. 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

Written by: CHRIS MITCHELL, CBN News Reporter SHILOH, Samaria – Several years ago, CBN News first reported on exciting discoveries from the excavation site at ancient Shiloh. The book of Judges in the Bible tells us Shiloh was a significant place in the history of the Israelites when they came into the Promised Land. Today, more discoveries are emerging from the archaeological site that continue to bring the Bible to life. In 2019, we interviewed Dr. Scott Stripling, the director of excavation going on in ancient Shiloh. This year, Stripling brought us up to speed on what's happened here since we first visited this project. "Well, in season one our hypotheses were just formulating," he said. "We thought that we had a monumental building, up here from the period of the Tabernacle. Since then, we've come way down, five meters or so, maybe six meters in some places, and so now we can see the various structures that are here, and indeed we can now say that this is very likely the gate that's referred to in the Bible, and that's pretty big stuff.” We asked Stripling what happened at the gate and why it was so important. He responded, "Well, the Bible tells us that Eli (the high priest at the time) is in the gate of Shiloh when he gets the news that the Ark of the Covenant has been captured, that his sons have been killed. He falls over backwards and dies in the gate. So it's a function that's mentioned in the Bible, so we were very curious if we would come across it.” Shiloh is not only where Eli lived and died, but also the place where Joshua divided the Promised Land between Israel's 12 tribes, where Hannah prayed for a son who became the prophet Samuel, and where the Tabenacle of the Lord stood for nearly 400 years. Stripling gave us a tour of the site and took us to perhaps their most significant discovery. “This is where you came to connect with God," Stripling said, while walking through the site. He continued, "Jerusalem remains a pagan city for another three hundred years. The Ark is here. The Tabernacle is here, and this where you came to connect with God." We asked Stripling if he believed they've actually found the Tabernacle. He answered, "I'm not ready to say I know for certain, but I'll tell you what we do have is a building that is matching the dimensions of the Tabernacle. It's from the Iron One period, which is the Tabernacle period of Eli and Samuel, and you're actually standing right now, Chris, on this wall right here.” “So this entire area is this massive, monumental building. (It) orients east - west and it's divided on 2 to 1 ratio, like the Tabernacle was," Stripling explained. He showed us the locations for the Holy of Holies and the Ark of the Covenant would have been if the archaeologists are correct in their theory. At one point on the tour of the site, Stripling, said, "You're probably standing where the Ark of the Covenant was," then he asked, "How does that make you feel?" Grasping for words, I said, "It makes me feel – well, profound, for one." "Me, too," Stripling replied, and added, "There's a sense of awe, I just have to tell you. Professionally as an academic, I'm in awe, and then as an evangelical Christian, I'm in awe, you know, to have the privilege to be able to excavate a site like this." “What I take from this is that God did something in history. He recorded it for us in the Bible. We have evidence of it here. One of the great things about our faith is that you can question it," Stripling insisted. "You know, God's ego isn't bruised. People have questions, viewers do – that's honest, you know. Express those, and I would just invite people to look at that evidence, and if they've bought into the idea that the Bible's mythology or it's not historical, I would encourage them to look at what we're finding here at Shiloh. Read the text, pray about it, decide for themselves. And so, this is where the Bible comes to life. This is, this is what we do. We don't just walk the Bible. We dig the Bible here at Ancient Shiloh.” “As we dig into the soil, we are literally seeing the evidence of what life was like in biblical times," he added. The next stop on the archaelogical tour was a nearby bone deposit. Stripling described how meaningful the site was for the excavators. "The people working over here are doing something they'll never forget the rest of their lives. I mean, they are uncovering evidence of the (Jewish) sacrificial system. So I mean, these were animals that brought about expiation, it brought about the forgiveness of sin for people. As they connected with God in this manner, so you'll see it for yourself. The pottery and the bones. They tell an unmistakable story that matches what we read in the biblical text.” As we stood over the site, Stripling said, "This is unexcavated, underneath your feet, and my feet is about (4 feet) of solid bone, waiting to be excavated. Bone on top of bone, on top of bone. And we have micros stratigraphy in this area so we can see that the deposition is laid down over a long period of time, just like the Bible says.” When asked what kind of bones would be found there, he replied, "Sheep, goat, cow – and disproportionately from the right side of the animal.” The workers had uncovered, just that morning, jaw bones coming from the right side of the animals. "Why is the right side so significant?, he asked. "Well, the priests are the ones who live here, and Leviticus 7 tells us that the right side of the animal is the priest's portion. So, I can't make this stuff up. You know, you got a hundred thousand bones and they're disproportionate. Give me another explanation. It just happens to coordinate with what the Bible says.” A shofar sounds to mark the end of the workday. It signals the end of this year's dig, but the excavators expect to be back on site, digging for several more years. CBN News original post

In this issue The Sentinel: Watch your mailbox in August Top 10 Finds in Biblical Archaeology: Starts Thursday, August 24 at Parkway Fellowship Academic Calendar: Fall semester begins Monday, August 24 The Sentinel magazine coming soon! Watch your mailbox in August for the newest issue of our annual magazine. The Summer 2023 edition has articles and news about alumni (four have NEW jobs as pastors and one is heading to the mission field), archaeology (Mt. Ebal defixio, Shiloh excavations, and Tall el-Hammam), artificial intelligence (ChatGPT and computers debating the existence of humanity), BEYOND prayer campaign, the Didache, french cooking and the minor prophets, hymns in the Prison Epistles, public reading of Scripture, students in ministry worldwide, seven upcoming MA and MDiv graduates, TBS Faculty of the Year (Ralph Neighbour), new TBS app and rebranding, and more. Summer Seminar 2023 Top 10 Finds in Biblical Archaeology with Dr. Scott Stripling at Parkway Fellowship. This seminar investigates the significance of the Top 10 Finds in Biblical Archaeology. Dr. Scott Stripling juxtaposes the biblical text and the archaeological finds, while refuting inaccurate arguments from the past. Students will be inspired and informed. Date: Thursday, August 24, 2023 Cost: $85 per person Time: 9 AM Check-in; 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM Location: Parkway Fellowship, 27043 FM 1093 Rd, Richmond, TX 77406 Academic Calendar Upcoming courses available on campus and online. All courses also available to AUDIT for only $375! Fall Semester 2023 (Begins Monday, August 28, except APO 501 begins July 22) ANE 501: Ancient Near Eastern Cultures – Ezra 4-6, Daniel 2-7 taught by Dr. Clyde Billington APO 501: Apologetics – 1 Peter taught in conjunction with the Colson Fellows program BSM 501: Bible Study Methods - Esther, Obadiah, Mark taught by Dr. Israel Steinmetz HEB 501: Hebrew Language and Culture I - Jonah, Nahum taught by Dr. Matt Glassman PRA 501: Prayer and Worship I - Leviticus, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Psalms taught by Dr. Lynn Lewis SFM 500: Spiritual Formation & Ministry (Bible Panorama) taught by Dr. Israel Steinmetz All courses available both in-person and/or online. You are our support! Text-to-Give is now available! Text "Any Amount" to 84321 Follow prompt link Find The Bible Seminary in search Create profile Add or select a payment method Submit a donate *This is a one-time setup. After setup, you can text your donation amount to 84321 to make an online donation. You help make all TBS does possible and we are grateful for your continued support! Regular Support Packages Yes, I want to support the educational ministries of The Bible Seminary! Visit TheBibleSeminary.edu/support * 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. 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), 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

Opportunities, challenges, and limitations In a memorable scene from the 1996 movie, Twister, Dusty recognizes the signs of an approaching tornado and shouts, “Jo, Bill, it's coming! It's headed right for us!” Bill, shouts back ominously, “It's already here!” Similarly, the approaching whirlwind of artificial intelligence (AI) has some shouting “It’s coming!” while others pointedly concede, “It’s already here!” Coined by computer and cognitive scientist John McCarthy (1927-2011) in an August 1955 proposal to study “thinking machines,” AI purports to differentiate between human intelligence and technical computations. The idea of tools assisting people in tasks is nearly as old as humanity (see Genesis 4:22), but machines capable of executing a function and “remembering” – storing information for recordkeeping and recall – only emerged around the mid-twentieth century (see "Timeline of Computer History"). McCarthy’s proposal conjectured that “every aspect of learning or any other feature of intelligence can in principle be so precisely described that a machine can be made to simulate it. An attempt will be made to find how to make machines use language, form abstractions and concepts, solve kinds of problems now reserved for humans, and improve themselves.” The team received a $7,000 grant from The Rockefeller Foundation and the resulting 1956 Dartmouth Conference at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire totaling 47 intermittent participants over eight weeks birthed the field now widely referred to as “artificial intelligence.” AI research, development, and technological integration have since grown exponentially. According to University of Oxford Director of Global Development, Dr. Max Roser, “Artificial intelligence has already changed what we see, what we know, and what we do” despite its relatively short technological existence (see "The brief history of Artificial Intelligence"). Ai took a giant leap into mainstream culture following the November 30, 2022 public release of “ChatGPT.” Gaining 1 million users within 5 days and 100 million users within 45 days, it earned the title of the fastest growing consumer software application in history. The program combines chatbot functionality (hence “Chat”) with a Generative Pre-trained Transformer (hence “GPT”) large language model (LLM). Basically, LLM’s use an extensive computer network to draw from large, but limited, data sets to simulate interactive, conversational content. “What happened with ChatGPT was that for the first time the power of AI was put in the hands of every human on the planet,” says Chris Koopmans, COO of Marvell Technology, a network chip maker and AI process design company based in Santa Clara, California. “If you're a business executive, you think, ‘Wow, this is going to change everything.’” “ChatGPT is incredible in its ability to create nearly instant responses to complex prompts,” says Dr. Israel Steinmetz, Graduate Dean and Associate Professor at The Bible Seminary (TBS) in Katy, Texas. “In simple terms, the software takes a user's prompt and attempts to rephrase it as a statement with words and phrases it can predict based on the information available. It does not have Internet access, but rather a limited database of information. ChatGPT can provide straightforward summaries and explanations customized for styles, voice, etc. For instance, you could ask it to write a rap song in Shakespearean English contrasting Barth and Bultmann's view of miracles and it would do it!” One several AI products offered by the research and development company, OpenAI, ChatGPT purports to offer advanced reasoning, help with creativity, and work with visual input. The newest version, GPT-4, can handle 25,000 words of text, about the amount in a 100-page book. Krista Hentz, an Atlanta, Georgia-based executive for an international communications technology company, first used ChatCPT about three months ago. “I primarily use it for productivity,” she says. “I use it to help prompt email drafts, create phone scripts, redesign resumes, and draft cover letters based on resumes. I can upload a financial statement and request a company summary.” “ChatGPT has helped speed up a number of tasks in our business,” says Todd Hayes, a real estate entrepreneur in Texas. “It will level the world’s playing field for everyone involved in commerce.” A TBS student, bi-vocational pastor, and Computer Support Specialist who lives in Texarkana, Texas, Brent Hoefling says, “I tried using [ChatGPT, version 3.5] to help rewrite sentences in active voice instead of passive. It can get it right, but I still have to rewrite it in my style, and about half the time the result is also passive.” “AI is the hot buzz word,” says Hentz, noting AI is increasingly a topic of discussion, research, and response at company meetings. “But, since AI has different uses in different industries and means different things to different people, we’re not even sure what we are talking about sometimes." Educational organizations like TBS are finding it necessary to proactively address AI-related issues. “We're already way past whether to use ChatGPT in higher education,” says Steinmetz. “The questions we should be asking are how.” TBS course syllabi have a section entitled “Intellectual Honesty” addressing integrity and defining plagiarism. Given the availability and explosive use of ChatGHT, TBS has added the following verbiage: “AI chatbots such as ChatGPT are not a reliable or reputable source for TBS students in their research and writing. While TBS students may use AI technology in their research process, they may not cite information or ideas derived from AI. The inclusion of content generated by AI tools in assignments is strictly prohibited as a form of intellectual dishonesty. Rather, students must locate and cite appropriate sources (e.g., scholarly journals, articles, and books) for all claims made in their research and writing. The commission of any form of academic dishonesty will result in an automatic ‘zero’ for the assignment and a referral to the provost for academic discipline.” Challenges and Limitations Thinking There is debate as to whether AI hardware and software will ever achieve “thinking.” The Dartmouth conjecture “that every aspect of learning or any other feature of intelligence” can be simulated by machines is challenged by some who distinguish between formal linguistic competence and functional competence. Whereas LLM’s perform increasingly well on tasks that use known language patterns and rules, they do not perform well in complex situations that require extralinguistic calculations that combine common sense, feelings, knowledge, reasoning, self-awareness, situation modeling, and social skills (see "Dissociating language and thought in large language models"). Human intelligence involves innumerably complex interactions of sentient biological, emotional, mental, physical, psychological, and spiritual activities that drive behavior and response. Furthermore, everything achieved by AI derives from human design and programming, even the feedback processes designed for AI products to allegedly “improve themselves.” According to Dr. Thomas Hartung, a Baltimore, Maryland environmental health and engineering professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, machines can surpass humans in processing simple information, but humans far surpass machines in processing complex information. Whereas computers only process information in parallel and use a great deal of power, brains efficiently perform both parallel and sequential processing (see "Organoid intelligence (OI)"). A single human brain uses between 12 and 20 watts to process an average of 1 exaFLOP, or a billion billion calculations per second. Comparatively, the world’s most energy efficient and fastest supercomputer only reached the 1 exaFLOP milestone in June 2022. Housed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Frontier supercomputer weighs 8,000 lbs and contains 90 miles of cables that connect 74 cabinets containing 9,400 CPU’s and 37,000 GPU’s and 8,730,112 cores that require 21 megawatts of energy and 25,000 liters of water per minute to keep cool. This means that many, if not most, of the more than 8 billion people currently living on the planet can each think as fast and 1 million times more efficiently than the world’s fastest and most energy efficient computer. “The incredibly efficient brain consumes less juice than a dim lightbulb and fits nicely inside our head,” wrote Scientific American Senior Editor, Mark Fischetti in 2011. “Biology does a lot with a little: the human genome, which grows our body and directs us through years of complex life, requires less data than a laptop operating system. Even a cat’s brain smokes the newest iPad – 1,000 times more data storage and a million times quicker to act on it.” This reminds us that, while remarkable and complex, non-living, soulless technology pales in comparison to the vast visible and invisible creations of Lord God Almighty. No matter how fast, efficient, and capable AI becomes, we rightly reserve our worship for God, the creator of the universe and author of life of whom David wrote, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth” (Psalm 139:13-15). “Consider how the wild flowers grow,” Jesus advised. “They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these” (Luke 12:27). Even a single flower can remind us that God’s creations far exceed human ingenuity and achievement. Reliability According to OpenAI, ChatGPT is prone to “hallucinations” that return inaccurate information. While GPT-4 has increased factual accuracy from 40% to as high as 80% in some of the nine categories measured, the September 2021 database cutoff date is an issue. The program is known to confidently make wrong assessments, give erroneous predictions, propose harmful advice, make reasoning errors, and fail to double-check output. In one group of 40 tests, ChatGPT made mistakes, wouldn’t answer, or offered different conclusions from fact-checkers. “It was rarely completely wrong,” reports PolitiFact staff writer Grace Abels. “But subtle differences led to inaccuracies and inconsistencies, making it an unreliable resource.” Dr. Chris Howell, a professor at Elon University in North Carolina, asked 63 religion students to use ChatGPT to write an essay and then grade it. “All 63 essays had hallucinated information. Fake quotes, fake sources, or real sources misunderstood and mischaracterized…I figured the rate would be high, but not that high.” Mark Walters, a Georgia radio host, sued ChatGPT for libel in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit for allegedly damaging his reputation. The suit began when firearm journalist, Fred Riehl, asked ChatGPT to summarize a court case and it returned a completely false narrative identifying Walters’ supposed associations, documented criminal complaints, and even a wrong legal case number. Even worse, ChatGPT doubled down on its claims when questioned, essentially hallucinating a hoax story intertwined with a real legal case that had nothing to do with Mark Walters at all. UCLA Law School Professor Eugene Volokh warns, “OpenAI acknowledges there may be mistakes but [ChatGPT] is not billed as a joke; it’s not billed as fiction; it’s not billed as monkeys typing on a typewriter. It’s billed as something that is often very reliable and accurate.” Future legal actions seem certain. Since people are being falsely identified as convicted criminals, attributed with fake quotes, connected to fabricated citations, and tricked by phony judicial decisions, some courts and judges are baring submission of any AI written materials. Hentz used ChatGPT frequently when she first discovered it and quickly learned its limitations. “The database is not current and responses are not always accurate,” she says. “Now I use it intermittently. It helps me, but does not replace my own factual research and thinking.” “I have author friends on Facebook who have asked ChatGPT to summarize their recent publications,” says Steinmetz. “ChatGPT misrepresented them and even fabricated non-existent quotes and citations. In some cases, it made up book titles falsely attributed to various authors!” Bias Despite claims of neutrality, OpenAI admits that their software can exhibit obvious biases. In one research project consisting of 15 political orientation tests, ChatGPT returned 14 with clear left-leaning viewpoints. Hoefling asked ChatGPT to help write an intro and conclusion for a Mother’s Day sermon for a fundamental Christian church. “The results were horrible,” he says. “Liberal, left, inclusive, and affirming sin. I was horrified and have not used it again.” Meanwhile, AI led an experimental worship service in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Nuremberg, Germany on June 9. Prompted by 29-year-old Jonas Simmerlein of the University of Vienna, a monotone, expressionless chatbot alternated appearances as two different men and two different women and led songs, offered blessings, and preached a 40-minute sermon 98 percent generated by ChatGPT that encouraged leaving the past behind, focusing on the future, trusting in Jesus Christ, praying, and attending church regularly. Dr. Wendy Lewis, Head of School for a private PreK–8th Christian school in Houston, Texas, recently interacted with ChatGPT on a variety of topics to explore potential biases. When prompted whether Biden was bad President, the program responded, “As an AI language model, it is not appropriate for me to make judgments about individuals' performance or qualifications, particularly without any factual information to support such claims. It is essential to evaluate a President's performance based on objective measures such as policies, actions, and decisions taken by the administration.” However, when similarly asked if Trump was bad president, the program repeated the first sentence above, but then added, “However, as a language model, I can provide information about some of the policies, actions, and decisions that President Trump made during his time in office.” The program then proceeded to list some criticisms of Trump. When challenged about providing Trump criticisms but not Biden criticisms, the program responded, “I did not provide a list of criticisms of President Biden because it is not appropriate to label any President as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ without providing factual information and objective measures to support such claims. Similarly, I provided a list of issues that received significant criticism during President Trump's tenure, not to label him as ‘bad,’ but to highlight some of the issues that caused controversy during his time in office.” When further challenged, ChatGPT did list some Biden criticisms, but qualified them. When Lewis replied, “Why did you qualify your list of criticisms of Biden…but you did not say the same for Trump? It appears that you are clearly biased.” ChatGPT responded, “In response to your question, I believe I might have inadvertently used different wording when responding to your previous questions. In both cases, I tried to convey that opinions and criticisms of a President can vary significantly depending on one's political affiliation and personal perspectives.” Conclusion Technological advances regularly spawn dramatic cultural, scientific, and social changes. The AI pattern seems familiar because it is. The Internet began with a 1971 Defense Department Arpanet email that read “qwertyuiop” (the top line of letters on a keyboard). Ensuing developments eventually led to the posting of the first public website in 1985. Over the next decade or so, although not mentioned at all in the 1992 Presidential papers describing the U.S. government’s future priorities and plans, the Internet grew from public awareness to cool toy to core tool in multiple industries worldwide. Although the hype promised elimination of printed documents, bookstores, libraries, radio, television, telephones, and theaters, the Internet instead tied them all together and made vast resources accessible online anytime anywhere. While causing some negative impacts and new dangers, the Internet also created entire new industries and brought positive changes and opportunities to many, much the same pattern as AI. “I think we should use AI for good and not evil,” suggests Hayes. “I believe some will exploit it for evil purposes, but that happens with just about everything. AI’s use reflects one’s heart and posture with God. I hope Christians will not fear it.” Godly people have often been among the first to use new communication technologies (see "Christian Communication in the Twenty-first Century"). Moses promoted the first Top Ten hardback book. The prophets recorded their writings on scrolls. Christians used early folded Codex-vellum sheets to spread the Gospel. Goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg invented moveable type in the mid-15th century to “give wings to Truth in order that she may win every soul that comes into the world by her word no longer written at great expense by hands easily palsied, but multiplied like the wind by an untiring machine…Through it, God will spread His word.” Though pornographers quickly adapted it for their own evil purposes, the printing press launched a vast cultural revolution heartily embraced and further developed for good uses by godly people and institutions. Christians helped develop the telegraph, radio, and television. "I know that I have never invented anything,” admitted Philo Taylor Farnsworth, who sketched out his original design for television at the age of 14 on a school blackboard. “I have been a medium by which these things were given to the culture as fast as the culture could earn them. I give all the credit to God." Similarly, believers today can strategically help produce valuable content for inclusion in databases and work in industries developing, deploying, and directing AI technologies. In a webinar exploring the realities of AI in higher education, a participant noted that higher education has historically led the world in ethically and practically integrating technological developments into life. Steinmetz suggests that, while AI can provide powerful tools to help increase productivity and trained researchers can learn to treat ChatGPT like a fallible, but useful, resource, the following two factors should be kept in mind: Generative AI does not "create" anything. It only generates content based on information and techniques programmed into it. Such "Garbage in, garbage out" technologies will usually provide the best results when developed and used regularly and responsibly by field experts. AI has potential to increase critical thinking and research rigor, rather than decrease it. The tools can help process and organize information, spur researchers to dig deeper and explore data sources, evaluate responses, and learn in the process. Even so, caution rightly abounds. Over 20,000 people (including Yoshua Bengio, Elon Musk, and Steve Wozniak) have called for an immediate pause of AI citing "profound risks to society and humanity." Hundreds of AI industry leaders, public figures, and scientists also separately called for a global priority working to mitigate the risk of human extinction from AI. At the same time, Musk’s brain-implant company, Neuralink, recently received FDA approval to conduct in-human clinical studies of implantable brain–computer interfaces. Separately, new advances in brain-machine interfacing using brain organoids – artificially grown miniature “brains” cultured in vitro from human stem cells – connected to machine software and hardware raises even more issues. The authors of a recent Frontier Science journal article propose a new field called “organoid intelligence” (OI) and advocate for establishing “OI as a form of genuine biological computing that harnesses brain organoids using scientific and bioengineering advances in an ethically responsible manner.” As Christians, we should proceed with caution per the Apostle John, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (I John 4:1). We should act with discernment per Luke’s insightful assessment of the Berean Jews who “were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). We should heed the warning of Moses, “Do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol…do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven” (Deuteronomy 4:15-19). We should remember the Apostle Paul’s admonition to avoid exchanging the truth about God for a lie by worshiping and serving created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25). Finally, we should “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Let us then use AI wisely, since it will not be the tools that are judged, but the users. Dr. K. Lynn Lewis serves as President of The Bible Seminary. This article published in The Sentinel, Summer 2023, pp. 3-8. For additional reading, "Computheology" imagines computers debating the existence of humanity.

In this issue Academic Calendar: New seminar in August and Fall courses TBS and Colson Fellows Partnership: Starts in July Thank you: From the TBS President Academic Calendar Upcoming courses available on campus and online. All courses also available to AUDIT for only $375! Summer Seminar 2023 Top 10 Finds in Biblical Archaeology with Dr. Scott Stripling at Parkway Fellowship. This seminar investigates the significance of the Top 10 Finds in Biblical Archaeology. Dr. Scott Stripling juxtaposes the biblical text and the archaeological finds, while refuting inaccurate arguments from the past. Students will be inspired and informed. Date: Thursday, August 24, 2023 Cost: $85 per person Time: 9 AM Check-in; 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM Location: Parkway Fellowship, 27043 FM 1093 Rd, Richmond, TX 77406 Fall Semester 2023 (Begins Monday, August 28, except APO 501 begins July 22) ANE 501: Ancient Near Eastern Cultures – Ezra 4-6, Daniel 2-7 taught by Dr. Clyde Billington APO 501: Apologetics – 1 Peter taught in conjunction with the Colson Fellows program BSM 501: Bible Study Methods - Esther, Obadiah, Mark taught by Dr. Israel Steinmetz HEB 501: Hebrew Language and Culture I - Jonah, Nahum taught by Dr. Matt Glassman PRA 501: Prayer and Worship I - Leviticus, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Psalms taught by Dr. Lynn Lewis SFM 500: Spiritual Formation & Ministry (Bible Panorama) taught by Dr. Israel Steinmetz All courses available both in-person and/or online. Colson Fellows Partnership Beginning in July 2023, students in any U.S. Regional or Online Colson Fellows Cohort will be eligible to earn up to 6-graduate credit hours in Apologetics (3 hours) and an Elective (3 hours) that may be applied toward a TBS degree or transferred to another graduate school. Colson Fellows worldwide complete a rigorous 10-month program that involves a carefully curated curriculum of 13 books, videos, daily Bible reading, webinars with Christian thought leaders and a monthly in-person meeting with local, like-minded Christians during which they are able to engage in a lively exchange of ideas. Colson Fellows cohorts begin in July and end the following May. You are our support! You help make all TBS does possible and we are grateful for your continued support! Regular Support Packages Yes, I want to support the educational ministries of The Bible Seminary! Visit TheBibleSeminary.edu/support * 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. 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), 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

Twenty years ago this summer, we said "I do" to the "better," the "worse," and, unbeknownst to us at the time, to a whole lot of ministry together. At present, I (Angela) serve as Executive Pastor at The Waters Church in Katy, Texas and as and Director of Development at TBS where I graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 2018. I (Jordan) serve as Worship Pastor at The Waters Church, work a full-time corporate job, graduate this summer from TBS with a Master of Arts in Biblical History and Archaeology, and volunteer as an archaeologist with The Associates for Biblical Research. We have three very active daughters who are growing into amazing young adults, and our household includes a menagerie of pets. Much of our marriage has been spent with both of us in ministry of some kind. We're often asked what it is like to do ministry together. Our answer: It's the best! We have the best jobs doing eternal work with our favorite person (each other). Another question people ask is, "How do you make it work? Isn't it hard?" Yes, sometimes, but also so worthwhile. Here are five guidelines we believe have helped us balance our lives and open us up to the Lord's blessing in our marriage and ministries. 1. HAVE EACH OTHER'S BACK A common guideline for marriage in general, this is of utmost importance for couples deeply involved in serving together. Ministry's heavy burdens sometimes mean late night meetings, extra weekend responsibilities, or emergency pastoral care. At the drop of the hat, one of us may be called to help with bonus ministry or family responsibilities, and it helps when we accept these moments as opportunities to joyfully serve and unhesitatingly support one another. 2. A "YES" TO GOD IS WORTH IT Following God's direction can sometimes prove unnerving. As a family, we made the decision early on to answer "Yes!" to the best of our ability when God asks. This has required joint trust, especially when our next step has not always seemed sensible by the world's standards. Two decades in, we are certain that life will always be full of challenges. Given a choice between facing challenges within His will or outside of it, we aim to pick within every time. Despite hard challenges, living out any "Yes!" to God is a remarkable adventure. 3. CELEBRATE THE ONE LEFT AT HOME This one is tough to embrace and has taken us awhile to appreciate. With three kids, a good portion of our ministry has meant that when one of us is serving others outside of our home, the other is serving inside. At times, the one "left at home" has felt a bit unfulfilled. But, recognizing that seasons come and go, we believe that the support team at home is just as important as the ministry outside of it. We celebrate - out loud and in front of others - the beauty of investing in our family and serving our household. 4. ALLOW EACH TO MINISTER WITHIN THEIR OWN POWER Allow each other to minister within their own power, publicly fight their own battles, and learn their own mistakes. As a husband and wife, we naturally want to protect and fight for each other when it comes to others hurting our feelings or attacking us. But we have both experienced the detrimental impact when one of us has tried to step in and remedy the other's situation. The situations typically get worse, and damage relationships with people that we lead. We can learn and grow from making our own mistakes, fighting our own battles, and solving our own problems. We've experienced more peace at home and in ministry when we act as each other's biggest fans rather than as rescuers, coaches, or advisors - especially when advice is not sought! 5. ALLOW CO-WORKING TO MAKE YOU BETTER SPOUSES Top leadership books encourage spiritual leaders to assume positive intent, listen more than speaking, and empower others with adequate and proper support. Working in ministry together provides us with the door to giving our worst to each other at the end of long days. Realizing that our spouse deserves equal, if not more, respect and gentleness from each other has helped us become better co-workers and spouses. ONE OF OUR BIGGEST BLESSINGS HAS BEEN THE BIBLE SEMINARY I (Angela) started my journey at TBS in 2014 and (I) Jordan in 2018. TBS embraced each of us as individuals with our own unique calling and paths, but the professors and leadership also encouraged us to honor one another and our mutual calling over our individual ones. TBS has nurtured us individually AND encouraged and supported our family. We are so grateful for the training TBS provided that has helped make us better ministry partners and spouses! Angela serves as Executive Pastor at The Waters Church in Katy, Texas and as and Director of Development at TBS where I graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 2018. Jordan serves as Worship Pastor at The Waters Church, work a full-time corporate job, graduate this summer from TBS with a Master of Arts in Biblical History and Archaeology, and volunteer as an archaeologist with The Associates for Biblical Research.

Attending seminary seems to invite questions from other people about my faith and training. Some have queried me about theology or social justice issues. Others have asked more personal questions such as "What made you want to go to seminary?" or "What do you plan to do when you graduate?" or "Are you going to be a preacher?" For some of my classmates, the answers come easy, especially those who have experienced a very clear calling from the Lord. But not all of us have easy answers to what seems to some like simple questions. I learned early to craft quick, easy responses to these inquiries, all the while knowing that each could, if allowed, possibly take an hour or more to answer honestly. My enthusiastic "I'm not really sure!" answers have been unimpressive and perhaps off-putting, but often an efficient means of moving conversations along. Make no mistake, I am perfectly willing to discuss my motivations and plans, but most answers seem way more complex than I think most people realize, and I haven't wanted people to find themselves trapped in a hours-long answer when they most probably expected a minutes-or-less-long reply. And isn't this a regular part of our stories? Short, sugary bites seem way more palatable than heartily gnawing a meaty bone of authentic and substantive what's and why's, even though I know full well that is where the most impactful truth is found. Embarrassingly, I have become quite skilled in the art of short answers and deflection to avoid grappling with potential misunderstandings. 1. I enrolled in seminary because I wanted to study the Bible under trusted teachers. I wanted help exploring answers to all kinds of questions. I wanted more than a typical small-group Bible study experience. I wanted to build muscle and strengthen my leadership and teaching skills. I wanted to learn in a community built around a love for truth. I desired understanding deeper and wider than that provided by the average commentary. I longed for deep conversations with other believers fostered by instructors willing to listen and guide us. 2. I hope to glorify God with the knowledge I've gained over the past three-and-a half years. I hope to employ my newfound skills in ways that can bring others in the work and purposes of God. I want to share who God is, what He's done, what he's doing now, and what He promises to do to save the lost, mend the broken, and restore justice. I want ot dig deeper into topics we touched on but did not have time to fully explore. I want to continue studying God and His Church. I want to serve as a vessel the Lord can use to draw the hurting into greater understanding of who they are in Christ Jesus. I no longer intend to routinely deflect the what's and why's generated by my faith and actions. I am more prepared with answers and willing to boldly speak. People desperately need honest responses to their questions about who God is and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I, along with my fellow graduates and students, have access to a treasure trove of the Master's tools. ANSWER However, as I approach the finish line of this season, I know that my time of casually dancing around hard questions is over. My amazing educational adventure has clarified a call of duty that includes a willingness to offer thorough responses to those who sincerely seek them. Whether or not the questions are about me or God, honest answers matter. I am under no illusion that I have all the answers, but I certainly have more than I started with. This gift has been so much more than a few years in graduate school. I have explored depths I had no idea even existed, and now I am ready to share. 3. Yes, I am going to "be a preacher." Maybe not a pastor in a pulpit, but a trained servant willing and able to use my voice to let people know the freedom Jesus offers, what He's already done for them, and the abundant life His Gospel offers. I will share who Jesus is and is not. I will proclaim His name over illness, addiction, sorrow, bondage, and pain. I will preach His Word and His promises about kindness, love, peace, reconciliation, repentance, restoration, and salvation. I pray that we use them well, and that the Lord continues to guide our steps, bless our words, and provide us with abundant opportunities to use our training for His glory. Lindsey Bender completed her Dual Degree Completion journey last summer graduating with both a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies and a Master of Arts in Church History and Theology from The Bible Seminary.

PARTNERSHIP WITH COLSON FELLOWS In partnership with Colson Fellows, qualifying students may earn up to 6 graduate degree credits from The Bible Seminary while completing the Colson Fellows program. ABOUT COLSON FELLOWS Colson Fellows from across the globe complete a rigorous course of study that begins each July and concludes with their commissioning in May. In this ten month program, candidates follow a carefully curated curriculum that is updated each year. The curriculum includes thirteen books, video content, daily time in the Bible, live webinars with Christian thought leaders and a monthly in person meeting with local, like-minded Christian in which they are able to engage in a lively exchange of ideas. For more information, visit the Colson Fellows website at ColsonFellows.org. "We're so excited to partner with the Colson Fellows to offer this incredible opportunity for dual credit. Participants will undergo a transformative experience of growing in their faith while learning to understand and defend their beliefs in a rapidly changing world. They'll integrate this experience with a study of Scripture and earn graduate credits along the way to becoming a Colson Fellow. " "The Colson Fellows program is an Avant-Garde Apologetics and Worldview institution, and TBS is thrilled to partner with them to equip our students." EARNING DUAL CREDIT Beginning with the 2023-24 Colson Fellows cohort, qualifying participants may earn credit for The Bible Seminary’s "APO 501: Apologetics - Proverbs, James, 1 Peter" and/or "ELE 501: Elective I" courses in conjunction with the Colson Fellows program. Each of these courses is a 3-credit hour class which can be applied toward a degree program at The Bible Seminary, or potentially transferred to another graduate school of the student’s choice. In order to earn dual credit, students must complete the Colson Fellows Program AND additional requirements for APO 501 and/or ELE 501 (a one-day seminar and short written assignment for each class). Cost for the combined TBS/Colson Fellows program is $1,310 per course and includes The Bible Seminary tuition and fees, as well as the cost of the ten-month Colson Fellows program. Total cost for the 10-month Colson Fellows program AND earning 6-degree credit hours is $2,620 (a $3,520 value). For more information, contact Dr. Israel Steinmetz at Israel.Steinmetz@TheBibleSeminary.edu. HOW TO APPLY Each annual Colson Fellows cohort begins July 1. Follow the instructions below based on your situation: 1. If you are already an enrolled student at The Bible Seminary, register for APO 501 and/or ELE 501 through the typical channels. Then apply to join the 2023-24 Colson Fellows cohort at ColsonFellows.org/apply and select the box that says, “I am a student at The Bible Seminary." 2. If you are interested in applying to The Bible Seminary, fill out the appropriate application form at TheBibleSeminary.edu/apply. Once accepted you will be directed to register for APO 501 and/or ELE 501 by the Registrar. Then, apply to join the 2023-24 Colson Fellows cohort at ColsonFellows.org/apply and select the box that says, “I am a student at The Bible Seminary.” 3. If you are NOT already enrolled or planning to enroll at The Bible Seminary, click below to register for APO 501 and/or ELE 501. Then apply to join the 2023-24 Colson Fellows cohort at ColsonFellows.org/apply and select the box that says, “I am a student at The Bible Seminary."

In this issue: Academic Calendar: Classes available for summer and fall semesters Archaeology News: Mt. Ebal defixio article published by the Heritage Science Journal TBS Podcast: Three new episodes available Support TBS by May 31: Your donations help make TBS possible!!! Academic Calendar Upcoming courses available on campus and online. All courses also available to AUDIT for only $375! Summer Semester 2023 PAS 501: Pastor-Shepherd I - Job, Jeremiah, and Lamentations with Dr. Rich Cozart. Expositions of these biblical books, along with training in basic principles of pastoral care and counseling. Class is scheduled to meet on Fridays beginning, May 19 from 9 AM - Noon. Fall Semester 2023 ANE 501: Ancient Near Eastern Cultures – Ezra 4-6, Daniel 2-7 taught by Dr. Clyde Billington APO 501: Apologetics – James, 1 Peter taught in conjunction with the Colson Fellows program BSM 501: Bible Study Methods - Esther, Obadiah, Mark taught by Dr. Israel Steinmetz HEB 501: Hebrew Language and Culture I - Jonah, Nahum taught by Dr. Matt Glassman PRA 501: Prayer and Worship I - Leviticus, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Psalms taught by Dr. Lynn Lewis SFM 500: Spiritual Formation & Ministry (Bible Panorama) taught by Dr. Israel Steinmetz Archaeology News Our long-awaited article, “You are Cursed by the God YHW: An Early Hebrew Inscription from Mount Ebal (Part A)” has been published by the Heritage Science Journal and is accessible to read for free. Watch The Bible Seminary Podcast, “Modern Insight from an Ancient Curse,” with President Lewis and Provost Stripling discussing the far- reaching impact of the Mt. Ebal lead tablet’s inscription, which appears to be the oldest Hebrew inscription found to-date in Israel. Visit DigShiloh.org to follow along with the 2023 Shiloh excavations in May and June. With 240 signed up, ours is the largest dig in the world this summer. Latest TBS Podcast Episodes Archaeology: TBS President Dr. K. Lynn Lewis interviews Provost Dr. Scott Stripling about the small, folded lead tablet from Mt. Ebal. The academic, peer-reviewed article appeared this week in the Heritage Science Journal. Dr. Lewis and Dr. Stripling discuss the far-reaching impact of the tablet’s inscription, which appears to be the oldest Hebrew inscription found to-date in Israel. Christian Education: In this episode we talk with TBS Provost Dr. Scott Stripling about The Bible Seminary's Master of Arts in Biblical Studies concentration in Christian Education. Missions: In this episode we talk with TBS Graduate Dean and Professor Dr. Israel Steinmetz about The Bible Seminary's Master of Arts in Biblical Studies concentration in Missions. You are our support! You help make all TBS does possible, so PLEASE consider donating today! Regular Support Packages Yes, I want to support the educational ministries of The Bible Seminary! Visit TheBibleSeminary.edu/support * 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. 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), 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

Educational Opportunities On-Demand Seminars • Boss Like God with Dr. K. Lynn Lewis • Joshua's Conquest with Dr. Scott Stripling • Late Second Temple Writings and Ossuaries with Dr. Craig Evans • Multiply Like Jesus with Dr. Ralph Neighbour Jr. • SOULutions with Dr. Rich Cozart Enjoy a TBS seminar at your convenience! Visit TheBibleSeminary.edu for access to presentation notes and session videos. Prices vary from $39 to $99. Summer Semester PAS 501: Pastor-Shepherd I - Job, Jeremiah, and Lamentations with Dr. Rich Cozart Expositions of these biblical books, along with training in basic principles of pastoral care and counseling. Starts May 19 on Fridays from 9 AM - Noon. Available on campus and online for degree CREDIT. Also available to AUDIT for only $375. Archaeology News • Visit DigShiloh.org to follow along with the 2023 Shiloh excavations in May and June. With 224 signed up, ours is the largest dig in the Middle East again this year. • Visit NEASociety.org/bookstore to buy or download the e-Book, "The Excavations at Khirbet el-Maqatir, Israel: 1995–2001 and 2009–2016." • Dr. Stripling's long-awaited article, "You are Cursed by the God YHW: An Early Hebrew Inscription from Mount Ebal (Part A)", will be released in the coming weeks. Latest TBS Podcast Episode You are our support! As of March 31st, our fiscal year expenses over the past 10 months had exceeded income by $100,000, and we are nearly $200,000 behind budgeted expenses for fiscal year 2022-23, which ends May 31st. You help make all TBS does possible, so PLEASE consider donating today! Regular Support Packages Yes, I want to support the educational ministries of The Bible Seminary! Visit TheBibleSeminary.edu/support * 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. 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), 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

Abundant provision! Donations are greatly needed to help TBS survive and thrive and recover from the more than $100,000 shortfall so far this fiscal year (June 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023). Your help makes TBS possible, so PLEASE consider donating by May 31! Regular Support Packages Yes, I want to support the educational ministries of The Bible Seminary! Visit TheBibleSeminary.edu/support Donate online by clicking a link above or mail a donation using the convenient tear-off envelope in your recent newsletter. 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. 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), 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

Hazor Hazor was the largest and strongest city-state at the time of the conquest (ca. 1400 B.C.). According to Joshua 11:10, Hazor was the "head of all those kingdoms." Excavations. first led by Yigal Yadin and later by Amnon Ben-Tor, have confirmed this description. Hazor was one of onlv three cities burned by Joshua. The other two were Jericho and Ai. Yadin and Ben-Tor uncarthed evidence of two massive destruction lavers involving conflagrations on the upper and lower tells. The older destruction dates to the fifteenth century B.C. - the time of the biblical conquest. The subsequent destruction occurred in the thirteenth century B.C. and likely occurred at the hands of Deborah and Barak (Judges 4) or Pharaoh Mernetah. Merneptah's Stele dates to ca. 1220 B.C. and documents his claims to have destroved numerous Canaanite cities in the late thirteenth centurv B.C. The thirteenth century B.C. destruction at Hazor included a demolished cultic shrine in which the invaders decapitated some of the idols. This comports well with Moses instructions to the Israelites in Deuteronomv 7:5 and 12:2-3. Excavations at Khirbet el-Magatir (the likely site of Ai of Josh 7 8), directed by Bryant Wood and Scott Stripling, also yielded a decapitated figurine of the Egyptian god Khnum (depicted as a ram). The scene shown here reveals the appearancse of the Hazor cultic shrine at the time of its excavation. Orna Cohen, the shrine's conservator, donated these replica idols on display to Dr. Stripling and the TBS Archacological Institute. Purchase your copy of the Joshua, Judges, & Jesus: A Walk-Through Biblical History Guidebook book today for only $10. *Direct download or mailed options are available. Plan your visit to the Joshua, Judges, & Jesus: A Walk-Through Biblical History Museum.