Baptism, Temptation, and Disciples Most scholars agree that Mark was the first Gospel and both Matthew and Luke made liberal usage of Mark, going so far as to lift entire passages without changing a word. Mark tells a simple, straightforward story of an itinerant preacher and miracle worker who begins as a follower of John … Continue reading Real Bible Studies, The Gospel of Mark
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Real Bible Studies, Matthew 13, Parables and Prophecies
Parables Matthew relates more lessons from Yeshua, and these are delivered in the form of parables. They all relate to the central conflict of the Gospel, separating true believers from the hangers-on and wannabes. They also highlight Yeshua’s tendency to obscure his message to the crowds who follow him, relaying his true meaning only to … Continue reading Real Bible Studies, Matthew 13, Parables and Prophecies
Real Bible Studies: Matthew 11
Messengers from John After giving his disciples their marching orders, Yeshua is approached by messengers from John, inquiring if he’s the leader John has been predicting. Rather that state it outright, Yeshua instructs the messengers to report what they’ve seen to John and let him decide. In much of Christian orthodoxy, John is heralded as … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: Matthew 11
Real Bible Studies: Matthew 9-10
Tax Collectors and Sinners Yeshua returns to Capernaum, where the crowd brings out a paralyzed man. Yeshua is quick to forgive his sins, which raises charges of blasphemy from the scribes. To counter this, Yeshua tells the man to rise, take up his bed and walk, which the individual does, astounding the crowd. Afterward, we’re … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: Matthew 9-10
Real Bible Studies: Matthew, Healings & Miracles
Matthew 8 Following the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew provides a chapter detailing several healing miracles performed by Yeshua. These mostly take place around Capernaum, which is Yeshua’s main base of operations for this part of the Gospel. Matthew’s concentration on the teachings and healings of Yeshua lend weight to the notion that Yeshua is … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: Matthew, Healings & Miracles
Real Bible Studies: Matthew, Baptism and Temptation
After the drama of Yeshua’s birth and his family’s escape to Egypt, Matthew skips ahead to the baptism by John, when Yeshua was an adult. Here, we get another prophecy, foretelling John’s ministry. For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: Matthew, Baptism and Temptation
Real Bible Studies: The Gospels
While most are familiar with the four canonical gospels found in the Bible, early Christianity produced many gospels, one for just about every notable follower of Jesus. The Gnostics were some of the most prolific in this endeavor, issuing gospels for Peter, Thomas, Mary Magdalene, and even Judas Iscariot. There are surviving relicts of the … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: The Gospels
The Guides: Billy and Nash
“Why do act like you know me?” Billy says. “I do know you,” Nash replies. “I’ve been watching out for you for quite some time.” “Watching out for me? In what way?” “What if I mentioned your near mishap at the Parkway Bridge around the time you were twenty?” Nash says. “You needed someone watching … Continue reading The Guides: Billy and Nash
Ashes, Mylene
Mylene Messner stood on the porch of the home she shared with her husband, Zachariah, watching as he drove away in his light blue Chevy Rambler. She lingered a long while, knowing it was the last time she’d ever see him, then went inside and began clearing away the breakfast dishes and washing them. She … Continue reading Ashes, Mylene
Real Bible Studies: The Book of Daniel
Daniel begins with Jerusalem being sacked by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar and the prominent families taken off into exile. The narrative states that Daniel entered service to the Babylonian king at the beginning of the exile, which happened between 597-586 BCE, and that he remained in royal service until Cyrus of Persia allowed the Jews … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: The Book of Daniel