Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversation’s With Jehovah’s Witnesses – Interpreting the Bible Stephen Bedard, June 29, 2021June 29, 2021 I started meeting again with the Jehovah’s Witness that I had been meeting with a year or so back. I’m not thinking I’m going to convert him, but it is a way for me to learn. What I’m looking for is not to debate the fine details, such as the… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog “The Bible Clearly Says…” Stephen Bedard, June 11, 2021June 11, 2021 Whenever there is a controversial issue being discussed, very often someone will begin a statement with “The Bible clearly says” and then whatever they want to express. Is that a helpful way to debate important topics? The problem with saying “the Bible clearly says” is what we really mean is… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Grasping God’s Word – Review Stephen Bedard, April 21, 2020April 21, 2020 I strongly believe that one of the most important skills for any Christian, whether pastor or layperson, is to be able to correctly interpret the Bible. It is in interpretation that we often stumble. A great resource that I have come across is Grasping God’s Word by J. Scott Duvall… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Reading the Bible in Context Stephen Bedard, November 23, 2018November 23, 2020 I believe that a lot of our problems and misunderstandings about the Bible and Christianity would be solved if we read Bible passages in context. I love it when Greg Koukl reminds us to “never read a Bible verse.” He doesn’t mean never read the Bible, just never stop with… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 5 Questions to Ask When Reading the Bible Stephen Bedard, January 27, 2017January 14, 2022 Bible reading is good. Responsible Bible reading is better. It is not enough to just randomly open a Bible and put your finger down on a verse. There are some good practices that people can use to read the Bible appropriately. One of the ways to do this is to… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Kevin Vanhoozer on Protestant Interpretive Anarchy Stephen Bedard, September 23, 2016September 30, 2019 Kevin Vanhoozer is a theologian that I greatly respect. In this helpful video, he addresses some of the criticisms that people have brought against protestantism due to differences in biblical interpretation. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 30 Day Apologetics Challenge: Day 21 Stephen Bedard, January 22, 2016September 24, 2019 Study Hermeneutics If I had to choose the number one need within the church, I would say that it is knowledge of the Bible. If I had to choose number two, it would be the need to interpret the Bible correctly. It is wonderful when people read the Bible but… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Does Revelation 3:10-11 Teach the Rapture? Stephen Bedard, December 13, 2015December 11, 2019 I came across an internet meme with the following message, “The Rapture in the Book of Revelation: Revelation 3:10,11.” Does this passage really teach the rapture? “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Stealing Girls and Biblical Interpretation Stephen Bedard, March 31, 2015July 4, 2019 One of the most important skills that a Christian can develop is biblical interpretation. Judges is a book that gives us plenty of opportunities to grow our skills in biblical interpretation. Judges 21 is just one example. Here is the story. In the previous chapter, the Israelites went to war… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What is a Bible Promise? Stephen Bedard, February 18, 2015September 9, 2019 I frequently hear people say that the Bible promises this or the Bible promises that. But what does that mean? Is it as simple as saying that anything the Bible says must be a promise for us to hold on to? Some would think so. I would like to express… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 7 Keys to Biblical Interpretation Stephen Bedard, January 15, 2015July 10, 2019 Biblical interpretation is one of the most important skills for a Christian. This is something not just for a pastor or a professor. The Christian who reads five verses before bed needs to know how to interpret the Bible. Here are seven keys that will help you to interpret the… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Key to Interpreting the Book of Revelation Stephen Bedard, November 29, 2014August 17, 2019 Revelation is the most misinterpreted book in the entire Bible. The reason for this is very simple. The problem is the starting point. Many people begin their interpretation of Revelation with their newspaper or television. They see what is happening in the world and then interpret Revelation through that lens…. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What Does “Unequally Yoked” Mean? Stephen Bedard, October 14, 2014April 18, 2019 We should interpret the Bible by what we read. However, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 is an example of a passage that others have interpreted for us before we ever read open the Bible. “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” (2 Cor 6:14) Many Christians read this a passage as a… Continue Reading