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The Great Commission through the Bible

Julian Spriggs M.A.

Introduction

Churches today rightly stress the importance of the Great Commission, the call to spread the Gospel throughout the world. Matthew describes the commission as making disciples of all nations, baptising them, and teaching them to obey everything that Jesus taught (Mt 28:18-19). Mark describes it as going into all the world and proclaiming the good news to the whole of creation (Mk 16:15).

However, this missionary call did not start with the coming of Jesus, but has been in the heart of God throughout history. The Great Commission was certainly not an after-thought, but can be seen consistently through the OT as the centre of the purposes of God. The aim of this page is to trace God’s plan and desire for the nations to come to salvation through the Bible, with a particular focus on the OT, but moving into the NT and the early church.

Origin of the nations (Gen 1-11)

Through the first eleven chapters of the Book of Genesis the narrative includes the whole of humanity before the focus narrows after the call and promise to Abraham in chapter 12.

When God created human beings, they were told to “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it ...” (Gen 1:28). After the great flood this command was repeated to Noah and his family (Gen 9:1-7). God’s intention was that human beings would spread throughout the world and live in the knowledge of God the Creator, and worship him. This command is essentially the basis of the Great Commission.

However, because of sin and rebellion, this did not happen. There was a gradual loss of knowledge of the One True God, so worship of him was replaced by worship of idols and heavenly bodies like the sun, moon and the stars, but also including the ancestors of the nations (Rom 1:18-23). Instead of spreading out, people stayed and settled in one place. This is where they built the Tower of Babel to avoid being scattered over the face of the earth (Gen 11:4). Because humanity had refused to spread around the world, God confused the languages, thus forcing them to separate and scatter (Gen 11:7-8). This was the origin of the nations described in the Table of the Nations (Gen 10).

Israel’s call to be a light to the nations (Patriarchs)

Chapter 12 in Genesis marks a significant turning point. Before this point, the whole of humanity had been scattered into families and nations in order to limit the amount of evil. God then chose one of these families to demonstrate to the other nations that God provides a way of salvation. He did this by giving them a greater revelation of his nature and character, and how to come into a relationship with him. This is known as ‘special revelation’. God chose one man, Abram, and appeared to him, making him an important promise, known as the Abrahamic covenant. Abram was told to leave his life in Ur and Haran and move to a place God will show him.

The promise to Abraham had three specific parts, the first is that God would give him land, the second is that God will create a nation from his offspring, and thirdly that through him all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Gen 12:1-3). The offspring of Abram (his seed) is to be a blessing to all the peoples, or families, on the earth. This was certainly not an exclusive narrowing down of the blessing, but provided a method of that blessing ultimately reaching all nations.

The promise of being a blessing to the nations was repeated several times during Abraham’s life (Gen 18:18, 22:18), then to his son Isaac (Gen 26:4), and to his grandson Jacob (Gen 28:14).

Privilege and responsibility

The people of Israel, the descendants of Abraham, had the particular privilege of receiving the special revelation of God, and how to attain salvation through faith in God’s word. They also were given the responsibility to make this message available to all the nations. The calling of Israel was ‘To know God, and to make him known’. Unfortunately through the history of the OT, they tended to enjoy the privileges of knowing God, boasting about having his law, living in the land, and enjoying his blessings, but generally they failed in their task to make him known to the nations.

However, consistently through the OT we can see that God’s desire was to use Israel to bless the nations, and sometimes this actually happened, particularly when non-Israelite people came to know and worship the One True God.

Job

It is difficult to be certain when Job lived, but much of the content of his book fits the time of the Patriarchs, when there was no organised priestly worship, and worship of God was conducted by the head of the family. Job appears to have been a leading citizen of Uz, and an elder of the city, well-respected by the leaders of the land, and described as the greatest of all the people of the east (Job 1:3). It seems that Job was a godly man living around the time of Abraham, but not part of his family, so would not be considered to be an Israelite. He can be considered to be an example of a godly Gentile in the OT.

Jethro

Jethro was the father-in-law of Moses, and is described as a priest of Midian (Ex 18:1). He rejoiced when Moses told him about the way the LORD had delivered the Israelites out of Egypt (Ex 18:9). He also gave Moses advice about how to organise the legal system of the Israelites (Ex 18:27). Like Job, Jethro was not an Israelite, but was the leader of a Midianite tribe who lived in the Sinai desert. The Midianites were descendants of Abraham, but through the line of Keturah, rather than Sarah, so Jethro too can be considered to be an example of godly Gentile in the OT.

Exodus and the law

On the day of the Exodus from Egypt about 600,000 Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. It is interesting to note that along with the Israelites there was a mixed crowd that went up with them (Ex 12:38). These were evidently non-Israelites, so could include Egyptians who want to worship Yahweh, and identify with the Israelites, but could also include people of other nationalities. There are often fascinating hints like this through the narratives of the OT, but it is a bit frustrating that more details are not always given.

The law of Moses had provision of including non-Israelites (foreigners) into the community of Israel. Israel was commanded to ‘love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt’ (Deut 10:19). Because the Israelites were organised in to tribes and families, all being able to trace their family line back to Abraham and the Patriarchs, any stranger would be a non-Israelite, or Gentile.

Strangers were also to join in the rejoicing of the festival of booths (tabernacles), along with the slaves, Levites, orphans and widows (Deut 16:14). The strangers were welcomed to join the worship and thanksgiving of the Jewish festivals.

When the law was given to Moses on Mt Sinai, the introduction was as follows, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation ...” (Ex 19:3-6). God described Israel as his treasured possession, but also declared that the whole earth belongs to him. He gave Israel the calling to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The nation of Israel was to act as a priest to all the other nations. A priest is a mediator between God and human beings, so Israel was called to bring the revelation of God to the other nations, and to intercede for the nations. It is significant that the church has the same priestly and missionary calling (1 Pet 2:9).

Crossing into the Promised Land

Throughout the OT great acts of God are described, and frequently these are done so that the nations may see the power and majesty of the One True God, and to demonstrate that his power is greater than the idols. The plagues of Egypt had the purpose of showing the Egyptians the power of God (eg. Ex 7:17, 9:14).

After crossing the River Jordan, the Israelites erected a pile of stones taken from the bed of the river. Then Joshua said this, “For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we crossed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and that you may fear the LORD your God forever” (Josh 4:23-24). These miraculous acts of God were to serve as a sign to the nations, as well as being faith-building events that the Israelites could remember in their history.

Rahab, the Canaanite prostitute

Rahab was commended for her faith because she protected the two Hebrew spies in Jericho (Josh 2:1-21). Because of her faith, she did not perish along with the disobedient people of Jericho (Heb 11:31, James 2:25). She is included in the genealogy of Jesus, as the mother of Boaz, the husband of Ruth, and ancestor of David (Mt 1:5).

Israel in the land

When David challenged Goliath, he declared that the LORD will deliver him into his hand, with the result that, “all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Sam 17:46). Again, this was not merely a faith-building victory of Israel, but also a demonstration of the power of God to the nations.

This same plan for the whole world is expressed in several of the psalms. Psalm 67 is seen as a missionary psalm, expressing the outworking of the original promise to Abraham: “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, and your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you O God; let all the peoples praise you. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon the earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him” (Ps 67:1-7).

A similar message is seen in Psalm 96, where all the earth is called to sing to the Lord, and to declare his glory among the nations (Ps 96:1-10), and in Psalm 117 too.

Ruth, the Moabitess

Ruth, who was also included in the genealogy of Jesus (Mt 1:5) was from Moab. The Moabites were descended from Lot, the nephew of Abraham. The Book of Ruth describes how she desired to identify with her mother-in-law Naomi, saying, “your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). She later married Boaz and became the ancestor of David (Ruth 4:17).

Monarchy

During the reign of David and his son Solomon, the nation of Israel grew to its greatest geographical extent and became a powerful nation. The God-given wisdom of Solomon became famous, and was declared to be greater than the wisdom of the nations (1 Kg 4:29-30). He received a visit from the Queen of Sheba, who came to test him with hard questions (1 Kg 10:1-10). The location of Sheba is debated, but this account gives an example of how the knowledge and wisdom of God were shown to a non-Israelite nation.

After the division of the kingdom, Israel, the northern kingdom, had frequent battles with the Syrians, or Arameans. Naaman, the commander of the army of Syria suffered from leprosy. The Arameans had captured a slave-girl from Israel, who served Naaman’s wife. She told her mistress about the prophet Elisha who could cure Naaman of the leprosy (2 Kg 5:1-14). This was example of an Israelite telling a non-Israelite about the power of God.

Isaiah and the prophets

Many of the prophets spoke about God’s plan for the nations. Probably the most important of these was Isaiah, who frequently expressed God’s desire for the nations to come to him.

He calls to the nations (the ends of the earth) to turn to God, and be saved (Is 45:22). The salvation given to Israel is also available to the Gentile nations.

In the second of the so-called ‘servant songs’ Isaiah predicts that God’s servant will restore the survivors of Israel, will become a light to the nations, so that God’s salvation will reach to the end of the earth (Is 49:6). The servant will come for Israel, but also to fulfil the promise to the nations originally given to Abraham.

He also gives an important word to the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD. They will keep the Sabbath and bring offerings to the temple, which he describes as ‘a house of prayer for all peoples’ (Is 56:6-8). This is the passage quoted by Jesus when he cleared the money-changers from the Court of the Gentiles (Mt 21:13, Mk 11:17, Lk 19:46).

The outer court of Herod’s temple was called the ‘Court of the Gentiles’. The intention was that non-Israelites could enter to this point, listen to the worship of Yahweh, and learn from Rabbis who often taught crowds of people in the covered areas like Solomon’s Porch. By allowing the money-changers to occupy this space, Israel was failing in their responsibility to make God known to the nations, which explains the anger expressed by Jesus. This action can also be seen as a foretaste of the destruction of the temple which would take place about forty years later in AD 70.

Isaiah ends his message with a promise that God will gather all nations and tongues so that they will see his glory (Is 66:18-21).

This message for the nations is also seen in the other prophets. At his call, Jeremiah was appointed to be ‘a prophet to the nations’ (Jer 1:5). He predicts a glorious future when Jerusalem will be restored and all the nations will gather to it (Jer 3:17). Habakkuk predicts a time when the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea (Hab 2:14). Malachi declares, “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations” (Mal 1:11).

A negative witness to the nations

Unfortunately, for much of their history, instead of being a light to the nations, Israel followed the ways of the nations by worshipping their idols. Some of the prophets spoke about this, saying that the nations will scorn and mock Israel, particularly when they come under God’s judgement. An example of this is in the Book of Ezekiel (Ezek 5:5-17). Because of their disobedience, rebellion and failure to follow God’s statutes, God will scatter them and cut them off. God warns that, “I will make you a desolation and an object of mocking among the nations around you, in the sight of all who pass by. You shall be a mockery and a taunt, a warning and a horror, to the nations around you ...” (Ezek 5:14-15).

Jonah

The purpose of the story of Jonah is to show God’s heart for the nations. After being called by God to go and preach in Nineveh, Jonah ran away. This was not because he was afraid, but because he did not want the Assyrians to repent, and therefore avoid God’s judgement. After the Assyrians turned away from their evil ways, Jonah was angry, and declared, “O LORD! Is this not what I said when I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you were a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing” (Jonah 4:2). Like all of Israel, Jonah did not want the terrible Assyrians to receive God’s mercy and salvation.

Pagan kings acknowledging the One True God

One of the important themes of the Book of Daniel is that pagan kings are brought to the point of having to acknowledge the One True God. After Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the king fell on his face and declared, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries ...” (Dan 2:47). After being humbled by God and forced to eat grass like an ox, Nebuchadnezzar had to praise, extol and honour the King of heaven (Dan 4:37). Later, Darius of the Persians had to recognise the power of the God of Daniel after Daniel was saved from the power of the lions (Dan 6:25-28).

The ministry of Jesus

Jesus had a particular calling to the Jews, but he often praised examples of Gentiles who had faith. The accounts in the Gospels show that he came to the Jews, but his message was also for the nations.

Matthew starts his Gospel with the genealogy of Jesus, tracing his lineage back to David and Abraham (Mt 1:1), therefore showing that he fulfilled the promise originally given to Abraham to be a blessing to the nations. This genealogy is unusual in that it includes a number of significant believing Gentile women. These include Rahab, the Canaanite prostitute, who protected the Hebrew spies and Ruth the Moabitess (Mt 1:5).

In his birth narrative, Matthew describes the visit of the wise men (magi) to the infant Jesus. Not much is known about who these people are, but they are not Jewish. Therefore they are an example of Gentiles who had faith and wanted to worship Jesus, the Jewish Messiah and King of the Jews (Mt 2:1-12).

Jesus commended the faith of the Roman centurion in Capernaum who trusted the Jesus could merely say the word and his servant would be healed. Jesus was amazed and declared, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith” (Lk 7:1-10).

On one of the few occasions that Jesus travelled outside the land of Israel, he spent time around Tyre and Sidon. It was here he met a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit. She was a Gentile from Phoenicia. When she begged Jesus to cast the demon out of her daughter, the reply Jesus made can seem rather harsh, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs” (Mk 7:27). Like the disciples Jesus sent out, his main ministry was to the lost sheep of Israel (Mt 10:5-6). She answered Jesus saying, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs” (Mk 7:28). Jesus commended her for saying that, and her daughter was healed. It is evident that this unnamed woman had a correct understanding of the ministry of the Messiah, that his main ministry was to the Jews, but there was a blessing for the Gentiles too.

In Matthew’s version of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus states that “the good news of the kingdom of God will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Mt 24:14). Jesus will not return for a second time and bring the consummation of the kingdom until the Great Commission is complete, and that all nations share in the blessing originally promised to Abraham. Ultimately, only God knows when that task is complete. Until then, God is waiting for people to come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9).

The early church (Acts)

The Book of Acts describes the process by which the church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, began to fulfil the command to preach the Gospel to all nations. Luke gives a list of all the places around Ancient Near East from where Jews came from to attend the Festival of Pentecost (Acts 2:9-11). Many of these people responded to Peter’s message and joined the disciples, and probably took the message of the Gospel back to their land of residence.

An important step was when Peter had a vision of the unclean food which God commanded him to eat (Acts 10:13). Peter initially refused, but then realised that God was telling him to go with Cornelius, the Gentile Roman soldier. He became one of the first Gentiles to come to faith.

Antioch became the first Gentile church (Acts 11:20). After Barnabas brought Paul to Antioch, he and Paul were sent out on the first of the three missionary journeys, which marked the beginning of an organised effort to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles.

The Book of Acts ends with Paul in house-arrest in Rome, the capital of the Gentile world, freely preaching the Gospel. His final statement in Acts, spoken to unbelieving Jews is, “Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen” (Acts 28:28).

The Book of Revelation

One of the visions in the Book of Revelation demonstrates God’s final aim, to be worshipped by people from all the nations. “After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hand. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the lamb!’” (Rev 7:9-10).

The Bible

Pages which look at issues relevant to the whole Bible, such as the Canon of Scripture, as well as doctrinal and theological issues. There are also pages about the Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha and 'lost books' of the Old Testament.

Also included are lists of the quotations of the OT in the NT, and passages of the OT quoted in the NT.

Why These 66 Books?

Books in the Hebrew Scriptures

Quotations in NT From OT

OT Passages Quoted in NT
History of the English Bible

Twelve Books of the Apocrypha

The Pseudepigrapha - False Writings

Lost Books Referenced in OT

Old Testament Overview

This is a series of six pages which give a historical overview through the Old Testament and the inter-testamental period, showing where each OT book fits into the history of Israel.

OT 1: Creation and Patriarchs

OT 2: Exodus and Wilderness

OT 3: Conquest and Monarchy

OT 4: Divided kingdom and Exile

OT 5: Return from Exile

OT 6: 400 Silent Years

New Testament Overview

This is a series of five pages which give a historical overview through the New Testament, focusing on the Ministry of Jesus, Paul's missionary journeys, and the later first century. Again, it shows where each book of the NT fits into the history of the first century.

NT 1: Life and Ministry of Jesus

NT 2: Birth of the Church

NT 3: Paul's Missionary Journeys

NT 4: Paul's Imprisonment

NT 5: John and Later NT

Introductions to Old Testament Books

This is an almost complete collection of introductions to each of the books in the Old Testament. Each contains information about the authorship, date, historical setting and main themes of the book.

Genesis Exodus Leviticus
Numbers Deuteronomy

Joshua Judges Ruth
1 & 2 Samuel 1 & 2 Kings Chronicles
Ezra & Nehemiah Esther

Job Psalms Proverbs

Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations
Ezekiel Daniel

Hosea Joel Amos
Obadiah Jonah Micah
Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah
Haggai Zechariah Malachi

Introductions to New Testament Books

This is a collection of introductions to each of the 27 books in the New Testament. Each contains information about the authorship, date, historical setting and main themes of the book.

Matthew's Gospel Mark's Gospel Luke's Gospel
John's Gospel

Book of Acts

Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians
Galatians Ephesians Philippians
Colossians 1 & 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy
2 Timothy Titus Philemon

Hebrews James 1 Peter
2 Peter 1 John 2 & 3 John
Jude

Revelation

Old Testament History

Information about the different nations surrounding Israel, and other articles concerning Old Testament history and the inter-testamental period.

Canaanite Religion

Israel's Enemies During the Conquest

Syria / Aram

The Assyrian Empire

Babylon and its History
The Persian Empire

The Greek Empire

The 400 Silent Years

The Ptolemies and Seleucids

Antiochus IV - Epiphanes

Old Testament Studies

A series of articles covering more general topics for OT studies. These include a list of the people named in the OT and confirmed by archaeology. There are also pages to convert the different units of measure in the OT, such as the talent, cubit and ephah into modern units.

More theological topics include warfare in the ancient world, the Holy Spirit in the OT, and types of Jesus in the OT.

OT People Confirmed by Archaeology

OT People Search

God the Creator

The Importance of Paradox

The Jewish Calendar

Holy War in the Ancient World

The Great Commission
Talent Converter (weights)

Cubit Converter (lengths)

Ephah Converter (volumes)

The Holy Spirit in the OT

Types of Jesus in the OT

Holy mountains

Studies in the Pentateuch (Gen - Deut)

A series of articles covering studies in the five books of Moses. Studies in the Book of Genesis look at the historical nature of the early chapters of Genesis, the Tower of Babel and the Table of the Nations.

There are also pages about covenants, the sacrifices and offerings, the Jewish festivals and the tabernacle, as well as the issue of tithing.

Are chapters 1-11 of Genesis historical?

Chronology of the Flood

Genealogies of the Patriarchs
What is a created kind?

Table of the Nations (Gen 10)

Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9)

Authorship of the Pentateuch

Chronology of the Wilderness Years

Names of God in the OT

Covenants in the OT

12 tribes of Israel

The Ten Commandments

The Tabernacle and its Theology
Sacrifices and Offerings

The Jewish Festivals

Balaam and Balak

Tithing

Highlights from Deuteronomy

Overview of Deuteronomy

Studies in the Old Testament History Books (Josh - Esther)

Articles containing studies and helpful information for the history books. These include a list of the dates of the kings of Israel and Judah, a summary of the kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and studies of Solomon, Jeroboam and Josiah.

There are also pages describing some of the historical events of the period, including the Syro-Ephraimite War, and the Assyrian invasion of Judah in 701 BC.

Dates of Kings of Judah and Israel

King Solomon

The Kings of Israel

King Jeroboam I of Israel

Syro-Ephraimite War (735 BC)
Assyrian Invasion of Judah (701 BC)

The last years of Judah

King Josiah of Judah

Kings and Chronicles Differences

Chronology of the post-exilic period

Studies in the Old Testament Prophets (Is - Mal)

Articles containing studies and helpful information for the OT prophets. These include a page looking at the way the prophets look ahead into their future, a page looking at the question of whether Satan is a fallen angel, and a page studying the seventy weeks of Daniel.

There are also a series of pages giving a commentary through the text of two of the books:
Isaiah (13 pages) and Daniel (10 pages).

Prophets and the Future

The Call of Jeremiah (Jer 1)

Fall of Satan? (Is 14, Ezek 28)

Daniel Commentary (10 pages)
Isaiah Commentary (13 pages)

Use of quotations of Isaiah in NT

Formation of the Book of Jeremiah

Daniel's Seventy Weeks (Dan 9)

New Testament Studies

A series of articles covering more general topics for NT studies. These include a list of the people in the NT confirmed by archaeology.

More theological topics include the Kingdom of God and the Coming of Christ.

NT People Confirmed by Archaeology

God the Creator

The Kingdom of God / Heaven
Parousia (Coming of Christ)

The Importance of Paradox

Use of quotations of Isaiah in NT

Studies in the Four Gospels (Matt - John)

A series of articles covering various studies in the four gospels. These include a list of the unique passages in each of the Synoptic Gospels and helpful information about the parables and how to interpret them.

Some articles look at the life and ministry of Jesus, including his genealogy, birth narratives, transfiguration, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and the seating arrangements at the Last Supper.

More theological topics include the teaching about the Holy Spirit as the Paraclete and whether John the Baptist fulfilled the predictions of the coming of Elijah.

Unique Passages in the Synoptics

The Synoptic Problem

Genealogy of Jesus (Matt 1)

Birth Narratives of Jesus

Understanding the Parables

The Transfiguration

Was John the Baptist Elijah?
The Triumphal Entry

The Olivet Discourse (Mark 13)

Themes in John's Gospel

John's Gospel Prologue (John 1)

Jesus Fulfilling Jewish Festivals

Reclining at Table

The Holy Spirit as the Paraclete

Studies in the Book of Acts and the New Testament Letters

A series of articles covering various studies in the Book of Acts and the Letters, including Paul's letters. These include a page studying the messages given by the apostles in the Book of Acts, and the information about the financial collection that Paul made during his third missionary journey. More theological topics include Paul's teaching on Jesus as the last Adam, and descriptions of the church such as the body of Christ and the temple, as well as a look at redemption and the issue of fallen angels.

There are a series of pages giving a commentary through the text of five of the books:
Romans (7 pages), 1 Corinthians (7 pages), Galatians (3 pages), Philemon (1 page) and Hebrews (7 pages)

Apostolic Messages in Acts

Paul and His Apostleship

Collection for the Saints

The Church Described as a Temple

Church as the Body of Christ

Jesus as the Last Adam
Food Offered to Idols

Headcoverings

Who are the Fallen Angels

The Meaning of Redemption

What is the Church?

Paul and the Greek Games

Romans Commentary (7 pages)

1 Corinthians Commentary (7 pages)

Galatians Commentary (3 pages)

Philemon Commentary (1 page)

Hebrews Commentary (7 pages)

Studies in the Book of Revelation

Articles containing studies and helpful information for the study of the Book of Revelation and topics concerning Eschatology (the study of end-times).

These include a description of the structure of the book, a comparison and contrast between the good and evil characters in the book and a list of the many allusions to the OT. For the seven churches, there is a page which gives links to their location on Google maps.

There is a page studying the important theme of Jesus as the Lamb, which forms the central theological truth of the book. There are pages looking at the major views of the Millennium, as well as the rapture and tribulation, as well as a list of dates of the second coming that have been mistakenly predicted through history.

There is also a series of ten pages giving a detailed commentry through the text of the Book of Revelation.

Introduction to Revelation

Characters Introduced in the Book

Structure of Revelation

List of Allusions to OT

Jesus as the Lamb

Virtual Seven Churches
The Nero Redivius Myth

The Millennium (1000 years)

The Rapture and the Tribulation

Different Approaches

Dates of the Second Coming

Ezekiel's temple vision

Revelation Commentary (10 pages)

How to do Inductive Bible Study

These are a series of pages giving practical help showing how to study the Bible inductively, by asking a series of simple questions. There are lists of observation and interpretation questions, as well as information about the structure and historical background of biblical books, as well as a list of the different types of figures of speech used in the Bible. There is also a page giving helpful tips on how to apply the Scriptures personally.

How to Study the Bible

I. The Inductive Study Method

II. Observation Questions

III. Interpretation Questions

IV. Structure of Books
V. The Historical background

VI. Identifying Figures of Speech

VII. Personal Application

VIII. Text Layout

Types of Literature in the Bible

These are a series of pages giving practical help showing how to study each of the different types of book in the Bible by appreciating the type of literature being used. These include historical narrative, law, wisdom, prophets, Gospels, Acts, letters and Revelation.

It is most important that when reading the Bible we are taking note of the type of literature we are reading. Each type needs to be considered and interpreted differently as they have different purposes.

How to Understand OT Narratives

How to Understand OT Law

Hebrew Poetry

OT Wisdom Literature

Understanding the OT Prophets

The Four Gospels
The Parables of Jesus

The Book of Acts

How to Understand the NT Letters

Studying End Times (Eschatology)

The Book of Revelation

Geography and Archaeology

These are a series of pages giving geographical and archaeological information relevant to the study of the Bible. There is a page where you can search for a particular geographical location and locate it on Google maps, as well as viewing photographs on other sites.

There are also pages with photographs from Ephesus and Corinth.

Search for Geographical Locations

Major Archaeological Sites in Israel

Archaeological Sites in Assyria, Babylon and Persia

Virtual Paul's Missionary Journeys

Virtual Seven Churches of Revelation

Photos of the City of Corinth

Photos of the City of Ephesus

Biblical archaeology in museums around the world

A page with a facility to search for artifacts held in museums around the world which have a connection with the Bible. These give information about each artifact, as well as links to the museum's collection website where available showing high resolution photographs of the artifact.

There is also pages of photographs of important artifacts from the British Museum in London, the Louvre in Paris and the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

Search Museums for Biblical Archaeology

British Museum Photos

Israel Museum Photos

Paris Louvre Photos

Difficult Theological and Ethical Questions

These are a series of pages looking at some of the more difficult questions of Christian theology, including war, suffering, disappointment and what happens to those who have never heard the Gospel.

Christian Ethics

Never Heard the Gospel

Is there Ever a Just War?
Why Does God Allow Suffering <

Handling Disappointment

How to Preach

These are a series of pages giving a practical step-by-step explanation of the process of preparing a message for preaching, and how to lead a small group Bible study.

What is Preaching?

I. Two Approaches to Preaching

II. Study a Passage for Preaching

III. Creating a Message Outline
IV. Making Preaching Relevant

V. Presentation and Public Speaking

VI. Preaching Feedback and Critique

Leading a Small Group Bible Study

Information for SBS staff members

Two pages particularly relevant for people serving as staff on the School of Biblical Studies (SBS) in YWAM. One gives helpful instruction about how to prepare to teach on a book in the SBS. The other gives a list of recommended topics which can be taught about for each book of the Bible.

Teaching on SBS Book Topics for SBS