Reflections and meditations about the Bible by Peter DeHaan, PhD.
Last week we asked if seraphim are the same as angels? We discovered there is no biblical evidence to suggest they are. Now we ask the same question about cherubim. The Bible mentions cherubim much more than seraphim. In fact, there are 69 verses (in the NIV) with either cherubim (the plural form) or cherub […]
Give God Our Adoration The Bible says God is holy, holy, holy, repeating it three times for emphasis to make sure we get the point. God is not merely holy—that is, virtuous—nor is he holy times two, but he is holy times three. He is holy, holy, holy. When referring to God as holy, holy, […]
The final time Jesus ate a meal with his disciples before he was executed is commonly called the Last Supper; he celebrated Passover with them. Today, we continue this tradition in memory of him. Though people use different names for this, such as Communion, Holy Communion, The Lord’s Supper, The Eucharist, and Holy Eucharist, among […]
Celebrate Scripture On an almost daily basis, I’ve spent my life reading and studying the Bible. However, I don’t see the Bible as a rulebook for righteous living or a manual for the faithful to follow, but as a spiritual narrative to illuminate my journey with God through life. Here are ten reasons why the […]
Of the four biographies of Jesus in the Bible, my favorite is Luke’s. Luke also contains the best-known account of Jesus’ birth, made popular by the Peanut’s character Linus. Watch Linus explain what Christmas is all about. This well-known clip is from the 1965 TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas. Debuting over fifty years ago, […]
The Best Online Scripture Resourse I’m taking a one-week break in my posts about women in the Bible to talk about a good friend who just had a facelift. I didn’t know this was coming and was shocked when I saw the results. Hardly a recognizable feature remained. In fact, I panicked: something’s wrong! Even […]
Discover the Amazing Women in Scripture I spent a season with my Bible reading focused on notable women in the Bible. Some are famous, many are obscure, and a few are infamous. It’s been an interesting study, and I’ll share some of what I’m discovering. What I’ve learned is that even though the writings in […]
Demonstrate Our Faith by What We Do I enjoy the writing and teaching of James. His words offer concise, practical teaching about being a follower of Jesus. James talks about the great faith of Abraham, exemplified by his willingness to kill his son Isaac in obedience to God. (Spoiler alert: It was only a test. […]
Celebrate the Trinity Many people are surprised to learn the word Trinity isn’t in the Bible. Trinity reflects the nature of God, one God, with three distinct parts: the Father (creator), the Son, Jesus (savior), and the Holy Spirit (guide). I understand Trinity to mean “three in one.” It’s not a polytheistic implication, as some […]
Not only can God speak to us through audible words, through silent words, and through visions, he can also direct us through our thoughts, a kind of a sixth sense, a supernatural knowing. People may say, “I just felt I needed to do this.” Other verbs that uncover this type of godly communication include prompted, […]