Beit Midrash Adelphos Seminary

A photo of the Adelphos Seminary "Beit Midrash" House of Study.

Create your own study Bible

Since 1998 my primary note taking Bible has been my trusty NASB single-column reference Bible. This Bible contains the nuggets from years of study. But it has a limitation. I'm running out of space on some of the most important parts. Look at Romans 12:

So I have decided to get a ESV wide-margin Bible. I will transfer many of my notes and have a lot of room for new notes. I look forward to seeing the new Bible just cluttered with my own study notes. Ever since I had the Bible re-bound I seem to have lost some margin capacity on the inside margins. There were a few pages that were not attached before the rebinding and now section in the NT have very little inside margin blank space. Also, the NASB is formatted in verse-by-verse format. While there are some benefits to this layout it does have limitation. Namely, the flow of the text is often jarring to read. The ESV wide-margin is in paragraph format.
The new Bible will arrive on 9/16. Should weigh 4lbs 0oz, and come with two cute black ribbons.

A Study 400 years in the Making.

On May 2, 1611 the King James Version was first published in England. Next year marks the 400th Anniversary of that monumental publication. I have two books in my library regarding the development of the KJV. The first is: In the Beginning: The Story of the King James Bible and How it Changed a Nation, a Language, and a Culture by Alister McGrath and God's Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible by Adam Nicolson. We at Adelphos Seminary will be developing a course based on these two text as well as "A Visual History of the English Bible" by Donald L. Brake to coincide with the 400th Anniversary of the KJV. The Lectures will come from Dr. Daniel Wallace from http://www.biblicaltraining.org/history-english-bible/daniel-wallace/foundations

Also, I ordered an original 1611 KJV Bible. Published with all the idiosyncrasies of the original text. It will be my devotional text for 2011.
The Story of the English Bible is a story of God's providential care of the Holy Word for the English speaking people of the world.
Sola Deo Gloria.

"... what one nation on the earth is like your people Israel (2 Sam. 7:23)"

"The Jew is the emblem of eternity. He who neither slaughter nor torture of thousands of years could destroy, he who neither fire, nor sword, nor Inquisition was able to wipe off the face of the earth. He who was the first to produce the Oracles of God. He who has been for so long the Guardian of Prophecy and has transmitted it to the rest of the world. Such a nation cannot be destroyed. The Jew is as everlasting as Eternity itself." ~ Leo Tolstoy (1891)

"The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away. The Greek and Roman followed, made a vast noise and they are gone. Other peoples have sprung up, and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out and they sit in twilight now or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew. All other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?" ~Mark Twain (1899).

36 "If this fixed order departs From before Me," declares the LORD, "Then the offspring of Israel also will cease From being a nation before Me forever."
37 Thus says the LORD, "If the heavens above can be measured And the foundations of the earth searched out below, Then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel For all that they have done," declares the LORD.
(Jer 31:36-37 NAU)

Great News! Adelphos doubles enrollment!

It's official. We have a new student: Lilly Anderson. We at Adelphos believe that all creatures have a right to a Seminary education. Lilly expressed a desire to learn the Queen of the Sciences. While her black & White Vision, inability to talk, read, and write will be challenges for the Seminary. We believe that all students can learn weather they be homo sapien or canine. When asked to comment, Lilly, said, "grrrrrrrrrr...." (Clearly Lilly understands the concept: "but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Rom 8:26 KJV)
Good luck, Lilly, on this exciting path of study.

This Day at Adelphos 9/11/10

Spent much of my study time working in Biblical Hebrew. Continued Chapter 9 on the Construct chain. It seem that the progress gets slower the further I get into the grammar due to the need for constant review to solidify concepts.
Lord, help me learn the original language of your Holy Word for the glory of God.
Amen

Continued with Lectures in Biblical Theology: The Patriarchs. Read the First chapter of Biblical Theology by Vos. Took notes on a Yellow pad on the nature and extent of Biblical Theology.
Review:
Theology is the science concerning God.
4 departments of Theology: Exegetical, Historical, Systematic, Practical
BT see the organic nature in the historic unfolding of the Drama of redemption.
Proceeds in Epochs( Abraham -----> David ------> The prophets ------> Christ -------> Church Age --------> End State
"All that God discloses of Himself has come in response to the practical religious needs of His people as these emerged in the course of history" pg. 9
Biblical Theology is a straight line while systematic theolgy is a circle. BT --> the flow of doctrine. ST ----> the interrelatedness of doctrine.
Belongs to the supreme end of all theology: The Glory of GOD.

Ruth Study Notes

Key Theme: Book of Ruth
God providentially guides and blesses all who trust Him. The Book is read during Shavous
Ruth and Naomi had no idea that they will be part of an eternal plan that will fulfill God's promise to Abraham.
NAU Gen. 12:1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;

Hope is doubted.

v. 1
Idol worship to fertility deities was an outgrowth of famine. It is often used by YHWH to discipline his people.
NAU Deut. 28:23 "The heaven which is over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you, iron. 24 "The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust; from heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed.
v. 2 - בֵּ֥ית לֶ֖חֶם "house of Bread" lacked bread. Will one day come the Bread of Life whom Ruth will be a descendant.
NAU Matt. 1:5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.
The Time off the judges was a time of massive rebellion.
v. 4 It was the Moabite women who seduced Israel to immorality and idolatry in the Baal of Peor (Num. 25).
They fled Judah to escape death but death found them nonetheless. Better to stay in the promised land and rely on the blessings of God.
v. 8 - Why would Naomi want them to return to Idolatry. She told them three times to return.
v. 14
Ruth had come to trust in the God of Israel. She chose the hard way, Orpah, the easy.
Clung דָּ֥בְקָה - Hold close, as a husband and wife.
By staying with Naomi they were almost guaranteed a life of poverty or selling themselves into slavery or becoming prostitutes. This is why the redeemer-kinsman legislation existed (Lev. 25:39-55).
v. 16 - She must abandon Chemosh.
v. 17 - Her loyalty surpassed that of Abraham, who was called by divine direction. Ruth was not. Abraham left Ur, Ruth leaves Moab.
v. 20 - The Lord gives and the Lords takes away. The attempt to escape the famine lead to a worse fate than famine.
שַׁדַּ֛י - The almighty.
v. 21 - The שַׁדַּ֛י has afflicted me -
NAU Ps. 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.
NAU Ps. 119:71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.
v. 22 - Barley harvest - Was harvested in mid-to-late April. It was spring, a time to express joy and praise God for his abundance.

Chapter 2: Hope is born

v. 2
The Mosaic law decreed that landowners were not to harvest the full extent of their fields. The remains were for the poor and foreigners.
NAU Lev. 19:10 'Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.
v. 3 - What happens in the life of the believer is by appointment not by accident. Nothing is by coincidence.
Boaz - name means "In him is strength." Talmud sees Boaz as the Judge Ibzan (Jud. 12:8).

Boaz can be seen as a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ in his relationship with his Bride, the church. Like Ruth, the lost sinner is outside the covenant of God, bankrupt, with no claim to God's mercy. (Wiersbe, Jos-Est pg. 186).
v. 7 - She even gleaned in the heat of the day.
v. 8 - "my daughter" It was a term of endearment.
v. 9 - "not to touch you" Ruth was a stranger and may have invited abuse. She was a poor, widowed, alien.
NAU Deut. 10:18 "He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.
The very ones God takes care of.
v. 12 - "under whose wings you have come to seek refuge." Alludes to the protective covering of the Lord's care.
NAU Ps. 36:7 How precious is Your loving kindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

Jesus desires to gather Jerusalem under his "wings"
NAU Matt. 23:37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.

v. 14 - The foreigner was allowed to eat at the table of the master. What a picture of Christ who shares with us "riches of his mercy and love"
NAU Eph. 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
His Grace (NAU Eph. 2:7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.)
His wisdom and knowledge (NAU Rom. 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!)
His glory (NAU Phil. 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.)
and riches we cannot even begin to imagine (NAU Eph. 3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,)
v. 17 - "she beat" Threshed - the wheat would be beaten, the grain would separate from the chaff. This image is used by John the Baptist.
NAU Matt. 3:12 "His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
"ephah" 22 liters or 5.8 gallons.
v. 20 - "to the living and the dead" Alludes to God's preservation of the memory of the dead (Elimelech, Mahlon, Kilion).
v. 22 - God used Ruth to turn Naomi's bitterness (1:20) into Gratitude.

Chapter 3: Hope is kindled.

It was the parent’s job to arrange marriages.
v. 2 - "winnows" A labor intensive process to separate the grains from the plant stalks.
v. 3 - Naomi was telling Ruth to act like a Bird preparing for her wedding.
v. 4 - "uncover his feet" Sometimes feet is a euphemism for the genital region. Most likely simply refers to feet.
v. 5 - "I will do" She was not merely a hearer but a doer.
NAU Jas. 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
v. 7 - "he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain" Probably to protect it from thieves.
v. 9 - "spread your covering (כָּנָף) same word that is used in 3:12 for wings. An idiom for marriage. Same phrase used of God's marriage to Israel.
NAU Ezek. 16:8 "Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine," declares the Lord GOD.
v. 12 - "there is a relative closer than I" Why Boaz did not propose marriage. It was not his right. Boaz's concern was for Ruth's redemption even if it meant by another.
v. 16 - The KJV translates "Who art thou, my daughter? Namely to say are you still Ruth the Moabitess or Mrs. Boaz.
v. 18 - "wait, my daughter" God requires patience!
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psa 46:10 KJV)

Chapter 4: Hope is realized.

Focuses on 3 persons: A bridegroom, a bride, and a baby.

v. 1 - "the gate" The gate was the scene of social significance.
v. 3 - "to sell the piece of land" Naomi can't afford the land so it must be redeemed.
v. 5 - A picture of Christ who redeems the poor sinner.
NAU Mk. 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
The redeemer had to be: 1. a near kinsman 2. He had to be able to pay the redemption price. 3. He had to be willing to redeem.
v. 6 - "jeopardize my own inheritance" If he only had one son, the estate would remain in Elimelech's family.
v. 7 - "removed his sandal" The image derives from property rights of the owner of the one who walks on the land. This motif is found in the Nuzi Materials.
v. 10 - Levirate marriage "from the Latin for Brother-in-law"
v. 11 - "like Rachel and Leah" She would be in the line of the ultimate fulfillment of the promise.
v. 11 - "Ephrathah" Rachel was buried and Christ was Born.
v. 12 - "Be like the house of Perez" Perez is in the line of Jesus and come from a levirate marriage of Judah and Tamar.
NAU Matt. 1:3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.
v. 13 - Boaz risked much for Ruth. Just as Jesus risked much for his bride (the church).
Boaz is a type of Christ. He had to be related to us before He could redeem us. So he became flesh and blood so he could die on the cross to redeem.
NAU Heb. 2:14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
Nobody but Jesus is rich enough to satisfy the massive debt for sin.
"Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; Sine had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow" ~H.M. Hall.

Epilogue:
The Moabites were not to enter the congregation of the Lord "even to the tenth generation" (Deut 23:3). But the little book of Ruth closes with a ten-generation genealogy that climaxes with the name: David.
NAU Matthew 21:9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!"

This Day at Adelphos 9/9/10

Finished my study of the Book of Ruth. What an incredible journey of one families struggles of faith and belief. Boaz can be seen as a type of Christ who has redeemed us from the debt of sin. Began transcribing my notes in the margin to the note taker program in Bibleworks. Also listened to the audio book "A Sweet and Bitter Providence" on the Book of Ruth by John Piper.That is all for Today!

Continium of Curriculum

Current Course:

OT - Textual Studies in Ruth and Joshua and Judges
NT - Textual Studies in Revelation
Hebrew - The First Hebrew Primer (chapter 9)
Greek - A Primer of Biblical Greek (Took Greek nearly ten years ago. Doing a review)
Biblical Theology - Lectures from Covenant Seminary, Books: New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Biblical Theology by Vos.
Ancient Church History - Lectures from Covenant Seminary, Book: The Story of Christianity, Ecclesiastical History by Eusebius, The Apostolic Fathers.
Judaism - Lectures - Crash Course in Jewish History (Ken Spiro), The idiots Guide to the Talmud, God in Search of Man, Our Father Abraham, Meet the Rabbis.
Writing Protocols - Audio Lectures and Notes from Columbia Theological Seminary. The best way to track course progress is to write a 10 to 15 page paper at the end of every course.
Already finished my course on Torah. Need to write a paper.
Have about seven course going at this moment. The first four courses will be recurring. I will always need to be engage in in depth textual biblical studies. This is the foundation of all seminary training. Also the Original language will need to be continually studies to ensure retention. I also continue to do SBR (Systematic Bible Reading) using M'chayne Calender. as of 9/9/10 I am right on schedule :) One must now lose the forest for the trees. It is important to always get a taste of the totality of the Word as well has focus on the small details. The meta-narrative of Scripture provide the interpretative grid for all the narrative and concepts in Scripture.

Passive Seminary Training

Currently listening to:

Bible - NIV on Audio Cassette (Been years since I listened to this dramatized Bible) Excellent finished 12 of 48 tapes.

A.W. Tozer - The Attributes of God (Almost done with volume II)
Rabbi Spiro - A crash Course in Jewish History (Listened to this a few time, very informative)
Debate - Calvinism v. Arminianism (James White always has interesting debates. Old cassette, have not listened to this debate in years)
D.A. Carson - His lectures on Biblical Theology (packed with interesting content) goto Together for the Gospel's website for all his resources.
New Testament Textual Criticism - Recently finished this lecture by James White. Very informative.

Listening to audio while driving or cleaning the Kitchen is a great way to continually learn while the body is occuppied with other tasks. It is a vital part of my training at Adelphos Seminary. It helps lay the ground work from much of my theological contemplation.

David

Rhetorical Mastery

Debate Review: Part of Course ST506 Philosophy and the Christian Faith

Dennis Prager v. Frank Zindler.

Just finished listening to a debate entitled "Does the Jewish God Exist." Arguing for the affirmative was Dennis Prager (well-known talk show host) and defending the negative was Frank Zindler (well-known atheist writer and symphony composer). The argumentation from Prager was different than any I have heard. His argument consistent of existential appeals to the foolishness of existence without God. There was no appeal to the classical argument for God existence (Cosmological, Teleological, etc...) I liked his statement regarding serotonin level in the brain being label as love. If God does not exist than all human are is complicate pond scum. Of course, this is not an argument per se but it is a powerful thought experiment that the human experience seems to confirm. Prager main thrust was that he gives no argument for God's existence. He seems to promote a modified form of the Ontological argument for the existence of God. The existence of the World is proof enough for the reality of God. Or as C.S. Lewis said, "A slow miracle is equally as amazing as a fast miracle and the world was a slow miracle." The debate came down to a fundamental difference in presupposition. Zindler's anti-supernatural presupposition precludes the existence of God a priori. I still have yet to hear a debate where one side clearly declare that they have changed their position based on the debate. As Prager always says on his radio show "I prefer clarity to agreement." The debate certainly clarified the vast gulf that exists between the theistic and atheistic position. I highly recommend the debate!
check is out here:
http://stores.dennisprager.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=DP&Product_Code=DTDL39&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

Finding Time for Study?

One of the biggest obstacles for the time-crunched Seminarian is finding adaquate time for study and meditation. With the pressures of Family and Work the cultivation of the well-informed Mind. I have taken to listening to book on MP3 format while driving. I listen in double speed and get a lot of study that way. Of course, there is an inherent drawback to this method of learning. It does not lend itself to serious contemplation of the ideas. I have to concentrate on the road and all the visual stimuli that the brain processes while driving so the retention of key concept is limited. The key is multiple listening to the material. I have discovered that at least three listenings are required for the key concepts to be clearly revealed. Weekends provide that greatest opportunity to engage in serious study. Last week I did a tough bike ride. I was planning to get some good study time after the ride but discovered that my physical fatigue caused my mind to be non-receptive to the learning. I ended up taking a three hour nap.

Test your Biblical Knowledge

Head over to:

http://www.whitneyhq.com/biblecontent/

This is the test that incoming Seminary Students take.

Current Coursework

The foundation of any Seminary program is the study of the Holy Scriptures. I continue my systematic reading of the Bible on a daily basis. I am also studying the book of Judges and the Book of Revelation using various commentaries. I am using the Zondervan Bible Background Commentary on the Old and New Testaments as well as the Bible Exposition Commentary by Warren Wiersbe. Weirsbe offers good pastoral insights into the text. For some the old testament books I use the series on the Prophets put out by Artscroll. This offers a unique glimpse on how the Rabbi's look at the Text. In terms of other course work: Biblical Greek and Hebrew, Ancient and Medieval Church History, Biblical Theology. These are my main courses. I am also learning how to play classic hymns on the Mountain Dulcimer.

The Cult of Personality

Humans are naturally drawn to the underdog. The person who has overcome numerous obstacles to achieve great things. While these stories provide inspiration for many they are not the litmus test for truth. Case in Point: The recent debacle regarding Michael Caner. Many might know him as Ergun Mehmet Caner or Err-gunn Me-hee-ma Jen-na. Whatever one thinks of the veracity of his claims I must admire him for pulling off such a persuasive scheme. He and his brother, Emir, systematically used the attacks of 9/11 to bamboozle Christendom. Now this is not a great feat. After all Christendom is made up of a bunch of dumb Christians. Apparently Mike was a turban wearing al-qadia like terrorist-in-training who saw the light off the gospel and got rid of his suicide vest. At least that is the story he feeds his gullible christian fans. One problem: It is a hoax. A vast networks of lies spun together to dupe Christians. Look who has fallen for the scheme. Well-known christian broadcaster, John Ankerberg, who co-wrote a series of books with Emir, has issued the following statement:
I have known Ergun Caner for nearly a decade. I am disheartened by the recent attacks upon his integrity and character. I have interviewed Ergun for more than a dozen television shows and believe his personal testimony to be completely true. Otherwise, I would not have allowed him to broadcast his story to the millions of viewers that tune in to my program across the globe. Ergun and his brother, Emir, are men of God who have taken a valiant stand for the Lord, even costing them and their families their safety. For someone to attack Ergun’s selfless sacrifice, especially since they malign his character without any substantiation, is both unchristian and unbiblical. Count me among the many who will stand with Ergun Caner, knowing he stands for the Lord Jesus Christ. (emphasis mine)

Notice the absolute nature of the Ankerberg defence. Just research the details of the Caner Myth making and you will see that Ankerberg has now lost credibility. His material in many area are valuable by his lack of discernment regarding Mike Caner is breathtaking. Ankerberg than states that all the 'attacks' are 'without any substantiation.' Documented inconsistencies from the man himself, WOW. Ankerberg has his head in the sand. 'He stands for the Lord Jesus Christ." I do not doubt the Mike Caner had an encounter with Christ and he is a believer. What bothers me is how christian Leaders have come to the uncritical defense of a rank deceiver.

Listening Through the Bible Instead

So this year I’m listening to Brian at the DailyAudio Bible.com read the Bible for me.

It’s actually a very efficient way to listen to the Good book.  I’m excited each morning to fire up the iPod and see what God has to say today.

My drive to the office is about 30 minutes and that about the average reading.  He covers a reading from the old testament, new testament, psalms and proverbs.  I’d recommend giving it a try.   You can hear today’s reading here and visit the site by clicking here.

“So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”

 Romans 10:17 (NLT)