In Problems in Bible Interpretation: Difficult Passages IV (BI164) Dr. Mike Heiser addresses five Old Testament and five New Testament passages that challenge readers of the Bible. Old Testament topics include (1) tattoos, (2) the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, (3) the “strange” fire of Nadab and Abihu, (4) whether God causes people to sin, and (5) the “secret things” of God. New Testament topics include (1) guardian angels, (2) Jesus as “firstborn,” (3) Paul’s use of Psalm 68:18, (4) unworthy participation in the Lord’s Supper, and (5) Jude quoting Enoch. The course will help equip you to better interpret these challenging passages yourself and encourage you to study God’s Word deeper.
Introduction
Introduction
Introducing the Speaker and the Course
1m
Tattoos (Lev 19:28)
Interpretive Issue (Lev 19:28)
1m
Immediate Literary Context (Lev 19:28)
3m
Expanded Literary Context (Lev 19:28)
4m
Conclusion (Lev 19:28)
1m
Take Not Your Holy Spirit from Me (Psa 51:10–11)
Interpretive Issue (Psa 51:10–11)
1m
New Testament Literary Context (Rom 5:5; 8:9–11)
1m
Promise of a New Covenant (Jer 31:31–33)
2m
Promise of Holy Spirit (Ezek 36:24–27; Joel 2:28–29)
4m
Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
3m
Conclusion (Psa 51:10–11)
2m
“Foreign” Fire (Lev 10:1–3)
Interpretive Issue (Lev 10:1–3)
2m
“Unauthorized” Fire?
3m
Sacred Space
5m
Samson’s Plans vis-à-vis God’s Will (Judg 14:1–4)
Interpretive Issue (Judg 14:1–4)
2m
Interpretive Pointer (Judg 14:4)
2m
Man’s Plans vis-à-vis God’s Will
3m
Joseph’s Story
3m
Secrets vis-à-vis Revelation (Deut 29:29)
Interpretive Issue (Deut 29:29)
1m
Importance of Context (Deut 29:29)
2m
Historical and Literary Context (Deut 29:29)
3m
“Guardian Angels”? (Matt 18:10)
Interpretive Issue (Matt 18:10)
1m
Angelic Protection (Psa 91:11–12)
2m
Angelic Mediation
3m
Heavenly Council
3m
Heavenly Books
3m
Firstborn of Creation (Col 1:15)
Interpretive Issue (Col 1:13–17)
2m
Israel as “Firstborn” (Exod 4:21–23)
4m
David as “Firstborn” (Psa 89:20–29)
2m
“Firstborn” Indicating Preeminence
1m
Literary Context (Col 1:15, 19)
2m
Conclusion: Preeminence Not Chronology
1m
Ascending, Descending, Captives, and Gifts (Eph 4:8–9)
Interpretive Issue (Eph 4:8–9)
2m
Old Testament Context (Psa 68:18)
3m
Paul, Jesus, and the Old Testament
4m
Ascending and Descending (Eph 4:9–10)
3m
Jesus and the Holy Spirit
6m
Unworthy Approach to the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:27–30)