Biblical Heritage Center Blog

  My emails contain information that are like pieces of a puzzle. Today, I am going to put some of those pieces together that focus on two ways of thinking about “legal sayings” in the Bible. Different ways of thinking result in two different belief models for The Kingdom of God – and very important conflict that create new belief models about God, money, and government. Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/888c13a9ac67/kingdom-of-god-protestantism-capitalism-and-american-democracy

  The other day, my wife Susan and I had a very special visitor. Our granddaughter needed someone to watch her daughter – our great granddaughter. Spending a few hours with a 13-month-old was fun, and educational. Two people reading or hearing the same word may have two very different belief models and two different realities! Continue reading at -- http://mailchi.mp/5bec31604b0f/a-lesson-on-belief-models-from-our-great-granddaughter

  In the ancient world lists served a purpose -- like dictionaries -- today. When hearers or readers of ancient documents want to know what important words meant – they looked for lists linked to them . For many years we have stressed the importance of identifying the Hebrew words Jesus spoke. Today there is a way for people who do not have the skill to work with Hebrew to increase the accuracy of their understanding of his words. Continue reading at – http://mailchi.mp/e06a8a6ddc90/the-importance-of-the-lists-of-the-jewish-jesus

  If we had been taught “the way of thinking” the author of the “ Ten Commandments ” intended for them to be thought about, we would call them “ The Ten Legal Sayings . Members of the ancient audiences that heard Exodus 20 did not view them the way we view them. Jesus did think our way, either. The way we were taught to think was created after America was discovered. Thinking the Old Way has many benefits, beside accurately understanding the words of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus. Continue reading at -- http://mailchi.mp/f37d35f6c4a4/rediscovering-how-to-think-the-wisdom-way

  The Stele of Hammurabi was found in 1901. Shamash, the god of justice, is seated on a throne. Standing before him in a subservient pose is Hammurabi King of Babylon. Early scholars incorrectly concluded Shamash is giving divine laws to Hammurabi -- just like Yahweh gave divine laws to Moses . As new evidence was discovered, they realized that it was Hammurabi that was giving Shamash something. This impacts the way we view the words of the Bible. Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/036a2ab200e8/be-wise-establish-justice-and-maintain-order

What if Adam had been created to be Eve’s helper or God had told Adam that Eve shall rule over him? Meanings of small words in Bible stories have affected billions of lives. Whose rib is involved in this story has made a very big difference over the past 1,700 years – and it is still impacting billions of lives today! Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/0b066cd3c653/what-if-adam-had-been-created-from-eves-rib  

  I had never heard the Bible story about “ADAM the Human Collective” -- one entity that consists of a male and a female human. The Creator empowered this entity to be His Representative to the rest of the creation, His Shepherd over all life on earth, and to be His Kingdom on the earth. Read this article and imagine “ADAM the Human Collective” emerging in your family, community, business, and the USA today! – Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/009fe3cdabf1/seeing-humans-through-the-eyes-of-their-creator

  The impact on members of ancient audiences of simply switching the order of two words – heavens and earth – was monumental! However, it is completely unnoticed by most readers today. Why? They have the wrong image in their minds. Members of ancient audiences knew it was a sign to start looking for the hidden wisdom! Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/ec9ce88baf3f/the-monumental-impact-of-switching-two-words

  This Orthodox Jew understood the message and movement of Jesus better than any preacher or priest we had ever met. She expressed what we felt when we made the same discovery at BHC – but she did a much better job of communicating it! She realized that what Christians call the “ Sermon on the Mount ” was actually “ A Beginner’s Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven. ” Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/8ed77fee94c7/the-benefits-of-reconnecting-jesus-to-the-torahs-wisdom