Bible Study Magazine—September–October 2018 Issue

Get Bible Study Magazine now by purchasing the September–October 2018 back issue for $3.95. That’s 20% off the newsstand price of $4.95!

Bible Study Magazine is a print magazine (not an emagazine) published by Lexham Press. Six times a year, Bible Study Magazine delivers tools and methods for Bible study as well as insights from respected teachers, professors, historians, and archeologists.

Read pastor profiles, author interviews, and stories of individuals whose thoughtful engagement with Scripture has shaped their thinking and defined their ministries. Bible Study Magazine reveals the impact of God’s Word in their lives—and the power of Scripture in yours.

• Feature Stories
  Discover new ways to connect the Bible with your ministry and life through in-depth interviews and articles from the biggest names in the church and biblical scholarship.
• Bible Study Tips
  Explore the Word—thoughtful and engaging authors tackle the tough passages in Scripture, explain difficult concepts, and confront complex interpretations in a way that helps the Gospel make sense in your life.
• On the Cutting Edge
  Keep up to date on the latest news in biblical research, including archaeological and historical findings.
• A New Kind of Bible Study
  Encounter God by yourself or with other believers with an ongoing Bible study in each issue.
• On Teaching
  Get advice on how to preach or teach the Bible in any setting from well-known pastors and teachers who use the Bible every day.
• Tool Box
  Learn how to effectively use the latest Bible study tools with our how-to guides.
• In the News
  Keep informed about the latest news in biblically related topics, discoveries, and events.
• Thoughts from the Ancients
  Read the Bible together with those who have come before you, and learn from the wisdom of the early church—in its own words.
• Word Studies
  Get a close-up view of the Bible! Each issue contains insights about specific words found in the Bible and tutorials on how to do word studies.
• If Only Someone Would Explain It to Me
  Enrich your understanding of the Bible with explanations of biblical and theological concepts by top scholars.
• Did You Know?
  Discover interesting facts about the place of the Bible in the contemporary and the ancient world.
• What They Don’t Tell You in Church
  See things you never noticed in biblical passages you have read dozens of times.
• Biblical Humor
  The funniest stories and the best comics related to the Bible, useful for any setting.
• Book Reviews
  Stay on top of the latest books about Bible study. Each issue contains reviews of books and commentaries to equip you in your study of God’s Word.

Can We Trust the Biblical Manuscripts?

“Cast the first stone” is one of many biblical phrases that have become common expressions. So why are these words left out of some Bibles? Well, they are and they aren’t: All the major modern English translations put the passage in which they occur (John 7:53–8:11, about the woman caught in adultery) in italics or brackets. They mark off this passage as if it doesn’t belong with the rest of the Bible—and they usually include some kind of explanatory note. Here’s what the New International Version says: “The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53–8:11.”

—Mark L. Ward, Jr.

Heavenly Bookkeeping?

There are a lot of things in Scripture that are easy to read without giving them much thought. In my experience, the beginnings and endings of Paul’s letters fall into that category. Honestly, how interesting can greetings and farewells really be? Nothing to see here, citizen. Move along. Let’s get to something worthwhile.

—Michael S. Heiser

Growing Up in Faith

Café au lait. My grandmother created my first taste of the ambrosial drink that combines hot black coffee and hot milk, loading it for me with sugar. And I wasn’t the only 7-year-old enjoying java. I was raised in south Louisiana, where children begin their love affair with coffee by starting with café au lait. Our palates mature as we grow, until we take our coffee dark and bold, but we begin sweet and light.

—Kelley Mathews

Training Faithful Teachers: Across Five Continents, Emmanuel Bellon is Laying Groundwork for a New Generation of Christian Leaders

Churches and ministries—especially small, local organizations— are rarely spoiled for choice in their volunteers. If an unqualified person offers to jump in and help, many organizations are just glad to have someone show up. They don't always have the luxury of scrutinizing candidates' resumes or analyzing their giftings. Yet Emmanuel Bellon, vice president of the Vital SustainAbility Initiative at ScholarLeaders International, is convinced that when it comes to training leaders, Christians have an obligation to ask: “How can we do better?”

—Jessi Strong