Sermon preached on July 18, 1998.
“The ‘Desert’ of Bethsaida”: Is Midbar Akin to Village Common?

Professor Shmuel Safrai has pointed out to me in a private conversation a good example of the use of midbar in the sense of “a pasturing place” or “the common grazing land of a settlement.”
The Best Long-term Investment—Making Loans to God

In our day, the 20th-century disciple of Jesus feels the challenge of his call to lay up treasure in heaven more than ever. In the face of an emerging global society drunken with consumerism and materialism, Jesus’ words shatter the silence: “You cannot serve God and mammon!”
From Allegro to Zeitlin

In this article the author explains his view that the output of cheap, pseudo-scholarship has driven legitimate, serious scholarly information from the marketplace of ideas.
Has the Lost City of Bethsaida Finally Been Found?

The scholarly debate over the location of Bethsaida continues to rage. Now, Mendel Nun, an authority on the Sea of Galilee and its ancient harbors, weighs in on the side of el-Araj.
Robert L. Lindsey and His Synoptic Theory

In this article, Finnish scholar Risto Santala appraises the synoptic theory of Robert L. Lindsey and its importance for New Testament studies.
Could Bethsaida Be West of the Jordan?

The Jordan River was not the border of the land of Israel in the time of Jesus.
Another Look at Peter’s Great Confession
Lessons taught on 27 December, 1997 and January 3, 1998.
Enemies of the Harvest

In his famous Parable of the Sower, Jesus referred to seed sown in soil that was full of thistles. What did these thistles look like, and how did they succeed in choking the grain plants?
Spring or Sponge? Will We Choose to Be a Blessing?
Sermon preached on October 4, 1997.
Is there apostolic authority and authorship of New Testament Scriptures?

It seems to me that the governing thesis of the Jerusalem School, i.e., that the authentic teachings of Jesus must be “reconstructed” from our existing Gospels, contradicts this principle of apostolic authority.