Sometimes in the Bible it is obvious when a parable is a parable and when real events are real events. Sometimes the reader can easily distinguish between things to be taken literally and things to be taken figuratively. But this is not always so simple.

God’s word and will, not man’s, is supreme and will prevail. Trust it, dear brothers and sisters.

When I was was about 15 years old, I discovered a surprising Bible study technique when I began reading from an RSV instead of a KJV. The RSV was organized by paragraphs, not verse by verse. When I started reading the Bible by context, it began to make more sense to me. I found I could better remember Bible verses based on how they fit into the context, knowing who said it and in what circumstance.

The pronouncement of Samson’s birth to Manoah’s wife included important information about the work of Samson.

It has been said that the more things change, the more they remain the same. Regarding matters of faith in God and our ecclesial associations, this certainly seems to be the case. Expressed differently, Solomon wrote there is “no new thing under the sun.” (Eccl 1:9).

Last month we began looking at the importance of names in the book of Exodus, or its Hebrew title Shemot. We continue this month by surveying other passages that speak about the significance of names. If you haven't read Part 1 yet, click here: Shemot Part 1

It is the darkest time of the night, just before the sun’s rays begin to creep over the horizon. The city streets are quiet. Out of the shadows, a young woman emerges.

We are at the end of this series, and I would be remiss if I did not say the following, very clearly and simply. No matter how it may sound to you, the readers, I am by no means a paragon of virtue. I am certainly not saying that I have done anything like all the good deeds which our Lord tells us we should do—in fact, I have done very few of them. I want this to be more than a cliché, more than a perfunctory disclaimer when I tell you that I am exhorting myself first and foremost before I ever think of exhorting anyone else.

“Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:36)

When I was a young Sunday School student, I remember my dad, Bro. Bob Brinkerhoff, looking agitated. It appeared that something was troubling him. Finally, he stood up in the ecclesial hall and said, “You know brethren, Jesus’s body was not broken! The Apostle’s reference was to the broken bread in this passage in 1 Cor. 11:24.”

In this article, we undertake a study about the identity of Tarshish, and, comparing Scripture with Scripture, suggest that it is not possible to identify with certainty the location(s) of Tarshish. Then we will examine why Tarshish is sometimes identified as Britain. Finally, the reader is encouraged to consider the implications of an alternate identification.

The following two articles are intended to be read together. The first deals with the scriptural principles about vaccination and the second is a medical opinion from a brother who is also a medical doctor.