"Media" used to mean "print media" like books and newspapers, but the world has grown. Today media can also mean radio, television and movies delivered to personal computers, tablets and cell phones. As the world's best selling book of all time the Bible continues to make headlines, both good and bad, across all forms of media. This week in the Bible and Media: Crosses across Henan province in China, and in Louisiana and Florida are being torn down, and the birth of the first red heifer in 2,000 years may signal the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.
"Media" used to mean "print media" like books and newspapers, but the world has grown. Today media can also mean radio, television and movies delivered to personal computers, tablets and cell phones. As the world's best selling book of all time the Bible continues to make headlines, both good and bad, across all forms of media. This week in the Bible and Media: Cheerleaders snatch victory from the Freedom from Religion Foundation, Brown University suppresses a report suggesting kids become transgender due to social pressure and an Ohio public school teacher reinvents the "Life Boat" curriculum for the modern left.
"Media" used to mean "print media" like books and newspapers, but the world has grown. Today media can also mean radio, television and movies delivered to personal computers, tablets and cell phones. As the world's best selling book of all time the Bible continues to make headlines, both good and bad, across all forms of media. This week in the Bible and Media: The Bible is still welcome in Marriott brand hotels, even if it and it's teachings might become outlawed in the state of California by the "Must Stay Gay" bill that has already passed the California state senate.
"Media" used to mean "print media" like books and newspapers, but the world has grown. Today media can also mean radio, television and movies delivered to personal computers, tablets and cell phones. As the world's best selling book of all time the Bible continues to make headlines, both good and bad, across all forms of media. This week in the Bible and Media: A new archaeological find proves Bible critics assumptions wrong — again, Satanists strive to get a statue of Baphomet raised outside the Arkansas state capitol building, and an ancient lie resurfaces in Turkey in an ornate, gold-lettered tome worth $18 million.
Christianity has a long and rich history to draw upon concerning theology and biblical studies. The apostles started the trend of interpreting some Old Testament passages (to them known simply as the Scriptures) in light of the revelation of the Messiah Jesus Christ. Over the nearly two-thousand years since then — from the apostles and early church fathers to the development of Christianity as Catholicism and the period of the Reformation bringing a much needed course correction to the church, through to the modern age — mankind has invented many forms and approaches to studying holy writ. The question is, how useful is it?
These books are complimentary to 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings and, like them, 1 and 2 Chronicles were originally one book. Titled "Chronicles", the main book was separated into two books by the translators of the Septuagint. There is some thought that perhaps the original work also included the book of Ezra. The reasoning behind this is rather compelling. Historically it is held that Ezra is the author of Chronicles as well as his self-titled book, and the two cover a consecutive history as demonstrated in an examination of 2 Chronicles and the beginning of Ezra:
Like 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings were originally one book, titled "Kings", and separated into two books by the translators of the Septuagint. This singular work was divided with 1 Kings covering the reign of Solomon through Jehoshaphat and explains the division of the kingdom into north and south (about 125 years of history). 2 Kings begins with the rise of King Ahaziah, covers the fall of the two kingdoms concluding with the end of last king Zedekiah and the captivity of the people of Judah (a period of about 250 years). These books are more than a historical record, however.
Originally one book, Samuel was divided during the translation of the Septuagint. It records a lengthy history; from the time of Eli, the high priest of Israel (1 Samuel 1) around 1150 BC, to the end of the reign of David in 1004 BC. (2 Samuel 24) we're looking at a time period of about 150 years. A lot of history happens during this century and a half, including the transition of Israel from a theocracy to a united monarchy. These books are based on first hand accounts from the prophets that wrote them as well as history from historic records.
YHWH Tsidkenu means “the Lord is our justice” and can be pronounced as Sid-you-cay-no (there is some debate as to proper pronunciation, but this seems to be the one favored by scholars). This name appears twice in the book of Jeremiah (23.6 and 33.16) and nowhere else. In the first instance the Lord becomes the embodiment of justice when those who are tasked to uphold justice fail to do so. In the second it is a name for Jerusalem given in a prophecy indicating the city would be restored (and justly so) after its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar.
YHWH Shammah is derived from the Hebrew word sham, which means there or, in this case, “the Lord is there”. This is the last name of God provided in the Old Testament, and is quite possibly the most encouraging name of God. This name is given to a city that is described by the prophet Ezekiel, “The circumference of the city will be six miles. The name of the city from that day forward will be: ‘The Lord Is There.’” (Ezekiel 48.35). The city of this prophecy is known by another name, the New Jerusalem, described in Revelation 21.15-27.
YHWH Shalom means “the Lord of peace” and is pronounced Sha-loam. Gideon, one of the judges of Israel, was visited by someone he considered a messenger of God but who was really the Angel of the Lord (the preincarnate Jesus). Gideon set about making an appropriate meal for them and when he was finished the Angel of the Lord commanded him to pour out the broth on a stone altar, and to place the bread on it. When he had done so the Angel touched the altar with his staff and the meal was consumed by fire.
YHWH Rophe means “the Lord your healer” and is pronounced Row-fay. It is the second name God gives himself in Scripture and appears only once (Exodus 15.26), though God is referred to over 60 times as "healer" or "restorer". The backstory regarding this name is an interesting one — it is an object lesson from God to his people. After crossing the Red Sea the people camped on its shores for some time, but it was time to move on. Moses led the people through the desert and when they came to Marah they were anxious to drink, refill their canteens and water the animals.
