December 4, 2023
A Life Given, Not Taken
The biblical record of Jesus’ birth calls our attention to two kings. . . .
Theology & Bible
Theology & Bible helps Christians understand Scripture and the core teachings of the Christian faith. Explore Bible-based articles on biblical interpretation, doctrine, salvation, the Holy Spirit, baptism, communion, creation, and key themes across the Old and New Testaments. You’ll find thoughtful guidance for studying the Bible faithfully, applying God’s Word to life and ministry, and growing in theological clarity rooted in the gospel. Whether you’re a church leader, teacher, student, or everyday disciple, this hub equips you to know God through Scripture and live with conviction and hope.
November 28, 2023
Follow the Women Who Followed Jesus
"If you’re like me, when you hear the word 'disciples' you picture the [twelve] apostles," Dr. Holly J. Carey writes. "[But] Among those faithful followers were a remarkable number of women. . . . Often, these women’s stories were told because they represented the kinds of actions Jesus expected of his followers. Most women in the Gospels serve as role models for the audience." . . .
November 27, 2023
Seeing and Worshiping
Four times in his Gospel, Matthew described the response of people who approached Jesus and worshiped him. . . .
November 1, 2023
The Advent of Jesus into a Wicked World
By Michael C. Mack Each Christmas I faithfully sing the hymn . . . though I question the historical accuracy of the words. Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright. . . . As I read the biblical accounts, I imagine the atmosphere surrounding Jesus’ birth as something other than silent, calm, and bright. More like clamorous and chaotic. The streets of Bethlehem are bustling as people from across the region arrive in their ancestral hometown to register for Caesar Augustus’s census. Joseph and Mary walk wide-eyed through throngs of fellow Jews from King David’s line hectically looking
September 25, 2023
Drinking Our Cup
Jesus was treated as he did not deserve so we could be treated as we do not deserve. . . .
September 18, 2023
Take Communion and Take Heart
Jesus told us, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). That seems rather obvious. It’s what Jesus said before and after that statement that makes it so noteworthy.
September 1, 2023
Embrace Hope
A Biblical Character Study By Doug Redford In the first part of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, entitled “Inferno” (Italian for Hell), Dante comes across the gates of Hell during his travels. There he sees these ominous words etched above the entrance to the underworld: “Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.” But when one enters the world of the Bible and travels through the landscape of its contents, a far different message resounds throughout its pages. That message is, “Embrace hope, all ye who enter here.” Paul’s words in Romans 15:4 affirm this invitation: “For everything that was written in
September 1, 2023
The Fine Print of Relationship: God Has Always Fulfilled His Covenantal Promises—and He Still Does
By Marty Solomon “Trust me.” Those aren’t popular words these days. We’re waking up to the reality of institutional abuses, cultural messaging, and half-truths. Simply put, we don’t trust anybody but ourselves. God has always invited his creation into a place of trust. Hebraic thought talks about this using words in which we place great theological stock: belief, trust, hope, faith. These words speak of the dynamic relationship between God and his creation. From the opening chapters of Scripture, God invited humanity into a place of trust—trust in the goodness of creation, in his acceptance of and provision for you,
August 21, 2023
Salvation in Jesus
Jesus lived so that his death would not be for his own guilt, but for the guilt of others. . . .
A Shot Heard Throughout History
Christianity, like baseball, is a beautiful thing. . . .
May 1, 2023
In the Beginning
We are just as gullible, just as prone to wander, just as needy as Adam and Eve . . .
My Response: Inerrancy Is a Hill to Defend to the End
By Jerry Harris, Publisher Christian Standard enjoys receiving feedback from our readers. Some of the best comments and letters are printed in our “Interact” section at the back of the magazine. I have personally received both positive and negative comments on articles I’ve written; up to this point, I have never responded, because I believe those viewpoints are also instructive. But when I received this letter from Dr. David Kiger, the librarian at Milligan University, about a phrase I used in a recent column, I knew it was essential I respond. Here is his unedited letter: _ _ _ – LETTER
April 24, 2023
The Rich Young Ruler
Jesus was on the rich young ruler’s side. Jesus was pulling for him. . . .
Again
Here we go again. It’s time for Communion, again. Once more with feeling! Right? . . .
March 1, 2023
Chronicles of Grace (from the CS Archives)
The Perspectives of Our Editors and Essayists Over the Years
March 1, 2023
Why the Resurrection Matters
By Steve Wyatt His name was Cleopas—and he felt hopeless. So did his friend. These two friends had gone to Jerusalem to join up with Israel’s latest, greatest world-changer—another prophet, this time from Nazareth, who was rumored to be the one who would forever end Rome’s tyrannical reign. But instead? Although they had left hopeful, they were returning hopeless. Have you ever been there . . . hopeless? • Yes, these guys were believers. • Yes, they had grown to deeply love Jesus. • Yes, they had dropped everything to follow him. Here’s the problem: Jesus was trapped behind a huge stone, and
March 1, 2023
Where Grace Can Be Found
By Michael C. Mack One of my favorite classes in seminary was Doctrine of Grace, taught by Jack Cottrell. It was an introduction for me in my relatively newfound faith to the nature of God, the essence of salvation, and the call of the Christian life. Thirty-five years later, I’m still learning about grace. I see it everywhere, as God’s Spirit opens my eyes and heart to it. It’s found, for example, in Paul’s instructions to husbands on how to love their wives “just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Paul then described
March 1, 2023
The Grace-Filled God of the Entire Bible
By Marty Solomon The idea that the God of the Old Covenant is a God of law, while the New Covenant shows us a God of grace, is a common concept that often undergirds our reading of the Bible. This is likely made worse by the idea that the Hebrew Scriptures depict a God that is full of wrath. Even if we reject this idea on principle, it seems to have affected so much of how we read the Bible. I think most of us, whatever our opinion of the Old Testament God vs. New Testament God, would affirm the
The Resurrection and the Afterlife: What Do We Believe?
By Kent E. Fillinger In Bible college, I encountered this simple but powerful two-question outline to discuss the resurrection of Jesus: What proves the resurrection? And what does the resurrection prove? I don’t have the space to unpack the answers to these questions, but I do want to explore what people believe about the resurrection of Jesus to help you consider the array of beliefs you might encounter in your church (and with your family) this Easter. I also want to examine current beliefs regarding the afterlife—heaven, hell, and reincarnation. Views on the Resurrection The 2020 Lifeway Research State of
March 1, 2023
Grace Is Amazing
By James Estep “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.” Penned in 1772 by John Newton, the message of “Amazing Grace” resounds into the 21st century. The tune as originally written is a favorite of many believers. In 2007 Christian musician Chris Tomlin updated the words to say, “my chains are gone, I’ve been set free” . . . but the message remained the same. Grace is amazing! My home church for a while described itself as “An Amazing Grace Place,” which represented them well. But why is grace so amazing? Paul explained why in
