Articles on Scripture and the Christian Life

Bible studies, explorations of Scripture, and practical writing on prayer, worship, and following Christ.

Christian Living and Discipleship

Loving Your Neighbor: What Christianity Teaches About Others

The command to love your neighbor comes from Leviticus, was named by Jesus as second only to loving God, and was immediately followed by a question ab

Bible People and Stories

Peter: The Disciple Who Denied and Was Restored

Peter walks on water, misunderstands almost everything, denies Jesus three times, and is restored on a beach. Here is the story of Christianity's most

Understanding the Bible

What Is the Apocrypha and Why Isn't It in Every Bible?

Tobit, Judith, Sirach, and Maccabees appear in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles but not most Protestant ones. Here is the history behind that difference a

Understanding the Bible

What Are the Gospels and Why Are There Four of Them?

Gospel means good news. Here is what each of the four accounts of Jesus sets out to do, why Matthew, Mark, and Luke are grouped together, and why four

The Nature and Character of God

Is God the Same in the Old and New Testaments?

Many readers assume the Old Testament shows an angry God and the New Testament a loving one. This article examines where that idea came from and what

The Nature and Character of God

The Names of God in the Bible and What They Mean

Elohim, Yahweh, Adonai, El Shaddai and more: what the biblical names for God meant in Hebrew, why the divine name was treated with such care, and how

Christian Living

The 6 Best Crucifix Necklaces for Daily Wear

A crucifix you actually wear every day has to survive showers, seatbelts and long shifts. Here are six pieces from Christian Art Workshop, compared by

Church History and the Christian Tradition

The Story of Christmas: Origins and Meaning

Christmas combines the biblical nativity accounts with centuries of later custom. The history of December 25 is more contested than the popular explan

Church History and the Christian Tradition

The Protestant Reformation: What Changed and Why

The Reformation of the sixteenth century reshaped Western Christianity and European society. Here is a fair look at its causes, its core ideas, and ho

Prayer and Spiritual Disciplines

How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Beginners

You do not need special words or a religious vocabulary to pray. This beginner's guide covers a simple structure, how to build a routine, and what to

Christian Living and Discipleship

What Does It Mean to Be a Disciple of Jesus?

The word disciple meant something specific in the ancient world: an apprentice bound to a teacher. Here is what that background reveals about Jesus' c

The Nature and Character of God

What Does It Mean That God Is Holy?

Holiness is one of the most-repeated descriptions of God in Scripture and one of the least understood. Here is what the word meant in Hebrew, and what