Genesis 1:1 is considered by many to be the most important verse in the Bible, as it declares the existence of God and His role as the creator of all things. The verse also shows the interconnection of time, space, and matter, and the power and wisdom of God in creating them. In this episode JP also explores the question of when God created the universe and some of the difficulties in determining an exact age. Come along with JP as we step out onto the first page of Scripture into this foundational verse of the Bible!

Recommended resources from today’s podcast can be found at: www.icr.org

Learn more about JP and the Walking the Old Paths ministry at: www.walkingtheoldpaths.com

In this part 2 episode of the Introduction to Genesis we will be discussing the three main suggestions of the human authorship of Genesis, the outline of Genesis, and the interpretation of Genesis as allegorical or literal.

In this first episode of our Introduction to Genesis we will explore the significance of Genesis as being foundational to walking the old paths of Scripture. It is also called the "book of origins" because it explains the origins of many important things, such as the universe, life, man, marriage, government, religion, and nations. It is referenced in the New Testament many times and finds its complement in the last book of the Bible, Revelation.

In this special Thanksgiving message, JP talks about the spiritual legacy his grandparents left and gives us three aspects of leaving a godly legacy to our future generations: 1.) Marrying a godly spouse. 2.) Instruction in the home. 3.) Correction in the home. These three Bible principles are God’s prescription for a godly legacy. We hope you will be blessed as you consider what type of legacy you are leaving for your children.

Scripture references in Proverbs for correction: Proverbs 3:11-12; 13:24; 19:18; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 29:15,17

In this last episode of Principles for Interpreting the Scriptures JP shows us how Christ is the grand central theme of the Bible and how He can be found in all sixty-six books, along with five ways that we can see the centrality of Christ in the Bible:

1.) The Lord Jesus Christ is central to the Bible as God manifest in the flesh.

2.) All Angelic thought and ministry is centered in Him.

3.) All of Satan’s wrath and hatred are centered at Christ.

4.) All hope of mankind for salvation is centered in Christ.

5.) The entire Word of God is centered in Christ.

In this episode, we will be talking about the application principle, which states that an application of truth may only be made once we have come to the correct interpretation of a text. This is the final step in the three-step process of Bible study, which includes observation, interpretation, and application. We will also go through a practical example using First Samuel 15 to demonstrate how these principles work together. This passage in 1 Samuel 15 discusses the disobedience of Saul, the first king of Israel, and how his disobedience caused him to be rejected by God. This passage teaches us the importance of obedience to God's commands, even when it is difficult or goes against our desires. It also reminds us that true obedience cannot be replaced by religious rituals or sacrifices. The passage also challenges us to examine our own hearts and see if we are truly following Christ's commands.

In this episode, JP discusses the three Mention Principles that we will be taking with us on our journey through the Old Paths. They are the First Mention Principle, the Progressive Mention Principle, and the Full Mention Principle.

The First Mention Principle states that the first mention of a subject or truth in the Bible has special significance and can give us insight into God's mind on that topic. JP gives an example of this with the first mention of Egypt, which is a symbol of sin in the Bible. You will see how the first mention of Egypt led to Abraham compromising with the world and causing shame and disgrace.

The Progressive Mention Principle is one where God reveals more and more details over the course of the Bible. JP uses the example of predictions of the coming Messiah to illustrate this principle.

The Full Mention Principle is where God gathers all the scattered information on a topic and puts it into one comprehensive statement. JP gives an example of this principle on the resurrection found in 1 Corinthians 15.

This episode discusses the importance of proper Bible interpretation and the use of the Context Principle for effective interpretation. The context principle is a tool used to interpret the Bible by looking at the surrounding texts and themes, starting with a small circle around the verse and expanding it to include the immediate context, the chapters and book surrounding it. The Context Principle is a powerful tool that we will be taking with us on the Old Paths.

Dispensationalism is a theological belief that divides history into different periods or "dispensations" where God interacts with humanity in different ways. These include the dispensation of innocence, conscience, human government, promise, law, grace, judgment/tribulation, and the millennial kingdom. The current dispensation is grace, but it will end in failure and be followed by a time of great tribulation. This will be followed by a 1000-year period of peace and prosperity, known as the millennial reign of Christ. Each of these dispensations has its own unique characteristics and purpose in God's plan. In this episode JP finishes the dispensations and gives us five dispensational principles to take with us on our journey through the Old Paths of Scripture.

In this two part episode JP introduces us to the Dispensational Principle, an important tool we will need on our journey through the Bible!