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Arnie and Glenn continue to discuss what the Bible says about John the Baptizer in this second episode. We begin by noting that John always performed his mission faithfully. We look at John the apostles record of the occasion the priests and Levites questioned John the Baptizer and note his answers using Old Testament prophecies concerning him. John had tremendous influence with the inhabitants in Jerusalem, Judea, the Jordan Valley and all Israel. We discuss the scriptures that relate that to us. We note that the record tells us that even the most notorious sinners responded to John's preaching. In the rest of this episode, we look at John's baptism. The religious authorities questioned Jesus' authority for what He said and did. Jesus discussed John's baptism in answering their questions. We note that discussion because it ultimately reveals the authority for John's baptism to us. We closeout this episode by looking at the purpose for John's baptism but run out of time before we could finish. We will pick up here in the next episode. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.

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Arnie and Glenn begin this episode on John the Baptizer or Immerser, by first noting that his ministry began just before Jesus' work did and lasted only a year or two. Even though he worked such a short time, John was one of the most important and best-known men influencing 1st Century Palestine. Unfortunately, much of his importance is overlooked by many disciples today. As far as we can tell, John began his work about AD 27. His mission was to prepare the way for the Messiah or Christ. We look at the prophesy that tells us that in the Old Testament. John the apostle tells us in his gospel that John the Baptizer was to prepare men to believe in the Light. We discuss what that means. He had a specific message that he was to preach. We discuss what that message included. John included the common man, religious leaders as well as the politically powerful. A number of those situations are looked at. We talk about the "fruits of repentance" that John mentions. Of course, he preached about the coming of the Messiah and we look at some of what he had to say. John guided his disciples' spiritual growth including teaching them how to pray and fast. We note how this applied to Jesus' disciples. This episode concludes with us noting how faithfully John the Immerser performed his mission. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. For your convenience, there is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided. 

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Arnie and Glenn begin this final episode on the Bible being literal or figurative by reviewing some of what they said in the last episode. They note that sometimes people make up their minds prematurely about what a passage says without considering the complete case. It is important to note if the writer identifies which figure of speech is being used. It is also important to see how other writers or speakers treat a particular Bible event. Finally, it is noted that Bible events should be considered literal unless being so forces them to be impossible or nonsense. A common saying that should help to properly understand what is written is noted. Arnie and Glenn talk about the need to use common sense in understanding all written or spoken communications in the Bible. Many of the things that we write or say include some kind of figurative language. It is also noted how important it is to have a genuine desire to know and obey God's word. We complete this episode by noting that both the Old and New Testament Scriptures include both literal and figurative language and we discuss some of the things they provide to us. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on what we are saying. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what is said. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.

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Arnie is joined by Glenn Landrum to continue the discussion of the literal and figurative aspects of the Bible. This episode begins by noting some helpful hints on how to distinguish between literal and figurative expressions in the Bible. We shouldn't make up our minds prematurely on a particular subject without considering the context of it. The time that the Pharisees misrepresented Moses as commanding divorce is discussed at length. Sometimes Jesus or one of the writers tells us which figure of speech is being used, whether it is a parable or an allegory. That is discussed. We ought to note how the inspired writers or speakers treat an event recorded in the Bible. Jesus speaking about Moses at the burning bush and the Hebrew writer noting Noah and the flood is looked at. We discuss Jotham's fable to show some of the figurative language found in the Bible and how to understand it. A good guide to follow is what someone has been quoted as saying, which is, "The sense that makes the most sense is the correct sense." There is a little bit more that needs to be said about this subject, so we will complete it in the next episode. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode for your convenience.

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In this episode, Arnie and Fred continue their discussion of examples of other figures of speech. We begin by talking about similes. We note that similes are words or phrases that compare two things. We look at two examples that have the words like or as in them. Next is a discussion of similitudes. We explain what they are and look at two Bible examples where this figure of speech occurs. Hyperboles are looked at next. They are obvious and intentional exaggerations indicating excitement or used to make a point. Jesus used them as did the apostles. We discuss four examples. Personifications are used in both the Old and New Testaments. We note what they are and look at several passages where they appear. Finally, we begin to talk about how to distinguish figurative from literal language but will have to complete this in the next episode. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.

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In this second episode, Arnie and Fred continue to discuss the literal and figurative aspects of the Bible. We begin here by noting that Jesus and the apostles understood that some of the historical and literal Bible accounts contained figurative language, since they supplied the words. We note the words that Abraham received Isaac from the dead, the passages that appears in, and why it is important to understand it properly. We discuss Parables, noting that they are realistic stories conveying a moral thought as contained in the parable of the Sower.  We look at Proverbs that are understood to be old sayings that communicate practical truths. We look at what Jesus said about the Physician in Luke 4. We continue by noting the allegory that Paul identified of the Bondwoman and Freewoman. We talk about that allegory and how Paul applied it. We close out this episode with a discussion of metaphors. We look at three that are found in the New Testament, two that Jesus used, and one Paul wrote about. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.

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In this episode, Arnie and Fred begin a discussion of what some people think of the Bible. Some Bible student's regard everything the Scriptures say to be literally true, for instance trees talked and chose a king. Others think the entire Bible is figurative, that everything symbolizes something else, and no one can understand it except a special few. Neither view is correct. We begin by noting that Paul mentioned using a figure of speech in one of his letters to the Christians in Corinth. Arnie discusses what is recorded in Judges chapter 9 of what Jotham said there to illustrate some of the figurative language he used. We note that the Bible is verbally inspired. We discuss what this means, and how specific it is in what is recorded. Jesus discussed a number of events from the Old Testament and treated them as historically accurate and literal. We discuss the implications of what He had to say. We close out this episode by noting that Jesus and the apostles understood some historical and literal Bible accounts to contain figurative language. We look at one of those accounts. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.

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Arnie and Fred continue to discuss what the Bible says about Jesus' birth and the timeline of it. We begin this episode by noting what Luke said about the requirement in the law of Moses that all male children were to be circumcised and when that was to occur. We noted that Luke also recorded Jesus' presentation at the Temple and purification requirements for Mariam recorded in Leviticus. Matthew records the visit of the wisemen, and notes that this occurred when Jesus was a young child. In Matthew's account, much is recorded of the interest that Herod had concerning Jesus' birth and where that occurred. Herod ordered them to report back to him after they saw Jesus. We discuss the warning they received concerning this ruler, Herod the Great. We also talk about the warning Joseph received concerning Herod and why that was important. Matthew records what Herod did to the children in Judea and we have a discussion about this. Matthew also records the return of Joseph and his family and why they ended up in Nazareth. WE discuss the significance of that city's name. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.

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In this episode, Arnie and Fred discuss Jesus' birth and try to establish a timeline of it based on what the Bible says. We begin by noting that of the four gospels, Mark is the only one who says nothing about Jesus' birth. We discuss the phrase, "the fulness of time" that Paul refers to in his letter to the Christians in Galatia. We look at the first reference to Jesus in the scriptures. John only refers to Jesus' birth in one verse. We note that verse. Luke records the angel Gabriel's visit with Mary when he explained to her about her becoming Jesus' mother and what that entailed. We look at what Luke said about that. Matthew records what Joseph initially thought about Mary when he found her to be expecting a child. Matthew records when the angel of the Lord visited Joseph to explain the situation to him. We discuss that visit. Luke records the reason Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem as well as Jesus' birth. We note the significance of Luke's mentioning the Roman officials at that time. We complete this episode by looking at Luke's record of shepherds who were visited by angels and their travel to Bethlehem to see Jesus. Luke provides us with an important fact in developing our timeline. We talk about this. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.

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In this final episode on morality, Arnie and Fred begin by discussing the fact that immorality is the same as sin. We note that James discusses what happens when an individual knows what is good to do but decides not to do it. John in two passages identifies what sin is. We look at what he says there. Paul has a discussion in Romans 14 relating to one that has doubts about what he is doing and what the result is if he continues to do it. We discuss this situation. Paul also has a long discussion of quite a few different sins in Romans chapter 1. Arnie spends some time looking at what Paul says about those sins. Fred discusses what Paul said to the Christians in Galatia when he listed a similar number of sins in Chapter 5. We move on to talk about what Paul wrote to the brethren in Ephesus about other sources of immorality which are equally serious. We complete this episode by looking at the consequence of unrighteousness and note that Adam and Eve understood that in the very beginning. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.