These articles include information about Bible reading and methods of interpretation and the important doctrinal teachings of the Scriptures.

Many different approaches to Scripture exist, but your hermeneutic will affect your understanding of a particular text, the doctrinal instruction given, or even of the Person of God Himself.

Hermeneutics / Methods of Interpretation

HERMENEUTIC: KEY TO UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURE - Rev. Charles Cooper - The reason two people with similar backgrounds can read the same passage of the Bible and develop two opposing conclusions is because of two differing hermeneutics. That's a fancy word for interpretation...

HERMENEUTIC: THE KEYS OF A WHOLISTIC BIBLICAL METHOD OF INTERPRETATION - Rev. Charles Cooper - The components of a wholistic biblical method of interpretation include literature, grammar, history, context, and theology. These five components are critical in discovering the Author/author's intended meaning...

Doctrinal Teaching

REFLECTING ON THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST - Dr. Dan Hayden - Jesus not only suffered physical torment during "the passion" but also humiliation and the weight of the sins of the world. Mel Gibson's film does an powerful job in depicting the first type of suffering, but the magnifying glass can be held closer to see how deep the passion truly went...

BELIEF AND BELIEFS - Dr. Herbert Samworth - How should we respond to claims of belief and authority? How should we perceive the belief of an individual in light of the beliefs of an organization or a denomination?...

ORIGINS OF EVANGELICALS AND CATHOLICS TOGETHER - Dr. Herbert Samworth - This is one of the most pressing issues in the Christian community today. What is at stake is not just a polemical argument where one side seeks to triumph. This is a matter that deals with the spiritual state of professing Christians...

ECT AND THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION - Dr. Herbert Samworth - The second statement issued by the joint committee was entitled The Gift of Salvation and dealt with the doctrine of justification. An understanding of this doctrine is critical for the Christian...

EVALUATING ECT's THE GIFT OF SALVATION - Dr. Herbert Samworth - The document The Gift of Salvation is an attempt by ECT to reach agreement on certain differences between Protestants and Roman Catholics. Let's evaluate this document...

ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED? - Dr. Herbert Samworth - Is it possible for a Christian to lose their salvation? Is the promise of being saved a license to live your life any way you desire? What is 1 John 5:13 talking about when it says "I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life"?...

BEFORE THE MANGER - Dr. Dan Hayden - Many unusual births have taken place in the history of the world, but there has only been one unique birth. Only One has ever been born as no other has been born. Contrary to all natural law, Jesus Christ was born of a virgin...

THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL - Dr. Herbert Samworth - But what is this good news? For whom is it good news? How can one learn about this good news? These are extremely important questions. The answers are found in the Scriptures, a revelation from God Himself...

HUNG ON A TREE - Dr. Dan Hayden - Have you ever wondered why Jesus had to die on a cross? Why didn't the religious leaders just stone Jesus to death, which was the means of capital punishment in Israel? It seems that the cross was destined to be God's altar of sacrifice...

WHAT IS JUSTIFICATION? - THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION, PART 1 - Dr. Herbert Samworth - In the midst of a dialogue with his friends as he sorted through what had taken place in his life, Job uttered these words, "But how can a man be right with God?" (Job 9:2). They may be the most poignant words that have ever been spoken because they state the great problem of mankind...

THE HISTORICAL VEINS OF JUSTIFICATION - THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION, PART 2 - Dr. Herbert Samworth - The doctrine of justification, or how a person can have a right relationship with God, has been scrutinized through the course of history under the sights of individuals such as Augustine, the Bishop of Rome, and Martin Luther...

THREE ATTACKS AGAINST JUSTIFICATION - THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION, PART 3 - Dr. Herbert Samworth - If the doctrine of justification was opposed at the Reformation, we should not be surprised that it has continually been attacked. While we will not review all the disputes relating to this doctrine, we will call the reader's attention to three attacks that are being made at the present time...

THE DEBATE - THE OPENNESS OF GOD, PART 1 - Dr. Herbert Samworth - The heart of "Openness theology" deals with the understanding that one has of the Person of God Himself. This portrayal has repercussions far beyond just individuals developing a new way of studying theology...

VIEWS OF OPENNESS THEOLOGIANS - THE OPENNESS OF GOD, PART 2 - Dr. Herbert Samworth - In this article we will note the views of the Openness theologians, especially how they interpret the text of Scripture. The Openness theologians are convinced that the picture of God given by Classical theology is not the one found in Scripture...

A THOROUGH RESPONSE TO OPENNESS THEOLOGY - THE OPENNESS OF GOD, PART 3 - Dr. Herbert Samworth - The classical doctrine of God describes Him as sovereign over all His creation. In contrast, Openness theology pictures a God who repents over many of His actions and is willfully ignorant of what the future may bring. What is to be our response to this new presentation of the doctrine of God?...