Craig S. Keener | The Seven Churches of Revelation, Part 1

Darrell Bock is Executive Director of Cultural Engagement and Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. He has authored over 40 books including well-regarded commentaries on Luke and Acts and studies of the historical Jesus. In this lecture, Bock examines a portion of the Luke/Acts historical account in which John the Baptist as John the Baptist attempts to dispel the belief that he is the Christ. John reiterates that he baptizes with water but one stronger is coming who will baptize with the holy spirit. The holy spirit is a sign of a new era where Jews and Gentiles can be made clean and set apart as believers. If you like what you hear, visit our website at MasterLectures.ZondervanAcademic.com, where you can watch more of Darrell’s lectures on Luke and Acts, along with thousands of other lectures on the Bible and theology.This podcast is a production of Narrativo

Tremper Longman is distinguished Scholar and Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Westmont College. He has written over thirty books, including commentaries on Genesis, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Daniel, and Nahum.In this lecture, Tremper talks about the structure of Genesis using the Toledot Formula. Toledot is a Hebrew word meaning an account or a story that came from a person or event, in this example, the story of Adam.  Longman also discusses an additional way of subdividing the book of Genesis into three sections: The primeval, the patriarchal, and the Joseph story. Tremper explains that Genesis is written like a historical story that reveals God through space and time, showing us God’s intent to restore relationship with his people. If you like what you hear, visit our website at MasterLectures.ZondervanAcademic.com, where you can watch more of Tremper’s lectures on Genesis, along with thousands of other lectures on the Bible and theology.

Dr. Timothy Tennent is President of Asbury Theological Seminary and Professor of World Christianity. He is ordained in the United Methodist Church, has pastored churches in Georgia, and preached regularly in churches throughout New England and across the country. Dr. Tennent is the author of several books including: Building Christianity on Indian Foundations, (ISPCK, 2000); Christianity at the Religious Roundtable, (Baker Academic, 2002); and Theology in the Context of World Christianity: How the Global Church is Influencing the Way We Think About and Discuss Theology, (Zondervan, 2007). In this lecture Dr. Tennent discusses what he calls “theological translatability” as the core of the gospel being rediscovered and restated within a new global context. Dr. Tennent encourages Western Christians to note that Christianity is experiencing a huge transformation. The demographic of the church has and is changing. This lecture is a means to assist us in having a positive dialogue with the global church. If you like what you hear, visit our website at MasterLectures.ZondervanAcademic.com, where you can watch more of Timothy’s lectures on the state of global theology, along with thousands of other lectures on the Bible and theology.

In today’s episode, we hear from Gary Burge. Gary is a professor of New Testament in the Department of Biblical and Theological Studies at Wheaton College and Graduate School, Wheaton, Illinois. Gary has authored a number of books, including Who Are God’s People in the Middle East? What Christians Are Not Being Told About Israel and the Palestinians; and the John and Letters of John in the NIV Application Commentary series. Gary specializes in the Middle East, its churches, and its history in the Hellenistic period.In this lecture, Gary discusses the “Beloved” gospel of John as an accessible and satisfying testament to the life of Jesus Christ. Gary addresses the four questions commonly asked about the book of John: Who wrote the gospel? Who is the audience? What is the purpose of the gospel? and What is the relationship between historical reporting and theology inside of this gospel? Burge encourages us to see the gospel of John in its literary form and to see a story within a story and to take each chapter in its context in order to accurately interpret it. If you like what you hear, visit our website at MasterLectures.ZondervanAcademic.com, where you can watch more of Gary’s lectures on John, along with thousands of other lectures on the Bible and theology. Master Lectures is produced by Narrativo 

In today’s episode, we hear from Dr. David VanDrunen, a minister of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, who began teaching at Westminster Seminary California in 2001. He does much of his current research and writing at the intersection of systematic theology, biblical studies, ethics, and legal and political theory. Dr. VanDrunen is the author or editor of eleven books, most recently Aquinas Among the Protestants and God’s Glory Alone: The Majestic Heart of Christian Faith and Life.In this lecture, Dr. VanDrunen discusses the theology of the reformation which includes the 5 Sola’s. They are: Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone, Glory Alone and Christ Alone. Dr. VanDrunen asks the question, “Are we really saved through faith alone or do we need works as well to be justified before God?” Find the answer to this question and more about trusting God alone for our Salvation by listening to this lecture about Soli Deo Gloria.If you like what you hear, visit our website at MasterLectures.ZondervanAcademic.com, where you can watch more of Dr. VanDrunen's lectures on the Old Testament, along with thousands of other lectures on the Bible and theology.

In today’s episode, we hear from Sam Chan on the theology of evangelism.Chan is the author of Evangelism in a Skeptical World. He is a public evangelist with City Bible Forum in Sydney, Australia, where he regularly shares the gospel with high-school students, city workers, doctors, and lawyers.In this lecture, Chan discusses the meaning of evangelism and that it is defined by its message rather than its audience. His lecture helps us to understand that we need a theology of evangelism and that evangelism means that we communicate the gospel to others. Chan points to the use of the Greek word euaggelion in the Bible which means, the amazing news of Jesus Christ. Chan encourages us to understand that there are many ways to communicate the gospel and that believers begin their journey by hearing the gospel but are able to continue that journey because they continue to hear the gospel.If you like what you hear, visit our website at MasterLectures.ZondervanAcademic.com, where you can watch more of John’s lectures on the Old Testament, along with thousands of other lectures on the Bible and theology.

In today’s episode, we hear from Craig S. Keener.Craig S. Keener is a North American academic and F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. Keener received his Ph.D. in New Testament Studies and Christian Origins from Duke University. He has authored 25 books and his recent books include Galatians (Cambridge, 2018) and Mind of the Spirit: Paul’s Approach to Transformed Thinking (Baker Academic, 2016) Dr. Keener is married to Dr. Medine Keener and has a son named David. In this lecture, Dr. Keener talks about Jesus warning the church in Sardis to be prepared and to wake up or else be blotted from the heavenly book of life. He goes on to say that Philadelphia and Smyrna were the only two churches who received messages without rebuke. God’s desire then and always is to restore his people to fellowship, and Dr. Keener gives us a historical account of the seven churches in Revelation so we can understand who the church was then and who it is today. So that we might also heed Jesus’s warning to be prepared.If you like what you hear, visit our website at MasterLectures.ZondervanAcademic.com, where you can watch more of Dr. Keener's lectures on Revelation, along with thousands of other lectures on the Bible and theology.  

In today’s episode, we hear from Dr. Craig S. Keener, a North American academic and F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. Dr. Keener received his Ph.D. in New Testament Studies and Christian Origins from Duke University. He has authored 25 books and his recent books include Galatians (Cambridge, 2018) and Mind of the Spirit: Paul’s Approach to Transformed Thinking (Baker Academic, 2016) Craig is married to Dr. Medine Keener and has a son named David. In this lecture, Dr. Keener talks about Jesus addressing seven churches; Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea in the book of Revelation. Jesus warned of false teachers and admonished the church for “losing its first love”. Dr. Keener reiterates the importance of the church persevering to the end so that we might receive the Lord’s promise of a great hope.If you like what you hear, visit our website at MasterLectures.ZondervanAcademic.com, where you can watch more of Dr. Keener's lectures on Revelation, along with thousands of other lectures on the Bible and theology.   

In today’s episode, we hear from Dr. Mariam Kamell Kovalishyn. She is Assistant Professor of New Testament Studies at Regent College in Vancouver and earned her PhD from the University of St. Andrews. Dr. Kovalishyn’s research has centered on the epistle of James, and she has co-authored a commentary on James (Zondervan) and has published several articles in books and journals. She lives in Vancouver with her husband and son. In this lecture, Dr. Kovalishyn talks about the profound insights into the Christian life the book of James can offer. She discusses the themes and structure of the epistle, noting the recurring theme about wealth and poverty. Dr. Kovalishyn suggests that James’ wisdom is born out of humility and that the book is highly pastoral, making it very relevant to Christians today.

In today’s episode, we hear from Lynn Cohick, Provost of Denver Seminary in Littleton, Colorado and author of several books including: Philippians in the Story of God Commentary series, Ephesians in the New Covenant Commentary series, and she’s a contributor to The New Testament in Antiquity.In Cohick’s lecture, she discusses the Book of Philippians and the importance of unity within the church, as stressed by Paul through his letters to the church in Philippi. Paul wrote from prison to the church about Christian maturity and and the need for community to foster this growth, with the ultimate goal of the believer to be transformed by Christ. If you like what you hear, visit our website at MasterLectures.ZondervanAcademic.com, where you can watch more of Lynn Cohick’s lectures on the Book of Philippians, along with thousands of other lectures on the Bible and theology.