Artificial Intelligence (AI) has quietly embedded itself into our daily lives in ways we might not notice. Spell checkers, writing assistants like Grammarly, virtual assistants like Siri or Alexa, and text generators like ChatGPT all fall under the category of Narrow AI. These are specialized systems designed to perform specific tasks, and they do it well,... Continue Reading →
Herod the Great (Ἡρῴδης, Hērōdēs)
Herod the Great, king of Judea at the time of Jesus’ birth, is a critical figure in both the New Testament and historical writings. His reign, marked by paranoia, monumental building projects, and ruthless political maneuvers, significantly shaped the landscape of first-century Palestine. Historical Overview Herod rose to power in 37 BCE, consolidating his rule... Continue Reading →
A Brief Introduction to The Letter to the Hebrews
The Letter to the Hebrews is one of the New Testament's most mysterious and theologically rich writings. While we do not know who wrote it, suggestions include Paul, Barnabas, Apollos, and Priscilla. However, the author's identity matters less than the letter's powerful message. Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians, likely living near Judea, who were... Continue Reading →
Tradition or the Text?
Throughout history, traditions have played a significant role in shaping religious practices, but when these traditions begin to overshadow the text’s teachings, it raises important questions. In the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches, we find examples where tradition has, at times, taken precedence over Scripture, leading to practices that diverge from the original message of... Continue Reading →
10 Things I Don’t Like About My Sermons
Dear preachers, we often struggle with our sermons as we tend to be our harshest critics. We may be unduly burdensome on ourselves, sometimes disconnecting from how our sermons truly impact those who listen. However, if you are doing the work you should be, they will impact you profoundly: They challenged me to change: "The... Continue Reading →
Phillip W. Martin 