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Showing posts with the label biblical studies

The Way of the Towel: Greatness, Redefined by Jesus

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by Bart Denny Central text: John 13:12–17 (NIV) Over the years, in church settings, I’ve done a lot of dishes. I’ve raked a lot of leaves. I’ve painted plenty of church walls. I’ve plunged more than a few clogged toilets. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. But if I’m honest, at this age, with this many years in church, there’s a part of me that wants to say, “I’ve done my time.” I don’t usually say it out loud. I dress it up. I call it wisdom. Focus. Stewarding my time well. But the feeling sneaks up on me. It shows up when another need pops up. When the same few people carry the same load. When I feel tired. It shows up when I think, “Shouldn’t somebody else take a turn now?” And I’ll confess something else: I don’t mind serving. I just want to choose the terms. And if I’m not careful, I start thinking and acting like the low places belong to somebody else. Now let me be even more honest: I don’t struggle with getting my hands dirty. I struggle to keep my ego in check....
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Did John Write the Fourth Gospel? Why the Author Matters More Than You Think

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Apostle John the Theologian on the island of Patmos, by Andrei Mironov, 2012. by Bart L. Denny For nearly two millennia, the Church has affirmed that the Apostle John—the son of Zebedee and beloved disciple of Jesus—wrote the Gospel that bears no name. But in recent centuries, particularly in academic circles, that assumption has faced fierce opposition. Some modern scholars have dismissed John’s authorship, proposing instead a mysterious “John the Elder,” a hypothetical community of Johannine disciples, or even late Gnostic sources. 1 So, does it really matter who wrote the Gospel of John? More than you might think. In this article, I want to make the case that the traditional view—that the Apostle John wrote the Fourth Gospel—is not only historically viable but the most reasonable conclusion when all the evidence is laid out. We'll look at both the internal clues from the Gospel itself and the external witness of early church history. And we’ll see why this...
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“Because of the Angels”: What’s Really Behind the Head Covering Debate?

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by Bart L. Denny, Ph.D., Th.M. If you’ve ever read 1 Corinthians 11 and found yourself puzzled by Paul’s instruction that women should cover their heads in worship “because of the angels” (v. 10), you’re not alone. This passage has sparked confusion and debate for centuries. Some, like K. P. Yohannan, argue that Paul’s words are a timeless command for all women in every church to wear head coverings in church. The reference to angels, they claim, seals it as a universal directive. But is that really what Paul intended? Let’s take a closer look. While 1 Corinthians 11 teaches principles that still matter today, the practice of head covering appears rooted in a specific time, place, and culture. And the reference to angels? It’s important, but perhaps not in the way some assume. What Did Paul Actually Say? Paul’s only mention of head coverings is in 1 Corinthians 11, a letter written to a first-century church navigating issues of gender roles, worship practices, and public witness. The p...
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Faith, Hope, and Redemption in the Book of Ruth

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by Bart Denny When life leaves us bitter, where do we turn for hope? That’s the question the Book of Ruth gently answers—not with booming declarations, but with quiet acts of kindness, faith, and God’s hidden hand at work. At first glance, God seems to play only a minor role in Ruth’s story. But by the final chapter, we see that this isn’t just a quaint tale of loyalty—it’s a redemptive thread woven into the tapestry of Israel’s greatest king, David. And ultimately, it’s a foreshadowing of the Redeemer of all humanity: Jesus Christ. Hesed: A Kindness That Goes Beyond If you had to sum up the entire book of Ruth in one word, that word might be hesed —a Hebrew term often translated as “kindness,” though no single English word captures its depth. Hesed is love in action, covenant faithfulness, and mercy. It’s sacrificial and often unexpected. We see hesed in Ruth’s devotion to Naomi, Boaz’s generosity to Ruth, and God’s love through both. Ruth’s story is a living reminder that God...
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