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60-Second Scholar
Brief Insights on Mastering Bible Doctrine: 80 Expert Insights on the Bible, Explained in a Single Minute
Clear comprehension of what the events in the Bible mean isn't a lost cause and doesn't require a PhD. This book is your guide to quickly deciphering key doctrines, providing expert observations so that you can comprehend more of Scripture than you ever have before.
There's a lot to think about in the Bible. We believe things on the basis of what it says, but Scripture doesn't spell everything out with equal clarity. For
How should we really understand the idea of the Trinity or the concept of Hell?Can unbelievers still please God?Do the first chapters of Genesis allow for more than one interpretation of the creation?What the Bible says requires deep thought in order to come to conclusions about our Heavenly Father. If all you know of Scripture is Bible characters and stories, you're missing its life-changing teachings. But you don't have to become a theologian yourself to participate in mature reflections on its messages.
In Brief Insights on Mastering Bible Doctrine (part of the 60 Second Scholar series), Michael S. Heiser distills the research of biblical scholars down to 80 easy-to-grasp key teachings of Scripture
Help readers learn how to think carefully and theologically about what the Bible says.Clear up common misconceptions about the Bible's truths.Cover the spectrum of Christian doctrine, succinctly drawing meaning from the Bible independent of denominational or political traditions.With topics ranging from how the modern Bible came about to what God's Word tells us about the end times, this introdoctrine will give you the insights you need to hold your own in even the most animated biblical discussions.
There's a lot to think about in the Bible. We believe things on the basis of what it says, but Scripture doesn't spell everything out with equal clarity. For
How should we really understand the idea of the Trinity or the concept of Hell?Can unbelievers still please God?Do the first chapters of Genesis allow for more than one interpretation of the creation?What the Bible says requires deep thought in order to come to conclusions about our Heavenly Father. If all you know of Scripture is Bible characters and stories, you're missing its life-changing teachings. But you don't have to become a theologian yourself to participate in mature reflections on its messages.
In Brief Insights on Mastering Bible Doctrine (part of the 60 Second Scholar series), Michael S. Heiser distills the research of biblical scholars down to 80 easy-to-grasp key teachings of Scripture
Help readers learn how to think carefully and theologically about what the Bible says.Clear up common misconceptions about the Bible's truths.Cover the spectrum of Christian doctrine, succinctly drawing meaning from the Bible independent of denominational or political traditions.With topics ranging from how the modern Bible came about to what God's Word tells us about the end times, this introdoctrine will give you the insights you need to hold your own in even the most animated biblical discussions.
- GenresChristianChristianity
184 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2018
97 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Michael S. Heiser
78 books957 followersMike Heiser is a scholar in the fields of biblical studies and the ancient Near East. He is the Academic Editor of Logos Bible Software. Mike earned the M.A. and Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and Semitic Languages at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004. He has also earned an M.A. in Ancient History from the University of Pennsylvania (major fields: Ancient Israel and Egyptology). His main research interests are Israelite religion (especially Israel’s divine council), biblical theology, ancient Near Eastern religion, biblical & ancient Semitic languages, and ancient Jewish binitarian monotheism.
Mike blogs about biblical studies at The Naked Bible, and fringe beliefs about the ancient world at PaleoBabble. He offers courses to the public in Old Testament, biblical theology, Israelite religion, ancient languages, the Book of Enoch through his online institute, MEMRA.
Mike's other academic interests include the paranormal and the occult. His UFO Religions blog discusses how the pop cultural belief in aliens shape religious worldviews. Mike has been a frequent guest on a number of radio programs such as Coast to Coast AM. He is best known for his critique of the ancient astronaut theories of Zecharia Sitchin and his paranormal thriller, The Facade, which intertwines many of his interests.
Mike blogs about biblical studies at The Naked Bible, and fringe beliefs about the ancient world at PaleoBabble. He offers courses to the public in Old Testament, biblical theology, Israelite religion, ancient languages, the Book of Enoch through his online institute, MEMRA.
Mike's other academic interests include the paranormal and the occult. His UFO Religions blog discusses how the pop cultural belief in aliens shape religious worldviews. Mike has been a frequent guest on a number of radio programs such as Coast to Coast AM. He is best known for his critique of the ancient astronaut theories of Zecharia Sitchin and his paranormal thriller, The Facade, which intertwines many of his interests.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 17, 2022
This was probably some of his earlier blog articles and podcast series. Although aimed at the beginner, the student of many years can still glean some insights.
Splitter or Joiner?
Good news: we have multiple, independent written accounts of Jesus’s life and resurrection.
Bad news: they aren’t really saying the exact same thing.
Is this is a problem for inerrancy? Only if you have a wooden view of inerrancy. Our temptation is to join or harmonize the variant accounts in Scripture. The problem is that God chose not to do that. Maybe there is a teaching point to all of this…
Right Canon
The issue of the canon wasn’t as existential for the earliest Christians as it was for us. No one is using the same canon as Jude was. Jude quoted Enoch as authoritative. Aside from Ethiopians, no one is saying Enoch is canonical (and I suppose a case could be made that Jude didn’t consider Enoch as canonical).
Kingship and the Spirit
In the OT the presence of the Spirit often, but not always, came upon those who were anointed for royal service (1 Samuel 10:6, 8; 16:13). Therefore, in Psalm 51, David is not worried about losing his salvation when he asks for the Spirit not to be taken away. He is worried about losing the kingship and with good reason. What David did to Uriah and Bathsheba was as bad as anything Saul did.
Potter and the Clay
The potter does have power over the clay, yet the potter also allows the clay a choice (Jeremiah 18:7-8).
Death and the Fall
Romans 5:12 just says there was no human death before the fall. Presumably there were organisms in the plants. When Adam and Eve (and cattle) ate the plants, was there death?
Eternal Punishment
When Jesus said “the worm dieth not” (Mark 9:43, 48), he was quoting Isaiah 66:54. The contrast is between those who are slain and those who endure.” I think there is something to that, but the text is not as clear on this point as Heiser thinks it is.
He has a stronger case on Revelation 14:11, “the smoke goes up forever.” This is a reference to Isaiah 34:9,10). It is talking about Edom, yet Edom is not burning today.
Conclusion
It is a fun read with many thoughtful suggestions.
Splitter or Joiner?
Good news: we have multiple, independent written accounts of Jesus’s life and resurrection.
Bad news: they aren’t really saying the exact same thing.
Is this is a problem for inerrancy? Only if you have a wooden view of inerrancy. Our temptation is to join or harmonize the variant accounts in Scripture. The problem is that God chose not to do that. Maybe there is a teaching point to all of this…
Right Canon
The issue of the canon wasn’t as existential for the earliest Christians as it was for us. No one is using the same canon as Jude was. Jude quoted Enoch as authoritative. Aside from Ethiopians, no one is saying Enoch is canonical (and I suppose a case could be made that Jude didn’t consider Enoch as canonical).
Kingship and the Spirit
In the OT the presence of the Spirit often, but not always, came upon those who were anointed for royal service (1 Samuel 10:6, 8; 16:13). Therefore, in Psalm 51, David is not worried about losing his salvation when he asks for the Spirit not to be taken away. He is worried about losing the kingship and with good reason. What David did to Uriah and Bathsheba was as bad as anything Saul did.
Potter and the Clay
The potter does have power over the clay, yet the potter also allows the clay a choice (Jeremiah 18:7-8).
Death and the Fall
Romans 5:12 just says there was no human death before the fall. Presumably there were organisms in the plants. When Adam and Eve (and cattle) ate the plants, was there death?
Eternal Punishment
When Jesus said “the worm dieth not” (Mark 9:43, 48), he was quoting Isaiah 66:54. The contrast is between those who are slain and those who endure.” I think there is something to that, but the text is not as clear on this point as Heiser thinks it is.
He has a stronger case on Revelation 14:11, “the smoke goes up forever.” This is a reference to Isaiah 34:9,10). It is talking about Edom, yet Edom is not burning today.
Conclusion
It is a fun read with many thoughtful suggestions.
October 21, 2018
Dr. Heiser never disappoints. These essays on doctrine are easy to read, insightful, and offer Hebrew, Greek, and Scriptural support for the concepts. This book, and all books by Heiser, belong on the shelf of any serious student of Christian Scripture, theology, and Doctrine.
November 10, 2021
Some really helpful ones (image of God, sons of God, original sin), some really unhelpful ones.
February 22, 2022
excellent resource!
Highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a better grasp on Biblical doctrine! If you are familiar with Dr Heiser you need this book.
Highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a better grasp on Biblical doctrine! If you are familiar with Dr Heiser you need this book.
April 24, 2022
This is truly a brief insight, though not a complete doctrines. Doctrine like soteriology and other heavy doctrine was skipping here, only predestination mentioned a little here.
January 26, 2025
Bible doctrine is important for any Christian to know and understand, but a lot of people consider it boring or even unnecessary. Some concepts are easy to grasp, others baffle even scholars. And honestly, doctrine can be tricky to understand. So where do you start learning Bible doctrine? Who can you trust? And is it really not boring to study the Bible?
Heiser offers 80 bite-sized lessons that will help you to focus on Scripture to understand Bible doctrines. Using simple language and clear explanations, this book will guide to into beginning to learn and understand biblical doctrines on the Bible’s terms instead of your culture or church’s terms. If you’ve found yourself uninterested in doctrine, this book will start you on the path of learning doctrine straight from the Bible, and you’ll find it’s more interesting than you think.
Heiser offers 80 bite-sized lessons that will help you to focus on Scripture to understand Bible doctrines. Using simple language and clear explanations, this book will guide to into beginning to learn and understand biblical doctrines on the Bible’s terms instead of your culture or church’s terms. If you’ve found yourself uninterested in doctrine, this book will start you on the path of learning doctrine straight from the Bible, and you’ll find it’s more interesting than you think.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews