Category: Scriptures

Categories
Old Testament Theology

Who Are the Gods in Psalm 82?

An empty throne in a heavenly divine council scene, representing the judgment and deposition of foreign gods in Psalm 82.

The “gods” of Psalm 82 were originally divine beings who governed foreign nations in the Hebrew Bible. In the scripture’s heavenly courtroom scene, YHWH stripped the lesser deities of their godhood as a punishment for failing to protect the poor and needy. In doing so, he asserted himself not just as the god of Israel, but also as the sovereign Lord of all nations. Centuries later, Jesus quoted Psalm 82:6 in John 10 to defend himself against a charge of blasphemy. By citing the famous line, “I said, ‘You are gods,'” Jesus leveraged a rabbinic tradition that applied the text to human beings, influencing the way we now view humanity and divinity. In this interview, Bible scholar Dan McClellan walks through the psalm’s historical context, its New Testament reinterpretation, and its modern legacy among Latter-day Saints.

Continue reading “Who Are the Gods in Psalm 82?”
Categories
New Testament

Who Were the Pharisees? A Historical and Biblical Guide

A screenshot of a Pharisee from "The Chosen" creating a mixed feeling that depicts modern stigmas that the Pharisees were bad people.

The Pharisees were a group of people at the time of Christ with a set of beliefs recognizable by outsiders. However, exactly what those beliefs were remains a hotly debated question. Scholars have begun to agree upon several common characteristics of Pharisees, can clearly distinguish them from Sadducees, and often note that the sect receives unfair treatment in the gospels. In this interview, New Testament scholar Thomas Wayment discusses what scholars currently think about who the Pharisees were.

Continue reading “Who Were the Pharisees? A Historical and Biblical Guide”
Categories
New Testament

How Did the Twelve Apostles Die?

Artistic depiction of the 12 apostles walking at dusk, evoking the mystery and tradition surrounding their deaths.

The New Testament offers only a few details about how Jesus’s apostles died. Most of what we “know” comes from early Christian writings and later legends—some historically grounded, others clearly mythical. Unlike the Old Testament’s detailed treatment of prophetic deaths, these martyrdom stories reflect the theology and historical uncertainty of early Christianity. Here’s a concise summary of each apostle’s traditional fate, noting where it occurred, what’s historically probable, and how we know.

Continue reading “How Did the Twelve Apostles Die?”
Categories
Old Testament

What Is the Meaning of Hesed in the Bible?

Two human hands pulling in opposite directions while gripping the same rope, symbolizing hesed as a shared bond of covenant loyalty under strain.

In the Bible, ḥesed signifies a bond of steadfast loyalty and kindness that defines a relationship’s enduring commitment. While the word is often rendered as “mercy” in the King James Version, it more accurately describes a “pact” requiring mutual fidelity between Israel and God. This bilateral bond is especially exemplified in the Book of Ruth and the Psalms, where human devotion mirrors the unbreakable nature of God’s covenant: even in moments of exile or despair, ḥesed offers a reassuring promise of God’s empathetic concern. In this interview, translator Robert Alter discusses the nuanced meanings of ḥesed in the Hebrew Bible.

Continue reading “What Is the Meaning of Hesed in the Bible?”
Categories
Old Testament

Rosalynde Welch on 7 Songs in the Old Testament

An impressionist painting of an open Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) showing poetic line breaks, used in the interview "Seven Songs" with Rosalynde Welch.

Finding Jesus Christ in the Old Testament often involves learning to discern the ancient music of the Hebrew Bible. In Seven Songs, Rosalynde Welch and Adam Miller explore the “Tanakh” as a literary masterpiece, organizing seven specific poems into a narrative arc that mirrors the lifecycle of a believer’s faith. From the fiery devotion of the Song of Miriam to the “salty tears” of divine absence in the Psalms, this approach treats the text as a living witness of Jesus’s own spiritual formation. In this interview, Rosalynde Welch explains how these poetic voices offer a theology of providence that remains sufficient even when God feels far away.

Continue reading “Rosalynde Welch on 7 Songs in the Old Testament”
Categories
Book of Mormon

How Many Chapters Are in the Book of Mormon?

Stacked gold plates symbolizing the structure of the Book of Mormon, referencing 239 chapters across 15 books.

The Book of Mormon contains 239 chapters, divided into 15 books. Interpretations of its length vary: Mark Twain joked that it put him to sleep, while Brigham Young wished he had “the voice of seven thunders to wake up the people” to its importance. In modern times, scholars like Dan Vogel criticize its long-winded repetitiveness, while Grant Hardy praises its unexpected sophistication. This article presents key statistics about the Book of Mormon’s structure, reading difficulty, listening time, and other relevant details.

Continue reading “How Many Chapters Are in the Book of Mormon?”
Categories
New Testament

When Was Jesus Christ Born?

A silhouette of the three wise men who visited when Jesus was born.

Billions of people celebrate Christmas on December 25th, but did you know that scholars aren’t sure when Jesus was born? The best evidence suggests the Nativity occurred in 5 B.C., but competing theories span several years. Much of the confusion traces back to a 6th-century monk named Dionysius, who skipped “Year 0” and jumped straight from 1 B.C. to 1 A.D. when creating the modern calendar. Another complicating factor is the precise dating of key historical events, such as the death of Herod and the journey of the Magi. This article walks through leading theories about when Jesus was actually born and explains the 4th-century origins of December 25 as a Christian holiday.

Continue reading “When Was Jesus Christ Born?”
Categories
Come Follow Me New Testament

Do Events in the Book of Mormon Identify Christ’s Birth Month?

The Book of Mormon prophet Lehi holding the Liahona. His departure from Jerusalem can be used to estimate when Jesus was born.

Most biblical scholars say that the birth of Christ took place between 6 and 4 BC. A rigorous evaluation of the evidence often enables scholars to zero in on the year 5 BC, but there’s not much consensus beyond that. BYU scholar Jeffrey R. Chadwick believes he can further pinpoint the birth of Christ to December 5 BC. In this interview, he explains how his unique approach uses Latter-day Saint scriptures, such as the Book of Mormon, to estimate the year and month of Jesus’ birth.

Continue reading “Do Events in the Book of Mormon Identify Christ’s Birth Month?”
Categories
Ancient history Book excerpts Old Testament

How Does the JPS Torah Commentary Introduce the Book of Exodus?

Artistic rendering of Mount Sinai at sunrise, evoking the sacred and ancient setting of the Book of Exodus as described in the JPS Torah Commentary.

Present-day editions divide the Book of Exodus into 40 chapters. This practice is not rooted in Jewish tradition but was borrowed from Christian Bibles. In the late Middle Ages, the Church forced Jews to engage in disputations, which usually focused upon the interpretation of scriptural passages. This necessitated a common, standardized system of reference, and so the Christian chapter and verse numberings were introduced into the Hebrew manuscript Bibles by Rabbi Solomon ben Ishmael (ca. 1330).1

Editorial Note: This is an authorized excerpt from “The JPS Torah Commentary: Exodus” published by the Jewish Publication Society.

Continue reading “How Does the JPS Torah Commentary Introduce the Book of Exodus?”
Categories
Old Testament

Genesis: A New Translation for Latter-day Saints

An illustration of a hand reaching out to translate a copy of Genesis positioned on a desk, with the Tree of Life springing up from the pages and a temple in the background that highlights the importance for Latter-day Saints.

BYU scholar Kent P. Jackson has produced a modern translation of Genesis for Latter-day Saints. Published as a standalone hardcopy book, it features a literal translation of the Hebrew text formatted alongside the Joseph Smith Translation and Jackson’s personal commentary. While the author had long planned to translate Genesis to help Latter-day Saints become familiar with modern translations, the book’s publication coincided with the Church’s updated instructions on Study Bibles in late 2025. In this interview, Jackson sheds light on his translation process, provides examples from the book, and highlights details especially important to church members.

Continue reading “Genesis: A New Translation for Latter-day Saints”