Hidden in Plain Sight
Overview
Does your mind start to wander when you come to the genealogies, lists of numbers, and confusing prophecies in the Bible? Have you ever wondered Why did God include all these obscure laws? Trusted Bible scholar Boyd Seevers uncovers the hidden treasures in some of the lesser-known sections of the Bible. For example, he reveals what heads and horns and beasts symbolize in the apocalyptic prophecies and why there’s a law in Deuteronomy that roofs must have walls around them. Once you understand why God included the seemingly uninteresting or difficult passages and how to unlock them on your own, your Bible study will come alive and you’ll connect to God in new ways.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
- Instructs the reader on how to explore challenging passages on their own
- Discusses less familiar passages of the Bible
- Includes discussion questions to help your small group get the most out of their Bible reading
- What Makes a Passage of Scripture Hard to Understand or Even Boring?
- Learning From Old Testament Law
- Learning to Appreciate Leviticus (at Least a Little)
- What Should We Do With the Land Divisions in Joshua 13–21?
- Learning From Dull Genealogies
- Kings and Chronicles—Didn’t I Just Read This Stuff?
- Why Is Ecclesiastes So Dark and Gloomy?
- What on Earth Are the Prophets Talking About?
- Learning to Understand Apocalyptic Prophecy (at Least a Little)
- Conclusion: What Have We Learned, and Where Do We Go From Here?
Top Highlights
“Believers today relate to God through faith in Jesus, so we are under the New Covenant” (Page 49)
“5. Only the laws repeated in the New Covenant are applicable for modern believers” (Page 47)
“The Benefit—What Can We Learn From the Kings/Chronicles Repeat?” (Page 102)
“I do see a number of reasons that people hold this position. For one, since ‘[God] is the same yesterday and today and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8), couldn’t his law be timeless as well? Matthew 24:35 says his Word ‘will never pass away.’ If so, how could it no longer be valid? And finally, since God gave his law to his people in the Old Testament, and we are God’s people today, wouldn’t it apply to us as well? These are good points, and seem true at least to some degree.” (Page 42)
“So what can Leviticus offer to the modern reader of the Bible, given that so much of what it says has been eclipsed by teaching in the New Testament? Plenty.” (Page 55)
Boyd Seevers is professor of Old Testament studies at Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received his PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and his ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary. Dr. Seevers studied and lived in Israel for eight years. He has presented papers at numerous national conferences and has published more than 100 articles.