All articles by David Instone-Brewer – Page 4

  • Political Manipulation
    Archive content

    Bible Stories Uncensored: Nehemiah: Political Manipulator

    2014-03-05T00:00:00Z

    David Instone-Brewer investigates the underhand tactics of this biblical hero. If we’re honest, we’d probably all admit that we’ve lied, cheated and bullied on occasion – perhaps we told ourselves it was ‘necessary’. I must admit that’s how I once got a gold star for maths homework.

  • Baptism
    Archive content

    Divisive Bible Doctrines: Bridging troubled waters

    2014-03-05T00:00:00Z

    Rather than arguing over the ‘how’ or the ‘when’ of baptism, David Instone-Brewer explains that the real division is over what it actually does.

  • Samson
    Archive content

    Bible Stories Uncensored: Samson the Thug (and Pimp)

    2014-03-05T00:00:00Z

    Should we tell children about the murkier acts of Samson, such as using prostitutes and pimping out his wife? On a family holiday some years ago, we found ourselves driving through a very rough part of a town and I started to dread what my daughters might be seeing.

  • Warrior King David
    Opinion

    Bible Stories Uncensored: David the Tyrant

    2014-03-05T00:00:00Z

    We often think of David as the plucky young boy who defeated Goliath. In reality, he was a nation-builder as well as a mass murderer who ignored the rape of his own daughter.

  • Esther
    Archive content

    Bible Stories Uncensored: Esther: the best in bed

    2014-03-05T00:00:00Z

    Esther might have saved the Jews through her nocturnal activity, but, writes David Instone-Brewer, she didn’t manage to save a traditional family structure which celebrated women.

  • The Bible
    Archive content

    5 Tough Questions about the Bible

    2014-03-05T00:00:00Z

    Our resident Bible scholar responds to some typical questions about the Old Testament that The Bible series is likely to raise for non-believers (and probably plenty of Christians too, if we’re honest).

  • Archive content

    Not lost in translation

    2014-02-05T00:00:00Z

    How does a modern Bible translation like the NIV come about? Baptist minister David Instone-Brewer got a unique opportunity to find out when he was invited to join with a committee of translators.

  • Archive content

    Joshua 10

    2013-10-02T00:00:00Z

    Did God really make the sun stand still? David Instone-Brewer tackles Joshua chapter 10...

  • Archive content

    Blood and Sacrifices

    2013-07-23T00:00:00Z

    Why is the Old Testament apparently running with blood? David Instone-Brewer examines the importance and the symbolism.

  • Archive content

    Sabbath - rest or recreation?

    2013-02-15T00:00:00Z

    The principle of a ‘weekend’ is an entirely biblical one, says David Instone-Brewer. How will you use yours?

  • Archive content

    Undemocratic Rule

    2012-09-13T00:00:00Z

    What is the best system of government? David Instone-Brewer explores the ideal of democracy, and why God didn’t instigate it for Israel.

  • Archive content

    The Death Penalties

    2012-08-15T00:00:00Z

    Advocating the death penalty in the Old Testament seems barbaric. However, David Instone-Brewer argues that scripture actually has a high value for human life.

  • Archive content

    Concubines and Prostitutes

    2012-07-18T00:00:00Z

    David Instone-Brewer examines the effects on women of some controversial Old Testament practices and unearths surprising parallels with today.

  • Archive content

    Child Sacrifice

    2012-06-18T00:00:00Z

    Human sacrifice was once so common as to be considered normal. Did Abraham’s God endorse it? David Instone-Brewer explores the unacceptable.

  • Archive content

    Old Testament warfare

    2012-06-11T00:00:00Z

    Did Joshua commit genocide?  Necessary rules of engagement or unnecessary slaughter? David Instone-Brewer on Old Testament warfare.

  • Archive content

    Paul's Letters

    2012-06-11T00:00:00Z

    Some scholars claim that as many as half of Paul’s letters weren’t actually written by him. Are they fakes, or did he just have a secretary?

  • Archive content

    Mark 1

    2012-06-11T00:00:00Z

    When the early Gospel manuscripts were being rapidly reproduced, mistakes were made. But did they change the message? David Instone-Brewer looks at omissions and additions in Mark 1.

  • Archive content

    Genesis 19

    2011-08-30T00:00:00Z

    Did God really send natural disasters to punish people? David Instone-Brewer tackles the story of Sodom in Genesis 19...

  • Archive content

    Genesis 6

    2011-06-13T00:00:00Z

    Did Noah’s Ark actually happen? Were six million land species really rescued in one boat? David Instone-Brewer tackles Genesis 6...

  • Archive content

    Genesis 3

    2011-06-13T00:00:00Z

    Is the story of Adam and Eve literally true, or should we treat it as an allegory? David Instone-Brewer tackles Genesis 3...