All articles by David Instone-Brewer – Page 4
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Archive contentDavid Instone-Brewer: Predestination or free will?
Does God decide who will be saved, or is humanity free to choose to follow him?
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Archive contentBible Stories Uncensored: Ruth the Maneater
When are feet not feet? When they are used euphemistically to spare blushes, as David Instone-Brewer discovers in the story of Ruth and Boaz.
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Bible Stories Uncensored: Sex tips from Solomon
Breasts, kisses and hair like a flock of goats…David Instone-Brewer on Old Testament turn-ons.
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Archive contentBible Stories Uncensored: Nehemiah: Political Manipulator
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.
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Archive contentDivisive Bible Doctrines: Bridging troubled waters
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.
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Archive contentBible Stories Uncensored: Samson the Thug (and Pimp)
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.
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OpinionBible Stories Uncensored: David the Tyrant
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.
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Archive contentBible Stories Uncensored: Esther: the best in bed
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.
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Archive content5 Tough Questions about the Bible
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).
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Not lost in translation
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.
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Joshua 10
Did God really make the sun stand still? David Instone-Brewer tackles Joshua chapter 10...
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Blood and Sacrifices
Why is the Old Testament apparently running with blood? David Instone-Brewer examines the importance and the symbolism.
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Sabbath - rest or recreation?
The principle of a ‘weekend’ is an entirely biblical one, says David Instone-Brewer. How will you use yours?
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Undemocratic Rule
What is the best system of government? David Instone-Brewer explores the ideal of democracy, and why God didn’t instigate it for Israel.
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The Death Penalties
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.
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Concubines and Prostitutes
David Instone-Brewer examines the effects on women of some controversial Old Testament practices and unearths surprising parallels with today.
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Child Sacrifice
Human sacrifice was once so common as to be considered normal. Did Abraham’s God endorse it? David Instone-Brewer explores the unacceptable.
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Old Testament warfare
Did Joshua commit genocide? Necessary rules of engagement or unnecessary slaughter? David Instone-Brewer on Old Testament warfare.
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Paul's Letters
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?
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Mark 1
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.
