Figures of speech are found in prose as well as poetry, but are generally more frequent and intense in Hebrew poetry. 1. Similes A simile is a direct comparison between two things. Example – Amos 5:24 Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream. 2. Metaphors A metaphor is a stronger comparison, using […]

Some fundamental aspects of how Hebrew poetry works in the Old Testament

A ‘genre’ is a type or style of writing – a group of texts which share similar characteristics. Contemporary examples would include novels, scientific text books, fairy tales, insurance documents, poems, tweets, and so on. There are several main genres with the Bible, including historical narrative, poetry, letters, law/instruction, and prophecy. For helpful guidance on […]

If we want to understand and interpret a passage from the biblical prophetic literature, there are a few key questions we need to ask. Most of these are not specific to the  prophets of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, but are basic matters of handling any Bible passage responsibly. Most people find they need to work harder […]

Over the course of around twenty years of analysing films, books and other media, I have often been struck at the ways in which storytellers keep telling the same kinds of tales over and over again. That’s not to say that the narratives they construct are inevitably wearied or hackneyed; far from it. There is extraordinary diversity in the way that the themes have been explored. Yet, it remains the case that, under the surface, most if not all stories are versions of a limited number of key themes.

My Old Testament timelines are now available in five languages on Slideshare. If you spot any errors, please let me know! The two different chronologies for the patriarchs are because there are two significantly different ways of dating the Exodus. You'll need to look at the evidence and draw your own conclusions! Note that these are […]

After being a massive success on US television, THE BIBLE miniseries comes to the UK this week. Channel 5 is broadcasting the first episode at 9:00 pm on Saturday 30 November. About THE BIBLE series THE BIBLE is an epic 10-hour mini-series that brings to life the dramatic tales of faith and courage in the […]

Jane caught the end of comedian Lee Mack being interviewed on Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4, yesterday morning. If you're not familiar with this long-running radio programme, a guest is interviewed about their life. They choose eight records which they would want to have with them on a desert island and, at the […]

I first wrote this post for the E100 Bible Reading Challenge. It was first published on the E100 blog in 2011. ‘See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,’ says the LORD Almighty. - […]

I first wrote this post for the E100 Bible Reading Challenge. It was first published on the E100 blog in 2011. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks […]

I first wrote this post for the E100 Bible Reading Challenge. It was first published on the E100 blog in 2011. Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. - Jonah 2:8 God told Jonah to take a message far beyond the borders of Israel, to Nineveh, one of the greatest cities of […]

I first wrote this post for the E100 Bible Reading Challenge. It was first published on the E100 blog in 2011. My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. - Jeremiah 2:13 God called Jeremiah to be […]

I first wrote this post for the E100 Bible Reading Challenge. It was first published on the E100 blog in 2011. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:6 By the eighth century BC, Judah […]

My sermon at Above Bar Church, Southampton on the first half of 1 Peter 4, part of a series on 1 Peter. To listen to the rest of the series, go to the Above Bar Church site. Shaped by Suffering 1 Peter 4:1-11 View more presentations from Tony Watkins. Related posts: Isaiah 34-35 - The […]

The final session of my course on the Old Testament prophets at Bible & Culture 2010. This is the second part of the material on Ezekiel and his promises of restoration. BC6. Ezekiel part 2 View more presentations from Tony Watkins. Related posts: Ezekiel part 1 Understanding the Prophets: Restoration (Ezekiel part 3) 7th Century […]

The fourth session of my course on the Old Testament prophets at Bible & Culture 2010. This is the first part of the material on Ezekiel and his promises of judgement. Bc5. ezekiel part 1 View more presentations from Tony Watkins. Related posts: Ezekiel part 2 Understanding the prophets: Ezekiel part 2 7th Century Judah […]

A summary of some of the key aspects of biblical poetry for my course on the Old Testament prophets at Bible & Culture 2010 Biblical poetry View more documents from Tony Watkins. Related posts: Handling the prophetic literature in the Old Testament Introduction to the prophets Introducing the Old Testament prophets Outline of Ezekiel Understanding […]

My outline of the structure of Ezekiel prepared for my course on the Old Testament prophets at Bible & Culture 2010. This is, of course, partly derived from other outlines in various commentaries. Outline of Ezekiel View more documents from Tony Watkins. Related posts: Ezekiel part 2 Ezekiel part 1 7th Century Judah and Ezekiel […]

The third of five sessions on the OT prophets at Bible & Culture 2010. BC4. 7th century and Ezekiel View more presentations from Tony Watkins. Related posts: Ezekiel part 2 Ezekiel part 1 Understanding the prophets: Ezekiel part 2 Outline of Ezekiel Understanding the prophets: Ezekiel

A handout for the second half of the second of five sessions on the prophets in the Old Testament at Bible & Culture 2010. BC2. Handling the OT prophets View more documents from Tony Watkins. Related posts: Understanding the Old Testament prophets 1 Introduction to the prophets Prophets 2a - Overview of Old Testament history […]

My slot in a short series on Isaiah 1–39 at Above Bar Church, Southampton, UK. It's a whistlestop tour - this is the 10th in a series of 11 sermons. Isaiah 34-35 View more presentations from Tony Watkins. Related posts: The Suffering Servant (Isaiah 51:1 – 53:12) Shaped by suffering - 1 Peter 4:1–11 Understanding […]

The first half of the second of five sessions on the prophets in the Old Testament at Bible & Culture 2010. This session introduces five key questions to ask when studying the prophets, and then gives an overview of the history of Israel and Judah from the beginning of the monarchy in 1050 BC, through […]

A timeline of the Old Testament from the beginning of monarchy in Israel. A couple of the prophets' dates are very uncertain, notably Joel and Obadiah. Outline of Old Testament history - monarchy onwards View more presentations from Tony Watkins. Related posts: Old Testament history – a timeline Prophets 2a - Overview of Old Testament […]

Outline of Old Testament history View more presentations from Tony Watkins. Related posts: Outline of Old Testament history – monarchy onwards Outline of Ezekiel Introducing the Old Testament prophets Prophets 2a - Overview of Old Testament history (1050 - 722 BC) Understanding the Old Testament prophets 1