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  • The Good Book Blog

    Ain’t That a Shame, Part One: Understanding An Older Concept In Today’s World

    Ben Shin — 

    The dynamics of shame are one of the greatest cultural dynamics of the New Testament. This paradigm is key in understanding other concepts and various texts accurately especially as it relates to topics such as approval, reputation, glory, and status. While these practices were prevalent in the 1st century of the Mediterranean, they also have current bearing to different segments of society today, specifically Asian-Americans in the 21st century. This blog will be the first in a series of blogs that will demonstrate the correlation of Paul’s use of shame in light of the framework of Roman cultural practices as well as how it relates to modern 21st century Asian-American spiritual tendencies.

  • The Good Book Blog

    Thoughts on the Old Testament and Economics

    Scott Rae — 

    From the beginning, we learn that God created the world and called it good, making the material world fundamentally good (Gen. 1:31). He further entrusted human beings with dominion over the earth—giving them both the privilege of enjoying the benefits of the material world, but also the responsibility for caring for the world. We also learn that, from the beginning, God has implanted His wisdom into the world and given human beings the necessary tools to uncover His wisdom and apply it for their benefit (Proverbs 8:22-31). God set human beings free to utilize their God-given intelligence, initiative and creativity in discerning and applying what the wisdom He embedded into the world—this is all a part of the responsible exercise of dominion over creation that brings innovation and productivity to benefit humankind.

  • The Good Book Blog

    Deo Volente o El Hombre Propone y Dios Dispone / Man Proposes and God Disposes

    Octavio Esqueda — 

    Los propósitos de año nuevo son parte de la costumbre anual de muchos de nosotros. La llegada del nuevo año nos da la oportunidad para detenernos por un momento y planificar un futuro mejor. Por ejemplo, los gimnasios aumentan sus membrecías considerablemente en enero con personas que desean bajar de peso o mejorar su condición física. También escuché que el índice de divorcios crece considerablemente las primeras semanas del año. Independientemente de la sabiduría de los propósitos, todos los deseos persiguen un mejor destino.

  • Biola News

    Baccalaureate Service features Spiritual Conferral of Graduates' Degrees

    Hilary Larkins — 

    On the evening ofThursday, December 19, twenty-four hours prior to the Fall 2013 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, close to 300 guests arrived...

  • The Good Book Blog

    A Commentary for the Hard Questions

    John McKinley — 

    When I was a research student holed up in a windowless office in the library for a year, the PhD student next to my office was Jeremy Howard. While I struggled through stacks of research trying to avoid drowning in the historical theology portion of my dissertation, Jeremy was blazing through the writing of his dissertation on the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum physics and its use for Christian apologetics. His research world couldn’t have been farther away from mine. Years later, he has recently piloted a work that fits a gap I didn’t know I was looking for. To pass on an introduction to this new series, I interviewed the general editor, Jeremy Howard with several questions here.

  • The Good Book Blog

    Wright On?, Part One

    Joe Hellerman — 

    One of my self-imposed projects over the January break is to read through N. T. Wright’s (most recent) magnum opus, Paul and the Faithfulness of God. The work is actually two separate books (@ 600 and 1200 pages, respectively!). Book I is primarily concerned with backgrounds, and Paul’s worldview vis-à-vis paganism and Judaism. Book II deals with Paul’s theology and more directly engages the text of his letters.

  • Biola News

    Eagles atop GSAC All Sports Award standings

    Biola leads the race for the Golden State Athletic Conference All Sports Award through the fall.

    Neil Morgan — 

    After a roller coaster ride of a fall sports season, Biola University sits atop the Golden State Athletic Conference All Sports Award race. The...

  • The Good Book Blog

    La navidad ha llegado, ¡bendito sea el Señor! / The Lord has come, blessed be the Lord!

    Octavio Esqueda — 

    El nacimiento de Jesús cambió al mundo. La navidad es, sin duda alguna, el acontecimiento más importante en la historia de la humanidad y, por lo tanto, la mayor celebración de cada año. El Dios creador del universo se hizo hombre y habitó entre nosotros. Dios no está lejos ni es distante sino que a través de Jesús su presencia es real y personal. De hecho, el milagro de la navidad se resume con la palabra “Emanuel” que significa apropiadamente “Dios con nosotros.”

  • The Good Book Blog

    Pastors, Seminary Students and Economics, Part Two

    Scott Rae — 

    Why do pastors need to know all that much about work and economics? Last week we introduced this subject and suggested that there are very few areas of our lives that have nothing to do with work and/or economics. Remember that even the notion of our eternal salvation has something to do with economics, since the Bible actually describes the elements of our eternal salvation in economic terms. In addition, life on this side of eternity matters greatly. If we refuse to separate out the sacred from the secular, and thus affirm that all of life is spiritual, then there are few, if any, areas of our spiritual lives that are not impacted by economics.

  • Biola News

    Founder of Dream Center Speaks at Biola University Fall Commencement

    Jenna Bartlo — 

    Co-Founder of the Los AngelesDream Center, Matthew Barnett, addressed Biola University graduates at the fall commencement ceremonies on Dec. 20,...

  • Biola News

    Alumnus Named Year’s Standout African-American College Writer

    The Hurston/Wright Foundation awarded Justin Campbell (‘09) for penning a Jazz-Age tale

    Trevor Gerdes — 

    This April, alumnus Justin Campbell ('09) received a surprising email that confirmed his talent as a writer. “I thought it was a prank at first,”...

  • Biola News

    Christmas Tree Lighting 2013 Recap

    Biola University students, alumni and La Mirada neighbors crowded around hot chocolate tables bundled in unusual southern California necessities — coats and scarves — to participate in the university’s 30th annual Christmas tree lighting.

    Jenna Bartlo — 

    Biola University students, alumni and La Mirada neighbors crowded around hot chocolate tables bundled in unusual southern California necessities —...

  • Biola News

    Swimmer Named NAIA Women's Swimmer of the Month

    Christine Tixier earned the first NAIA women's swimmer of the month award of 2013.

    Neil Morgan — 

    After qualifying for eight different national championship events through the first six meets of the season, Christine Tixier was named the...

  • Business. Ministry. Life.

    Do Economic Incentives Help or Hinder "Business as Mission" Practitioners?

    Steve Rundle — 

    There is a lot of excitement nowadays about businesses that have multiple “bottom lines.” Whether one calls it "Social Entrepreneurship" (SE) or...

  • The Good Book Blog

    Talbot and Inerrancy

    Clinton E. Arnold — 

    “The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are without error or misstatement in their moral and spiritual teaching and record of historical facts. They are without error or defect of any kind.” Thus reads Biola University’s (and Talbot School of Theology’s) Articles of Faith—a document that remains unchanged since it was written shortly after the turn of the century. As the Dean of Talbot and as one who has been on the faculty for 27 years, I can say that this is a conviction that runs very deep in our faculty. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God and, as such, is truthful in what it affirms and can be completely trusted.

  • Biola News

    Volleyball Coach Wins National Coach of the Year Award

    Aaron Seltzer named NAIA Coach of the Year after strong postseason finish

    Neil Morgan — 

    Every year since volleyball coach Aaron Seltzer took over 12 years ago has been a good year — a few of them great years — and 2013 definitely...

  • Biola News

    Biola's Athletic Programs Excel at National Level

    Eagles qualify for two national tournaments, five ranked teams in fall season

    Neil Morgan — 

    It was a fall season to remember for Biola athletics, as two teams made deep postseason runs and finished near the top in the nation, with almost...

  • Biola News

    Recent Graduates Perform with LA Master Chorale at Walt Disney Concert Hall

    Alumnus Arnold Geis ('12) will perform in the "Messiah Sing-Along" on December 11

    Danny Pinnell — 

    Biola University alumni, Arnold Livingston Geis (‘12) and Matthew Kellaway (‘12), are singing this season with the LA Master Chorale (LAMC). The...

  • Biola News

    Women’s Soccer Captain Scores National Honor on Academic All-America® Team

    Senior Morgan Aukshunas joins a team of athletes distinguished by their grades

    Trevor Gerdes — 

    Senior kinesiology major and women’s soccer captain Morgan Aukshunas has been named to the Capital One Academic All-America team for 2013-2014,...

  • Biola News

    Doing the Right Thing: An Interview with Scott Rae

    Talbot philosophy professor Scott Rae releases new book on ethics and morality.

    Brett McCracken — 

    Scott Rae, professor of Philosophy of Religion and Ethics at Talbot,just released the new book,Doing the Right Thing: Making Moral Choices in a...

  • The Good Book Blog

    Ser agradecidos / Be Thankful

    Octavio Esqueda — 

    Por los tres últimos años, el índice de felicidad planetaria ha dado a conocer los países más felices del mundo de acuerdo a ciertos parámetros. Los resultados sorprendentes de la última edición en el 2012 señalaron que país más feliz del mundo es Costa Rica, en segundo lugar se encuentra Vietnam y en tercero Colombia. Los Estados Unidos se ubicaron en el lugar 104. Este índice de felicidad se basa en tres cosas: 1) Se hace la pregunta la persona, "¿Qué tan feliz es usted?" En una escala del 0-10. 2) Luego se mide la expectativa de vida de las personas de ese país. Finalmente se mide cuanta “tierra” (o recursos ecológicos) necesita la persona en ese país para ser feliz.

  • The Good Book Blog

    How to Invite and Host a Guest Speaker for a Retreat, Part Two

    Ben Shin — 

    In my last blog, I wrote on how to invite a guest speaker to a retreat well. This included knowing how to choose a speaker for your group’s needs, giving enough time to prepare for the retreat, and serving him well as he arrives to the retreat. The goal for the time at the retreat is to serve the speaker well so that he would gladly want to return in the future without a second thought. This entry will concentrate on how to host the speaker well at a retreat.

  • The Good Book Blog

    Doing the Right Thing: An Interview With Scott Rae

    The Good Book Blog — 

    Scott Rae, professor of Philosophy of Religion and Ethics at Talbot, just released the new book, Doing the Right Thing: Making Moral Choices in a World Full of Options. He kindly took some time to answer a few questions about the book.

  • Biola News

    Biola Takes Steps to Boost Affordability

    Tuition increases kept to historic low; other measures underway

    Jenna Bartlo — 

    Students and families entering the nation’s private, nonprofit colleges and universities this academic year experienced the lowest tuition and fee...

  • The Good Book Blog

    Book Review: The Aleppo Codex (by Matti Friedman)

    Tom Finley — 

    Is it possible for a true story about an ancient manuscript of the Hebrew Bible to be thrilling?