Orpheus J. Heyward

In the Great Commission, Jesus told his disciples to make disciples and to “baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” So, what is the role of baptism in the Great Commission? The following is a look “beneath the hood” of Matthew 28:18-19. We will explore the original Greek grammar in […]

Christianity has a message of freedom. So why do a lot of people experience Christianity as bondage? The early church was tempted to turn Christianity into following Christ plus following numerous nonessential rules. Some early Christians communicated that new believers needed Christ plus circumcision and other cultural add-ons from the Law of Moses. This “Christ […]

The RENEW.org Network was launched five years ago as a renewal movement for those who prize following the lordship of Jesus through Scripture. With Scripture as our guiding and final authority, we articulated a faith statement to give everyone unity and clarity on the beliefs and direction we are pursuing as a network (see our […]

If you want to understand the Bible better, one of the most important concepts is Bible “genres.” What are the Bible’s genres and why do they matter? The Bible’s “genres” in the context of biblical hermeneutics mean the kinds of literature of a given book of the Bible. The Bible is rich with a variety […]

What is the canonization of the Bible? The canonization of the Bible refers to the process of recognizing which books were considered Scripture by the people of God at the time of compiling the Bible as we know it today. The term “canon” suggests a standard.[1] Ultimately, when discussing the idea of canon as it […]

Have you ever wondered what is unique about each of the Gospels in the New Testament? The four Gospels in the Bible are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Gospels provide a comprehensive portrait of Jesus, allowing the readers to see his central place in the scheme of redemption. The climactic death, burial, and resurrection […]