A New Chapter in My Biblical Studies Journey

From the Text to the World Behind It.

Over the past five years, I’ve been deep in the work of finishing a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. This has been a journey that’s challenged and reshaped how I understand Scripture. What began as a theological pursuit and a desire to research, write and teach, has become something even larger: a fascination with the world behind the text, the cultures, religions, and worldviews of the ancient Near East.

Through the influence of scholars like Michael Heiser, Judd Burton, Bruce Waltke and John Walton, I’ve learned that understanding the Bible requires more than just studying it in different versions of English, or even with a knowledge of the original languages. It requires an effort to immerse ourselves in the ancient world the authors inhabited. While we cannot do this perfectly, being separated by thousands of years and because we exist in a very different culture, we can gain much benefit from the attempt.

That conviction has grown into something I’m excited to finally share.

After my graduation in August (hopefully not too long after), I’m launching a new research initiative focused on biblical context and ancient studies. It’s not a ministry, but a scholarly resource and community for anyone - pastors, students, scholars, or curious laypeople, who wants to recover the original context of Scripture and let it speak more clearly.

More soon.

~ Dain

Photo by Daniela Turcanu on Unsplash