H. Peter Swanson

Seventh-day Adventist theology defines both baptism and footwashing (“the ordinance of humility”) as symbols.¹ With symbols, the real essence is found not so much in the symbols themselves but in the realities they represent.

Symbolism…

Paddy had been a stalwart member of his small Adventist church. When he was in his 70s and in frail health, I got a call from his daughter, who said that he had been taken to the hospital’s intensive care unit and was not expected to last…

The “works of the law” is a Pauline expression in Galatians and Romans that describes a system through which some believers were trying to attain justification.¹ What are the works of the law? Paul does not explain. Today the expression…

Christians consider it their God-given task to preach to a lost world. But how will this be accomplished? Matthew 24:14 and 28:19, 20 provide an answer. Often considered parallel, they actually envisage two different kinds of ministry. The…

Many members of our churches do not occupy leadership positions. Not making decisions that directly affect the lives of others, they may wonder, Does my life make a difference at all?

The Bible contains a story showcasing…

How many people have you healed?” The tone of the question suggested a challenge, implying that if I am a true minister of the gospel, then I should be able to offer healing from sickness. Or so the person thought. In my 51 years as a believer,…

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient,…

Jesus was an effective Preacher and sought after Healer. But He was also a master Teacher (Matt. 4:23; John 3:2).

Throughout the Gospels, we encounter a variety of teaching episodes—learning experiences…

Until Darwin, Christians generally believed in a literal Creation happening about 6,000 years ago. Darwin’s work, and the resulting growth of the theory of evolution, have shattered this uniformity, and in its place a variety of approaches…

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus² (henceforth, the parable) has long perplexed Bible students. For conditionalists like me, who believe that death is a state of no consciousness and hell a place of ultimate destruction,…

Did early Christians have a set day of worship?¹ Or did they worship on any day that was convenient? If they did have a set…

All Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:26).¹ Confronted with this statement, commentators usually ask, “Which Israel, physical or spiritual?” “Physical Israel” is Jews who are physical descendants of Abraham, considered by many to…

“‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare…

From the Creation account through the mighty move­ment of Exodus and the ups and downs of Israel’s history chronicled in the Old Testament, the Sabbath stands out…

Any discussion of the heavenly sanctuary must include a discussion of Hebrews, the New Testament book that deals most extensively with the concept. Hebrews discusses the perfect high priestly ministry of Jesus in heaven and contrasts it with…

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he…

How should a Christian relate to politics? Should the believer, for example, become involved in social causes, engage in political activism, or practice civil disobedience? Should a Christian vote, join a political party, or campaign for…

You are fools. And I am a fool to insult you by calling you fools because does not the Word say that if you call your brother a “fool” you are in danger of hellfire?

Some are thinking, “You’re wrong preacher—I’m…

At its 1994 year-end meeting, the North American Division (NAD) voted to study a cross-section of 100 pastors of Anglo churches in the division.

The aim of the study was "to look for any common denominators…

What is expected of a pas tor? One pioneering piece of research ¹ identified 1,200 descriptions of what pastors are supposed to be and do. That's far too much, even for those who may consider themselves…

Which is the greatest sin committed by a person in the Bible? (No, I am not thinking about the unpardonable sin.) My mind immediately goes to the primeval rebellion of Lucifer against God or to Adam and Eve deliberately eating the forbidden…