Peter Goeman
Peter serves at Shepherd's Theological Seminary in Cary, NC as the professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages. He loves studying the Bible and helping others understand it. He also runs The Bible Sojourner podcast and Youtube channel.
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Do Genesis 1 and 2 Contradict? Explaining the Order of Creation.
Many critics attack the inerrancy of Scripture by claiming that Genesis 2 contradicts the creation sequence of Genesis 1. Genesis 1 presents a broad, structured chronology: land animals are created, and then humanity is created as the climax of Day 6 (Gen 1:24–31). By contrast, critics often read Genesis 2 as a different chronological sequence: (1) the creation of the man (Gen 2:7), (2) the planting of the garden and the growth of its trees (Gen 2:8–9), and (3) the formation of the animals and birds (Gen 2:19). On a surface-level reading, that ordering can appear to conflict with Genesis 1. What should we make of this? The Relationship of the Garden to the Creation Account A key assumption in the “contradiction” argument is that when Genesis 2:8–9 describes God planting a garden and causing trees to grow, it must be describing the same event as the creation of vegetation…
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What is the Priestly Covenant and Why Does it Matter?
One of the most oft-neglected covenants in Scripture is the priestly covenant. The priestly covenant is so named because it is made with a family that is of priestly lineage. In Numbers 25, Israel had tragically “yoked himself to Baal of Peor,” engaging in vile idolatry (cf. Num 25:3). In response to Israel’s unfaithfulness, the Lord brought a plague upon the people of Israel to punish them. The plague ravaged Israel until Phinehas, Aaron’s grandson, stopped the plague by killing a man of Israel and his seductress (vv. 7–8). Because of his actions, Phinehas received special commendation and a promise from the Lord. The Details of the Priestly Covenant God’s words to Moses about Phinehas are as follows (Num 25:10–13): And the Lord said to Moses, “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was…
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How Can God be Loving, Yet Allow Evil?
Is it possible that a loving God would allow evil? This is a perennial question for both believers and unbelievers. Think about the evil we see all around the world. Rape, murder, death, accidents, suffering—all evidence of evil. If God is in complete control (i.e., sovereign), how can we justify His love when He allows such evil? This is a common argument brought forward by unbelievers, and it is something believers need to think about from an apologetic standpoint. However, perhaps even more important, this is also a question that believers ask in the midst of their own personal suffering and experience with evil. How should believers think about the love and power of God? There are three things to remember that help us reconcile this apparent problem of evil, as well as provide a proper answer to an unbeliever. 1. God defines love, love does not define God This…
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The Fascinating Link between Eschatology and Spiritual Gifts
Although it might surprise you, there is an essential link between eschatology and the spiritual gifts. However, this connection is often downplayed in the discussion. To be honest, I’ve only seen it acknowledged a handful of times. But the truth remains: what one believes about eschatology, specifically the kingdom of God, has a logical impact on his understanding of the spiritual gifts. The Connection between the Miraculous and the Kingdom of God Now, before we talk about eschatology, we need to review the Bible storyline and note that there are specific times in history when there are major displays of miracles. Notably, these miraculous exhibitions are linked to time periods associated with the Kingdom of God. To show this in summary form, I have adapted a chart from Mike Vlach: Kingdom Situation Time Period Kingdom Mediator(s) Result Signs and wonders to deliver Hebrews from Egypt The period of the Exodus…
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How do Good Works Relate to Salvation?
Many people do not connect good works with salvation at all. As a case in point, I remember a time when I had the opportunity to speak with a man from Texas at a hotel. As we talked about Jesus and the church, he mentioned that everyone went to church in the South and that it was a way of life. When I pressed him further, he admitted that there were many in the South who would verbally identify as Christians but live just as pagan as anybody else. When I asked this man how someone goes to heaven, he articulated a very clean and precise presentation of the gospel. He told me that going to heaven was only possible through Christ’s sacrifice and that good works play no part in earning salvation. At that moment, I was kind of stunned because he was articulating a better-than-average knowledge of the…
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The Value of Leaving Before You’re No Longer Welcome (Prov 25:17)
Sometimes the most loving thing you can do for your neighbor… is go home! As Christians, we rightly talk a lot about love—bearing burdens, meeting needs, showing hospitality, being present for people. But Scripture also reminds us that love is not just about showing up; it’s also about knowing when to leave. Tucked away in Proverbs is a surprisingly practical warning: be careful not to wear out your welcome and strain the very relationship you’re trying to build. I want to explore how Proverbs 25:17 teaches a quiet, easily overlooked aspect of Christlike love. Sometimes the most loving thing you can do for someone is find the door. “Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you.” (Prov 25:17) One’s home has always been viewed as a sanctuary, a place of security and comfort. To invade that security and comfort…
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The Prince of Preachers on the Usefulness of Textual Criticism
When Charles Spurgeon is mentioned, he is almost always celebrated as the Prince of Preachers—a communicator of extraordinary clarity, force, and eloquence. And rightly so. Spurgeon was a masterful expositor who loved the Lord and proclaimed the Scriptures with bold conviction. His life and ministry remain a towering model of Christian devotion, both for believers in general and preachers in particular. Yet one dimension of Spurgeon’s preaching is often overlooked: his careful attention to the textual issues of the Bible in its original languages. Throughout his sermons and writings, Spurgeon demonstrated an awareness that not every manuscript reading or translation was equally certain. He was deeply committed to ensuring that what he proclaimed from the pulpit was the genuine Word of God. In practice, this meant that Spurgeon regularly and thoughtfully engaged in textual criticism (textual criticism is the scholarly process of comparing manuscripts to determine the most accurate original…
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The Unpopular (but Correct) Translation of Deuteronomy 4:29
I remember reading through Deuteronomy 4 in Hebrew years ago and being struck that Deuteronomy 4:25-30 is one of the starkest evidences for an early prophecy of Israel’s sin and eventual restoration. I mean, Deuteronomy is even before Israel enters the land of Canaan. And yet, Moses is telling Israel that they will sin, go into exile, but the Lord will bring them back to their land. Deuteronomy 4:29 is a key part of this argument by Moses, but as I read through it and double-checked English translations, I was not satisfied with how most English translations treated this verse. Most translations, however, approach this verse in the wrong way (as illustrated below). The Typical Translations of Deuteronomy 4:29 Deuteronomy 4:29 typically exhibits little variation in translation. The only outlier is the CSB and LSB. Observe the following translations. But from there, you will search for the Lord your God,…
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What “Lukewarm” Really Means in Revelation 3:16 — The Forgotten Context of Laodicea
In Revelation 3:14-22 Jesus addresses the church of Laodicea and sternly rebukes their deeds. He says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth” (vv. 15-16). The most popular interpretation of Revelation 3:16, and particularly the nuance of “lukewarm,” is as follows: (1) the hot water stood for people who follow God, (2) the cold water stood for people who reject God, and (3) lukewarm stood for nominal Christianity. This interpretation holds that lukewarm Christianity is deplorable to Christ and that it would be better to be completely opposed to Christ than to be lukewarm, or nominally committed to Him. Although many commentators I respect hold to some variation of this position, I have since become convinced of what I believe is a…
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“I said, you are gods”—What is Jesus Saying in John 10?
I have made the argument in the past that Psalm 82 is better interpreted as a reference to angelic beings than a reference to human judges. However, many interpreters view Jesus’ quote of Psalm 82 in John 10 as further evidence that Psalm 82 is a reference to human judges. Is John 10 evidence that Psalm 82 should be understood as referring to human rulers? Within the context of John 10, the Jews are about to stone Jesus for making himself out to be God (John 10:33). In answer to the Jews picking up stones, in John 10:34-36, Jesus says the following: Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I…