Michael is a teacher and writer in Bible and Christian Theology. He has been a youth director, pastor, high school Religious Education teacher, and Bible lecturer in various contexts for most of his adult life. He enjoys good conversation, listening to stories, learning about other cultures and religions, playing with his four children, cooking, hiking, and archery.
Education
ThM Old Testament/Hebrew Bible — Princeton Theological Seminary
MDiv — Princeton Theological Seminary
BA Biblical Studies — The Master's College
Areas of Expertise
Answering Questions About Marriage in the Hebrew Bible
Marriage is a prominent trope in every section of the Hebrew Bible. Yet, while there is plenty to explore, not all questions have been answered.
Who Was John Smyth, Founder of the Baptist Church Movement?
Baptists make up one of the largest groups within Protestant Christianity. An Englishman named John Smyth is remembered as its founder.
Why Head Coverings Mattered in Early Christianity
The New Testament contains only one passage about head coverings. While scholars assume its original readers understood it, modern readers have found it challenging.
6 Fantastic Stories From Jesus’s Childhood
The New Testament contains only one story about Jesus’s childhood after his infancy. But fantastic tales about his growing-up years were preserved in other writings.
What Is the Hadith?
The Qur’an is seen as the unadulterated divine revelation given through Muhammad in Islam. But many of Muhammad’s teachings are preserved elsewhere, in the Hadith.
Who Were the Children of Moses and Why Do They Vanish
The Bible only mentions two children of Moses.
Were the Gospels Really Written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John?
None of the four Gospels identifies their authors, yet they are known as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Did these biblical characters really write them?
Who Were the Midianites in the Bible?
Despite tracing their origins to the same ancestor, Israel’s relationship with the Midianites in the Bible is fraught with conflict.
The Return of Christ Predictions That Gripped Eras and Reshaped Belief
Jesus’s followers have hoped for the return of Christ since the 1st century. But some have gone so far as to predict the day itself.
Who Were the Moabites in the Bible?
The Moabites are viewed with disdain in most of the Bible. But one Moabite is a striking exception.
Weapons in the Bible and the Archaeological Evidence For Their Use
Violence and war appear frequently in the Bible. What equipment did the ancient Israelites use for conquest and defense?
5 People Who Claimed to Be the Second Coming of Jesus
Though scores of people have claimed to be the Second Coming of Jesus, fewer were able to establish followings that survived their deaths.