🧵 Forgotten Characters of the Bible
Shiprah & Puah, the Rebel Midwives

The Bible’s first account of civil disobedience appears during Israel’s captivity in Egypt. A godless tyrant issues a deadly command, and two unlikely women quietly defy him.

This is their story… 🧵⬇️ 🧵 Israel’s Growth & Pharaoh’s Fear
Exodus opens by emphasizing that Israel “multiplied and grew exceedingly strong” so that “the land was filled with them” (Exod. 1:7). What Scripture presents as covenant blessing, Pharaoh interprets as political danger. A people once welcomed now appear uncontrollable…. and threatening.

🧵 Forgotten Characters of the Bible - Mephibosheth, the Forgotten Prince of Israel

Mephibosheth’s story in the Bible is short but powerful. It is a tale of tragedy, grace, & covenant faithfulness.

But above all of that… he points us to Christ. Here’s his story 🧵👇🏼 🧵 Mephibosheth’s Family
Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of King Saul (2 Sam. 4:4). But he was born into chaos. Saul’s reign was collapsing, marked by jealousy, disobedience, and war with the Philistines. David was the eminent king.

🧵The Silent Years: How 400 Years Set the Stage for Christ

Between the last words of Malachi & the opening line of Matthew lie 4 centuries of silence. No prophets. No Scripture. But everything that happens in between is essential for understanding Christmas & the New Testament👇🏼 🧵 What “Silence” Really Means

The silent years do not mean God stopped acting. They mean God stopped sending prophets and adding Scripture. From roughly 430 BC to the early first century AD, no new revelation is given, but history is moving rapidly under divine providence. This time is often called the inter-testamental period.

⭐️ How this helps us understand the New Testament: When prophecy resumes in the Gospels, it carries the weight of centuries of anticipation.

🧵 Before the Manger: Matthew’s Fascinating Genealogy of Christ

Matthew chapter 1 is one of the most theologically loaded paragraphs in the New Testament. Many skip it. Matthew expects you to slow down. Here’s what most people miss in this opening chapter of Scripture…👇🏼 🧵 It is a legal and royal document, not just a family tree

Matthew is not giving a sentimental ancestry. He is presenting Jesus’ legal right to the throne of David.

• Matthew writes for a Jewish audience
• Genealogies functioned like royal credentials
• By tracing Jesus through David → Solomon → the kings of Judah, Matthew establishes Jesus as the legitimate heir to Israel’s throne

This is why Matthew begins his Gospel with, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham”

That sentence alone signals kingship, covenant, and promise. Jesus is the rightful heir to the throne of Israel.

🧵Finding Jesus in the Old Testament

Many people think the Old Testament is confusing or boring.

Jesus disagreed.

He said the Scriptures spoke about Him. Once you learn how to read it, the entire story changes. Here’s how the Bible teaches us to see Christ in the OT…
🧵👇🏼 🧵 1. Direct Prophecies: Promise Before Fulfillment
Some Old Testament texts clearly speak about a coming king, servant, or redeemer. These are not vague hints but concrete promises given within real historical moments. Genesis 3:15, Psalm 110, Isaiah 53, Micah 5:2 all create expectation. The New Testament does not invent fulfillment. It recognizes it. These prophecies form the backbone of messianic hope and show that Christ’s coming was planned, promised, and awaited.

🧵Unmasking the Magi of Matthew’s Gospel

Long before they reached Bethlehem, the Magi were shaping empires, reading the heavens, & studying ancient texts. Their appearance in Matthew invites us into a mystery that reaches far beyond the nativity scene.

Here is their story…👇🏼 🧵 The Meaning of the Word Magi
Matthew uses the Greek word magoi, a term originally tied to a priestly caste in the Medo Persian world. Herodotus, Xenophon, and later Strabo describe Magi as religious scholars skilled in dream interpretation, astronomy, and royal advising. By the time of Jesus the word still carried the sense of eastern philosopher priests rather than kings. These were respected scholars with deep cultural influence.

🧵 The True Story Behind Santa Claus (Saint Nicholas)🎅
Before reindeer and red suits, there was Saint Nicholas of Myra. His story begins in the 270 AD in the Roman Empire. A real pastor, a real place, and a real faith shaped what later became “Santa Claus.” Here’s his story…👇🏼 🧵 St. Nicholas of Myra (AD 270–343)
Born in Patara on the southern coast of modern Turkey, Nicholas grew up in a persecuted church. Orphaned young, he used his inheritance to bless the poor. His generosity wasn’t myth. It was documented Christian charity.

🧵 Is Annihilationism True?🔥

Everyone online is suddenly talking about annihilationism. But does Scripture teach that the wicked simply cease to exist? Scripture says no, and for 2,000 years the church has said no.

Here’s a thread unpacking the key reasons why… 🧵👇🏼 🧵 What is Annihilationism?

Annihilationism teaches that the wicked will not experience eternal conscious punishment but will ultimately be destroyed or cease to exist. Some place this at death, others after temporary judgment, but the claim is the same: the unsaved do not continue forever.

It is held by groups like Seventh-day Adventists, Christadelphians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and some mainline Protestants. A few evangelicals, such as John Stott (later in life) and Edward Fudge, have shown sympathy for it.

This view contrasts with the historic Christian consensus, which has consistently affirmed eternal conscious punishment across all major branches of the church.

Below are the key issues with Annihilationism from biblical, hermeneutical, and contextual angles…

🧵Christmas Myths DEBUNKED!🎄

Here are some of the most common myths about Christmas that most people STILL believe….🧵👇 🧵 1. “Jesus was born on December 25th”

Most people are surprised to learn the Bible never gives a specific date for Jesus’ birth. In fact, several clues suggest it likely was not December 25. Shepherds probably wouldn’t be out overnight with their flocks in the cold Judean winter, and a Roman census was unlikely to be held in the dead of winter.

So why December 25? The date developed centuries later for historical and liturgical reasons. Some early Christians linked it to the traditional date of Jesus’ conception in March. Others connected it to existing winter festivals as a way of redirecting people to Christ.

Alternative theories place His birth in early spring when lambing season began, or in early fall during the Feast of Tabernacles, when many traveled to Jerusalem.

None of this makes Christmas less meaningful. It simply reminds us that the point isn’t the exact date but the arrival of the eternal Son of God in human history.

🧵 The Evolution of the Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) Movement: A Historical Overview

No matter what denomination you’re in, the IFB has shaped your world…whether you realize it or not.

Its legacy is messy, massive, & often misunderstood.

This is the IFB story🧵👇🏼 🧵 Introduction and Disclaimer

The Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) movement has left a unique and complex mark on American religious life over the past century. Known for its strict theological conservatism, separatist mindset, and cultural traditionalism, the IFB movement emerged out of early 20th-century fundamentalism and has since splintered into numerous subgroups.

This 🧵 walks through the history of the IFB (from its late 19th-century roots to its present-day factions) highlighting key figures, institutions, doctrines, controversies, and cultural impacts along the way.

As someone who spent many years in various IFB circles, my goal is to offer an honest and objective look at this movement with its strengths, flaws, and influence.

🚨 DISCLAIMER: You may find points you disagree with or think need more nuance. I’ve done my best to condense a century of history into a readable format while remaining as historically objective as possible. This is not a hit piece. Just a concise historical overview.

Let’s dive in 👇🏼

🧵 The Life & Legacy of Voddie Baucham

Voddie Baucham was one of the most influential Christian voices of the 21st century. He was a pastor, apologist, cultural critic, & defender of biblical authority. Sadly, his ministry on earth has come to an end. This was his story...🧵👇🏼 🧵 Early Life of Voddie Baucham

Born in 1969 and raised in South Central Los Angeles by a single mother, Baucham grew up outside of the church. It wasn’t until college, while playing football at Rice University, that he encountered the gospel. His dramatic conversion set him on a path from athlete to apologist, with a deep passion for Scripture and truth.

🧵Jesus Christ in the Old Testament

Christ is the heartbeat of the Old Testament. From Genesis to Malachi, 300+ prophecies paint the picture of His coming, His suffering, His glory, His kingdom.

The whole story of Scripture builds to Him. Let’s see how it unfolds. 👇 🧵 Kinds of Prophecies
Christ is revealed in the Old Testament in many ways. Some are direct predictions (Micah 5:2, Bethlehem). Others are types and shadows like the Passover lamb. There are figures and symbols (tabernacle, bronze serpent). There are allusions (Jonah’s 3 days). Christ also shines through covenants (Abraham, Mosaic, David, etc), the sacrificial system, and His titles (Immanuel, Prince of Peace). All weave a rich tapestry pointing to Him.

🧵 The Life & Martyrdom of Jim Elliot

Born in 1927, Jim Elliot lived only 28 years, yet left an eternal impact.

Remembered for his fearless devotion to Christ and his words:

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Here’s his story… 👇🏼 🧵 The Early Life of Jim Elliot

Jim grew up in Portland, Oregon in a devout Christian home. From a young age, he showed a passion for Scripture and missions. At Wheaton College, he stood out as a sharp student with a burning conviction: the gospel was worth any cost. While many of his peers chased comfortable careers, Jim longed to reach the unreached.

🧵 The Faithful Martyr of the Early Church: Polycarp

“Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”

With those immortal words, Polycarp entered one of the most famous martyrdoms in history. Here’s his story 🧵👇🏼 🧵1. A Living Link to the Apostles
Polycarp (AD 69–155) was born during the first generation of the church. Tradition holds that he was converted in youth and discipled by the apostle John himself. This made him a living bridge. He had personally received the gospel from those who had seen Christ.

🧵 7 Bad English Bible Versions You Should NEVER Use

Not every English Bible is equal. Some are faithful translations. Others smuggle in bias, or even expand the canon. Here are 7 to avoid. The last one will make you laugh (and cry) at how bad it is… 🧵 New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses)
The Watch Tower’s version famously renders John 1: 1 as “the Word was a god,” and inserts words like “other” in Colossians 1: 16–17 (“all other things”). These aren’t neutral decisions. They are theological edits to deny Christ’s full deity.

📖 Verse Comparison - John 1: 1
ESV: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
NWT: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.”
➡️ Selectively adjusts the text to make Jesus “a god” rather than God Himself.

🧵 Hymn Histories: The Story Behind “It Is Well with My Soul”

Few hymns capture faith through tragedy like “It Is Well with My Soul.” Its story is one of deep loss, unshakable trust, and hope in Christ that has carried generations of believers.

Here’s its moving story 🧵👇🏼 🧵 The Author
Horatio Spafford was a successful lawyer and Presbyterian elder in Chicago. He and his wife Anna were devoted Christians, known for their generosity to the poor and their support of evangelist D.L. Moody.

But their lives would soon be marked by unimaginable grief.

🧵 Mephibosheth: The Forgotten Prince of Israel

Mephibosheth’s story in the Bible is short but powerful. It is a tale of tragedy, grace, & covenant faithfulness.

But above all of that… he points us to Christ. Here’s his story 🧵👇🏼 🧵 Mephibosheth’s Family
Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of King Saul (2 Sam. 4:4). But he was born into chaos. Saul’s reign was collapsing, marked by jealousy, disobedience, and war with the Philistines. David was the eminent king.

🧵Forgotten Characters of the Bible
Who Was Apollos?

The eloquent Alexandrian who nearly split the Church at Corinth… but didn’t and became one of the great (but often forgotten) heroes of the early church.

Let’s dive into his FASCINATING story
🧵👇🏼 🧵 A Jew from Alexandria

Apollos was born in Alexandria, Egypt, home to the great Library and a large Jewish community shaped by Greek thought. It was the city of Philo, and intellectual brilliance. Luke describes him as “an eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24). Some traditions even identify him with the Seventy sent by Jesus in Luke 10, giving him a link to the very ministry of Christ himself.

🧵 Hymn History: Rock of Ages
Some hymns are sung for a season. Rock of Ages has been sung for centuries. Born in the 1700s from the pen of a fiery young preacher caught in a storm, it became an anthem of grace and clinging to Christ, the Rock who saves. Here is its story 🧵👇🏼 🧵 The Preacher Behind the Hymn
The words of Rock of Ages were penned in 1763 by Augustus Toplady, a brilliant yet controversial Anglican minister. Known for his fiery Calvinist convictions and sharp wit, Toplady left behind one hymn that would far outlive his short 38 years.

🧵 Who Was Melchizedek?
For centuries, Jewish & Christian writers have wondered about the mysterious priest-king of Salem in Genesis 14. I am convinced that he was none other than Noah’s son, Shem. Here’s the biblical and historical evidence 🧵👇🏼 🧵 The Mystery of Melchizedek
Genesis 14 introduces Melchizedek, king of Salem & “priest of God Most High,” who blesses Abraham. No genealogy. No origin story. Hebrews 7 highlights this silence, calling him “without father, without mother, without genealogy.”

🧵 The Story of the CSB (Christian Standard Bible)

How did such a recent Bible translation EXPLODE in popularity with pastors, theologians, and everyday readers alike?

Here’s the origin story and impact of the Christian Standard Bible. 🧵 👇🏼 🧵 The Origin Story of the CSB: Seeds of a New Translation

The CSB didn’t emerge in a vacuum. Its roots go back to the late 1990s when the Southern Baptist Convention (concerned about accuracy and doctrinal fidelity in mainstream Bibles) set out to create a trustworthy, readable translation for its churches.

Thus, the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) was born.