Olive Tree Staff, Author at Olive Tree Blog

Old Testament

Where is God in the Book of Esther?

Maybe you’ve noticed it, maybe you haven’t… but God isn’t mentioned in the book of Esther. Shocking, right? Why is Esther in the Bible? Is it really the inspired Word of God if it makes no mention of Him? These questions are answered (and more) in the article below, shared…

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Old Testament

Moses and the Law of Sacrifice in Leadership

There is undeniably sacrifice in leadership. You’re constantly called to put others before yourself! John Maxwell, Christian leadership expert, put together a study Bible that teaches you biblical leadership principles. This excerpt comes from that study Bible, and delves into the sacrifices Moses made while being in leadership. Here’s the…

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Commentaries

Interviews: New International Commentary Authors

The New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament (NICOT/NICNT) is a well-loved 64-volume set. Those with limited space on their bookshelves will appreciate its availability in the app—and we are thankful for the ability to offer it! In fact, if you’re interested in how NICOT/NT works in the…

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The Truth About Jesus Excerpt from the NIV Storyline Study Bible

New Testament

The Truth About Jesus Christ

When you think of Jesus, do you think of a man gently petting sheep? Do you think of a warrior on a white horse with a fire in his eyes? The truth about Jesus Christ is that he is all this and more. Learn about how dynamic and counter-cultural Jesus…

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Commentaries

Review: Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible Commentary Set

Here’s an Olive Tree review of the Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible Commentary Set (POSB). It’s as in-depth as it sounds. It is practical, comprehensive, and down-right useful. In this post, we are sharing an excerpt with you, along with an inside look at its key features. Commentary from the…

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Bibles

A Visual Theology Guide to the Bible

Tim Challies and Josh Byers released a sequel to their book Visual Theology! It’s called A Visual Theology Guide to the Bible. Don’t be fooled by the similar names, though. They are completely different tools… except that their digital versions are exclusively available through Olive Tree. So, let’s see what…

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New Testament

Why Did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree?

Toward the beginning of Mark 11, Jesus goes to eat from a fig tree. However, the fig tree has not bore any fruit and he curses it. Then, after clearing out the temple, Peter sees that the cursed fig tree is now withered. But why did Jesus curse the fig…

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Old Testament

The Tower of Babel

Genesis 11:4 and the story of the Tower of Babel come to life as we take time to understand the deeper cultural contexts. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves;…

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New Testament

Who Are the Sanhedrin?

The Gospels and Acts mention the Sanhedrin quite a bit. But what do you know about them? Test your knowledge with this excerpt from the John volume of the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary. We guarantee you’ll learn something new! The Sanhedrin: A Ruling Council A high priest acting without…

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Old Testament

Human Schemes and God’s Plan in Isaiah

Isaiah is a very interesting book of the Bible. It’s most known for its prophetic statements of Christ. But with a good, down-to-earth commentary, you can see the book for all that it is. For instance, this Bible Speaks Today excerpt gives a fantastic overview of human schemes and God’s…

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