It’s hip and cool for bloggers to post their top 10 posts of the year. And we want to be hip and cool. Our hearts tell us to do it, and the Bible says to “walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes” (Eccl 11:9). So here goes.
Last week, we gave you the top 10 posts from those written in 2021. Now, we list the top 10 posts from the full KW archive. If lots of other people are reading these posts, you probably should be, too.
For only the second time since we’ve been tracking and posting these top 10 lists, this year’s list has no posts that were written this year. So there is no crossover with last week’s top 10 list. Our archives have been working extra hard for the increasing numbers of visitors to our site.
10. How to Recognize Sowers of Discord
Despite many changes both higher and lower on this list, this post sits at exactly the same spot as last year. This post outlines from Proverbs 6:12-15 a few signs to help recognize divisive people. This post comes from Peter’s 2013 series of studies through the first 9 chapters of Proverbs.
9. Top 10 OT Books Quoted in NT
This post was in the #6 slot the last two years. Though it comes from a series that analyzes not only books but also chapters and verses, this list of most-quoted books always seems to be one of the most popular.
8. 11 Old Testament Books Never Quoted in the New Testament
This post reappears after dropping out of last year’s top 10. It comes from the same six-part series—mentioned in the previous entry—analyzing every NT citation of an OT text. It’s interesting that one of the most popular posts in that series is about the OT books that never get a direct quotation.
7. Summary of the OIA Method
Just as the title says, this post summarizes the OIA method we aim to teach. It’s basically the reason this blog exists, so we’re glad it gets a lot of page views. This is down from #5 last year.
6. Context Matters: Apart From Me, You Can Do Nothing
This investigation of John 15 makes its debut on the top 10 list. This “context matters” post does not suggest any drastic rethinking of the popular use of the verse in question; it largely shows how rich and deep our grasp can go when the verse is read without isolating it from its context.
5. 4 Bible Studies for Lent
This post didn’t make the list last year but is a companion piece to Ryan’s 4 Bible studies for Advent. Lent is a great time to study the Bible, and here are four 6.5-week studies you could consider for that season. Be forewarned, however: These are not your typical you-can-only-trust-the-experts, fill-in-the-blank sort of Bible studies you may be used to.
4. Context Matters: God Will Give You the Desires of Your Heart
This is our most-viewed “context matters” post of all time. However, in 2021 alone it was viewed just a shade fewer times than the next one on this list. In this post, Ryan takes a close look at what Psalm 34 really means by this clause, which unsurprisingly is not that a person can get whatever he or she wants.
3. Context Matters: You Have Heard That it was Said…But I Say to You
This three-and-a-half-year-old post was #9 on this list last year, but has gotten quite a bit of attention this year, just barely edging out the previous entry with nearly 21,000 views. This post examines the series of contrasts in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount to determine, from the context, what Jesus was arguing against. Hint: It wasn’t the Old Testament Law.
2. Why Elihu is So Mysterious
The popularity of this 2015 post continues to surprise us. We really cannot explain why it has been so popular, but if you haven’t read it, you must really be missing out! That’s why we reposted it during a blogger’s vacation week in June. Elihu is that mysterious 4th friend in the book of Job. If you even knew he existed, chances are you’ve skipped his speeches entirely. This post is Peter’s attempt to explain Elihu’s role in the drama of the play of Job. This post was #3 in 2017, but then held the #1 slot until this year, despite being viewed almost 38,000 times.
1. 10 Reasons to Avoid Sexual Immorality
This was the most-viewed post in 2014, but then it dropped off the list until resurfacing as #8 in 2017 and #2 in 2018 and 2019. It dropped slightly to #3 in 2020, but simply went off the charts in 2021 with over 51,000 views. We’re delighted to see a continued interest in such an important topic. Find whatever motivates you to avoid sexual immorality, and glum onto God’s grace in providing that motivation!
Previous years’ lists: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013
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