Top Posts | Knowable Word

10. Did Jesus’ Ministry Last 3 Years?

This 2019 post was #6 on this list last year. In this post, Peter considers the information from the gospels to reconsider the tradition that Jesus’ ministry lasted 3 years. Quite a few commenters are concerned that anything other than a 3-year ministry throws off their calculations from Gabriel’s message in Daniel 9. However, we’re not swayed by views that require certain assumptions about an end-times sequence of events in order to work.

9. My Favorite Way to Read the New Testament

This 2015 post makes its debut on the annual top 10 list this year. The “way” discussed in this post is not about finding time in your schedule, or deciding on a version of the Bible. The “way” is a reading plan, subdividing the New Testament into four tracks modeled after the four gospels. Read Matthew along with the Jewish epistles (James and Hebrews). Read Mark along with Peter’s epistles (since Peter was Mark’s chief source). Read Luke and Acts along with Paul’s epistles (since Luke was a companion of Paul’s). And read John along with John’s epistles and Revelation. This reading plan highlights what is distinct about each gospel, demonstrating the fulness of the kingdom Jesus brought to earth.

8. 3 Questions I Ask During Every Bible Study

Ryan asks these 3 questions during every Bible study. Do you? Would you like to? Maybe 2025 is your year to start a Bible study. Then you can ask these 3 questions, too. Lots of people are asking them, or at least discovering the value of asking them. That’s why this was our most-viewed post of the year, from those published this year. And only 7 posts in the entire archive outperformed it; no small feat, as Ryan wrote it only in August. (The second most-viewed piece published in 2024 was 18th most-viewed overall.)

7. Details of the OIA Method

This post serves as a table of contents to Peter’s series on how to study the Bible. It pretty much explains why this blog exists, so we’re glad it gets a lot of pageviews, even though it hasn’t shown up on this list since 2020.

6. What Should We Make of the Massive Repetition of Tabernacle Details in Exodus?

This 2018 post also makes its debut on the top 10 list due to a surge in views this year. In 2018, it was the third most-viewed post written that year, but has since faded into mild obscurity…until now. Sometimes people fear studying or teaching through the book of Exodus because they fear they won’t know what to do with all the tabernacle details. And then what do you do when nearly every detail is repeated? What a marvelous opportunity to strengthen our observation skills!

5. 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 up from #7 last year.

4. Top 10 OT Books Quoted in NT

This post was #10 for the last few 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.

3. 11 Old Testament Books Never Quoted in the New Testament

This post was #9 for the last few years. 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, in that series about the NT quoting the OT, the most popular post is about the OT books that never get a direct quotation.

2. Context Matters: You Have Heard That it was Said…But I Say to You

This 2018 post was #9 on this list in 2020, but rose to #3 in 2021 and remained in that position until hitting #2 this year. 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.

1. Why Elihu is So Mysterious

The popularity of this 2015 post (republished in 2021) 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! Elihu is that mysterious fourth 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 since then has alternated between the #1 and #2 slots.

Previous years’ lists: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013

10. Proverbs: Three Kinds of People

This year, I’ve been revising and editing an old blog series on Proverbs 1-9. This is one of the introductory posts, explaining the three primary categories of people in the book: the wise, the foolish, and the simple. Which one are you today? Which will you be tomorrow?

9. A Word to Those who Wish to Help Others Apply the Bible

This post reflects on perhaps the most important practice for a Bible teacher or small group leader to embrace: Do not try to help others to apply a Bible passage without first applying it to yourself. If you feel the need to schedule “devotional time” in the Scripture, in isolation from your “teaching preparation time,” you have perhaps fallen afoul of the temptation toward hypocrisy: Asking others to do something (apply a particular passage of Scripture) you have not been willing to do yourself. Let’s not do that.

8. We Must Pay Close Attention or We Will Drift Away

The first of many terrific posts from Ryan to show up on this list. The author of Hebrews doesn’t want you to be like a leaf on a lake, steadily drifting from shore. This will surely happen, if you don’t take pains to work against it by holding fast to Christ and listening carefully to him.

7. Proverbs: A Journey in the Right Direction

An interpretive overview of the entire book of Proverbs. Would you like to dive into one of the most important books for practical guidance? Do you have your bearings? Do you know how the argument flows from beginning to end? Are you still thinking of wisdom as something a person has, rather than something a person pursues? This post may be just the push you need to get going in the right direction.

6. Proverbs: Audience

Another piece of Proverbs overview. While #10 on this list considered the people within the book, this one considers the people who were first supposed to read the book. And by knowing who they were, we’re better equipped to read the book well ourselves. We just may find ourselves in similar shoes, needing the wisdom found within this masterpiece of human literature.

5. What We Miss When We Skip the Book of Leviticus

Ryan enjoys motivating people to give attention to the obscure parts of the Bible. In this post, he explains how a holy God can dwell with sinful people. You won’t want to miss that, so don’t skip it! For insight into other books you wouldn’t want to skip, see: Ezra, Nehemiah, Lamentations, Numbers, and the Prophets.

4. Your Buying Guide for Bible Study Resources: Updated for 2024

This year’s buying guide was quite popular, thanks in part to a referral link from the Gospel Coalition. It’s nice when others also want people to get great resources for Bible study. If you’re in the market for Bibles, study helps, or children’s resources, this post is your one-stop shop for all manner of things that will help you to learn effective OIA Bible study.

3. When Bible Reading Doesn’t Produce a Neat and Tidy Takeaway

Ryan’s penultimate entry on this list addresses the modern tendency to want our Bible study packaged up into clear and simple action steps. But the process generally has greater value than any particular products we take home from it. It’s okay if you don’t get a simple takeaway every time. Just keep going, for God is at work.

2. Why ‘Proverbs Aren’t Promises’ is Misleading

In August, I reposted this older post so I could go on vacation with my family. And it got quite a bit of traction, renewing interest in the topic. It got some attention, including a written critique on The Gospel Coalition Canada site, to which I replied that ‘Proverbs Aren’t Promises’ is Still Misleading. The conventional wisdom that “proverbs aren’t promises” really needs to face the barrel end of a copernican revolution. Not because of what it says about proverbs, but because of what it says about promises.

1. 3 Questions I Ask During Every Bible Study

Ryan asks these 3 questions during every Bible study. Do you? Would you like to? Maybe 2025 is your year to start a Bible study. Then you can ask these 3 questions, too. Lots of people are asking them, or at least discovering the value of asking them. That’s why this was our most-viewed post of the year, from those published this year. Only 7 posts in the archive outperformed it, which we’ll tell you about next week.

Previous years’ top tens: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

10. Top 10 OT Books Quoted in NT

This post was also #10 last year. 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.

9. 11 Old Testament Books Never Quoted in the New Testament

This post was also #9 last year. 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, in that series about the NT quoting the OT, the most popular post is about the OT books that never get a direct quotation.

8. Context Matters: Apart From Me, You Can Do Nothing

This investigation of John 15 debuted on the top 10 list in 2021 at #6, rising two positions higher in 2022 before dropping to #8 this year. 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.

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 up from #8 last year.

6. Did Jesus’ Ministry Last 3 Years?

This 2019 post makes its first appearance on the annual Top 10, knocking How to Recognize Sowers of Discord off the list. In this post, Peter considers the information from the gospels to reconsider the tradition that Jesus’ ministry lasted 3 years. Quite a few commenters are concerned that anything other than a 3-year ministry throws off their calculations from Gabriel’s message in Daniel 9. However, we’re not swayed by views that require certain assumptions about an end-times sequence of events in order to work.

5. 4 Bible Studies for Lent

This companion piece to Ryan’s 4 Bible studies for Advent is up from #7 last year, and back in the same slot it held in 2021. 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. 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 went off the charts in 2021-22. It simmered down quite a bit this year, but still remains the fourth most-viewed post in the blog’s archive. 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!

3. Context Matters: You Have Heard That it was Said…But I Say to You

This 2018 post was #9 on this list in 2020, but rose to #3 in 2021 and has remained in that position ever since. 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. Identifying Behemoth and Leviathan in the Book of Job

This post first appeared in 2015 as part of a brief series on Job (which included the next post on this list) and was republished in 2021. But it didn’t appear in the annual Top 10 until 2022 (at #5). And as the second most-viewed post, its popularity is only increasing. As can be seen from the title, it identifies what the behemoth and leviathan are in the book of Job. Teaser: They are not the hippopotamus and crocodile. And they are not dinosaurs, either, but something even worse. You’ll have to read the post to find out what.

1. Why Elihu is So Mysterious

Previous years’ lists: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013

10. Can You Focus on the Bible Too Much?

Technically, this post wasn’t written in 2023. But I republished this older piece for a vacation week, and it got some attention. The easy answer to the title question is: of course you can—if you miss Jesus in the process. But the more difficult answer is that when you use the Bible properly it’s not possible to focus on it too much unless it’s also possible to focus on Jesus too much.

9. The Wisdom of Avoiding Strife

The first of five posts on Proverbs to make the list this year, this piece describes the many causes of strife. Knowing those causes enables you to do the first thing Proverbs recommends you do with strife: avoid it. This post is referring not to everyday disagreements, but to the sort of disagreements that look like knock-down, drag-em-out fights, that turn people into enemies of one another. The book of Proverbs refers to such situations as “strife.”

8. How to Prevent a Spiritually Dry December

This was another re-post for a vacation week, and it came quite late in the year, but it still made quite a splash. This post reminds us of why we study the Bible in the first place, offering some practical suggestions for the dark and difficult winter months.

7. Studying the Bible is not Code Breaking

Just as the title says, the Bible is not a secret code. God wants to be known, so he wrote to us plainly. This doesn’t mean the Bible is trivial or obvious. It takes serious work. But treating it like a code to crack is taking the easy — and foolish — way out.

6. Beware the Leech’s Daughters

Since the Bible is not a code, it’s obscure statements must be interpreted in light of the context and not some secret meaning. Proverbs 30:15a makes sense in light of what comes before and after it. Is it the rejection of ancient wisdom that causes the perpetual dissatisfaction of a generation of leeches? Such that, when you lose your grounding in the reality of God’s world, you have nothing left but to make increasing demands of the people and the world around you? The leech has two daughters. Not only in ancient Israel, but quite alive and well today.

5. What We Miss When We Skip the Book of Nehemiah

Ryan enjoys motivating people to give attention to the obscure parts of the Bible. In this post, he explains how Nehemiah can help us with prayer, God’s word, and money. You won’t want to miss that, so don’t skip it! For insight into other books you wouldn’t want to skip, see: Ezra, Lamentations, Numbers, and the Prophets.

4. Overcome Your Enemies by Dying

As a follow-up to #9 above, this post examines what Proverbs teaches about the sort of strife that can’t be avoided. When you have adopted the fundamental mindset that we can control only what we do and not what others do, there are five tactics that will help you to “win.” Warning: You’ll have to lose first.

3. 5 Misconceptions about Wealth

More help from Proverbs, to help us live well in the world God made. Let’s set aside these detrimental misconceptions, such as: It will make my problems go away. It’s something I ought to feel guilty about. It doesn’t matter whether someone has it or not.

2. The Problem with Proverbs

This year’s most-viewed post on the book of Proverbs describes the pain of trying to read and study this book of wisdom. It’s wild practicality blinds us to its covenantal context. The scattershot jumble of topics cause very little logical flow or coherence (at least, after chapter 9). And the widespread misconception that proverbs are not promises but only probabilities just needs to go, lest we fail to hear what the Proverbs are really saying. Studying this book along its natural contours yields a wealth of results, as it leads us to Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:2-3).

1. Overlooked Details of the Red Sea Crossing

This most-read post from 2023 had nearly twice as many views as #2 on the list. By looking at four crucial ones in the narrative of Exodus 14, Ryan demonstrates why the details matter. In them we see God’s hands-on involvement in the crossing of the Red Sea. God rescued his people and closed the door to any possible return to Egypt. In tangible ways, the Lord fought for his people as he promised. When God sets out to deliver his people and gain glory for himself, he will make both happen.

Previous years’ top tens: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

Top 10 Interpretive Book Overviews

January 6, 2023 By Peter Krol

Much of the time, when you read a Bible “book overview,” you’ll find all kinds of historical and cultural details. You’ll likely also get an observational outline of the book (an outline that observes what is said in each of the book’s sections). Such overviews are good and necessary resources for essential background. But when you read one of the book overviews on our site, you’ll primarily find a walkthrough and explanation of the book’s argument. What is the author’s chief message, and how does he go about presenting that message?

Continuing in the spirit of the top 10 lists presented over the last few weeks, here are the top 10 most-viewed posts from the “interpretive book overviews” series. If you browse the full list, you’ll see that we’ve currently got 21 installments. So if you have time to read only 10 of them, you may want to consider these 10.

Mark: Can’t You See God’s King?
Psalms: The Blessing of God’s Word and King
1 Thessalonians: A Community of Faith, Love, and Hope
Habakkuk: The One Thing that Must Change
Isaiah: Judgment and Deliverance
Ecclesiastes: The Fear of God Gives Joy Amid Frustration
Job: How to Fear the Lord When Everything Falls Apart
Daniel: The Most High Rules the Kingdoms of Men
Acts: The World’s Salvation Cannot be Stopped
Song of Songs: The Intoxication of True Love in its Time

10. Top 10 OT Books Quoted in NT

This post is down from #9 last year. 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.

9. 11 Old Testament Books Never Quoted in the New Testament

This post is down from #8 last year. 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, in that series about the NT quoting the OT, the most popular post is about the OT books that never get a direct quotation.

8. 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 #7 last year.

7. 4 Bible Studies for Lent

This companion piece to Ryan’s 4 Bible studies for Advent is down from #5 last year. 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.

6. How to Recognize Sowers of Discord

This post has been up and down the list for many years, rising from #10 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.

5. Identifying Behemoth and Leviathan in the Book of Job

This post first appeared in 2015 as part of a brief series on Job (which included the #2 post coming later in this list) and was republished in 2021. But 2022 marks the first time this post appears on the top 10 list. As can be seen from the title, it identifies what the behemoth and leviathan are in the book of Job. Teaser: They are not the hippopotamus and crocodile. And they are not dinosaurs, either, but something even worse. You’ll have to read the post to find out what.

4. Context Matters: Apart From Me, You Can Do Nothing

This investigation of John 15 debuted on the top 10 list year at #6, rising two positions higher this year. 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.

3. Context Matters: You Have Heard That it was Said…But I Say to You

This 2018 post was #9 on this list in 2020, but rose to #3 last year and solidly remains in that position. 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 (republished in 2021) 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! Elihu is that mysterious fourth 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 dropping to #2 in 2021, where it remains to this day.

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 has simply gone off the charts since 2021. No other post comes even close in pageviews. 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: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013

10. Topical Index for Proverbs

In this post, I shared the fruit of more than four years’ study of the book of Proverbs. It’s not perfect, and if I had more time, I would spiff it up and reorganize it quite a bit. But being what it is, it may have proved useful to some folks, as this page had the tenth highest view-count of all we wrote this year. I’m still not planning to add this to the resources page, so this might be your last chance to find it before it gets buried in this site’s archives.

9. Context Matters: Righteous Deeds Are Like Filthy Rags

One of only six “Context Matters” posts to be written this year (sorry for slacking!), and the first of two to appear on this list, this post examines Isaiah’s famous statement to show that it is both more shocking and more close-to-home than is typically communicated. There are several passages that could be used to instruct unbelievers about salvation by faith alone. That is a glorious truth, and the church should teach it! But we need not resort to pulling this colorful simile out of context to make the point.

8. When a Name Goes Missing in the Bible

In Genesis 21, Moses uses names, repeatedly, for all of the characters except one. That should make us sit up and take notice. In observation we gather the fuel we need for the fire of interpretation, and observing odd insertions or omissions is no exception.

7. Context Matters: The Whole Armor of God

The second “Context Matters” post to appear on this list examines the famous passage from Ephesians 6 about the helmet of salvation and shield of faith. Far from being a cute picture for coloring pages and children’s Bibles, this passage masterfully drives home Paul’s argument for unity in the church of Jesus Christ. Your real enemy is never your fellow church member who disagrees with you. So next time you get in a fight with a brother or sister—perhaps even within your own household—please let the whole armor of God strengthen you to the ends of peace and victory over the devil’s divisive schemes.

6. We Love to Give Gold Stars

Ryan struck a chord with this post, where he challenges our proclivity to label every Bible character as a good guy or bad guy. We want to identify each particular action as either praiseworthy or condemnable. The problem with this is that the Bible will not bow to our desires for quick labeling. Applying narrative texts requires the hard, slow work of wisdom.

5. The First Commentator to Plead His Case

Farther down this list are my Ten Commandments for Commentary Usage. This post offers, ahem, commentary on the fourth commandment: You shall not read only one commentary, but shall invite a plurality of voices into the conversation. A plurality of commentaries is helpful because, otherwise, the first one we read will be presumed to be right. And we really need to demystify the presumed priesthood of experts in our day.

4. Reading Across the Chapter Breaks in 2 Timothy

Did you know that the chapter (and verse) divisions in your Bible are not original to the text? And they have perhaps the most dramatic effect on our reading of the Bible. Those large, bolded numbers (usually accompanied by section headings) scream at us: “Start reading here!” and “Stop reading now!” But when we learn to read across those chapter breaks, our grasp of the author’s argument sees much improvement. Here is an example in 2 Timothy.

3. What We Miss When We Skip the Book of Ezra

The book of Ezra is an odd duck. It bears the name of a man who doesn’t appear in its first half. Though titled like a minor prophet, this is a book of history, one far shorter than most historical books in Scripture. And it is one of the few portions of God’s word set after the Babylonian exile. It’s got long lists of names in chapters 2, 8, and 10. But Ryan shows how this little book has much to offer.

2. Ten Commandments for Commentary Usage

The OIA Bible study method ought not be incompatible with rigorous usage of commentaries. But there is an everpresent danger of relying on commentaries more than the text, or of allowing commentaries to prevent you from wrestling with the text as you ought. Therefore the main question for commentary usage is not whether but when. These commandments for commentary usage include: You shall not avoid or ignore commentaries from belief in self-sufficiency to study the Scriptures. You shall not pick up a commentary as soon as Bible study is “hard.” You shall make every effort to form interpretive conclusions or questions about interpretations before consulting a commentary.

1. Song of Songs: The Intoxication of True Love in its Time

When the Lord God made the heavens and the earth, there was only one thing that he declared was not good: the man’s being alone. So God promptly invented romantic love, and his word is very clear about how such love works. This post provides an interpretive walkthrough of Solomon’s Greatest Song, showing that we shouldn’t have to choose between interpreting it literally or allegorically.

Previous years’ top tens: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017