Thinking on Scripture with Dr. Steven R. Cook
Dr. Steven R. Cook is the founder of Thinking on Scripture, a platform that has attracted over one million visitors. Steven is a Christian educator who has taught undergraduate theology at Tyndale Theological Seminary and recently joined the faculty of Chafer Theological Seminary. He is a Protestant, traditional dispensationalist, and a traditional Free Grace Bible teacher. His studies in the original languages of Scripture, ancient history, and systematic theology have been the foundation for his teaching and writing ministry. Steven has written several Christian books, dozens of articles on Christian theology, and recorded more than fifteen hundred hours of audio and video messages. He hosts a weekly Bible study at his home in Arlington, Texas, where he records most of the Bible lessons for his podcast and YouTube channel. Steven’s ministry activity is freelance and entirely voluntary, and he appreciates donations to help with ministry expenses. Since 2004, he has served as a full-time Case Manager with a local nonprofit agency dedicated to assisting poor, elderly, and disabled members of the community.
Episodes
The book of Ruth unfolds in the moral collapse of the judges, yet it reveals the steady hand of God directing a few believers who chose to trust Him when the nation at large did not. Ruth, a Moabite widow, aligned herself with Naomi and with the God of Israel, and the Lord guided her to Boaz, a man of integrity who fulfilled the role of kinsman-redeemer and foreshadowed the greater Redeemer to come. What begins with famine, death, ...
The Suffering of King David
David’s fugitive years under Saul (1 Sam 22–24) were not wasted time but a period of divine training and refinement. Though anointed king by Samuel (1 Sam 16:13), David was not yet ready to rule. God enrolled him in the school of suffering, isolation, and rejection to develop the inner character necessary for kingship. In the cave of Adullam, David found himself surrounded not by Israel’s elite but ...
The Suffering of Job
Job’s suffering began abruptly, without warning and without explanation, when God permitted Satan to test his integrity. Though Job was “blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil” (Job 1:1), divine sovereignty allowed undeserved suffering as a means of glorifying God and refining Job’s soul. Zuck wisely states, “The Book of Job addresses the mystery of unmerited misery, showing that in adv...
The Suffering of the Psalmist
The Psalmist wrote, “Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your word” (Psa 119:67). The word translated “went astray” is שָׁגַג (shāgag). According to HALOT it means “to make a mistake inadvertently, unwittingly…to go astray.”[1] It connotes moral or spiritual deviation (cf. Prov 5:23; Isa 53:6). Ross states, “The verb (שָׁגגַ) is used in Leviticus for unintentional sins; but here...
The Suffering of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, though perfectly sinless in His nature and conduct (1 Pet 2:22; 1 John 3:5), fully entered into the sufferings of humanity during what Scripture calls “the days of His flesh” (Heb 5:7a). As eternal God (John 1:1, 14; Col 2:9), He lacked nothing and possessed all knowledge, power, and authority. Yet in His humanity, He willingly submitted Himself to the limitations of human life, grow...
Scripture identifies two main forms of suffering that promote spiritual growth: corrective suffering, which restores the disobedient to fellowship, and perfective suffering, which refines the obedient toward greater maturity in Christ.
Corrective suffering arises from divine discipline when believers deviate from God’s will and wander into disobedience. Such discipline is the measured response of a loving Father who seeks...
Suffering as a Means of Spiritual Growth
Sufferings (pathēma) encompass a broader category that includes pain, hardship, or affliction resulting from life in a fallen world, the hostility of others, or divine discipline. The word pathēma derives from paschō, meaning “to experience, suffer, endure…affliction.”[1] The word is frequently used in the New Testament to describe the sufferings of Christ as well as those of His follow...
Trials and Suffering as a Means of Growth
A mature Christian is one whose faith has been tested and refined through the experiences of trials and suffering. Yet it is not the mere experience of testing or hardship that produces maturity, but the believer’s faith response to it (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38). God, in His sovereign wisdom, tailors each situation to the unique needs of His children. For example, Jonah needed only three d...
Blessing as a Means to Spiritual Growth
God’s blessings are intentional expressions of His character and His grace. He blesses all humanity with the gifts of life, provision, and the sustaining order of creation that reflects His goodness. As Jesus declared, “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matt 5:45). Likewise, Paul explained that God “did not leave Him...
Concerning the permission of divorce, Jesus said the Pharisees, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way” (Matt 19:8). God’s permissive will can be observed on a national level, as Paul said, “In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways” (Acts 14:16). This explains much of the poor behavior we see among the nat...
Some directives are role-specific. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church, and wives are to submit to their husbands’ loving spiritual leadership and show them respect (Eph 5:22, 25, 33; 1 Pet 3:1-2). Children are to obey and honor their parents (Eph 6:1-4). Employees are to serve their supervisors with sincerity (Eph 6:5-8; Col 3:23-24), and supervisors are to treat their workers with fairness and integri...
Some directives in the Christian life are role-specific. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church, and wives are to submit to their husbands’ loving spiritual leadership and show them respect (Eph 5:22, 25, 33; 1 Pet 3:1-2). Children are to obey and honor their parents (Eph 6:1-4). Employees are to serve their supervisors with sincerity (Eph 6:5-8; Col 3:23-24), and supervisors are to treat their workers with fai...
The Christian faith begins the moment a person believes in Jesus Christ as Savior, trusting Him alone for the free gift of eternal life (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Eph 2:8-9). At that instant, God forgives sins, declares the believer righteous (Rom 3:28; 5:1), and grants eternal security (John 10:28). This starting point is not achieved by works, reform, or religious ritual, but by faith alone in Christ alone. The Christian life then c...
When reading through the New Testament, we see that God provides both general and specific directives to Christians. General directives include learning and applying God’s Word (Rom 12:1-2; Col 3:16; 2 Tim 2:15; 1 Pet 2:2; Jam 1:22), loving others as Christ has loved us (John 13:34), being filled with and walking by the Spirit (Eph 5:18; Gal 5:16), submitting to governing authorities and paying taxes (Rom 13:1, 6), stimulating...
These audio lectures accompany BE302, Genesis through Ruth, a graduate-level course at Chafer Theological Seminary. The class serves students in programs such as the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of Theology (Th.M.), though it may also be taken on an audit basis. My lecture notes are available here: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BE302-Genesis-to-Ruth-Complete-Study-Notes.pdf
These audio lectures accompany BE302, Genesis through Ruth, a graduate-level course at Chafer Theological Seminary. The class serves students in programs such as the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of Theology (Th.M.), though it may also be taken on an audit basis. My lecture notes are available here: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BE302-Genesis-to-Ruth-Complete-Study-Notes.pdf
Trials are not accidents in the Christian life; rather, they are divine appointments. Paul learned this when God allowed “a thorn in the flesh” to keep him from exalting himself (2 Cor 12:7-10). Instead of removing the trial, the Lord assured him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Paul’s response was to “boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” Likewise, we ar...
When reading through the New Testament, we see that God provides both general and specific directives to Christians. General directives include learning and applying God’s Word (Rom 12:1-2; Col 3:16; 2 Tim 2:15; 1 Pet 2:2; Jam 1:22), loving others as Christ has loved us (John 13:34), being filled with and walking by the Spirit (Eph 5:18; Gal 5:16), submitting to governing authorities and paying taxes (Rom 13:1, 6), stimulating one ...
The Lord directs us to obedience and tests us by providing opportunities to follow His Word, whether through His commands, His provisions, or the circumstances He ordains (Ex 16:4; Deut 8:2; 13:3; Judg 2:21-22; 3:4; John 6:5-6; Heb 11:17; Rev 2:10). In Scripture, testing is consistently purposeful, designed to reveal the true condition of our hearts, whether we will love and obey Him above all else (Deut 8:2; 13:3). Like a ref...
Popular Podcasts
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!