Good WordGood WordGood WordGood Word
Apple Podcasts
  • Home
  • About
  • Listen
  • Contact

This is a placeholder for your sticky navigation bar. It should not be visible.

Dave Thomas

David Thomas is Professor of Practical Theology & Apologetics. He has been a member of the faculty at WWU since the summer of 2001. He served as Dean of the School of Theology for seventeen years (2001-2018). He is now focused on full-time teaching and writing. Prior to joining the faculty, Thomas spent some 24 years in pastoral work in New England, and in Washington. His pastoral experience ranges from multiple church districts to large, multi-staff churches. While pastoring in the east, he taught as an adjunct professor at Atlantic Union College for six years. He has served on many administrative committees at conference, union, and institutional levels. He has been a member of the Walla Walla College Board of Trustees.

Story and History

  • Lesson 1 for the week of September 25 to October 2
https://wwugoodword.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2010-10-02.mp3
Leading Question: “Do stories make truth more believable?” Key Passages: Genesis 39:6-12, Joseph and Potipher’s wife 1 Samuel 24:1-6, David allows Saul to escape from the cave Job 1-2, God and Satan in dialogue over righteous...

Continue reading →

Continue reading →
Dave Thomas

John’s Letter to the Chosen Lady

  • Lesson 12 for the week of September 11 to September 19
https://wwugoodword.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2009-09-18.mp3
Observations for discussion and questions: The text of 2 John has been translated directly from the Greek in order to get a more literal rendition. Notice that the same sort of style regarding densities of...

Continue reading →

Continue reading →
Dave Thomas

Important Themes in First John

  • Lesson 11 for the week of September 5 to September 12
https://wwugoodword.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2009-09-11.mp3
Observations for discussion and questions: The Godhead: The clearest examples of triadic formulation of the Godhead are found in Matt 28:19 and 2 Cor 3:14, but even there we do not have any attempt to...

Continue reading →

Continue reading →
Dave Thomas

Confidence

  • Lesson 10 for the week of August 29 to September 5
https://wwugoodword.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2009-09-04.mp3
Observations for discussion and questions: The overall unity of this passage may be seen in the density of recurrences of the clause we know that. The subunit of 5:14-17 defined by the recurrences of the...

Continue reading →

Continue reading →
Dave Thomas

Believing in the Son of God

  • Lesson 9 for the week of August 22 to August 29
https://wwugoodword.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2009-08-28.mp3
Observations for discussion and questions: The following passage as a whole is delimited by three recurrences of belief in relation to Jesus: who believes that Jesus is the Son of God (5:5), who believes in...

Continue reading →

Continue reading →
Dave Thomas

Walking in the Light: Keeping His Commandments

  • Lesson 4 for the week of August 18 to July 25
https://wwugoodword.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2009-07-24.mp3
Observations for discussion and questions: Here again we see John ministering to a community that are suffering from the impact of the schism he mentions later in this chapter. He gives them tests both as...

Continue reading →

Continue reading →
Dave Thomas

Loving Brothers and Sisters

  • Lesson 8 for the week of August 15 to August 22
https://wwugoodword.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2009-08-21.mp3
Observations for discussion and questions: The topic of this lesson focuses on two major passages, 1 John 3:11-24 and 1 John 4:7-5:4. 1 John 3:11-24 is carefully structured by the overall recurrences of we should...

Continue reading →

Continue reading →
Dave Thomas

Living as Children of God

  • Lesson 7 for the week of August 8 to August 15
https://wwugoodword.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2009-08-14.mp3
Observations for discussion and questions: The overall unity of 1 John 2:28-3:10 is supported by the recurrences of manifested, everyone, who does/does not do right, children of God, born of him/God. The subsections are demarcated...

Continue reading →

Continue reading →
Dave Thomas

Walking in the Light: Rejecting Antichrists

  • Lesson 6 for the week of August 1 to August 8
https://wwugoodword.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2009-08-07.mp3
Observations for discussion and questions: The principle occasion for the writing of 1 John was most likely a serious schism of the Johannine community over teaching about Christ. There are two well defined passages that...

Continue reading →

Continue reading →
Dave Thomas

Walking in the Light: Renouncing Worldliness

  • Lesson 5 for the week of July 25 to August 1
https://wwugoodword.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2009-07-31.mp3
Observations for discussion and questions: 1 John 2:12-14 is puzzling. The fact that the author says almost the same thing in each stanza with a shift of verb tense in “writing” and “wrote” may be...

Continue reading →

Continue reading →
Dave Thomas

Walking in the Light: Turning Away From Sin

  • Lesson 3 for the week of July 11 to July 18
https://wwugoodword.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2009-07-17.mp3
Observations: 1 John 1:5-2:2 is carefully crafted in terms of structure where between an introductory proposition and a concluding application and exposition we have three false claims reflected in if-clauses, “if we say that we…,”...

Continue reading →

Continue reading →
Dave Thomas

Experiencing the Word of Life

  • Lesson 2 for the week of July 4 to July 11
https://wwugoodword.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2009-07-10.mp3
Observations: If, as noted in the previous lesson, the primary purpose of 1 John was to give instructions and encouragement in the wake of a painful schism over views that questioned the incarnation of Jesus...

Continue reading →

Continue reading →
Dave Thomas

Jesus and the Johannine Letters

  • Lesson 1 for the week of June 27 to July 4
https://wwugoodword.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2009-07-03.mp3
1 John Observations: The Author: Although traditionally the author was taken to be the Apostle John, none of the letters identify the author by name. In 2 and 3 John he is referred to as...

Continue reading →

Continue reading →
Dave Thomas

Mission

  • Lesson 13 for the week of June 20 to June 27
https://wwugoodword.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2009-06-20.mp3
1.  (Gen 12:1-3) At first glance, it may seem that God”s calling of Abram is an example of favoritism.  However, vs. 3 clearly describes God”s ultimate desire.  Why does God bless Abram?  What are some...

Continue reading →

Continue reading →
Dave Thomas
« 1 … 32 33 34 35 36 … 51 »
 
  • Popular
  • Recent
  • Commented

The Last Five Kings of Judah

October 10, 2015

Elijah’s and Elisha’s Mantle

April 30, 2011

Deuteronomy in the New Testament

December 11, 2021

A Portrait of Love

August 8, 2026

Spiritual Gifts

August 1, 2026

All to the Glory of God

July 25, 2026

A Portrait of Love

August 8, 2026

That We May Know Him

January 2, 1999

What Inspiration Is

January 9, 1999

Quarter Archives

Author Archives

For more information about GOOD WORD contact the School of Theology at Walla Walla University by phone (509-527-2194), email (email us) or regular mail (Walla Walla University, 204 S. College Ave., College Place WA 99324).
Apple Podcasts
Good Word © 2021
  • Home
  • About
  • Listen
  • Contact