I’m posting a brief exchange from the comments in an old post, for those who may be interested but wouldn’t otherwise see it:

I really enjoyed your sermon notes on Lucifer, Eden, etc [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uMn7joXwwMsWt5sg5yPDJUPoGOC3bq-0nViDFdIcMpI/]. Do you have more of these resources available online? I run into simplistic or ‘face value’ explanations of ideas like this all the time (sadly, often from Christians), and would love to dig a lot deeper into the historic context and views as you presented.

Are there any studies or resources you can recommend that deal with these contextual topics?

The first place I would start would be with Michael Heiser. He seems to be at the forefront of conservative Old Testament studies when it comes to marrying the Bible with its ANE context. He has a website at www.drmsh.com. He also has a couple of books coming out very soon which I think you will really, really like if you enjoyed my sermon, called Unseen Realm and Supernatural. You can get sample chapters here.

I’d also recommend grabbing a copy of The Bible Among the Myths by John Oswalt, and Against the Gods by John Currid. Both complement Heiser’s work very well, and delve into a lot of important worlview issues that most Christians are simply unaware exist.

 1 comment

B.C. Askins

I’d add this to the list too: http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Rivals-Different-Religions-Insights-ebook/dp/B001HL0EMA/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1445957352&sr=8-1