Posts by Tom Finley

Tom Finley

Tom Finley is a professor emeritus of Old Testament and Semitics at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. Finley's area of expertise is Northwest Semitic languages, specifically Hebrew and Aramaic. He authored the Wycliffe Exegetical Commentary (Joel, Amos, Obadiah) (reprinted by Galaxie Software), the Everyman's Bible (Commentary on Joel, Obadiah, Micah) (Moody), and co-authored How Biblical Languages Work: A Student's Guide to Learning Hebrew and Greek (Kregel). He also contributed notes on the prophets mentioned above to The Life Recovery Bible. He authored chapters in three books, and his articles have appeared in Grace Theological Journal, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Journal of Psychology and Theology, Vetus Testamentum, Zeitschrift für Althebraistik, and Decision Magazine. He has addressed both regional and national meetings of the Evangelical Theological Society, and he has served as a translation consultant for portions of the Old Testament for the NIV Children's Version.

The Good Book Blog
Who Belongs in the Promised Land: Does Daniel Reveal Anything About Its Future?
Brandon Cash, Tom Finley — May 08, 2024
When we read the stories of Daniel it’s easy to miss out on the story of Daniel. The episodic nature of the narratives and visions inclines readers...
The Good Book Blog
Who Wrote the Book of Daniel? Part 4: Five Positive Evidences for an Early Daniel
Tom Finley — May 20, 2022
The following blog is the final entry of a four-part series. View the first post, Who Wrote the Book of Daniel? (Part 1), here . Read the second...
The Good Book Blog
Who Wrote the Book of Daniel? Part 3: The Prayer of Nabonidus
Tom Finley — April 08, 2022
This is the third post in a series on who wrote the book of Daniel. Here you can find Part 1 and Part 2 . From history, we know that Nabonidus...
The Good Book Blog
Who Wrote the Book of Daniel? Part 2: Who Was Darius the Mede?
Tom Finley — March 02, 2022
This is the second post in a series on who wrote the book of Daniel. Read the first post, Who Wrote the Book of Daniel? (Part 1) and the third...
The Good Book Blog
Who Wrote the Book of Daniel? (Part 1)
Tom Finley — February 04, 2022
The book of Daniel is a key document for the Christian faith. It has significant prophecies about the future. Jesus Christ and the writers of the New Testament referred to it often.
Talbot Magazine
My Colleague at Talbot, Richard Rigsby
Tom Finley — June 04, 2019
Richard Rigsby, professor emeritus of Old Testament and Semitics and former director of the Talbot/Bible Lands program, passed away on Dec. 3,...
The Good Book Blog
My Colleague at Talbot, Richard Rigsby
Tom Finley remembers his late colleague, Professor Emeritus Richard Rigsby
Tom Finley — December 10, 2018
Dr. Feinberg hired Dr. Richard Rigsby for the Old Testament department in 1975, one year before he hired me full time. At the time Dr. Rigsby...
Talbot Magazine
Best of the Blog
Spiritual Adviser to the President
Tom Finley — June 20, 2018
Most of the news stories about the death of the Rev. Billy Graham highlight how he reached out to various U.S. presidents in times of crisis. He...
The Good Book Blog
Book Review: "Marriage God’s Way: A Biblical Recipe for Healthy, Joyful, Christ-Centered Relationships"
Tom Finley — May 21, 2018
Marriage God’s Way: A Biblical Recipe for Healthy, Joyful, Christ-Centered Relationships , by Scott LaPierre (Charis Family Publishing, 2016), is...
The Good Book Blog
"Beginning with the Oldest"
Tom Finley — March 14, 2018
Sometimes meditating on Scripture can be enhanced by viewing art in conjunction with the Scripture. Recently my wife, Anita, attended a one-day...
The Good Book Blog
Spiritual Adviser to the President
Tom Finley — February 23, 2018
Most of the news stories about the death of the Reverend Billy Graham highlight how he reached out to various U.S. presidents in times of crisis....
The Good Book Blog
Counter-Cultural Research
Tom Finley — May 10, 2016
At a recent luncheon, the Talbot faculty were reminded about the culture of academia, a culture that permeates Christian universities as well. The typical academic conducts research by herself or himself alone. Any paper or book that results may be reviewed by colleagues, but still the research is the product of one mind alone. Sometimes there are books that contain contributions by various researchers, but each article typically has also a single author. There are exceptions to the rule—books or articles that are co-authored. They are still exceptions, though, and not the rule ...
The Good Book Blog
That Indispensable Hebrew
Tom Finley — October 12, 2015
Here is a challenging essay, written long ago by several Talbot professors, about the importance of reading the Old Testament in the original language. Two of the authors are retired (one to glory). The third, Dr. Tom Finley, is still with us. Some things never change — like the significance of Hebrew for sound OT exegesis. Some things, however, do change. Please note that the article was written for the Talbot Bulletin in the fall of 1979, before sensitivity to issues of culture and gender became part of the literary landscape. Caveat lector ...
The Good Book Blog
Social Justice in Amos
Tom Finley — August 26, 2015
Amos has much to say about oppression and the plight of the poor in Israel, so it is only natural that his book has become a focal point for discussions about social justice.[1] At least three aspects of the issue dealt with by Amos concern the nature of God, the role of the individual, and the role of the social system ...
The Good Book Blog
Thoughts About Dr. Robert Saucy: Reflections from Dr. Tom Finley
Tom Finley — April 08, 2015
Dr. Bob Saucy was a skilled teacher, beloved colleague, and friend. He greatly influenced my own theology and path in life. Having studied under him at Talbot, I have known him for many years. He was a tremendous man of God and truly a "Distinguished Professor." He will be sorely missed at Talbot by students, alumni, staff, and faculty.
The Good Book Blog
Working on a Doctorate: My Personal Story
Tom Finley — October 23, 2014
Since students often come to me asking about doctoral work after Talbot, I thought it would be helpful to share my personal experience in obtaining my own doctorate. Perhaps some will find my experience helpful as they prayerfully contemplate whether the Lord is leading them to pursue further studies in a doctoral program.
The Good Book Blog
Book Review: The Aleppo Codex (by Matti Friedman)
Tom Finley — November 19, 2013
Is it possible for a true story about an ancient manuscript of the Hebrew Bible to be thrilling?
The Good Book Blog
Why a Commentary?
Tom Finley — September 24, 2013
A Bible reader might justifiably ask, “Why would I need a commentary?” Some prefer to read the Bible for themselves so that they won’t be influenced by the opinions of others. They want to learn solely through what the Holy Spirit teaches them, and perhaps they even think to support their desire through Scriptures such as John 16:13 or Jeremiah 31:33–34. Besides the fact that the context won’t support such an interpretation from those passages, there are some good reasons why a commentary can be not only helpful for understanding the Bible but even highly beneficial.
The Good Book Blog
Thoughts on Ezekiel 38
Tom Finley — April 04, 2012
These observations are made independently of any current events taking place in the Middle East. They are offered to clarify from the Hebrew and certain ancient sources some of the issues that modern interpreters are raising from their understanding of Ezekiel 38.