Where Does the Term “Jehovah” Come From?

Many Christians who read the Chinese Union Version (和合本) of the Bible are familiar with the divine name 耶和華. In the Old Testament, this name appears thousands of times and is commonly understood as God’s personal name. Yet relatively few readers realize that the form “Jehovah” is not the original Hebrew pronunciation of God’s name, but rather the result of a long history of transmission, public reading, and translation.  The origin of the name begins with the Hebrew word יהוה (YHWH), often called the Tetragrammaton, meaning “the four letters.” This is the personal name by which … Continue Reading

Peacemaking

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 What is a peacemaker? A peacemaker is someone who steps into tension with a goal, not to win, not to escape, but to bring peace. That sounds noble. It also sounds exhausting. Especially when we remember that people are complicated and disagreements are real, and peace isn’t always welcome. So, Jesus’ words come to us both as a comfort and a challenge: “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Before we think about what it means for us to make peace, we need to start … Continue Reading

AOT Annual Meeting Occurs at ALS

Asia Lutheran Seminary serves as the theological training arm of the Asia-Oceania Team (AOT). The AOT is a group of Lutheran missionaries that serve Asia and Oceania. This past week they met for their annual meeting to discuss short and long term strategic plans for their ministry in Asia. ALS’s role in this involves connecting national church leaders to whatever theological education needs they and their people may have. These discussions excite and energize us about what God might do through his people in the future. We also place these plans in the hands of a … Continue Reading

Mercy

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7 If mercy were easy, Jesus wouldn’t have needed to preach about it. Mercy means showing compassion when it isn’t earned and giving kindness when it isn’t deserved. Mercy steps toward people who disappoint us, inconvenience us, or wound us, which are not usually moments when we feel particularly “blessed.” That is why Jesus’ words might surprise us: “Blessed are the merciful.” The world often views mercy as a sign of weakness. Jesus calls it evidence of a heart transformed by grace. To understand mercy, … Continue Reading

STTL Graduation Ceremony in Indonesia

On July 23 Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Lutheran (STTL), a sister seminary to ALS in Indonesia, held a graduation ceremony.  We praise God for answering the prayer to provide workers for the harvest field in Indonesia. We pray that he blesses the ministries of these men.  We also pray that they are built up in the gospel of grace themselves even as they spread the message of salvation to others. We welcome you to watch the full ceremony here. https://www.youtube.com/live/qaiGK2TF7EE?si=kaNZueuppccR8-VE

Fall 2026 Registration Deadline is August 21

Make sure to secure your spot for the upcoming semester before the deadline on August 21. 🌟 New This Year: Our TELL certificate level is now being offered in Cantonese! We will be offering four courses (one per month), and anyone is welcome to join. Feel free to invite a friend to study alongside you! 🔗 View course details and register here:  https://asiaseminary.com/current-semester/

Praying with Purpose

At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 1 Kings 18:36-37 If you are like me, there is a good chance that at some time in your life, you prayed for millions of dollars. … Continue Reading

Fall 2026 Semester Schedule is Out

Our next semester schedule is out now! We are offering a great selection of spiritually enriching and practical courses this semester. No matter where you are in your study of theology, there is sure to be something there for you.  To check it out, visit this link: https://asiaseminary.com/current-semester/

Who Are You?

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 Have you found yourself yet? Many of us are on a quest to find ourselves, or at least were at one time in our lives. We live in a world so full of people, groups, and ideas that we wonder where we fit. And so, we spend much of our lives searching for an identity—looking for a way to define … Continue Reading

Greek Course has Begun

Our latest round of Koine Greek courses started this week. We are blessed to have so many different students from different places to study with us. We also keep them in our prayers as this Greek program is very demanding and intense. God bless them and the professors in their efforts to read your word in its original language!