That set of books representing the canon of Scripture, believed to be the inspired Word of God
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votes
13answers
4k views
If Adam and Eve were perfect, why did they choose to sin?
Adam and Eve, when they were created in the Garden of Eden, were without sin. Because of that, they were perfect and flawless.
However, with that theology in mind, I'm running up against a wall: ...
34
votes
6answers
2k views
Will suicide keep me out of Heaven?
First of all, I don't want to set off any red flags here. I am not pursuing a suicidal lifestyle, nor have the desire to end my life. That being said...
Perhaps the greatest thing a person can hope ...
22
votes
5answers
955 views
What does the bible say about homosexuality?
I was recently listening to a podcast and the preacher said that he has looked through the entire bible and could not find anywhere where it says that homosexuality was a sin.
Where does the bible ...
26
votes
9answers
1k views
What is the specific meaning of “day” in Genesis 1?
In the Creation account in Genesis 1 (and 2), God's work of Creation is famously split into 7 "days". For example, the first "day" occurs in verse 5:
Genesis 1:5 (NLT)
God called the light "day" ...
9
votes
1answer
124 views
What is old earth creationism?
What is old earth creationism? What support does it have from the Bible? What mainstream denominations or groups, if any, support it?
6
votes
2answers
295 views
What are the biblical arguments that the Bible canon is closed?
Some religions claim to have a newer revelation of God; the Book of Mormon and the Qur'an are presented to be the latest revelation of God.
The Old Testament closes with a climax of expectation of ...
17
votes
3answers
444 views
How do we know Jesus is God incarnate?
In John 17:3 it says that Jesus called the Father the "only true God" and called himself sent by the Father.
Also, in Matthew 4:10, Jesus himself says to:
‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve ...
23
votes
2answers
2k views
What did Paul mean by “women must be silent in church”?
In the Bible Paul says that women must be silent in churches and ask questions to their husband when they get home.
This is completely ignored in the modern day churches, with many women being ...
33
votes
7answers
3k views
The Bible seems to allow polygamy. Why doesn't the church?
In Exodus 21:10 and Deuteronomy 21:15-16 (among many other passages), it talks about polygamy as if it were acceptable.
Indeed, there are several holy men (Abraham and Solomon come to mind offhand) ...
42
votes
4answers
1k views
What is the biblical basis for the claim that abortion is immoral?
The Catholic church, as well as many other Christians, believes that abortion is inherently immoral, based on the belief that life begins at conception.
What is the biblical basis for this position?
...
22
votes
3answers
1k views
How is ignoring clear Biblical instructions in Leviticus justified?
Leviticus 11:7-8
And the pig, though it has a split hood completely divided, does not
chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or
touch their carcasses; they are ...
8
votes
1answer
149 views
How do I track the history of changes to a given verse's actual text? How do I discover it's “lineage”?
Has there been a project that traces the genealogy of each verse of the scripture?
I.e., for each verse, it traces back through all the documents it was translated from, the default translations at ...
8
votes
4answers
343 views
What evidence is there to support the position that the Bible is truly the Word of God to mankind?
Christianity generally accepts the Bible to be the Word of God, and the Bible itself makes this claim (i.e. 2 Peter 1:16-21).
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to
...
7
votes
7answers
391 views
Is there a way to prove the God of the Bible?
I understand that there is an element call faith to believe a system of belief. But my question is, are there valid arguments to prove God to someone who does not believe? Or at least to present God ...
6
votes
2answers
388 views
What major discrepancies exist between “versions” of the Bible?
Based on a comment from @AndrewThompson,
'the' Bible (any one you care to name) is no more evidence of anything than the BOM is. You might take the numerous discrepancies between versions of ...
15
votes
5answers
1k views
Why isn't the cross considered an idol?
Exodus 20:1-15 ESV
And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who
brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods ...
5
votes
2answers
828 views
Does the Bible support slavery and (White) Superiority?
Slavery existed as a fact of life in the Ancient World, and the Bible mentions slavery in many places. The question is this: When the Bible speaks of slavery, is it supporting it, or merely ...
11
votes
4answers
2k views
Was Onan really struck dead by God for masturbating?
Historically, Onan in Genesis 38 has been accused of masturbation, and for this supposed transgression was struck dead. The term Onanism (or in German Onanie) is still used to describe this practice.
...
7
votes
2answers
213 views
Why are the books of the Protestant Bible in the order that they are in?
I am curious why the books of the Protestant Bible are in the order that they are in?
Someone told me they thought the books were in some sort of chronological order - is that true? (I know the ...
7
votes
2answers
296 views
The effect of poison on Christians
Can someone explain me these passages about the effect of poison?
Who is immune to poison?
Why do they have this trait?
Why isn't anyone today immune to poison?
Mark 16:17-18
17And these ...
16
votes
3answers
6k views
What are the different names of God in the Bible and what do they mean?
I see that our current-day Bibles only refer to God as LORD. Can you explain to me what the different names of God are and what they mean?
19
votes
3answers
603 views
What does the Bible say about Capital Punishment?
Some Christians are for and some are against capital punishment. However what does the Bible have to say about it?
13
votes
2answers
280 views
How old is old earth creationism?
The answers to What is the biblical evidence for an old Earth? say that biblical arguments for old Earth creationism are based on the ambiguous words used for describing lengths of time in Genesis.
...
12
votes
5answers
236 views
How was documented dialog observed?
For example in Jonah 4:9 we find dialog between God and Jonah.
But God said to Jonah, Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?
I do, he said. I am angry enough to die. But the LORD said, ...
10
votes
5answers
4k views
What does the Bible say about people with mental illness?
Some people with mental illness might do lots of things that are unpredictable and considered sin, up to killing themselves, or possibly forget anything about Jesus and salvation.
So, what does the ...
22
votes
1answer
2k views
What happened to the tribe of Dan in Revelation?
Compare the twelve tribes of Israel, according to Genesis 35:23-26 (left column) and Revelation 7:5-8 (right):
Asher : Asher
Benjamin : Benjamin
Dan : Gad
Gad : Issachar
Issachar : Joseph
Joseph : ...
10
votes
4answers
565 views
What is the biblical basis for salvation by faith alone (sola fide)?
One of the key issues in the Reformation was the doctrine of Sola Fide, that is, that salvation is by faith alone, apart from works.
What, then, is the biblical basis for this belief?
10
votes
1answer
1k views
What is the biblical meaning of “sanctification”
I understand that sanctification is used as a post-reformational theological term to refer to the ongoing process of Christian growth.
But, biblically speaking, is this always what is meant? I know ...
9
votes
3answers
437 views
Are tongues a sign for believers or unbelievers?
1 Corinthians 14:22-25 confuses me. Verse 22 states:
Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
So, tongues is ...
6
votes
4answers
360 views
What is the significance of the Bible to Christianity?
What exactly is the significance of the Bible to Christianity?
Is Christianity defined by the Bible?
If so, is belief in the Bible the most important (or foundational) belief in Christianity? Is ...
28
votes
7answers
2k views
Why did Jesus not want to be known as the Messiah?
Jesus, when talking to his disciples in Matthew 16 specifically instructed them not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Matthew 16:20 (NIV)
Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone ...
11
votes
5answers
407 views
Why is the Bible so short?
The Old Testament checks in at about 580,000 - 590,000 words (depending on the translation), and the New Testament has about 180,000. That means the 66 distinct books combined have a total of about ...
7
votes
7answers
623 views
What are the biblical arguments against the papacy and papal succession?
The Catholic Church teaches that Peter was the first pope and that papal succession continued down through history to the present day. However, neither the Orthodox nor the Protestant churches ...
3
votes
4answers
398 views
How are Christians expected to live up to the standards of following Christ?
Just re-read the New Testament and this question has been at the front of my mind. These are just a few of similar quotes that are in question:
Matthew 16:24: "Then Jesus said to his disciples: If ...
21
votes
5answers
2k views
Can Humans become Angels?
There a number of biblical passages (like Corinthians 4:9) that are worded as such indicating angels were created separately from and and are different from humans.
From time to time I hear someone ...
18
votes
3answers
267 views
What does the Bible say about tithing?
Do we have to tithe? Why does God need us to tithe? What are the results of NOT tithing?
13
votes
6answers
533 views
What is the Biblical evidence for Old Earth?
According to a comment by another user in this question Why do OEC discount the literal interpretation of the book of Genesis?, apparently there's Biblical evidence for an Old Earth. As a Young ...
12
votes
5answers
156 views
Is a moral society more open to the gospel than an immoral one? [closed]
One of the answers to Why do many Christians object to same-sex civil marriage? got me thinking. If we work to make the common morals of our society more in line with Biblical morality does that make ...
12
votes
2answers
255 views
What does it mean to comment on scripture with scripture?
What does it mean to "comment on a verse with a verse" or "only scripture can explain scripture"? I see these kinds of comments popping up in comment threads that discuss the meaning of a verse.
What ...
20
votes
7answers
377 views
Why is the Bible a foundation of theological evidence?
Please excuse my ignorance I'm new to this.
I've been looking through the Q&A on the site and I've noticed scripture and especially passages from the Bible are cited as evidence for one argument ...
41
votes
10answers
2k views
Does wine really mean wine in the Bible?
In discussions I have had in the past over the acceptability of a Christian drinking alcohol I have heard that some 'dry' believers say that the wine in the Bible is not wine as we know it commonly ...
16
votes
4answers
333 views
Was the flood of Noah global or local?
Genesis 7 and 8 describes the flood of Noah, and says in part:
The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. They rose greatly on the earth, ...
16
votes
5answers
419 views
Does being a Christian mean being a Bible literalist?
Where are the lines for Bible literalism in the Christian faith? Are all aspects of the Bible treated with the same level of literal belief (as actual history), or are some parts considered to be ...
10
votes
2answers
174 views
When do we as Christians draw the line on self-defense?
At what line do Christians stop at self defense? Take a look here:
Matthew 5:39
But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
...
20
votes
7answers
3k views
Are some people created to go to Hell?
This answer presents the following statement:
God is in control and I believe that His will has always been done. So to say that He's never failed.
So, are some people are destined to go to ...
16
votes
12answers
3k views
Are Paul's letters to be taken as God's word?
Sometimes, as I read the bible or listen to a speaker in church, I can't help but feel that while Paul's letters are full of well-grounded Christian wisdom and advice, they can also contain what seems ...
14
votes
6answers
665 views
If the Bible has been changed over the years, can we still trust it?
I read that there are passages that exist today that are not in some of the oldest scrolls. Since these passages were added along the way—maybe to help explain something—can we trust that ...
12
votes
6answers
898 views
Where did Noah find polar bears and penguins in Palestine?
The biblical account of Noah's Ark and the flood seems implausible to me due to this detail... How could animals accustom to thriving in extreme temperatures be found in a common place for ...
8
votes
4answers
357 views
Was tithing 10% required or encouraged by the early church?
I cannot find in the New Testament an obligation on Christians to tithe 10% of their income. Instead I read that it is up the individual to decide:
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV1984)
Each man should ...
20
votes
3answers
1k views
How do Mormons view the warning in Revelation about adding to the book?
How do Mormons interpret the following passage and justify the addition of the Book of Mormon to the canon of scripture?
Revelation 22:18-19 (NIV)
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the ...
