That set of books representing the canon of Scripture, believed to be the inspired Word of God
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?
...
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 ...
40
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 ...
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) ...
28
votes
14answers
2k views
Does God have a sense of humor? Does he laugh?
I've always heard "God must have a sense of humor because he created X". Usually X is "the platypus" or "me".
Also, it should be evident that Jesus, being human, had a sense of humor. It's part of ...
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 ...
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" ...
26
votes
5answers
2k views
Who were the “giants” mentioned in the Bible?
I've come across several verses in the Bible that speak of "giants". For example:
Gen 6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the ...
24
votes
7answers
3k views
Why did Jesus protest before performing his first miracle?
In John 2:1-12 we read of Christ's first miracle, turning water into wine. Before he performs his miracle, though, he says to his mother:
“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour ...
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 ...
22
votes
5answers
953 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 ...
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 ...
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 : ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
20
votes
4answers
203 views
Hand Picked Bible Applications
I understand that my question pokes at a sensitive area, but being a nonreligious person in a largely Christian region, I find it extremely dissatisfying to leave such a core aspect of my neighbor's ...
20
votes
5answers
2k views
Mental Illness vs. Demon Possession
Mental illness is a fairly recent idea (in terms of human history). As far as I know, the concept did not exist at all at the time the Bible was written.
I have heard some Christians speculate that ...
19
votes
3answers
597 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?
18
votes
9answers
2k views
What is “The Parable of the Shrewd Manager” about?
The Parable of the Shrewd Manager (full text below) is perhaps one of the hardest parables to interpret. At first glance it seems to be about rewarding dishonesty!
What lesson is Jesus teaching His ...
18
votes
7answers
2k views
What are the practical applications of “two will become one flesh”?
Mark 10:8 (NIV)
and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
What does this mean for a marriage? What are the practical applications of this? Obviously, this is ...
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?
17
votes
3answers
440 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 ...
17
votes
2answers
158 views
Does the Bible give any rules for music?
Does the Bible provide any rules or even any indication about what kind or style of music is appropriate, both for worship and in general?
17
votes
5answers
3k views
What is the meaning of “Let the dead bury their dead”
In Mathew 8:21-23 says "And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
And when he ...
17
votes
2answers
804 views
Interpretation of the scripture “One Lord, one faith, one baptism?”
Ephesians 4:5 states there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism." Some Christians interpret this to mean that a single denomination (with its beliefs, doctrines, and practices) constitutes the "one ...
16
votes
5answers
418 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 ...
16
votes
3answers
1k views
What does the bible say about interracial marriages?
This has been a popular topic of debate, at least where I live. As Armenians, we like to...discourage marriages with spouses of a different ethnicity or nationality, simply in order to carry the ...
16
votes
4answers
1k views
What does the Bible say about Luck?
I'm curious what the Bible says about Luck. Is this something that is a real occurrence or is every little detail ordained and controlled by God (fate).
I searched biblegateway and did not find ...
16
votes
4answers
4k views
Do we actually know that Jesus was a carpenter?
I was about to say this in another discussion somewhere else, and wondered: do we know that? As in "it's mentioned or at least hinted at in $book $chapter:$verse"?
Or is it just a very likely ...
16
votes
12answers
2k 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 ...
16
votes
4answers
709 views
How ambitious should a Christian be?
According to Luke 16:13 (ESV):
No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God ...
16
votes
4answers
332 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
2answers
322 views
Is Knuth's 3:16 project unique?
Famous computer scientist Donald Knuth is also the author of 3:16 Bible Texts Illuminated (A-R Editions, 1990). This is a tour of the Bible using the methodology of "stratified random sampling", where ...
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 ...
15
votes
6answers
710 views
Do not allow a sorceress/witch to live?
I saw a witch a while back being mistreated, which deeply troubled me. I am strong proponent for Luke 6:31.
I am familiar with Exodus 22:18 which usually translates to something like: Do not allow a ...
15
votes
4answers
2k views
What does the Bible say about Science?
It's a debate that atheists seem to thrive on. Fact vs. Faith.
Personally, I believe in a co-existence of the two, but I'm interested in what the Bible has to say about us learning about our ...
15
votes
7answers
557 views
What is the significance of the number 666?
People always make jokes about the number 666, or how it's evil, etc. What is the basis of this, and is it really something that Christians should be concerned with?
15
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?
15
votes
5answers
549 views
Why is God asking questions or appearing uncertain in the Bible if He's omniscient?
Is God omniscient? lists all the passages were it is written that God is omniscient.
Reading other passages, I found a few things that seemingly contradict this:
In Genesis 3:8-13 God asks Adam and ...
15
votes
5answers
3k views
Why did Jesus refer to Gentiles as dogs?
The passage below raises two questions in my mind but I suspect they both have the same answer. My questions are:
Why did Jesus at first refuse to speak to the Canaanite woman? We know He had no ...
15
votes
3answers
246 views
How can the Son not know what the Father knows?
Matthew 24:36 (NLT)
Mark 13:32 (NLT)
36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father ...
15
votes
5answers
289 views
What is the Biblical support for Purgatory?
Exactly as the title asks; where do Catholics get their Scriptural support for the idea of Purgatory? To be more specific, how I think of Purgatory (which may be incorrect) is that it's a temporary ...
15
votes
1answer
544 views
The voice of God vs the voice of Satan
I listen to heavy music and I have had people tell me on numerous occasions the vocals sound like the voice of Satan, even when the band is clearly Christian (see For Today if you are curious). Movies ...
14
votes
7answers
2k views
Are there any examples of sarcasm in the bible?
The closest in tone to sarcasm, though somewhat different, that I am aware of is John 1:45-46
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the ...
14
votes
6answers
501 views
In what order should the books of the (Protestant) Bible be read? [closed]
The Bible is probably one of the most historically significant books for the Western civilization, so it should be a worthwhile read for many a literature geek.
In which order should it be read, ...
14
votes
3answers
294 views
Where does the Bible stand on vegetarianism?
The subject of vegetarianism (or dietary recommendations in general) appears to me to be a bit ambivalent in the Bible.
For example, Genesis 1:29 , Romans 14:21 and Isaiah 65:21-25 appear to endorse ...
14
votes
3answers
814 views
Why do Protestants allow contraception?
The Catholic Church is strongly against contraception. Most Protestants nowadays accept it; I gather it was less common in the past. Of course it's possible that Protestants have just given in to ...
