The Bible is a canonical set of books representing holy Scripture believed to be the inspired Word of God.
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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 ...
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2answers
956 views
Where do the names of books of Bible come from?
Where does the name of each book come from?
(I am not a Christian and this should be treated like a novice question.)
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4answers
538 views
Is it possible for a human to stop sinning? (Is X a sinner?) [closed]
It's a familiar tale.
The Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman caught in adultery. They asked if she should be stoned. Jesus (after a bit) said "Let him that is without sin among you first cast the ...
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6answers
688 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 ...
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2answers
2k views
Who were Jannes and Jambres?
2 Timothy 3v8
"Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected."
Who ...
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2answers
180 views
By what mechanism could the Bible be inerrant?
For those who believe in the inerrancy of the Bible (or those who understand the positions of those who do), how can the Bible have this status given all the opportunities for any message delivered by ...
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1answer
119 views
Are today's Catholics encouraged to study the Bible at home?
How do Catholics view personal scripture study? Are members of the congregation encouraged to do any studying at home?
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7answers
9k views
Does the act of sex constitute marriage in God's eyes?
I came across this verse today (bold added):
1 Corinthians 6:15-17 (NASB)
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them ...
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6answers
696 views
Is it possible for The Bible to contain errors?
For those who profess to follow the word of Christ, everyone agrees that the Bible is the infallible word of God as transcribed by many different men compiled together in one book. But for this ...
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2answers
168 views
How are verses referenced?
How are Bible verses referenced? For example what is the meaning of: Revelation 21:5 (NIV)?
Are there any other methods to reference a verse?
(I am not a Christian and this should be treated like a ...
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2answers
293 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.
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3answers
106 views
Criteria for translation
I know there are a TON of translations out there and that some people prefer things like King James Only. But I was wondering: What are some good criteria for choosing a translation and why?
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5answers
2k views
Why did the apostle John call himself, “the disciple whom Jesus loved”?
John refers to himself, on at least four occasions, as "the disciple whom Jesus loved"? (John 13:23, 19:26, 21:7 & 21:20).
Why is this? It seems a bit arrogant, especially as Jesus loved the ...
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2answers
236 views
Can we trust the Septuagint?
I've previously used the Apostolic Bible for digging deeper into the meanings of passages. However, I've found that some passages in the Old Testament make no sense compared to the modern ...
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1answer
6k views
In what countries is it illegal to own a Bible (the most banned book in the world)?
It is my understanding that in many countries of the world, it is illegal to print or own a copy of the Bible. Is there any compilation of which countries have banned the Bible?
As an aside, if you ...
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6answers
545 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 ...
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2answers
292 views
Does the Bible support the concept of male spiritual headship?
What I mean by this is a little beyond "Wives submit to your husbands." In Joshua 7:22-25 Joshua stones and burns the entire family of Achen, including his children, after he sins by keeping back ...
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1answer
193 views
On what do Catholics base their doctrine of the eternal virginity of Mary?
I understand that the Catholic Church teaches that Mary is the eternal virgin in that she neither had sexual relations with Joseph (or any other man) either before or after the miraculous conception ...
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1answer
749 views
How can I tell the difference between the Moral law and other laws in the old testament?
Many Christians believe that there are three kinds of law in the Old Testament:
The moral law that declares how man should live.
The civil law that was the legal structures for the ancient nation of ...
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1answer
108 views
Does the Bible itself give us clues about which parts to interpret literally and which figuratively?
I know that the question may seem a little bit self-referential but I ask it anyway:
There is often great controversy among Christians what parts of the Bible are to be interpreted literally and what ...
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6answers
942 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 ...
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3answers
671 views
Should a Protestant read the apocryphal books of the Bible?
The Protestant Bible has 66 books. Should we read apocryphal books (e.g. 1&2 Maccabees and Gospel of Thomas)?
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5answers
238 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, ...
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3answers
2k views
Who never died in the Bible?
I know Jesus is risen and that whole story, but when I was much younger I remember hearing about some people who never actually died in the Bible. Who are these people and how did they leave this ...
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3answers
295 views
Did Jesus die earlier than expected? [closed]
The Bible seems to indicate that Jesus died before the others that were being crucified.
John 19:31-33 (NIV)
31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. ...
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4answers
432 views
How does entertainment glorify God at all?
In the modern context, we have many things to keep ourselves entertained and motivated to do work - music, videos, movies, games, magazines etc.
According to 1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV
Whether ...
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4answers
145 views
Profanity in entertainment?
Many comedians nowadays rely on the use of profanity to enhance their comedy. This is also present in movies and television (although limited).
I know the bible says not to let "unwholesome talk" ...
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9answers
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What does the Bible say about life before conception?
I recently spoke with a friend of mine and he was wondering if we are alive before conception. We know that there is life after death according to the Bible, but what does the Bible say about "life" ...
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3answers
208 views
What is the case for interpreting the Genesis creation account literally?
I think we can all agree that the entire Bible is not meant to be taken literally. Consider the Song of Solomon (what would his lover look like if we take it literally?) or the book of Revelation.
...
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6answers
7k views
What is the significance of Jesus seeing Nathanael under the fig tree?
In John 1:46-50, Nathanael is introduced to Jesus for the first time.
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son ...
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3answers
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If God set the maximum age to 120, then how could Jacob be 130 years old?
At the time of Noah, God said:
Genesis 6:3 NIV
Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans
forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and
twenty years.”
...
12
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2answers
262 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 ...
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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 ...
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Why is “Jesus” all caps in Matthew 1:21 and Luke 1:31?
It's only in the King James and the New King James, but why? Jesus' name is all caps:
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people from their ...
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4answers
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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.
...
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4answers
703 views
How should Christians act toward non-Christians?
How should Christians act toward non-Christians?
One example I have found is 2 Corinthians 6:14 [KJV].
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath ...
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4answers
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Why did Jesus use the expression, “I tell you the truth”?
I used to think nothing of it until someone said, "it makes you wonder what he was saying the rest of the time".
Now I don't believe for one moment Jesus was a liar, but why did He use that strange ...
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5answers
409 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 ...
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8answers
2k views
Is it possible to be a good Christian and be psychic at the same time?
I've seen many conflicting biblical statements that have been interpreted as condemning psychics and others that promote using "gifts from God". How can a psychic reconcile such a gift without ...
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2answers
154 views
Is it right for a church to be wealthy?
Jesus preached that the faithful should give up their wealth and worldly possessions and spend a humble existence in servitude of God. A church must have a certain amount of wealth in order to ...
11
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2answers
159 views
Can the Word of God and God's wisdom be beneficial to an unbeliever?
More specifically I'm wondering in the way that we go to the Bible and to God about concerns or issues that we are facing for instruction and wisdom, can we think biblically about another's concerns ...
11
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4answers
142 views
Does the Bible give any reason as to why its content is sometimes difficult to interpret?
As evidenced by this site, and the divisions between various Christian denominations, there seems to be a lot of different ways some passages in the bible can be interpreted.
One example is ...
11
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1answer
264 views
Are these Bible verses referencing UFOs?
Ezekiel 1:16:
This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel.
Exodus 13:22:
...
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3answers
232 views
Are there “rational” criteria for which books appear in the Bible?
When I looked into "canon criticism" or "canonology" a while back, I came across numerous (alleged) criteria for whether a book is/was included in canon, such as "Old Testament books had to be written ...
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2answers
177 views
Is there any account of a religious marriage ceremony in the scripture?
I was studying the Puritans recently, and discovered something interesting about William Bradford. According to Wikipedia, he married his wife in a civil ceremony, because "the Separatists could find ...
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2answers
3k views
How long did it take to form the Bible?
How long did it take to collect all of the writings that eventually formed the first version of the Bible? In other words, starting with when the first writing was created (i'll say when it was ...
11
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1answer
319 views
Is there a hierarchy in the Trinity?
It seems that there is some form of hierarchy within the Trinity.
For example, these passages seem to indicate that the Holy Spirit is subservient to the Father and Jesus:
John 14:26 (NIV)
...
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1answer
557 views
Is there a Biblical Ban on Gambling?
Most churches and many Christians I know are strongly against gambling, but I can't recall any passage in the Bible that declares that we shouldn't gamble. Does such a passage exist?
To clarify ...
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1answer
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The symbolic use of “horn”
It has proved difficult to find an answer to this question
A quick concordance search of "horn" and you will find many different uses for the word. My center-column notes say "strength." But why? ...
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2answers
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Should Genesis 1:2 be translated “And the earth became without form…”?
The Gap theory seems to be based largely on translating Genesis 1:2 differently from the usual translations, eg. KJV:
1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
1:2 And the ...
