That set of books representing the canon of Scripture, believed to be the inspired Word of God
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10answers
437 views
Do 'Bible Christians' find paraphrasing the Bible distasteful?
This might be a meta question, but I really mean it in a scholarly way. Does paraphrasing the Bible for conversational use make Sola Scriptura folks cringe?
I'm not even sure what my Church thinks ...
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1answer
269 views
Did the Romans not breaking Jesus' legs fulfill a prophecy?
I seem to remember that Jesus having already died and not needing his legs broken fulfilled an OT prophecy.
Where was this prophecy recorded and what did it say?
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3answers
534 views
What is the interpretation of the bow in the cloud after the Flood?
After the Flood abates, God reassures Noah that it was a one time event:
Genesis 9:13 (ESV)
I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
The ...
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4answers
561 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?
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4answers
167 views
Is the Bible an inexhaustible source?
"I have heard many pastors on online and in sermons make the statement that the bible is inexhaustible. I am trying to wrap my mind around that. Isn't it a finite book. can't you know what it says ...
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2answers
938 views
How could Jesus be born during the reign of Herod, and when Quirinius was governor of Syria, if those periods were not contemporary?
In Matthew 2, it makes it clear that Jesus was conceived during the reign of Herod and was a young child when Herod died.
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in ...
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2answers
2k views
How many Bibles--not translations--are there?
I've noticed recently on this site there is a push to enforce the rule that, in one's questions, one ought to state "which Bible" one is interested in learning about--whether that is the "Catholic ...
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4answers
328 views
Did the gospels really copy from each other?
In school, I learned that the different gospels did copy a lot from each other. This was the explanation for why there are so many overlapping events between the gospels.
Is there substantial ...
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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 ...
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7answers
599 views
How does 1 John 2:19 fit with the teaching that Christians can lose their salvation
A common belief (not my own, but fairly common) is that believers may lose or abandon their salvation. A number of Bible verses seem to contradict this teaching, but in particular, 1 John 2:19 stands ...
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4answers
908 views
Why does Jesus speak of himself in the third person?
There are a number of places where Jesus refers to himself in the third person. The most common is when he uses the title 'Son of Man' (by my count, there are some 78 times Jesus uses that title in ...
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3answers
281 views
Is there any correlation between national prosperity and percentage of Christians?
I have heard of anecdotal evidence suggesting that the proportion of Christians in a population directly (positively) impacts national prosperity. In other words, the more Christians in a nation, the ...
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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.
...
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1answer
171 views
Who was Theophilus?
Acts 1:1
"In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach"
Who was he?
Is it also possible that, since Theophilus means, "friend of God", as Richard ...
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votes
1answer
120 views
Who is Immanuel?
In Isaiah 7:13-17
13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will ...
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2answers
941 views
Will God destroy the earth again?
A friend of mine once said that, "God said he would never destroy the earth again." I assume she was referencing the time of Noah's Ark, where the Great Flood wiped out the entire world.
I was ...
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2answers
421 views
Does “Where ever there is more than one of you gathered in My name” apply to the Internet?
I mean I'd like to think so...and people communicate on this site about Christianity, but I was wondering if a virtual gathering counted as well.
The verse I'm referring to is Matthew 18:20:
20 ...
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2answers
203 views
What is the Biblical and historical basis for Christian pacifism?
My understanding is that early Christians were generally pacifists. Today (at least in the U.S.) Christian pacifists are a bit hard to come by. Many quote Romans 13:1-3 to support Christian ...
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2answers
1k views
What does the parable of the Fig Tree mean?
Luke 13:6-9 (NIV)
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in
his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find
any. 7 So he said to the man who took ...
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2answers
204 views
Where is the dead body in Luke 17?
Jesus talks about the coming of the Kingdom of God in Luke 17:20-37. This passage raises four related questions for me:
Is this talking about the Rapture?
Where is "a dead body", that Jesus mentions ...
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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 ...
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4answers
697 views
What is the message of Matthew 9:5?
Matthew 9:1-8 (NIV)
1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, ...
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3answers
510 views
Why is the word Lord in all Capital letters in the Old Testament but not in the new?
My friend asked me the other day why the word Lord is in all capital letters in the old testament but not the new testament? I tend to lean towards the fact that the old testament was written in ...
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2answers
278 views
Does the Protestant Bible mention Satan punishing non-believers after death?
I have always heard people say that when you die and haven't accepted Christ and go to hell, that you're going to be punished by Satan, and we have this great plethora of contemporary culture showing ...
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4answers
323 views
Biblical arguments for Universal salvation
Universal salvation, or universal reconciliation is the belief that God will eventually reconcile Himself with every immortal soul. That is, everyone will be saved. This doctrine has a long history. ...
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9answers
923 views
Does the Bible espouse moral absolutism or moral relativism?
I believe that throughout both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the Bible espouses moral absolutism.
Yet, I recently read on this site a response to a question about slavery:
As stated, ...
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2answers
470 views
What is the true purpose of animals?
I'm no vegetarian, and I enjoy my fair share of steak. The idea of vegetarianism always intrigued me, because in my eyes animals are to be eaten by humans for nourishment.
Obviously animals serve a ...
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2answers
364 views
What is meant by “Get behind me Satan”?
Considering
Matthew 16:23:
Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Why did Jesus ...
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2answers
3k views
Why is the second set of ten commandments different?
The first stone tablets with the ten commandments were smashed by Moses, so God created a second set of stone tablets that were supposed to contain the same commandments as the smashed tablets. But ...
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1answer
2k views
Into how many languages has the Bible been translated?
I understand that the Bible has been translated into more languages than any other book in the world. What is the current total of languages into which the Bible, or part of the Bible, has been ...
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2answers
272 views
Will curses have any impact or effect on Christians?
Christians believe that Jesus saved us by His blood. Since God is the only true God and through Jesus we have victory over Satan, it is claimed that we do not have to fear on curses.
But I hear many ...
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3answers
143 views
What is the purpose of describing who is son of who?
In many excerpts of the Bible one can find an extended description of a person and his respective descendents. What's the purpose of this? Is it supposed to give an idea of how much time passed ...
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3answers
430 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 ...
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3answers
631 views
Are there any atheists in the Bible?
Do any people in the Bible self identify as atheists?
Or are they all theists, differing in which god they follow?
Apparently at least some atheists existed, since David had heard of them:
The ...
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3answers
2k views
What is so special about sitting at God's “right hand”?
This concept seems to show up in a few places:
Psalms 110:1 (NIV)
The LORD says to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”
...
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1answer
384 views
What does CS Lewis mean by True Myth?
I've heard the phrase and even used it before, in potentially dangerous and unintelligent ways. But what did CS Lewis mean when he came to the realization that Christianity was not just Myth, but ...
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2answers
177 views
Is 1 Corinthians 7:26-40 not the 'Word of God'?
Paul makes clear in 1 Corinthians 7:25 that the following section is not a word from God but his (Paul's) opinion:
Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my ...
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1answer
800 views
What does the Bible say about the appearance of angels?
In Christian art, angels are often depicted as winged human-like creatures. However, I'm curious if there is any justification for this in the Bible? I've sometimes heard that there isn't, so that's ...
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1answer
122 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?
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2answers
146 views
What sources are used for the Christian Bible translations?
When I was looking in the store to buy a bible, I noticed that the different bible translations not only differ in their style of translation, but also in the sources they use.
What are the sources ...
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1answer
83 views
What was Satan's view on the authority of Scripture?
Does the Bible give us any indication about what Satan's own view of the Scriptures and their authority as divine testimony is? Does the way he uses it or the way he responds to those who use it tell ...
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2answers
231 views
Does the Bible say anything about what demons *are*?
I've thought all my life that demons (and evil spirits) were fallen angels, but I recently encountered the viewpoint that these demons are actually the souls of men who have already died but wouldn't ...
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2answers
207 views
What is the theological import behind genealogies?
So, several places in the bible are just lists of names:
Genesis 5
I Chronicles 1 - 10
Matthew 1
Luke 3
all come to mind.
In Matthew 1, in particular, I have pulled sermons out of the only four ...
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6answers
457 views
Is it wrong that Jesus is usually portrayed as European looking?
Is it wrong that Jesus is usually portrayed as European looking, having certain facial and bodily features (muscular)?
Would most people follow Him if he did not look white or was heavy set?
It ...
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votes
4answers
2k views
What does it mean “born of water” in John 3:5?
John 3:5 (NKJV)
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of
water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Does "born of water" means baptism i.e., ...
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4answers
353 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 ...
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1answer
147 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 ...
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4answers
441 views
What are the benefits of a red letter edition Bible?
Red letter edition Bibles seem to be popular in the US. The difference to a plain Bible is that words of Jesus are printed in red. The first red-letter Bible was published in 1900, and the practice ...
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3answers
316 views
Do Fetuses have souls? Is the aquisition of a soul instantenous or continuous?
Christian fundamentalists argue against abortion on the grounds that fetuses have souls. The argument starts with two premises: that people have souls while animals do not, and that the right to life ...
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3answers
674 views
Why did God use humans to write the Bible?
God's on record for doing a lot of things directly - causing floods, making humans, etc. etc. - but chose to have his word written through people instead of imparting his wisdom himself.
It seems ...
