That set of books representing the canon of Scripture, believed to be the inspired Word of God
16
votes
2answers
321 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
975 views
What is giving up free will and giving it to Jesus mean?
Is there a majority opinion as to what giving up free will and giving it to Jesus means? What does this action look like? Are there any real life examples?
2
votes
1answer
208 views
Is Galatians 6:8-9 teaching works salvation?
My understanding of the relationship between works and salvation is that works are the inevitable fruit of salvation by grace (1 John 3:6, Matthew 7:16-18). And my understanding of perseverance is ...
3
votes
4answers
930 views
What does the Bible say about giving your life away for Jesus?
On a Christian radio station I constantly hear the phrase "to give your life away for Jesus" but they never say what that means.
I am very confused about this concept. Any clarification is helpful, ...
8
votes
6answers
453 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
156 views
What is agreed upon in all Christain denominations? [closed]
What are all the beliefs, doctrine, rules, etc. that are NOT in dispute by all the different Christian flavors and denominations? Is there anything considered consistent among all denominations?
...
8
votes
4answers
316 views
What is saving faith?
A common soteriological view among Evangelical Christians (such as myself) is that we are saved by grace, through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, this belief is usually accompanied by a ...
3
votes
2answers
178 views
What is the biblical basis against Sola Fide (salvation by faith alone, apart from works)
One of the key points of the Reformation was the doctrine of Sola Fide, that salvation is by faith alone, apart from works. This was a contrast from the doctrine of the Catholic church.
What, then, ...
10
votes
3answers
2k views
How does the Bible describe the gender roles?
Although the question could go all over the place I am looking to know how evangelicals define the role of a man and of a woman from the Bible.
What are the verses they use? Is there a short ...
5
votes
1answer
78 views
How does this fit in with “we are incapable of following the law”?
While reading through the Torah, the following verses caught my eye.
Deuteronomy 30:11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too
difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in ...
2
votes
1answer
123 views
Does believing in Christ activate God's word or just make us think and act different?
I am confused about what it really means to activate God's power in my life, which I heard my pastor say.
“But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord,
and with justice ...
12
votes
9answers
5k views
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" ...
4
votes
1answer
142 views
Will we experience heaven (or hell) with our consciousness?
In Christianity, is heaven something we will comprehend with the consciousness we have now? Will we be the same consciousness, brain and memories of this world, or is it just the energy of our soul ...
13
votes
7answers
8k 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
155 views
Where can I find Patristic Commentary on the Golden Calf incident?
Is there any extant pre-Schism (i.e. Before 1054 AD, when the Eastern and Western chueches anathematized each other) commentary on the golden calf incident of Exodus 32:1--6, and if so, where?
9
votes
1answer
381 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 ...
4
votes
3answers
141 views
What differences will being a Christian make in this life?
What are the differences being a Christian will make in this life (on earth not entrance into heaven or hell)?
Or is it just a group identity of a hopeful passage into Heaven upon the next life and ...
-1
votes
2answers
186 views
How is it that sinful people who do not believe, still get the blessings of the Lord?
Why do great things happen to unbelievers and even bad people?
In Church there is talk about blessings of the Lord for those who love Him, etc.
But what about those that are blessed that don't love ...
1
vote
4answers
343 views
Why doesn't the Bible tell us that Jesus was a virgin?
Christian religions constantly remind us that Mary was "forever virgin".
So why doesn't the Bible tell us that Jesus was also a virgin?
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 ...
9
votes
3answers
622 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 ...
3
votes
5answers
341 views
Does the Bible advocate ethical egoism?
Ethical egoism is the normative ethical position that moral agents ought to do what is in their own self-interest.
According to ethical egoism, I should only do what benefits me. That doesn't ...
4
votes
2answers
94 views
Does Christianity say that the events that happen to us are from God?
Does Christianity say that the events that happen to us are from God?
Is it all free will, or free will and God steps in to veto if he wants, or everything from God.
I ask because at the Church I go ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
Where did Jesus go after he arose from the grave?
In spirit of Easter coming up: Where did Jesus go after he arose from the grave?
He was spotted walking, then.....?
If he went to Heaven after rising, how long did he stay on earth and why not stay ...
7
votes
5answers
1k views
What does it mean “my God my God why have you forsaken me”?
What is the correlation between these two scripture?
Why Jesus felt forsaken if he knew what was going on?
Why was it mentioned in Old Testament as well as New Testament(in two places)?
Psalm ...
1
vote
3answers
181 views
Why haven't we revised the Bible in centuries? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What are the biblical arguments that the Bible canon is closed?
Preface: This question is not directed at a specific denomination.
Why haven't we revised the Bible in ...
8
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., ...
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, ...
2
votes
1answer
249 views
How can we apply relying on Jesus in situations where it appears we have to rely on ourselves?
I ask the question for a real reason. I would like to make more money to support my family and live in better conditions. I feel I have to rely on myself to go back to school, work hard and then get a ...
7
votes
2answers
189 views
Where do Catholics believe the historical narrative of the Bible begins?
I heard on the Relevant Radio recently that the Genesis account of the deluge is prehistorical. Meaning, it wasn't really recorded in histories the way other more specific accounts of historical ...
3
votes
3answers
247 views
How literally do you take and universally apply what Jesus said? [closed]
It seems like people take some Biblical passages word for word and live it, others not so much. I do not see many people giving their life away for Jesus or i.e. - Jesus said if you want to be perfect ...
5
votes
2answers
148 views
Was the first gospel written in Hebrew?
I found this website that basically says that some if not all of the gospel could have been written in Hebrew.
Is this theory supported today and by whom? Scholars and school of though would be ...
6
votes
1answer
287 views
Did Adam and Eve understand death? What did death mean to them?
This answer says that the serpent convinced Eve to eat the apple to avoid death by saying "surely not die".
Since they are described as the first people that existed, what could death mean to them?
6
votes
4answers
7k views
What does Jesus say about your spirit going to heaven?
I had an interesting question presented to me by a rector of a church. He asked me to find anywhere in the bible where Jesus spoke of your spirit going to heaven and then research those specific ...
-2
votes
1answer
105 views
How much of Genesis 2 *actually* occurred? [closed]
Building on this question...
How much of Genesis 2 actually occurred?
And how do historians/biblical scholars know that it occurred?
9
votes
9answers
919 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, ...
9
votes
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 ...
6
votes
1answer
87 views
Spirit of the Lord Upon David
1 Samuel 16:13 states that:
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his
brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully
upon David.
and in ...
5
votes
1answer
177 views
Who is Ba'al from the Old Testament?
Judges 6:31 NIV
But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to
plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him
shall be put to death by morning! If ...
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
826 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 ...
6
votes
2answers
385 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 ...
7
votes
2answers
889 views
Why do biblical names vary in different languages?
In my regional language (Tamil) biblical names vary from the actual names. I'm sure this is not only in my regional language only but also in other languages too. For instance Jesus' name is Yesu and ...
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
...
2
votes
2answers
149 views
What Bible passage contains Satan and God where God rebukes Satan?
I'm thinking of a Bible passage where the narrator has a dream/vision of being before the throne of God. Satan accuses him of being a sinner and unworthy and then God rebukes Satan and tells him to ...
5
votes
4answers
232 views
Resurrection importance in the Bible
I've often heard that if you lay out the books of the new testament chronologically by the order they were written, the story of Jesus' resurrection become more important. Some also say it become ...
3
votes
2answers
208 views
Can we know anything about Jesus' appearance from the Bible?
We know something about Jesus' clothes, that He wore sandals and that He wore a seamless undergarment.
Are there any other clues in the Bible as to His physical appearance?
1
vote
2answers
1k views
Supernatural beings in the Bible?
The Bible mentions a number of supernatural beings, starting with the most commonly known ones - God, angels, spirits, but there are also ones that appear less often, like witches (Witch of Endor), or ...
4
votes
2answers
6k views
Names of angels and fallen angels?
What angels and fallen angels were named in the Bible and what are they responsible for? I've also heard of works of theologians on that matter, can someone provide some references?
6
votes
4answers
425 views
New Testament inconsistency - opening of Jesus' tomb
As it was mentioned in this topic, reading the New Testament side by side, one can pick up apparent inconsistencies in the Gospels by various Disciples. As it was suggested that they should be ...
