The Bible is a canonical set of books representing holy Scripture believed to be the inspired Word of God.
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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: ...
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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
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4answers
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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 ...
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9answers
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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" ...
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1answer
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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
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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 ...
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4answers
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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 ...
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3answers
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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 ...
9
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1answer
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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 ...
6
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2answers
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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 ...
23
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2answers
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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 ...
34
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8answers
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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) ...
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4answers
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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?
...
8
votes
4answers
356 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
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7answers
394 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 ...
10
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4answers
584 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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2answers
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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 ...
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5answers
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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 ...
11
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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.
...
7
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2answers
225 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
299 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 ...
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3answers
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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?
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3answers
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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
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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.
...
12
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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, ...
10
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5answers
575 views
What does it mean to interpret the Bible literally?
Here are some common definitions from a dictionary for ‘literal’:
Being in accordance with, conforming to, or upholding the exact or primary meaning of a word or words.
Word for word; verbatim: a ...
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5answers
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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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1answer
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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
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
480 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
400 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 ...
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7answers
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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 ...
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5answers
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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 ...
8
votes
6answers
481 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 ...
7
votes
6answers
645 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
442 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 ...
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5answers
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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 ...
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3answers
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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?
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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 ...
12
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5answers
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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 ...
12
votes
2answers
264 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 ...
8
votes
1answer
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How many 'Books' never made it to the Bible (Old and New Testament)?
Alternatively:
How many books were included in early Bible compilations and then later removed?
A book in the bible, to my understanding, is one of the many named divisions in the Old and New ...
2
votes
4answers
229 views
Christian Position on the meaning of Faith
We are told, 'The just (upright) shall live by faith.' So I have a question for the Christians here. How do you understand faith? This does not have to be strictly biblical (since the scripture does ...
20
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7answers
378 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 ...
42
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10answers
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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
348 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
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5answers
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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
179 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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7answers
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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 ...
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12answers
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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 ...
