How a practice or belief may be derived from Scripture alone.
6
votes
3answers
158 views
Who is “Lucifer” in Isaiah 14?
In almost every case I've heard Isaiah 14:12-15 quoted or preached about, I'm told that these are the words of Satan in his rebellion against God.
Isaiah 14:12-15 (KJV):
12How art thou fallen ...
6
votes
3answers
298 views
Arguments for prosperity gospel
Prosperity gospel, as I understand it, is the teaching that God wants to bless us with wealth and health. I can't really see this in the Bible. For example, Paul writes in 2 Cor 12:7-10 (ESV):
7 ...
6
votes
2answers
287 views
Counterarguments to “KJV-only”?
Some people believe the King James Version of the Bible is the only version English-speakers should be using, as it is the only inspired translation. (This is referred to as "KJV-onlyism.")
...
6
votes
3answers
430 views
When were the angels created?
I was preparing a lesson for Sunday school and came across this passage in the teaching material:
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, who ...
6
votes
2answers
622 views
What is the biblical basis for baptism by sprinkling?
As noted in the other question, there are two modes of water baptism of which I am familiar--immersion and sprinkling. As far as I know Catholics practice sprinkling along with many Protestant ...
6
votes
3answers
164 views
Is there biblical reference to Michael, the arch angel - Role and being?
I am looking for the biblical references to Michael the angel ? And what are/were his/her role? There are some christian groups that attributes Michael same with Jesus. Is there any biblical ...
6
votes
5answers
1k views
What scripture is used to support a “Pre-Tribulation Rapture”?
CLARIFICATION: For those who believe there will be an event in the "end times" in which believers will be "taken up" to meet Jesus "in the clouds", and that there is yet to be a "Great Tribulation", ...
6
votes
1answer
55 views
Where does the idea of a water canopy come from in the Bible, and is there scientific evidence to support it?
Some Creationists have asserted that in pre-flood world that there may have been some sort of water vapor canopy that perhaps doubled the air pressure and caused things to be much healthier than they ...
6
votes
1answer
95 views
Is there an explanation for pre-humans from a biblical point of view?
Does the bible/ Christians / the church (any church) say anything about pre-humans, not just neanderthals, but all the other kinds of pre-humans?
Points to consider.
I read in a National ...
6
votes
2answers
212 views
What is the Biblical basis for the Catholic teaching that infant baptism cleanses from original sin?
The Catholic Church, possibly the Orthodox Churches, and even some Protestant churches practice Infant Baptism. However, I understand that Catholicism teaches that infant baptism cleanses the infant ...
6
votes
2answers
221 views
What is the Protestant argument against the doctrine of Purgatory?
The Roman Catholic Church teaches the idea of Purgatory, which is defined by Wikipedia as follows:
Purgatory is, according to Catholic teaching, the state or place of
purification or temporary ...
6
votes
1answer
678 views
What is the basis for Topical Preaching?
Related:
What is the basis for Systematic Expository Preaching?
Topical preaching is rather self-explanatory - the preacher picks a topic, then finds bible passages or verses related to or ...
6
votes
2answers
587 views
Are the twelve spiritual disciplines biblically sound?
I was reading about Renovaré and came across the "twelve spiritual disciplines": meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance, and ...
6
votes
2answers
137 views
What is the Biblical basis for 'term eldership'?
Some churches who appoint elders do so for a term (3 years is typical from what I have seen). Other churches ordain elders for life. Is there a Biblical basis for ordaining elders for a term?
6
votes
1answer
136 views
What is the Biblical basis for the special mediatorial position of the Pope, Cardinals, etc in the Catholic church?
Following-up a previous question, what Biblical basis does the Catholic church claim for the special role of Priests, Cardinals, and Popes in the structure of the church?
6
votes
1answer
114 views
Honor and solidarity
Ideally, one would both be able to be honorable (i.e. to do the right thing especially with regard to others) and be in solidarity with relatives and friends (i.e. to support them, especially when ...
6
votes
2answers
45 views
Were there implicit laws not referenced in the Acts 15 letter to gentile believers?
In Acts 29 the Jewish Christian Elders in Jerusalem sent a letter to the gentile believers throughout the world, instructing them to be at peace, and stating that they were not required to follow ...
6
votes
3answers
203 views
What is the Biblical basis against the Calvinist doctrine of Irresistible Grace?
The question of what the Biblical basis is in favor of Irresistible Grace has been asked here. However, the question regarding the Biblical argument against it does not seem to have been addressed ...
5
votes
3answers
462 views
Can a non-Christian sell his soul?
This Freakonomics podcast had an interesting discussion about a guy who challenged an atheist to sell his soul. The guy who bought claimed to be a Christian. The trope, of course, goes back a long way ...
5
votes
5answers
910 views
How should a Christian put a decision in God's hands if there is no logical answer?
Lets say a Christian is in a position where he must make a hard decision (assume it has to either be a yes or no by a deadline) and each one has it's negatives (more negatives than positives) how ...
5
votes
2answers
129 views
How are devout Christians viewed by other believers, when they are not delivered from “evil”?
If a devout Christian is not "delivered" in this life, how are they viewed by other Christians?
For example, a black Christian pastor in segregated America, who truly loves the Lord, is killed by ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
What are the Biblical reasons for getting married?
The basis for this question comes from a conversation I had with a friend. She said to me 'The only reason that two people should get together and get married is because they can do more for the ...
5
votes
5answers
291 views
Why is rejection of the Trinity heresy, and not just wrong?
There are plenty of instances where Christians systematically believe something false and directly contradicting biblical teachings, yet they are not deemed to be so errant as to disqualify them from ...
5
votes
2answers
631 views
Can Angels die?
In Daniel, there is an angel who has to fight for nearly three weeks in order to deliver his message, and isn't able to overcome until Michael intervenes. If there was a battle this hard, it makes me ...
5
votes
1answer
281 views
Counterarguments to “Numerology”?
Background: I am interested in learning more about numerology. In this post I am specifically interested in the arguments used by those who reject this doctrine.
My current impression of what ...
5
votes
4answers
480 views
Does every sin affect other people?
Clearly Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden affected everyone. And clearly if you murder someone, or commit adultery, it affects others. But are there sins which do not affect other people?
What I am ...
5
votes
3answers
285 views
What are the Biblical arguments against modalism?
Modalism, or Sabellianism, is the belief that the three persons of the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) are simply three "roles" or "modes" of the same person.
This view ...
5
votes
2answers
344 views
What's the problem with groves?
In Exodus 34:13, Deuteronomy 7:5, Deuteronomy 12:3, God states laws against idolatry, and God says to cut down or burn groves:
Exodus 34:13 KJV
But ye shall destroy their altars, break their
...
5
votes
2answers
979 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?
5
votes
4answers
156 views
Does the Bible give us any indication of why God created such a vast universe with so much stuff in it?
We all know the universe is enormous, and this isn't the place to debate that. But why does it need to be so enormous? The only celestial bodies that could be counted as truly necessary are the sun, ...
5
votes
2answers
129 views
What is the origin of the Doctrine of Trinity?
My understanding is that "Trinity" is not is not used in the Christian Bible to define the three hypostases: God, Christ, and Holy Spirit. What then is the historical origin of the Doctrine of the ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Should a woman cover her head in Christian worship?
Traditionally in many Christian churches the women would cover their heads in worship citing 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. Why has this practice stopped, and why has it stopped mostly in the last 70 years? ...
5
votes
3answers
868 views
What is the meaning of God's omni-powers?
It is a common understanding among Christians I know that God has these four attributes:
Omnipresence
Omniscience
Omnipotence
Omnibenevolence
A grammatical interpretation would explain them as ...
5
votes
1answer
369 views
What is the basis for the idea of 7,000 years of human history, expressed by Larkin and others?
Clarence Larkin projects a 7,000 year timeline of human history with each 1,000 years tied to a day of creation.
What is the doctrinal or biblical basis for this theory?
5
votes
4answers
400 views
Did Adam and Eve end up getting saved?
After answering a recent question, it occurred to me to ask: Is there any biblical evidence regarding whether Adam and Eve have been redeemed in some fashion (and are thus going to Heaven/the New ...
5
votes
1answer
337 views
Biblical Support for a Paul Washer Quote
Paul Washer often uses the following quote
The last thing the accursed person will hear when they take their first step into hell, is all of creation standing to its feet and applauding God ...
5
votes
1answer
169 views
What is the scriptural basis for liberation theology?
Gustavo Gutierrez is the theologian most associated with the concept of Liberation Theology, a theology that is highly popular amongst liberals and South Americans. Some of its main points include:
...
5
votes
1answer
266 views
What is the biblical basis for Postmillennialism?
Related:
What are the differences between the different millenialisms?
What is the biblical basis for Historical Premillennialism?
What is the biblical basis for Dispensational ...
5
votes
3answers
130 views
Is God omniscient? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Biblical evidence for omnipotence/omniscience
I've always thought of God as all-knowing (omniscient).
However, when formulating another question, I realized that my ...
5
votes
4answers
99 views
What is the basis for the position that the woman of Revelation 17 refers to Rome?
Revelation 17 speaks about a woman, but it seems likely that it is figurative rather than literal. She is attributed with the name "Babylon the Great". However, Matthew Henry and other commentators ...
5
votes
2answers
189 views
What is the basis for Theonomy?
From Wikipedia,
Theonomy, from theos (god) and nomos (law), is the state of being
governed by God or in accord with divine law.
It's also essentially the view that all types of government ...
5
votes
2answers
177 views
What is the biblical basis for baptism by immersion?
There are two modes of water baptism of which I am familiar--immersion and sprinkling. As far as I know Catholics practice sprinkling along with many Protestant traditions, although many other ...
5
votes
2answers
95 views
Is there any Biblical basis for “Do Least Harm” or “Do Greatest Good”?
At one point in The Reason For God, Timothy Keller talks about how to pick which action to choose in a tough dilemma. He gave the example of a man having borrowed tools from another guy...and said guy ...
5
votes
1answer
133 views
Justification of Offertories according to the Regulative Principle of Worship
I was in a church today that considers itself to hold strictly to the regulative principle of worship (that which is not explicitly commanded for public worship in Scripture is implicitly condemned) ...
5
votes
1answer
65 views
What biblical and historical support is there for the practice of child communion.
About seven years ago my wife and I (who are childless) left our old church and set out to find the best church we could in the area. We ended up in a church that practices paedo (child) communion. ...
4
votes
6answers
491 views
Is it valid to use grape juice at Communion?
Given that wine was used by Christ at the last supper. It is valid to use grape juice in the remembrance of the Lord's Table?
4
votes
3answers
991 views
What does Satan look like?
Many people have seen the Classical depiction of Satan in paintings and statues, but what does scripture say about what Satan looks like?
4
votes
3answers
315 views
Did Jesus perform miracles as a child?
I heard that there are some early books which tell of Jesus performing some miracles when he was a child. What are those books? And what are the miracles described in those books?
Are descriptions ...
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?
...
4
votes
5answers
150 views
What is the biblical argument against the claim that Jesus is just “a god”, but not “God Almighty”?
As I understand it, Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Jesus is a god, but not God Almighty. However, this goes against the teaching of the majority of Christian denominations and certainly evangelical ...
