How a practice or belief may be derived from Scripture alone.
0
votes
0answers
49 views
Biblical justification for Protestantism? [closed]
What are the specific biblical passages cited by early Protestant thinkers as a basis for the rejection of Papal authority?
4
votes
3answers
462 views
Biblical evidence for omnipotence/omniscience
Does GOD tell us in the bible he is almighty/omnipotent/omniscient, or are these attributes (greek?) philosophers and theologians merely ascribed to HIM?
2
votes
0answers
30 views
Is it possible the Biblical and scientific timelines for the age of the earth could link up? [duplicate]
In many versions of the Bible I have e read, in fiitnotes/endotes they say the Hebrew term for "day" could also mean "period of time." So if you took period of time to mean oh say, a billion years, ...
1
vote
5answers
1k views
Do angels still visit us on earth
I know that throughout the Bible Angels met with humans for very specific reasons. An obvious example can be found in Luke 1:26-38. Gabriel speaks to Mary and informs her she will give birth to a son ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Where will believers spend eternity?
Since Jesus said, "No man goeth into Heaven, but He who hath come from Heaven," John 3:13. Where then is the place that Jesus will prepare for us...that we will be with for eternity?
12
votes
6answers
3k views
Does the Bible condemn white lies?
Orthodox views on it state that any sort of lie is a sin by itself. More liberal Christians will say that it doesn't really mean that much provided it doesn't hurt anybody. But more importantly than ...
10
votes
4answers
1k views
Biblical basis for the separation of church and state
I know there are a lot of non-biblical arguments for the separation of church and state. Some Christians also support it on biblical grounds, but I've never looked into the matter myself. Which ...
7
votes
2answers
186 views
Basis for the concept of an “Age of accountability”
Having attended Baptist Churches for years, I've often heard the term "age of accountability" bandied about.
The idea is that if a child dies at a young age - before reaching the "age of ...
12
votes
4answers
4k views
Does God test us?
I was working on a different question and I found that I couldn't actually find anywhere that shows that God actually tests us.
Psalms 26:2 (NIV)
Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and ...
5
votes
4answers
168 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
3answers
876 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
112 views
What is the biblical support for the moral-civil-ceremonial distinction of Old Testament laws?
I just asked this question looking for where this view point came from and when it was made popular.
Ceremonial Law: This type of law relates to Israel's worship. (Lev 1:1-13) The laws pointed ...
16
votes
4answers
4k views
Do we actually know that Jesus was a carpenter?
I was about to say this in another discussion somewhere else, and wondered: do we know that? As in "it's mentioned or at least hinted at in $book $chapter:$verse"?
Or is it just a very likely ...
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
Is the “belly of a whore” phrase from the Bible?
Several times, I have heard a phrase along the lines of "It is better to plant thy seed in the belly of a whore than to be cast upon the ground."
Is there a biblical reference for this phrase? I ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
What is the biblical basis for restitution?
What is the New Testament Biblical basis for making restitution? I've read the story of Zacchaeus, and it's not completely set in stone as to what the structure is. The biggest question I have is if ...
2
votes
1answer
97 views
What is the biblical basis for requiring that a pastor/preacher/teacher/etc be paid for their ministry?
What is the biblical basis for requiring a minister to be paid for their work?
Put another way, what is the biblical basis for supporting the notion of a solely-vocational pastor?
Note - I am NOT ...
6
votes
4answers
2k views
Why isn't the virgin birth of Jesus mentioned in all of the gospels?
I recently saw Bill Maher's documentary and he mentions that the virgin birth is only mentioned in two of the gospels. He goes on to bug Christian people several times by asking questions such as "How ...
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 ...
2
votes
3answers
67 views
Does God care about countries?
I hear "God Bless America" often. It has puzzled me for many years because it doesn't makes sense to me that God cares about man-made borders or political systems. The only land I've heard referred ...
2
votes
2answers
210 views
Did Jesus know how to read and write?
Is there any biblical evidence that suggests Jesus read or wrote anything, and was he literate?
8
votes
3answers
182 views
Holiness of Mary and Joseph
Often in stain glass and other art, both Mary and Joseph are seen to have the 'halo' around them that also surround those of saints.
I was once told (by I think my religion teacher) that for Jesus, ...
14
votes
2answers
161 views
Can Elders of a church be young?
I am referring to 'Elders' in the sense of 1 Timothy 5:17 (NIV) :
17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and ...
9
votes
5answers
3k views
What Bible verses support infant baptism?
I've studied the Bible and am a fundamental independent bible believing Baptist who believes what the scripture says about Baptism is clear.
It is an ordinance after salvation, i.e. believers ...
1
vote
3answers
84 views
What does John 3:13 mean, NO MAN has ASCENDED to heaven? [closed]
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him. (Hebrews 11:5)
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, ...
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, ...
7
votes
1answer
204 views
What is the biblical basis for Historical Premillennialism?
Related:
What are the differences between the different millenialisms?
What is the biblical basis for Dispensational Premillennialism?
Historical Premillennialism is a view of the ...
1
vote
3answers
2k views
What is the Biblical definition of “prophecy”?
In common parlance, prophecy is often considered to be "predicting the future." For some, it conjures up images of telephone psychics and the like. Others might envision a crystal ball, or a Jamaican ...
11
votes
4answers
1k views
Are we born sinners? [closed]
We can be quite certain that God didn't originally create us as sinners. Rather Adam and Eve chose sin in the Fall.
The doctrine of original sin is widely held in Christian churches, but those ...
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 ...
7
votes
2answers
83 views
When did Jesus send the Holy Spirit?
I've always assumed that the Holy Spirit did not make his presence known amongst men until Pentecost. Famously, in Acts 2, the Spirit descends upon the first believers, gives them power of speech, ...
10
votes
3answers
289 views
What is the Biblical evidence against the day-age theory?
As many of you probably know, the day-age theory is an attempt to reconcile creation and evolution, by turning the days mentioned in Genesis into long periods of time. What is the Biblical evidence ...
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., ...
6
votes
2answers
214 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 ...
16
votes
7answers
842 views
Do we have to obey the laws of the bible? If so, what laws?
I've read a ton about obedience in the bible and I realize that we have a responsibility to obey Jesus Christ. As it says in 2 Timothy 2:19 "God's foundation stands firm, sealed with his inscription. ...
8
votes
5answers
920 views
What happens to marriage on the New Earth
I think I can safely say that humans were designed not to operate as a single solitary person but as part of a unit of two -- both as referenced by Gen 3:16-17 (see mentions of husband and wife in ...
12
votes
3answers
207 views
Is “Love God and do whatever you please” scriptural?
St Augustine is famous for this quote, the full quote being:
"Love God and do whatever you please: for the soul trained in love to God will do nothing to offend the One who is Beloved."
I've ...
18
votes
13answers
2k views
What is a Christian's justification for a legal prohibition of homosexual marriage?
Today President Obama came out as the first U.S. president to support gay marriage. In his address, he even quoted scripture to support his change of view.
Love him or hate him, it seems clear that ...
6
votes
1answer
96 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
69 views
What is the basis for understanding commandments to be anything other than compulsory?
People come with the impression that everybody has a choice to do something or not (choices all around everybody), but where in the bible do we as people get the right of choices?
In the Bible I can ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
What is the meaning of creeds?
What are creeds and how they came about. Is there a Biblical basis for them and how many creeds are there till date?
3
votes
1answer
39 views
What is the Biblical basis for concluding 'Jesus is Yahweh (Jehovah or LORD)'?
Of course Christianity believes Jesus is God, but I am interested in this question for the argument that Jehovah (I AM), the name of God which later Jews were not allowed to speak, is a term not ...
24
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the biblical justification for permitting female pastors?
It seems that that 1Timothy 2:12-14 (NASB) says that women shouldn't be pastors. But there are many denominations that allow this.
1 Timothy 2:12-14 (NASB)
12 But I do not allow a woman to ...
1
vote
2answers
77 views
What is the Biblical basis for asserting that infants can have faith in Christ under a Calvinistic framework?
Calvin argued for the election of infants, which opposed Roman Catholic faith, which believed that baptism was necessary for salvation (sacramentalists). He was even more forceful about this view than ...
1
vote
4answers
149 views
John 8:6-8, Jesus writing
John 8:6-8 NIV
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.
But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as
though he heard them not.
7 So when ...
3
votes
3answers
113 views
What is the biblical basis for considering gender to be purely physical/biological?
In my other question, I asked what the biblical basis was for considering gender to not be merely physical, but also present in a person's soul and/or spirit. However, there are some who believe that ...
4
votes
3answers
328 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
130 views
Is Jesus truly God? [duplicate]
I was looking for an answer that I could link someone to, but it looks like this question has not been asked yet. I am looking for an answer that is as direct and conclusive as possible.
Does or does ...
4
votes
3answers
94 views
Was Jesus God's only Son? [duplicate]
In some places, the Bible uses wording like "children of God" or "sons of God". One example of this use is Genesis 6:2, and another is Galatians 3:26:
26 For through faith you are all children of ...
4
votes
1answer
55 views
What is the Biblical basis that individual gifts can be revoked by God?
Some in the modern healing movements claim 'continued authority' for themselves and their ministry based upon the belief that God 'never' recalls a gift he has given to a person (such as wisdom, ...
