How a practice or belief may be derived from Scripture alone.
34
votes
4answers
738 views
Biblical basis for the doctrine of the Trinity
The word/term "trinity" is never used in the Bible. However, most Christians believe that God exists as three persons in one God-head.
This question has two parts:
What is the Biblical basis for ...
26
votes
10answers
619 views
Biblical basis for baptism as a prerequisite for salvation
Some people believe that if you have not been baptized, you cannot be saved.
Others (including myself) believe that it is merely the outward declaration of what has already happened in the heart.
...
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 ...
22
votes
7answers
5k views
According to the Bible, do animals have souls?
Randy Alcorn claims in his book Heaven (page 374) that animals have souls, though not necessarily like humans. Is there any Biblical support for this?
21
votes
4answers
323 views
What is the Biblical basis for Total Depravity?
Calvin, among his other points starts with the point that we are totally depraved and sinful from birth. What is the Biblical basis for this point?
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 ...
16
votes
7answers
835 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. ...
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 ...
15
votes
3answers
571 views
Is there any biblical basis for believing in the Book of Mormon?
I know that Mormons say the Bible and the Book of Mormon don't contradict. I don't know about that, but I would like to know whether there actually is a verse in the Bible that could support the ...
15
votes
2answers
764 views
What is the Biblical basis for withholding communion from believers who are unbaptized?
My home church has a policy of asking non-believers not to participate in communion, but never asks if a believer has yet been baptized.
I have visited or attended several other churches where ...
15
votes
6answers
670 views
a Christian response to dying in dignity or assisted suicide?
There is a raging debate in the province of Quebec on the question "Does someone have the right to kill another because the first one is suffering?" There are more and more cases in the news that look ...
15
votes
1answer
253 views
What is the basis for clerical celibacy?
In the Catholic Church, priests are required to stay celibate. (As far as I know, protestant priests that convert to Catholicism are allowed an exception -- they can become Catholic priests even if ...
14
votes
5answers
772 views
What is the Biblical evidence against the perpetual virginity of Mary?
I understand that the Roman Catholic Church teaches that Mary is the eternal virgin in that she never had sexual relations with Joseph (or any other man)--either before or after the miraculous ...
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 ...
14
votes
4answers
712 views
Does the Bible make any allusions to life on other planets?
What, if anything, does the Bible say either supporting the theory of life on other planets, or suggesting that there is none?
14
votes
3answers
1k views
Why was taking census a bad thing?
In Chronicles, David took a census on the people of Israel. However, God became angry at this, and he proceeded to destory about 70,000 people in result.
1 Chronicles 21:1-16: 1Satan rose up ...
14
votes
5answers
550 views
Should women give sermons?
"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let ...
13
votes
10answers
374 views
What is the essence of sin?
There are bound to be lots of questions like "Is X or Y a sin?". However, what is sin at its root and where in the Bible do we get our understanding of it?
13
votes
4answers
160 views
Career as a Means of Worship
I've tried to phrase this question several ways now, and none of them are really to my liking. I will just ask it clumsily and provide more details as they are asked of me.
Does God ever call people ...
13
votes
3answers
293 views
Is there a basis for Christian holidays in the Bible?
I was just curious if holiday celebrations like Christmas and Easter were written in the Bible, not merely mentioned but specifically indicating that people should celebrate them. It seems to me that ...
13
votes
3answers
2k views
What's the significance of hyssop in John 19:29?
There is just one verse in the New Testament that refers to hyssop and is not referring to the Old Testament:
John 19:29 (NLT)
A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in ...
13
votes
2answers
240 views
What is the Biblical basis for Unconditional Election?
Calvin, among his other points includes the point that we are Unconditionally Elected and chosen by God alone and nothing we can do can help or hurt this fact. What is the Biblical basis for this?
13
votes
2answers
346 views
What exactly do we know about Heaven?
Most of us probably have a lot of vague ideas about Heaven, the place where the faithful are said to spend their afterlife. But when I really start to think about it, I can't back most of my ideas ...
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 ...
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, ...
12
votes
4answers
297 views
Do all Christian views need to have a Biblical basis?
Do all Christian views need to have a Biblical basis? Stated another way: Is there room for understanding God and/or His will that does not come from the Bible? Perhaps through revelations from God ...
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 ...
12
votes
3answers
493 views
What is the Bible and Christian view on Astrology?
Being on this site has given me an opportunity to reflect and investigate more my beliefs and gain a greater understanding of the beliefs of other Christians. I was raised being taught that astrology ...
12
votes
4answers
245 views
How could Jesus get followers so easily?
Reading how Jesus called his disciples, I am always perplexed at how they just leave everything and start following him. An example passage:
Matthew 4:18-22 (ESV)
18 While walking by the ...
12
votes
3answers
200 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 ...
12
votes
1answer
117 views
What qualifies as work on Sunday?
I have a lecturer who wanted me to attend a seminar. However, the seminar is on Sunday.
I don't study on Sundays so I declined this offer. My lecturer is, however, a Jew and he understands the ...
11
votes
5answers
859 views
Can a Christian have clinical depression?
God can grant an amazing peace of mind to a person. Many Christians have been totally calm and prayed for their persecutors while being tortured and killed -- like Stephen, the first martyr.
But do ...
11
votes
3answers
239 views
Is the age of the earth in the Bible?
Early scientists thought that the age of the earth is proven by the genealogical tables in the book of Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. Other than this observation, is there any reference to the direct ...
11
votes
2answers
290 views
Is there Biblical basis for unitarianism?
I ask this mostly in reaction to this question: Biblical basis for the doctrine of the Trinity
From what I've seen, the majority of Christians believe in Trinitarianism, but some believe in ...
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 ...
11
votes
4answers
587 views
How do we get morals?
The Bible often makes references to the law being written on our hearts, for example:
The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,
And his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is ...
11
votes
3answers
725 views
God will judge the world based upon righteousness but what about Jesus?
As Christians we all understand that we are judged based upon the Righteousness of God. However nobody will stack up to that righteousness, thus God has given us a righteousness through Faith in ...
11
votes
1answer
213 views
What is the Biblical basis for Irresistible Grace?
Calvin, among his other points, includes the point that when we are saved, we are irresistibly drawn to God and that there is nothing we can do to prevent this or cause this. What is the Biblical ...
10
votes
3answers
258 views
Is having a moment of silence for someone anti-Christian?
In our school, in one of my periods, one of my teachers told us the important things late Steve Jobs has done for the world and encouraged us to have a moment of silence for him for about 10 seconds. ...
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 ...
10
votes
3answers
863 views
What scripture is James 4:5 referring to?
James 4:5 (ESV)
Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"?
I don't know of an Old Testament passage ...
10
votes
2answers
348 views
What is the basis for Cessationism?
Cessationism is the belief held by some protestants that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as prophecy, do not occur in present day. The general thinking is that these gifts "ceased" at ...
10
votes
4answers
240 views
What is the doctrinal or Scriptural basis for a central Church authority
As explained in a previous question, one Baptist Distinctive is the rejection of a central Church authority (whether an individual or a governing body). Instead, we hold fast to the autonomy of the ...
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 ...
10
votes
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 ...
10
votes
3answers
299 views
What is the Biblical or traditional precedent or command regarding praying before meals?
A very common Christian practice is to "say grace" or to "give thanks" before each meal. What is the Biblical precedent or command for this? In other words, why do we give thanks then and not before ...
10
votes
3answers
287 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 ...
10
votes
1answer
198 views
What is the biblical basis for the priesthood of all believers?
What is the biblical basis for the priesthood of all believers?
10
votes
2answers
909 views
Why are wives considered the “weaker partner”? (1 Peter 3:7)
In 1 Peter, we read:
1 Peter 3:7 (NIV)
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the ...
10
votes
1answer
162 views
Christian response(s) to disaster survival, or Christian self-defense
Every year, "end times" and apocalyptic films, books, and articles are produced in both the wider popular culture, and in religious contexts. In almost every post-disaster scenario as typically ...
