Jesus of Nazareth, generally held by Christians to be God incarnate.
5
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5answers
434 views
Do Old Testament individual, family and social laws and guidance apply to Christians or did Jesus come to discard OT laws and guidance?
If OT laws are to be ignored by Christians, does God/Jesus provide substitute laws in the New Testament texts? I.e., if God thought it important to provide laws (in addition to requiring certain ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Definition of light in Matthew 5:16
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives ...
5
votes
2answers
217 views
What do Christians mean by “Jesus took our illnesses upon himself on the cross” and why?
Having a bit of holiday over Christmas and New Year I'm going over some notes I've made of topics I want to look at.
One such question regards the use of terminology such as "Jesus took our illnesses ...
10
votes
3answers
185 views
7
votes
6answers
618 views
Why does Jesus not want people to repent and be forgiven in Mark 4?
This is in response the the disciples asking why Jesus teaches in parables...
He said to them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in ...
7
votes
5answers
734 views
“How do I get more faith?” - how to understand Jesus' answer?
The question, "How do I get more faith?" has been posted here. When I read it, my mind went to the time the disciples and Jesus had a similar dialogue:
Luke 17:5-6
The apostles said to the ...
14
votes
1answer
648 views
Will there be “new people” or reproduction in heaven or “the next life?”
I'm looking for a Biblical answer to this question: will there be any new people in heaven? An equivalent question: are the people created in this life (on Earth) the only people who will ever exist?
...
15
votes
1answer
318 views
What sects believe Jesus is buried in Japan?
The town of Shingo in Japan claims to be the burial site of Jesus of Nazareth: someone took his place on the cross, and he made his way to Japan, where he died. (Wikipedia.) Do, or did, any ...
19
votes
3answers
414 views
Why does Jesus refer to himself as the “Son of Man”?
Why does Jesus refer to himself as the "Son of Man"? This is similar to Why does Jesus speak of himself in the third person?, but I am specifically looking for an explanation of the "Son of Man" ...
5
votes
2answers
100 views
Are there any Messianic references in the OT apocrypha?
Are there any references to Jesus / the Messiah in the OT apocrypha?
(See example of book list here.)
6
votes
3answers
109 views
Were there any OT prophecies that Jesus should be a wood-working carpenter
I like the stone mason theory because that would make Jesus and St. Joseph (the patron of manly men) really tough.
But, is there any significance to the traditional conception of Jesus following ...
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 ...
8
votes
1answer
185 views
Why was Jesus able to silence his critics simply by pointing out that the Messiah was both Lord *and* son?
In Matthew 22, after basically frustrating the Pharisees and the Saduccees by answering some really tricky questions, Jesus finally turns the tables on them and asks this question:
41 While the ...
10
votes
2answers
304 views
Are the images we draw of Jesus correct?
Lately I heard that, as an inhabitant of ancient Israel, it is more likely that Jesus had dark skin and probably had hair that was a little curly.
Why is it that illustrations always show him with ...
11
votes
8answers
801 views
How can Jesus, born of mankind, be sinless?
Very simple question really. If the sin of Adam is passed down through the generations, so that all of us are born with a sin nature, how can it be that Jesus was born of Mary (a human being), yet ...
8
votes
1answer
138 views
When did Christmas (the birth of Christ) first begin as a Christian celebration?
I remember hearing something about a true Saint Nicholas who maybe helped poor children or something, but to be honest, I really don't know much about when Christmas began to be celebrated by ...
15
votes
2answers
568 views
What does Jesus mean by saying, “Why do you call me good?”
Luke 18:19 (NKJV)
19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
Luke 18:19 (KJV)
19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is ...
4
votes
2answers
282 views
Who is God referring to in 2 Samuel 7?
2 Samuel 7:11-16 (ESV)
11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make ...
18
votes
2answers
287 views
What extrabiblical sources support the existence of Jesus in history?
What sources outside of the Bible give supporting evidence to the existence of Jesus and any of the events in His life?
6
votes
1answer
220 views
In Matthew 26:63-64, does the high priest think that the Messiah is Son of God?
Matthew 26:63-64 NIV:
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
So do Jews ...
-4
votes
2answers
404 views
If believing that Jesus is God is that important, why doesn't Jesus say it more often?
Why did many of his disciples not even know it?
Jesus asked "Who am I?" to a bunch of his disciples. Out of so many, only Peter got it close. That he is the Messiah, son of the living God.
Even that ...
1
vote
2answers
572 views
Virgin birth in other religions and relevance to Christianity [closed]
Like flood legends, legends of heroes of virgin birth and/or virginal conception are not uncommon in faiths across the world. For example, the Bhagavata Purana tells that Krishna was conceived ...
16
votes
4answers
752 views
Does Jesus ever claim to be God, or the son of God?
While I understand there are many potential passages in the Bible of Jesus claiming to be a messiah (which I understand to mean "anointed"), a king, or one through whom it is necessary to know God, ...
18
votes
2answers
910 views
Why is Jesus named the Prince of Peace instead of the King of Peace?
In Isaiah 9:6, the child to be born will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government
shall ...
11
votes
2answers
322 views
What does Jesus mean with “this generation” and “all these things” in Mark 13:30
In Mark 13, Jesus tells about the last days and the tribulation. In this context, he says in verse 30 (KJV):
Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be ...
14
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1answer
266 views
Why is Jesus' genealogy traced through Joseph?
Why is Jesus' genealogy in Matthew and Luke traced back to David through Joseph if Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit?
7
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1answer
74 views
What is the difference between the Life that Christ gives and the Life that Wisdom brings?
I noticed that these two passages are rather similar:
Proverbs 8:35-36 (ESV)
For whoever finds me [wisdom] finds life and obtains favor
from the Lord, 36 but he who fails to find me injures ...
2
votes
1answer
200 views
Does the passage in Luke 9:49-50 support the diversity of denominations?
It appears that this passage in Luke allows for the diversity of denominations.
Luke 9:49-50 KJV
And John answered and said, Master, we saw one
casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad ...
10
votes
2answers
311 views
What was the specific trap being set for Jesus by the Pharisees in John 8?
In the story of the woman caught in adultery, John indicates that the question of the Pharisees was a "trap".
2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people
gathered ...
7
votes
2answers
381 views
Question on John 4:13-14 - How do we drink of the water from Jesus?
I've been struggling with this passage for a while:
Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be ...
11
votes
4answers
933 views
Why did Jesus use the expression, “I tell you the truth”?
I used to think nothing of it until someone said, "it makes you wonder what he was saying the rest of the time".
Now I don't believe for one moment Jesus was a liar, but why did He use that strange ...
10
votes
4answers
902 views
Why does Jesus speak of himself in the third person?
There are a number of places where Jesus refers to himself in the third person. The most common is when he uses the title 'Son of Man' (by my count, there are some 78 times Jesus uses that title in ...
2
votes
3answers
324 views
If JW believe they should use Jehovah to be accurate why don't they use Jesus' real Hebrew name?
I think everyone knows that Jesus is Greek but why don't Jehovahs Witnesses use his Hebrew name which is closer to Joshua rather than Jesus?
11
votes
3answers
783 views
Did Satan really not understand God's salvation plan?
I've always been told that when Jesus died on the cross, he ultimately defeated Satan and won victory over death. Satan was not aware of the secret plan and thought that he had defeated Jesus until ...
7
votes
1answer
309 views
What does it mean to test God?
I remember that while Jesus was being tempted in the desert by the devil, the devil had asked Him to jump down from a height, because the angels would be sure to rescue Him. But Jesus answered that ...
5
votes
1answer
91 views
Did Jesus consider OT events to be literal history?
Did Jesus consider the historic references in the OT to be literal in the sense that people and events where historical as recorded or did he view them as symbolic/figurative or did he pick and ...
6
votes
2answers
110 views
What was Jesus' view on the authority of Scripture?
What was Jesus' own personal view on the nature of the Scripture as far as the divine authority of the OT? Can his view on this issue be determined through his own use of it?
8
votes
4answers
183 views
Did Christ have the freedom to choose to avoid crucifixion?
Inspired by this answer, Jesus talks about this authority in John 10:18 (NIV):
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the meaning of “anything” in Matthew 18:19-20?
In Matthew 18:19-20, Jesus says:
“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come ...
13
votes
8answers
3k views
Does the New Testament override the Old Testament?
Throughout the Old Testament there have been many laws laid down by the Lord, that are perhaps more harsh then we, as Christians, follow today. Many times in the New Testament it has been found to ...
13
votes
2answers
348 views
Why Do Moses' Laws About Slavery and Punishment Not Align with the Teachings of Jesus?
In Exodus 21, God is telling Moses what the laws should be concerning slaves and servants among the Israelites. If this is the same God who made all of mankind in His own image, then why would he ...
5
votes
5answers
235 views
Could Jesus have been married?
There are some that teach that Christ was married (usually to Mary Magdalene), yet there are others that teach that Christ was not married.
Does the Bible teach anything about Christ or His mission ...
7
votes
1answer
167 views
Was 'Jesus and the woman taken in adultery' in St. John a later addition, and does this invalidate infallibility?
In John 7:53-8:11 we have the account of 'Jesus and the woman taken in adultery'
53 Then they all went home, 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple ...
10
votes
2answers
203 views
Where is the dead body in Luke 17?
Jesus talks about the coming of the Kingdom of God in Luke 17:20-37. This passage raises four related questions for me:
Is this talking about the Rapture?
Where is "a dead body", that Jesus mentions ...
18
votes
3answers
2k views
Should we love Satan since he is our greatest enemy?
Jesus asked us to love our enemy Mat 5:43-44:
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute ...
7
votes
4answers
203 views
What must Man do to receive Eternal Life?
I don't think that any Christian would disagree that Jesus Christ is the only way to God and to your inheritance. But what is man's responsibility? That's what this question is addressing.
What do I ...
16
votes
1answer
213 views
When did the pronunciation of “Jesus” change?
When did the pronunciation of Jesus change from Yeh-sus to Gee-zus? Why did the name change? How? Where?
Update: how did the name pronunciation change? Wouldn't there be people to correct ...
9
votes
3answers
176 views
What is the practical application of the story of the woman caught in adultery?
John 8:2-11 tells us the story of the woman caught in adultery:
2At dawn [Jesus] appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The ...
15
votes
5answers
3k views
Why did Jesus refer to Gentiles as dogs?
The passage below raises two questions in my mind but I suspect they both have the same answer. My questions are:
Why did Jesus at first refuse to speak to the Canaanite woman? We know He had no ...
15
votes
3answers
244 views
How can the Son not know what the Father knows?
Matthew 24:36 (NLT)
Mark 13:32 (NLT)
36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father ...
