All Questions
10
votes
4answers
561 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?
10
votes
2answers
208 views
Was the Last Supper not the Passover meal?
The accepted answer on How long was Jesus in the tomb? would only have been possible if the Last Supper was not the Passover meal, which I had always thought it was. Was the Last Supper in fact not ...
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
1answer
259 views
Universalism in the Orthodox Church?
Is this true that in the Orthodox Church there are still two quite opposite views existing, one of which holds that everybody will sooner or later be delivered by God from the hell, and another one ...
9
votes
3answers
427 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 ...
8
votes
1answer
251 views
What is the biblical basis for Dispensational Premillennialism?
Related:
What are the differences between the different millenialisms?
What is the biblical basis for Historical Premillennialism?
Dispensational Premillennialism is a view of the ...
7
votes
5answers
513 views
How does the New Testament define a Christian and a non-Christian, a brother in Christ and not a brother in Christ?
How does the New Testament define a brother in Christ? According to the New Testament, what makes a human a brother in Christ? And also, according to the New Testament, which people are definitely not ...
6
votes
4answers
357 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 ...
28
votes
7answers
2k views
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 ...
21
votes
7answers
1k views
Sex outside of marriage is a sin. But what about “less than sex”?
Inspired by Is masturbation a sin?
This is a tough subject that I've grappled with my whole life. It's clear in God's word that sex outside of marriage (adultery) is a sin.
But, what is acceptable ...
15
votes
1answer
252 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
6answers
1k views
Can we pray from any position?
I enjoy praying lying in bed just before I sleep ... until I fall asleep. In church I usually pray with my hands simply by my side or even with my hands in my pockets. I just let them stay wherever ...
14
votes
4answers
711 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
4answers
628 views
How far is too far when it comes to drinking alcohol?
Why does the Bible praise the effects of alcohol? How are we supposed to know when those effects have gone too far? I am mostly confused about this verse:
Give strong drink unto him that is ready ...
14
votes
2answers
191 views
What is the origin of the Catholic apocrypha?
In the Catholic tradition, several "apocryphal" books are used in addition to the same Old Testament canon used by Protestants.
What is the origin of these books and how do they differ from from the ...
12
votes
2answers
249 views
If Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) don't believe in a Holy Trinity, then who do they believe is God?
It's a pretty well known fact that Latter-Day Saint members (aka Mormons) do not believe in the Holy Trinity as far as that God, Christ and the Holy Ghost are 'one'. So what exactly do they believe ...
12
votes
1answer
120 views
What process was used to translate the KJV?
Who were the translators that created the venerate KJV translation and what guidelines did they use? What "kind" of translation was intended and how is it generally categorized today?
Note that there ...
11
votes
2answers
352 views
Do the dietary prohibitions in Acts 15:20 apply to Christians today?
An answer to this question references Acts 15:20, which says --
(19) Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, (20) but should write to them to ...
11
votes
5answers
406 views
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 ...
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
3answers
303 views
Can angels be saved?
We know from the Bible that devils are fallen angels, once created good but who chose to join Lucifer's rebel uprising and consequently lost their place in heaven.
Can those angels ever be saved? Can ...
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
2answers
1k views
What are the steps to become Confirmed in the Catholic church?
In the Catholic church you go through confirmation to become an adult member of the church. What are the steps you have to take (general steps not necessarily church specific) as someone raised in ...
10
votes
2answers
346 views
Are there any Christian groups that follow Matthew 23:9?
I was reading in Matthew and saw a fascinating command, directly from Jesus:
Matthew 23:9 (NWT)
Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One.
Are ...
10
votes
3answers
4k views
Can one sin be worse than another sin, or are all sins equal?
Since all evil acts come down to disobedience against god, are all evil acts equivalent? Is no sin worse than any other sin? If one sin is worse than another sin does that imply that one act can be ...
10
votes
2answers
327 views
Is the Talmud compatible with Christianity?
If I'm not misunderstanding anything, Jews usually follow the Tanakh (more or less the Old Testament) and the Talmud, but definitely not the New Testament, whereas Christians follow the Old and New ...
10
votes
2answers
772 views
What are the consequences of suicide according to the Roman Catholic church?
What are the consequences of suicide according to the Roman Catholic church? Are there exceptions or special penalties?
9
votes
2answers
988 views
List of papal teachings considered infallible
After reading When does the Pope speak ex cathedra? I became curious and searched for a list of statements, but couldn't find one.
Does such list exist and if not, why is this the case?
8
votes
2answers
387 views
Do Jehovah's Witnesses believe in annihilation?
What is the official position of the Jehovah's Witnesses in regards to hell, specifically the doctrine of annihilation which says that people will not go on existing, that eventually God will just ...
8
votes
2answers
701 views
When are children held accountable for ther sins? [closed]
There's an interesting topic regarding the salvation of unborn babies that inspired this question.
I believe that babies that die previous to birth go to heaven. I also believe that young children ...
7
votes
4answers
252 views
Were some parts of the law abolished or “not one jot will by any means pass from the law”?
Were some parts of the law cancelled or the whole law in its completeness should continue untill the heaven and the earth disappear?
Some parts of the New Testament clearly state that some portions ...
7
votes
5answers
196 views
Are love and hate in a harmonious balance within God?
I am referring to this fascinating (and accepted) answer of Jonathon Byrd where he proves by the Bible that God is also the God of hate:
Psalm 5:5 (NKJV)
The boastful shall not stand in Your ...
7
votes
4answers
179 views
What is theistic evolution?
Theistic evolution sounds similar to Old Earth Creationism. Both ideas start with the premise that God created. After this, I've heard tale of wars fought between the two camps. What is the gist of ...
7
votes
1answer
421 views
Heaven/Paradise/Sheol, Hell/Hades/The Lake of Fire
What is the difference between Heaven/Paradise/Sheol
How about Hell/Hades/The Lake of Fire?
Are they synonyms, are they different places?
6
votes
5answers
231 views
Does God hate unborn children?
Did God hate unborn Esau?
Romans 9:11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good
or bad ... 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I
hated.”
How does this square ...
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 ...
3
votes
4answers
390 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 ...
21
votes
5answers
2k views
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 ...
18
votes
2answers
257 views
How did Judas die?
Judas Iscariot committed suicide when he realized the evil that he had done.
Matthew 27:3-5 (KJV)
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, ...
18
votes
3answers
267 views
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?
17
votes
5answers
376 views
What is the physical evidence for a global flood?
I would imagine that a geological event on the scale of a global flood would leave extensive evidence in its wake. To what extent can phsyical data be interpreted as consistent with the idea of a ...
16
votes
6answers
1k views
What happens to unborn, unbaptized babies who die?
If we accept that unborn babies are human beings and not merely a non-human organism, and further we require baptism as a prerequisite for salvation (using it as justification for infant baptism)...
...
15
votes
4answers
621 views
Is an action morally good because God commands it, or does God command it because it is good?
The christian morality derives from God, and God is benevolent so whatever he commands is morally good. Does that mean that anything God does or commands is morally right? Or does God only act and ...
13
votes
6answers
526 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 ...
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?
12
votes
5answers
155 views
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
255 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 ...
11
votes
6answers
561 views
What are the theological implications/problems with theistic evolution?
Theistic evolution holds that God used evolution to create mankind. It seems to follow then that this view must also hold the creation account in Genesis to be unhistorical. So, Adam and Eve may ...
11
votes
4answers
211 views
On which date was Christ born?
Most Christians celebrate the birth of Christ (Christmas) on December 25. But was this really the day of Christ's birth? What was the actual date of Christ's birth?
11
votes
2answers
235 views
What is the origin of the Christmas tree and is it accepted in all Christian traditions?
What is the origin of the Christmas tree and is it accepted in all Christian traditions?
I'm certainly not aware of a "Christmas" tree appearing in the Christmas story, so I'm curious when it was ...
