All Questions
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Does Jude 1:9 mean that Moses went to hell?
Jude 1:9
Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he
disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a
reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke ...
8
votes
2answers
137 views
Templar and Soldiers of Christ?
I have been hearing a lot about Templars in movies such as Ironclad and games like Assassin's Creed. I did a quick look up on Google about "Templars" and still haven't got any clue on what is it ...
10
votes
2answers
150 views
Paul's analysis of Abraham's “offspring(s)” in Galatians 3
In Paul's letter to the Galatians, he talks about (among other things) how God's promise to Abraham was fulfilled in Christ. Galatians 3:16 reads (in the NRSV; other translations may say "seed", ...
12
votes
1answer
705 views
Why did G.K. Chesterton convert to Catholicism?
G.K. Chesterton is one of my favorite authors. On a lot of subjects, his way of looking at things really astonishes me. He can still show things in a fresh perspective, though his books are about a ...
7
votes
2answers
138 views
How can a particular trade of modern times get a patron saint?
In days of yore, tradesman and guilds had patron saints. These days patrons seem to only be attributed to profession in vague ways via papal declaration (i.e. St. John Vianney is the Patron of all ...
27
votes
1answer
2k views
Why didn't C.S. Lewis convert to Catholicism?
This might seem like a weird question if you're a protestant and really like C.S. Lewis, but as a Catholic, I don't see him as ever espousing particularly non-catholic positions and he is very well ...
22
votes
4answers
4k views
Where does the concept of a “God-shaped hole” originate?
There's a concept that I heard used many times throughout my life in regards to idolatry. The idea is that inside each of us is a "God-shaped hole"--a place inside of our hearts that only God can ...
15
votes
7answers
558 views
What is the significance of the number 666?
People always make jokes about the number 666, or how it's evil, etc. What is the basis of this, and is it really something that Christians should be concerned with?
8
votes
4answers
444 views
What are the benefits of a red letter edition Bible?
Red letter edition Bibles seem to be popular in the US. The difference to a plain Bible is that words of Jesus are printed in red. The first red-letter Bible was published in 1900, and the practice ...
10
votes
10answers
437 views
Do 'Bible Christians' find paraphrasing the Bible distasteful?
This might be a meta question, but I really mean it in a scholarly way. Does paraphrasing the Bible for conversational use make Sola Scriptura folks cringe?
I'm not even sure what my Church thinks ...
11
votes
4answers
677 views
How should Christians act toward non-Christians?
How should Christians act toward non-Christians?
One example I have found is 2 Corinthians 6:14 [KJV].
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath ...
6
votes
3answers
131 views
How many years are Bible translations usually called New or Revised for?
Until this year have used the New American Bible (NAB) for my Religious Ed. class.
Now, we've got a New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE).
How long is a bible New and how long is a bible ...
2
votes
1answer
662 views
Should a Christian wear clothing of mixed fibers? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
To what extent does the Law of Moses still apply?
How should a christian evaluate whether a particular action a sin or not?
I hear Leviticus 19:19 brought up from time ...
15
votes
3answers
246 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 ...
12
votes
3answers
292 views
Are our consciences trustworthy?
In Romans there are a couple verses that indicate that the law has not only been given in written form through the ten commandments, but written "on our hearts." It also says that this law will bear ...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
Why is rape not in the 10 commandments?
Seems like a good one to touch on.
I'm sure there could have been room in there somewhere if he wanted it. Why not?
2
votes
2answers
176 views
On what basis do Christians sometimes claim to know what God's intentions are? [closed]
For example, some Creationists will explain dinosaur bones as "God placed them there to test us" - even if God did place them there, isn't it presumptuous to speculate what the motivations were?
11
votes
2answers
281 views
What is transubstantiation?
According to Wikipedia:
When at his Last Supper, Jesus said: "This is my body", what he held in his hands still had all the appearances of bread: these "accidents" remained unchanged. However, the ...
8
votes
2answers
117 views
Does Acts 15:21 assume new believers would learn and follow the law from synagogues on sabbath?
Acts 15:19-21 (NIV, Emph mine)
19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to ...
8
votes
4answers
404 views
Why do many protestants congregations not require attendance at services on Christmas and Easter?
It came to my attention from living, driving around and listening to Christian radio that many Protestants do not have any services on what Catholics would consider solemnities (Christmas and Easter ...
15
votes
4answers
626 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 ...
29
votes
5answers
762 views
Why was Lot “let off the hook” for offering his daughters to be raped?
Genesis 19:1-20 tells the famous story of Soddom and Gomorrah. In the story, the men of Sodom come to Lot's house, and demand that Lot release his visitors to be raped by the men of the town. Lot ...
0
votes
0answers
127 views
Why does God allow innocent people to believe wrong or false teachings? [closed]
Lets take a hypothetical example:
A new Christian discovers this site. He posts a certain question about what a specific Bible verse means.
He finally receives a response but the answer is ...
7
votes
5answers
344 views
Does Christianity allow Christians to celebrate other holidays?
A quick search on Google will come up with several Christian holidays including:
Valentine's Day
Good Friday
Thanksgiving
Christmas
However, in many multi-cultural countries, there are often ...
11
votes
5answers
3k views
What is the significance of the burning bush?
In Exodus 3, God reveals himself to Moses through the sign of a burning bush, which miraculously is not consumed by the flames. Here is Exodus 3:1-6 in the NRSV:
Moses was keeping the flock of his ...
14
votes
4answers
480 views
Is it possible for a human to stop sinning? (Is X a sinner?) [closed]
It's a familiar tale.
The Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman caught in adultery. They asked if she should be stoned. Jesus (after a bit) said "Let him that is without sin among you first cast the ...
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?
8
votes
1answer
215 views
Does Ezekiel 28 speak of Satan (as “king of Tyre”)?
Ezekiel 28 speaks of the king of Tyre. I've heard it both taught and refuted that this refers to Satan. I also just recently saw an answer making this assumption.
Does the passage refer to Satan?
14
votes
1answer
331 views
Why did Paul say “I am pure from the blood of all men”?
In Acts 20 Paul is saying his farewell to the elders of Ephesus. He is bringing to their memory the manner, in which he had spent all that time with them - in humility (Acts 20:19).
Then he says: "
...
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 ...
8
votes
3answers
879 views
In which other churches do Roman Catholics recognise apostolic succession?
The Roman Catholic Church derives much of its claim to legitimacy from the teaching of "apostolic succession". Other churches also believe that their priests derive their authority in an unbroken ...
7
votes
2answers
719 views
Is Metatron actually part of Catholic dogma?
Some time ago (source), I heard that Metatron is part of official Catholic dogma. However, I couldn't really confirm this with a cursory Google search as I keep running into stuff talking about Jewish ...
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
216 views
How do Catholics reconcile Christ's intercessory prayer with the doctrine of the Trinity?
John 10:30 (KJV) is often quoted to support the doctrine of the Trinity:
30 I and my Father are one.
But during the great intercessory prayer, Christ asks God for his disciples to also be one ...
5
votes
1answer
67 views
What are the ordinances Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 11:2?
What are the ordinances Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 11:2?
1 Corinthians 11:2 (KJV)
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I ...
9
votes
7answers
437 views
Can Christians be demon possessed?
Can somebody who is a born-again, saved Christian through faith in Jesus Christ be possessed, controlled, or otherwise manipulated by the devil, demons or any other spiritual force of evil? Are there ...
10
votes
2answers
245 views
How could Jesus be surprised?
Matthew 8:5-10 (NLT)
5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”
7 Jesus ...
6
votes
2answers
654 views
Are people possessed by demons today? What is the modern Christian perspective?
In the three gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus repeatedly casts out demons, speaks to them, etc. He tells his disciples to do the same. There are so many references it would be difficult to ...
11
votes
2answers
7k views
Where in the Bible does it say that Lucifer is an angel?
Where in the Bible does it say that Lucifer was one of the angels or an archangel?
10
votes
3answers
280 views
Would the story of Jesus hold more significance if he were a man like us?
I feel that whatever Jesus did, if it is because He is special (the son of God in a way that I am not - because aren't we all God's children?) then it holds little relevance to my life - because it is ...
9
votes
3answers
317 views
Exorcisms: effective remedy or historical curiosity?
Are exorcisms considered, in the various Christian Professions, an effective remedy for possession?
I thought they were just a curiosity from the past, but here's what I found on Wikipedia:
...
17
votes
2answers
420 views
Is Jesus lying in John 7?
In John 7, Jesus tells his brothers that he is not going up to the festival. Then he goes up in secret. Is this a lie? How is this reconciled?
John 7:6-10 (NIV)
6 Therefore Jesus told them, ...
11
votes
3answers
898 views
Has Christianity ever come down in opposition of arranged marriages?
Many cultures in many ages have practiced arranged marriages. I understand that in Jewish culture --at about the time of Christ-- arranged marriages were considered a normal way of life. Obviously if ...
15
votes
5answers
2k views
“Let this cup pass from me” - What is the cup?
Matthew 26:39 (KJV)
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou ...
10
votes
1answer
88 views
What is the “fear” of God?
The book of Proverbs, and several other places in the Bible, mention the "fear of the Lord".
Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy ...
1
vote
2answers
106 views
Is there a mentioning about the wisdom of a crowd in the Bible?
In the Bible is there any mention of how smart or stupid large groups of people are?
12
votes
7answers
759 views
If we are saved by grace, then why does Jesus say we must be baptized in both spirit and water?
Ephesians 2:4-9 says:
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He
loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive
together with Christ (by grace ...
0
votes
0answers
155 views
What level of intimacy is generally acceptable for unmarried couples from the standpoint of the Bible? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Sex outside of marriage is a sin. But what about "less than sex"?
Pre-marital sex is generally considered part of sexual immorality, [1] as such we should ...
6
votes
1answer
68 views
What is the significance of adding “fiery” to Ephesians 6:16?
Ephesians 6:13-17 (NLT)
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing ...
21
votes
7answers
439 views
Does the Trinity share one mind or are there three separate minds?
Curious what Christian theologians or the Bible may have said about this. It seems like Jesus speaks in terms of his father's will as if it is not quite his own, which suggests separate minded-ness. ...
