Questions tagged [abraham]
Referring to the Biblical character of Abram (renamed Abraham), who appears in Genesis 12 - 22
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When was Abraham alive?
It is generally accepted that Abraham lived 175 years. However, the dates when he lived are rather fuzzy and hotly debated.
When was he alive and what reasons would you give for your conclusion?
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What evidence is available that Mt. Moriah is actually the Temple Mount?
In Sunday school this week we discussed (among several other things) the sacrifice of Isaac.
The teacher pointed us to a footnote that appears in several editions of the scripture. It seems that ...
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Was the cave of Abraham in Shechem or Hebron?
Genesis 23:17–20 says:
So Ephron’s field in Machpelah near Mamre—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded to Abraham as his property in the ...
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Was the marriage between Abraham and Sarah incestuous?
In the comments to this answer to the question of why Abraham lied to Pharaoh about his relationship with Sarah, the following question which I am about to pose, appeared:
Was the marriage between ...
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Why is the Nation of Israel called Israel and not Abraham?
Is there a biblical, or otherwise extra-biblical, explanation of how the nation of Israel came to be known as Israel instead of Abraham?
I know you could make cases for arguing that it makes more ...
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Paul's analysis of Abraham's "offspring(s)" in Galatians 3 [closed]
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&...
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What is the significance of changing the names of Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah? [closed]
I would briefly reconstruct from Genesis, the circumstances leading to this change in names.
In the very beginning of His conversation with Abram, God says to Abram:
Gen: 12:2 (NET)
Then I ...
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How sound are the arguments that Melchizedek invoked a Canaanite deity when he met Abraham?
Melchizedek serves an important theological role in the book of Hebrews. The author of Hebrews interprets Psalm 110 to speak of Jesus' priestly order (Melchizedek), thus resolving the potential ...
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Did Abraham, David and Solomon think having many wives was sin? [closed]
Did Abraham, David and Solomon think having many wives and concubines was sin?
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What is the biblical basis that Noah died just before the birth of Abraham?
In its article on the decline of human life spans, CreationWiki states,
Interestingly, Noah died only two years before Abraham was born.
Unfortunately for readers they provide no biblical support....
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Why was circumcision physical?
Paul says in Romans 9:7-8
7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the ...
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Who are the five brothers mentioned in the story of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:28)? [closed]
Luke 16:27–28 (NIV) reads:
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family,
28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not
also come to this place of ...
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How well supported is the generic interpretation Rublev's Icon as being a depiction of the Holy Trinity as portrayed in Genesis 18? [closed]
This was produced in the 15th century by Andrei Rublev's icon of the Trinity, a highly regarded Russian orthodox artist:
It is generally taken to be depicting the three men of Genesis 18 as being ...
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Why was it important that Isaac's wife be from within Abraham's family?
In Genesis 24, Abraham tells his servant to go back to his homeland and find a wife for Isaac from Abraham's country and Abraham's relatives.
First of all, I suppose I can understand why Isaac was ...
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Is Abraham in heaven? [duplicate]
If Jesus brought everlasting life and Abraham died before the coming of Jesus (and in fact before Judaism), would we therefore expect to see Abraham in heaven? What passages in the bible direct us to ...
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Is there any reference to Abraham building a house of worship? Where is Bakkah?
Is there any reference to Abraham building a house for worship in the Bible?
Where is the valley of Bakkah located?
In Islam they say Bakkah and Mecca are the same word, and the Kabah is built on ...
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Did Abraham pass or fail in God's test? [closed]
The story about Abraham sacrificing Isaac: Gen 21:12
But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your
slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through
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Epiphanius: where does he describe Indians as the descendants of Abraham and Keturah?
The Austrian Carmelite Paulinus a Sancto Bartholomaeo in his book "Darstellung der Brahmanisch-Indischen Götterlehre, Religionsgebräuche und bürgerliche Verfassung" (1797) states that Epiphanius was ...
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Why is it common to refer to Jacob as Jacob, rather than calling him Israel?
There are several examples in the Bible where faithful people were given a new name:
Abram became Abraham (Genesis 17:5)
Sarai became Sarah (Genesis 17:15)
Jacob became Israel (Genesis 32:28; 35:10)
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What internal evidence supports the historicity of Abraham?
Is there any internal or small external evidence of Abraham's existence?
I have heard a claim from skeptics that Abraham is just flat out invented figure who never existed and even COULDN'T have ...
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From where did the Book of Abraham come and how did it become part of LDS Scripture?
According to the answers to this question, the Pearl of Great Price contains a work of antiquity called the Book of Abraham. Where exactly did the Book of Abraham come from and how did it become ...
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In contrast to Judaism and Islam, what is the importance of Abraham's sacrifice of his son in Christianity?
My question is in reference to the verses of Old Testament: Genesis 22:2-8
How Abraham's sacrifice is being interpreted in Christianity in general. And as Muslims and Jews interpret and commemorate ...
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When did Sarah call Abraham "lord"?
Peter says that Sarah called Abraham "lord" (i.e., master) and that it was a good thing.
When did she do this? And how does Peter know this? I can't find it anywhere in scripture.
1 Peter 3:5,6 ...
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Where in God's promises did it show that Abram needed to have a child through Sarai? [closed]
I've been studying Genesis 15-16 and I am wondering, why was it wrong for Abram to have a child through Hagar?
After all, it was a common practice in those times that if a woman were barren, she ...
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Do God and Satan Celebrate Earthly Triumphs?
Many people talk about "A Never-Ending Battle Between Good and Evil".
The Bible mentions specific interventions by God and Satan to influence earthly events.
'The Binding of Issac' stands out in my ...
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What is the family tree diagram explaining how Sarah was Abraham's half sister?
What is the family tree diagram explaining how Sarah was Abraham's half sister (same father different mothers)?
She is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; ...
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Who learned that Abraham would even sacrifice his son in Genesis 22:11?
Most translations say that "Now I know that you fear God" and I refers to the angel in the previous verse.
But Open Theists say that God is learning, that "I" refers to God, but I don't see that in ...
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Abraham tries to sacrifice his son. Is exploiting a human a moral behaviour? [closed]
The story of Abraham is talking about a man, who is punished by God to victimize his son, to prove his faith (Gen 22:1–19). Abraham decides to follow his God by killing his own son. But at the last ...
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Age of Isaac When Abraham Offered Him as a Sacrifice?
I would like to know, if possible, at least the approximate age of Isaac when Abraham offered him as a sacrifice to God. Based on Abraham's advanced age, it would seem that Isaac did not resist in ...
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Who are the many nations that Abraham was called by God, 'the father' of?
Who are these nations that Abraham was father of, according to God's words?
Gen 17:5 (NIV)
5 No longer will you be called Abram[a]; your name will be
Abraham,[b] for I have made you a father of ...
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Does the Bible give the reasons (if any) for God choosing Abraham?
Is there any reason given in the Bible as to why God chose Abram to be the father of Israel?
For example, Noah seems to be chosen by God because he is Righteous.
"Noah was a righteous man, ...
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What is the difference between Abraham's and Sarah's laugh after the LORD's promise?
In the bible we can see two events,
In Genesis the LORD promised Abraham and Sarah a son, but we can see they both laughed.
case 1:
Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a ...
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In Genesis 18, does Jesus meet with Abraham? [closed]
In Genesis 18, the Lord is mentioned several times. Along with 2 angels, he meets with Abraham. Is the Bible speaking of Jesus?
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Is it accurate to call Abraham a Jew?
It is common to associate Abraham as "father of the faith" and the first Jew.
However, since Abram's family came from the land of Ur, isn't it more accurate to say that he wasn't a Jew but - in ...
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Interpretation of Genesis 15 - 17
I am studying the Abrahamic covenant and I have two questions after reading Genesis 15-17.
1) In Genesis 15, God establishes the covenant with Abram. It is an unconditional covenant and because of ...
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Abraham, Moses and God's names
In Exodus 6:2-3, why does God tell Moses that He is "the LORD" and that He did not make himself known to Abraham as "the LORD", but only as "God Almighty"? In Genesis 12, when God called Abraham to ...
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Scriptural/theological reasoning for renaming: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob [closed]
I understand the significance of God's renaming. But I wonder if anyone has done any research as to why the writers of scripture (and consequently, Jews and Christians today) refer to AbraHAM (...
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How did Stephen know that Abraham bought a tomb in Shechem? [duplicate]
My question is somewhat related to the post, Was the cave of Abraham in Shechem or Hebron?
However, in that post, the question revolved around whether the Patriarchs were buried in Hebron or Shechem. ...
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2 Chronicles 28:3 vs Genesis 22:2
How is the contradiction explained between 2 Chronicles 28:3 and Genesis 22:2 in the protestant tradition?
Genesis 22:2 NIV
Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you
love—Isaac—and ...
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Did Melchizedek worship the same God as Abram? [closed]
In Genesis 14:18, there is a man, Melchizedek, who was a priest of the Most High God:
Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (Now he was the priest of the Most High God.) (NET)
A ...
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According to those who deny Jesus is God, In Stephen's discourse in Acts 7:2. Who appeared to Abraham and what form did he take?
The whole verse of Acts 7:2, "And he said, Hear me, brethren and fathers! "The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran." God ask ...
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For Unitarians! Is the being at Genesis 16:10 who multiplied Hagar's descendants the same being who multiplied Abram's descendanst at Genesis 17:1-2?
Genesis 16:10, "Moreover, the angel of the Lord said to her, "I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they shall be too many to count." Vs11, "The angel of the Lord said ...
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The land of bread and honey or just a diversion?
Was God holding back on the Israelites when it came to the promised land?
For example, they were promised fertile land, creating lots of food, bread and honey, beautiful landscape, a place of their ...
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What is the most credited date for the birth (or calling) of Abraham?
Wikipedia says the following:
The patriarchs and matriarchs were either real individuals or believable composites of people who lived in the "patriarchal age", the 2nd millennium BCE. But, ...
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How do advocates of an intermediate state explain that the Old Testament seems to be unaware of the existence of the Bosom of Abraham?
Proponents of an intermediate state typically regard the story of Lazarus & the rich man (Luke 16:19-31) to be informative on the realities of the underworld. According to the story, Hades / Sheol ...
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Was Abraham justified by faith alone or works also? [closed]
I ask this question in this forum as I am seeking the truth.
a. I have always been taught that faith in Jesus and his sacrifice saves me from sin.
b. I listen to a lot of Rabbi's and learnt that Sin-...
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Did Abraham have faith in the future coming of Christ?
R.C. Sproul's book on Romans, Chapter 10, page 106.
"When Paul speaks of Abraham's justification as being by faith, that is shorthand for saying that Abraham was justified by the righteousness of ...
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How do 'soul sleep' adherents explain Mark 12:27, "He is not the God of the dead, but of the living."?
Mark 12:26-27 (also see Matthew 22:32, Luke 20:38) is
"But concerning the dead rising, have you not read about the burning
bush in the Book of Moses, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham,
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Had the Catholic Church a tradition of commemorating Abraham's sacrifice?
Eid ul-Adha or Bakrid is celebtrated all over the world by Muslims to commemorate the sacrifice that Abraham offered in obedience to God.
My question is: Had the Catholic Church any tradition of ...
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How is Abraham able to speak to the rich man across the chasm of hell in Jesus' story in Luke 16? [closed]
How is Abraham able to speak to the rich man in hell if there is a chasm between them? And Abraham is speaking with Lazarus who is in hell? How is this possible since we have a great chasm between us?...