All Questions
16,715
questions
24
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10
answers
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What does Jesus mean by saying, "Why do you call me good?"
Luke 18:19 (NKJV)
So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
My question is: is this contradictory? What does Jesus mean by this statement?
24
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What does the Bible say about tithing? [closed]
Do we have to tithe? Why does God need us to tithe? What are the results of NOT tithing?
24
votes
5
answers
22k
views
What were the Nephilim, and what role did they play in the Bible beyond just being mentioned?
Did the Nephilim that are mentioned in Genesis 6:4 do anything beyond just existing?
24
votes
4
answers
14k
views
Why do Catholic churches have a red lamp burning inside?
Is there any significance to the red lamp that is lit inside Catholic churches?
I ask because I recently saw a green lamp lit at the entrance to a Church of Scotland village church and wondered if ...
24
votes
7
answers
114k
views
Why did Jesus tell His disciples to buy a sword?
At the Last Supper, Luke records this dialogue:
He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And ...
24
votes
11
answers
18k
views
What is the Biblical Basis for a Good person going to hell simply for not believing?
The scenario is as follows:
Believer, average life, many mistakes/sins. Asks forgiveness and tries everyday to be better. Goes to heaven.
Non-believer, better life than the believer, fewer mistakes ...
24
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Was the Nicene Creed accepted under duress?
In the book Are you Really that Stupid? Observations of a Skeptical Believer, author Joshua Christian makes the claim that the Nicene Creed was accepted under less than ideal (from a theological ...
24
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Is there evidence that Isaiah 53 was viewed as a Messianic prophecy within Judaism, or is it an exclusively Christian interpretation?
The modern Jewish interpretation of the so-called suffering servant song of Isaiah 52:13-53:12 is that it is a prophecy referring to the nation of Israel, not the Messiah. As such, it is sometimes ...
24
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Has a pope ever been corrected publicly by a non-cleric in the presence of cardinals because of the unclear wording of a papal document?
At the moment there is a lot of talk about four cardinals who have submitted a dubia to Pope Francis regarding the interpretation of Amoris Laetitia.
In one article it stated that: "any 'fraternal ...
24
votes
3
answers
6k
views
What are the differences between the different millenialisms?
Revelation 20:1-6 tells of 1000 years in which Christ will reign. I've heard there are different views on this 1000 years, mainly premillenialism, postmillenialism, and amillenialism. What are the ...
24
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What are the main tenets and/or beliefs of the 'Emergent' Church?
'Emergent' is a word I see gets thrown around a lot. Is there any definition to what is and what isn't emergent?
Is it a catch-all for certain points of view?
Are there people out there that ...
24
votes
3
answers
14k
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 ...
24
votes
2
answers
152k
views
When did "tithing" come to mean "giving 10% of your gross income to the Church"?
I know the word "tithe" has "tenth" built into it, and so some Christians assume that every usage of the word "tithe" in Scripture is referring to "giving 10% of your gross income to the church." But ...
24
votes
6
answers
7k
views
What is the biblical basis for the Immaculate Conception?
According to Catholic Doctrine, the Immaculate Conception refers to the teaching that Mary's own conception (not that of Jesus) was without the stain of original sin.
What is the biblical basis for ...
24
votes
5
answers
36k
views
What is the difference between Reformed and Presbyterian
I feel like this is a dumb question, but maybe, just maybe, I'm not the only one confused by this. Maybe if I'm willing to stick my neck out and look stupid, the answer will be here for those poor ...
24
votes
3
answers
6k
views
According to the Catholic Church, are Jews saved without faith in Jesus?
According to recent news stories, the Vatican has issued a report saying that Jews can be saved without faith in Jesus (see for example here).
This sounds very strange, so my questions are:
Does ...
24
votes
1
answer
9k
views
Why doesn't the Catholic Bible include all books from Septuagint?
The Catholic Bible (as opposed to the Protestant Bible) includes the so-called deuterocanonical books. It's commonly simply stated that the books in Septuagint are included in the Catholic canon. ...
24
votes
7
answers
1k
views
What is the physical evidence for a global flood?
Young Earth Creationists believe in a young earth, followed by a literal global flood based on the belief that Scripture is written as history. Often, in comments, discussion forums, and discussions ...
24
votes
5
answers
23k
views
How did the cross come to be a symbol for Christianity?
I understand WHY the cross became a symbol for Christianity, but HOW did it become a symbol? How did it start and how did it evolve into the symbol (or symbols since there are many variants) we all ...
24
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Who is a Christian according to the Russian Orthodox Church
I was told by my Russian Orthodox friends on several occasions that according to their beliefs only members of the Orthodox Church are Christians. (For example, they pointed out that my statement that ...
24
votes
5
answers
5k
views
How do theistic evolutionists view the Fall of Man?
I haven't really decided what to think about the creation of the world. I'm very familiar with the concept of evolution, scientifically, and if I didn't believe in God I'd certainly believe in ...
24
votes
2
answers
126k
views
What is the story behind a monk’s tonsure?
As the title asks: What is the significance of this particular haircut (the tonsure), why is it associated with monks and what is the history behind it?
24
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What distinctive kinds of Bible translations are there?
Obviously there is a lot decisions and elbow-grease that go into producing any Bible translation. I hear a lot of different terms used to describe the different methodologies that guide those ...
24
votes
2
answers
7k
views
From where does the doctrine that there is no time in heaven originate?
I'm quite familiar with the fact that God himself is outside of time, this is very easy to show through scripture.
However it seems to be an increasingly popular conception that there is no time in ...
23
votes
5
answers
7k
views
According to those holding that Jesus was literally born of a virgin, why did Paul not mention it?
Matthew and Luke each open with an account of Jesus' miraculous virginal conception and birth. The virgin birth is widely seen as an essential belief in Christianity, being found for example in the ...
23
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Did Paul write the Epistle to the Hebrews?
The authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews is an open question. The common scholarly opinion is that the author certainly wasn't Paul.
Most modern Bible translations make no mention of the author, ...
23
votes
7
answers
247k
views
What are the main differences between 7th Day Adventists and Catholic/Protestant churches?
What are the main differences between 7th Day Adventists and Catholic/Protestant churches?
23
votes
7
answers
1k
views
Who was Melchizedek? [closed]
Melchizedek ("King of Justice" in Hebrew) is mentioned in Genesis 14 as receiving the dime from Abraham, and breaking bread with him:
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: ...
23
votes
12
answers
8k
views
Where can I find out more about other people rising from the dead, when Jesus died on the Cross?
51 When Jesus died, the curtain in the Temple was torn into two
pieces. The tear started at the top and tore all the way to the
bottom. Also, the earth shook and rocks were broken. 52 The graves
...
23
votes
7
answers
23k
views
Are Orthodox Christians all the same faith?
I've noticed some churches in my area that are titled things like:
"Greek" Orthodox
"Russian" Orthodox
"Serbian" Orthodox
"Antiochian" Orthodox etc...
Are these all the same type of Christian Church?
23
votes
7
answers
3k
views
What are the Biblical and theological 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 ...
23
votes
5
answers
80k
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 ...
23
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Does the Bible give any rules for music? [closed]
Does the Bible provide any rules or even any indication about what kind or style of music is appropriate, both for worship and in general?
23
votes
4
answers
3k
views
How would Reformed Christians deal with homosexual marriage of individuals prior to their conversion to Christianity?
I've been pondering this for several weeks and I believe that the reformed church (really, the church in general) is woefully unprepared to answer the following question:
How would the church deal ...
23
votes
6
answers
47k
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 ...
23
votes
4
answers
40k
views
Where do the names of books of Bible come from?
Where does the name of each book come from?
(I am not a Christian and this should be treated like a novice question.)
23
votes
7
answers
9k
views
Did early church fathers understand the doctrine of trinity?
Many historians and religious scholars ... attest to the influence of
Greek or Platonic philosophy in the development and acceptance of the
Trinity doctrine in the fourth century. ... the famous ...
23
votes
5
answers
80k
views
Why the difference in depiction of the cross between Catholics and Protestants?
As I understand it, Roman Catholic crosses have Jesus hanging on them, but Protestant crosses do not. I understood that Protestant crosses do not because they want to focus on the Resurrection, not ...
23
votes
7
answers
12k
views
At what point is a new soul created according to the Catholic Church?
It seems clear that the Catholic Church rejected Origen's claim that souls were created and existed before conception and birth.
Does the Church pinpoint fertilization of the egg as the moment a soul ...
23
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Do Evangelicals see Catholics as pagans?
This question is based on my personal experience. Some time ago I had a discussion with a friend of mine who's an evangelical pastor.
In a very subtle way, he was asserting that I actually believe ...
23
votes
5
answers
23k
views
Why is "elohim" translated as "God" and not "gods"? [closed]
I was looking at the Holman Christian Standard Bible and I saw that Elohim is plural. Were it to be translated plural it would read something like:
"In the beginning, gods created the heavens and ...
23
votes
5
answers
12k
views
Was tithing 10% required or encouraged by the early church?
I cannot find in the New Testament an obligation on Christians to tithe 10% of their income. Instead I read that it is up the individual to decide:
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV1984)
Each man should ...
23
votes
6
answers
11k
views
Is Hell eternal, or do some/all escape it? [closed]
In his recent book, Love Wins, author and pastor Rob Bell caused quite a bit of controversy (and anger) by making the argument that Heaven is the state that we are in when we follow God's will and ...
23
votes
13
answers
7k
views
Believing that Christianity is "probably" true vs. being fully convinced that Christianity is definitely true?
Most apologetic arguments for theism/Christianity are probabilistic (i.e. they are abductive in nature, rely on premises that are not necessarily true, etc.), meaning that a rational person who is ...
23
votes
4
answers
42k
views
Does the Catholic Church officially recognize Protestants as Christians?
I have always thought that the Pope did not recognize the validity of the faith of those outside of the Catholic church, but in comments from a different post I am surprised to find out I may be ...
23
votes
5
answers
13k
views
Why is Rome the holy city?
Why did Rome become the seat of the Pope and the central location for the Church? I would think that Jerusalem would be the first choice. There are also a number of other cities that I would ...
23
votes
2
answers
8k
views
How does the Catholic church explain Matthew 19:9, which seems to allow divorce in case of sexual misconduct?
Matthew 19:9 (NIV)
I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual
immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.
On a simple examination, it seems to imply that sexual ...
23
votes
4
answers
23k
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 ...
23
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Do the Catholic Church ex cathedra pronouncements about necessity of Catholicism to be saved still apply?
I think the following was spoken Ex Cathedra:
“The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches
that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only
pagans, but ...
23
votes
7
answers
5k
views
Does the Bible make any allusions to life on other planets? [closed]
What, if anything, does the Bible say either supporting the theory of life on other planets, or suggesting that there is none?