26
votes
Accepted
Which tribe did Paul belong to?
The term "Jew" is an Anglicization of "Judean" which comes from the Greek Ἰουδαῖος (Ioudaios). Technically, it can simply be a regional distinction, that is someone who is from Judea. But it can of ...
- 2,104
13
votes
Accepted
Does Romans 1:18-25 pose a challenge to Christians who believe in the Theory of Evolution?
Paul is indeed making a teleological argument here, but it functions somewhat differently from modern watch-maker arguments.
Paul is writing at a time when nearly everyone believed in some ...
- 11k
11
votes
Which tribe did Paul belong to?
By the time of the New Testament "Jew" and "Israelite" had effectively become synonyms. This is because the large majority of people who returned from the Exile were from the former Kingdom of Judah. ...
- 19.7k
10
votes
Accepted
What is an overview of interpretations of "all Israel will be saved" in Romans 11:26? (Catholic/Protestant overview)
There are three principal interpretations of this passage among Protestants and Catholics. "All Israel" might refer to:
A future large-scale conversion of Jewish people to Christianity
All the ...
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10
votes
How is God's judgement of man fair when he judges them without considering their deeds?
Comparing the representative democracy of America with the kingdom of God is an unparalleled category error. The entire reason American jurisprudence holds a person innocent until proven guilty is ...
- 14.2k
8
votes
Accepted
How do Catholics reconcile the Immaculate Conception with Romans 3:23?
In essence, the Catholic Church takes the position that Paul is not intending to attribute actual sin to every human being that has ever existed.
For the benefit of readers not familiar with the ...
- 13.2k
8
votes
According to the LDS faith, if our spirits lived with God before this life, why is spiritual birth during life on earth required?
You seem to have a misunderstanding of what death is. Death is separation, not ceasing to exist. Spiritual birth is required because of spiritual death.
spiritual death- separation from God (the ...
- 8,612
7
votes
Accepted
Do Evangelical Christians interpret James 1:2 and Romans 5:3 to mean that we should enjoy our problems?
Evangelical theologians teach that these two passages do not instruct us to "enjoy" trials in the sense of getting pleasure out of them. Rather, we are to have joy despite the trials, ...
- 42.2k
7
votes
Romans 9:14 to 9:24 and free will
Do all Christians believe in predestination? No.
Do all Christians
believe in free-will? No.
Does the Bible teach predestination? Yes
Does the Bible teach Free-Will? Yes
Romans informs us ...
- 900
7
votes
Does the “until now” in Romans 8:22 mean that the creation's groans have ended?
There is no difference in meaning whatsoever between the two translations of that verse: "the present time" means exactly the same as "until now". The verse following shows that ...
- 25.7k
7
votes
Does Romans 1:18-25 pose a challenge to Christians who believe in the Theory of Evolution?
Genesis 1 is a much more serious challenge to evolution, so why worry about this?
But really, this passage is all about idolatry, not evolution.
This is far more evident in a modern English paraphrase,...
- 8,121
6
votes
Accepted
In Romans 16:7, are Andronicus and Junia apostles? AND... is Junia a woman? How did the Church Fathers interpret this?
I'll deal with Junia's gender first. Although the Greek manuscripts are ambiguous as to her gender, Wikipedia says "the consensus among some modern New Testament scholars is that Junia was a woman" ...
- 14.4k
6
votes
According to the LDS faith, if our spirits lived with God before this life, why is spiritual birth during life on earth required?
I think a distinction is required between being a child of God (the Father) and being adopted as a child of Christ (the Son).
According to LDS doctrine, all people are spirit children of God, our ...
- 1,775
6
votes
Accepted
What is the biblical basis for believing that some sense of Deity exists in humans?
In the Catholic ‘Encyclopedia of Theoloy’ edited by Karl Rhaner, there is a three-and-a-half page article under ‘God’ called ‘II. Knowability of God’ written by Eberhard Simons. He cites three ...
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6
votes
Can the forensic justication doctrine be characterized as false justification contrary to fact and truth?
In other words, a person is declared righteous despite being a sinner, and remain an ungodly sinner, but God overlooks justice for him and let him go. Is it acceptable if we characterize this as a ...
- 19.7k
6
votes
Accepted
Does Romans 8:1 Cast Doubt On Purgatory?
In Catholic belief, purgatory is not condemnation: It is a place of penance and purification (note the Latin root in common with "purging", "purgare", meaning to purify), in ...
- 259
5
votes
What is an overview of how Christian commentators have explained rulers to be a terror to bad conduct?
I think most commentators have understood "terror to good conduct" a little differently than you are understanding it. The phrase is φόβος τῷ ἀγαθῷ ἔργῳ (phobos tō agathō ergō) — literally, "...
- 4,312
5
votes
Did Luther add a word to Romans 3?
Yes, clearly and obviously, Luther added the word "alone" to his translation. But that's not the real question to ask. If you'll permit a small digression, the real question is why. It is clear that ...
- 219
5
votes
How do those who believe that Jesus is a created being understand the verses which say everything that was created was created by him?
Warning: These are not my own beliefs, but I also don’t believe in straw-manning so this is only my best attempt to describe in their strongest form, what I might believe if were an Arian.
I think ...
- 1,666
5
votes
Does Romans 1:18-25 pose a challenge to Christians who believe in the Theory of Evolution?
If we zoom in: Romans 1:18-24 aims to emphasize the invisible attributes of God as the creator. But if we also zoom out and consider the context of the chapter, it is about how human perspectives on ...
- 499
4
votes
Accepted
In the tradition of Jehovah's Witnesses, does Romans 6:23 mean that all people who are resurrected have their sins blotted out?
The answer to this question lies in understanding judgement day from the Jehovah's Witnesses point of view.
We do not believe persons are resurrected and judged worthy of eternal life or eternal ...
- 7,022
4
votes
Was Jesus in unity with the Holy Spirit?
Jesus said to a Samaritan women:
Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour ...
- 678
4
votes
Accepted
Does faith cometh by hearing only as alluded to in Romans 10:17?
There are two primary groups.
One hears the gospel, builds faith on it and understand. He is like the good soil.
Matthew 13:23 he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the ...
- 3,260
4
votes
Accepted
How do Arminians interpret God's reserving of a remnant in Romans 11:4?
You've mentioned one of the big points of disagreement between Arminians and Calvinists regarding the interpretation of Romans 9–11 – are nations or individuals in view? Romans 9:6–24 is a crucial ...
- 42.2k
4
votes
How do Jehovah's Witnesses explain Paul's apparent equating of Yahweh and Jesus in Romans 10?
The explanation of any group or individual regarding which 'Lord' (or Lords) Romans chapter 10 deals with depends upon their theology, as Ben Mordecai has actually pointed out. Any group or individual ...
- 25.7k
4
votes
Accepted
How can Paul having been alive apart from the Law reconcile with the doctrine of original sin?
For I was alive without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Paul means that
Before he heard the law he thought he was OK, fine, alive. But when he heard the law ...
- 6,562
4
votes
How is God's judgement of man fair when he judges them without considering their deeds?
I write from a reformed, Calvinist point of view which includes three things:
I believe in the complete sovereignty of God in all things, he does whatever he pleases in heaven and on earth (Isaiah 46:...
- 6,562
4
votes
According to Protestant interpretations, is Romans 3:5-6 a text relating to Theodicy or something else?
A dictionary definition of theodicy is: "Vindication of divine providence in view of existence of evil" (The Concise Oxford Dictionary, 1976 edition). You ask if Romans 3:5-6 relates to ...
- 25.7k
4
votes
Accepted
What does St Paul mean by saying "wages credited as a matter of obligation "?
The Rheims translation is clearer (Rom. 4:3-5):
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.
Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned ...
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