There are several Bible passages which are almost identical. In this case, it is most likely that both passages are borrowing from a common source document. There is a small discrepancy in the two passages. Jeremiah says that Jehoiachin was freed on the 25th day of the 12th month, whereas 2 Kings says it was on […]
Where does God identify himself as “one”?
There are a few occasions where God, in his word, the Bible, identifies himself as “one”. Deut. 6:4, for example, says: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. This is quoted in Mark 12:29. Elsewhere in the Bible, we are told that this one God is the Father: …there is one […]
In 2 Kings 5:18, is Rimmon a god of Syria?
Yes, in 2Kings 5:18 Rimmon is referring to a Syrian god. There isn’t much information about this false god, either inside or outside the Bible. The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia has the following entry: A Syrian god. Naaman the Syrian leper after being cured is troubled over the fact that he will still have to […]
Do Israelites who do not and will not believe in Christ go to paradise just because they are from Israel?
No. Part of the basis of salvation is faith in the Lord Jesus (John 3:16; Acts 4:12) so, to be saved, people — including Israelites — need to believe in him and what God did through him. Rom. 9:30-10:21 talks about this in some detail. (Also see, ‘Will God save Israelites simply because they are […]
Please explain Jeremiah 33:17-18
For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever. (Jeremiah 33:17-18) On the face of it, this seems […]
Will the world be replaced after the 1000 year reign of Christ?
The Bible says very little about what will happen at the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ. In fact, there are probably only two relevant passages: Revelation 20:7-15 which describes a final battle and final judgement, and 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 which says Then comes the end, when he [Christ] delivers the kingdom to God […]
Are interracial marriages wrong?
No, the Bible teaches that race is unimportant in our relationship with God: For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him. (Romans 10:12 NIV) The New Testament also makes no mention of race when discussing marriage. It does, however, command […]
Is the concept of a statute of limitations found in the Bible?
A “statute of limitations” gives a time limit after which someone cannot be sued or prosecuted for something they have done. This legal concept is contained in the Law of Moses in at least two places. At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release. And this is the manner of the […]
Where is the middle of the Bible?
There are 1189 chapters in the Bible, so the middle chapter is the 595th chapter which is Psalm 117 (not Psalm 118 as is often claimed). It is harder to identify the middle verse because the number of verses varies depending on the Bible version used. In any case, identifying the middle of the Bible […]
How long were the people of Israel enslaved in Egypt?
The following chart (from my book The Times: a Chronology of the Bible) shows some of the major events during this period and shows the period that Israel was in Egypt from 1656 BC to 1446 BC, or 210 years. Some of the evidence for these dates is given below. The date of the Exodus […]