In the Old Testament the firstborn son had authority in the household when the father was absent, and on the death of his father he inherited twice as much as the other sons. (2 Kings 2:9) In the New Testament Jesus Christ is described as the firstborn, not only because he was the eldest in his […]
Does “heaven” stand for “God” in Matthew?
When Matthew uses the phrase “kingdom of heaven” he means exactly the same thing as the “kingdom of God”. However, I don’t know any other context where Matthew uses “heaven” in place of “God”, and he often uses heaven to mean heaven (e.g., Matthew 3:17; 5:12,16). Matthew is the only writer who uses “kingdom of […]
Who carried the cross — Jesus or Simon of Cyrene?
In John 19:17, Jesus is described as carrying his own cross, but in the other gospels we are told that Simon of Cyrene carried the cross for Jesus (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26). It was customary in Roman crucifixions for the prisoner to carry his own cross. Most likely, he had to carry only […]
What are unforgiveable sins?
There are two kinds of unforgivable sins. The first is where the person cannot be brought to repentance: no repentance = no forgiveness. It is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of […]
Should a man wear a hat during worship service, prayer, or in the Sanctuary?
The only relevant passage is 1 Cor 11:4-7 containing some comments from Paul: Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a wife […]
What does the Bible say about endogamy?
Is the Bible for or against it? Endogamy is “the practice of marrying within a specific ethnic group, class, or social group, rejecting others on such bases as being unsuitable for marriage or other close personal relationships” — an unfamiliar term to many, but a very familiar practice, whether the criteria is racial, cultural, or […]
What is the “power of his resurrection” in Philippians 3:10?
The full phrase is found in the following passage taken from Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “…whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of […]
What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?
Blasphemy is showing disrespect for God. Under the Law of Moses, anyone who blasphemed was to be executed by stoning (Leviticus 24:16). “Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” is only mentioned in the gospels: Matthew 12:31-32. “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not […]
Is it okay for Christians to eat pork and shellfish?
Yes, all food is permitted for Christians Yes, according to the New Testament it is perfectly okay for Christians to eat pork and shellfish, both of which were prohibited to Jews in the Law of Moses. This is illustrated by Mark’s comment that Jesus “declared all foods clean”: Mark 7:18 And [Jesus] said to them, “Then are you […]
Do we have to love everyone equally?
Love is a small word with a big meaning. We feel and show love to people in many different ways. This depends on who the person is. For example, the way that a husband loves a wife is different to the way that a father loves his children. Or the way that someone loves a […]