This is a fairly straightforward question where the answer becomes immediately obvious when looking at the first half of this mini-parable. The context is Jesus himself, and the comparison of himself “I” to a hen, comes straight after the threat from the fox Herod Antipas to kill him. Herod Antipas had only recently killed John […]
is Michael Heiser’s “Divine Council Worldview”, presented in his book ‘The Unseen Realm’ and Naked Bible podcast, biblical?
In short, no. Although the late Michael Heiser’s books were massively popular, and he had a dedicated following on social media, his books and podcasts are basically just a legitimization, using pagan sources from the Ancient Near East, of the very old story of the “angels that sinned” myth, found in 1st Century BC texts […]
Why does Ephesians 4:8 apply Psalm 68:18 “ascended on high”, which is about God, to Christ?
The New Testament uses several Old Testament verses which in their original context are about God and applies them to Christ. The use of Psalm 68:18 in Ephesians 4:8 is one of the better known ones. Let’s compare first the two passages: 17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the […]
What does “he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive” mean? (Ephesians 4:8)
This verse in Ephesians prompts a number of questions. Other answers on BibleQ which may be of interest include: * What does it mean that Jesus preached to the “spirits in prison” 1 Peter 3:19 * Why does Ephesians 4:8 apply Psalm 68:18 “ascended on high”, which is about God, to Christ? An answer taken […]
What is the differenced between “possessed by demons” and “oppressed by the devil”?
This is a good question because the difference in the verbs highlights the difference between demons and the devil in the New Testament. Demonized, having a demon, in an unclean spirit. Typically where the English versions have “possessed by demons” (or in the King James “possessed by devils”) the Greek word is simply “demonized”, daimonizomenos, […]
What does the Bible say about prayers for the dead?
The Bible has no examples of anyone praying for the dead. This is not a biblical practice. Firstly because the dead are dead. They no longer exist. Their names hopefully are recorded in the ‘book of life’ to be opened when Christ returns to raise the dead, but nothing can be done to alter their […]
How many times did the gift of tongues occur in Acts?
This answer relates only to the comprehensible tongues recorded in Acts. It does not relate to the incomprehensible tongues Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 14. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 14:2 […]
When did Jesus first exist?
This short answer is taken from the CBM BBT leaflet ‘When did Jesus first exist?’ For longer examination of this topic see the booklets by Alan Hayward and A.E. Walker: Alan Hayward Did Jesus Christ really come down from Heaven? A.E. Walker Did Jesus Exist in Heaven Before his Birth? . . . . […]
What are the origins of Easter?
“Easter” The term ‘Easter’ is simply an old English word that was used in the earliest vernacular speech to substitute for the Greek (and Latin) term Pascha, which in Jewish Greek Old Testament and in the Greek New Testament is a transliteration of the Hebrew term Pesakh, Passover. The term has now been removed from […]
Did the sun really stand still? (Joshua 10:13)
The short answer here is ‘No, it did not literally happen’. This is a poetic description of an event found in the lost Book of Jasher. Please see another answer on BibleQ for information on that book: What is the Book of Jasher? For a fuller answer here is an excerpt from a book by […]