The number 666 is the number of the beast in Revelation, the last book of the Bible: This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:18) The “beast” in Revelation is a symbol […]
How should we deal with the ‘ungodly’?
Firstly, we have to recognise that we are all ungodly – we all fall short of our divine calling. This should bring about a humility and gratefulness for God’s forgiveness. Think of Paul’s honesty here: Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus […]
What does Hebrews 10:5 — “a body have you prepared for me” — mean?
Hebrews 10:5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;” In readings by those who believe that Jesus already existed in heaven (Trinity, Jehovah’s Witnesses) this is often taken to mean that God prepared a foetus in Mary’s womb […]
Is homeopathy OK for Christians to use?
The Bible makes little comment on what forms of medical treatment are acceptable or unacceptable. The book of Leviticus contains a number of chapters that are relevant to health. Chapters 13 & 14 are about the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases and Chapter 15 deals with bodily discharges. Cleansing and isolation (Leviticus 14:8) were […]
Is it a sin to see someone naked other than your spouse?
It is not a sin to see someone naked, but it is a sin to look lustfully at someone (even if that person is clothed): Mat. 5:28. The potential for sin is in our attitudes to a situation: if we happen to see someone naked and are unkind to them (like Ham was to his […]
Who is the Lord in Genesis 18:1?
The word ‘LORD’ in Genesis 18:1 is referring to God. Here is a quote from a previous answer on BibleQ: In the Old Testament, it is common to see LORD in upper case letters (actually in small caps). In these cases, the Hebrew word is יהוה (Yahweh). This is the personal name of God (see […]
Where does the phrase “eating from the Masters’ table” come from?
The exact phrase “eating from the Masters’ table” is not found in the Bible. However, the Canaanite woman (replying to Jesus in his allegorical language) talks of dogs eating “crumbs that fall from their masters’ table” in Matthew 15:27.
What does “prosper” mean in Prov. 28:13?
Prov. 23:13 says: Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. ‘Prosper’ means to ‘succeed’.1 The proverb is saying that people who try to hide their sins will not succeed (the inference is that they will be found out, even if they try to hide their […]
From a Jewish perspective, is Matthew’s use of the word “virgin” correct, since Isaiah doesn’t use the specific word for “virgin” but only the word for “maiden”? (Isa. 7:14; Mat. 1:23)
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [1]. ESV footnote [1] Immanuel means God is with us Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” which […]
Where in the Old Testament does it say Jesus will be called a Nazarene? (Matthew 2:23)
Matthew 2:23: And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: “He shall be called a Nazarene.” This is not a direct quotation from the Old Testament but is more likely to be an example to the 1st Century Jewish practice of seeking allegorical […]