I think the questioner is referring to 2 Corinthians 12:1-5: I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven-whether in the body […]
What did it mean to be rich in biblical times?
Material wealth was distributed very unevenly throughout the biblical period. A small number of people owned a vast proportion of the land and resources, while most people lived in comparative poverty. The concept of a large middle class is a relatively recent and largely Western phenomenon. The wealth of the elite was almost always based […]
Who was the devil in the wilderness?
The devil is an allegory, the personification of temptation. The following details support the suggestion that the ‘temptation’ in the wilderness in Matthew 4 and Luke 4 is an allegory probably told to the disciples by Jesus himself, not a literal event with a literal tempter figure (angelic or human) following Jesus. Some of the […]
What is the “Holy Spirit”?
The word ‘spirit’ The word ‘spirit’ in Hebrew is the same word (ruakh) as ‘breath’ or ‘wind’. These are the first two uses in the Bible: Genesis 1:2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the spirit of God was hovering (or blowing) over the […]
Should women still wear head coverings?
The only passage that discusses this is 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. The passage appears to state that head coverings for women were essential in first century churches whenever they “prayed and prophesied” (“prayed and prophesied” equates both activities as spoken, out loud). There is no verse which indicates that this rule applied to women who did not […]
Who was the “cherub in Eden” (Ezekiel 28:13-14)?
In earlier years, “the cherub in Eden” of Ezekiel 28:13 was frequently identified as Satan. (Compare also the question on Isaiah 14 and “Lucifer”). Although this is less common today, one can see how someone looking for the origin of the ‘fallen angel’ Satan of medieval legend might be drawn to this chapter, if they […]
When did the word “holy” get added to “holy bible”?
The word “holy” is first used to distinguish the Old Testament scriptures in the New Testament: [the gospel] which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures (Rom 1:2) and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in […]
What does “born again” mean?
The term “born again” only occurs three times in the Bible: twice in John 3:3-7 and once in 1 Peter 1:23. When Jesus introduced the term, Nicodemus didn’t understand what he meant. So Jesus explained ““Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of […]
Does God speak to us?
The person who asked this question cited two scriptural passages: And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. (1 Kings 19:12) For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious […]
Where does the Bible say we are supposed to tithe?
Nowhere. The Bible does not command tithing of our income at all. A “tithe” means a “tenth” and tithing means donating 10% of your income. Under the law of Moses in the Old Testament, tithing was required for the Israelites. It was their taxation system. Every Israelite had to give 10% of their income to […]