If Jesus existed before birth, then what happened to his memories? This is just one the serious questions about preexistence that those who teach that Jesus existed before his conception often try to avoid. His preexistence is dogmatically asserted as a fact that must be believed. But the most rudimentary and obvious questions about this […]
What does it mean that “the fullness of deity” dwells in Christ? (Colossians 2:9)
[This answer is excepted from a previous post on ‘deity’ where this content was difficult to find in the search results] 2. Of the fullness of deity dwelling in Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and […]
What is the origin of Halloween?
Halloween is a medieval Christian festival held on the night before Allhallowtide. The present date of Hallowmas (All Saints’ Day) and therefore also of its vigil (Hallowe’en) was established in Rome around the time of Pope Gregory III (731–741). The festival does not have any particular pre-Christian pagan origin (despite spurious claims on the Internet […]
Does the bible teach conditional immortality or eternal conscious torment?
The opposing terms “conditional immortality” (CI) vs “eternal conscious torment” (ECT) are recent terms which have developed a usage on the Internet, but are not scholarly terms widely used in theological literature.* In particular the abbreviations “CI” vs “ECT” are almost unknown outside a few discussion boards. To most readers the abbreviation “ECT” if it […]
Does Isaiah 44:24 destroy the claims of the Trinity?
In a word, yes. Though it is hardly the only verse in the Bible to do so. Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, (Isaiah 44:24 NRSV) Isaiah 44:24 is often used […]
the spirit of Christ in the prophets (1 Peter 1:11)
This verse has led some to question why ‘the Spirit of Christ’ rather than just the more normal New Testament phrase ‘the Holy Spirit’ for inspiration of these particular prophecies: “inquiring about the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings intended for Christ […]
Why did Noah send out a raven and a dove?
The account of Noah sending out the two birds occurs in Genesis 8, after the ark had come to rest on the top of Mount Ararat: Genesis 8:6 At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made 7 and sent out the raven, and it went to […]
What is the “new creation”?
The concept of a “new creation”, and of baptised, born again, men and women as “new creatures” in Christ is found throughout the New Testament.Key verses include: 2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (ESV) Galatians 6:15 For neither […]
What can we say about the Trinitarian argument “if Jesus is not truly God, he cannot save”?
What can we say about the Trinitarian argument “if Jesus is not truly God, he cannot save”? There are so many versions of this claim that this answer might later be expanded by addressing different variants of the claim in different sections, But fundamentally the problem is a misunderstanding of who actually has the power […]
To whom is God pleading Israel’s cause in Jeremiah 50:34?
Jeremiah 50:34 has raised the question, how can God plead Israel’s cause, and to whom? ESV Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon. The context of the previous and following verses […]