This one of the best known of the 10 verses which are presented as possible proofs for Christ being called God in the New Testament. Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (KJV Romans 9:5) The problem is that the […]
Does 1 John call Jesus “the true God and eternal life”? (1 John 5:20)
This is one of the 10 famous possible “Jesus as God” verses which are much discussed by Trinitarians and non-Trinitarians examining in detail the fine points of grammar and variations in the Greek manuscripts. Houtos – ‘this’ or ‘he’, and if ‘He’, then who? The argument here hinges on a point of Greek grammar; whether […]
Does the Bible call Jesus ‘God’? (10 verses which some say do)
Some people think that it does, usually based on one or more of the following 9 (or 10) “Jesus as God” verses. The Word Was God, John 1:1 The Only Son, Who Is God, John 1:18 My Lord and My God! John 20:28 The Church of God, Acts 20:28 God blessed Forever, Romans 9:5 Our […]
What does it mean that Jesus preached to the “spirits in prison” 1 Peter 3:19
This is an obscure verse which has led to various ideas. During the Middle Ages in Europe it led to the idea of the “harrowing of hell” (to harrow is an old English word meaning to raid a fortress), and there are many examples of Christian art depicting Jesus leading out the souls of the […]
“And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.” Does Luke 22:36 support Christians owning guns for self-defence?
Does Luke 22:36 support Christians owning guns for self-defence? The verse in question has a long history, of being cited, not just to support Christians using force (then literally swords) for self-defence, but also to support Christians serving in armies, and even to support the use of military violence by nominally Christian states. Luke 22:36, where […]
Did God know that Adam and Eve would disobey him?
Yes, God knows our thoughts before we even think them. Psalm 139:2-4 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. (3) You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. (4) Even before a word is on my tongue, […]
Was there a rebellion in heaven?
There was not a rebellion in the literal heaven as God’s will is always done in heaven. See the Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” God’s angels in heaven always obey the voice of God and always do his will. Psalm 103:19-21 “The […]
Where does the word Easter come from?
Easter (Ēostur) is the Anglo-Saxon name for the month of April, and is one of the twelve old Anglo-Saxon month names recorded by Bede (d.735). These Anglo-Saxon month names fell out of use after the Norman Conquest (1066) or earlier, and were replaced with the 12 Roman month names like January, February which we use today. […]
What is the difference between Easter and Passover?
There are two answers to this question. 1. Christian ‘Easter Sunday’ = the resurrection Sunday The first answer is that the word “Easter” has become established in Christian usage for the events of Christ’s death and resurrection which happened at the time of the Jewish Passover. So the Christian reference to Easter emphasises the Resurrection […]
Is Jesus called “Yahweh” in Jeremiah’s “Branch” prophesy?
The question relates to Jeremiah 23:5-6 where the prophet makes a Messianic prophecy about a new descendant of David. In the Hebrew text the word for English ‘LORD’ is the divine name YHWH, usually transcribed ‘Yahweh’ or ‘Jehovah’: 5 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King […]