“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12, King James Version, 1611) The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. (Luke 16:16, KJV) The […]
How is Jesus “firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by [ESV footnote: or by means of] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And […]
Is the Book of Job history or story?
An emotive subject This is a subject that can excite emotions. For many Christian readers the idea that the 66 books of the Bible could include a ‘story’ is a shocking and offensive idea. The immediate reaction to the question is to state that Job is mentioned as a historical figure in Ezekiel 14:14 and […]
How many years did Jesus spend with his disciples before he was crucified?
Here are a few facts that we know, to help try to answer this question: Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan, probably in the 15th year of Tiberias (29AD) or very soon afterward. Jesus then went straight away out to the wilderness for 40 days. When John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus withdrew […]
Is “the elements will be destroyed by fire” (2 Peter 3:10) literal?
“The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire” In a word, no. If it were literal it would require either the heaven in which God resides or the sky to also disappear. Peter states that “the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved.” (vs. 12). Are those who argue […]
What is the meaning of the torch that passed between the pieces of the animals in Abraham’s sacrifice?
This is the context. 7 And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” 8 But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” 9 He said to him, “Bring me a […]
Did God require a sacrifice to forgive the sins of mankind?
Yes. This is perhaps one of the simplest questions to answer. The New Testament makes it clear that the Old Testament sacrifices were only shadows of what God really wanted. Such as in “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired” (Hebrews 10:5). But nevertheless, the final sacrifice, the submission of Jesus to his father’s will, was […]
What are, according to some scholars, the spurious letters of Paul and Peter?
What are, according to some scholars, the spurious letters of Paul and Peter? Several letters in the New Testament bearing Paul’s name are disputed as spurious by some scholars, particularly: Ephesians Colossians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Among these it is principally Ephesians – due to the similarities and differences with Colossians – and […]
What does separation mean for the Christian?
The topic of separation is one that can be seen from different angles. Is it separation from evil to holiness? Or separation from good to evil, even things separated to destruction. Separation in itself is something that, literally, cuts both ways depending on the context. Separation from the world A famous passage from Paul […]
Where can I get a book with an overview of all Bible teachings?
There are various options for someone wanting a book with an overview of all Bible teachings. This one is “Understand the Bible” by Tecwyn Morgan. The book “Understand the Bible for yourself” formatted as a correspondence course. The lessons are available as PDF files below, together with a set of model answers. Or you can […]