Why did God create people? There are several reasons for the creation of men and women suggested in the Bible: …. bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth – everyone who is called by my name, who I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. (Isaiah […]
What does the Holy Spirit empower believers to do?
The holy spirit is a very important area of Christian faith, but is subject to misinterpretation and misunderstanding. I want to briefly look at some of the Apostle Paul’s comments on the Holy Spirit, as they shed a lot of light on a correct understanding. Although the miraculous powers given to some first century believers […]
What does “there are three that testify” mean? (1 John 5:7)
First, what isn’t in the Bible Before answering the question – just because there are those with older versions such as the KJV some mention needs to be made of these extra words found in the KJV and NKJV: For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: […]
What does the Bible say about environmentalism and climate change?
Given that most of the Bible was written in the Ancient Near East and Palestine from 3,000 to 2,000 years ago no-one would expect the writers of the Bible to have forseen the full impact on the planet of today’s human population of 7.2 billion, multiplied by the effects of industrialization and consumerism. Nevertheless the Bible […]
What does “the church of God, which he bought with his own blood” mean? (Acts 20:28)
The full verse in context is as follows: 26 “therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has […]
Does Paul call Christ “God blessed for ever”? (Romans 9:5)
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 […]