A contradiction with the Old Testament? Most readers finding Matthew 10:28 strange will probably already be in aware that in the Old Testament souls can die and be killed. Sometimes it is not clear from English translations where ‘soul’ (Hebrew nephesh) in phrases such as “all the souls died”, killing “souls” with the sword, and so […]
Why did Stephen say “Lord Jesus receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59) if Jesus is not God?
Does God actually “receive” the spirits of the dead in the Old Testament? At first sight, Stephen’s request to “receive my spirit” does look like the sort of thing we would expect to God to do, not Jesus. The somewhat surprising thing is that the terminology of God “receiving” men’s spirits does not actually occur […]
What does “you are gods” mean in Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34?
The first half of the question, namely what the word “gods” means in Psalm 82:6, is fairly straightforward: 82: 1 God has taken his place in the congregation; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: 2 “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah 3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. […]
What does “God was revealed in the flesh” mean? (1 Timothy 3:16)
This verse is sometimes cited to suggest that Jesus himself is God. The main problem here however is that Greek texts don’t all agree. Some have “God”, some have “he”, which could still mean God was revealed, or could mean that Jesus himself was revealed. Authorized version “God” vs. modern version “He”? The KJV follows the received majority text And […]
“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Did Jesus claim to be God to Philip?
This question relates to Jesus’ answer to Philip’s request “Show us the Father”: 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have […]
“My messenger, .. before me” : Does Malachi 3:1 say that Jesus is God?
The question here is that Luke talks about John the Baptist being the fulfillment of Malachi 3:1, but back in Malachi the messenger goes before God. “… And many of the children of Israel shall he [John the Baptist] turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before HIM in the spirit and […]
Why can’t women preach?
Women can and must preach, as the Scripture tells us on many occasions, for example: but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect (1Pe […]
Does the New Testament call Jesus “God”? (Titus 2:13 and 2 Peter 1:1)
There are no verses in the New Testament which clearly and unambiguously call Jesus “God”. The usual titles for Jesus are “Son of Man” and “Son of God”. Apart from this there also 5 verses which clearly call Jesus “man”. The two verses which are often cited as examples of the New Testament calling Jesus “God” […]
What is the Parousia?
Parousia is a common Greek word for the arrival of an individual. The term occurs only twice in the Greek Old Testament (2 Maccabees 8:12 and 15:21), but is used 24 times in the New Testament. 7 of these concern the arrival of individuals; Paul (2 Corinthians 10:10, Philippians 1:26, 2:12), Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus (1 Corinthians 16:17), […]
What is ‘Preterism’ and is it taught in the Bible?
Preterism is a term (from the Latin praeteritus, gone past) which is used by scholars of prophecy, particularly in relation to the Olivet prophecies of Jesus and the Book of Revelation, to say that some of these prophecies had a first fulfillment, or only fulfillment, in the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in AD70. The most […]