No, there isn’t; but there is evidence that John was a Jew. Jesus’ ministry was primarily exclusive to the tribes of Israel (Mat. 15:24). As John and the other disciples were people Jesus came to minister to, John would have been a Jew. Jesus probably selected the twelve disciples to represent Israel in some way […]
What were the coverings mentioned in Numbers 4:6,8,10-12,14,25 made of?
No one really knows. As Gordon Wenham says in his commentary on the book of Numbers:1 As the different translations make plain, it is uncertain what the outer cover was made of. Hebrew taḥas (RSV goatskin) was taken by the early versions to be a colour. But early Jewish scholars suggested that taḥas was the […]
Other than Cain and Able, how many brothers killed their brothers in the Bible?
Here is a list of some brothers who killed their brother/s, although I’m sure I’ve missed some: Men of Levi (not necessarily literal brothers) Exo 32:26-29 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. […]
Were Gentiles excluded from entering the synagogue?
During the time of the second temple (c. 516 BCE to 70 CE) Gentiles were excluded from entering the Temple past the outer court (which was known as the Court of the Gentiles). But there are numerous cases in Scripture of Gentiles attending synagogues around the Roman world. Of course, there could well have been […]
How long did Paul train before he began his ministry?
There were at least 2 elements of Paul’s training. His training at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) according to the strict manner of the law of the Jews. The revelation of the Gospel directly from Jesus Christ (Gal 1:12), most probably in Arabia. Probably his training with Gamaliel would have been concluded by the […]
What was the mark that the Lord put on Cain so no one would kill him (Gen. 4:15)?
We are not told any details about the mark God put on Cain. The word translated “mark” is used of the sign of the rainbow in Genesis 9:12-13 and the sign of circumcision in Genesis 17:11. Those two things were a physical sign, so it is likely the sign on Cain was a physical sign […]
What is humankind’s purpose on planet earth?
God set humankind over His creation to be responsible for it. Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over […]
What travelled with and stood in the way of both Moses and Joshua?
An angel travelled with both Moses and Joshua. We read of at least two occasions when the angel representing the LORD, appeared to Moses. The first time the angel of the LORD appeared to Moses was when he was a shepherd in Midian. Exodus 3:2-5 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in […]
When a saved person dies, will his body go back to the dust and his spirit go to Paradise?
Not quite. When a “saved person” dies, his body goes back to the dust and his spirit or breath goes back to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7 tells us this: Ecc 12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. We find one […]
What does “to make an atonement with him” mean in Leviticus 16:10?
Does this refer to the laying of sins on the scapegoat (i.e., covering it with the sins of the people) and, if so, why should this be termed “to make an atonement with him”? Yes, I believe this referred to the laying of sins on the scapegoat. Leviticus 16:20-22 explains that Aaron put on the […]