Matt 2 describes the visit of the wise men (or magi) to baby Jesus. There is no reference in this account to the number of wise men. The most that we can say is that there were more than one (hence “wise men” plural). It is recorded that the wise men brought three gifts (Matt […]
What evidence is there for the earth being billions of years old?
Bible evidence? None, because the Bible is not a geology textbook. The scientific evidence is strong, however. It was known by geologists that the earth is “ancient” even before the 19th century. In the early 19th century, names were given to the strata, e.g. Devonian, named after the British county of Devon where the Devonian […]
Where did Christ’s physical resurrected body go in the Ascension?
Jesus Christ’s resurrected body was/is part of him – you can’t separate Jesus from his body. Jesus is at the right hand of God in heaven. Jesus’ disciples were frightened when they saw him after his resurrection? Jesus said to them (Luke 24:37-43): But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. […]
With Biblical predestination (Rom. 8: 29-30) is outreach really necessary?
Romans 8: 29-30 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. […]
Is it necessary to take the bread and wine to be saved?
Jesus instituted the taking of bread and wine as a ritual for Christians at the Passover supper he ate with his disciples prior to his betrayal and capture (Matt 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-20, 1 Cor 11:23-26). He compares the bread to his body and the wine to his blood. These are to be symbols […]
Did the serpent of Eden have legs before the Fall?
We are given no description of the serpent prior to the Fall except that he was “crafty” (Gen 3:1). The curse upon the serpent to go on his belly and to eat dust (Gen 3:14) could be reasonably interpreted as saying that the serpent did not go on his belly before the Fall. If we […]
Is the term “Oh my God” blasphemous?
There could be some contexts where it is a sincere call to God for help. However in common usage it is insincere and therefore blasphemous. Given this common blasphemous usage most sincere believers would avoid the term and find an alternative that is not tainted by such usage.
Did life exist prior to the evolution of plants? How would that be possible?
What is a plant? There are different definitions. By the most exclusive definition “plants” are the land plants including mosses and other organisms that don’t contain hardened tissue for transporting water and nutrients. These are called non-vascular plants. Mosses were first seen around 470 million years ago, long before vascular plants. The most inclusive definition […]
What does John 4:23 mean by praying in spirit and truth?
John 4:23 actually says “worship in spirit and truth”. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John […]
Who were the kings of Media and Persia?
Both Media and Persia were ancient kingdoms in what is now Iran. The Medes emerged as a unified kingdom during the period of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. They formed an alliance with the Babylonians to capture Nineveh (612 BC) resulting in the collaspe of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. The Median Empire had dominance over the kingdom of […]