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 […]
How could the serpent of Eden talk?
We are not told how the serpent could talk so we can only speculate, but here are some ideas: The serpent is described as being “more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made” (Gen 3:1). This may indicate a higher level of intellect than normal animals. So one […]
When can one be considered righteous?
The simple answer is, when God considers us righteous. When does God consider us righteous? To answer this question, I’d like to briefly look at a few examples of righteous people. Firstly, Abraham, the friend of God, is an excellent example. God made a seemingly impossible promise to Abraham and Abraham believed God. We read […]
How was Jesus able to hear people’s thoughts? (Luke 5:21-23)
There are numerous examples in the Bible of people doing wonderful things, including knowing things that they could not know by themselves. For example, Ahijah knew the king’s wife, even though she was disguised and he was blind (1 Kings 14:6). Daniel knew what Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed, even without being told (Dan 2:30). Peter knew […]
What is meant by “vowing a vow” (Numbers 30)?
If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. (Numbers 30:2) When used as a noun, a vow is a promise. When used as a verb, vow means to promise […]
What did Jesus mean when he said “some who are standing will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of God come with power”? (Luke 9:27)
The next two verses are helpful: 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.” 28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 […]
Why did the children of Israel take so long to reach Mt. Horeb?
It took them several weeks. Exodus 16:1 They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. Exodus 17:6 Behold, I […]
Please explain John 17:5 “glory that I had with you before the world existed.”
And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed (John 17:5) This verse is part of much longer prayer of Jesus from the night of the Last Supper. His prayer covers a range of topics, including both his immediate disciples and future generations […]