Jesus or Jesus Christ is mentioned approximately 968 times. Christ (without Jesus) is mentioned an additional 286 times (approx). Making a total of approximately 1254 times Moses is mentioned 852 times. Abraham is mentioned 250 times and Abram 62 times making a total of 312 times. David is mentioned 1141 times. So Jesus/Jesus Christ/Christ occurs […]
What is the ‘sacred secret’ of the Christ?
Colossians 4:3-4: At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— (4) that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. So Paul was in prison because […]
Did God make a covenant with any nation other than Israel?
Israel were a special, chosen nation that God brought up out of slavery in the land of Egypt and then gave them the land of Israel to live in (Exodus 19:3 – 6). He made a covenant with them, an agreement which meant that they would get the land that he had promised them, but […]
Who is the prince and king of Persia referred to in Daniel 10:13?
The prince of the kingdom of Persia is most likely Cyrus the great, who started ruling in 559BC. The “kings of Persia” is probably referring to Cyrus and his father Cambyses, who died in 551BC, co-ruling with Cyrus for about 8 years. It is not uncommon in Scripture for kings to be referred to as […]
Why did Jesus say “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”? (Mat. 15:24; cf. 10:6)
The Jews, the nation of Israel, have always been important to God because God made an agreement — a covenant — with one of their ancient ancestors, Abraham (Gen. 15:4-6). Because God loves Israel and is bound to her, he has, throughout history, sent prophets and brought saviours to help his people, Israel (e.g. 2 […]
Who can understand parables?
In Matthew 13:1o Jesus’ disciples ask him why he taught in parables. Jesus replied, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven…’ (Mat. 13:11). Here Jesus is referring to his disciples, i.e. the people who followed him and learned from him: these people, his disciples, were the ones who […]
In the parable of the wheat and tares, who are the tares? (Matthew 13:24-30;36-43)
Jesus describes who the “tares” (‘weeds’, ESV) are in Matthew 13:41. As the weeds in the parable would be gathered together and destroyed at harvest time, so, at Jesus’ return, ‘all causes of sin and all law-breakers’ will be destroyed: the weeds represent ‘all causes of sin and all law-breakers’. In contrast, the wheat represents […]
Were the Ephesians a portion of the divorced northern kingdom of Israel?
No. In Ephesians 2:11-12 Paul writes the following to the Ephesians: Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands — {12} remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth […]
What stories in the Bible talk about lust?
There are probably a few stories in the Bible that talks about lust. One well known example is from the life of David, when he lusted after Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah (the record is in 2 Samuel 11). At the end of 2 Samuel 11 the following comment is made about David’s actions: …the thing that […]
Why do you think the 12 disciples were all men and what does this tell us about a woman’s role as a Christian?
In many ways the 12 disciples were Jesus’ closest friends. Yet, they were also appointed to do specific tasks, as recorded in Mark 3: 13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) […]