No. A late date for the earliest manuscript of any ancient book could be evidence that the book is a forgery or unreliable;1 but it does not necessarily follow that a late date for an earliest manuscript means the book is a forgery or is unreliable. There is other evidence to take into account. Some […]
Who are the 144,000 chosen ones mentioned in Revelation?
The 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 14:1-5 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. (2) And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The […]
What did a cherub and a ‘wheel within a wheel’ look like?
Although, probably to varying degrees of success, people have made attempts at depicting them,1 no one knows for sure what either a cherub or a ‘wheel within a wheel’ looks like. The descriptions we have about what they looked like can be found in places like Ezekiel chapters 1 and 10. In the answer to […]
If you fail to stop sinning after becoming baptised, can you still be forgiven? How do you deal with sexual desire?
Wrong behaviour needs to be avoided. Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, (21) envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will […]
What does the Bible say about taking up an offence against your brother?
There are examples in scripture of dramatic turnarounds. Joseph was kidnapped and sold into slavery by his brothers. His response is interesting. Joseph did not lightly dismiss the evil that was done to him. He dealt with his brothers, ultimately winning them back, but not before testing them severely. Joseph saw beyond what had happened to […]
What does the Bible say about sport?
The Bible uses some sports as illustrations of spiritual principles. 1Co 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. (25) Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we […]
Is there any scripture that commands me to confess my sin to the person I lied to?
It is not right to expect to be able to hide sin. Jesus berated the scribes and Pharisees for pretending to be what they were not. This is called hypocrisy. Mat 23:25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full […]
Where or what is the “promised land” for New Testament believers?
The “promised land” as far as the believer is concerned, is the Kingdom of God on earth, with Jesus reigning from Jerusalem (Luke 1:32-33) with the help of his immortalised followers – the saints or believers. (Rev 5:10) This is the gospel or good news of which we read, in Acts 8:12 – the good news of […]
Why were Jesus’ disciples told not to greet anyone in Luke 10:4?
Luke 10:4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Jesus probably told the disciples to greet no one on the road, because the job they had to do was urgent and the time was short. There is a similar instruction given by Elisha to Gehazi in 2Kings 4:29 He […]
Did Jesus believe in the existence of a personal devil?
Question: “If he didn’t, then he was positively untruthful, for He purposely conveyed an impression contrary to the truth. It represents Him not as instructing but deceiving His disciples, as encouraging superstition rather than teaching truth. It presents Him in a light entirely inconsistent with His claim to be a teacher sent from God, since […]