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Archived Bible Overview Topics

2013

April

Genesis 3: Consequences for Adam and Eve

Bible Characters - Abraham (Genesis 15)

Questions and Answers - How could Deborah be a judge? I thought women were
not allowed to have this position.

Questions and Answers - Why was Jael chosen to kill Sisera when she was not an
Israelite? Who told her to kill Sisera?

March

Genesis 3: Adam and Eve

Bible Characters - Abraham (Genesis 14)

Questions and Answers - I would like to know if Hillel 2nd might have had any part
in advocating for the pagan month names in his calendar in addition to the exiles.

February

Genesis 2: The Second Story of Creation

Bible Characters - Abraham (Genesis 13)

   Questions and Answers - We read in Genesis 2:9 that God made a tree of the
   knowledge of good and evil. What kind of a tree is this – and what is "the
   knowledge of good and evil?"

January

Genesis 1: The Story of Creation

Bible Characters - Abraham (Genesis 11:27-12:20)

   Questions and Answers - I know some people dispute Moses' authorship of the
   Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible), and instead talk about the Documentary
   Hypothesis. What is that, and how did they arrive at that notion?

2012

December

The Secret Book of John

Bible Characters - Origen

   Questions and Answers - After reading about the Apocryphal books, whose
   authors are, for the most part, anonymous, I'm wondering if we know more about
   the authors of the books that did make it into the canon? Do we know who wrote
   the books of the Bible?

November

Shepherd of Hermas

Bible Characters - Irenaeus

   Questions and Answers - I notice that in the KJV Mark 15:34, the famous passage
   portraying Jesus' last words in the passion, he seems to be quoting directly from
   Psalm 22, which describes the psalmist's circumstances in a manner and in detail
   too close to the crucifixion to be coincidence. I wonder what is the general level
   of scholarly comment on this matter, how much is there, and which way ?

October

Didache

Bible Characters - Eusebius

Questions and Answers - What was the Arian Controversy all about?

September

The Epistle of Barnabas

Bible Characters - Barnabas

   Questions and Answers - I have heard people say that the reason the Jews didn't
   accept Jesus as the Messiah is due to the fact that he didn't want them to know.
   That becomes apparent in passages in Mark where Jesus commands silence of
   demons (usually right after they have called him the Son of God), people that he
   healed, disciples, etc. Why would Jesus not want people to know who he was?
   And is there such a thing as a "messianic secret" in Mark?

August

Third Corinthians

Bible Characters - Tertullian

Questions and Answers - If the KJV of the Bible is true, how did Nebuchadnezzar
recognize the Son of God having never seen Him before? (Dan.3:25)

July

The Acts of [Paul] and Thecla

Bible Characters - Thecla, Theocleia, and Thamyris

Questions and Answers - What do scholars think about Paul's views on marriage
as described in the Acts of Thecla?

June

The Acts of Paul

Bible Characters - King Agrippa II

   Questions and Answers - In Acts 26, Paul stands before King Agrippa II, who
   encourages him to "speak for himself," i.e., in his own defense. Paul presents his
   best arguments to Agrippa (and Festus). In 26:28 Agrippa interrupts him by saying,
   "You almost persuade me to become a Christian" (NKJV). Is that true? Did Paul
   "almost persuade" the king to become a Christian?

May

The Acts of Peter

Bible Characters - King Agrippa I

   Questions and Answers - When Peter escaped from prison (see Acts 12) he went
   to the home of "Mary, mother of John also called Mark, where many people were
   praying." Is this the same Mark who wrote the Gospel of Mark?

April

The Acts of Thomas

Bible Characters - Didymus Judas Thomas

   Questions and Answers - At one point, the apostle Thomas stated he wouldn't
   believe in Jesus' resurrection until he had put his fingers in the marks on his
   hands, and his hand in the wound on his side. I've heard that through the
   centuries other people have borne the marks of Jesus' crucifixion. What can you
   tell us about that?

March

The Acts of Andrew

Bible Characters - Andrew, the Apostle

   Question and Answers - In John 6:8-9, Andrew brings a boy with five small barley
   loaves and two small fish to Jesus, and then asks, "But how far will they go
   among so many?" I've been wondering about that very same thing. How did five
   loaves and two fish feed 5000 men? What do scholars say about the feeding
   stories?

February

The Acts of John

Bible Characters - The Manichaeans

   Questions and Answers - I have always believed that the apostle John, the son of
   Zebedee, was the "beloved disciple," who wrote the Gospel of John and the
   letters of John, and who was exiled to Patmos where he wrote the Book of
   Revelation. Now I understand none of that might be true. How can this be?

January

The Apocalypses of Peter

Bible Characters - The Concept of Hell

   Questions and Answers - Three of the four Gospels describe Jesus'
   Transfiguration on the mountain where Moses and Elijah appeared to him and
   three of his disciples. How do scholars talk about this event?

2011

December

The Epistle of the Apostles

Bible Characters - Simon Magnus

Questions and Answers - I've heard that the term "simony" has a New Testament
origin. Could you tell me more about this?

November

The Secret Gospel of Mark

Bible Characters - Clement of Alexandria

   Questions and Answers - In relation to the Secret Gospel of Mark, Clement
   attacks a group known as the Carpocratians. Who were they, and why was he
   upset with them?

October

The Gospel of Judas

Bible Characters - Judas Iscariot

   Questions and Answers - In reading about the Gospel of Judas, I keep coming
   across the term "Sethian Gnostics" as though this is some specific group within
   Gnosticism. Were they, and if they were, what set them apart from other Gnostic
   groups?

September

The Gospel of the Savior

Bible Characters - Oxyrhynchus

   Questions and Answers - All four gospels have a story about a woman anointing
   Jesus. Some of the phrases are very similar, but there are also some major
   differences. Are these all the same story and, if so, what was the point of the
   story?

August

The Gospel of Truth

Bible Characters - Valentinus

   Questions and Answers - Recently I read in Numbers 12:3, "Now the man Moses
   was very meek, more than all men that were on the face of the earth." In what
   way was Moses meek? We know that he stood against Pharaoh, he argued with
   God, and led the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. None of these seem to
   fit the definition of "meek" to me: 1. patient, long-suffering, or submissive in
   disposition or nature; humble 2. spineless or spiritless; compliant. (See online
   Dictionary)

July

The Gospel of Philip

Bible Characters - Philip

   Questions and Answers - I've been reading about the women in the book of
   Judges, and I have a question about Jael. I know that the killing of Sisera was a
   noble act, and probably even in accordance with God's plan. But does this fit with
   the idea of extending hospitality to strangers in the ancient world? She essentially
   offered hospitality and then killed her guest.

June

The Gospel of Mary

Bible Characters - Mary Magdalene

   Questions and Answers - How do scholars explain the passage in I Sam.16 where
   Saul sends for David (described as a valiant man of war) to play music for him (and
   David then lives at the court) with I Sam.17 (David and Goliath) where it appears that
   Saul has never met David before? Are these two different source documents?

May

The Gospel of Peter

Bible Characters - The Making of Parchment

Questions and Answers - What does the Bible say about tattoos?

April

The Gospel of Thomas

Bible Characters - The Nag Hammadi Library

   Questions and Answers - I've heard several people say that scholars think the
   author of the Gospel of Thomas was Jesus' twin brother. Why on earth would
   anybody think that?

March

The Greek Gospel of the Egyptians

Bible Characters - The Women Named Salome

   Questions and Answers - My wife is having difficulty finding out who Job's
   parents were as well as when he was born. She is reading the bible through
   again this year, and in going through the genealogy, she has not located the info
   she wanted. Any help would be appreciated.

February

The Gospel of the Ebionites and the Hebrew Gospel

Bible Characters - The Ebionites

   Questions and Answers - Approximately when was John the Baptist born and
   when was Jesus born? How soon after Jesus began his ministry did John the
   Baptist die? When did Jesus die? Some books say Jesus' was born between 6-4
   B.C.E. The Anchor Bible Dictionary says John the Baptist died between 28-29 C.E.
   and Jesus died in 30 C.E. Are these dates correct?

January

The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew

Bible Characters - St. Jerome

   Questions and Answers - We had considerable discussions over the holidays
   about when Jesus was actually born. Do scholars know? And if he wasn't born
   on December 25, in the year 0, how did that come to be the date it is celebrated?

2010

December

The Infancy Gospel of Thomas

Hippolytus of Rome, an early Christian theologian who was also the first
"antipope."

Why does the Book of Daniel use Daniel's Hebrew name, but use his friends'
pagan names?

November

The Infancy Gospel of James

Mariology— the theological study of Mary promulgated by various Christian
traditions.

   Questions and Answers - In the Infancy Gospel of James, both Mary and Joseph
   come under suspicion for having had intimate relations when Mary is found to
   be pregnant. What is the background for the procedure in which they were given
   treated water to drink to determine whether they were guilty or innocent of such
   charges?

October

The Christian Apocrypha

Bible Characters - Athanasius, an early Bishop of Alexandria who had an important
role in establishing the New Testament as we know it.

   Questions and Answers - When reading Genesis it seems like the world is pretty
   young – maybe a few thousand years old? If this is true, why do scientists think
   dinosaurs lived millions of years ago? Does that mean there were dinosaurs
   during Adam's life? Also, where were God's people during the ice age?

September

The Life and Times of Paul VII - Paul's Journey to Rome

Bible Characters - Nero

Questions and Answers - A Question about Paul and the Viper

August

The Life and Times of Paul VI - Paul's Arrival and Arrest in Jerusalem

Bible Characters - Felix and Festus

   Questions and Answers - It seems from the stories in Acts that after Paul had
   been arrested, the Romans thought the charges were without foundation. Why
   didn't they just release him?

July

The Life and Times of Paul V – Third Missionary Journey

Bible Characters - Apollos

   Questions and Answers - At the conclusion of the Jerusalem Council, James told
   Paul not to forget the "poor." At the time, Paul seemed quite eager to help in this
   regard. According to Paul's letters, he gathered a collection of money from all the
   Gentile churches to be used for the "poor" in Jerusalem. He talks about it often
   and perhaps even risked his life to present it, yet Luke never mentions it in Acts
   after Paul arrived. Why not?

June

The Life and Times of Paul IV, Second Missionary Journey

Bible Characters - The Jerusalem Council

   Questions and Answers - Are the incidents described in Acts 15:1-29 and
   Galatians 2:1-21 the same event, known as the Jerusalem Council – one
   description from Luke and one description from Paul? And how did the early
   Christians – namely Peter, Paul, and James – eventually settle the question of
   whether or not Gentile converts to Christianity needed to follow Jewish religious
   law, including circumcision and dietary codes?

May

The Life and Times of Paul III, First Missionary Journey

Bible Characters - focuses on two of the cities named Antioch – Syrian Antioch
and Pisidian Antioch – instead of a Bible character.

   Questions and Answers - Several New Testament writers use the term “God-
   fearers.” Does this refer to an actual group or is it another name for Paul’s
   opponents?

April

The Life and Times of Paul Part II, Paul’s Conversion

Bible Characters - the Ancient City of Damascus

   Questions and Answers - How did Peter, James, and John recognize Moses and
   Elias (Elijah) at the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36)? No
   iPhone pics were sent in those days!

March

The Life and Times of Paul I, Introduction to Paul

Bible Characters - The Sanhedrin

   Questions and Answers - I am never comfortable understanding Ecclesiastes 3
   verse 1. Verses 9 and 10 should answer my question. Have you any thoughts that
   would clarify it for me?

February

The Life and Times of the Disciples, Establishing the Church

Bible Characters - Ananias and Sapphira

   Questions and Answers - In Acts 5:34, a Pharisee, Gamaliel, seems to be
   somewhat sympathetic to the apostles. At least he is credited with saving their
   lives. Later on, however, in Acts 22:3, Paul states that he learned about the law of
   the fathers at “the feet of Gamaliel.” It was this learning that led him to be
   “zealous toward God,” which was the basis for his subsequent persecution of
   Christians. Are we talking about the same Gamaliel in both events? And does that
   also suggest that Gamaliel had a change of heart regarding Christianity?

January

The Life and Times of the Disciples, Following Jesus

Bible Characters - The Syrophoenician Woman

   Questions and Answers - In the story of the Syrophoenician woman, Jesus
   states, “It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." (Mark
   7:24ff) I’ve heard people interpret this in several ways. What is your take on it?

2009

December

The Life and Times of the Disciples

Bible Characters - The Tradition of Hanukkah

   Questions and Answers - The Bible speaks of the tree in the midst of the Garden
   of Eden being the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and of the Tree of Life
   being in the midst of the Garden. It sounds like there are two Trees or are there
   two different names for the same Tree?

November

The Life and Times of Jesus

Bible Characters - The Herods

Questions and Answers - In several places in the Gospels we read about
Herodians. Who were these people?

October

Apocrypha - Sirach/Ecclesiasticus

Bible Characters - Ben Sira

Questions and Answers - Does the five husbands have same meaning as the five
porches and the five smooth stones?

September

Apocrypha - The Wisdom of Solomon

Bible Characters - Wisdom Literature

Questions and Answers - How did the emphasis of their teachings differ
between John the Baptist and Jesus?

August

Apocrypha - Judith

Bible Characters - Judith

   Questions and Answers - In the story of Dinah (Gen 34), Simeon and Levi
   slaughter an entire city because Shechem, the prince of the city, ostensibly raped
   their sister, Dinah. On his deathbed, Jacob rebuked his sons for this act. But in
   the book of Judith, the heroine lauds their actions. How can we reconcile these
   two views?

July

Apocrypha - Tobit

Bible Characters - Tobit and Tobias

Questions and Answers - We know that, during Jesus' time, what we (Christians) call the OT was the only testament. Seeing that Jesus and his followers basically spoke and, I assume, read Aramaic, I would not think that they used the
Septuagint (Greek) version of the Hebrew Scriptures. What was the Aramaic version that they would have been familiar with?

June

Apocrypha - 4 Maccabees

Bible Characters - John Hyrcanus

Questions and Answers - We often hear Jerusalem referred to as “Zion.” How did that come to be and what does it mean? Also, who are the “daughters of Zion”?

May

Apocrypha - 3 Maccabees

Bible Characters - Simon Maccabeus

Questions and Answers - Why would anyone want to study the writings of an author who portrays the Bible as just a bunch of stories that have no basis in truth?

April

Apocrypha - 2 Maccabees

Bible Characters - Judas Maccabeus

Questions and Answers - Given the amount of history in 1 and 2 Maccabees, why aren’t they part of the canon?

March

Apocrypha - 1 Maccabees

Bible Characters - The Essenes at Qumran

Questions and Answers - What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?

February

Apocrypha - Additions to Esther

Bible Characters - King Ahasuerus

Questions and Answers - I’m interested in knowing more about the Jewish calendar. How are festival days chosen? Does it correspond to the Gregorian calendar?

January

Apocrypha - Addition to Jeremiah – The Letter

Bible Characters - Enuma Elish

Questions and Answers - Our little Bible study group is studying the Gospel of John. We struggled over 5:22 which says that "the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." Then 8:15 where Jesus says "I judge no man." What does it mean that the Father has committed all judgment unto the Son?

2008

December

Apocrypha - Addition to Jeremiah – I Baruch

Bible Characters - Baruch

Questions and Answers - Are the scribes in the Old Testament (like Baruch) similar to the ones that we hear about in the New Testament?

November

Apocrypha - Daniel and Bel and the Dragon

Bible Characters - Cyrus, King of Persia

Questions and Answers - A Question about Zoroastrianism

October

Apocrypha - Daniel and Susanna

Bible Characters - Susanna

Questions and Answers - In the story of Susanna, the evil judges are put to death
for bearing false witness against her. Was this really the practice?

September

Apocrypha - The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Jews

Bible Characters - Nebuchadnezzar

Questions and Answers - If Daniel and his three friends were taken to Babylon as
captives, how did they end up in Nebuchadnezzar’s court?

August

Apocrypha - Prayer of Manasseh

Bible Characters - Manasseh

   Questions and Answers - I’ve always thought that “high places” were for pagan
   worship, but recently I’ve understood them to be places to worship Yahweh.
   Which is true?

July

Apocrypha - Psalm 151

Bible Characters - Goliath of Gath

   Questions and Answers - Recently, I heard of a discrepancy between the twelve
   tribes of Israel and the twelve sons of Jacob. Is this true? And which tribes are
   thought to be among the “ten lost tribes” of Israel?

June

Apocrypha - 2 Esdras

Bible Characters - Angel Uriel

Questions and Answers - When Jesus heard John was in prison, why did he not
go help him?

May

Apocrypha - 1 Esdras

Bible Characters - Zerubbabel

Questions and Answers - Why wasn’t 1 Esdras included in the biblical canon?

April

Apocrypha

Bible Characters - School/Council of Jamnia

Questions and Answers - What role did Luther play in the Reformation and in the
decisions about the Apocrypha that were made at that time?

March

Books of the Bible - Revelation Part 4

Bible Characters - Millennium

   Questions and Answers - In Revelation 20:7 it states, “When the thousand years
   are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the
   nations in the four corners of the earth – God and Magog – to gather them for
   battle.” What do we know about these nations?

   Bible scholars believe there were two processions headed into Jerusalem on the
   same day, Palm Sunday. Did Jesus plan his Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem as a
   counter procession?

February

Books of the Bible - Revelation Part 3

Bible Characters - Armageddon

Questions and Answers - In Revelation 13:17-18 we read about the name and the number of the beast. The number is 666. What does this mean?

January

Books of the Bible - Revelation Part 2

Bible Characters - Cities of the Seven Churches

Questions and Answers - How did Emperor Worship come about and did the
Emperors really believe they were gods?

2007

December

Books of the Bible - Revelation Part I

Bible Characters - Emperor Domitian

Questions and Answers - A Question about the Meaning of “Captivity Captive.”

November

Books of the Bible - Jude

Bible Characters - Jude

Questions and Answers - How many people traveled with Jesus?

October

Books of the Bible - 3 John

Bible Characters - The Beloved Disciple

Questions and Answers - Was the group of people that traveled with Jesus more
than the 12 regulars (apostles)?

September

Books of the Bible - 2 John

Bible Characters - John, the Apostle

   Questions and Answers - Did the apostles avoid writing early in their careers
   because they thought judgment day was going to happen in their time? Were they
   expecting the second coming be a judgment day based on the Jewish concept of
   what the Messiah was going to do?

August

Books of the Bible - 1 John

Bible Characters - Docetism

   Questions and Answers - At the end of the story of Ruth, it appears that Naomi
   owns some land that Boaz is willing to sell for her. If she had this land all along,
   why didn’t she sell it earlier and save herself a lot of trouble?

July

Books of the Bible - 2 Peter

Bible Characters - The Apostolic Fathers

Questions and Answers - Questions about languages in the New Testament

June

Books of the Bible - 1 Peter

Bible Characters - Peter, The Apostle

   Questions and Answers - I’m interested in knowing more about the Philistines.
   Who are their descendants and where would they be located? Are the present-
   day Palestinians descendants from the ancient Philistines?

May

Books of the Bible - James

Bible Characters - James

Questions and Answers - Since James is thought to be the brother of Jesus, why
do some people think that Mary and Joseph had no other children?

April

Books of the Bible - Hebrews

Bible Characters - The Higher Priesthood of Melchizedek

Questions and Answers - Why did Jesus curse the fig tree?

March

Books of the Bible - Philemon

Bible Characters - Philemon and Onesimus

Questions and Answers - Why didn’t Paul and the early Church do more to abolish
slavery?

February

Books of the Bible - Titus

Bible Characters - Titus

Questions and Answers - Was James, the brother of Jesus, responsible for
Paul’s arrest at the end of his ministry?

January

Books of the Bible - 2 Timothy

Bible Characters - The Pastoral Letters

Questions and Answers - I’ve seen the term “Marcionism” in various writings. I
know it was some kind of heresy, but what else can you tell me about it?

2006

December

Books of the Bible - 1 Timothy

Bible Characters - Timothy

Questions and Answers - Who were the three wise men, and where did they
come from?

November

Books of the Bible - 2 Thessalonians

Bible Characters - The Day of the Lord…

   Questions and Answers - Why did Jesus resort to using “spittle” in several of his
   healings? And what good explanation is there for the healing in Mark where a
   blind man comes to Jesus for healing?

October

Books of the Bible - 1 Thessalonians

Bible Characters - Thessalonians

   Questions and Answers - In several places in Acts, Luke writes in the first
   person using “we,” as in “we” did this or that. If he was right there, why are
   there so many discrepancies between what he writes in Acts and what Paul
   writes in his own letters?

September

Books of the Bible - Colossians

Bible Characters - First Century Gnosticism

Questions and Answers - What other Bible Internet resources are available?

August

Books of the Bible - Philippians

Bible Characters - Different Bible Translations

Questions and Answers - Recommended Bible Resources

July

Books of the Bible - Ephesians

Bible Characters - Second Generation Paulinists

Questions and Answers - In Matthew, why is Jesus' lineage traced back through Joseph? He wasn't the father.

June

Books of the Bible - Galatians

Bible Characters - Paul’s Opponents

Questions and Answers - A question about authorship of the Bible

May

Books of the Bible - II Corinthians

Bible Characters - Silas

Questions and Answers - A question about the 23rd Psalm. I was told that there
is a physical place called the Valley of the Shadow of Death. It is a valley where the sheep have to pass through and it is very treacherous. Do you have any enlightenment on this?

April

Books of the Bible - I Corinthians

Bible Characters - Judas

Questions and Answers - Why did Pilate cave in to the Jews’ demands to crucify Jesus when he couldn’t find anything wrong with him?

Questions and Answers - The Bible says when Jesus was on the cross he refused the wine, so why did he later drink the vinegar?

Questions and Answers - Is it true that the thickness of the veil in the temple changed from Moses’ time to Jesus’ day?

Jesus is hours from the cross when his disciples tell him they don’t know the way to the Father or who the Father is. (John 14:2-8) How can the disciples be so unprepared?

Why was Jesus taking the time to talk to his disciples about grapes when he
knew Judas would be returning with the soldiers?

What was so bad about the money changers?

Why does Jesus curse the fig tree?

What is the point of Jesus' three parables about the two sons, the wicked husbandmen, and the marriage of the king's son?

Why was Jesus brought before Annas who was an ex-high priest with no authority?

King James Version Mark 16:9 "...he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils." In J.B. Phillips, the interpretation of the seven devils is that they are seven evil spirits. Is there any record of or conjecture as to what these seven devils might be?

What does the Bible verse, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my
Father" mean?

March

Books of the Bible - Romans

Bible Characters - Phoebe, Priscilla and Aquila, Epaenetus, Mary, Andronicus and Junias, Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, and Apelles, about the households of Aristobulus and Narcissus, Herodion, Tryphaena and Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus and his mother.

Questions and Answers - Paul states in Romans 15:20 that he tried to preach the gospel, “not where Christ was named, lest he should build upon another man's foundation.” Paul did not found the church in Rome, so why did he intend to go there to preach, and why did he write them such a lengthy letter? Isn’t this
“building on another man’s foundation?”

February

Books of the Bible - John

Bible Characters - Nicodemus

Questions and Answers - Is there a discrepancy between the Gospel of John and the synoptics regarding the date Jesus died?

January

Books of the Bible - Acts II

Bible Characters - Barnabas

   Questions and Answers - Why does Paul insist that Timothy be circumcised right
   after he argued at the Jerusalem Council that circumcision wasn't necessary? Is
   this just another example of his inconsistency?

2005

December

Books of the Bible - Acts

Bible Characters - Stephen

Questions and Answers - What is the significance of the various numbers that repeatedly appear in the Bible?

Questions and Answers - Is Jesus the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy?

Questions and Answers - How could Joseph divorce Mary if they were just engaged?

November

Books of the Bible - Luke

Bible Characters - Mary and Martha

Questions and Answers - What do BC, AD, CE, and BCE stand for?

October

Books of the Bible - Mark

Bible Characters - The Disciples

Questions and Answers - Several questions about Moses and the wisdom of the Egyptians

September

Books of the Bible - Matthew

Bible Characters - John the Baptist

Questions and Answers - What resources (besides BibleWise) should I be using
to expand my horizons?

Questions and Answers - What is the difference between “debts” and
“ trespasses” in the Lord’s prayer

August

Books of the Bible - Haggai

Books of the Bible - Zechariah

Books of the Bible - Malachi

Bible Characters - The three Minor Prophets, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi

Questions and Answers - How long did the flood last in Noah’s time?

Questions and Answers - What is the difference between “major” and “minor” prophets?

July

Books of the Bible - Nahum

Books of the Bible - Habakkuk

Books of the Bible - Zephaniah

Bible Characters - Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah

Questions and Answers - Do you have any insights into the choosing of Gideon’s army due to their method of drinking water?

June

Books of the Bible - Obadiah

Books of the Bible - Jonah

Books of the Bible - Micah

Bible Characters - Jonah

Questions and Answers - Why does the book of Jonah end so abruptly?

May

Books of the Bible - Joel

Books of the Bible - Amos

Bible Characters - Amos

Questions and Answers - Why is the story of Jairus interrupted by the hemorrhaging woman?

April

Books of the Bible - Hosea

Bible Characters - Hosea

Questions and Answers - A question about divorce.

March

Books of the Bible - Daniel

Bible Characters - Daniel

The Passion Week - Chronology of Events

Questions and Answers

Jesus is hours from the cross when his disciples tell him they don’t know the way to the Father or who the Father is. (John 14:2-8) How can the disciples be so unprepared?

Why was Jesus taking the time to talk to his disciples about grapes when he knew Judas would be returning with the soldiers?

What was so bad about the money changers?

Why does Jesus curse the fig tree?

What is the point of Jesus' three parables about the two sons, the wicked husbandmen, and the marriage of the king's son?

Why was Jesus brought before Annas who was an ex-high priest with no authority?

What does the Bible verse, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father" mean?

February

Books of the Bible - Lamentations

Books of the Bible - Ezekiel

Bible Characters - Ezekiel

Questions and Answers - Who or what is a prophet?

January

Books of the Bible - Jeremiah

Bible Characters - Jeremiah

Questions and Answers - What is the point of the book of Jeremiah?

2004

December

Books of the Bible - Isaiah

Bible Characters - Isaiah

Questions and Answers - In Isaiah 7:14 it states, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Do these words refer to
Jesus?

November

Books of the Bible - Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs (Solomon)

Bible Characters - Three Hebrew Boys in the fiery furnace

Questions and Answers - How did King Nebuchadnezzar know it was the Son of God in the furnace if Jesus wasn't born at that time?

October

Books of the Bible - Proverbs

Bible Characters - Jonah

Questions and Answers - Bible scholar, Barry Huff, answers whether Job is a fictional or real person.

September

Books of the Bible - Psalms

Bible Characters - Did You Know Who wrote the book of Psalms?

Questions and Answers - Please tell me where I can find in the Bible that John was boiled in oil.

August

Books of the Bible - Job

Bible Characters - Job

Questions and Answers - Why was taking the census in Chronicles 21 bad?

July

Books of the Bible - Ezra-Nehemiah

Books of the Bible - Esther

Bible Characters - Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

Questions and Answers -When Jesus first knew he had a special mission that was ordained by God, and when did he first know that the future held the crucifixion and resurrection?

June

Books of the Bible - 1 & 2 Chronicles

Bible Characters - Hezekiah and Josiah.

Questions and Answers - A question about the seven last plagues.

May

Books of the Bible - 2 Kings

Bible Characters - Elijah and Elisha

Questions and Answers - A question about Jesus' siblings.

April

Books of the Bible - 1 Kings

Bible Characters - The Passion Week - Chronology of Events and Solomon

Questions and Answers

What was so bad about the money changers?

Why does Jesus curse the fig tree?

What is the point of Jesus' three parables about the two sons, the wicked husbandmen, and the marriage of the king's son?

Why was Jesus brought before Annas who was an ex-high priest with no authority?

What does the Bible verse, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father" mean?

March

Books of the Bible - 2 Samuel

Bible Characters - Saul and David

Questions and Answers - A question about the descendents of Jacob

February

Books of the Bible - I Samuel

Bible Characters - Hannah and Samuel

Questions and Answers - Are there any Bible stories about calming people or relieving stress?

January

Books of the Bible Ruth

Bible Characters - Ruth and Naomi

Questions and Answers - What are festal scrolls and what is the Festival of Weeks?

2003

December

Books of the Bible - The Nativity

Bible Characters - The women of the Nativity: Elizabeth, Anna, and Mary

Questions and Answers -- A Question about Paul's Treatment of Women and How the Scriptures Deal with God's Desire for Us to Help Each Other

November

Books of the Bible - Judges

Bible Characters - Deborah, Jael, Gideon, and Samson

Questions and Answers - Why is it important to study the Bible?

October

Books of the Bible - Joshua

Bible Characters - Joshua

Questions and Answers - Learn more about Rahab, the woman, who helps Joshua conquer Jericho.

September

Books of Bible- Deuteronomy

Bible Characters - Aaron, Moses' brother

Questions and Answers - In modern English, what are talents? and background on the Nicene Council

August

Books of the Bible - Numbers

Bible Characters - Moses

Questions and Answers - I've heard people say that Moses didn't part the Red Sea but the Sea of Reeds. Which sea was it? and What is the purpose of Sabbath?

July

Books of the Bible - Leviticus

Bible Characters - Moses

Questions and Answers- Why would God want to kill Moses just after he asked him to go to Egypt?

June

Books of the Bible - Exodus

Bible Characters - Joseph

Questions and Answers - What was so unusual about Joseph's coat? and who sold him - the Ishmaelites or the Midianites?

May

Books of the Bible - Genesis

Bible Characters - Rachel, Leah, and Jacob

Questions and Answers - What do we know about Hagar? and Why the fuss about mandrakes?

April

Books of the Bible - Bible Overview Part II

Bible Characters - The Passion Week - Chronology of Events

Questions and Answers

What was so bad about the money changers?

Why does Jesus curse the fig tree?

King James Version Mark 16:9 "...he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils." In J.B. Phillips the interpretation of the seven devils are seven evil spirits. Is there any record of or conjecture as to what these seven devils might be?

What is the point of Jesus' three parables about the two sons, the wicked husbandmen, and the marriage of the king's son?

March

Books of the Bible - Bible Overview Part I

Bible Characters - Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob

Questions and Answers

Who is the woman in Luke 7:36-50?

Can you give some background to Romans 5:8?

Was Judas a traitor?

February

Report from a Bible study group in Barrington, Illinois

Bible Characters - Abraham and his family

Questions and Answers

Is it possible to summarize succinctly First Corinthians?

Why did Noah, Abraham, Sarah and others live so long? Noah starts building an ark at 480 years of age. Sarah gives birth to a son at age 90. Are these real ages?

Why in Gen 25:1 is Keturah called Abraham's wife and in Gen 25:6 she is called his concubine?

January

Bible Characters - Noah

Questions and Answers - I'm to find interesting information and healings of John, Jesus' apostle

2002

December

Bible Characters - Jesus' Birth

Questions and Answers - I want to know why in Matt 1:18-20 Mary and Joseph are engaged in verse 18, he wants to divorce her (put her away privily) in verse 19 and she is considered his wife in verse 20. How could he seek a divorce from someone to whom he was only engaged?