All Questions & Answers
Docetic Passion I would appreciate it if you could answer a few questions for me. Firstly, what do the Raggs mean by Docetic Passion? Jesus and John the Baptist What is the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist? Verbs in the Aorist Could you clarify what it means when verbs are in the aorist? How does that affect the meaning? Job and Issachar Genesis 46:13 mentions Job's father and Issachar. What do we know about this? Is There One Major Antichrist and Other Little Antichrists Just reading stuff about 666 on your site, and I assume that there have been many antichrists historically and in recent times, too. I think many Christians get confused over this issue. Is there to be one major antichrist as well as all the other little antichrists that have been knocking round here and there? Forgive my silly humor, but I am truly asking a serious question. Comparing The Everlasting Light and The Dartmouth Bible Please, could you compare The Everlasting Light with The Dartmouth Bible regarding a complete reading of the Bible? Which is easier and more likely to provide inspiration? (I have got a worn second hand copy of both). My native language is Spanish, I do not read English (in particular, KJV) fluently. Paul's Authorship Was Paul the author of II Thessalonians? Are the Stories in the Bible True? Can we take the stories in the Bible, such as Adam and Eve and the apple, Lot and his daughters, Abraham and Isaac, Job, and such stories as true or myths? Similarities between Abraham and Isaac and Jesus and God Do you see a tie in between Abraham almost sacrificing Isaac and God/Jesus? Reuben It appears that Reuben lost his birthright because he slept with Jacob's concubine, Bilhah. Was he just that impulsive, or is there a larger story here? A Question about Job's Name Could you please clarify this subject (Job) in a footnote from a Bible; "Hebrew 'iyyob , traditionally related to 'oyeb , 'enemy' [perhaps with passive meaning, 'object of ill-will, persecuted'], but more probably the same name as Akkadian Ay-yabum , 'where is [my] father?'). Is this a reference to his father, or to his Heavenly Father (LORD)? What Day Was Jesus Crucified? Isn't there a possibility that Jesus was crucified on Wednesday or Thursday and not Friday? Sodom and Gomorrah In reading the accounts of Sodom and Gomorrah, I've been wondering if scholars have found any traces of these cities? What do they think happened to them? Old Testament Prophets Just wondering, how were the Old Testament prophets were recognized as prophets by the people? Did they dress in a certain way? Example: How did the widow of Zeraphath know Elijah was a prophet when he went to stay with her? It seems she recognized him. And how did the Shunnamite woman know Elisha was a "man of God?" Did word just get around because of what they were doing? Abraham, Isaac and Their Wives There are three separate stories in Genesis where either Abraham or Isaac lie about their wives being their sisters. Why is this story repeated again and again? Thanksgiving Celebrations Were there any thanksgiving celebrations in the Bible and if so - which ones? A Question about the "Sons of God" You seem to uphold the prevailing view that the "sons of God" spoken of in Genesis 6:1-4 are angelic beings, and that they cohabited with human women. I believe this is an error. I believe that Jesus clarified this point for us as recorded in Matthew 22:29-30, "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." Was Thomas Jesus' Twin? Is it possible that Thomas may have been Jesus' double (in looks) and might have been asked to die in his place? The Mount of Olives and Garden of Gethsemane What is the difference between the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane? Hebrew Thought of Life and Death What was the Hebrew thought of life and life after death? Did it change with time? What if the revolt of 70 CE hadn't happened? Might Christianity be different, less Pauline, if the revolt of 70 CE hadn't taken place and the Jerusalem church had a stronger voice? A Question about the Napkin Placed on Jesus Face Several readers have asked whether the following story is true. "The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. A Question about Whether or Not Jesus Blood Touched the Ground Jesus' blood, some say, did not touch the ground, or it would have been contaminated. Can you please explain? Thanks. The Council of Nine Thank you for taking the time to review my question. Is the council of nine GOD and the first eight archangels? I know that Michael was the first Archangel created. Is Baptism Important? Why is baptism so important? I'm trying to decide whether or not to be baptized. Why Did John Question if Jesus was "The One"? The Bible states that John sent messengers from prison to Jesus to ask if He was the one, the Messiah. Or "do we look for someone else?" Why did John question whether Jesus was "the one"? Surely John knew who Jesus was. A Question about Laying on of Hands It seemed that touching the sick or injured had negative implications for the Jews. True? If so, what is the importance of Jesus and his disciples touching or laying on of hands as part of some healings? What Were the King's Foods? I'd like to know what kinds of food were considered King's food in the story of Daniel and his three friends. What were they being offered? I'm sure it wasn't Twinkies! What was so offensive back then? Are the Old and New Testaments about Jesus Christ? I teach 3 and 4 year old children the Bible and I want to be able to tell them first of all that the whole Bible is all about Jesus Christ. Do you have a good paragraph or two that I could say that 3 and 4 year old children would understand? (Old Testament & New Testament -- all focused on Jesus Christ) Christians and the Torah or Law I've been trying to come to a better understanding of what Paul meant when he wrote, "Christians were not under the Torah!" (Romans 6:14, 15) Didn't Jesus say, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them?" (Matt. 15:17) Because God gave the Torah or the law, how can any human make it void? Hebrews 10:28 states, "Anyone who rejected the Law of Moses died without mercy, on the testimony of two or three witnesses." So why are Christians not subject to the law in all its forms? Love God with all Your Heart and Soul and Mind Why in Deut. 6:5 does it say: "Love God with all your heart, soul and might" but Jesus says, "Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?" The Lord's Prayer - Original Wording In the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew, please address the comma that appears after "...debts...." Was it there from the beginning, or was it added in later translations? To be consistent with the Prayer found in Luke, it would seem that the comma had to be there originally. All of this is leading to my ultimate question: Since this is a Jewish prayer given under the Law, is it not asking that one's forgiveness be conditioned on one's performance, and, therefore, not appropriate for Grace Age believers? Female Judge in the Old Testament? How could Deborah be a judge? I thought women were not allowed to have this position. Non-Israelite Chosen by God Why was Jael chosen to kill Sisera when she was not an Israelite? Who told her to kill Sisera? Jewish Calendar 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. Thanks. Knowledge of Good and Evil 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?" Documentary Hypothesis 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? Biblical Authors 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? Psalm 22 and Jesus 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? Arian Controversy What was the Arian Controversy all about? Messianic Secret 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? Fourth Man in Fire If the KJV of the Bible is true, how did Nebuchadnezzar recognize the Son of God having never seen Him before? (Dan.3:25) Paul and Thecla What do scholars think about Paul's views on marriage as described in the Acts of Thecla? Paul and Agrippa 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? Author of Mark's Gospel 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? Stigmata 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? Feeding of 5000 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? The Beloved Disciple 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? Transfiguration 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? Simony I've heard that the term "simony" has a New Testament origin. Could you tell me more about this? Carpocratians 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? Sethian Gnostics 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? The Anointing Woman 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? Definition of Meekness 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? Hospitality in Old Testament 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. Saul Meets David 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? Tatoos What does the Bible say about tattoos? Thomas the Twin 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? Genealogy of Job 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. Ages of John the Baptist and Jesus 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? Jesus' Birthday 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? Daniel and Three Friends Why does the Book of Daniel use Daniel's Hebrew name, but use his friends' pagan names? Ordeal of Jealousy 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? Creationism 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? Paul and the Viper Acts 28:1-6 states that Paul and a company of men crash-landed on the island of Melita. While trying to be helpful carrying a bundle of sticks to bolster the fire, a viper bit Paul's hand and wouldn't let go. All of those around Paul expected him to die. However, he did not. Paul's Arrest 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? Paul's Collection 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? Jerusalem Council 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? God-Fearers 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? Transfiguration 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! Ecclesiastes 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? Gamaliel 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? Syrophoenician Woman 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? Garden of Eden 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? Herodians In several places in the Gospels we read about Herodians. Who were these people? Numerology Does the five husbands have same meaning as the five porches and the five smooth stones? John the Baptist and Jesus How did the emphasis of their teachings differ between John the Baptist and Jesus? Rape of Dinah 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? Aramaic Bible? 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? City of Zion 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"? Biblical Authorship 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? 1 and 2 Maccabees Given the amount of history in 1 and 2 Maccabees, why aren't they part of the canon? Dead Sea Scrolls What are the Dead Sea Scrolls? Jewish Calendar I'm interested in knowing more about the Jewish calendar. How are festival days chosen? Does it correspond to the Gregorian calendar? Jesus and Judgment 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? Scribal Duties I've always wondered how one was chosen and taught to be a scribe in ancient times. Are the scribes in the Old Testament (like Baruch) similar to the ones that we hear about in the New Testament? Zoroastrianism Apparently King Cyrus of Persia was a follower of Zoroastrianism. Yet we hear nothing about that in the Bible. What was Zoroastrianism? False Witnesses In the story of Susanna, the evil judges are put to death for bearing false witness against her. Was this really the practice? Daniel in Babylonian Court If Daniel and his three friends were taken to Babylon as captives, how did they end up in Nebuchadnezzar's court? High Places 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? Twelve Tribes of Israel 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? John's Imprisonment When Jesus heard John was in prison, why did he not go help him? I had a wonderful healing of a kind of guilt that had been with me for years from reading this passage (Mark 1:14). But I have always wondered if Jesus was knowingly trusting John's fate to God, or what. 1 Esdras Why wasn't 1 Esdras included in the biblical canon? The Reformation What role did Luther play in the Reformation and in the decisions about the Apocrypha that were made at that time? Gog and Magog 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? Palm Sunday 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? The Significance of 666 In Revelation 13:17-18 we read about the name and the number of the beast. The number is 666. What does this mean? Emperor Worship How did Emperor Worship come about and did the Emperors really believe they were gods? Ephesians 4:8 Recently I read in Ephesians 4:8, "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." What does "captivity captive" mean? Names for God I've heard that Yahweh and Jehovah are really the same name for God. If that's true, how did that come about? Jesus' Companions Was the group of people that traveled with Jesus more than the 12 regulars (apostles)? Some indications are that more than the 12 (70 to 120?) were constant companions through his entire (or most of his) ministry (be it 1 year or 3). Apostolic Authors 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? Ruth 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? Aramaic Language In the NT, the differences between similar Greek words have been emphasized quite often. But being Jews, did they not speak Aramaic? Wasn't Aramaic a simpler language that used fewer words and one that did not have these differences? Were there 'Jewish connotations' in the words? Philistines 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? Jesus' Family Since James is thought to be the brother of Jesus, why do some people think that Mary and Joseph had no other children? James' Teaching Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? It seems to be the only time he did something that wasn't meant in a positive way. It doesn't bring life, or restoration; a tree gets cursed. And frankly, the tree seems to be totally without guile in this incident. Cursing the Fig Tree Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? It seems to be the only time he did something that wasn't meant in a positive way. It doesn't bring life, or restoration; a tree gets cursed. And frankly, the tree seems to be totally without guile in this incident. Slavery in the Bible Why didn't Paul and the early Church do more to abolish slavery? After all, it was Paul who said repeatedly that all were equal in Christ. Yet, it appears that he at least condoned slavery — a system whereby people of power had dominion over weaker individuals. It's as though God, Himself, established and sanctioned this world order. James and Paul Was James, the brother of Jesus, responsible for Paul's arrest at the end of his ministry? Marcionism 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? Three Wise Men Who were the three wise men, and where did they come from? Healing with Spittle 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? Jesus healed him and then asked if it worked. Instead of saying, "YES," the man replied that he could see "men like trees walking." We Passages in Acts 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? Biblical Resources I belong to a Bible study group. I'm always looking for new ways to expand my knowledge. What other Bible Internet resources are available? Bible Translations I would like to get my husband a Bible translation or a book about the Bible that he can read on the plane, etc. Jesus' Family In Matthew, why is Jesus' lineage traced back through Joseph? He wasn't the father. Biblical Authorship Is there any DVD or video you know of that addresses the topic "Who wrote the Bible?" Psalm 23 In the 23rd Psalm was the shadow of death originally called dark shadows? Is the valley of the shadow of death and actual place? Pilate and the Jews Why did Pilate cave in to the Jews demand to crucify Jesus when he couldn't find anything wrong with him? Vinegar on the Cross The Bible says when Jesus was on the cross he refused the wine, so why did he later drink the vinegar? Temple Veil Is it true that the thickness of the veil in the temple changed from Moses' time to Jesus' day? Way to the Father 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? Parable of Vine and Vinedresser Why was Jesus taking the time to talk to his disciples about grapes when he knew Judas would be returning with the soldiers? Moneychangers What was so bad about the money changers? Every country has a place to exchange currency. Weren't the money changers doing their fellow Jews a service by providing the currency for the Temple? Jesus' Parables What is the point of Jesus' three parables about the two sons, the wicked husbandmen, and the marriage of the king's son? Jesus' Trial Why was Jesus brought before Annas who was an ex-high priest with no authority? Mary Magdalene and Seven Demons 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? Jesus' Appearance to Mary In the verse from John 20:17, after his resurrection, Jesus tells Mary, "Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father." I always wondered what that meant. Paul and Church in Rome 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?" Day Jesus Died Is there a discrepancy between the Gospel of John and the synoptics regarding the date Jesus died? Circumcision 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? Numbers in the Bible What is the significance of the various numbers that repeatedly appear in the Bible, i.e. 7, 40, 3, etc.? Prophecy about Jesus' Birth 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? Jesus' Family 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? CE and BCE What do BC, AD, CE, and BCE stand for? Egyptian Wisdom Wisdom of the Egyptians -- does that refer to the worshipping of gods or general education in building; farming, economics? Also why did Moses wait until he was 40 to check out the family roots? Is this symbolic of "40" -- as in the days in the wilderness? Bible Resources What resources (besides BibleWise) should I be using to expand my horizons? The Lord's Prayer I was recently asked at our VBS program a question about the Lord's Prayer that I was unsure how to answer. We were using a curriculum that taught the Lord's Prayer as it is in the King James Version of the Bible. One of the parents, however, said that the verse found in Matthew 6:12 should read trespasses and trespassers instead of debts and debtors. I have a King James Bible also that says debts and debtors but I can also recall hearing the Lord's Prayer with the trespasses and trespassers. I know that it boils down to forgiveness; however, what would explain the difference of terms used? The Flood How long did the flood last in Noah's time? Major and Minor Prophets What is the difference between "major" and "minor" prophets? Gideon's Army Do you have any insights into the choosing of Gideon's army due to their method of drinking water? Jonah's Ending Why does the book of Jonah end so abruptly? Jairus and the Hemorrhaging Woman Why is the story of Jairus interrupted by the hemorrhaging woman? Divorce and the Bible Does God's word (The Bible) support a wife divorcing a current husband where there has been no adultery, no physical abuse or other abuse, or any reason for that matter -- the goal being to return to a single status or return to an earlier husband whom she also divorced without biblical cause? Definition of Prophet Who or what is a prophet? Jeremiah What is the point of the book of Jeremiah? The Book of Job A friend shared with me her notes from listening to a tape recording of a lecture on the book of Job. The speaker stated it is a drama. She also said that Job lived 140 years longer after this experience. To me, that was a little startling, and the question is: is Job a fictional or a real person? Psalms Who Wrote the Books of Psalms Boiled in Oil Please tell me where I can find in the Bible that John was boiled in oil. (Some research suggests John was boiled in oil twice and didn't die. He was later exiled to the island of Patmos.) Council at Chalcedon We want to know about the Council at Chalcedon that met in (A.D. 451) Chronicles Census Why was taking the census in Chronicles 21 bad? Jesus' Ministry When Did Jesus First Know He Had a Special Mission? Book of Revelation In Sunday school last Sunday, one of my High school kids wanted to know about the seven last plagues and why God sent these plagues? And if God is Love, how could he do this? Jesus' Family How many siblings did Jesus have? Jacob's Descendants Why were Joseph's descendants divided between the two sons, rather than just being called Joseph? Fear/Peace Are there any Bible stories about calming people or relieving stress? Festival of Weeks What are festal scrolls and what is the Festival of Weeks? Silence of Women in Church A question about Paul's treatment of women. Do Good to Each Other Could you point me to scriptures that deal specifically with God's desire for us to help each other? Study the Bible Why is it important to study the Bible? Rahab, the Harlot Would you please tell me more about Rahab, the woman, who helps Joshua conquer Jericho? Talents In modern English, what are talents? How can we know what our individual talents are and how to make the best use of them? How can we be sure we are not burying our talents and we are actually improving on them? The Nicene Council I'd like to have some good unbiased information about the Nicene Council that took place around 300 AD. What were the two opposing views, why the controversy, and what was the result? Moses at the Red Sea I've heard people say that Moses didn't part the Red Sea but the Sea of Reeds. Which sea was it? The Sabbath What is the purpose of Sabbath? Moses and God Why would God want to kill Moses just after he asked him to go to Egypt? In the NRSV translation - it reads "On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the Lord met him and tried to kill him." What was that all about? Joseph's Coat What was so unusual about Joseph's coat? The colors? Selling Joseph Who Sold Joseph - the Ishmaelites or the Midianites? Hagar What do we know about Hagar? Mandrakes Rachel is willing to let Leah sleep with Jacob if she'll give her the mandrakes Reuben brings in from the field. The mandrakes must have been awfully important to Rachel. Why the fuss about the mandrakes? The Woman Who Anointed Jesus In Luke7:36-50, Luke mentions the account of a woman who washed Jesus feet while he was a dinner guest at the home of Simon the Pharisee. What more do we know about this woman? What is the context of the scene? What kind of oil might she have had in her box? What did she do after this? Romans But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Can you give some background behind this passage? Judas' Betrayal Was Judas really a traitor and betrayer of Jesus? First Corinthians Is it possible to summarize succinctly First Corinthians? Age of Patriarchs 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? Abraham's Second Wife Why in Gen 25:1 is Keturah called Abraham's wife and in Gen 25:6 she is called his concubine? John, the Apostle As a Sunday school assignment, I'm to find interesting information and healings of John, Jesus' apostle. If you could send me some information that would be great! Thank you for this great web-site. |
