[posted 5/12/22]
Question #1:
Hello Dr. Luginbill,
Was wondering if you could give me the Greek to English interpretation of this
verse of scripture, Luke 22:70. There are a number of different versions, so I
would like to know the correct one.
The NASB1995 version says:
"And they all said, Are You the Son of God, then? "And He said to them, "Yes, I
am."
The KJV and other versions say:
Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say
that I am."
The NKJV says:
Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” So He said to them, “You
rightly say that I am.”
The brother is still asking me whether Jesus said: I Am the Son of God". I asked
him what the point of his question was, but he did not answer me. This is the
same brother who believes that suicide is not a sin against God.
Thanks always for your great input.
Blessings to you,
Your friend,
Response #1:
They're all defensible but the NKJV does the best job of explaining in its translation what is going on in the Greek. After all, we know more about this passage than is obvious from Luke only:
Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said.
Matthew 26: 64 KJV
And Jesus said, I am.
Mark 14:62a KJV
Thus Jesus said two things: 1) "That is what you have said" and 2) "I am" – Luke
combines the two with the Greek conjunction hoti ("that") so it matters
whether we punctuate with a period or have no punctuation at all with the former
meaning "You have said that. I am" versus "You have said
that I am" (n.b., the Greek original does not contain
punctuation).
In all of these cases the most important point is that "I am" in Greek is the
translation for YHVH, the tetragrammaton translated LORD in the OT by most
versions – so that our Lord is confirming that He is LORD by saying this in this
context (see the link).
I admire your patience!
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #2:
Hello Dr. Luginbill,
I have an observation I have made, and I want to ask you if I am correct
in my assumption. In Exodus 3:14 it is stated "God said to Moses, "I AM
WHO I AM", and He said, Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, "I AM"
has sent me to you."
I awoke this morning thinking about this phrase, and wondering how it
fit in with John 14:6, and Acts 9 when Jesus addresses Saul on the road
to Damascus. My thought was, is the I AM used in these verses revealing
something. I was thinking about what is said in the scriptures about
Jesus referring to Himself as the "I AM".
It is somewhat peculiar I suppose, that He would use this phrase in the
above verses, to me anyway. I attempted to find the meaning of "I AM" in
Exodus 3:14, and one of the translations said this:
"14And Elohim said to Mosheh, “I am that which I am.”a And He said,
“Thus you shall say to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘I am has sent me to
you.’ ”
The footnote says: This is not HIS Name, but an explanation that leads
up to the revelation of His Name.
I know there are different names for God in the Hebrew "El Ohim" Adonai,
Yeshua Yahwah, etc. Seems to me, based on this footnote that the same
would also apply to Jesus.
They make it all so complicated by using names like LORD, the angel of
the LORD, Jehovah, Adonai, Elohim, etc. I know about the fact that the
Jews did not use God's Name, but substituted it with a different Name
instead.
Obviously, Saul/Paul did not believe that Jesus was God at the time of
his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus and I think that Jesus
was actually telling Saul that the One who was speaking to Him was
indeed the Almighty God, by using the phrase "I AM", the same with John
14:6 and others.
What are your thoughts?
Appreciate your comments always,
P.S. I also began to think again about most Christians don't know that
Jesus did indeed say that He is God. There are numerous Old and New
Testament that proves this.
This little phrase "I AM" intrigues me.
May His blessings be upon you always. Ephesians 3:20-21.
Your friend,
Response #2:
You are absolutely correct that Jesus refers to Himself as the LORD when
He says, on many occasions, "I AM" (e.g., Mk.14:26; Jn.8:24; 8:28; 8:58;
9:9; 13:19; 18:5-6; 18:8), but it is impressive that you picked this up
from Acts 9:5; 22:8; 26:15 from the English. Because it is true that in
all three places where this incident is related, our Lord says, in
response to Paul's question, "Ego eimi" – which is the Greek
version of "I AM". Now it is also true that in all three cases there is
a predicate, "Jesus", so that most versions translate reasonably enough
"I am Jesus", but that doesn't bring out the Ego ("I") which is
superfluous except to make the point you are noticing (since there is
already an "I" on the verb, the -mi suffix, so that generally the
independent pronoun would be omitted).
I'm sure you've seen this before (and I've probably sent it to you
before), but just in case, here is the note from BB1
Theology where I discuss the Name:
Then God said to Moses, "I shall be who I am. This is what you will tell the sons of Israel: 'I am sent me to you.'" And God also said to Moses, "Thus you will say to the sons of Israel: 'the Lord [the "is": YHVH], the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob sent me to you.' This is My Name forever, and this is how you are to think about me for all generations."
Exodus 3:14-15Jehovah and Jahweh are the two most well-known English vocalizations of what is often called the "tetragrammaton", i.e. the four consonant name for the Lord explained in these verses. In Hebrew, yhvh, (יהוה) is traditionally vocalized as 'adonai, though it occurs in the Old Testament without vowels. The divine name "Lord", explained in these verses as based on "I am/shall be", can potentially be derived from either the Hebrew verb "to be" or the verb "to become" (the two verbs being very close in the Hebrew). Likewise, the form יהוה is a unique form which appears to be a cross between an imperfect (indicating repeated action irrespective of time as in "I shall be/I am") and an infinitive absolute (summing up the meaning of a verb at one throw: i.e., the very essence of "being/becoming"). Thus it is clear enough from the Hebrew context and verbal forms that "the Name" is a declaration that the Lord is the very definition of being and existence without regard to time or phenomena. Q.E.D.
As to "most Christians don't know that Jesus did indeed say that He is
God", that is indeed sad, since He says it dozens of times in many
different ways – and of course it is said about Him throughout
scripture. But then "most Christians" don't bother to read their Bibles,
let alone spend any time listening to or reading good Bible teaching.
This is the era of Laodicea, after all.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #3:
Hello Professor,
I had a question that my wife asked that I'm not sure how to answer. We are
studying BB1 Theology, and we are doing the last segment, the Trinity in
the Old Testament. As it relates to Christophanies, her question is, why if
Jesus is God and is the co-equal, co-eternal, con-substantial member of the
Trinity were people allowed to see him and still live? Obviously, these are
pre-incarnate appearances of Him, and so would not be in his incarnate form.
However, I am not sure how to answer that one! Help?
Yours in Christ Jesus
Response #3:
You're probably thinking of this passage:
Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
Exodus 33:18-23 NIV
Notice that Moses is told that he WILL see part of the glory of God, but
that no one can see God's full glory and live, namely, His "face".
God doesn't have a "face" in the human sense since God is spirit. But
before the incarnation God did represent Himself in human form, so that
we might learn about Him and fellowship with Him. Sinful people that we
are, that fellowship has been limited after the expulsion from Eden but
will be fully restored in New Jerusalem (Rev.22:4).
They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Revelation 22:4 NIV
So I take "face" as in "face to face" as in the close fellowship of a man talking to his friend (cf. Ex.33:11). We cannot see the extra-material glory of God since we are of this creation. That is true of course even of the angels. So we are dependent upon how God chooses to reveal Himself to us.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
2nd Corinthians 4:6 NIV
What we do have, as this passage reminds us, is access to the truth, the
written Word which is the direct reflection of the living Word, the Son
of God our Savior, Jesus Christ – whose face we will behold in glory for
all eternity.
Praise God for the hope of seeing our dear Lord face to face very soon!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #4:
[omitted discussion on reading fiction for relaxation]
But anyway it really is true that none of these so called gods have
anything on Him (in terms of goodness or power). And I do feel like He
spoils us with that: He is so forbearing and does provide for all and
did give us the Bible and doesn't just change like the wind.
*I say modern idea because at one point Eros said love is about how
something makes you feel. Which is what I think many modern people
(including Christians) do indeed think. But this is an example of them
having nothing on His goodness. Because His love is so much better than
just that.
Response #4:
"But this is an example of them having nothing on His goodness.
Because His love is so much better than just that." Amen! So
everything else suffers by comparison – for us who have that blessed
point of comparison because we belong to Him.
Everything down here that is not directly related to the fight we are in
is in some respects pointless. In eternity, we're not going to be
disadvantaged by, e.g., not having watched 1,000 more football games or
not having read 1,000 more novels or not having gone to the beach 1,000
more times.
On the other hand, human beings do need some R&R. Christians are given
time. How we use it is up to us. Those who get married obligate a huge
amount of any spare time right off the bat. Having to work for a living
eats up time and energy. We have to sleep. We have to eat.
Carving out time for the Lord is where the real battle is fought.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #5:
Dear Bob:
Do you think that the role of Judas Iscariot was essential for the plan
of God?
That if he refused to betray Jesus another "Judas Iscariot" has to be
found to fulfill that role?
And if Judas didn't kill himself. Could he have gotten forgiveness from
Jesus?
Response #5:
The important thing to remember about the plan of God is that there is
only one – one perfect plan. Everything that actually happened or
happens in this short stretch of time (short by God's standards) is part
of that actual plan. There aren't actually any hypotheticals. The one
plan that is playing out, ordained by God in eternity past (for want of
a better name for it) is the only plan there is. And it is perfect. It
perfectly took into account the free will of every creature created with
the image of God. And the result is perfect: salvation and eternal
reward for all who respond the way we should; self-selection for
condemnation for all who would never in a million hypotheticals submit
to God in their heart of hearts.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #6:
Dear Bob:
So even if Judas didn't choose to betray Jesus. God's plan wouldn't be
derailed in any way?
It's a bit unsettling that it looks like its inevitable. That this one
man had to be lost in the perfect plan of God. As he didn't have free
will in the end.
Its hard for a mortal for me to understand because I know that my
choices make a lot of difference and due to others being human beings as
well they themselves also have agency.
And that our actions have repercussions that our modern world would call
"The Butterfly effect"
But then again if such a thing were to occur then the prophecy wouldn't
have predicted events to have occurred that way..
Such is the sovereignty of God.
And without God there are many scenarios of dystopian realities
occurring.
Response #6:
It's not the easiest thing to explain. Judas had free will, just like we
all do. If I were going to engage in hypotheticals, I would say that if
he were going to decide not to betray the Lord, then someone else would
have "gotten the job" of being "Judas". Goodness knows there are
billions of 'good' candidates for that in the world even today!
But in fact, the plan is / was / will be the plan, the only one.
The fact that God is SO wise (for want of a better word) that He knew
before hand exactly how the plan He was going to decree would turn out
in every single respect – and that He took everything into account to
'factor in' all free will decisions – does not make our will any less
free. In fact, without Him doing what He did there could have been no
creation and no free will at all – because we wouldn't exist or have a
place to use that free will if we did. We decided; He knew what we would
decide; that doesn't determine our decisions – all philosophical
speculation and argumentation notwithstanding.
Here are some links:
Judas and the Betrayal of Christ
Was Judas saved? And the so-called "gospel of Judas"
In Jesus our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #7:
Hello Dr. Luginbill,
Just wanted to give you a quick update about my Bible study group. I
think I told you previously that my group of five that I led through
your eschatology study expanded to nine, which I then lead through
Hamartiology. I was reluctant about the
size, but all went well, and we just finished the study. The group loved
it, and they were amazed how little they understood about sin and all
its particulars! Praises to the Lord here!!
The group wanted to continue, so we will begin Theology-The study of God
this Sunday! Praises for their desire for the truth of God's word, and
prayers much appreciated (and needed!) Thanks again for all you amazing
work and how your articulate the truth so well in your study's!
I do have a question that came to mind in my Bible reading today. I was
reading about the Passover in Matthew Chapter 26. I was using my
Scofield study Bible (NIV), and he had a marginal reference about
forgiveness that reflected back to John Chapter 13 where Jesus washed
the disciple's feet. (Imagine my surprise, he got something kinda
right!)
Now as an aside, I was raised in a church that did foot washing
services, never really understood the point even then, and the Church
that my wife and I attend still do them, minus our attendance! I was
excited when I finally found in your studies and emails that Jesus was
illustrating forgiveness, our salvation bath, experiential forgiveness,
etc. not some pointless ritual exercise that proves nothing!
Anyway, I read at the beginning of John Chapter 13, that the devil had
already prompted Judas to betray Jesus, and Matthew 26, Luke 22 and Mark
14 has him going to the Chief Priest and agree to betray him for 30
pieces of silver prior to the Passover meal. I also read in John 13 that
he leaves the group after he had dipped the bread, after the foot
washing illustration by Jesus.
My question is, do you think that Jesus washed Judas feet along with the
other disciples? I know the bible only talks about Peter specifically,
and the others in general. The reason I ask this question is, as it
relates to the study of Hamartiology we
just finished, and that unbelief is the only unforgiveable sin. If Judas
was never really a believer and had his salvation bath, how could Christ
forgive him experientally? Or do you think he was a believer and had
become apostate at some point? Or did Jesus maybe just wash all the
disciple's feet as an illustration? Not that any of this matters in the
grand scheme of things, I was just curious on your thoughts?
Anyway, hope you have a great day and wonderful weekend! No hurry in
reply!
Yours in Christ Jesus our precious Lord and Savior!
Response #7:
Great news about your Bible study! Well done, my friend! That's very
encouraging, I must say.
As to your question, it's a great observation. Yes, of course Jesus must
have washed Judas' feet as well. If He had not, that would surely have
alerted the other eleven to the fact that something was wrong, but later
they have no idea that Judas is the betrayer . . . until the deed is
done.
Judas was never a believer. Christ picked him because the Spirit led Him
to do so. It was necessary for the fulfillment of the prophecies and
also for the plan of God for salvation for there to be a Judas. But we
have no indication that he ever actually believed; just the opposite,
e.g.:
[Judas] did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
John 12:6 NIV
The above indicates a longstanding pattern, and we know that money was the issue in the betrayal. This is not remotely "believer activity" – far less betraying Jesus Christ! As our Lord Himself said,
"Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!"
John 6:70 NIV
Here are some links:
Judas and the Betrayal of Christ
Was Judas saved? And the so-called "gospel of Judas"
Keep up the good work for Jesus Christ, my friend! And thanks for the
great report.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #8:
Hello Bob,
Matthew 26:48-49 (NASB)
48 Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I
kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” 49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and
said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
Question: Why does Judas even need to kiss the one he is going to
betray? I would think that he could simply point Jesus out especially
since most of the Jewish leaders had already seen Him. Is this an
indication of his sick perversity – that he wants to kiss whom he is
going to betray?
In our Lord,
Response #8:
I don't think we need to worry to much about the finer points of Judas'
mind-set; given that He betrayed the Lord, this detail and its
motivation is the least of his problems.
I suppose one could point out that in the dark and in a confused
situation where there were multiple people who all looked pretty much
alike in the torchlight, this would be a way of making sure that they
'got the right one'. It does serve to highlight the load that this
betrayal must have placed on our Lord, since He had been nothing but
good to this man – and was about to die for his sins (to no particular
avail in his individual case).
One more indication that none of us could have possibly endured what our
Lord endured even getting TO the point of the darkness on the cross, let
alone once it fell.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #9:
Dear Bob:
If Judas didn't hang himself after betraying Jesus but stuck around like Peter.
And showed his face again seeking Jesus' forgiveness would he have remained
condemned?
No doubt if it was to happen, Prophecy would have been different.
Pretty sad that he was lost. Even though he deserved everything coming to him.
Yours in Christ
Response #9:
To be honest, I'm not much on "ifs". There are no "ifs" in the plan of
God. The plan of God is absolutely perfect and all-comprehensive. It has
taken into account and decreed every human free-will action. If the
tiniest thing were to be changed – the smallest "if" admitted – it would
be a different plan. But there is no other plan. Only the one we are
taking part in right now.
Judas did what he did because he chose to do it. Ultimately, just like
Satan, most human beings have no real use for God:
Yet they say to God, "Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways."
Job 21:14 NIV (cf. Job 22:17)
Yes, they would love to be in eternity – doing what they wish with no
need to regard the Lord or His ways, with no inclination to thank or
praise Him, with no respect for Him whatsoever if not coerced to show
respect. This is the way the evil are – and most human beings (and one
third of angels) are evil. That is true even if they seem nice, and even
if they masquerade as angels of light (2Cor.11:14). That was true of
Judas; that is true of Satan; that is true of most of the people in the
world today, regardless of what a waste it is that they are going to be
lost. And it really IS a horrible waste: because Christ died for all of
their sins too. And that shows more clearly than anything that there is
only one perfect plan of God, because if anyone who is not saved could
have been saved they would have been saved – because Jesus paid the
ultimate penalty in dying for their sins that they might be.
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #10:
Hello Dr. Luginbill,
According to what I understand from the verse below, no one took Jesus'
life, that is no lone killed Him.
John 10:17-18.
" 17Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I
might take it again. 18No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of
myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
This commandment have I received of my Father.
However, the following verse says:
Mark 10:33-34.
" 33Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be
delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall
condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34And they
shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and
shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again."
These two phrases in the above scriptures don't seem to be translated
correctly or ?
John 10:18 says "No man taketh it from me[that is His life].
Mark 10:34 Jesus says "and shall kill Him" speaking of Himself.
Matthew 27:50 says: "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and
yielded up His spirit".
Help Help.
I don't understand.
Thanks always for your help in these matters.
Blessings to you,
Your friend,
Response #10:
You are absolutely correct that our Lord died physically by giving up His spirit
of His own accord.
However, in the Mark passage, He was talking with His disciples who, at that
time, surely wouldn't have understood if He had said to them that He would be
crucified and then, after having been judged in the darkness for the sins of the
world, give up His spirit on the cross. So He told them what they could
understand.
In the history of the ancient world I've never heard of a case where someone was
crucified and had not been "killed" as a result. So the intention was to kill
Him – and the result was His physical death, albeit it not in the way that the
world expected (or that the disciples at this moment would have understood).
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #11:
Hello Bob,
You said that "the tree of life in the Garden is a picture of our Lord who died
on Calvary's tree to give us life". Then you cited Romans 11:11-24 as evidence.
I'm doing a study on Old Testament typology right now and would like some more
clarity on this.
In our Savior and coming King,
Response #11:
Jesus "bore our sins in His body on the tree [of the cross]" and opened back up
for us the way into paradise. If Adam and Eve had been able to keep eating of
that tree, they would have "lived forever" (Gen.3:22); but we do have the right
to eat of it (communion representing our eating) and we will live forever with
Jesus Christ.
I'll give you the links (do feel free to write back if you have specific
questions):
The Menorah and the Tree of Life
In Jesus.
Bob L.
Question #12:
Hi Bob,
I've been reading over Christology again
where it teaches about kenosis and how it is "essentially a set of
"ground rules" wherein Jesus voluntarily refrained from using His deity
to help His humanity during the first advent in accordance with the
Father's will".
Our Lord in His humanity still had to learn truth and grow spiritually
the same way we do, He had to go through the normal trials, temptations
and obligations that we have in our lives, only the suffering and abuse
He went through was far worse than we will ever go through. He still had
to prepare for His ministry including the hardest thing He would ever go
through when he went to the cross and died for our sins in our place. He
had no unfair advantage in anything (due to kenosis) and unlike us He
was perfect in everything. He wasted no time, He was committed to
spiritual growth every day and made it His top priority. He was
completely dedicated to doing the Father's will.
So it got me thinking that if it was necessary for our Lord Jesus to do
this then there is no reason for us to think that we don't need to do
the same. It's necessary for us to learn, believe and apply the Word to
our lives, to grow spiritually, to pass the tests that come our way in
preparation for helping others to do the same using the spiritual gifts
we have been given. But also in preparation for the Tribulation the
hardest thing that we will ever go through in our lives. This will be
nowhere near the suffering our Lord went through in dying for us on the
cross so that our sins could be forgiven and we could have eternal life
with Him. We can't even comprehend exactly what He went through for us
or the deep love He has for us. So our Lord deserves nothing less than
for us to love Him with all our heart and soul and mind. (Matt.22:37) To
give our all for Him even if that means we are one of those to lose our
lives - to be martyred for His glory. We are here to please and to
glorify Him.
We need the Lord and we can't do anything apart from Him. (John 15:5) We
need to draw closer to Him day by day through prayer and studying the
Word. (James 4:8, Psalm 145:18) We need to have a deep, personal
relationship with Him to the point where He is more real to us than
anything we can see or hear or touch in this world. Our Lord will never
leave us or forsake us (Deut. 31:6) and He will give us the strength to
come through whatever we have to face.
I have the strength to endure all things in the One who empowers me to
do so.
Philippians 4:13
Our Lord Jesus is our perfect example in everything and we have the
confident hope and expectation that we too will soon be resurrected and
be with Him for eternity.
Thanks for your wonderful teaching, Bob. We've spoken a lot about
spiritual growth and the Tribulation and I wanted to share with you what
has been in my heart today.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Saviour
Response #12:
That's really wonderful!
Indeed, our Lord is our example in all things.
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
1st Peter 2:21 NIV
And you are absolutely right about the importance of being close to Him
when the Tribulation begins. To the extent that we are still dependent
upon and engaged with this world, we will have troubles as a result; but
to the extent that we have considered ourselves crucified to this world
(Gal.6:14; cf. Rom.6:3-14) and are seeing Him with us through the eyes
of faith (Ps.16:8; 1Pet.1:8-9; Heb.11:27; 12:2), to that extent the
fight will be winnable, and we will be able to endure it all with peace,
no matter what we are going to have to suffer. That is the sort of
thinking, however, that only mature believers who have prepared
themselves will be easily able to apply. So failure to prepare now will
indeed be a disadvantage then. All the more reason why "pre-Trib" is
such a dangerous false doctrine: it may "feel good" now, but it will put
us in bad shape then – sort of like sleeping in and foregoing exercise
day after day for months, and THEN having to take a USMC PFT test. Not
the best approach (of course, they've changed it since I was in, but
still)!
I've got no worries about you! Keep fighting the good fight for Jesus
Christ!
In Him,
Bob L.
Question #13:
Thank you Bob! And thanks for all of the verses you wrote for me. I enjoyed
reading through all of them today.
Thanks for sharing the article about how the invasion has disrupted relations
between Ukrainian and Russian evangelicals. It was shocking to see how the
pressures can make people react like that. Is this an example Bob, where their
"patriotism" and imprecatory prayers have dragged them into being too engaged
with this world rather than being crucified to it - just as you wrote in your
last email to me? As you said, it's good for us to take these things into
consideration because there will be a time for us in the Tribulation when the
pressure really IS on and things really ARE right on our own doorstep.
We don't belong in this world, we're strangers to it just sojourning through.
Our true home is waiting for us in the New Jerusalem with our Lord who we love
more than anyone or anything else. That's where our focus needs to remain.
(Hebrews 11:13-16).
I'm so thankful for the Lord's protection of you and yours (in those recent
tornadoes)!
In Jesus
Response #13:
I do think you're right about that. I love my country too – even though
I believe it is going to morph into mystery Babylon just as soon as the
Tribulation begins. So I understand both sticking up for it when others
think it is doing wrong and also being very much anti- anyone who wants
to take it down. But I have learned from scripture that while a certain
amount of that is just what a believer should be/do because he/she is a
believer, I also know that getting too far "over one's skis" on either
of those natural tendencies is a mistake as well. We followers of Christ
know that our kingdom is the one which is coming and NOT the one down
here (wherever we live), and that should guide all of our actions. So
the more we keep ourselves – and our emotions – out of politics, foreign
and domestic, the happier we shall be and also the less likely to get
too deeply sucked into actions or movements which are not of God at all.
As mentioned often, this temptation is going to reach its peak during
the first half of the Tribulation. So it's good to start seeing things
clearly here and now.
"We don't belong in this world, we're strangers to it just sojourning
through. Our true home is waiting for us in the New Jerusalem with our
Lord who we love more than anyone or anything else. That's where our
focus needs to remain. (Hebrews 11:13-16)" – Amen and Amen!
Keeping you in my prayers.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #14:
Hello Dr. Luginbill,
Just wondering if you had stand-alone teaching on the subject of
Theodicy? Please let me know if you do, and the Website reference.
Thanks so much.
One other question that is bugging me. Why did not the translators of
the Bible in different versions such as the NASB, make the writing more
clear? There is one that my wife ran into this morning while doing our
Bible study.
It is in Luke 16 verse 16, where it says: "and everyone is "forcing" his
way into it, referring to the Kingdom of God."
Looked this phrase up in Strong's concordance and... oh well, no help at
all. We finally figured it out by using the German translation and some
commentaries that I am careful to reference from time to time. Again,
why make it so difficult for the average person to understand?
Thanks once again for your super help.
Blessings to you always,
Your friend,
Response #14:
As this is not an apologetics ministry, I don't have anything on
Theodicy per se, but I often make the point that people blaming God is
always foolish, considering what the Father did in judging His Son in
our place. The cross is the best "theodicy" I know of. Plus the Bible
has a whole book on this: the book of Job. Free will is also a big part
of that, and I cover that throughout Ichthys (you might check what I've
written on this score in regard to salvation in BB 4B: "The sacrifice of
Christ proof-positive of God's goodwill towards all").
As to Luke 16:16 and translators, one thing a good translator has to do
first off is to establish the text. The phrase in KJV, "and every man
presseth into it", is not a part of the Bible but is instead a late
addition (it's not found in the original of Sinaiticus nor in uncial G
for example). The addition seems to be a clumsy attempt to harmonize it
with a similar passage in Matthew where the same verb, biazomai,
"to use violence" is employed. The passages, however, are making
different points (note that in the second one, the double brackets
indicate the false interpolation wherein it is obvious that the verse
makes much more sense without it:
Since the days of John the baptist until this present time, the Kingdom of God has been under violent attack, and violent men (biastai) are laying hands upon it (biazomai).
Matthew 11:12
The law and the prophets were until John: since that time (i.e., "since" and not "until" John) the kingdom of God is preached . . . [[and every man presseth (biazomai) into it]].
Luke 16:16 KJV
In Jesus our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #15:
Hi Bob,
In response to a question about Isaiah 6:7 you said,
"This is the burning fire into which Jesus went to have our sins seared away in His body during the three hours of darkness on Calvary's cross."
Can you point me to an Ichthys link that describes the mechanics of how
this worked – I can't wrap my head around it.
Thank you Jesus!,
Response #15:
We have limited information – for a reason. On the one hand, we can't
really understand what it was like for the Lord to bear and be judged
for even one single sin; on the other hand, this is the most important
thing in all of history to an infinite degree, so that appreciating it
has been left for only those who really want to follow Him closely.
The analogy in the quote is from the sacrifices of the Law which
represent Him, sacrifices which were burned up completely on the altar
(fire always represents judgment).
Here's the best link for the a full discussion: in
BB 4A: "The Spiritual Death of Christ".
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #16:
Hi Bob,
How are we supposed to think about Jesus in our faith-rest? When I think
of Him it’s always lower than it should be. He is infinite and perfect,
yet my imagination always comes up with something distorted (too low of
His glory than what I know it is). In addition, if I think about Him as
a Man then that also feels icky because that puts Him on the same level
as humankind because imagining a man always has some kind of equalizing
factor which also feels wrong. Basically I’m wondering how does one
properly visualize God Himself? How do we think about Him and His glory
in a humble way. To make this even harder, when I think of Jesus’
glorified state in Revelation 3 then I think of the verse that we will
“be like Him” and that is not a humbling thought either. Basically I
would like to know how to approach visualizing Jesus in a way that
attains humility on our end while also keeping Jesus and His glory in
the highest place in our minds at the same time.
Thank you.
In our Lord,
Response #16:
Getting to the point of seeing / understanding just how small we are is
a mark of spiritual maturity. That you are thinking about the issue is a
great sign. Human beings that we are, living in bodies infested with
sin, even when we know very much better we tend to imagine ourselves as
immense – though we are infinitesimally tiny. We don't occupy 1% of the
volume of the room we are in at present, a tiny space on a tiny planet
in a massive universe that is nothing in comparison to God. And yet our
Lord became one with us to save us and to make us His own.
When it comes to this issue and related ones, the Bible is deliberately
short of visual details. For example, we are told to set our minds on
"the things above" (Col.3:1-2), but even with the descriptions we are
given of heaven and New Jerusalem in Revelation, "visualization" is
difficult for those, like myself, whose imagination is not very good –
and it's no doubt dangerous to "go beyond what is written" in thinking
about these things in any case (1Cor.4:6).
So while we have what we have, we have far less than we would like on
this score. But there are good reasons for that, but in our visual
culture it cuts across the grain of what we are used to. Jesus Christ is
the truth. If we have "seen Him", we have seen the Father (Jn.14:9);
similarly, if we have seen / heard the truth, we have seen / heard Him.
So the solution, as with all things in the Christian life, is the
continued pursuit of spiritual growth, and of application of our hearts
to the truth and its principles in our daily walk one step at a time.
Christ can only "dwell in our hearts" . . . through faith
(Eph.3:16-17).
Some links:
You have God – the Holy Spirit – within you to aid you in being
"occupied with Christ" in a godly and humble way. Listen to Him and He
will guide you into the right path always (cf. Ps.119).
In Jesus Christ who humbled Himself to the point of death – spiritual
death in the darkness on the cross – to save us from all of our sins.
Bob L.
Question #17:
Hi Dr L,
This past ICHTHYS post: "After all, we must never forget that it is NOT
the physical death of our Lord which saves us."
Doesn't 1 Corinthians 15:3 say his death was for our sins. I mean I even
looked at the Greek and it seems to say that to me in the Greek too.
[omitted]
Okay back on the original topic (and saying that, it feels kinda wrong
to talk about such trivial things right after such an important topic),
this is such a common understanding to my knowledge in most
denominations. And such a large thing to get wrong. When I read that, I
went and tried to find any verse that says His death saves us and it was
quite a feeling not finding any (so far) except that one. Please let me
know when you have time.
Response #17:
Apologies for the delay. I post on Saturdays so I don't get to emails.
Did Christ die for us? Indeed! That is an essential part of the gospel.
What people get wrong is that they think this means His physical death.
But what saves us is His death for our sins, His spiritual death, being
judged while hanging on the cross during those three hours of darkness
for all of our sins. What that entailed cannot really be fully
understood this side of heaven, but suffice it to say that all the pain
suffered in the history of the world doubtless would not equal what He
suffered in dying for a single sin – and He died for ALL our sins. The
best link for this at Ichthys is in
BB 4A: Christology, "The Spiritual Death of Christ".
Question #18:
I don't think it inherently and necessarily follows that since his body
wasn't burned then it wasn't his physical death for our sins too. If the
language could be symbolic for his spiritual death I don't see what it
couldn't also be symbolic for the physical death.
I do see the statement stated twice that salvation was accomplished
before he gave up His spirit but the ones I see on that page don't
necessarily show that.
Many times in the Bible future things would be described as having
already happened, so I don't know that we can for-certain use the 'it is
done' as the proof.
The line 'why have You forsaken Me?' could mean that it had begun, but I
don't see why that points for certain to when exactly it was finished
being accomplished, just that it either started or was just about to
start.
And the repetitions of how He had to bear our sins in His body, also
seem to point to the necessity of the physical death (or at the very
least physical torture, for lack of a better tern) as part of salvation,
and not just spiritual.
It may also be possible that as He was bleeding to death, at that last
moments of bleeding He gave up His spirit with those words. But even if
not, I don't see why that necessarily and inherently means his physical
death was not part of our salvation buying.
I meant to say I don't see the proofs for that statement. I mean in
everyday situations you will hear people say that something is done when
it may not be to the absolute end/finish, but it is almost there.
Response #18:
I read this in scripture:
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
Matthew 27:50 NKJV
And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
Mark 15:37 NKJV
And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.
Luke 23:46 NKJV
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
John 19:30 NKJV
So all four gospels are in agreement that our Lord voluntarily gave His
physical life – after "it was finished". Therefore it was His spiritual
death wherein He died for the sins of the world, being judged for them
during the three hours of darkness, that saved us, not His expulsion of
His spirit after He had already procured salvation for us all. That was
"finished" and then He departed.
Again, the best place for the details is at this link:
"The Spiritual Death of Christ".
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #19:
After He said it was finished. You are simply giving the statement that that was also when it was finished. But many times the Bible talks of things happening and being done before they actually happened. And esp since, with the view of the physical death as being part, along with the spiritual death, of what gives us salvation, that the words seem to come directly before physical death-it just seems even more likely. Someone on the last step/doing the last step, could very well say it was finished and then did right after did finish it in absolute terms.
Response #19:
It's an important doctrine to get right.
When Christ said that He had completed our salvation ("It is finished";
Greek: tetelstai, cf. Ps.22:31), He wasn't referring to the
imminent exhaling of His breath – which He could have done easily enough
before the three hours of darkness if that is all there was to it. In
fact, He suffered fiery judgment for every sin in three hours of
darkness that preceded this.
He made Him who had no [personal] experience of sinning [to be] sin (i.e., a sin offering) for us, so that we might have (lit., “become”) God's righteousness in Him.
2nd Corinthians 5:21
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, in order that we might die to sins and live to righteousness. By His wound you are healed.
1st Peter 2:24
His bearing our sins in His body and being judged for us is what saves
us. That is what "being made sin for us" means, not merely exhaling His
spirit.
It really would help to read the link.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #20:
The question at hand is if the physical death was part of the sacrifice
He made to save us from our sins (directly part of why we are saved),
along with the spiritual death. Here is where I am at:
The one verse that seems to bear the closest relation to the whole
question without logical jumps was that He said it was finished right
before He died physically and after He died spiritually. As I mentioned
before: we humans ourselves use the concept of saying something is done
right at the end of the act even if it isn't technically completely
finished yet (e.g. the example I have previously of being in a fight and
saying 'it is over" as one deals the finishing blow.
But the way this logic sets it up (assuming both the spiritual and
physical deaths are the principal/salient things that saves us) makes it
half finished before He says that line and half after. So it doesn't fit
the example of the last part of the act (i.e., say something is done at
50% vs 95%). I suppose one could argue that He was physically dying the
whole time, and He said that right at the finish of dying, but the truth
is that you're not dead until you are dead (I mean just look at the way
we can save lives of people right at the point and bring them back).
Even if you are on the way there, the actual dying part is its own thing
I think.
Response #20:
You wrote: "The question at hand is if the physical death was part of the
sacrifice He made to save us from our sins (directly part of why we are saved),
along with the spiritual death." That is indeed the question, specifically,
your parenthetical remark: "directly part of why we are saved".
I suppose one could say that everything about our Lord has to do with salvation.
For example, His virgin birth: had He not been born a human being, and one
without a sin nature at that, we could not have been saved.
However, scripture does have a technical term for Christ's work on the cross in
dying for our sins: "the blood of Christ" (e.g., 1Cor.10:16; Eph.2:13;
Heb.9:14):
(18) For you know that it was not with perishable things [like] silver or gold that you were ransomed from the futile manner of life passed down to you by your ancestors, (19) but [you were redeemed] with precious blood, like that of a lamb without spot or blemish, [that is, by the blood] of Christ.
1st Peter 1:18-19
This passage and the passages referenced (and others as well) make it very
clear that it is "the blood of Christ" which saves us.
In RC theology, that "blood" is literal blood. However, as our conversation
about this has already made clear, Christ exhaled His spirit so as to give up
His physical life. He most assuredly did not bleed to death (cf.
Jn.19:34 which proves His blood was still in His body after death).
So the question is, if the blood of Christ is not His literal blood, then what
is it? The answer is that this is a metaphor for His spiritual death whereby He
took away the sins of the world. In the Levitical sacrifices, a lamb is
slaughtered and its blood represents what saves us, blood covering
our sins – someone else' blood, Christ's "blood", not His literal blood, but Him
standing judgment for our sins. The lamb represents Christ; its blood represents
His spiritual death for us as it "covers" the sins on which it is poured out.
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, in order that we might die to sins and live to righteousness. By His wound you are healed.
1st Peter 2:24
Christ's body was most definitely involved: our sins could not have been "placed upon Him" unless He had a human body to bear them. Paul describes it this way:
He made Him who had no [personal] experience of sinning [to be] sin (i.e., a sin offering) for us, so that we might have God's righteousness in Him.
2nd Corinthians 5:21
That is to say, Christ stood in as our Substitute, being judged for every one of our sins which He literally "bore" and was judged for. This He did in the three hours of darkness on Calvary.
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of the heifer sprinkled upon the unclean render a person holy in respect to bodily cleansing, how much more will the blood of Christ, who offered Himself (i.e., His body; cf. 1Pet.3:18) without defect to God through the eternal Spirit, cleanse our conscience from dead works so that we may serve the living God?
Hebrews 9:14
As this passage makes clear, Christ's spiritual death for us, His spiritual
death on our behalf, was a supernatural process wherein He did offer His body –
to bear our sins and have them judged in Him.
So it's not as if His body was uninvolved. Far from it. And it's not as if the
"normal" physical suffering He endured was nothing – no one else could have
stood the punishment He took and have lived to do what He did for us. But it is
also true that the blood of Christ, the sacrifice He made for us, had to do with
something even more important – and even more painful (beyond what we can even
imagine). This is what saves us, Jesus being subjected to the judgment for the
sins of the world, something only the brutal death of animal sacrifice can come
close to representing for us by way of analogy.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:13 NKJV
And they sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain and have purchased with your blood for our God [men] from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will rule upon the earth!”
Revelation 5:9-10
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #21:
I am honestly uncertain on that because He didn't bleed to death that it isn't His literal blood. Why couldn't it be His literal blood anyway? I am also not certain we can say for sure that He didn't bleed to death. Is it possible that He was bleeding to death, and at the last breath exhaled His spirit kind of thing? Also I almost feel kind of callous talking about His death like that. I don't mean to. I am not sure how to speak and ask questions about this with the correct gravity and respect.
Response #21:
"Why couldn't it be His literal blood anyway?"
How would that be? The only way I can see that is if we have a "holy grail" and
all the other RC nonsense.
The analogy of the lamb is where the analogy of the blood comes from. Jesus is
not literally a lamb. Jesus did not have His throat cut. Jesus' body was not
burned up. Jesus did not die from loss of blood as the lamb does. And a lamb
cannot actually bear sins – only Christ could do that.
"Is it possible that He was bleeding to death. . ."
Scripture never tells us that He was bleeding at all. And His blood was all in
His body after death (Jn.19:34).
Christ's dying for our sins is an amazing thing. It was only possible through
the agency of the Spirit (Heb.9:14). What He suffered for us is beyond
understanding. But it was much more than merely giving up His physical life. He
was "made sin for us" and "bore our sins" in His body on the cross.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #22:
Hi Dr L,
I don't know anything about this 'holy grail' thing, but you seem to be
dismissing it anyway.
It seems clear to me that open wounds from being scourged, the thorns on
the head, and hanging on nails would make one bleed. And that you can
bleed to death while still having blood in the body after death.
I am not denying that His spiritual death was a principal part. What I
am stuck on is whether His physical death was/was not a direct principal
part of the saving (in addition to the spiritual). I am sorry if I am
frustrating you, I really am just trying to understand.
But I think the answer to help me understand may be in that us dying
physically is not considered payment for our sins. Without Him we do
have to pay for our sins, and based on His generous and not-cruel
nature, and that His actions and words seem to say that we can't just
get new sinless bodies after we die, maybe we conclude that our physical
death is not enough/or not it at all/not related at all in regards to
paying for sins. The people who were brought back into their original
sinful bodies and died again I think illustrates this. Because that
would just be repeating the payment/punishment if that is what it was.
And it isn't like partial payment because you can't make partial payment
on what is an infinite amount (eternity) for us and a different, uh
degree, for lack of better word (spiritual). So that thinking is applied
to His physical death as well, I suppose it follows that His physical
death was not related to payment for sin (at least not directly).
Response #22:
The physical suffering of our Lord was intense, no doubt, and it did
involve blood, though certainly nowhere enough to bleed to death (that
idea is disproved by John 19:34, and John uses that fact as a proof also
of Christ's humanity at 1Jn.5:7-8).
But you are correct: physical suffering of the normal human type does
not remit sin, nor does physical death – we all die physically
(Heb.9:27), after all, but only believers are saved (Jn.3:18):
And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission [of sins].
Hebrews 9:22 NKJV
But why should blood remit sins? Again, this is an analogy wherein the
blood of the lamb represents the intensity of the
spiritual death Christ suffered to take away the sins of the world (cf.
1Pet.1:19: "like that of a lamb without spot or blemish").
As I have said more than once, dying spiritually for the least human sin
was more painful for our Lord than all human suffering throughout all of
history put together – and He died for all sins.
So I am loathe to say anything that would diminish in any way the great
sacrifice our Lord made for us all.
But I will concede that His physical suffering before He exhaled His
spirit does play a role: anyone who reads of His ordeal will have to
admit, being honest with themselves, that what Christ suffered before He
died for the sins of the world in the three hours of darkness (i.e., His
spiritual death, the "blood of Christ") was more than they could ever
take. Therefore His physical suffering gives us a small – very small –
idea of just how difficult dying for the sins of the world thereafter
was going to be.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #23:
Us talking about His death, I have found I am unable to think about it after our last message. But I was realizing this morning that at least now I don't care who gets offended when someone brings Him up, I mean to say I don't care about that offended person's feelings. It is an insult and narcissism even if you weren't thinking about His death and were only thinking of His position as God. I feel confrontational about it, I mean at the person pulling the 'I'm offended' card and trying to guilt or shame believers.
Response #23:
Good for you!
I also should have mentioned in our discussion that the communion ritual
informs this discussion as well. The bread represents Christ's body –
which is His person – while the wine represents His blood – which is His
work on the cross (see
the link). Clearly in both cases, bread and wine, body and blood, we
have to do with symbolism since we don't eat His actual body nor drink
His actual blood. That is obvious (to all but religions like the RCs).
In Jesus,
Bob L.
P.S.: If you haven't noticed or already done so, please check out the list of wonderful ministry offerings on the Special Topics page, including John Jackson (anyone with questions about the "church-visible" will find this helpful), "Bible Readings by Emma", Bible Reading Log by Christian Vassallo (helps for reading through the English Bible), The Holocaust: A Biblical and Historical Examination (Future Implications) by Fred London, the Expanded Index to Old Testament translations at Ichthys, Foundational Principles, by Odii Ariwodo, "The Peter series" translated into Kiswahili by Resi Kilambo, Video presentations by Steven Tammen based on the SR series, and Steven's group studies of BB 6A.
More E-mails: Complete archive of previous emails: Ichthys' Emails
Faith, Forgiveness, Salvation VI
Ministry and Preparation for Ministry XV
Biblical Languages, Texts and Translations XII
Ministry and Preparation for Ministry XIV
Ministry and Preparation for Ministry XIII
Culture and Christianity XXIII
Bible Versions, Bible Translation, and Bible Reading VII
Church: The Biblical Ideal versus the Contemporary Reality III
Mutual Encouragement in Christ XII
Bible Versions, Bible Translation, and Bible Reading VI
Bible Versions, Bible Translation, and Bible Reading V
Ministry and Preparation for Ministry XII
Old Testament Interpretation XVII
Mutual Encouragement in Christ X
Confronting False Groups and False Teaching V
Ministry and Preparation for Ministry XI
Christian Perspectives on Disease and Death
Mutual Encouragement in Christ IX
Mutual Encouragement in Christ VIII
Confronting False Groups and False Teaching IV
Ministry and Preparation for Ministry X
Old Testament Interpretation XVI
Salvation, the Gospel, and Unbelief VII
New Testament Interpretation IX
Faith, Forgiveness, Salvation V
Old Testament Interpretation XV
Ministry and Preparation for Ministry IX
The 'Rapture' and other Eschatological Issues
Ministry and Preparation for Ministry VIII
Salvation, the Gospel, and Unbelief VI
New Testament Interpretation VIII
Old Testament Interpretation XIV
Politics versus Spiritual Growth IV
Old Testament Interpretation XIII
Salvation, the Gospel, and Unbelief V
Politics versus Spiritual Growth III
Faith, Forgiveness, Salvation IV
Ministry and Preparation for Ministry VII
Legalism, Past, Present and Future IV
New Testament Interpretation VII
Eschatology Issues XXIV: the 'Rapture' et al.
Believers in the World VIII: Coping with Family
Salvation, the Gospel, and Unbelief IV
Biblical Languages, Texts and Translations XI
Spiritual Gifts and False Teaching
Genesis Gap: Questions and Answers VI
New Testament Interpretation VI
Old Testament Interpretation XII
Apologetics, Ministry and False Teaching
Ministry and Preparation for Ministry VI
Church: The Biblical Ideal versus the Contemporary Reality II
Salvation, the Gospel, and Unbelief III
The Holy Spirit: Pneumatology Questions VI
Interpretation, Application, Exegesis and Ministry
Baptism: Water and Spirit VIII
New Testament Interpretation V
Apathy, Atheism, Cults and False Teaching
The Battlefield Within II: Combating anger, fear, blaming God, blaming others
Faith, Forgiveness, Salvation III
Ministry and Preparation for Ministry V
Paul the Apostle: Aspects of his Life and Ministry II
Old Testament Interpretation XI
Mutual Encouragement in Christ VII
The Transitional Era of the Book of Acts and its Unique Spiritual Gifts
Old Testament Interpretation X
The pre-Trib 'Rapture': so called 'imminence' and other false proofs refuted
Encouragement, Spiritual Testing and Spiritual Growth III
Biblical Languages, Texts and Translations X
Legalism, Past and Present III: Sabbath observance, tithing, dietary regulations and other issues
Salvation, the Gospel, and Unbelief II
Old Testament Interpretation IX
Christology Questions IX: Christ and His Church
Mutual Encouragement in Christ VI: Perseverance
Faith, Forgiveness, Salvation II
Ministry and Preparation for Ministry IV
Fighting the Fight V: Dispatches from the Laodicean 'Front' II
Old Testament Interpretation VIII
Ministry and Preparation for Ministry III
New Testament Interpretation IV
Biblical Languages, Texts and Translations IX
Peace, Reconciliation and Salvation
Mutual Encouragement in Christ V: Soldiers of the Cross
Old Testament Interpretation VII
Dangers of the Pre-Trib Rapture False Teaching
Biblical Languages, Texts and Translations VIII
The Infinity, Magnitude, Glory, Providence and Plan of God
The Bible and the Canon: The Inspired Word of God IV
Nephilim, Antichrist, the False Prophet and the Mark of the Beast
The Trinity and Messianic Legalism II
Annihilationism, Universalism, Hell and Judgment II
Politics versus Spiritual Growth II
Culture and Christianity XVII: Humor, Self-Defense, Pacifism and War
Culture and Christianity XVI: Alcohol, Money and Dietary Issues
Dreams, Visions, Miracles, Exorcism, Tongues, and False Prophets
Calvinism, Catholicism and Ichthys
Apologetics, Legalism, Cults and Philosophy
Mutual Encouragement in Christ IV
Genesis Gap: Questions and Answers V
Faith and Free Will in Trial and Testing
Free Will and God's WILL in Salvation
Jobs, Money, Finances and Giving: What does the Bible say?
Ministry and Preparation for Ministry II
Mutual Encouragement in Christ III
It is Better on the Other Side
Christology Questions VIII: The Deity, Humanity and Life of Christ
The Lives of the Apostles and the Writing of the New Testament II
Biblical People and Places: Eve, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Hagar, Esau, Joseph and more
Biblical Anthropology V: Body, Spirit and 'Soul', Present and Future
Satan, Antichrist, the False Prophet and the Mark of the Beast
The Holy Spirit: Pneumatology Questions V
Prophets, Prophecy, and False Prophets
Christology Questions VII: The Life and Spiritual Death of Christ and Holy Communion
The Bible and the Canon: The Inspired Word of God III
Culture and Christianity XV: The Bible vs. some Sensitive Social and Political Issues
Christology Questions VI: Christophany, Deity and the Spiritual Death of Christ
Encouragement, Spiritual Testing and Spiritual Growth II
Fighting the Fight IV: Dispatches from the Laodicean 'Front'
The Resurrection Body and our Eternal Future II
Blindness, Disease and Healing
Ministry and Preparation for Ministry
Biblical Languages, Texts and Translations VII
Encouragement, Spiritual Testing and Spiritual Growth
Judaism and Legalism in the church-visible
Confronting False Groups and False Teaching III
The Holy Spirit: Pneumatology Questions IV
Old Testament Interpretation VI
More Questions on the Book of Hebrews: Melchizedek, Esau, and the 'Impossibility' of Being Restored
Believers in the World IV: Making Godly Choices vs. Following Man-Made Rules
Guilt, Sin and Victory through Spiritual Growth
Confronting False Groups and False Teaching II
Politics versus Spiritual Growth
Christian Struggle, Perseverance and Deliverance
The Bible and the Natural World
An Extended Conversation on the 'Unpardonable' Sin
Eternal Realities: Real Heaven, Real Hell
Eschatology Issues XII: Babylon, Armageddon, Israel, 2026
Ministers, Ministry, and Preparation for Ministry
Evangelism in Principle and Practice II
Gospel Questions X: Glory, John the baptist, the hidden talent, the Kingdom of God
Matthew Questions, verse by verse
Politics and Political Action on the Eve of the Tribulation
Bible Versions, Bible Translation, and Bible Reading IV
Mutual Encouragement in Christ II
Genesis Gap: Questions and Answers IV
Culture and Christianity XIII: College, Dating, Marriage and Friendship
Eschatology Issues XI: Trumpets, the Millennium, the Time of the Tribulation and the Resurrection.
Sin according to the Bible: Hamartiology II
Angelic Issues VI: Cherubs, Guardians, Elders and 'gods'
Sin according to the Bible: Hamartiology I
Bible Chronology, Aramaic and Interpretation
The Trinity and Messianic Legalism
Anger, Anthropopathism, Eternity and Divine Motives
Unbelievers, Free Will, and the Plan of God II
Christology Questions V: the Baptism, Temptation and Spiritual Death of Christ
The Bible and the Canon: The Inspired Word of God II
Believers in the World III: Prosperity Gospel, Tithing, Cults and Legalism
Faith, Hope and Love: Virtue in Spiritual Warfare
Finding a Church - or Something Better? II
New Testament Interpretation III
Faith vs. History, Archaeology, Philosophy
Believers in the World II: Confronting False Groups and False Teaching
The 144,000 and the Two Witnesses of the Tribulation
Predestination, Free Will and False Teaching
Love, Marriage, and Divorce: Marriage and the Bible III
Interpreting Dreams and Analyzing Prophetic Claims
Bible Versions, Bible Translation, and Bible Reading III
Eschatology Issues IX: Amillennialism, Trumpets, and the Seven Days
Spiritual Warfare IV: Demons, Demonic Influences and Satanic Methodology
Atheism and Gnosticism: Denying the Truth about God
Sin, Salvation and Forgiveness: Claiming the Mental and Spiritual High-Ground
Struggling with Salvation . . . and Relatives
Ministry and the Ichthys Ministry II
All about Ichthys II: Mutual Encouragement in the Lord
The Book of Job and Christian Suffering
Genesis Gap: Questions and Answers III: Creationism, Neanderthals, Fossil Record
Christology Questions IV: Jesus' Birth, Baptism, Early Life, and Kenosis
Third Party Testimony III: Near Death Experiences, Revelations and Tongues
Third Party Testimony II: Charismatic Claims of Visions, Dreams and Prophecy
Third Party Testimony I: We Believe God and His Word - Not People
God Heals - in His way (not our way)
Sanctification, Separation and Restraint
Finding a Church - or Something Better?
Culture and Christianity X: Military Service, College, Politics, and Race Relations
Contemporary Churches and Women Preachers
Culture and Christianity IX: Politics, Tithing, Music, Crucifixes, Alcohol, and Gambling
Biblical Anthropology III: Soul versus Spirit, "Soul Sleep", and the Interim Body
New Testament Interpretation II: Who is equal? Grace in vain. Unequally yoked.
Aspects of the Crucifixion II: Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday?
Aspects of the Crucifixion I: Carrying the cross, trials and rooster crow.
The Canon: Content, Chronology, and Criticism
Spiritual Warfare III: Peter's 'Angel', Saul's Death, and Strange Events
Old Testament Interpretation IV: Gehazi's Leprosy, Tyre's Destruction, and Immanuel
Nephilim, Fallen Angels, and Genesis 6
Sin, Atonement and Forgiveness II
Sin, Atonement and Forgiveness I
Annihilationism, Universalism, Hell and Judgment
Noah, the Flood, and the Nature of Animals
The Tribulation: Timing of, Preparation for, and Conditions in
Eschatology Issues VIII: Revelation, Tribulation and Judgment
Antichrist: the Mark, the Number, and the Identification of the Beast
Satan's Revolt and the Tribulation to Come
Old Testament Interpretation III: The Name 'Jacob', the Mark of Cain, Jeshrun.
Old Testament Interpretation II: Urim and Thummim, the Bronze Serpent, the Ark.
Being Saved: Security, Apostasy, and the Sin unto Death
Fighting the Fight III: False Teaching, Local Churches, and the Truth
Fighting the Fight II: Struggling with Sin, Doubt, and Severe Testing
Fighting the Fight I: Accountability, Faith, Sin, Forgiveness, and Reward
Dispensations, Covenants, Israel and the Church II
Dispensations, Covenants, Israel and the Church I
Witnessing: Cults and Christianity II
Witnessing: Cults and Christianity I
Ministry and the Ichthys Ministry
Spiritual Growth, Church-Searching and "Discipling"
Unbelievers, Free Will, and the Plan of God
Biblical Languages, Texts and Translations VI
Paganism, Idolatry, Mythology and the Occult
The Lives of the Apostles and the Writing of the New Testament
The Essence of God and Deity of Christ
Parables and their Interpretation
The Meaning and Purpose of True Christian Assembly
1st John: Text and Interpretation
Perseverance in the latter days of Laodicea
Prayer: the Persistence, Purpose and Power of.
Paul the Apostle: Aspects of his Life and Ministry
Gospel Questions VII: The Wedding at Cana et al.
Israel, 'Lost Tribes' and the Star of David
Israel and Antichrist
in Eschatology
Explaining and Defending the
Trinity and the Person of Christ II
The Holy Spirit: Pneumatology Questions III
The Geography of Heaven, Hades and 'Hell'.
The Resurrection Body and our Eternal Future.
Christ the First-Born, High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek.
Bible Versions, Bible Translation, and Bible Reading II
Bible Versions, Bible Translation, and Bible Reading
Hermeneutics, Typology, Christophany, Theophany and Anthropopathism.
No, Hebrews does not teach that you lost your salvation.
Gospel Questions VI: the Long Ending of Mark et al.
Judas and the Betrayal of Christ
Doubting Salvation and Questions of Sin
The 144,000: God's Seal vs. the Mark of the Beast
Atheism: Putting Truth to Death
The Holy Spirit: Pneumatology Questions II
The Holy Spirit: Pneumatology Questions I
The Law, Love, Faith-Rest and Messianism
Sin and Salvation, Confession and Forgiveness
Have I Lost My Salvation? (III)
The Battlefield Within: Fighting the inner spiritual Struggle.
Putting Christ in Christmas: Loving Jesus, the Star and the Magi, Wonderful Counselor.
Healing, Miracles, and Dreams: Sorting the Wheat from the Chaff by biblical Means
153 Fish: Explaining some Difficult New Testament Passages
Kenosis: Our Lord's Self-Limitation during the 1st Advent
Biblical Anthropology II: 'Soul sleep', & dichotomy vs. trichotomy
Biblical Anthropology I: The Nature of Human Beings and Human Life according to the Bible.
Genesis Gap: Questions and Answers II.
Culture and Christianity VII: Jury Duty, Witnessing, Biometry, Military Service et al.
Culture and Christianity VI: Halloween, Holidays, Aliens, and Christian Applications.
Angelic Issues V: Michael, the Angel of the Lord, Christophany, demons, cherubs, and Satan's revolt.
Angelic Issues IV: Satan's Revolt in the Plan of God.
All about Ichthys: Mutual Encouragement in the Lord.
Fallen Angels, Demons, Nephilim, and the Devil's Methodology.
Salvation, the Gospel, and Unbelief.
The Bible and the Canon: The Inspired Word of God.
Communion and the Spiritual Death of Christ.
Israelology, Anti-Semitism, the Remnant, Gentiles, Lost Tribes, Jewish Myths.
"Soul Sleep" versus our true Heavenly State.
Christology Questions III: The Angel of the Lord, the Lamb Slain, monogenes.
Angelic Issues III: Demons, Satan, Elders, Female Angels and Guardians.
Against Universalism III: Unbelievers in the Plan of God.
Waters Above, the Firmament, and the Genesis Gap.
In Need of Guidance and Encouragement.
Biblical Languages, Texts and Translations V.
Servants, Slaves, Disciples, and Ministers.
Evangelism in Principle and Practice.
Scripture versus Personal Experience.
Calvinism, Covenants and Catholicism.
Culture and Christianity V: Temporal Authority vs. Biblical Application.
False Doctrine of Absolute Eternal Security III.
The Dangers of Messianic Legalism IV: Unclean and Impure?
Things to Come III: The Wrath of God and the Fate of the Beast's Army.
God Works All Things Together for Good.
The 7 Trumpets, the 7 Kings, Nephilim, Antichrist and Revived Rome.
The Coming Tribulation and the Kingdom of God.
Sin, Confession and Forgiveness.
Mutual Encouragement in Christ.
Biblical Languages, Texts and Translations IV.
Eschatology Issues V: "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons".
Ichthys and Contemporary Christianity.
Gospel Questions V: Help my Unbelief, Respecting our Enemies, etc.
The Two Witnesses of the Tribulation: Moses and Elijah.
The Apostles, the Jerusalem Council, and Legalism then and now.
Aspects of the Christian Walk: Gambling, Lying, Christmas, Judging, Worrying, et al.
Believers in the World: Using our Free Will to Respond to the Lord
John's Water-Baptism versus the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The City of David, the Star of David, Solomon's Wisdom, and the Song of Solomon.
The Israelites at Kadesh and 'not entering the Land of Promise'.
Genesis Gap: Questions and Answers.
Sin and Spiritual Transformation.
One Baptism: the True Meaning of Peter's Words at Acts 2:38.
Apostasy and the Sin unto Death, the Conscience and Sanctification.
The Plan of God and Individual Salvation (excerpt from BB 4B)
In Your Anger, do not Sin: Ephesians 4:26 and the Sin Nature
On the Firing Line: Encouragement in Christian Trials
Eschatology and the Old Testament
Prayer and our Walk with Jesus.
Issues of Canonicity II: Aramaic, Enoch, KJV, and the Pastorals
Bible Vocabulary and Bible Word Studies
Satan, his Demons, and the Gnostics
Antichrist: Alive and Well and Living on Planet Earth?
Our Eternal Future: Life after Death for Believers in Jesus Christ
Giants and Nephilim, Sumerian Myths, and Sea Monsters
Free-Will Faith and the Will of God
The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy: explaining James 4:5.
Free-Will Faith in the Plan of God.
Putting the Word of God First.
The False Doctrine of "Soul Sleep" II.
The False Doctrine of Absolute Eternal Security II.
The Dangers of Messianic Legalism III
The Dangers of Messianic Legalism II
The Dangers of Messianic Legalism.
Mega-Churches, Emergent Christianity, Spirituality and Materialism.
Epignosis, Christian Epistemology, and Spiritual Growth.
Jephthah's Daughter, Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage.
Christian Unity and Divisiveness.
Death, Martyrdom and Resurrection.
Blessing, Cursing, and Prayer.
Fighting the Good Fight of Faith.
Only-Begotten, Mother-of-God, On-this-Rock: English-only Interpretation is Dangerous.
The Greek Text of the New Testament and some Issues of Textual Criticism.
What does the name 'Christian' mean?
Christians Beware: Internet Frauds and the Need for Spiritual Discernment (part 2).
Christians Beware: Internet Frauds and the Need for Spiritual Discernment.
Spring Special: The Millennial Regathering and Purging of Israel.
Last Things and Last Judgments
The Local Church and Personal Ministry IV
The Local Church and Personal Ministry III
The Local Church and Personal Ministry II
The Local Church and Personal Ministry I
Aspects of the False Doctrine of Institutional Security
Chronological Order of the Books of the Bible II
Biblical Languages, Texts and Translations III
Biblical Languages, Texts and Translations II
Biblical Languages, Texts and Translations I
Satan and the Existence of Evil.
The Holy Spirit: Blasphemy against,
Restraining Ministry, and Gender.
Spiritual Gifts and Spiritual Growth
Christian Love, the Golden Rule, Christian Military Service and Self-Defense.
Issues of Canonicity: Apocrypha, Enoch, and Inspiration.
Church: The Biblical Ideal versus the Contemporary Reality.
Numbers, Letters, and the Mark of the Beast.
Gospel Questions I: Jesus' Life, the Gospels and Cherubs, and who Wrote Matthew.
Naaman, Nero, Nineveh, and Senacharib.
The False Doctrine of Absolute Eternal Security.
Choosing Hell: Questions about Salvation and the Love of God.
The Route of the Israelites in Crossing
the Red Sea.
Some Issues of Transmission,
Translation, and Transliteration: The Camel and the Needle, etc.
Aspects of the Life of Christ:
Jesus' siblings, the man born blind, et al.
Redemption, the Blood of Christ, Christ our Passover, and The Passion of the Christ.
Eschatology Issues II: Angelic bodies, heaven and hell, Satan and the Nephilim, etc.
The Book of Job and Biblical Interpretation.
Some Questions about Eternity.
Who Controls our Thoughts and Emotions?
Sleep as a Euphemism for Death.
Literal Hell.
The Timing of the Resurrection.
Dispensations, the Church, the Rapture, and the Destruction of the Universe.
Christianity versus Contemporary Kitsch.
Purpose Driven Life, Oprah's New Age Religion, et al.
Lot, Esau, and Cain: Learning through
Negative Examples.
Against Universalism II: Only
Believers are Saved.
Against Universalism I: Free Will and the
Image of God.
The Seven Edens and the Eden of Adam and Eve.
Opposition to the Genesis Gap from the Creation Research Institute et al.
The Beast: Some Questions about Antichrist.
The Book of Revelation: Some Questions.
Red Hot or Lukewarm? Bible Teaching versus Sermonizing.
The Last Judgment and the Great White Throne.
Christology: Some Questions on the Life of Christ.
Train up a Child in the Way he should Go.
Unbelief and its Consequences.
Explaining and Defending the Trinity and the Person of Christ.
Free Will and Faith under Pressure.
Bible Interpretation I: Academics, Versions et al.
Faith in the Word of God: the Basis of all True Worship.
Aspects of the Resurrection II.
Faith and Encouragement in the midst of Fiery Trials.
Jethro, Amenhotep, Iraq, the Catacombs, and the KJV.
Eschatology Issues: The Fig Tree, Ezekiel 38, Joel 3, and the Trumpets.
Christ the Rock, the Rooster's Crow, and the Cross.
Applying Faith II: Production, Forgiveness, Circumcision, Truth over People.
Applying Faith: Eating, Drinking, and Vacation.
The Tree of Life, Communion, and the Virgin Birth.
Can Prayer Be Offered From Heaven? & Some Genesis Questions.
Walking the Path of Faith through the Light of the Word of God.
Salvation on the battlefield, truth revealed to infants, and damnation.
Preparing for
Tribulation.
Divine
Sovereignty and Divine Judgment.
Should Christians wear Jewelry?
The Events Surrounding the Birth of Christ.
Zechariah,
Demon Possession, Marriage,
Spiritual Experiences,
and Bible Prophecy.
No Grounds for Divorce?
The Shape of the Universe, Hominids, and the Genesis Gap.
Taking Personal Responsibility: Interest, Bankruptcy, Gambling, and Employment.
The Seven Churches, the Judgment Seat of Christ, and other issues in Eschatology.
The Canonicity of the book of Hebrews.
Great White Throne, the Last Judgment, and the Outer Darkness.
Political Action versus Biblical Christianity.
Study Tools and Methodologies.
The Gospel and the Kingdom of God.
Pursuing a Deeper Relationship with Jesus and Christian Epistemology.
The Origin and the Danger of the Pre-Tribulational Rapture Theory.
The Divinity of the Spirit and the Percentage of those who are Saved.
Should Christians ever consider getting a lawyer?
Pastoral Authority, Popes, Pat Robertson, and Pelagianism.
Some Questions on Church Polity.
Luther, Arminius, Calvin, Kant, Ironside, Tutu and Thieme.
Transmutation, Resuscitation, and Resurrection.
More on the Documentary Hypothesis and More on the Rapture.
Enoch's Walk with God and Some Questions in the Gospels.
The Influence of the Renaissance and Rationalism on the Church and Cutting off Arms in Malachi 2:3.
Eschatology
Questions.
Baptism and Following
Jesus.
The Cross, Sin, and the Devil in God's Plan.
More on: Spiritual Gifts; Hats & Hair; the Age of Accountability.
Who will populate earth during the Millennium? and Asking for Wisdom: James 1:5.
Was Judas Saved?, The Gospel of Judas, and Issues of Canonicity.
Is 'My Son' Israel or Jesus in Hosea 11:1? & How do you Prove Sin to Someone?
Did Matthew Write his Gospel in Hebrew?
Christian Crowns, Pagan Names, and the Time of the Cock-Crow.
Child-like Faith, Mark vs. Matthew, the Mahdi, and 'Who was with God in the Beginning?
True Orthodoxy and False Creeds.
Foot-washing, Bitter Herbs, Baptism, and Borrowed Faith.
Friday versus Thursday Crucifixion.
Jesus' Cursing of the Fig Tree, Apostasy, and 'Feng Shui'.
The Genesis Serpent, Using "it" to refer to the baby Jesus, and more on Tattoos.
Why did Jesus choose John over James to take care of His mother Mary?
Antichrist's 'desire of women' in Daniel 11:37 et al.
Do recent catastrophes have a divine origin?
Does God really want us to be sick and poor? Revisiting the prosperity gospel.
Why did our Lord Jesus arise from the tribe of Judah?
What will our relationship be in heaven with children who died young?
The baptism of the Holy Spirit as distinct from speaking in tongues.
The Grammar behind the Genesis Gap.
The Great White Throne Judgment.
Does God's choice of us eliminate our free will?
Why does God allow bad things to happen?
The Bible as "divine", roof prayer, and tattoos.
Character in Hebrews 1:3, et al.
"Are the children of unbelievers lost if they die before receiving Christ?"
"Is baptism necessary for salvation?"
"The nature of life after death."
"The personality of the Holy Spirit."
"The dragon of Revelation 12 and the talking idol of Revelation 13."
"Infirmities and Diseases in Matthew 8:17"
"The Leftover Baskets of Bread and Fish in John 6."
"Waiting for the Ascension" and "Amos 4:11".
Should Christians have a competitive attitude?
John "leapt for joy" in the womb - or did he?
Satanic Influence in Video Games and Television.
Moving Mountains: Matthew 21:21
Not a hair shall be lost? Luke 21:16 versus Luke 21:18.
The reign of antichrist: 7 years or 3 and 1/2 years?
"Doubts about the Nephilim in Genesis 6" and "Ezekiel 9:4 and the Mark of the Beast"
"Word Counts in the Bible", "Him whom they Pierced (Rev.1:7)", and "Necromancy".
"Waiting for a Savior" and "The Direction East in the Bible"
Is there a purgatory according to the Bible?
Your desire shall be for your husband: Genesis 3:16.
Have I committed the unforgivable sin?
Is the local church meant to be a patriarchy?
Why doesn't the Bible mention all of the prophets of the children of Israel?
Tohu in Genesis 1:2 and the Cause of the Darkness.
Why Doesn't God Prevent All Children from Dying?
Why were Christians being regarded as "evil-doers" in 1st Peter 2:12?
Phylacteries and the Mark of the Beast, and "What about Joseph?"
Assembly of the local church, and Jesus' use of "I AM" from Exodus 3:14 in John 8:58
The "burden of the Lord" in Jeremiah 23:32-40, and judgment for idle words in Matthew 12:36-37.
The importance of spiritual resiliency.
Does God use disease to discipline us?
Recovering from Cult Exposure.
Variability in Christian Testing and Personal Tribulation.
Is there any value to the Apocrypha?
The Communion
Ceremony outside of the
local church.
The Christian Walk, the End, and Tattoos.
Should Christians honor Sunday as the new Sabbath?
Chronological order of the books of the Bible.
Doubt, light, missed opportunities et al.
Corporate prayer in Matthew 18:19: "when two agree on earth".
What does the Bible say about humor?
The value of cumulative prayer.
Our Heavenly, Pre-Resurrection, Interim State.
How could a loving God order the destruction of the Canaanites?
Should Christians observe the Torah?
Church Polity and three other passages.
Tongues: does 'no man' understand?
The few saved, the door in heaven, visions of heavenly realities, and Christmas.
Christian suffering and spiritual maturity.
Aliens, antichrist, and eschatology.
Does exceptionally sinful behavior indicate that a Christian has lost salvation?
Should Christians celebrate Jewish festivals?
The Deaths of the 12 Disciples / Apostles of Christ.
Categories of Sin in Psalm 19.
Some brief answers on a variety of topics.
Pastoral Support, Pastoral Preparation, and the Purpose of Assembly.
Encouragement, Isaiah 6:11-13, and the Hope of Repentance.
Dinosaurs, the Nephilim, Noah, et al.
How much should we pay our pastor?
Is it wrong for me to celebrate Easter?
The Sealing of the Holy Spirit.
Visions of Angels: Colossians 2:18.
Waiting on God's timing: patience in testing.
"Your Throne, O God": Psalm 45:6.
What is meant by the phrase "the Lord's footstool"?
A conversation about divorce and remarriage.
Faith in the midst of the fiery trial.
Hebrews 10:26 again, and two other notes on Arthur Pink and the Greek word diakonos.
What is the correct translation of Isaiah 59:19?
Is the star of Acts 7:43 the star of David?
Some questions about Nimrod and Christmas trees, Tongues, and Healing
Is Jesus the only One ever to restore sight?
What happens to people who were born and died prior to the birth of Christ?
Which is better, the King James Version or the New King James Version?
What is the minimum necessary to be saved?
How can we know whose interpretation of the Bible is right (Part 2)?
How can we know whose interpretation of the Bible is right (Part 1)?
Psalm 22:1, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
The "Mind of Christ" in 1st Corinthians 2:16
Simeon and Simon, and the two crows of the rooster
Ichthys, saints, and the Last Adam
Does Hebrews 10:26 teach loss of salvation?
Eternal security: where does one draw the line?
Who are Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38-39?
How did John the baptist come to doubt Jesus?
Is Jesus literally seated on the throne at God's right hand?
Are the Celts the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel?
Whatever happened to the "Genesis Gap"?
"The baptism which now saves you": 1st Peter 3:21.
What type of healing is being discussed in Isaiah 53:5?
The Origin of the Four Seasons
2nd Peter 3:5: Doubting the Tribulation
A Question about Ichthys books
Biblical Metaphors and Symbolism
Faith and the Pre-Tribulational "Rapture".
Bible translation and John 8:58.
Melchizedek and the high priesthood of Christ: two questions et alia.
The centurion and the Syro-Phoenician woman.
What is "heaven" like according to Christian teachings?
1st Corinthians 11: Hats or Hair?
Confession of Sin, Fellowship, and the Filling of the Holy Spirit.
A Miscellany of Questions and Answers (Nineveh, the beast, tongues, demons, Sadam, etc.)
Some Greek Questions in the Gospels (John 1:3; 2:19; 8:58; Luke 23:43)
Is Man trichotomous, and does that mean that salvation is three-tiered?
Christ knocking at the door in Revelation 3:20
The futility of memory without God and eternal life.
The meaning of Jesus' words, "I am" in John 8:58
What does the Bible say about Heaven and Hell?
Peace in 1st Corinthians 14:33
Salvation and Church Affiliation.
Several questions on the book of Hebrews.
Does the Bible prohibit women from preaching or teaching in the Church?
Should Christian leaders refrain from drinking in public?
How to use the Bible translations at Ichthys.
The Worship of Jesus: a proof of His divinity?
An Extended Conversation about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Is water baptism required for Christians today?
Are health and wealth a part of the gospel?
Will those in Hades be able to see Christ's return?
Feelings of Guilt about Remarriage.
Who are the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel?
What does "the Word was with God" mean in John 1:1-2?
Three questions on three verses in Isaiah (Is.21:4; 28:10, & 66:24).
How important is education for a pastor?
Availability and use of Ichthys materials: several questions.
Is there any difference between demons and fallen angels?
Two questions about Judas Iscariot.
Three Questions about Tattoos and Salvation.
The Hebrew word for 'one' (`echadh) and the uniqueness of God.
Did the witch of Endor really conjure up the spirit of Samuel?
A Question about the "Waters Above".
Why did God the Father wait so long to send Jesus into the world?
How does being "slain in the Spirit" relate to being baptized in the Spirit?
How do you prove the existence of God?
Where does the Bible teach that Jesus is God?
Is it ever Justifiable to Tell a Lie (part 2)?
Is the Westminster Catechism a Good Reference Tool?
What does it mean "the spirit returns to God" in Ecclesiastes 12:7?
Is there any Connection between biblical Gemstones and Moral Characteristics?
Are Miraculous Gifts Operational Today?
Jesus Christ in the Old Testament (Christophany: Gen.3:8).
Can those in organizations which teach "salvation by works" be saved?
Is "helpmeet" a wrong translation in Genesis 2:20?
Cast thy Bread upon the Waters: What do the seven and eight portions in Ecclesiastes 11:2 mean?
Was Cain Satan's literal "seed"?
The Demon Possessed Girl in Acts 16:16.
The "Sin unto Death" in 1st John 5:16.
Is death just a natural part of human life?
Communion and the Blood of Christ.
What does it mean in 1st Corinthians 7:14, "the unbelieving husband is sanctified"?
The Re-institution of the Feast of Tabernacles in the Millennium.
Secular Documentation for the Exodus.
The false doctrine of "soul sleep".
The Author of Hebrews and Jesus' Perfect Completion of His Mission.
The Trinity in Isaiah 63:10-15.
How old was Jesus at the time of His crucifixion and resurrection?
Five Smooth Stones: 1st Samuel 17:40
How can we know the Bible is true?
Habakkuk's Prosperity Prayer: Habakkuk 3:17-19.
Jeremiah 31:22: "A Woman shall Compass a Man".
The New International Version of the Bible and some issues in Bible translation.
Is "the Prophet" of Deuteronomy 18:18 Muhammad?
The One True God and the Trinity in the Old Testament.
Are those in Hebrews 6:4 who "crucify the Son of God afresh" lost?
Are New Bible Translations Part of a Conspiracy?
What exactly is the "red heifer prophecy", and how does it relate to the events of the end times?
Where did the waters of Genesis 1 go?
Sin, Baptism, and the Book of
Revelation
Tithing
and the Book of
Life
The Dangers of the Prosperity Gospel.
English and the Tower of Babel.
The "Seven Thunders" of Revelation 10:3-4
The fate of the unrighteous dead in Isaiah 66:24
Who are the "sons of the kingdom" in Matthew 18:11-12?
Why does Judah get greater honor than Jerusalem in Zechariah 12:7?
How is the date of Easter computed?
What is the meaning of the 1290 days versus the 1335 days in Daniel 12?
What Church era are we now in?
Can you explain "help my unbelief!" in Mark 9:24?
What does it mean to "overcome" in Revelation chapters 2 and 3?
Are women required to wear veils or hats in
church?
Is the world
about to come to an end?
Does the Bible ever describe the earth as being round?
Pre-, mid-, or post-Tribulation rapture?
The origin and fate of the "giants" in Genesis chapter six.
Christian suffering - Christian encouragement.
Is speaking in tongues biblical?
Can you recommend a good commentary on the book of Romans?
The recipients of Peter's epistles.
Pre- or Post-Tribulation "rapture"?
Animal sacrifice in the millennium.
Is it ever justifiable to lie?
Who
wrote the King James version?
The meaning of the
divine name יהוה.
The so-called "documentary hypothesis".
The relationship between the books of Kings and Chronicles.
David's disastrous census of Israel.
Aspects of the Unseen Angelic Warfare and 666, the Mark of the Beast.
The 200 million strong demon army of Revelation 9:13.
Deliverance through Childbearing in 1st Timothy 2:15?
Some questions about the Tribulation.
More on divorce and remarriage.
What does it mean to "remember the Sabbath and keep it holy"?
The manner of the apostle Peter's death.
Wasn't Matthias the thirteenth apostle?
Forward progress necessary for salvation and spiritual growth.
The "seven days" of human history.
1st John 1:9 and
confessing sin.
ICHTHYS and the role of traditional Christianity.
Can you recommend a good survey for the Old and New Testaments?
Where can I find more information on the "Genesis gap"?
Is Church membership an issue in salvation?
Are these materials available for purchase as books?
What is your opinion of the Abingdon one-volume Bible Commentary?
What is the significance of the number "20" in the Bible?
The 144,000 of Revelation chapters 7 and 14.
What is your view on predestination?
The chronology of the date 2026.
Does baptism play a role in being born again?
Why does the devil have access to God while man cannot stand in His presence?
The structure of the book of Revelation.
What is your view of the rapture?
What is meant by the "10 days" of Revelation
2:10?
Dragons in the Bible?
Are there apostles in the
Church today?
What is the meaning of the
word "chosen" in
the Bible.
The Passover.
What are the most common Bible
names?
What is the biblical significance
of the number forty?
What does the Bible have
to say about witchcraft?
How can I protect myself from false teaching?
Didn't the devil know he couldn't defeat God?
Are the Masons wrong according to the Bible?
Six Questions.
Can the faith of
"backsliders" be
restored?
Are there biblical origins to
mythology?
What does the phrase "sides of the pit" mean in Isaiah 14:15?
Can prayer be offered in the name of the Son?
Is it valid to celebrate Christmas?
Can you give me some information on divine names in the Bible?
What is the significance of name changes in the Bible?
Is there a "gospel of Thomas"?
Is the nature of Man
dichotomous or trichotomous?
Will the temple be rebuilt in Jerusalem?
Does the Bible teach a literal Millennium?
What does the word "good" mean in Genesis?
Who are "the dead" who "rise first" in 1st Thessalonians 4?
Are the Greek tenses in John 7:34 correctly translated?
Is the devil "mad" to oppose God?
Does the Bible require supporting
the pastor
financially?
How
can Jesus be a man
and God at the same time?
How did people
atone for intentional sin
in Old Testament times?
What is the symbolism of the
Lamb of God in Revelation?
Can you recommend some word study tools for Bible study?
Can people who commit suicide be saved?
What is the difference between wisdom and discernment?
Marriage of Believers and Unbelievers.
Is hearing believing in John 6:35?
Is Paul describing himself in Romans chapter seven?
Is tithing required for salvation?
What is the evidence for the "rapture"?
Is there any validity to the "prosperity gospel"?
Who are the "Nephilim" in Genesis chapter six?
What does the Bible have to say about reincarnation?
Believing the Bible for Spiritual Growth.
Why was the New Testament written in Greek?
What about those who have never heard of Christ?
What about elders and deacons?
Eternal Security and "sinless perfection".
Eternal Security and "salvation by works".
Does the Bible teach ex nihilo
creation?
When did Jesus first know He
was God's Son?
Are there prophets today?
How could Christ have been three days and
nights in
the grave?
Do Muslims worship the One true
God?
What can I do about spiritual fainting?