Most Popular
1500 questions
18
votes
2 answers
When and how did the names Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John get attached to the gospels?
Most of the books of the New Testament—all the letters except Hebrews, plus the Revelation—give the author's name at the beginning. The gospels do not. Only one gospel identifies its author ("This is the disciple who is testifying to these things…
Bruce Alderman
- 10,674
- 6
- 47
- 81
18
votes
11 answers
Is it hypocritical to be a Christian and also be against welfare?
Recently someone informed me that it was hypocritical to call myself Christian, and to be against many progressive/liberal policies (the specific argument was about US-run welfare)
So my question: is it hypocritical to call myself a Christian and…
Derek Downey
- 2,897
- 3
- 26
- 42
18
votes
4 answers
What evidence is available that Mt. Moriah is actually the Temple Mount?
In Sunday school this week we discussed (among several other things) the sacrifice of Isaac.
The teacher pointed us to a footnote that appears in several editions of the scripture. It seems that scholars think that Mount Moriah, where Abraham was…
wax eagle
- 7,037
- 5
- 42
- 76
18
votes
3 answers
What is the earliest written surviving liturgy?
The Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, for example, has been traced to the fourth century, and is purported to be based upon even earlier forms. The Liturgy of St James is even more ancient, and is supposed to be the oldest liturgy still in…
John Peyton
- 1,104
- 1
- 9
- 16
18
votes
6 answers
Do not allow a sorceress/witch to live?
I saw a witch a while back being mistreated, which deeply troubled me. I am strong proponent for Luke 6:31.
I am familiar with Exodus 22:18 which usually translates to something like: Do not allow a sorceress/witch to live.
This brings to mind one…
Jenny Thomson
- 870
- 1
- 7
- 13
18
votes
5 answers
If Jesus was Emmanuel why was he named Yeshua?
It was foretold that a virgin shall give birth and the new born will be named Emmanuel then why was Jesus named "Yeshua". (Isaiah 7:10) Please explain...
Albert
- 189
- 1
- 1
- 5
18
votes
3 answers
Why were Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed?
I think many people assume that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of their sexual immortality, and this may at least be part of the reason. However, I recently read Ezekiel and in Ezekiel 16:49-50
49 Now this was the sin of your sister…
aceinthehole
- 10,686
- 21
- 55
- 100
18
votes
5 answers
Does Numbers 5:11-22 describe sanctioned abortion?
Numbers 5:11-22 NIV
11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 “Speak to the Israelites and say to
them: ‘If a man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him 13 so that
another man has sexual relations with her, and this is hidden from her
husband…
aceinthehole
- 10,686
- 21
- 55
- 100
18
votes
5 answers
What is the basis for saying rock music is sinful?
It has been suggested to me that some Christians believe that rock music is inherently immoral, and as a result they believe that Christians would do well to avoid the entire genre.
For example, several older Christians have told me that statements…
Kramii
- 2,152
- 15
- 22
18
votes
2 answers
What is the Word of Faith teaching on "little gods"
Rather than assuming Wikipedia is accurate, I thought I'd as for a better sourced answer to the question. Wikipedia's article on the Word of Faith movement lists various controversies regarding Word of Faith teachings. Among them is the "Little…
David Stratton
- 43,923
- 9
- 129
- 233
18
votes
1 answer
What should I expect at a Roman Catholic funeral?
A funeral notice announces a "mass of Christian burial" (at a Roman Catholic church in the US) followed by a burial followed by a luncheon. As an outsider I have a few questions about what to expect:
Is the mass the same as a Sunday mass with…
Monica Cellio
- 921
- 3
- 12
- 23
18
votes
1 answer
What is the basis of the argument that Open Theism is heretical?
John Piper has said that open theism (i.e. the notion that God himself changes over time and can choose to be ignorant of His own future if He so chooses) "is an attack, however unwittingly, on the cross and on the work of the Spirit as our only…
Harry James Fox
- 181
- 5
18
votes
1 answer
What does the Catholic church teach about fate of non-Catholic christians?
From what I've heard, The Roman Catholic Church claims to be the only representative authority of God on Earth. Does it indeed claim that, and if so what does it say happens to members of non-Catholic churches when they die?
2tim424
- 3,468
- 1
- 24
- 31
18
votes
5 answers
When did Mary and Joseph learn that they were never supposed to have marital relations, according to Roman Catholic doctrine?
Roman Catholic doctrine teaches that Mary remained a virgin her entire life, even after marrying Joseph. It would seem that Joseph and Mary, at their betrothal, had likely expected to have, and anticipated having marital relations with each other…
Narnian
- 63,790
- 69
- 243
- 482
18
votes
7 answers
Did Jesus actually ever say "if you don't believe in me you will go to hell"?
I just finished a five-part series on the History Channel: "The Bible". They did a fantastic job with it. However, I noticed that Jesus did not appear to condemn those who did not believe in Him, and I had never really thought about that before.…
Greg McNulty
- 4,024
- 13
- 47
- 76