Elkanah was an important figure in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel. He was the father of Samuel, one of the most influential prophets and judges of Israel. Here is an overview of who Elkanah was and his significance in biblical history: Elkanah’s Family and Lineage Elkanah was from the tribe of Levi, but he was not a priest. His genealogy is traced back to Levi’s son Kohath (1 Chronicles 6:33-38). He was from the lineage of Zuph, who was an ancestor of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1). Elkanah lived in the hill country of Ephraim in a…
Author: Aaron Chin
Narrative theology is the study of the grand narrative arc of the Bible and how God reveals Himself through stories. At its core, narrative theology looks at the Bible as one overarching story of God’s redemptive work in human history, from creation to fall to redemption to consummation. Here are some key aspects of narrative theology: The Bible as Story Narrative theologians view the Bible as a grand narrative with a beginning, middle, and end. This overarching story provides coherence and meaning to the individual stories contained within it. God is the divine author who reveals Himself progressively through the…
The Five Articles of Remonstrance were five theological propositions advanced by followers of Jacobus Arminius that opposed some tenets of Calvinist doctrine in the early 17th century. Arminius studied under Calvinist theologian Theodore Beza at the University of Geneva and served as a pastor in Amsterdam. He began to doubt some aspects of Calvin’s doctrine of predestination and published a theological treatise in 1608 that questioned the Calvinist doctrine of predestination. After the death of Arminius in 1609, his followers formalized their beliefs into five articles that came to be known as the Five Articles of Remonstrance. The Five Articles…
Envy is a sin that we all struggle with at times. It involves coveting what someone else has or resenting their success. The Bible has a lot to say about envy and provides wisdom for overcoming it. Here is an overview of the key biblical teaching on this topic: The Ten Commandments forbid envy. The tenth commandment says, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s” (Exodus 20:17). This prohibition against coveting covers desiring…
The question of whether Christians should watch scary or horror movies is one that does not have a definitive answer in the Bible. There are good arguments on both sides of this issue. Ultimately, it comes down to each person’s conscience and their personal convictions before God. However, there are some biblical principles that can help provide guidance when considering this question. The Content and Themes of These Movies Many scary and horror movies contain content that is contradictory to biblical values. There are often graphic depictions of violence, gore, sexual immorality, the occult and the demonic. Philippians 4:8 instructs…
Hosea was one of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament. He was the son of Beeri and prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, as well as during the reign of Jeroboam, king of Israel (Hosea 1:1). Hosea’s ministry took place in the northern kingdom of Israel around 753-715 BC, shortly before the fall of Samaria in 722 BC. The book of Hosea contains Hosea’s prophecies and revelations from God. It also recounts some details about Hosea’s life and marriage. The first three chapters focus on his troubled marriage to an unfaithful wife…
Jeremiah was one of the major prophets in the Old Testament. He lived during a turbulent time in Israel’s history, just before and after the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the temple in 587 BC. Jeremiah’s ministry spanned five decades, from the 13th year of King Josiah’s reign (627 BC) to after the fall of Jerusalem. God called Jeremiah to be a prophet when he was still a youth. Jeremiah was born into a priestly family in the village of Anathoth, near Jerusalem. God ordained him to be a prophet even before he was born (Jeremiah 1:5). Jeremiah was initially…
The observance of First Communion is a longstanding tradition in many Christian denominations, particularly Roman Catholicism. It marks a child’s first reception of the Eucharist, which is consuming bread and wine (or grape juice) that represent the body and blood of Jesus Christ. While the practice of First Communion is widespread, some question whether it is actually supported or prescribed in the Bible. There are a few key considerations when evaluating the biblical basis for First Communion: The institution of the Lord’s Supper The practice of partaking in bread and wine is traced back to the Last Supper, Jesus’ final…
Who was Samuel in the Bible? Samuel was one of the most significant figures in the Old Testament. He served as the last judge of Israel and the first major prophet after Moses. Samuel played a pivotal role in the transition from the period of the judges to the establishment of the Israelite monarchy under Saul and David. Samuel’s Background Samuel was born to Elkanah and Hannah (1 Samuel 1:20). Hannah was barren for many years and prayed to God for a son, vowing to dedicate him to the Lord’s service. God answered her prayer and Samuel was born. After…
# Who are the Three Nephites in Mormonism? The Three Nephites are three disciples of Jesus Christ mentioned in the Book of Mormon who were blessed to “never taste of death” and remain on the earth until Christ’s second coming. They are believed to have been among the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus when he visited the Americas after his resurrection, according to the Book of Mormon. ## Background on the Three Nephites According to the Book of Mormon, when Jesus Christ appeared and ministered to the people in the ancient Americas after his resurrection, he chose twelve disciples, similar…