Phoebe was a first-century Christian woman mentioned by the apostle Paul in his New Testament letter to the Romans. Though little is known about her background and life story, the details given in Scripture provide valuable insights into her character and role in the early church. Phoebe lived in Cenchreae, one of the seaports of Corinth (Romans 16:1). She was a “servant” or “deacon” in the church there (Romans 16:1). The Greek word used to describe her, “diakonos,” refers to a Christian designated to serve the church in an official capacity. Though the specifics of her ministry are not given,…
Author: Aaron Chin
The Valley of Achor is mentioned several times in the Bible, primarily in the Old Testament. Achor means “trouble” or “disturbance” in Hebrew, so the Valley of Achor was a place associated with trouble and turmoil. However, God promises to make this valley of trouble into a door of hope. Understanding the significance of the Valley of Achor requires looking at the biblical history associated with it. The Valley of Achor first appears in the Old Testament in Joshua 7. After the Israelites had miraculously defeated Jericho, they went up against the city of Ai. However, they were defeated and…
The story of Moses wearing a veil is found in Exodus 34 in the Old Testament. After spending 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God, Moses returned to the Israelites with his face radiant. However, Moses did not realize that his face was radiant because he had been speaking with the Lord (Exodus 34:29). When Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, they were afraid to come near him because of the radiance of his face. So Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to…
The question of whether God cries is an interesting one that the Bible does not directly address. However, through examining Scripture we can draw some conclusions about God’s emotions and whether He experiences grief and sorrow like humans do. First, we know that God is not limited as humans are. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is perfect, holy, and transcendent. Therefore, God does not experience emotions in exactly the same way that limited, fallen humans do (Numbers 23:19). However, throughout Scripture God does reveal Himself to have emotions in some sense. He expresses love (John 3:16), joy (Luke…
The book of Exodus is the second book of the Torah and of the Old Testament. It continues the story of the Israelites following the death of Joseph in Egypt. The book gets its name from the Greek word “exodos” meaning “departure,” referring to the departure of the Israelites from Egypt. The key events of Exodus include the calling of Moses, the ten plagues, the Passover, the parting of the Red Sea, the provision of manna and quail, the Ten Commandments, the golden calf idol, and the construction of the tabernacle. The book begins by recounting the Israelites living in…
This is an interesting question that comes up when reading 2 Chronicles 21:12-15, where we see that Elijah wrote a letter to King Jehoram years after he was taken up to heaven. To understand this, we need to look at the chronology of events and clarify some common misconceptions. The Chronology of Elijah’s Ministry First, a quick overview of the timeline of Elijah’s life and ministry: – Elijah confronts wicked King Ahab and pronounces a drought in Israel (1 Kings 17:1). – God miraculously provides for Elijah during the drought (1 Kings 17:2-16). – Elijah defeats the prophets of Baal…
“You shall not steal” is one of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:15. God gave the Ten Commandments, including “you shall not steal”, to provide moral guidance and promote justice and righteousness for the Israelites. Here are some key reasons why “you shall not steal” was included in the Ten Commandments: 1. To protect private property The commandment against stealing sought to protect private property and possessions. God wanted people to be secure in what belonged to them without fear of it being unlawfully taken. Respect for private property is essential for a stable society. If people cannot feel…
Christless Christianity refers to a form of Christian belief and practice that lacks a true focus on Jesus Christ. It describes a Christianity where Christ is not at the center, where His life, death, and resurrection are not the foundation. The concepts and teachings of Christless Christianity may use Christian language and imagery, but Christ is not emphasized as Savior and Lord. There are a few hallmarks of Christless Christianity: Jesus is not presented as the only way to salvation – His atoning sacrifice on the cross is downplayed or ignored. Sin and repentance are scarcely mentioned – the need…
The question of whether God hates homosexuals is a complex one that requires nuance and care. Here is a 9000 word discussion of what the Bible says on this topic: First, it is important to note that the Bible condemns homosexual acts, but does not specifically state that God hates gay or lesbian people. The key verses that address homosexuality are found in Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and 1 Timothy 1:10. These verses make clear that the Bible prohibits sexual relations between people of the same sex. However, the Bible does not teach that God…
Halloween is a popular holiday celebrated each year on October 31st. It originated as the pagan festival of Samhain by the ancient Celts in Ireland and Britain to mark the end of harvest season and beginning of winter. Over the centuries, Halloween customs and traditions have evolved and spread to other parts of the world. Some common practices associated with the holiday include carving jack-o-lanterns, dressing up in costumes, going trick-or-treating, attending costume parties, decorating with pumpkins and bats, watching horror movies, and visiting haunted attractions. For many people, Halloween is a fun time of year associated with candy, costumes,…