The ancient city of Corinth plays an important role in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. Located on the isthmus connecting mainland Greece to the Peloponnese, Corinth was a major urban center in the ancient world. Here are some key ways Corinth features in the biblical narrative: Old Testament In the Old Testament, Corinth is mentioned a few times: Isaiah 23:12 refers to the merchants of Tarshish who traded with Corinth. 2 Chronicles 2:13 mentions that Hiram king of Tyre had a worker from Corinth who was skilled in engraving and metalwork. Corinth is listed in Psalms…
Author: Aaron Chin
The story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal is found in 1 Kings 18 in the Old Testament. It takes place during the reign of King Ahab in Israel, who had married the pagan queen Jezebel and worshipped her gods, especially Baal. Baal was considered the god of storms, rain, and fertility by the Canaanites. Meanwhile, Elijah was a prophet of the Lord who confronted Ahab about his idolatry and lack of faith in the true God of Israel. A severe famine had struck Israel for three years as God’s judgment for their idolatry. Elijah confronted Ahab and declared…
Mental illness affects millions of people worldwide. For those who suffer from mental health conditions and their loved ones, questions about the afterlife are common. What does the Bible say about whether mentally ill people go to heaven? While Scripture does not directly address mental illness, some key biblical principles provide insight into how God views and cares for those with impaired mental faculties. All Have Sinned and Fall Short of God’s Glory The Bible teaches that everyone has sinned and falls short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Every human being has a sin nature that separates us…
A Bible commentary is a written work that provides explanation, interpretation, and application of Biblical texts. Commentaries examine the language, context, and background of Scripture passages to bring out their fuller meaning. They are produced by scholars and theologians and can vary greatly in scope, depth, and theological perspective. Commentaries serve several important functions for students of the Bible: They provide historical and cultural background on the Biblical texts and their authors. Knowing more about the original context and audience helps readers better grasp the intent and meaning of the passages. They explain difficult concepts, terms, locations, and objects that…
The concept of an “age of accountability” refers to the belief that children are not held accountable by God for their sins until they reach a certain age of moral understanding. While this belief is common among many Christians, the phrase “age of accountability” is not explicitly stated in Scripture. However, the Bible does speak to the issues of sin, guilt, innocence, and moral development in a number of passages that inform this doctrine. Old Testament Background In the Old Testament, the age of accountability is not clearly defined. However, there are some principles that provide background for the doctrine:…
Traducianism is the theological doctrine that each human soul is generated by the soul of the parents. It stands in contrast to creationism, which teaches that each soul is directly created by God. The doctrine has its roots in the early church fathers such as Tertullian, and became more fully developed by church theologians in the Middle Ages. The word “traducianism” comes from the Latin “tradux” meaning “offshoot” or “branch”. The idea is that the soul of a child branches off from the soul of the parents, similar to how a branch sprouts from a tree. Just as parents pass…
Attending a Christian camp can provide many valuable experiences and benefits for people of all ages. Here are some of the key reasons why participating in a Christian camp is worth considering: Deepening Faith and Relationship with God One of the core aims of Christian camps is to provide opportunities for campers to grow spiritually and deepen their faith. Away from the busyness and distractions of everyday life, campers can focus on learning more about God through bible studies, worship, prayer, and hands-on service activities. The change of environment along with the intentional faith-based programming allows space for campers to…
Jesus’ call to “take up your cross and follow Me” is found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In all three accounts, Jesus speaks these words to His disciples and the crowds following Him. This powerful statement from Jesus has profound implications for all who would be His followers. The Context of Jesus’ Statement In each of the Gospels, Jesus’ command to take up one’s cross comes after Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16, Mark 8:29, Luke 9:20). Jesus affirms Peter’s confession and declares that He will build His…
This question gets at the heart of the biblical teaching on salvation and how we are saved. On one hand, the Bible clearly teaches that we are saved by grace through faith and not by our own works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Yet the Bible also teaches that true saving faith inevitably results in good works (James 2:14-26). So which is it – are we saved by faith alone or by faith plus works? To answer this question, we first need to understand what the Bible means by “works” when it says we are not saved by works. The works that cannot…
The concept of hell being a “lake of fire” comes primarily from the book of Revelation in the Bible. Revelation describes a vision of the final judgment, where the wicked are thrown into a lake of fire after being judged by God. This lake of fire concept has led to much symbolic and literal speculation about the nature of hell throughout the centuries. First, it’s important to understand that the lake of fire image is symbolic language used to communicate real truths about God’s final judgment and the destiny of the wicked. Scripture frequently uses symbolic images to depict spiritual…