Landmarkism is a belief within Baptist theology that espouses the view that baptism by immersion is the only valid form of baptism. It developed in the mid-19th century within the Southern Baptist Convention. Landmarkists believe that Baptist churches are the only true churches, and that only Baptists administer valid ordinances and preach the true Gospel. The origins of Landmarkism can be traced back to James Robinson Graves, an influential Baptist preacher and editor in Tennessee. In the 1850s, Graves became concerned with the rise of open membership and pulpit affiliation between Baptists and non-Baptists. He believed that Baptist principles and…
Author: Aaron Chin
The phrase “God is my portion” is a biblical concept that conveys the idea that God Himself is the supreme inheritance and reward for the believer. It speaks to the sufficiency of God to meet all of our needs and the satisfaction we find in Him alone. This phrase appears numerous times throughout Scripture, particularly in the Old Testament. Let’s explore the meaning and significance of this important spiritual truth. God as Our Portion in the Old Testament In the Old Testament, the idea of “portion” had special meaning in the context of inheritance laws. When a man died, his…
The concept of a “second death” is found in the Bible, specifically in the book of Revelation. It refers to a final judgment and condemnation that unrepentant sinners will face after physical death. The book of Revelation describes the second death this way: “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14-15). Based on this passage, the second death seems to refer to being condemned to…
The Major Prophets and Minor Prophets are two groups of books in the Old Testament section of the Bible that contain messages conveyed by prophets inspired by God. The Major Prophets consist of 5 books – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel. The Minor Prophets consist of 12 relatively shorter books – Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. The terms “major” and “minor” refer primarily to the length of the books, not necessarily their significance. Isaiah is the longest prophetic book, while Obadiah is the shortest. Although called “minor”, the messages of the…
Ishtar was an ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love, fertility, sex, desire, and war. She was worshipped over 3,000 years ago, primarily in the regions of Babylon and Assyria which today comprise modern-day Iraq. Ishtar was an important deity in the Mesopotamian pantheon, sometimes referred to as the “Queen of Heaven”. Her cult involved sacred prostitution and she was associated with the planet Venus. There are some theories that propose a connection between Ishtar and the origins of the Christian holiday of Easter, but the evidence is inconclusive. The Identity and Significance of Ishtar Ishtar’s identity encompassed contradictory roles and concepts.…
The Bible makes references to various pagan gods and goddesses that were worshipped during biblical times. Though the Bible clearly rejects polytheism and idolatry, some of these mythological deities are mentioned to provide historical and cultural context. Here is an overview of the major Greek gods and goddesses that are directly referenced or alluded to in the Bible: Apollo Apollo was the Greek god of prophecy, music, poetry, healing, and the sun. He was one of the most important and complex figures in Greek mythology. Though Apollo is not directly named, Acts 19:27 contains a probable reference to him: “And…
The image of being like a tree planted by water is used in two places in the Bible – Psalm 1:3 and Jeremiah 17:8. In both instances, this metaphor is meant to convey blessings, stability, and fruitfulness for the righteous person who delights in God’s law. Psalm 1:3 Psalm 1 contrasts the righteous person with the wicked. Verse 3 says that the one who meditates on God’s law day and night and delights in it “is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that…
Nominal Christianity refers to people who identify as Christian but do not actively practice or live out the teachings of Christianity. A nominal Christian may have been baptized, attend church on holidays, and identify with Christian values, but does not have a strong or active faith. There are several characteristics that often define nominal Christians: Cultural or Social Christians Many people consider themselves Christians because they were raised in a Christian family or live in a predominantly Christian culture or society. They may have a basic belief in God and Christian principles, celebrate Christian holidays, and identify with Christian morals.…
The Parable of the Wedding Feast is told by Jesus in Matthew 22:1-14. It is a parable about the kingdom of heaven and who will be allowed to enter. Here is a summary of the parable: A king prepared a wedding feast for his son. He sent his servants to invite the guests, but they refused to come. So he sent other servants to tell the guests that the feast was ready, but the guests made light of the invitation and went about their business. Some even seized the king’s servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was furious…
The number 666 is mentioned in the Bible in Revelation 13:18: “This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.” This has led to much speculation throughout history about the meaning and significance of 666. Here is an overview of some of the main interpretations: The most common understanding is that 666 represents the Antichrist or the beast. Revelation describes the beast as having authority and power given by the dragon, who is identified as Satan (Revelation 13:2). The number 666…