The question “Am I my brother’s keeper?” is found in Genesis 4:9 when Cain responds to God’s inquiry about the whereabouts of his brother Abel, whom Cain had murdered. This question has become a shorthand way to ask whether we have moral obligations to others, especially those in need. The Bible has a lot to say about this topic, especially in regard to caring for the poor and vulnerable. While we are not solely responsible for the wellbeing of others, Scripture makes it clear that we do have a duty to love our neighbor and look out for those less…
Author: Emma Price
John Knox was a Scottish minister, theologian, and writer who was a leader of the country’s Reformation in the 16th century. He was the founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Knox is considered the leader of the Scottish Reformation and one of the most influential religious reformers in Scotland’s history. Here is an overview of John Knox’s life and legacy: Early Life John Knox was born around 1513 near Haddington, Scotland. He studied at the University of St Andrews and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1536. However, Knox soon converted to the ideas of the Protestant Reformation…
The transcendental argument for the existence of God is an argument that attempts to prove God’s existence by arguing that logic, reason, morality, and other fundamental aspects of human reasoning would be impossible without the existence of God. The argument contends that all rational thought presupposes the existence of God because without God, there would be no universal, abstract laws of logic and morality that humans could discover and apply. The argument claims that the atheist worldview cannot account for the preconditions of intelligible human experience and reasoning. The transcendental argument was developed by the Christian philosopher Cornelius Van Til.…
Why are Christians so mean? Christians are often accused of being judgmental, hypocritical, and intolerant. While there are certainly Christians who exhibit those behaviors, the Bible calls followers of Jesus to be loving, gracious, and humble. Here is a 9,000 word exploration of what the Bible teaches about how Christians should treat others. The overarching principle for Christian behavior is found in Mark 12:30-31, where Jesus says the two greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. 1 John 4:7-8 also states that anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.…
The Bible contains several references to giants, suggesting that races of unusually large people lived in the ancient world. While there is archaeological evidence that some ancient peoples were taller than average, the existence of literal giants as described in Scripture is debated among scholars. Old Testament References to Giants Here are some of the main passages in the Old Testament that refer to giants: Genesis 6:4 – “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were…
Soul care is the practice of nurturing and tending to one’s inner spiritual life. The Bible has much to say about the importance of caring for the soul and provides guidance on how to pursue spiritual health and wholeness. At its core, soul care involves nurturing our relationship with God through spiritual disciplines and practices. It is about pursuing Christlikeness and allowing our souls to flourish by abiding in God’s word and presence. The Bible teaches that human beings are comprised of body, soul and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The soul is the seat of our emotions, intellect, personality and…
Narcissism is characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy for others, and a need for excessive admiration. It is sometimes viewed as excessive self-love or self-centeredness. The Bible does not use the term “narcissism” directly, as it is a modern psychological concept. However, the Bible has much to say about pride, self-focus, and loving others that can provide wisdom relevant to narcissism. Pride and arrogance The Bible strongly warns against pride and arrogance, which are key characteristics of narcissism. Pride is essentially placing oneself above God and others. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and…
The question of why most Jews do not accept Jesus as the Messiah is a complex one with historical, theological, and cultural factors involved. At the heart of the issue is how different groups have understood the identity and role of the Messiah based on their reading of the Hebrew Bible and subsequent Jewish tradition. Most Jews do not accept the Christian claim that Jesus was the Messiah because they do not see evidence in the Hebrew Bible that the Messiah was expected to be divine or part of a Trinity. The Messiah is depicted as a human leader who…
The Bible does not directly address the modern concept of child support, since this is a legal obligation established by modern governments. However, the Bible has a lot to say about caring for one’s family and meeting one’s obligations. Overall, the principles and teachings of Scripture suggest that Christians should take their child support obligations seriously and make every effort to meet them. Some key biblical principles that relate to the idea of child support include: 1. Caring for one’s family The Bible is clear that part of living righteously involves providing for the needs of one’s household. 1 Timothy…
Psalms 14 and 53 are nearly identical psalms found in the Book of Psalms in the Bible. There has been much discussion among biblical scholars as to why these two psalms are so similar. While there are some minor differences between Psalms 14 and 53, the overwhelming majority of the wording is exactly the same. Examining the context and content of these psalms can shed light on why they are nearly identical. Psalm 14 is attributed to King David, while Psalm 53 is unattributed. However, it is likely that David also authored Psalm 53. The psalms are both addressed “For…