Submitting to God is a central theme throughout the Bible. As human beings created by God, we are called to live in faithful obedience to Him. This means aligning our will, desires, actions, and priorities with God’s commands and wishes for our lives. Though challenging at times, submission to God is ultimately for our good and enables us to experience the blessings of living in right relationship with our Creator. The starting point for understanding submission to God is recognizing that He is Lord of our lives. As Psalm 24:1 states, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,…
Author: Emma Price
The angelic conflict doctrine is a theological concept that attempts to explain the origin and purpose behind spiritual warfare between God and Satan. It posits that a rebellion took place in heaven when Lucifer (Satan) and a third of the angels rebelled against God. This brought sin into creation and led to an ongoing cosmic conflict between the forces of good and evil. While not an official church doctrine, the angelic conflict view has been popularized in some evangelical circles. But is it biblical? Here is an overview of the key points and relevant Scripture. 1. War broke out in…
The Greek Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Christian churches. It is considered to be the second largest Christian church in the world, with an estimated 250 million members. The Greek Orthodox Church traces its history back to the earliest days of Christianity and the apostles. Here is an overview of the key things to know about the Greek Orthodox Church: Origins and History The Greek Orthodox Church upholds that it was founded by Jesus Christ and the Apostles. According to tradition, the church was established in 34 AD in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost when…
Dating and courting are two common practices in Western culture for people to get to know one another romantically with the intention of pursuing marriage. However, there are some key differences between these two approaches when examined through a biblical lens. Definition of Dating Dating today is commonly understood as a romantic relationship between two people who are casually getting to know each other. There is no expressed intention or expectation for the relationship to lead to marriage. Dating is often considered a recreational activity where each person is out to find their best match and have fun in the…
The Council of Jamnia refers to an assembly of Jewish rabbis and scholars that likely took place around 90 AD in the city of Yavneh (Jamnia) in modern day Israel. This council is important because it is often associated with the canonization of the Hebrew Bible, meaning the defining of the books that would be included as authoritative scripture for Judaism. However, the details surrounding the council are scarce and scholars debate its purpose and impact. Background on the Council The council is traditionally believed to have been convened by Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai, an influential Pharisee who established an…
The concept of a “measure of faith” is found in Romans 12:3, which says: “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” So what exactly does this verse mean when it refers to the “measure of faith” that God assigns to each person? There are a few key things to understand about this verse in its context: 1. It comes in a passage where Paul is…
The Bible has a lot to say about friendship. True friendship is characterized by love, loyalty, sacrifice, and commitment. The Bible illustrates true friendship through several examples, teaches principles for friendship, and explains how friendship relates to our relationship with God. Examples of True Friendship in the Bible Some of the greatest examples of friendship in the Bible include David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi, and Jesus with his disciples. These friendships reveal key qualities like loyalty in adversity, sacrificial love, and spiritual kinship. David and Jonathan One of the most well-known examples of friendship in the Bible is the…
According to the Bible, there are many different religions and belief systems in the world, but the most prominent and impactful throughout history have been Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Judaism Judaism is the oldest of the world’s four biggest monotheistic religions (religions with only one god). Judaism was founded over 3500 years ago in the Middle East. Jews believe in one God who revealed himself through ancient prophets. The most important Jewish holy book is called the Torah or the Hebrew Bible, which includes the first five books of the Old Testament. Some of the most well known…
The Bible does not give a definitive yes or no answer to whether Christians should actively look for a spouse, but it does provide some guidance that can help us think through this question. Ultimately, the decision of whether and how to look for a spouse is one that each person must make before God, seeking wisdom and relying on the Spirit’s leading. On one hand, the Bible presents marriage as a good gift from God and many biblical characters actively pursue spouses or are intentional about finding a wife/husband. For example, Isaac sends his servant to find a wife…
The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible, found in the book of Exodus. When Moses and Aaron demanded that Pharaoh let the Israelites go free from their slavery in Egypt, Pharaoh repeatedly refused, leading to the 10 plagues on Egypt. A key detail in the story is that God is said to have “hardened” Pharaoh’s heart, preventing him from agreeing to Moses’ request. This raises an important theological question – if God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, how could Pharaoh be held responsible for his actions? Let’s take a detailed look at what the…