The phrase “acceptable year of the Lord” comes from Isaiah 61:2 in the Old Testament, which says “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”. This verse is discussing the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the ushering in of a new era of salvation and grace. When Jesus began His public ministry, He read this verse from Isaiah and declared that this scripture was fulfilled in Him (Luke 4:19). So the “acceptable year of the Lord” refers to the time when Christ came to earth to bring redemption to mankind. There has been some debate among Bible scholars…
Author: Erin Weitzman
The Book of Titus is one of the pastoral epistles written by the apostle Paul. Titus was one of Paul’s companions and co-workers in ministry. Paul wrote this letter to Titus to instruct him in leading the churches on the island of Crete. The key themes of the Book of Titus include: Instructions for appointing elders/overseers Guidance on dealing with false teachers Encouragement to live godly and productive lives Instructions on Christ-like behavior in different relationships Motivations for doing good works Authorship and Date The letter identifies the author as the apostle Paul and the recipient as Titus. Most scholars…
Metaphysical naturalism is the philosophical view that the natural world is all that exists. It denies the existence of the supernatural and spiritual realms, asserting that nature is the entirety of reality. From a metaphysical naturalist perspective, there is nothing beyond the physical universe – no God, no spiritual beings, no souls, no afterlife. Everything that exists can be explained by natural laws and processes alone. The Bible presents a very different view of reality. Scripture teaches that in addition to the physical creation, there are spiritual realities that exist as well. God is spirit (John 4:24), angels are ministering…
The First Epistle of Peter, usually referred to simply as First Peter and often written 1 Peter, is a book of the New Testament. The main theme of the epistle is the hope and encouragement Christians have in Christ, even amidst persecution and suffering. Let’s dive into a detailed 9000 word summary and explanation of this powerful book of the Bible. Overview First Peter was written by the apostle Peter around AD 62-64 while he was in Rome. It was written to encourage believers throughout Asia Minor who were experiencing persecution and suffering for their faith in Christ. Though these…
The phrase “talitha cumi” appears only once in the Bible, in Mark 5:41. In this passage, Jesus raises a dead girl back to life. Here is the full context from Mark 5:21-43 (ESV): And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so…
A chapel is a Christian place of prayer, worship, and religious service. Chapels are generally smaller than churches and are often part of a larger complex or building. The word “chapel” comes from the Latin word “cappella” meaning “cape,” referring to the cloak of St. Martin of Tours which was preserved as a relic by French kings. Chapels can be found in a wide variety of locations including colleges, hospitals, cemeteries, military bases, and airports. Some key characteristics of chapels include: Places of Prayer and Meditation Chapels serve as sacred spaces where Christians can pray, meditate, and worship God. They…
Vultures are mentioned over 30 times in the Bible, and play both symbolic and literal roles in scripture. Here is an overview of the significance of vultures in the Bible: Vultures as symbols of judgment and destruction In several places in the Bible, vultures are associated with death, destruction and God’s judgment on sinful nations and people. For example: – Isaiah 34:15 says “There the owl nests and lays and hatches and gathers her young in her shadow; indeed, there the hawks are gathered, each one with her mate.” This passage describes the desolation of Edom. Vultures gathering is a…
Zechariah and Elizabeth were a righteous, elderly couple mentioned in the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament. Though devout, they struggled with the grief of being childless in their old age. The Bible tells of how God blessed them with a miraculous pregnancy resulting in the birth of John the Baptist, the prophet who would one day announce and prepare the way for the coming of Jesus Christ. Zechariah was a Jewish priest of the division of Abijah (Luke 1:5). He was married to Elizabeth who was also from a priestly family. The Bible describes them as both being…
Doomsday predictions have been around for centuries. From predictions of the end of the world to prophecies of global disasters, it seems there is always someone proclaiming that the end is near. As Christians, how should we react to such claims? First, we must remember that only God knows the appointed time of the end of the age (Matthew 24:36). Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:6 that there will be wars, famines, and earthquakes in various places, but the end is still to come. We should not be alarmed by such events or believe that any natural disaster or crisis…
The City of God is a concept found in the Bible that refers to the heavenly city where God dwells and where believers will live with Him for eternity after death and Christ’s second coming. It is contrasted with the earthly city, representing fallen humanity’s focus on the temporal and disregard for the eternal. Origins in Scripture The foundations of the City of God are first laid out in the Old Testament, where God’s presence dwelled among the Israelites in the tabernacle and then in the temple in Jerusalem. The Psalms describe Mount Zion, where the temple sat, as the…