An oxgoad is an agricultural tool used to prod oxen while plowing fields. It is mentioned several times in the Bible, both literally and metaphorically. Here is an overview of the oxgoad in the biblical context: Literal Mentions of the Oxgoad The oxgoad is literally referenced as a tool used in agricultural work: – Judges 3:31 mentions Shamgar striking down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad, showcasing it as a makeshift weapon. – In Ecclesiastes 12:11, the Preacher says “The words of the wise are like oxgoads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one…
Author: Erin Weitzman
Apatheism refers to apathy towards the existence or non-existence of God or gods. It is a portmanteau of apathy and theism. An apatheist is someone who considers the question of the existence of gods as neither meaningful nor relevant to their life. Origins and etymology The term “apatheism” seems to have originated in the early 2000s. It is a combination of “apathy” and “theism.” Apathy means lack of interest, concern, or care about something. When combined with “theism,” it refers to a lack of care or concern about the existence or non-existence of god(s). The first known recorded use of…
Wealth and material possessions are topics that the Bible has a lot to say about. As Christians, we are called to have the proper perspective and attitude when it comes to money and possessions. Here is an overview of some key biblical principles for how Christians should view wealth: Wealth comes from God The Bible makes it clear that God is the ultimate source of all wealth and possessions. We do not obtain money through our own efforts or cleverness alone. Deuteronomy 8:18 says “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to…
The flood account in the Epic of Gilgamesh has some clear similarities with the biblical flood account in Genesis. Here is a 9000 word article exploring those similarities in detail: The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient Mesopotamian epic poem considered one of the earliest works of literature. It includes a flood account that has close parallels to the Genesis flood story. The main protagonist in the Epic of Gilgamesh is Gilgamesh, the king of the city of Uruk. In the story, the gods decide to send a flood to destroy humankind. The god Ea warns Utnapishtim about the impending…
The word “hallelujah” is an English transliteration of the Hebrew phrase “halelu yah” which means “praise Yah” or “praise the Lord.” Yah is a shortened version of God’s name YHWH (often pronounced Yahweh or Jehovah). So the word hallelujah literally means to praise Yahweh. In the Hebrew Bible, the word hallelujah is most frequently found in the book of Psalms where it begins and ends many of the psalms. The Psalms were songs used in ancient Jewish worship, so the word hallelujah was a way to call the congregation to praise God at the beginning or end of a song…
The act of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples is recorded in John 13:1-17. This event took place during the Last Supper, the final meal Jesus shared with his disciples before his arrest and crucifixion. Though this act may seem mundane, it held great significance and revealed key aspects of Jesus’ nature and mission. Context of the Act To understand the deeper meaning behind Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, we must first examine the context. In Jesus’ day, washing someone’s feet was considered a very humble and lowly task, usually performed by servants or slaves. Feet were dirty from…
The “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sermon is one of the most famous sermons ever preached in American history. It was delivered by Jonathan Edwards, a Puritan preacher, on July 8, 1741 in Enfield, Connecticut. Edwards aimed to awaken his audience to the reality of hell and God’s wrath against sin. This sermon is an important example of a Calvinist view of salvation which emphasizes God’s sovereignty and human depravity. The main theme of the sermon is that unrepentant sinners deserve eternal damnation in hell. Edwards argues that all people are totally depraved and can do nothing…
Israel is called the Holy Land because it is the land God promised to Abraham and his descendants in the Old Testament. According to the Bible, God called Abraham out of Mesopotamia to go to a land that He would show him, which turned out to be Canaan (Genesis 12:1-7). God made a covenant with Abraham, promising to give the land of Canaan to him and his descendants as an everlasting possession (Genesis 17:8). Later, the covenant was reaffirmed to Abraham’s son Isaac (Genesis 26:2-3) and grandson Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15), whose name was changed to Israel (Genesis 32:28). The term…
Jonathan Edwards was an influential Christian theologian, philosopher, and pastor during the First Great Awakening in British America. He is widely regarded as one of America’s most important early thinkers and writers. Edwards was born on October 5, 1703 in East Windsor, Connecticut. His father was Reverend Timothy Edwards and his mother was Esther Stoddard Edwards, the daughter of influential Massachusetts pastor Solomon Stoddard. Edwards was the fifth child and only son in a family of 11 children. Edwards entered Yale College at age 13 and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1720. He continued his theological studies and in…
The question of whether Jesus is dead or alive is central to the Christian faith. The Bible provides clear testimony that Jesus was crucified and died, but that He was resurrected and is now alive forevermore. Examining key Scripture passages helps illuminate the biblical perspective on this important topic. Jesus’ Crucifixion and Death Are Factual Historical Events All four Gospels in the New Testament provide detailed accounts of Jesus’ arrest, trials, crucifixion, and death (Matthew 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 22-23; John 18-19). Extrabiblical historians and sources from antiquity also confirm Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate. The crucifixion and death…