The “spirit of the world” refers to the prevailing mindset and values of unbelieving society that is in opposition to God and His truth. The Bible warns Christians not to conform to this spirit but be transformed by God’s Spirit (Romans 12:2). Some key characteristics of the world’s spirit include: Pride – Exalting of self rather than humbly submitting to God (1 John 2:16) Idolatry – Worshiping created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25) Rebellion – Rejecting God’s rightful authority over our lives (Ephesians 2:2) Materialism – Pursuit of possessions, pleasure and status over eternal things (Luke 12:15) Immorality…
Author: Erin Weitzman
The commandment to observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy is one of the Ten Commandments given by God to the Israelites. Exodus 35:2 states: “Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.” This verse prescribes the death penalty for anyone who violates the Sabbath by doing work. To understand why such a harsh punishment was commanded, we need to look at the background and purpose of the Sabbath. The Sabbath was given…
2 Chronicles 5:14 says “so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.” This verse describes a manifestation of God’s glory filling the temple in Jerusalem during the reign of Solomon. Some charismatic Christians interpret this verse to support the practice of being “slain in the Spirit,” referring to people falling down or becoming incapacitated when prayed over. There are a few key things to understand about this verse: The context is the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. The priests were overwhelmed by the…
The Bible speaks to the value and importance of studying other religions in several ways. First, we are called to share the Gospel with all people of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20), which requires understanding where they are coming from. Second, studying other religions helps us better understand and appreciate what is unique about Christianity. Third, it equips us to better defend the truth of the Christian faith. And fourth, learning about other belief systems can aid in reaching common ground and having fruitful interfaith dialogues. To effectively evangelize, we must understand the worldview and beliefs of others in order to…
Who was Justin Martyr? Justin Martyr was an important early Christian apologist and martyr who lived in the second century AD. He was born around 100 AD in Flavia Neapolis, a Roman city in Samaria. Justin originally studied Greek philosophy and was influenced by Platonism before converting to Christianity. After his conversion, Justin saw Christianity as the fulfillment of philosophical truth. As an apologist, Justin defended and explained the Christian faith against critics and persecution. Some of his major works include the First Apology, the Second Apology, and the Dialogue with Trypho. In these writings, Justin aimed to persuade the…
Stuttering, also known as stammering, is a speech disorder characterized by repetitions, prolongations, or blocks of sounds, syllables, and words. It affects about 1% of adults worldwide. While the exact causes are unknown, stuttering likely arises from a combination of genetics, child development, neurophysiology, and family dynamics. Many people who stutter, especially children, outgrow the problem over time. For others, stuttering can persist and require speech therapy or support groups. The Bible does not directly address stuttering, but it offers principles that can encourage and strengthen those who struggle with this speech impediment. God cares about people who stutter The…
Internalism and externalism are two philosophical views concerning the nature of justification of belief. Internalism holds that justification depends solely on factors internal to a person’s own mind, such as how coherent their beliefs are or how they experience certainty about a belief. In contrast, externalism holds that justification depends at least in part on factors external to a person’s own mind, such as whether their belief-forming process is reliable or whether their belief fits with external evidence. The debate between internalism and externalism has important implications for epistemology, the branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge and justified belief. Here…
The Cave of Adullam is mentioned several times in the Bible, most notably in 1 Samuel 22. Here is a 9000 word article explaining what the Cave of Adullam was according to the Bible: The Cave of Adullam was an actual cave located in the Judean wilderness near the Dead Sea, about 13 miles southwest of Bethlehem. The name “Adullam” means “refuge” or “retreat”. The cave served as a hiding place and refuge for David and his followers when David was fleeing from King Saul. It was large enough to shelter 400 men and their families (1 Samuel 22:1-2). The…
Water baptism is an important symbolic act for Christians. It signifies spiritual cleansing and the washing away of sin and death. According to the Bible, there are rich layers of symbolism in the act of being immersed in water. Here is an in-depth look at the meaning behind this significant event. Baptism and Repentance In the Bible, baptism is closely tied to repentance. When John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness, his message was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). Those who repented and confessed their sins were baptized by John as a sign…
The principle of “an eye for an eye” is found in several passages in the Bible, including Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, and Deuteronomy 19:21. At its core, this principle calls for proportional punishment and retribution for crimes and offenses committed. Origin and Meaning The exact phrase “an eye for an eye” first appears in the Bible in Exodus 21:24, which reads: “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (ESV). This verse comes in the context of laws given to the Israelites concerning personal injuries. If one person injured another, the penalty was to match the…