To be chastened means to be disciplined or corrected, often by God. The Bible has a lot to say about being chastened and how it can lead to growth and sanctification in the life of a believer. Here is an overview of the key biblical themes around being chastened: Chastening is an Act of God’s Love The Bible makes clear that when God chastens His children, He does it out of love, not anger or punishment. Hebrews 12:6 says “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” Chastening flows from God’s love for…
Author: Erin Weitzman
The Sumerians were an ancient civilization that emerged around 4500-4000 BC in Mesopotamia, in modern day Iraq. They are considered one of the first urban civilizations and are credited with many important firsts in human history including the invention of writing, the wheel, agriculture, irrigation, laws and government, mathematics and literature. The Sumerians referred to themselves as the “black headed people” and their land was known as the “land of the civilized kings”. The Bible does not explicitly mention the Sumerians by name. However, it provides some clues about civilizations existing in Mesopotamia during the time periods associated with the…
The account of Samson and Delilah in Judges 16 teaches us important lessons about temptation, compromising our values, and the dangers of ignoring God’s calling. Here are some key lessons we can learn from this story: 1. The danger of compromise Samson’s relationship with Delilah represents a clear compromise of his calling and values as a Nazirite. As a Nazirite, Samson was set apart and was not supposed to cut his hair or touch anything unclean (Numbers 6:1-8). However, he entered into a problematic relationship with Delilah, a Philistine woman, which led him down a path of compromise. This gradually…
The topic of human cloning raises many ethical and theological questions. One such question is whether a cloned human would have a soul. The Bible does not directly address the topic of human cloning. However, looking at the biblical teachings on the nature of human beings and the origin of the soul can provide some insight into how to think about this issue from a Christian perspective. The Nature of Human Beings The Bible teaches that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Bearing the imago Dei is what separates humanity from the rest…
Odinism is a modern revival of ancient Norse paganism centered around worship of the god Odin. Adherents of Odinism, called Odinists, reject Christianity and instead follow the old Norse gods like Odin, Thor, and Freya. Odinists view Odin as the Allfather and chief god in the Norse pantheon. The Bible does not directly address Odinism since it originated long after the biblical texts were written. However, the Bible speaks extensively about paganism and idolatry. The Old Testament prophets frequently condemned the Israelites for worshipping false gods and idols instead of the one true God Yahweh. The New Testament calls followers…
The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement that emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries primarily in Europe. Some of the key ideas that developed during the Enlightenment include: Reason: An emphasis on the human capacity to think rationally and critically. Individualism: The importance of the individual and individual rights. Skepticism: Questioning traditional authority, customs, and morals. Science and empiricism: Faith in science, experiments, and empirical evidence to reveal truths about the world. Secularism: More separation between religion, specifically Christianity, and philosophy/politics/science. Some major Enlightenment thinkers include Voltaire, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, and Isaac Newton. The Enlightenment began in…
The concept of Jesus as our Sabbath rest is deeply rooted in Scripture. The Sabbath was established at creation, when God rested on the seventh day after working for six days (Genesis 2:2-3). This was a day set apart and made holy by God, a day of ceasing from labor and being refreshed. The principle of Sabbath rest continued with the giving of the Ten Commandments, when God commanded His people to “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). They were to do no work on this day, just as God had rested from His work (Exodus…
The Bible does not prescribe one specific form of church governance or polity. However, it does provide principles and examples that can guide churches in structuring their leadership and decision-making. Here are some of the main forms of church polity that Christians have derived from Scripture: Episcopal Polity In an episcopal polity, churches are organized in a hierarchical structure with bishops having authority over leaders and congregations within a geographical jurisdiction. Bishops provide oversight and make important decisions for churches under their care. This connects back to the role of overseers (episkopos in Greek) described in the New Testament (1…
Love is a central theme in the Bible and is highlighted as one of the most important virtues. The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:13, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (ESV). This verse comes in the middle of Paul’s famous treatise on love in 1 Corinthians 13, where he eloquently describes the supremacy and necessity of love. But what exactly does Paul mean when he says that love is the “greatest” of faith, hope, and love? Below we will explore the biblical understanding of love and why it…
Mordecai is an important figure in the Old Testament book of Esther. He was a Jew living in the Persian empire during the time when many Jews were in exile. Mordecai was Esther’s cousin and guardian, and he played a pivotal role in saving the Jewish people from destruction. Here is an overview of who Mordecai was and what we can learn about him from the Bible: Mordecai’s Family Background Mordecai was part of the Jewish community that had been exiled to Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem. His ancestors had been taken captive along with King Jeconiah of Judah…