The chief priests were a group of high-ranking religious officials who oversaw the temple and worship in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus. According to the Gospels, the chief priests played a major role in opposing Jesus and conspiring to have him crucified. Here is an overview of who the chief priests were and what role they played in biblical history: Origins and Background The office of the chief priest originated during the time of King David when Zadok was appointed as the first high priest over the temple in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 6:8-15). The position was passed down among…
Author: Erin Weitzman
How long did Abraham and Sarah have to wait for Isaac? Abraham and Sarah had to wait for Isaac for a very long time. The Bible provides some key details that allow us to estimate the length of time they waited. Abraham and Sarah were originally known as Abram and Sarai. When Abram was 75 years old, God called him to leave his home and go to the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:1-4). At this point, Abram and Sarai did not have any children. In Genesis 15, when Abram was around 85 years old, God made a covenant with him…
The verse in question, 1 Peter 4:8, states: “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” This verse points to a profound truth about the power of love and forgiveness. When we love others deeply and sincerely, we are able to overlook or “cover” wrongs committed against us. True love does not keep score of wrongs but instead hopes for restoration and reconciliation. Let’s explore the meaning and implications of this verse more fully. The context of 1 Peter 4:8 First, it’s important to understand the broader context of this verse. 1 Peter was…
The United Church of God is a Christian denomination that traces its origins to the Radio Church of God, founded in 1934 by Herbert W. Armstrong. After Armstrong’s death in 1986, doctrinal disputes led to a major split within the church in 1995. Those who continued to follow Armstrong’s teachings took the name United Church of God. Here is a summary of key beliefs and practices of the United Church of God: The Bible – They believe the entire Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God. God – They believe in one eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing God composed of…
Worshipping God is central to the Christian faith. As creatures made in God’s image, we were created for relationship with Him. Worship is the natural response to encountering God’s presence and reflects our desire to honor and glorify Him. Here are some key reasons why worshipping God is important: God is Worthy of Our Worship God alone is supremely worthy of our worship. He is the eternal, self-existent Creator who spoke the universe into being (Genesis 1:1). Everything we see, including our very lives, is a gracious gift from Him. God is perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3), infinitely powerful (Jeremiah 32:17),…
Idealism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the central role of ideas, thoughts, and mind over physical reality. It proposes that fundamental features of reality are grounded in the mind or in the forms of perception. Under idealism, the mind or spirit is the ultimate foundation of all that exists, the primary essence and the core of all life and existence. The Bible presents a view of reality that in some ways aligns with idealism. It teaches that God is spirit (John 4:24), and that the eternal, immaterial qualities are more fundamental than the transient material world. However, the Bible…
The church’s involvement in social issues and causes is a complex topic with arguments on both sides. Those who believe the church should engage point to biblical commands to care for the poor and oppressed. They see social engagement as an opportunity for the church to be “salt and light” and bring God’s truth and love to important issues. However, others worry social causes distract the church from its primary mission of sharing the gospel and making disciples. They also fear divisive political agendas will fracture church unity. There are several key considerations when evaluating the church’s role in social…
Form criticism is an academic method of biblical analysis that focuses on identifying the genre or form of a biblical text and using that to better understand the text’s original meaning and purpose. The method was pioneered in the early 20th century by German scholars like Hermann Gunkel and Martin Dibelius. The basic premise of form criticism is that the various books of the Bible contain different literary forms or genres, such as poetry, prophecy, law, gospel, epistle, etc. By analyzing the form and structure of a passage, scholars can determine its genre and original situational context. This allows them…
Obedience is a key concept in Christianity, referring to submission and adherence to God’s will. Active and passive obedience are theological terms that relate to Jesus Christ’s work of salvation on behalf of humanity. Active obedience refers to Christ’s perfect fulfillment of God’s law during his life on earth. Jesus lived a sinless life in perfect obedience to the Father’s will, actively fulfilling all righteousness (Matthew 3:15). This is in contrast to humanity’s disobedience and failure to meet God’s perfect standards. Christ’s active obedience is credited to believers, as if they had perfectly obeyed God’s law themselves. Passive obedience refers…
Scholastic theology refers to the academic theological study of Christian theology that began in the Middle Ages. It was heavily influenced by Aristotelian philosophy and involved the systematic analysis and synthesis of theology using the tools of logic and reason. Some key aspects of scholastic theology include: It relies heavily on deductive logic, metaphysics, and epistemology to analyze theological issues. It utilizes the dialectic method of proposing a theological question, presenting arguments for and against, and resolving with a logical conclusion. It seeks to reconcile Christian theology with classical philosophy, especially Aristotelianism. It places a strong emphasis on natural theology…