Anna was a prophetess mentioned briefly in the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament. Here is a detailed 9000 word article examining everything the Bible tells us about Anna: Anna is introduced in Luke 2:36 as a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, before being widowed for 84 years. She was known for staying in the temple night and day, worshipping God with fasting and prayer. When the infant Jesus was brought to the temple by his parents Mary and…
Author: Kerry Baysinger
The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus is found in John 17 in the Bible. This prayer takes place after the Last Supper and before Jesus’ crucifixion. It is called the High Priestly Prayer because Jesus intercedes and prays for His disciples as the High Priest would pray for the people of Israel. In this prayer, Jesus prays specifically for His disciples and for all future believers. He prays for their protection, their unity, and their sanctification. Jesus knows His death is imminent, so this prayer shows His love and concern for His followers. There are several key themes and messages…
The Bible reveals much about the character of God. Some key aspects of God’s character include: God is holy God is perfectly holy and righteous (1 Samuel 2:2; Revelation 4:8). He is separate from sin and incapable of doing anything wicked or unjust (Deuteronomy 32:4). God’s holiness is the defining aspect of His character and the basis for all His other attributes. His holiness encompasses His perfect righteousness, justice, goodness, and truth. God is just The Bible declares that the Lord is just in all His ways (Deuteronomy 32:4). He is the perfect judge who sees all and will judge…
The Bible has a lot to say about having a mean spirit and being mean to others. Here is an overview of some of the key biblical principles on this topic: Love Others One of the most basic teachings in the Bible regarding how we should treat others comes from Jesus himself. When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus replied: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor…
The accounts of Jesus healing demon-possessed men in the region of the Gerasenes contain an interesting difference between the Gospel of Matthew and the accounts in Mark and Luke. Specifically, Matthew mentions two demon-possessed men coming out of the tombs to meet Jesus, while Mark and Luke only mention one demon-possessed man. Here are the relevant passages: Matthew 8:28-34 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have you…
The tablet theory of Genesis authorship proposes that the Book of Genesis was originally written on clay tablets by ancient Israelites during the time of Moses. This theory suggests that Moses compiled and edited oral histories, genealogies, and origin stories that were passed down through the generations onto clay tablets. These tablets were then later compiled to form the Book of Genesis as we have it today. There are several key points to the tablet theory: Genesis shows evidence of being based on earlier oral and written sources. There are duplications, inconsistencies, and changes in literary style throughout Genesis that…
The place name “Golgotha” comes from the Hebrew word “gulgoleth” which means “skull.” It is referred to in the New Testament gospels as the site where Jesus was crucified (Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22, John 19:17). The name likely originated from the shape and appearance of the hill itself, which resembled a skull. There are a few key reasons why Golgotha was known as the “place of the skull”: 1. The topography of the hill The most commonly accepted explanation is that the hill known as Golgotha had a skull-like shape or formation. The Gospels specify it was a hill or…
Covenants and contracts are similar in that they are both formal agreements between two or more parties. However, there are some key differences between the two according to the Bible: Definition of a Covenant A covenant is a solemn agreement made between God and His people, or between human beings under God. The Bible speaks frequently of God’s covenants with His people such as the covenants with Abraham (Genesis 15), the Israelites at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-24), David (2 Samuel 7), and the New Covenant instituted by Jesus (Luke 22:20). These covenants outline promises and expectations between the parties involved.…
The concept of believers being a “royal priesthood” comes from 1 Peter 2:9, which states: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” This verse packs a lot of meaning into just a few words, so let’s break it down to understand what Peter is communicating here. We are chosen by God First, Peter says that believers are a “chosen race.” This conveys the truth that those who trust in Christ do…
The writings of the Apostle Paul make up a significant portion of the New Testament. Paul wrote 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament. His epistles provide instruction, encouragement, and correction to churches and individuals. But are Paul’s writings divinely inspired Scripture, or simply his own opinions? This is an important question to consider. Paul himself claimed divine inspiration and authority for his writings. He stated that his teachings came directly from Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12). He declared that his words were taught by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:13). Paul’s writings were recognized as Scripture early in church…