The phrase “the laborer is worthy of his hire” comes from 1 Timothy 5:18 in the Bible. This verse has significant meaning and application for how Christians should view work and compensation. 1. The Origin and Context of 1 Timothy 5:18 1 Timothy was written by the apostle Paul to his young protégé Timothy, whom he had left in Ephesus to lead the church there. In chapter 5, Paul gives Timothy various instructions about ministering to different groups within the church. Verse 18 comes in the middle of instructions about financially providing for elders who labor in preaching and teaching.…
Author: Kerry Baysinger
The Christian’s hope is centered around Jesus Christ and the promises that God has made through Him in the Bible. This hope is not a wishful thinking or uncertain desire, but rather a confident expectation based on the reliability of God and His Word. Here are some key aspects of the Christian’s hope: Eternal Life One major component of the Christian’s hope is the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John…
The passages in Genesis where God refers to Himself in the plural have intrigued Bible readers for centuries. In Genesis 1:26, God says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” And later in Genesis 3:22, after Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit, God remarks, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil.” Several explanations have been proposed for these plural references: 1. God is speaking to the angels One possibility is that God is addressing the angels when He uses the plural pronouns. We know from other parts of Scripture…
Premonitions refer to intuitive feelings or visions about events that will happen in the future. Some people believe God gives them premonitions to prepare them for what’s to come or to warn others of impending danger. However, Christians hold differing views on whether premonitions are from God or not. On one hand, some Christians believe God can and does use premonitions to speak to His people. They point to biblical accounts of God giving people visions and dreams about future events, such as Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams in Genesis 41. They also note examples of Jesus supernaturally knowing future events,…
The second temple, also known as Zerubbabel’s temple, was the temple built in Jerusalem after the return from Babylonian captivity under the leadership of Zerubbabel. The temple was commissioned by Cyrus the Great after the fall of Babylon to the Persians in 539 BC. It was completed around 516-515 BC on the site of Solomon’s temple which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. The origins of the second temple can be traced back to the proclamation of Cyrus recorded in Ezra 1:2-4 which allowed the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Zerubbabel was the…
The practice of casting lots in the Bible refers to the ancient method of seeking God’s will by the random selection or drawing of objects. It was commonly used by the Israelites and other ancient peoples to make decisions, assign duties, or determine God’s purpose. Though the exact method is not explained in detail in Scripture, it seems to have involved objects like stones, sticks, or bones being thrown or drawn to reach a decision or receive divine guidance. Here is an overview of what the Bible teaches about the practice of casting lots: 1. Examples of casting lots in…
The phrase “the Lord is my strength and my song” comes from Exodus 15:2, which says: “The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” This verse is part of the “Song of Moses,” which Moses and the Israelites sang after God miraculously parted the Red Sea and allowed them to escape from the pursuing Egyptian army. So what does it mean when the verse says “the Lord is my strength”? This is acknowledging that it was the…
Admah and Zeboiim were two of the five “cities of the plain” destroyed by God along with Sodom and Gomorrah according to the Bible. They were located in the Valley of Siddim near the Dead Sea and were known for their great wickedness which led to their destruction by divine judgement. Though not mentioned as frequently as Sodom and Gomorrah, understanding Admah and Zeboiim provides further insight into this important biblical event. The Cities of the Plain in Genesis The cities of Admah, Zeboiim, Sodom, Gomorrah, and Zoar (Bela) are first mentioned together in Genesis 10:19 which describes the land…
The question of whether human beings truly have free will has been debated for centuries. The Bible provides insight into this complex issue. While the Bible indicates that God is sovereign over all things, it also presents human beings as morally responsible agents with the ability to make choices. A balanced perspective emerges from Scripture that upholds both divine sovereignty and human freedom. On one hand, the Bible clearly teaches that God is in control over all events and circumstances. Several verses affirm God’s sovereignty: “Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases” (Psalm 115:3). “I know…
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ Himself is the source and essence of peace for those who put their faith in Him. Ephesians 2:14 says that “He Himself is our peace.” This profound truth has incredible meaning for the lives of believers. 1. Jesus makes peace between God and man First and foremost, Jesus makes peace between God and sinful humanity. Our sin separates us from a holy God (Isaiah 59:2). We are estranged from our Creator and stand guilty before Him. But Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, so that we could be…