Divine simplicity is a theological doctrine that states God is without parts or composition. This doctrine has been an important concept in classical theism and philosophical theology for centuries. The general idea behind divine simplicity is that God is absolutely simple, meaning He is not composed of parts and is completely indivisible. This sets God apart from all created things, which are complex and made up of different elements. Divine simplicity aims to safeguard God’s transcendence and underscores that God’s essence is identical to His existence. Here is an overview of what the doctrine of divine simplicity entails: God is…
Author: Kristal Wheatley
Easter is a major Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is observed by Christians around the world and marks the end of Lent, the 40-day period of fasting and repentance leading up to Easter. But where did this holiday come from and what are its origins? The English word “Easter” comes from the Germanic name for the goddess of spring and fertility, Eostre or Ostara. She was celebrated in pagan rituals at the vernal equinox, which is around the same time as Easter. According to the writings of the 8th-century English monk Bede, pagan Anglo-Saxons worshipped…
The Bible has a lot to say about how a godly woman should live her life. Here are some of the key principles from Scripture on being a woman who follows God: Seek God First A godly woman makes pursuing and obeying God her highest priority. She strives to deepen her relationship with Him through prayer, reading the Bible, and living according to His commands. As Matthew 6:33 (ESV) says, she seeks “first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” Her love for the Lord impacts everything she does. Cultivate Virtue The Bible encourages women to grow in virtues like…
Sacrifices are a major theme throughout the Bible, beginning in Genesis with the sacrifices of Cain and Abel, and continuing through the Old and New Testaments. Here are some key Bible verses about the different aspects of sacrifice: Old Testament Sacrifices In the Old Testament, God instituted an elaborate system of animal sacrifices as a way for the Israelites to atone for sins and worship Him. Some key verses include: “Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle.” – Exodus 20:24 “When anyone brings…
The rooster crowing three times in relation to Peter denying Jesus three times is an important event recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew 26:34, 74-75; Mark 14:30, 68-72; Luke 22:34, 60-62; John 13:38). This incident highlights several key theological points: 1. It was a fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy During the Last Supper, Jesus told Peter “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times” (Matthew 26:34). This came to pass later that night, when Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, and after the third denial, the rooster crowed. The rooster’s crowing was…
Herod the Great was the ruler of Judea from around 37 BC to 4 BC. He was appointed as “King of the Jews” by the Roman Senate, and ruled over Judea as a client state of Rome. Herod is most well-known for his role in the biblical story of Jesus’s birth, as told in the Gospel of Matthew. Herod was born around 73 BC to a powerful family in Idumea, south of Judea. His father was an advisor to the Hasmonean dynasty that ruled Judea at the time. Herod rose to power with the support of Rome. After conquering Jerusalem…
The Epimenides paradox is a famous self-referential paradox relating to Epimenides of Knossos, a 6th century BC Greek philosopher and poet. The paradox goes like this: “Epimenides the Cretan says, ‘All Cretans are liars.'” If Epimenides’ statement is true, then he must be lying since he is a Cretan himself. But if Epimenides is lying, then his statement cannot be true. This creates a logical loop that seems unresolvable – either Epimenides is telling the truth that all Cretans are liars, which would make him a liar, or he is lying about all Cretans being liars, which would make his…
The spiritual gift of mercy is the God-given ability to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals who are hurting and to translate that compassion into cheerfully done deeds that reflect Christ’s love and alleviate suffering. Those with this gift are able to overlook offenses and cheerfully serve those who are often ungrateful or deliberately unkind in response. The Greek word for mercy is eleeo. It means to have mercy or show kindness with compassion and sympathy for someone else’s misery. In the New Testament, the concept of mercy is connected to forgiveness, grace, and expressing God’s love to others.…
The origins of Yahweh, the God of the Israelites, have been debated by scholars for centuries. Based on biblical and archaeological evidence, there are two main theories about where Yahweh originated from – either as a god worshipped by the Edomites, Israel’s neighbors to the south, or as a Canaanite deity adopted by the early Israelites. Here is an overview of the evidence surrounding both theories: The Edomite Origins Theory Several clues in the Bible point to possible Edomite origins for Yahweh: The theophany to Moses in Exodus 3 occurred in “the mountain of God” near Midian, in proximity to…
Celebrations are an important part of human life. Whether it’s birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, holidays, or other special occasions, we like to commemorate and celebrate significant events. What does the Bible have to say about celebrating and joyful festivities? Here are some key Bible verses about celebrating: Celebrating God’s Blessings and Provisions The Bible encourages us to celebrate and rejoice in God’s many blessings and provisions for us. We are to thank and praise God for all he has done. “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.”…