Thessalonica was an important city in ancient Macedonia. In the first century AD, it was the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia and an important commercial center. According to Acts 17, the apostle Paul visited Thessalonica on his second missionary journey and established a Christian church there. Paul had been preaching in Philippi when he received a vision telling him to go to Macedonia (Acts 16:9-10). Paul and his companions (Silas and Timothy) traveled to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue. For three Sabbaths, Paul reasoned with the Jews from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had…
Author: Kristal Wheatley
Fellowship is an important concept in the Bible that refers to the communion, participation, sharing, partnership and companionship between believers. Here are some key Bible verses about fellowship: Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” This verse describes the fellowship of the early church – meeting together, learning God’s word, sharing meals, and praying together. Christian fellowship is an essential part of the Christian life. 1 John 1:3 “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have…
The apostle Paul mentions a “thorn in the flesh” that he struggled with in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. This has led to much speculation over what exactly Paul’s thorn in the flesh was. The Bible does not directly state what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was, but it provides some clues that can help us better understand this issue. In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul says “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.”…
A husbandman in the Bible refers to a farmer or one who works the land. The original Greek and Hebrew words translated as “husbandman” carry the meaning of a tiller of the ground, vine dresser, or one who labors on land or with crops. While the term is not extremely common in Scripture, there are a number of passages that shed light on the biblical concept of a husbandman. Old Testament Usage In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word translated “husbandman” is iysh (אִישׁ), which simply means “man” or “husband.” However, in certain contexts it refers specifically to a tiller…
Ephesus was an important city in early Christianity and is mentioned several times in the New Testament. Here is an overview of the significance of Ephesus according to the Bible: Paul’s Missionary Journeys The apostle Paul stopped at Ephesus during his second and third missionary journeys to spread the gospel. On his second journey, Paul briefly visited Ephesus and reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue there (Acts 18:19-21). When he returned on his third journey, Paul stayed in Ephesus for over two years, his longest stay in any city (Acts 19:8-10). During this extended time, the gospel spread rapidly…
The Bible does not directly address the use of epidurals or other medical pain relief during childbirth. However, there are some principles from Scripture that can guide Christians thinking through this issue. God’s design for childbirth includes pain After Adam and Eve sinned, God told Eve “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing” (Genesis 3:16). This indicates that pain is a natural part of the childbirth process as a result of the Fall. The pain of labor was part of God’s curse on Eve for her disobedience. While not all suffering is directly tied to personal sin, pain in…
Historical theology is the study of how Christian doctrines have developed and changed over the history of the church. It looks at how the church has understood and interpreted the Bible over different periods of time. Here is an overview of some key aspects of historical theology: Development of Doctrine A key interest in historical theology is looking at how central Christian doctrines emerged and developed. For example, the doctrine of the Trinity took several centuries to be fully formulated. While the New Testament contains seeds and suggestions of it, the precise formulation that God is one being in three…
The story of Adam and Eve and their sin in the Garden of Eden is one of the most well-known Bible stories. Genesis 3 describes how Eve was tempted by the serpent to eat fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God had forbidden them to eat from. After eating it herself, she gave some to Adam and he also ate it. As a result, their eyes were opened, they realized they were naked, and they suffered the consequences of disobeying God’s command. But was their sin really just about eating a piece of fruit?…
Instrumentalism is a philosophical view that regards scientific theories and concepts as useful instruments for explaining and predicting phenomena, without committing to the truth or reality of those theories and concepts. In other words, instrumentalism states that scientific theories should be seen as tools that help us understand the world, not as an actual description of the world. The Bible does not directly address instrumentalism, as it is a modern philosophical perspective that arose after the scientific revolution. However, the Bible does speak to related issues such as the nature of truth, the limits of human knowledge, and the proper…
The twelve disciples, also known as the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, were His closest followers during His earthly ministry. Jesus personally chose these twelve men to walk closely with Him, be trained by Him, preach the gospel, and lay the foundation of the early church after He ascended to heaven. Here is an overview of the twelve disciples/apostles of Jesus Christ: Simon Peter Simon Peter, also known as Cephas, was one of the first disciples called by Jesus (Matthew 4:18-20). He was a fisherman by trade along with his brother Andrew. Peter was part of Jesus’ inner circle and…