The concept of eternal punishment in hell for sins committed during a finite human lifetime raises significant philosophical and theological questions. Here is an overview of some key biblical principles that provide perspective on this complex issue: 1. The Biblical View of Sin According to Scripture, sin is rebellion against God’s perfect holiness and moral law (1 John 3:4). Even one sin makes us lawbreakers guilty before a holy God (James 2:10). Sin is so offensive to God’s character that even private thoughts and motives are culpable (Matthew 5:28; Hebrews 4:12). Sin entered the world through Adam’s disobedience, bringing both…
Author: Kristal Wheatley
Red Letter Christians are a movement within Christianity that focuses on the words of Jesus Christ. The name comes from some Bibles that print the words of Jesus in red ink. Red Letter Christians emphasize living out the teachings of Jesus, especially his calls to compassion, justice and peacemaking. Core Beliefs and Values Here are some of the core beliefs and values of Red Letter Christians: A commitment to the teachings, life and example of Jesus Christ as the guide for living A focus on the words of Jesus (printed in red letters in some Bibles) as the center of…
The Bible does not give a specific age when someone is considered too young for a romantic relationship. However, it does provide principles that can guide us in evaluating appropriate ages and maturity levels for dating and marriage. Here are several factors to consider from a biblical perspective: Parental Involvement and Blessing The Bible instructs children to honor their father and mother (Exodus 20:12). While submission to parents is not required indefinitely, their wisdom and counsel should be carefully considered. Parents who know their child well can provide guidance on their maturity and readiness for relationships (Proverbs 1:8-9). Self-Control and…
The Ephrathites were a clan or family group that originated from Ephrathah, an ancient name for the town of Bethlehem in Judea. The Bible contains several references to the Ephrathites, providing some details about their origins and history: – Genesis 35:16-19 tells how Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin “on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)”. She named her son Ben-oni, but Jacob called him Benjamin. So Benjamin was born in the region of Ephrathah/Bethlehem. – 1 Chronicles 2:50 states that Hur, the firstborn son of Caleb and Ephrathah, founded Bethlehem. So the Ephrathites traced their ancestry back to…
A Bible concordance is an alphabetical list of words and phrases found in the Bible, with chapter and verse references where they can be found. Concordances are useful tools for studying the Bible more in-depth by allowing you to quickly find passages about a topic or word you want to examine further. The main purpose of a concordance is to make word searches easier. By looking up a word, you can find every instance of where that word appears throughout the Bible. This allows you to analyze how a word or topic is discussed in different contexts. Here are some…
What is the origin of religion? The Bible does not explicitly state the origin of religion in general. However, it provides insight into the origins of some specific religions and religious practices. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about the origins of religion: The Origin of Idolatry Idolatry, or the worship of idols, is condemned throughout the Bible. The Old Testament prophets frequently rail against the Israelites for engaging in idolatrous practices (Isaiah 44:9-20; Jeremiah 10:1-16; Ezekiel 6:1-7). However, the origins of idolatry itself are not extensively discussed. The first clear example of idolatry in the Bible…
The phrase “by His stripes we are healed” comes from Isaiah 53:5 in the Bible. This verse is part of a passage talking about the Suffering Servant, a mysterious figure who endures great suffering but brings healing and restoration as a result. Many Christians believe this passage is a prophecy about Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross. So what does it mean that “by His stripes we are healed”? Let’s break it down: 1. The “stripes” refer to the wounds inflicted on Jesus when He was flogged and crucified. Flogging was a brutal form of punishment used…
Perpetua and Felicity were two early Christian martyrs who lived and died during the early 3rd century AD in Carthage, North Africa. Not much is known about their lives before martyrdom, but some key details emerge from the textual records about them. Perpetua came from a prosperous pagan family and was married, with an infant son. She converted to Christianity against the wishes of her father. Felicity was Perpetua’s slave, and she too converted to Christianity. Both women were catechumens – Christians preparing for baptism at the time of their arrest. In the year 203 AD, Perpetua, Felicity and several…
Occam’s razor is a principle that generally recommends selecting the competing explanation that makes the fewest assumptions. It is named after the 14th-century English philosopher and theologian William of Ockham. The principle can be interpreted as stating that among competing hypotheses or explanations, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected. Other, more complicated solutions may ultimately prove to provide better predictions, but in the absence of certainty, the fewer assumptions that are made, the better. The Bible does not explicitly mention Occam’s razor by name. However, there are several passages that touch on similar themes of simplicity and…
The Branch Davidians are a religious sect that originated in 1955 as an offshoot of the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists, themselves a splinter group that formed out of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the 1930s. The Davidian Seventh-day Adventists were led by Victor Houteff, who believed in additional prophecies beyond those of the Seventh-day Adventists. After Houteff’s death, his wife Florence took over leadership of the Davidians until a schism formed in 1955 led by Benjamin Roden, who believed Houteff’s prophecies were inaccurate. Roden’s faction became known as the Branch Davidians, while the minority who followed Houteff’s widow became the Davidian…