Elam was an ancient civilization located in what is now western Iran. The Elamites were descendants of Elam, the eldest son of Shem (Genesis 10:22). The Bible contains many references to Elam and the Elamites. Elam is first mentioned in Genesis 10:22, which provides Elam’s genealogy as a son of Shem. Genesis 14:1 mentions that Elam was an ally of Shinar (Babylonia), Ellasar, and Goiim in the time of Abraham. They went to war against the kingdoms of Sodom and Gomorrah and three other kingdoms, carrying off captives and plunder before being overthrown by Abraham. During the time of the…
Author: Kristal Wheatley
The death of Jesus Christ on the cross is central to the Christian faith. Christians believe that Jesus willingly gave up His life to atone for the sins of humanity. However, there has been much debate over who was ultimately responsible for putting Jesus to death. According to the four Gospels in the New Testament, Jesus was arrested by the Jewish authorities and brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court. The Sanhedrin found Jesus guilty of blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God. However, the Sanhedrin lacked the authority to carry out an execution, so they brought…
The role of an evangelism or outreach pastor is vitally important in the church. This role is centered around spreading the gospel and fulfilling the Great Commission that Jesus gave his followers to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The Bible has a lot to say about the responsibilities and priorities of those called to evangelism and outreach ministries. Here is an overview of some of the key biblical principles regarding this role: Proclaiming the Gospel The core responsibility of an evangelism pastor is proclaiming the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus commanded his followers…
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is one of the most well-known events in human history. As Jesus hung on the cross, suffering immense physical pain and abandonment, He spoke seven final sayings that revealed His deity and embodied the meaning of His sacrifice. The seven last words of Jesus Christ were: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) “Woman, behold your son: behold your mother.” (John 19:26-27) “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34)…
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth about 2,000 years ago for a very important purpose – to die on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. Even though Jesus was sinless and did not deserve to suffer, he willing endured immense suffering during his life and death because it was the Father’s will and part of God’s redemptive plan for humankind. The Bible explains several key reasons why it was necessary for the Savior to experience such deep suffering for our salvation. To Fulfill Messianic Prophecies in Scripture The Old Testament contains many prophecies…
Shafi’i Islam is one of the four major Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). It was founded by the 9th century scholar Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi’i. The Shafi’i school places a strong emphasis on following the actions and sayings (sunnah) of the Prophet Muhammad as authoritative sources of Islamic law second only to the Quran. Some key principles of Shafi’i jurisprudence include: Reliance on the Quran and authentic hadiths for deriving legal rulings Using analogical reasoning (qiyas) to derive rulings for new cases not explicitly covered in scripture Following the consensus (ijma) of Muslim scholars on legal issues Giving priority…
One of the most important titles and roles that Jesus has is that He is the Son of David. This title connects Jesus to the promises that God made to David in the Old Testament and it establishes Jesus’ credentials as the Messiah. When the New Testament authors call Jesus the “Son of David,” they are affirming His identity as the long-awaited Messiah that was prophesied in the Old Testament. There are several key things to understand about what it means that Jesus is the Son of David: 1. It connects Jesus to the Davidic covenant In the Old Testament,…
The Jordan River holds great significance in the Bible as an important geographical marker, a site of key events, and as a rich symbolic feature. The Jordan forms part of the eastern border of the Promised Land, so crossing the Jordan represents entering into the fulfillment of God’s promises. Several momentous events took place involving the Jordan River, including the miraculous parting of the waters that allowed the Israelites to cross into Canaan, the baptism of Jesus Christ, and the ministry of John the Baptist. The Jordan is referred to over 180 times in the Bible. The Jordan River originates…
The Bible has a lot to say about lawlessness, which is essentially living in rebellion against God’s laws and commandments. Lawlessness is a rejection of God’s rightful authority over our lives. It stems from a heart that is bent on fulfilling selfish desires rather than submitting to God’s will. The Bible warns that lawlessness will increase as we approach the end times. Definitions of lawlessness in the Bible The main Greek word translated “lawlessness” in the New Testament is anomia. It literally means “without law” or “contempt and violation of law.” A few key verses give insight into its meaning:…
The apostle Paul made several statements about keeping or finishing the faith during his ministry. Here is an in-depth look at what Paul meant when he talked about keeping or retaining the faith. Paul’s Conversion Was the Beginning of His Journey of Faith Paul’s story begins with his dramatic conversion in Acts 9. As Saul of Tarsus, he was a persecutor of the early church. But Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus and confronted Saul about persecuting him. Saul was blinded for three days and neither ate nor drank (Acts 9:9). During this time, the Lord sent…