The book of Colossians was written by the apostle Paul to the church in Colossae, likely around 60-62 AD while he was imprisoned in Rome. Paul wrote to address some theological issues that had arisen in the church and to encourage the believers in their faith. Some key themes and topics covered in Colossians include: Against False Teachings Paul warns against false teachings and philosophies that were threatening the church. He refutes ideas such as asceticism, angel worship, and dependence on human wisdom and traditions. Paul emphasizes that believers have fullness in Christ alone (Col 2:8-10). The Supremacy and Sufficiency…
Author: Mike Solis
The hornet is mentioned a few times in the Bible, primarily in relation to the conquest of the Promised Land. Here is an overview of the biblical references to hornets and what they signify: Hornets as Instruments of Judgment One of the most well-known mentions of hornets in the Bible is in Exodus 23:28, where God promises to send hornets ahead of the Israelites as they enter Canaan: “I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you.” This suggests that hornets would be part of God’s plan to remove…
Holy Tuesday is the Tuesday of Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter. It comes after Palm Sunday, which celebrates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and before Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, which commemorate the Last Supper, crucifixion, and death of Jesus Christ. Holy Tuesday is packed full of events that set the stage for the passion and resurrection of Jesus. On Holy Tuesday, Jesus returned to Jerusalem after spending the night in Bethany. When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, he was confronted by the Pharisees and Sadducees who questioned his authority (Matthew 21:23-27). Jesus responded by telling the parable…
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that is mentioned numerous times in the Bible. Here is an overview of some of the key Bible passages that discuss fasting: Old Testament Verses on Fasting In the Old Testament, fasting was often done in times of grief, repentance, or urgent prayer. Here are some examples: When David’s child was ill, “David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.” (2 Samuel 12:16 ESV) “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our…
The book of 1 Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul to address various issues and answer questions from the church in Corinth. Corinth was a busy trade city in ancient Greece with people from all walks of life. The church Paul established there struggled with divisions, immorality, marriage, food sacrificed to idols, public worship, and the resurrection. Through his letter, Paul provided guidance, correction, and encouragement to live according to God’s standards. Divisions in the Church (1 Corinthians 1-4) Paul opens his letter acknowledging divisions in the Corinthian church over loyalty to certain leaders like Paul, Apollos, and Peter.…
The Taborites were a radical sect of Hussites based in Tabor, Bohemia in the 15th century. They emerged during the Protestant Reformation and were named after Mount Tabor, where they gathered to await the second coming of Christ. The Taborites fiercely opposed the Catholic Church and advocated for far-reaching church reforms. They held unorthodox theological beliefs and refused to recognize any authority outside of the Bible. The roots of the Taborite movement can be traced back to the teachings of Jan Hus, the influential Czech church reformer. Hus denounced clerical corruption and challenged various Catholic doctrines and practices. In 1415,…
Capernaum was a small fishing village located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee in ancient Israel. Although just a humble village, Capernaum holds great significance in the Bible and the life of Jesus Christ. Here are some key points about the importance of Capernaum according to the Scriptures: Jesus Made Capernaum His Home Base for Ministry After being rejected in his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus chose to make Capernaum his new home base for his Galilean ministry according to Matthew 4:13: “Leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the lake.” Located on a major trade…
Novatianism is a sect of Christianity that originated in the 3rd century AD. It was founded by Novatian, a priest who opposed the readmission of Christians who had renounced their faith during persecution. Here is an overview of Novatianism in around 9000 words: Background on Novatian Novatian was a priest in the church of Rome during the mid-3rd century. When a new bishop of Rome was to be elected in 251 AD, Novatian was a leading candidate. However, Cornelius was elected instead. Novatian was disappointed and claimed that Cornelius’ election was invalid. He considered himself the true bishop of Rome…
The book of Baruch is one of the deuterocanonical books found in the Old Testament of the Catholic and Orthodox Bibles. It is not considered canon by Jews or most Protestants. The book contains prophecies attributed to Baruch, who was a scribe and companion of the prophet Jeremiah. Authorship and Date The book claims to be written by Baruch ben Neriah, the scribe of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 32:12). However, most scholars believe the book was composed later, perhaps in the 2nd century BC. The book was likely written by multiple authors over an extended period. The text contains layers of material…
The question of whether it is a sin to elope is a complex one that requires careful examination of Scripture. At the heart of the matter is what God intends for marriage and how we enter into that sacred covenant. On the one hand, the Bible does not specifically prohibit eloping or require a formal wedding ceremony. Scripture focuses more on the marriage commitment itself rather than how it is solemnized. Marriage is ordained by God and is to be held in honor by all (Hebrews 13:4). As long as the couple makes solemn vows of lifelong commitment before God,…