The concept of nuns as understood in the Catholic tradition has sparked much debate among Christians as to whether it is biblical. Let’s take a comprehensive look at what the Bible says that may relate to this topic. What is a nun? In the Catholic tradition, a nun is a woman who has taken solemn religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in a cloistered contemplative order. They devote their lives to prayer, penance, and service to the church. Though similar in some ways to monks, nuns live contemplative cloistered lives dedicated to spiritual growth within the walls of a…
Author: Mike Solis
The phrase “firstfruits of His creatures” in James 1:18 refers to believers in Christ being set apart and born again by the Word of truth. Just as the firstfruits of a harvest are considered special and set apart for God, believers are set apart from the rest of creation through spiritual rebirth. Let’s explore this verse and concept further: The Context of James 1:18 James 1:18 says “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” To understand this verse fully, we need to look…
The question of whether Jesus was a rabbi is an interesting one that requires looking at the Bible and what it says about Jesus’ ministry and teachings. Let’s explore this topic in detail. First, it is helpful to define what a rabbi is. A rabbi is a Jewish religious teacher and leader. Rabbis have undergone intensive study of Jewish texts such as the Torah and Talmud and provide religious guidance to their communities. They lead worship services, conduct rituals, teach Torah and Jewish law, and often serve as judges in religious courts. The title “rabbi” literally means “my teacher” in…
The Garden of Gethsemane is a place mentioned several times in the Gospels as a location of great significance leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, located at the foothills of the Mount of Olives, after the Last Supper on the night before his crucifixion. There are several key events that took place in the Garden of Gethsemane that reveal important truths about who Jesus is and what he came to accomplish. Jesus went to the Garden to pray After celebrating the Passover meal, known as the Last Supper, with his disciples, Jesus…
The story of Noah and the flood is one of the most well-known in the Bible. In Genesis 6, God sees how wicked humanity has become and decides to send a global flood to wipe out sinful mankind. But God chooses to spare righteous Noah and his family by having them build a massive ark to survive the flood. After the flood, God promises to never again destroy the earth with a flood (Genesis 9:11-15). Yet one of the obvious questions this story raises is: if God knew the flood would not permanently wipe out human sin, why did He…
1 Thessalonians 5:21 says “but test everything; hold fast what is good.” This verse encourages Christians to carefully examine and discern all things in light of God’s truth as revealed in Scripture. Here are some key points about what it means to “test everything”: The context of 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Paul wrote this letter to the Thessalonian church to encourage them in persecution, give them guidance in holy living, and teach them on topics such as the return of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 is set in the context of Paul’s instructions to the church regarding proper Christian conduct. In verse…
Azariah is a name that appears several times in the Bible, referring to different individuals. Here is an overview of the main Azariahs in Scripture: 1. Azariah the king of Judah (also called Uzziah) One of the most well-known Azariahs in the Bible was a king of Judah who reigned for 52 years. He is first introduced in 1 Kings 14:21 and 2 Kings 15:1, where he is called Azariah. However, he is more commonly called Uzziah in 2 Kings 15:13, Isaiah 6:1, and elsewhere. Azariah/Uzziah was the son of Amaziah and became king at the age of 16. Early…
Philippians 2:4 says “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” This verse encourages us as Christians to be selfless and considerate of others, not just looking out for ourselves. Here are some ways we can live this out: Put others first We live in a very self-focused culture that encourages looking out for number one. But as Christians, we are called to resist that mindset and truly put others ahead of ourselves. This could mean letting someone go ahead of you in line, yielding the right of way while…
The name Immanuel has deep biblical significance and meaning. Immanuel is mentioned in Isaiah 7:14 which says “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” This verse foretold the coming of Jesus Christ hundreds of years before his birth. Immanuel literally means “God with us” which is a reference to Jesus being God in human flesh. Jesus embodied the very presence of God living on earth and dwelling among humanity. In the Old Testament, God’s presence dwelt in the tabernacle and temple, but through…
The Donation of Constantine was a forged Roman imperial decree by which the 4th century emperor Constantine the Great supposedly transferred authority over Rome and the western part of the Roman Empire to the Pope. Though completely fabricated, the Donation was influential in the development of the medieval Roman Catholic Church and played a role in the East-West Schism between Rome and the Eastern Orthodox churches. The Donation stated that Constantine, cured of leprosy by Pope Sylvester I, donated the Lateran Palace to the Pope, together with the city of Rome, the entire Western Roman Empire and various other territories.…