The verse 2 Corinthians 4:9 states “persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed”. This verse comes from a powerful passage where the apostle Paul is describing the hardships he and other followers of Christ face for the sake of the gospel. Though they face intense persecution, Paul declares they are not abandoned or defeated. There is deep meaning in this verse that can encourage all believers. The Context of 2 Corinthians 4:9 Paul wrote 2 Corinthians as a letter to the church in Corinth he had helped establish. The Christians in Corinth were struggling with false teachers who…
Author: Mike Solis
The geologic timescale presents a major challenge to the biblical view of a young earth. According to mainstream geology, the earth is about 4.5 billion years old, while a literal reading of Genesis argues for an earth less than 10,000 years old. At first glance, these two timescales seem utterly incompatible. However, when examined more closely, there are several ways that Christians have proposed to reconcile the geological evidence with the biblical account. The most straightforward approach is to question the reliability of radioactive dating methods that geologists use to establish the age of rocks and fossils. While radioisotope dating…
The question of why so much of the world remains unevangelized is a difficult one that does not have a simple answer. According to estimates, there are still over 2 billion people in the world today who have little to no access to the gospel message. Why is this still the case when Christians have had over 2,000 years to spread the good news globally? Here is an in-depth look at some of the complex factors involved. The Explosive Growth of the Global Population One significant challenge is simply the massive growth of the world’s population over the last few…
The nature of man is a theological question that has been debated for centuries. Specifically, the discussion centers around whether man is composed of two parts (dichotomy) or three parts (trichotomy). The dichotomist position argues that man consists of body and soul/spirit, while the trichotomist view claims man is made up of body, soul, and spirit. Both sides cite biblical evidence to support their perspective. This article will examine the key biblical passages related to this topic and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the dichotomy and trichotomy positions. The dichotomy view The dichotomist view argues that man is made…
The ankh is an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol that represents life. It looks like a cross with a loop on top. The ankh has a long history in Egypt, dating back thousands of years, and was commonly used as a protective amulet and symbolic representation of life after death. While the ankh is not directly mentioned in the Bible, its meaning and use in ancient Egypt provide some interesting biblical connections. Meaning and Significance of the Ankh The ankh symbol consists of a cross shape with a loop on top. The cross represents life and the loop represents eternity or…
The Last Supper is one of the most significant events in the Bible, as it represents a pivotal moment in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Though all four gospels describe the Last Supper, the most detailed account is found in Luke 22:7-38. The Last Supper took place on the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, during the Jewish Passover feast. Jesus and his twelve disciples had come to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, a major Jewish holiday commemorating God’s deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12:1-28). In preparation, Jesus instructed Peter and John to secure a place for…
The parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge is found in Luke 18:1-8. Jesus told this parable to illustrate the importance of persistent prayer. Here are some key lessons we can learn from this parable: 1. God hears our prayers and will answer in His timing The parable begins with Jesus’ statement that we “ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Even when it seems God is not answering or does not care, we should persistently bring our requests and burdens to Him in prayer. The widow kept pleading for justice before the unjust judge…
The Bible has much to say about government and provides principles that are meant to guide how governments should function. According to Scripture, government is ordained by God for the good of society. The purpose of government includes promoting justice, restraining evil, and punishing wrongdoers (Rom 13:3-4). At the same time, Scripture warns about the dangers of abusive government and unchecked power. Here are some key biblical principles about government: 1. Governmental authority is established by God. The Bible teaches that God is the ultimate authority and the source of all human authority. According to Romans 13:1, “Let every person…
The Bible clearly teaches that there is only one true God. This doctrine of believing in a single God is called monotheism. Throughout the Bible, God affirms that He alone is the supreme deity and there are no other gods besides Him. While atheists and polytheists may reject monotheism, the Bible provides substantial evidence and logical arguments to prove that monotheism is true. The most foundational evidence for monotheism comes from the very first verse of the Bible: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). This verse establishes that God preexisted the universe and was…
The Old Testament accounts of Israel’s history reveal a complex relationship between God, the leaders of Israel, and religious freedom. On one hand, God clearly demands exclusive allegiance from the Israelites and opposes the worship of other gods. On the other hand, there are examples in the Old Testament of religious tolerance and freedom being granted. Overall, it seems God opposed religious practices that violated His commands or led Israel away from Him, but was open to faiths that did not undermine devotion to Him. Evidence of Opposition to Religious Freedom There are several examples in the Old Testament where…