The “pride of life” is a biblical concept that refers to an unhealthy pride and self-confidence in one’s own resources, wealth, abilities, and accomplishments. It is one of the three sources of sin and temptation mentioned in 1 John 2:16: “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” This type of pride is often contrasted with humility and reliance on God. It stems from a focus on worldly values and a trust in human strength rather than divine…
Author: Nicole Sands
Loneliness is a common human experience that can affect anyone at any stage of life. Even though we are created for relationship and community, there are times when we feel disconnected, abandoned, or isolated. During seasons of loneliness, we can find great comfort and wisdom in what the Bible says about this difficult emotion. Here are some key Bible verses about loneliness and finding hope in God: Psalms 25:16-17 – Turn to the Lord in loneliness “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from…
Aramaic primacy is the view that the New Testament was originally written in Aramaic, not Greek. Advocates of this view believe that the original texts of the New Testament books were written by the apostles and early Christians in Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus and his disciples. The Greek New Testament that we have today is then thought to be a translation of these original Aramaic texts. There are several key arguments made in favor of Aramaic primacy: Jesus and his disciples spoke Aramaic, not Greek. As first century Jews living in Galilee and Judea, their native tongue would…
Judging others is a controversial topic in the Bible. There are verses that warn against judging, but also verses that encourage discernment and accountability. Here is an overview of some key Bible passages about judging: Verses warning against judging “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2) This famous passage warns that God will use the same standard to judge us that we use to judge others. It cautions against hypocritical and unfair…
The Maccabean Revolt was a rebellion of the Jews against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BC. It began in 167 BC when Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid king, outlawed Jewish religious practices and desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem. A priest named Mattathias and his five sons, led by Judas Maccabeus, revolted against Antiochus and his persecution of the Jews. After Mattathias died in 166 BC, Judas took command of the revolt. Judas led the Jews in successful battles against the Seleucids. His first victories allowed the Jews to reclaim control of Jerusalem and purify the Temple from its…
How should a Christian respond to bullying? Bullying is unfortunately a common occurrence in many places, including schools, workplaces, and online spaces. As Christians, how should we respond when bullying happens to us or when we witness it happening to others? Here is a biblical guide to dealing with bullying in a godly way: Do Not Retaliate or Seek Revenge Our natural instinct when being bullied is often to fight back and get even. However, the Bible makes it clear that retaliation and revenge are not the right responses for followers of Christ (Romans 12:17-21, 1 Peter 3:9). Jesus calls…
The Bible does not directly address the modern phenomenon of extreme fighting as a spectator sport. However, there are some biblical principles that can provide wisdom for Christians thinking about participating in or viewing violent sports like extreme fighting. The Bible values peace and warns against unnecessary violence The Bible consistently upholds peace and non-violence as virtues for God’s people. Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9) and taught us to “turn the other cheek” when faced with violence (Matthew 5:39). The apostle Paul instructed,”If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with…
The Book of Galatians is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the churches in Galatia. Galatia was a Roman province in central Asia Minor, which is modern-day Turkey. Paul had helped establish these churches during his first missionary journey. However, after Paul left Galatia, other teachers had come in teaching a different gospel that added requirements, like circumcision, to the free gift of salvation that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. The purpose of Paul’s letter was to defend the true gospel of justification by faith alone and to refute the false teachers who were leading the Galatian…
Spy Wednesday, also known as Holy Wednesday or Wednesday of Holy Week, is the Wednesday before Easter Sunday in Western Christianity. It is part of Holy Week, the week leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The term “Spy Wednesday” comes from the plot by the Jewish leaders to spy on Jesus and kill him (Matthew 26:1-5). After previously clashing with Jesus and failing to trap him, the chief priests and elders of the people conspired together to arrest Jesus stealthily and kill him. They did not want to do it openly during the feast, worried it…
The Herodians were a Jewish political group who supported the Herodian dynasty that ruled Judea and the surrounding regions during the time of Jesus. Here is a detailed 9,000 word overview of who the Herodians were, their origins, beliefs, interactions with Jesus, and ultimate demise. Origins of the Herodian Dynasty The Herodian dynasty was founded by Herod the Great, who was appointed King of Judea by the Romans around 40 BC. Herod was not Jewish by birth – his father was an Edomite and his mother was Arab. But Herod ingratiated himself to Rome and maneuvered his way to power…