The Book of Ecclesiastes is one of the wisdom books of the Old Testament. It was likely written by King Solomon during his elder years. The book explores life’s deepest questions about the meaning of existence, the purpose of life, and how to live wisely and well. Ecclesiastes presents a naturalistic perspective that views life “under the sun” apart from revelation or redemption. The narrator, commonly identified as the voice of Solomon, relates his experiences and observations of the futility of pursuing meaning in worldly things like wisdom, pleasure, riches, labor, and power. The predominant theme running through Ecclesiastes is…
Author: Richard Curi
A publican in the Bible refers to a tax collector or public official who collected various taxes and tolls within the Roman Empire during the time of Jesus. Tax collectors were not looked upon favorably by most Jews during this time period for several reasons: They worked for the Roman government The publicans or tax collectors were Jews who worked for the Roman government, which had conquered and occupied the land of Israel. This made them traitors and collaborators in the eyes of many Jewish people who resented Roman rule (Luke 23:2). Though publicans were fellow Jews, they were seen…
Charles Grandison Finney (1792-1875) was an important American Presbyterian minister and leader in the Second Great Awakening revival movement in the United States during the early 19th century. Finney is best known as an innovative revivalist preacher during the period of religious revivalism called the Second Great Awakening in America. Finney was born on August 29, 1792 in Warren, Connecticut. He studied law and became an attorney, but after a dramatic conversion experience at age 29, he left his law practice to become a Presbyterian minister. He was ordained in 1824. Finney became known for his fiery and passionate sermons…
The Book of Psalms is a collection of 150 songs, prayers, and poems expressing the religious beliefs and experiences of ancient Israel. The psalms capture the full range of human emotion from joy to anger, praise to lament, trust to doubt. They serve as a model for how people of faith should relate to God through worship, praise, thanksgiving, confession, and petition. Though attributed to various authors like David, Asaph, and the sons of Korah, the psalms collectively represent the outpouring of the soul before God. The psalms are divided into five books or collections, perhaps in imitation of the…
The role of China in biblical end times prophecy is a topic of much discussion and speculation among Christians. The Bible does not specifically mention China, but some believe that certain prophecies could point to China’s prominence in the end times. Here is an overview of the main biblical arguments regarding China’s potential role: The Kings of the East In Revelation 16:12, it says “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East.” Some speculate that this could refer to China…
Teresa of Avila, also known as Saint Teresa of Jesus, was a prominent Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint, Carmelite nun and author during the 16th century. She was a major figure of the Catholic Reformation in 16th century Spain. Teresa of Avila lived from 1515 to 1582 AD and was canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622 AD. She was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI in 1970. Teresa of Avila was born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada on March 28, 1515 in Avila, Spain. Her parents were Alonso Sánchez de Cepeda and Beatriz de…
Luke was a physician, companion of the apostle Paul, and the author of the third gospel account as well as the book of Acts. Though Luke is not named in his gospel account or in Acts, both are addressed to Theophilus, and early church tradition consistently identifies him as the author. Here is an overview of what the Bible reveals about Luke’s identity, background, and role in the early church: Luke’s Identity The apostle Paul refers to Luke by name in three of his New Testament letters. In Philemon 1:24, Paul includes Luke among his fellow workers who send greetings…
Abraham is one of the most important figures in the Bible and the foundation of the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic faiths. He is first introduced in Genesis 11 as Abram, a descendant of Shem, one of Noah’s three sons. Abram was born in Ur of the Chaldeans, located in modern-day Iraq. At God’s command, Abram, along with his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot, left Ur to go to the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:1). God made a covenant with Abram, promising to make him a great nation, bless him and make his name great, curse those who cursed him,…
Spiritual maturity is the process of growing in one’s relationship with God and becoming more like Christ. As we grow spiritually, we develop godly character, deepen our understanding of spiritual truths, and increasingly rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us. Here is an in-depth look at what the Bible teaches about spiritual maturity: 1. Developing the Fruit of the Spirit As we grow in Christ, the Holy Spirit produces positive virtues and character qualities in our lives known as the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23). These include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. A…
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is a non-canonical gospel dealing with the infancy and childhood years of Jesus Christ. It is believed to have been written in the 2nd century AD, long after the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were completed. This gospel contains many fanciful tales and legends regarding the childhood of Jesus that are not found in the Bible. Though interesting for historical purposes, the Infancy Gospel of Thomas was rejected by the early church and does not provide historically reliable information about Jesus as a child. The Infancy Gospel of Thomas presents stories about…