The Paulicians were a Christian sect that originated in Armenia in the 7th century. Their name comes from their reverence for the apostle Paul and his epistles. The Paulicians rejected the institutional hierarchy of the Catholic church and instead emphasized a personal relationship with Christ and the reading of scripture. They were denounced as heretics by both the Catholic and Orthodox churches for their rejection of ecclesiastical authority, the veneration of saints, the use of religious icons, and other traditional Christian practices. The Paulicians embraced an Adoptionist Christology, asserting that Jesus was a man who became the Son of God…
Author: Richard Curi
The Synagogue of the Freedmen is mentioned in Acts 6:9 in the context of conflict arising in the early Christian church. This synagogue was likely made up of Jewish converts to Christianity who had previously been slaves or descendants of slaves living in Jerusalem. In Acts 6, the apostles appoint seven men to oversee distributing food and charity to widows in the church community. This was necessary because the Greek-speaking Jewish Christians in the church complained that their widows were being overlooked in favor of the Hebrew-speaking widows. Acts 6:9 mentions that some members “from the synagogue of the Freedmen…
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) was a prominent Baptist preacher and pastor in England during the 19th century. He was known as the “Prince of Preachers” and founded the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, which became one of the largest churches in the world at the time under his leadership. Spurgeon was born on June 19, 1834 in Kelvedon, Essex, England. He was raised in a Christian home but came to true faith in Christ at the age of 15 after wandering into a small Primitive Methodist chapel while looking to escape a snowstorm. The text being preached that day was Isaiah…
Ditheism and bitheism are terms used to describe beliefs systems that posit the existence of two distinct gods. Specifically, ditheism refers to the belief in two equally powerful but opposing gods, while bitheism refers to the worship of two gods without the assumption that they are in conflict. The Bible unambiguously presents a monotheistic view of God, affirming there is only one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4). However, some groups throughout history have adopted forms of ditheism or bitheism, often by elevating other spiritual beings to the level of gods. Ditheism in the Bible There are no examples of pure ditheistic…
The phrase “the rain falls on the just and the unjust” comes from Matthew 5:45 in the Bible, where Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount: “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” This profound yet simple statement conveys an important spiritual truth that God bestows common grace and blessings on all people, regardless of their moral character or spiritual standing before Him. On the surface, it is easy to think the rain is just part of the natural physical world, falling according…
Beauty is a complex topic that is discussed throughout the Bible. Here is an overview of some key Bible verses that provide insight into how beauty is understood from a biblical perspective: Inner Beauty The Bible emphasizes inner beauty of character over outward appearance. A gentle and quiet spirit is of great worth in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:4). We are encouraged to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (Colossians 3:12). God looks at the heart, not outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). Our inner self is being renewed day by day even as our outer self is…
The Bible does not explicitly mention smoking, as tobacco use became more widespread after biblical times. However, the Bible does speak to addictive behaviors and practices that harm the body, which can provide guidance for quitting smoking. Here is an overview of what the Bible says that may help in quitting smoking: Ask God for Help Admitting powerlessness over addiction is an important first step (1 John 1:9). We should ask God for empowerment to make positive changes (Philippians 4:13). Through prayer, reading Scripture, and Christian community, God can renew our minds and wills to align more closely with His…
Trust is a major theme throughout the Bible. God calls us to trust in Him fully, even when circumstances seem bleak. Here are some key Bible verses about trusting God: Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” This verse reminds us that God knows far better than we do, so we should rely on Him rather than our own limited understanding. Psalm 37:3-6 “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend…
The conflict between the flesh and the spirit is a major biblical theme that traces throughout both the Old and New Testaments. At its core, this conflict represents the opposing desires and inclinations within every human being – the tendency toward sin and self-indulgence versus the calling to live righteously by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Bible, “flesh” refers not just to our physical bodies but to the part of human nature that is opposed to God and prone to sin. The flesh represents our fallen, corrupt state that seeks to fulfill sinful desires and passions. As…
The topic of red shift and its potential implications for creationism is complex and multidimensional. At its core, red shift refers to the phenomenon in astronomy and cosmology whereby light from distant galaxies appears redder than expected, indicating that those galaxies are moving away from us. The furthest galaxies have the greatest red shift, meaning they are moving the fastest. This observation led to the theory of an expanding universe that originated from a single point around 13.8 billion years ago, commonly known as the Big Bang theory. For young earth creationists who believe the universe is only 6,000-10,000 years…