The story of Cain and Abel is found in Genesis 4. After Cain murdered his brother Abel, God pronounced a curse on Cain saying that the ground would no longer yield crops for him and that he would be a wanderer on the earth (Genesis 4:11-12). Immediately after this curse, Cain expresses fear, saying “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me” (Genesis 4:13-14). From these verses, we…
Author: Richard Curi
The Old Testament describes God’s relationship and interactions with humanity before the coming of Jesus Christ. A key theme throughout the Old Testament is how sinful humans can be reconciled to a holy God. The Old Testament outlines principles, rituals, and sacrifices that pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross that would provide full atonement for sins. In the Old Testament, the way of salvation was through faith in God and His promises, just as it is in the New Testament. However, the content of that faith was different as the Messiah had not yet come.…
The Bible does not explicitly state a specific age for marriage. However, it provides principles and examples that imply guidance on appropriate ages for marriage. This article will explore biblical evidence on this topic. Old Testament Examples In the Old Testament, it was common for girls to marry soon after reaching puberty. For example: – Isaac married Rebekah when he was 40 years old and she was very young, possibly a teenager (Genesis 25:20). – Jacob married Leah and Rachel when they were likely in their teens (Genesis 29). – A law stated a man who raped an unmarried girl…
The Bible has a lot to say about being in jail or prison. As Christians, we believe that God is sovereign over all things, including our circumstances. Even when we face difficulty, we can trust God and find hope in His Word. Reasons for Imprisonment in the Bible There are various reasons people end up in jail in the Bible. Some examples include: Joseph was thrown into prison after being falsely accused of attempted rape (Genesis 39:20). Jeremiah was imprisoned for prophesying God’s word (Jeremiah 32:2). John the Baptist was arrested for rebuking Herod’s adultery (Mark 6:17-18). Peter and John…
The Bible does not directly mention cavemen, prehistoric men, or Neanderthals. However, it provides some insights that can help us think about human origins and ancient peoples. Here is an overview of what the Bible says that relates to these topics: God created humans Genesis 1-2 teaches that God created the first humans, Adam and Eve. They were fully human and made in God’s image. The Bible does not specify exactly when God created Adam and Eve, but many Bible scholars think it was somewhere between 6,000-10,000 years ago based on the genealogies and time periods given in Scripture. Genesis…
A Christian testimony is a personal account of how someone came to faith in Jesus Christ. It tells the story of how a person encountered God, recognized their need for a Savior, and placed their trust in Christ for salvation. While each testimony is unique, there are some common elements found in many believers’ stories. Realizing Sin and Need for a Savior Many Christian testimonies start with the person recognizing their sinfulness before God. Every person has sinned and falls short of God’s perfect standard (Romans 3:23). As the Holy Spirit convicts someone of their sin, they become aware of…
It is quite common in the Bible for individuals to be known by more than one name. Here are some of the main reasons this occurs: Given a new name by God Sometimes God gives people new names to signify a new calling or mission in their lives. For example: – Abram’s name was changed to Abraham when God established his covenant with him (Genesis 17:5). Abraham means “father of many nations.” – Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah when she was blessed with the promise of bearing Abraham’s son (Genesis 17:15). Sarah means “princess.” – Simon was given the…
The Jewish calendar is a lunisolar calendar used today predominantly for Jewish religious observances. It determines the dates for Jewish holidays and the appropriate public reading of Torah portions, yahrzeits (dates to commemorate the death of a relative), and daily Psalm readings, among many ceremonial uses. In Israel, it is used for religious purposes, provides a time frame for agriculture and is an official calendar for civil purposes, although the latter usage has been steadily declining in favor of the Gregorian calendar. The Jewish calendar is based on both the moon and the sun. Months are based on the lunar…
The recapitulation theory of the atonement is a perspective on how Christ’s death provides salvation that was advanced by some early church fathers, most notably Irenaeus. Recapitulation means “re-heading” or “summing up.” According to this view, Christ’s life recapitulated and reversed the course of humanity from sin to redemption. Through his perfect obedience, Christ undid Adam’s disobedience and all the sin and death that came with it. As the “last Adam” (1 Cor. 15:45), Jesus lived the life that Adam should have lived and “recapitulated” the story of humanity back to its original purpose of communion with God. Irenaeus presented…
The Bible gives us glimpses of what Heaven will be like and what we will do there. While we can’t know everything about our future heavenly home, Scripture reveals enough to stir our imagination and fill us with hope and longing for eternity with God. We Will Worship God Continually In Heaven, we will join the angels and saints in worshiping and glorifying God without ceasing. The book of Revelation describes the praise of God around His throne: “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8 ESV). We were created…