The phrase “bitter water” appears several times in the Bible, most significantly in the book of Numbers regarding a ritual cleansing process for suspected marital infidelity. Here is an overview of the meaning and significance of bitter water in the Bible: The Ordeal of Bitter Water (Numbers 5:11-31) This passage describes a ritual cleansing process known as the “ordeal of bitter water” prescribed for situations when a husband suspects his wife of infidelity but lacks evidence. The priest would take holy water mixed with dust from the tabernacle floor and recite a curse over it that would bring consequences if…
Author: Tim Collings
The breaking of bread is mentioned several times in the Bible, both in the Old Testament and New Testament. At its core, the breaking of bread refers to sharing a meal together, often carrying important spiritual meaning and significance. Here is an overview of the major passages that speak of the breaking of bread and what they indicate: The Passover Meal One of the first instances of the phrase “breaking of bread” is during the institution of the Passover meal by God for the Israelites in Exodus 12. As part of commemorating their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, God commanded…
The Book of Jonah is a short but powerful book in the Old Testament that tells the story of the prophet Jonah and his disobedience to God’s call. Though a relatively brief narrative, it provides profound theological truths about God’s mercy, forgiveness, and sovereignty. Here is a summary of the Book of Jonah: Jonah’s Call and Disobedience (Jonah 1:1-16) The book opens with God’s call to Jonah to go prophesy against the great city of Nineveh for its wickedness. But instead of obeying God’s command, Jonah fled in the opposite direction to escape his duty. He boards a ship headed…
The “law of liberty” is a biblical concept that appears in James 1:25 and James 2:12. It refers to the freedom that comes through faith in Christ and obedience to God’s word. Here is an in-depth explanation of the meaning and significance of the law of liberty: 1. It is God’s law that gives freedom The “law of liberty” contrasts with the Old Testament law which was characterized by strict legal requirements and punishments for disobedience. While the Mosaic Law contained God’s righteous standards, it did not provide the power to obey them. As a result, it brought bondage and…
Paranormal activity can be unsettling for Christians who encounter it. As believers in God’s word, how should we respond when faced with supernatural occurrences that seem to defy biblical explanations? Here is a 9000 word look at what the Bible says about paranormal activity and how Christians can respond: Defining Paranormal Activity The term “paranormal activity” covers a wide range of phenomena outside the bounds of normal scientific understanding. Examples include ghosts, poltergeists, psychic abilities like telepathy or precognition, alien encounters, communication with the dead, and many more. While some experiences may have natural explanations, others seem to genuinely defy…
The Bible teaches that Christians are called to be the “aroma of Christ” to the world around them (2 Corinthians 2:15). This is a powerful metaphor that conveys an important spiritual truth. Let’s explore what it means for believers to be the aroma of Christ. Christians Spread the Fragrance of the Knowledge of Christ In 2 Corinthians 2:14, Paul says that God spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ everywhere believers go, just as an aroma fills the air around its source. He then goes on to call believers the “aroma of Christ.” So Christians spread the pleasing fragrance…
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is one of the most well-known and quoted passages of Scripture. In it, King Solomon reflects on the cycles and seasons of life, affirming that there is an appointed time for everything under heaven. By stating that God “has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), Solomon acknowledges God’s sovereignty over the events of our lives. Though changing and unpredictable at times, life has a rhythm and order divinely ordained by God. Let’s take a closer look at what this passage means. Overview of Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes is one of the wisdom books of the Old Testament, along…
This is an important question that many people wonder about. Deuteronomy 6:4 says “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” This verse clearly states that God is one. Yet, Christians claim that Jesus is God. How can that be? To understand this, we need to look at the nature of God as presented in the Bible. The Bible shows that while God is one in essence, He exists in three co-equal and co-eternal Persons – the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. This is called the Trinity. The Trinity is a difficult concept to…
Mortification of sin, also known as mortification of the flesh, is the process of putting sin to death in one’s life. It stems from passages in the Bible that instruct believers to “mortify” or “put to death” the sinful desires and deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5). The concept involves recognizing areas of sin, confession and repentance, active obedience to Christ, and dependence on the Holy Spirit to transform us and empower us to walk in righteousness. Mortification of sin is aimed at the root, not just the fruit, of sin. It tackles sinful desires, motives, and idols…
The Book of Esther is one of the books in the third section of the Hebrew Bible known as the Ketuvim (Writings). It tells the story of a Jewish girl named Esther who becomes queen of Persia and thwarts a plan to massacre all the Jews in the Persian Empire. The key personalities in the book include Esther, Mordecai, King Ahasuerus, and Haman. King Ahasuerus ruled over the Persian Empire from India to Ethiopia. In the third year of his reign, he held a lavish banquet for his officials and ministers that lasted 180 days. After this banquet, he held…