Orthodox Judaism is a traditional branch of Judaism that strictly follows the written and oral laws and traditions as they have been passed down over centuries. Here is an overview of Orthodox Judaism and what the Bible teaches about its key beliefs and practices: The Bible and Rabbinic Literature Orthodox Judaism considers both the written Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) and the oral Torah (rabbinic teachings contained in the Talmud and other writings) to be divinely inspired and equally binding. Orthodox Jews believe God gave Moses the Torah, both written and oral, at Mount Sinai. The…
Author: Tim Collings
The debate between complementarianism and egalitarianism is a longstanding one within Christian tradition. At its core, it revolves around questions of gender roles and whether men and women are intended by God to have different roles and responsibilities. Complementarians argue that while men and women have equal dignity and worth before God, they were created by God to have distinct and complementary roles and responsibilities in marriage, family, and the church. They point to verses like Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Corinthians 11:3, and 1 Timothy 2:11-15 to argue that men are called to lead and have authority in the home and…
The Book of Job is one of the poetic books of the Old Testament. It tells the story of Job, a righteous man who suffers tremendous losses and illness, and his resulting struggle to understand why such misfortune has befallen him. Though Job maintains his innocence, his friends are convinced that his suffering must be punishment for some secret sin. The book grapples with the difficult question of why bad things happen to good people. Job was a wealthy, God-fearing man living in the land of Uz. He had a large family and substantial flocks and herds. He was “blameless…
The question of whether working on Sunday is a sin is an important one for many Christians. The Bible does not explicitly state that working on Sunday is a sin, but it does have some relevant teachings that can help us think through this issue. In the Old Testament, God instituted the Sabbath day as a day of rest and worship. The Sabbath was to be observed on the seventh day of the week, which was Saturday. The principle behind the Sabbath was that people should take one day out of seven to rest from work and focus on the…
Journaling has long been a spiritual practice in the Christian tradition. Writing down one’s thoughts, prayers, and insights can bring clarity, perspective, and closeness with God. The Bible itself reveals that journaling is an ancient practice – the Book of Psalms contains numerous examples of David and others journaling their raw emotions, doubts, pains, and praise. Journaling allows Christians to reflect on Scripture, sermons, and life experiences through writing. It enables processing events and gaining wisdom over time. There are many valuable reasons for Christians to engage in regular journaling. 1. Promotes Regular Time in Scripture Journaling naturally motivates spending…
Seeking God’s face is a common phrase in the Bible that refers to pursuing an intimate relationship with God. It involves drawing near to God in prayer, worship, obedience, and trust. Here are 9000 words on what the Bible teaches about seeking God’s face: The concept of seeking God’s face originates in the Old Testament. In the temple, the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies and come before the presence of God (Exodus 25:22). For the Israelites, seeing God’s face meant His favor and blessing (Numbers 6:25-26). However, sin separated people from the holy God (Isaiah 59:2). After…
The Book of the Wars of the Lord is a lost book of the Bible that is referenced in Numbers 21:14. The verse reads: “Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord, ‘Waheb in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon.'” This brief mention is the only information we have about this mysterious book. Based on the context, it seems the Book of the Wars of the Lord may have been a collection of victory songs, poems, or oral traditions celebrating the Israelite conquest of Canaan. The reference made is to a place called Waheb,…
The phrase “Come out of her” is found in Revelation 18:4, which reads: “Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues.” To understand the meaning of this verse, we need to examine the context and symbolism used in the book of Revelation. Context of Revelation 18 In Revelation 18, the apostle John receives a vision of the destruction of “Babylon the Great”, representing the world system that is opposed to God. In verses 1-3, John hears the pronouncement of Babylon’s fall.…
Church splits are a sad reality that many congregations face at some point. While there are a variety of potential causes, most church splits boil down to conflicts and disagreements among the members and leadership. At their core, these conflicts reveal problems with our human nature and tendencies toward sin and divisiveness. By exploring some of the common causes of church splits, we can gain insight into how to promote unity and prevent dividing God’s people. Doctrinal Differences One of the most common triggers for church splits is disagreement over doctrine. When some members adopt theological beliefs or biblical interpretations…
The concept of the seven spirits of God is found in Revelation 1:4 and 3:1, where the apostle John refers to “the seven spirits which are before [God’s] throne.” The meaning of this enigmatic phrase has been debated throughout church history. Here is an overview of the main interpretations: 1. The Holy Spirit Many Bible scholars view the seven spirits as symbolic of the Holy Spirit in His fullness and diversity of operation. The number seven in Scripture often represents completeness, so the seven spirits depict the perfect work of the Holy Spirit. Just as Christ is described in Revelation…