What is Biblical Literalism? Biblical literalism is the view that the Bible, or at least large portions of it, should be read and interpreted literally. This means taking the biblical text at face value and believing that the people, events and statements contained within are factual and historical. A literalist approach to the Bible stands in contrast to allegorical, metaphorical or symbolic interpretations. Rather than seeing biblical stories as containing deeper spiritual truths, a literalist sees them as records of actual occurrences in history. Literalists believe the Bible means exactly what it says. Some of the key aspects of biblical…
Author: Tim Collings
Does God still give visions to people today? Throughout the Bible, we see that God spoke to people through visions. In the Old Testament, prophets like Isaiah and Ezekiel received visions from God that gave them insight into future events or God’s plans. In the New Testament, key figures like Peter and Paul were given visions to guide the early church. This raises the question – does God still give people visions today like he did in biblical times? There are different views on this issue among Christians. Some believe that the gift of supernatural visions ceased with the closing…
The question that the psalmist asks in Psalm 8:4 – “What is man that you are mindful of him?” – is a profound and meaningful one. It points to the incredible grace and mercy that God shows to human beings, even though we are small and limited in comparison to the vastness of creation and the might of God. In the verses leading up to verse 4, the psalmist reflects on the majesty of God’s creation – the moon, the stars, the cosmos that God set into motion. When the psalmist considers the grandeur of the heavens that God created,…
Existentialism is a philosophical movement that gained popularity in the mid-20th century through the work of Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus, among others. At its core, existentialism asserts that human beings have complete freedom and responsibility to give meaning to their own lives. This runs counter to deterministic philosophies that claim meaning comes prepackaged from sources like religion, society, or nature. While the Bible does not explicitly discuss existentialism, as it arose long after the biblical texts were written, it does offer perspectives on major existentialist themes like meaning, freedom, and responsibility. From an existentialist view, the…
Talking too much or being overly talkative is a common issue that many people struggle with. The Bible has some clear wisdom and advice on this topic. Let’s explore what Scripture says about the dangers of talking too much, the importance of being quick to listen and slow to speak, controlling our tongues, and finding the right balance in our speech. The Dangers of Too Much Talk The book of Proverbs is filled with warnings about the problems that come from talking too much or speaking without thinking first. Here are some key verses: “When there are many words, transgression…
The promise of God bringing one shepherd over Israel is found in Ezekiel 34:23, which says “And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.” This is a prophecy given to Ezekiel regarding God’s future restoration of Israel. There are a few key things to understand about this prophecy: It refers to God appointing one shepherd over Israel. This is understood to be a future messianic figure from the line of David. It connects back to God’s promise to David about his descendant reigning…
The phrase “weaker vessel” in 1 Peter 3:7 has led to much discussion over what it means for wives in a marriage relationship. A full examination of this verse and its context is needed to properly understand Peter’s instruction. The Meaning of “Weaker Vessel” In 1 Peter 3:7, husbands are instructed to “live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life.” The phrase “weaker vessel” refers to the wife being more physically vulnerable or fragile than the husband. Just as valuable…
The question of whether religion is the cause of most wars has been debated for centuries. Those who argue that religion is the cause often point to examples of conflicts fueled by religious differences, like the Crusades or the long history of conflict between Christians and Muslims. However, the role of religion in wars is complex and disputed among historians. Here’s an overview of what the Bible teaches related to this topic. The Bible’s View on War The Bible acknowledges that war is a reality in our fallen world (Ecclesiastes 3:8). However, Scripture promotes peacemaking not warmaking. Jesus said, “Blessed…
Here is a 9000 word article on what the Bible says about mandrakes: Introduction to Mandrakes in the Bible The mandrake plant is mentioned in the Bible a few times, most notably in Genesis chapter 30. In that passage, Rachel desires the mandrakes that her sister Leah’s son Reuben had found, and agrees to let Leah spend the night with their husband Jacob in exchange for some of the mandrakes. The mandrakes were thought to help promote fertility and childbearing. The mandrake plant (Mandragora officinarum) is a member of the nightshade family and was used in ancient times for its…
The verse in James 5:16 states, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” This verse indicates that the prayers of righteous people have great effectiveness and impact. But what exactly does it mean? Here is an explanation of this verse in its context: 1. The Context of James 5:16 To properly understand this verse, we need to look at the surrounding context in James 5. In this chapter, James is giving exhortations to believers, calling them to patience in suffering (verse 7-11), integrity in speech (verse 12), prayer in affliction (verse 13-18), and care…