Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 02033 The question has a sharp edge to it. If God knew before the world was made exactly what every person would ever choose, in every circumstance, across all of time — then in what meaningful sense are those choices really free? When you sat down this morning and decided what to have for…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 02038 The word omniscience comes from the Latin omnis (all) and scientia (knowledge). Applied to God, it means that His knowledge is complete, perfect, and without limit. He knows all things that are, all things that were, all things that will be, and all things that could have been under different circumstances. Nothing escapes…
Reading Time: 4 minutesQuestion 3066 This question assumes something that is not quite accurate, namely that Jesus, as God, ceased to exist or ceased to function during His death. To answer properly, we need to understand what happened when Jesus died and how His divine and human natures relate to one another. The answer reveals something wonderful about…
Reading Time: 5 minutesQuestion 3067 Throughout history, people have tried to enlist Jesus for their political causes. Some have portrayed Him as a social revolutionary, fighting against Roman oppression and the wealthy establishment. Others have claimed Him for conservative causes, emphasising His respect for tradition and authority. So who is right? Was Jesus a political revolutionary? The answer…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 01183 The name Esdras is the Greek and Latin form of Ezra, and two books bear this title in various versions of the Old Testament: 1 Esdras and 2 Esdras. Neither belongs to the Protestant canon, but the question of whether they are worth reading at all deserves a considered answer rather than a…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 60087 The claim that Constantine created the Bible appears regularly in popular sceptical discussions, was given wide circulation by Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code, and resurfaces periodically in online conversations as though it were settled historical fact. It is not. The claim is historically wrong in virtually every detail, and Christians should…
Reading Time: 5 minutesQuestion 60095 The word “firmament” appears in the King James Version of Genesis 1 and has generated considerable discussion ever since, particularly as critics of the biblical account have claimed it reveals a primitive, pre-scientific cosmology in which the ancient Israelites believed the sky was a solid dome. That claim is worth examining on its…
Reading Time: 4 minutesQuestion 3075 The verse in question is Hebrews 5:8: “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.” At first reading, this can seem confusing. If Jesus is God, and God is perfect, how could He “learn” anything? Was there a time when He was disobedient and had to learn to be…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 09114 “Touch not my anointed” is quoted with surprising frequency in certain church circles as a warning against criticising or questioning Christian leaders, pastors, or prominent figures. The appeal is almost invariably a misuse of the text, and understanding what the passage actually says is important both for good biblical interpretation and for healthy…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 6005 You have probably heard it said that “all sins are equal in God’s eyes.” It sounds humble and is often used to prevent us from looking down on others whose sins seem worse than our own. But is it actually true? Does Scripture teach that telling a white lie is the same as…