Greatest Hits

3 votes
5 answers
47k views

What is on the sealed scroll in Revelation 5-8?

Revelation chapter 5: 1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming ...
Stephen Collings's user avatar
20 votes
3 answers
101k views

What was the purpose of giving Jesus vinegar to drink?

What was the purpose of giving Jesus vinegar to drink ? (Mark 15:23, Matthew 27:34) Some think it was a way to mock Jesus, but others argue that the "vinegar" (with gall) was the diluted wine drunk ...
YoMrWhite's user avatar
  • 840
6 votes
5 answers
78k views

What does "the government shall be upon His shoulder" mean in Isaiah 9:6?

Isaiah 9:6: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting ...
Andrea Latham's user avatar
17 votes
6 answers
75k views

What is the significance of both the priest and the Levite in the Good Samaritan parable?

In the Good Samaritan parable (Luke 10:25-37), the first two people who see the beaten up man are a priest and a Levite. However, a priest is a member of the Levite tribe. So why include both since ...
Reinstate Monica - Goodbye SE's user avatar
18 votes
3 answers
90k views

Why did the witnesses lay their coats at Paul's feet?

During the stoning of Stephen, according to the book of Acts, "the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul," who later converted to Christianity and took the name ...
Bruce Alderman's user avatar
18 votes
4 answers
46k views

In the Gospel of Mark, why does Jesus heal this blind man twice?

There’s this episode in Mark’s gospel which is particularly puzzling. Here it is in chapter 8: 22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He ...
Matthew Miller's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
70k views

What did Jesus mean by "the queen of the South"?

Answering a different question, I noticed this passage: Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and ...
Jon 'links in bio' Ericson's user avatar
83 votes
20 answers
62k views

In John 1:1c, should the Greek word θεὸς be translated into English as “a god” or “God”?

The New World Translation, the official Bible version of the Watchtower/Jehovah’s Witnesses, translates John 1:1 into English as follows: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, ...
Reinstate Monica - Goodbye SE's user avatar
19 votes
5 answers
71k views

Why is the "give to Caesar what is Caesar's" answer so great?

After being asked whether it was right to pax taxes, Jesus repies: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Why is that an answer that "amazed" them? To a modern person, it ...
Reinstate Monica - Goodbye SE's user avatar
28 votes
8 answers
59k views

What is the difference in the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God?

Some assert the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God refer to the same thing while others say they are different. Which is accurate? For example: Luke 17:21 uses Kingdom of God while Matthew 11:...
Frank Luke's user avatar
  • 22.2k
13 votes
1 answer
96k views

When did Joseph, Jesus's father, die?

I heard someone claim that Joseph, Jesus's father, died a very short time after Jesus was born. But we know from Luke 2:41-52, that when Jesus was twelve years old he went with his parents (οἱ γονεῖς ...
Ionică Bizău's user avatar
6 votes
6 answers
47k views

What's the root definition of the word "judge" in Matthew 7:1?

What is the root definition of the word judge in the below scripture? Does it correlate to the currently accepted definition of judge? Judge not, that ye be not judged. (Matthew 7:1 KJV) Currently ...
Mike Perrenoud's user avatar
29 votes
6 answers
48k views

Interpretations of Elihu in Job

In the book of Job, it becomes clear that the first three of Job's friends - Eliphaz, Blidad, and Zophar - speak wrongly. Not only do they incur the indignation of Job and his other friend Elihu, but ...
Soldarnal's user avatar
  • 36.4k
19 votes
7 answers
47k views

Why are the Psalms broken into five books?

The Psalms in most English Bibles are divided into five sections or books: 1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, and 107-150 Psalms 41, 72, and 89 end with the double amen, while 106 and 150 end with "Praise ...
Soldarnal's user avatar
  • 36.4k
12 votes
6 answers
49k views

How is Adam "son of God" in Luke 3:38?

The Genealogy of Jesus in Luke's gospel ends like this (Luke 3:38): ... the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. Emphasis mine. Adam is clearly not "son ...
Pavel's user avatar
  • 583
14 votes
9 answers
65k views

Why did Paul collect and deliver an offering for the Church in Jerusalem?

Paul's collection for the Jerusalem church occupies significant portions of his letters (1 Cor 16:1–4; 2 Cor 8:1–9:15; Rom 15:14–32). It is so important to Paul he is willing to face hostility (...
Matthew Miller's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
75k views

What is the significance of the honey inside the lion's carcass?

In Judges 14, Samson kills a lion and leaves the body there. When he comes back to it, a swarm of bees has taken over and there is now honey there: 5 Samson went down to Timnah together with his ...
user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
55k views

Meaning of "sins against his body" in 1 Corinthians 6:18

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18 Please help me to understand this. Why are ...
Reinstate Monica - Goodbye SE's user avatar
58 votes
15 answers
71k views

What does it mean to be "born of water"?

In John 3:5, Jesus tells Nicodemus that to enter the kingdom one must be "born of water and the Spirit". How is this phrase understood? Is it a single construct (i.e. one birth of both water and ...
Soldarnal's user avatar
  • 36.4k
12 votes
4 answers
53k views

Why does Moses change Hosea's name to Joshua?

Name changes throughout the Bible are pretty significant. Numbers 13:16 says that "Moses changed the name of Hosea son of Nun to Joshua." What is the significance of this name change? What are ...
Emi Matro's user avatar
  • 1,335
8 votes
6 answers
63k views

What does Paul mean by "sound doctrine" in Titus 2:1

What does Paul mean by sound doctrine? e.g., in the following verse: Titus 2:1 (ESV) But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Today, some people talk about doctrines, some of which ...
Paul Vargas's user avatar
  • 3,238
10 votes
2 answers
79k views

How is Psalm 34 linked to 1st Samuel 21?

The annotation of Psalm 34 (ESV) reads: Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. Clearly this is a reference to 1 Samuel 21:10-15 (ESV): ...
Jon 'links in bio' Ericson's user avatar
13 votes
6 answers
66k views

If Joshua can be translated why Is the name of Jesus translated "Jesus" but his name in hebrew was Joshua?

This question is in regard to Matthew 1:21, "His name shall be called Jesus for he will save his people from their sins." The question has two parts. 1) Strongs equates the name "Jesus" with the ...
user avatar
13 votes
5 answers
63k views

Who is the man in Daniel's vision in Daniel 10?

Who does Daniel see in his vision in Daniel 10?
Bijoy Thangaraj's user avatar
13 votes
7 answers
69k views

How many children did Hannah have?

In the Song of Hannah (1 Samuel 2:5), she seems to sing that she has seven children: She who was barren has borne seven children,      but she who has had many sons pines away....
Soldarnal's user avatar
  • 36.4k
13 votes
12 answers
91k views

According to Hebrews 9:12, did the Lord Jesus Christ offer his blood in heaven?

In Heb. 9:12, it is written, 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. KJV, 1769 ΙΒʹ οὐδὲ δι᾽...
user avatar
25 votes
3 answers
81k views

Jacob's name is Israel. So why is he still called Jacob?

When born, Jacob is given the name "Jacob" meaning, "trickster, supplanter, heel grabber." After he wrestles at Jabbok, he is renamed "Israel" meaning "strives with God." However, after this ...
Frank Luke's user avatar
  • 22.2k
32 votes
13 answers
86k views

How does Jesus' argument from David and the showbread work?

Jesus defended his disciples gleaning on the Sabbath by retelling a story about David. Mark 2:23-28 (ESV): One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his ...
Jon 'links in bio' Ericson's user avatar
8 votes
8 answers
62k views

What is the difference between hope and faith?

Since the words "faith" and "hope" are used side-by-side and in ways that faith (πίστις) is built on hope (ἐλπίς), they shouldn't have the same meaning. 1 Corinthians 13:13 And ...
Frank Luke's user avatar
  • 22.2k
3 votes
2 answers
67k views

Why did God punish Miriam when it was her & Aaron who spoke against Moses?

In Numbers 12, Miriam and Aaron together "speak against" Moses: 1 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
12 votes
8 answers
97k views

Did Jesus change his view on preaching to Gentiles?

In John 10:16 Jesus says (ESV quoted): And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. The ...
Muke Tever's user avatar
  • 1,501
23 votes
9 answers
73k views

Is Jesus giving the Holy Spirit in John 20:22?

After the resurrection in John's gospel, Jesus appears to the disciples and in John 20:22 he breathes on them and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit." What is happening here? Is Jesus giving them the Holy ...
Soldarnal's user avatar
  • 36.4k
13 votes
3 answers
60k views

Is "breath of life" in Genesis 2:7 is the same as spirit?

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7 (KJV) What is the meaning of "breath of life" here? ...
Jomet's user avatar
  • 593
13 votes
9 answers
50k views

In Revelation 6:6 what is meant by "Do not damage the oil and the wine”?

Revelation 6:5-6 (NASB) 5" When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand....
Ozzie  Ozzie's user avatar
  • 13.7k
14 votes
4 answers
52k views

Meaning behind Job's three daughters' names? Job 42:14

And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. (Job 42:14) These are his three new daughters after God restored ...
Joshua's user avatar
  • 2,972
9 votes
7 answers
64k views

What is the meaning of 2 Peter 3:8 (1000 years as 1 day)?

In 2 Peter 3:8 (King James Version) is written: But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. What is the ...
Liam's user avatar
  • 229
12 votes
1 answer
51k views

How did Solomon manage to sacrifice 144000 animals?

When Solomon dedicated the temple, he sacrificed 22000 cattle and 120000 sheep. How was this done over 7 days? 1 Kings 8:63 Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the LORD: twenty-...
user avatar
12 votes
13 answers
59k views

Did Abraham leave Haran before or after his father died?

Genesis 11:31-12-1 appears to indicate that Abram left Haran after his father Terah had died. (The author of the New Testament book of Acts certainly saw it that way.) Terah took his son Abram and ...
Bruce Alderman's user avatar
51 votes
10 answers
67k views

In Judges 11:39-40 did Jephthah actually sacrifice his daughter?

It's clear that what Jephthah intended was to sacrifice the first animal that he met when he returned home: Then the spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah. He marched through Gilead and Manasseh, ...
Jon 'links in bio' Ericson's user avatar
16 votes
7 answers
53k views

Reconciling the accounts of the calling of Simon Peter

How do you reconcile the two accounts of Jesus calling Peter? (Matt 4:18-19 and John 1:35-42) In the Matthew passage, Peter and Andrew are together fishing. In the John passage, Andrew was with John ...
epotter's user avatar
  • 263
11 votes
6 answers
40k views

Interpretation of the dead ones in 1 Peter 4:6?

1st Peter 4:6: For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit (KJV) Who ...
brilliant's user avatar
  • 4,938
6 votes
7 answers
67k views

Why did God Take Zachariah's Voice?

In Luke 1, Gabriel tells the aged priest Zachariah that he’s going to have a son. But Zachariah wants proof. 18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my ...
Matthew Miller's user avatar
14 votes
6 answers
71k views

Why does Paul get annoyed with the slave girl in Acts 16?

The story in Acts 16 of the demon-possessed slave girl is a curious story to me for many reasons. If it's better to break up my questions into several, I can do so; but for now I'd like to keep them ...
Soldarnal's user avatar
  • 36.4k
6 votes
3 answers
43k views

What and where is the Kerith ravine?

I Kings 17:2-4 (NIV) Reads: Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ...
Eli Rosencruft's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
46k views

What does the Gesture of "uncovering feet" and "laying to Boas feet" mean?

In Ruth 3,4 it is written: When he gets ready to go to sleep, take careful notice of the place where he lies down. Then go, uncover his legs, and lie down beside him. He will tell you what you should ...
telion's user avatar
  • 150
8 votes
7 answers
40k views

What is the story behind mourning for Hadad-rimmon in Zechariah 12:11?

Zechariah, like Revelation which draws on it, is a tough nut to crack but very rich. In the twelfth chapter, the prophet records the word of Yahweh that The sorrow and mourning in Jerusalem on that ...
Kazark's user avatar
  • 10.3k
8 votes
6 answers
40k views

In John 19:28-29, why did Jesus say "I'm thirsty"?

In John 19:28-29, Jesus would say that he thirsts, and they end up giving him some type of wine on a sponge: After this Jesus, realizing that by this time everything was completed, said (in order ...
misosouper's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
44k views

Paul, apostle to the Gentiles, Peter, to the Jews... But Peter brought the gospel to the Gentiles?

Why does Paul say the following when Acts 10 shows Peter bringing the gospel to the Gentiles? ... the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was ...
user avatar
11 votes
7 answers
53k views

Is the translation "rib" for the Hebrew צֵלָע (*tsela*) in Genesis 2:22 justified?

Why is it that Biblical translators choose to translate the Hebrew word צֵלָע (tsela) as "rib" when referring to the formation of Eve from Adam in Genesis 2:22? Never is this word translated as rib ...
sonofnoman's user avatar
17 votes
3 answers
74k views

Why did the tabernacle use the colors blue, purple and scarlet?

I see a lot of blue in the tabernacle, and when moving it. For example: Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather, spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.&...
Mike's user avatar
  • 12.4k