Questions tagged [history]
Events in the Bible, the wider cultural background of those events, and the biblical text itself, all have a historical dimension.
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Looks or keeps looking at a woman: Matthew 5:28
ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΝ 5:27-28 1881 (WHNU)
28 εγω δε λεγω υμιν οτι πας ο βλεπων γυναικα προς το επιθυμησαι
[αυτην] ηδη εμοιχευσεν αυτην εν τη καρδια αυτου
English translations usually render the verse ...
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How were scrolls sealed in the time of Revelation?
In Revelation 5:1, John introduces a scroll with seven seals:
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.
The Lamb is ...
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History: In Hebrews 12:23 what does it mean that the firstborn (plural) are “enrolled”?
[Heb 12:23 ESV] (23) and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
[Heb 12:23 MGNT] (23) καὶ ...
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In ancient Rome who were the many “lords” (KURIOI)?
Some think that calling Jesus "one KURIOS" in verse 6 that he is referring to the Tetragrammaton (IE: "YHVH"). However, he seems to be saying that the Romans considered many to be KURIOI, so it seems ...
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History: Might Herod Agrippa have prosecuted Christians as being an illegal religion?
From what I understand Roman law had two very significant statutes regarding religion:
a law requiring that the Roman deities be acknowledged by a periodic sacrifice
a law permitting Judaism to ...
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202 views
History: Per Leviticus 19:27 would the apostles have had side locks? [closed]
[Lev 19:27 ESV] (27) You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.
Note:
Related article from Jewish Encylopedia.
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What was Gideon's relationship to the Ishmaelites in Judges 8:24?
I want to know how Gideon was associated with the Ishmaelites in Judges 8:24. I have researched this and what the majority of the web sites talked about was the gold earrings Gideon asked the ...
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Where does the second part of the proverb 2 Peter 2:22 come from?
"But it happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." 2 Peter 2:22 (KJV)
The part about the ...
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What are God's voice, charge, commandments, statutes & laws that Abraham kept?
What are God's voice, charge, commandments, statutes & laws that Abraham obeyed & kept
Genesis 26:4-6 and I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of
heaven, and will give unto thy ...
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2answers
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Why did the Israelites lose the battles to the Benjamites after receiving the green light from God?
In Judges 20:18,23. The men of Israel enquired and sought counsel from the Lord to fight with the Benjamites because of their wickedness towards the concubine of the Levite(Judges 19:25-26,20:4). The ...
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Verse Division in 1 Peter 3:15-16 / μετά πραΰτητος καί φόβου in
In 1 Peter 3, the Greek phrase μετά πραΰτητος καί φόβου appears in verse 15 in the Textus Receptus (https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1pe/3/15/t_conc_1154015), but in verse 16 in the GNT (https://...
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In 1 Kings 11:43 and 1 Kings 12:1 why was Rehoboam the only one listed as a son of Solomon?
What happened to all of king Solomon’s sons?
Solomon had many wives and concubines:
[1Ki 11:3 ESV] (3) He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his ...
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How ought we to understand Zeresh's response in Esther 5:14?
Esther 5 describes how Haman was incensed by Mordechai’s arrogance and couldn’t tolerate his existence anymore. V. 10 describes how Haman convened with his cronies to plot and devise a plan how to ...
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99 views
Were Samson and Samuel as great as John the Baptist? [closed]
The Bible mentions about three people who were dedicated by their mothers to be nazirites already from birth. These people were Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist. Jesus said:
Mat 11:11 (NIV) "...
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Were Roman Soldiers allowed to Marry? The Word παῖς in Matthew 8:5 implies that Roman Centurion had offspring [closed]
Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10 mentions a story of Centurion whose servant was healed by Jesus. Matthew in 8:5 uses the word pais which may mean son. However, Luke 7:2 uses the word dulos specifying ...
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How did authorities know that Paul was really a Roman citizen?
A previous answer to a different question ventured into the territory of my question here, quoting from The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (which in turn, cited from some commentaries) that ...
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What does the sentence “their grapes are filled with poison” in Deu 32:32,33 (NIV) mean?
Sodom is known for having been more decadent than Israel. And judging on the below Bible verses, their decadence seem to have had something to do with their drinking culture. Was their grapes ...
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63 views
Boat's speed in Jesus days
In Mark's gospel we read about Jesus and his disciples moving in a boat from Capernaum to Dekapolis, to a place in the other side of the Sea of Galilee about 20 kilometers away south. They set out in ...
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Use of leap years in the bible
As we can clearly see, the bible relates to a month as a 30 days period: 150 days of the flood which are five month (genesis 7,8), the feast of Ahasuerus of 180 days that are 6 months and so on. We ...
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Why was Ishbosheth absent from the battle that killed Saul and his brothers?
1 Samuel 31:6 states that all of Saul's men died:
So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.
So Ishbosheth surviving them would suggest he wasn't ...
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2answers
130 views
Why are there only four kings of Persia in Daniel 11:2? [closed]
Daniel 11:2,
Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia,
and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he
has gained power by his wealth, he ...
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2answers
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In 1st Samuel 17:55 how is it that Saul and Abner did not know who David was?
In 1st Samuel 16:13 Samuel anointed David with oil. There is no indication that he said anything upon doing that. Did anyone but Samuel even know it was a Kingly anointing? Why didn't Samuel give ...
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Did The Amalekites survive?
There seems to be a contradiction is scriptures. 1 Samuel 15:15 says:
And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the
people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to ...
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23 views
Is it possible that the soldiers near Pontius Pilate were less in number than the people in the crowd at Jesus' trial?
Matthew 27:24 KJV — When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but
that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands
before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood ...
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2answers
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Could Moses's instructions have indirectly lead to the bad report of the ten spies in Numbers 13:17-20?
Numbers 13:17-20 NASB
17 When Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, he said to them, “Go up [b]there into the [c]Negev; then go up into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like, and ...
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In Acts 26:1 why does Paul stretch out his hand before beginning his defense?
In a courtroom setting and facing serious charges before King
Agrippa II Paul is permitted by the king to make his defense. Luke says "Paul stretched out his hand" and began his defense:
[Act 26:1-...
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3answers
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Why was Jesus' message so attractive?
I'm just a beginner in studying origins of Christianity.
I know Jesus emerged in a Jewish state where people already believed in a monotheistic religion and one God. So my question is: What was the ...
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In Leviticus 15:8 why are husband and wife unclean temporarily after emission of semen?
We see in Leviticus 15:18 where the man and woman are unclean until evening after a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen. Why does this make them unclean?
[Lev 15:8 KJV] 8 And ...
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Who are the “tortured and refused their release…world was not worthy of them” people in Hebrews 11:35?
Hebrews 11
Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might
gain a better resurrection.
Still others endured mocking and
flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
They were ...
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35 views
In Mark 14:43 what were the staves the mob was carrying?
[Mark 14:43 KJV] 43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
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Did the event spoken of in Jude 9 literally happen? [duplicate]
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. — Jude 9
This event ...
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In the First Jewish-Roman War (The Great Revolt of 66-73AD, aka “the Great Tribulation”) what percentage of Jews died?
According to Josephus, 1.1 million non-combatants died in Jerusalem and 100,000 in Galilee. He also tells us that 97,000 were enslaved.
Matthew White estimates the combined death toll[...
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In 2 Samuel 21:8-10 was Rizpah’s use of the sackcloth a sign that the land had repented of its sin?
[KJV]2 Samuel 21:
8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she ...
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Why are there 12 tribes of Israel and not 13?
Why are we are told that there are 12 tribes of Israel when there are, in fact, 13 tribes!
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh?
...
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Job 9:13 and the word “Rahab?”
I’ve seen plenty of dispute over the meaning of the word “Rahab” in Job 9:13. (not Rahab the prostitute)
It can mean “haughty,” but it also can mean “sea monster” (like the word “Leviathan” in Job 3:...
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Why did Belshazzar, King of Babylon name Daniel as the third ruler of his kingdom?
In Daniel 5:7, Belshazzar promised that whosoever read and interpreted the handwriting on the wall would be made the third ruler of his kingdom. This promise was fulfilled in verse 29 when Daniel was ...
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In Luke 5:33-35 does Jesus imply that the Twelve are not part of the bride of the Lamb?
Update
I have been researching this and it appears that the whole matter hangs on the definition of "the sons of the bridechamber" which is not obvious to me:
KJV Luke 5:34 And he said unto them, ...
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In Exodus 32:6, what was the nature of the pagan revelry of the Israelites?
What sort of "revelry" did they indulge in while Moses was up on the mountain getting the 10 Commandments? (Exodus 32:6)
And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought ...
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The Mark of the Beast [closed]
I have been wondering if the Mark of the Beast has already happened. From Revelation:
“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave,
to receive a mark on their right hand or ...
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In Isaiah 59:21 are the descendants of the apostles (even today) likewise infallible?
KJV Isaiah 59:
(20) And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
(21) As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My ...
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What did Jesus mean when he said, “…go with him twain” (IE: “go the second mile”) in Matthew 5:41?
From Wikipedia:
Matthew 5:41 is the forty-first verse of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This is the third verse of the ...
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In Jeremiah 9:26 why are the Judaeans among the nations who cut the corners of their beards?
For some reason the LORD held great contempt for those who cut off their sideburns and plans them harm. In the list of the nations with whom he is angry about this is Judah:
NET Bible Jeremiah 9:
...
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In Judges 8:18 what suggested royalty to Zebah and Zalmunna?
KJV Judges 8:18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.
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Is there a list of books where Jesus was witnessed not reflected in The Bible? [closed]
What other religious books or writings contain Jesus not found in the Bible? I understand there maybe many answers so maybe there is a list somewhere of writing documenting Jesus activities?
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In 2 Thessalonians 1:8 what does Paul mean by “obey the gospel”? [closed]
Does Anyone Know How to "Obey the Gospel?"
Paul and Peter use a phrase, "obey the gospel".
I'm looking for "how to obey the gospel or good-news" because I believe the gospel or good news is the ...
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Acts 1 & 2 were more than the Apostles baptized in the Holy Spirit?
All the personal pronouns appear to refer to the apostles, so were they the only ones baptized in the Holy Spirit? Note Acts 1:26 and Acts 2:1.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/...
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Does the Didache dictate that the “Lord's Supper” was to involve a real meal?
A commentary I came across said that the Didache indicated that its audience would have a meal in conjunction with the "Eucharist" but when I looked for the reference it seems it is ambiguous (of ...
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Did God take the Samaritans out of Egypt (2 Kings 17:36)?
The origin of the Samaritans, as described in the book of Kings, is a group of people brought from Mesopotamia to Samaria by the Assyrians:
The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, ...
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In Ephesians 2:2 is Paul speaking of “the course” of the world or “Aeon of the world”?
NIV Eph 2:2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
MGNT 2:2 ἐν ...
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In Mark 14:3 would breaking the box be normal?
Before pouring the expensive oil out onto Jesus' head she broke the box/flask:
BLB Mark 14:3 And of Him being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, of Him having reclined, a woman came having ...
