Search — Theology Explorer

Was Simon Magus Repentant?: In Acts 8:9, Do you think Simon Magus was aware that he wasn’t right with God before Peter rebuked him? Some commentaries assume that he was never truly repentant, but some say he was genuine.

Q&A question: Was Simon Magus Repentant?

Acts 8 Peter Acts 8

Does God Control our Free Will?: In Proverbs 21:1 it says, "The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord. Like the rivers of water He turns it wherever He wishes." Does that mean God controls the king's free will?

Q&A question: Does God Control our Free Will?

free will

How was Solomon Wise since he Turned Away?: How was Solomon considered to be the wisest man on Earth and yet he, too, turns away from God in his old age? He also doesn't seem to recognize his sinful ways. He doesn't even ask God to relent.

Q&A question: How was Solomon Wise since he Turned Away?

Solomon

Can a True Christian Deny Jesus’ Deity?: If a person believes in the Gospel, that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead, but they don't believe that Jesus was God (just a "higher spiritual being"), are they a Christian?

Q&A question: Can a True Christian Deny Jesus’ Deity?

Obeying vs. Honoring Parents: I am a legal adult and I currently still live in my parents’ home. I am looking at moving out in the near future, but my parents believe that young women shouldn’t leave the home until they’re married. Where do you draw the line between personal convictions and the command to honor your parents?

Q&A question: Obeying vs. Honoring Parents

Genesis revelation Moses Genesis revelation

Can we Trust what Moses Wrote?: Besides simply “the Bible says so” and biblical figures certifying them, how do we trust revelations that what Moses wrote of others’ lives and/or words (all of Genesis) are things those people actually said/happened?

Q&A question: Can we Trust what Moses Wrote?

Should I Get Re-Baptized?: If I was baptized as a teen and "messed up" a bunch, even not going to church as I should, should I get re-baptized after "coming to my senses" and trying to live for God again?

Q&A question: Should I Get Re-Baptized?

baptism

Responding to Others about Divorce: How do you handle Christians who don’t believe that your divorce was biblical? He was a narcissist/sociopath who convinced them before he died that I was the problem, and my children won’t speak to me.

Q&A question: Responding to Others about Divorce

divorce

Bearing with One Another’s Conscience: The Bible says to bear with brethren of weaker faith. If instrumental music is a liberty, shouldn’t we bear with those who believe a cappella is the right way and not use instruments?

Q&A question: Bearing with One Another’s Conscience

faith and science

Is it Sometimes Biblical to Pray for Death?: Is there ever a biblical case to pray for someone to die? Didn't Paul pray for the destruction of some peoples’ flesh for the spirit to be saved in the day of judgment?

Q&A question: Is it Sometimes Biblical to Pray for Death?

death and afterlife

True Believer but No Life Change?: Is it possible to believe in Jesus yet never have a change of life? My father has cheated and lived with his mistress. he said he believed in Jesus, yet he never came back home to live with his family.

Q&A question: True Believer but No Life Change?

Comments on Reincarnation/Simpsons’ Prophecies?: Do you have any suggestions to help a believer of reincarnation? Ex: Ryan Hammons has 55 verified statements about having a past life. Also, Bible prophecies mean nothing since The Simpsons have predicted the future many times.

Q&A question: Comments on Reincarnation/Simpsons’ Prophecies?

prophecy

Was I Really Saved in the Past?: Was I ever really saved and had a relationship with Christ if I left heterosexuality and embraced my same sex attraction and married my wife?

Q&A question: Was I Really Saved in the Past?

marriage

Do we “Just Believe” to be Saved?: To be saved, all we need to do is believe? Like how I believed that Santa was real when I was younger? Or is there more to this belief?

Q&A question: Do we “Just Believe” to be Saved?

Is a Belief in God an Attempt to Personalize the Impersonal?: An atheist claims: “Belief in God is what happens when social brains try to explain an impersonal universe. Personal explanations for impersonal events fail to deal with logic of uncertainty.” Any help?

Q&A question: Is a Belief in God an Attempt to Personalize the Impersonal?

atheism

Matthew Jesus miracles Matthew

Why Didn’t God Show Sodom Miracles?: In Matthew 11: 23-24, Jesus says that Sodom would have been saved if they had seen His miracles. Why, then, didn’t God perform miracles so that they would believe? Doesn’t He want everyone to be saved?

Q&A question: Why Didn’t God Show Sodom Miracles?

Can God Give Commands when He Forced us to Exist?: Is it fair for God to demand our everything when we are forced to exist? I know Christ died for us, but it seems unfair to go through such suffering and sacrifice to receive salvation and avoid Hell.

Q&A question: Can God Give Commands when He Forced us to Exist?

salvation suffering hell

Is Evangelism Harmful?: If a conscientious person who never heard the Gospel can still be saved, but a skeptic of the Gospel is damned, doesn't evangelism damn more people than it saves? Wouldn't humanism be our best bet?

Q&A question: Is Evangelism Harmful?

angels

Thoughts about IVF: What are your thoughts about IVF? I’ve been battling infertility for a few years, but I’m concerned about whether IVF is biblically acceptable, especially about discarding the extra embryos. Is it equal to abortion to discard the embryos even if we can't guarantee they will grow if planted in the womb?

Q&A question: Thoughts about IVF

abortion

The Trinity: Can We Ever be 100% Certain?: I've been fighting doubts and "what ifs" about the Trinity lately, and though I'm confident in the answers I've gotten, I fear I'll never be certain about it again. Any advice?

Q&A question: The Trinity: Can We Ever be 100% Certain?

Trinity

Does God Only Speak through Scripture?: Does God still speak to us? I have heard it said that if you want to hear God speak, read your Bible; and if you want to hear Him speak audibly, read the Bible out loud. I believe God does still speak, but I’m conflicted.

Q&A question: Does God Only Speak through Scripture?

Isaiah Matthew Isaiah Jesus prophecy

About Prophecy in Matthew’s Gospel: A Muslim asked: “Why did the Gospel of Matthew ascribe the prophecy in Isaiah 7 to Jesus, when that prophecy described events which didn’t happen within centuries in Jesus’ lifetime?”

Q&A question: About Prophecy in Matthew’s Gospel

Is it Helpful to Offer “Thoughts & Prayers”?: Following a tragedy, people will often say, “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are affected,” which is often followed by angry or mocking non-believer comments such as, “Your prayers clearly aren’t working. Do something that will actually help like changing the laws.” What are some proper, biblical ways to respond to that sort of position?

Q&A question: Is it Helpful to Offer “Thoughts & Prayers”?

prayer

tithing pastoral ministry

Can Legalism be Spiritually Abusive?: Our pastor and denomination as a whole requires that any women serving (even volunteers) must only wear skirts, and that only the KJV is God's Word (every other version is a "perversion") and requires tithing. Are these things spiritual abuse?

Q&A question: Can Legalism be Spiritually Abusive?

Genesis Genesis Adam and Eve

Did Adam & Eve’s Offspring Commit Incest?: Does Genesis lead us to believe that if every person came from Adam, then there was incest between Adam and Eve's offspring to create mankind?

Q&A question: Did Adam & Eve’s Offspring Commit Incest?

Can we Only Have Belief through the Spirit?: “Only by the Spirit can one believe” … Can this be considered gaslighting unbelievers and a way of compensating for a lack of enough evidence? Please help my pain, I'm struggling.

Q&A question: Can we Only Have Belief through the Spirit?

evangelism apologetics

Why does Satan Tempt Believers?: Why does the devil bother to tempt people to sin if they are already saved? What's the gain for him?

Q&A question: Why does Satan Tempt Believers?

Satan

second coming rapture tribulation

Rapture vs. Second Coming?: Do you think the rapture and the second coming could be different events? I have heard some Christians suggest this, explaining how the rapture will come before the tribulation.

Q&A question: Rapture vs. Second Coming?

Does Infant Salvation Conflict w/Original Sin?: How can we believe in the doctrine of Original Sin and also believe that if a child dies they go to Heaven? Inheriting Original Sin from Adam makes every child that dies unredeemed.

Q&A question: Does Infant Salvation Conflict w/Original Sin?

salvation

Can We “Cast Lots” to Determine God’s Will?: Can you explain “casting lots”? Since God never explicitly tells us that we can do this to determine His will, would it be unbiblical for us to do so?

Q&A question: Can We “Cast Lots” to Determine God’s Will?

1 Corinthians 6 1 Corinthians 6

Can Christians ever Sue Christians?: Does 1 Corinthians 6 prohibit believers from ever taking other believers to court? Is there ever an appropriate time to take a brother “before unbelievers”?

Q&A question: Can Christians ever Sue Christians?

Anxiety about Hell: I've become anxious about the thought of eternal torment in Hell. If that's the punishment for our sins, wouldn't it have been best for unbelievers never to be born?

Q&A question: Anxiety about Hell

hell

Breaking the Sin Cycle of Lust: I’m a 15 year old that has struggled with lust for such a long time, and I honestly don’t know what to do anymore. It feels like I will never get out of this constant sin cycle. Could you please help me?

Q&A question: Breaking the Sin Cycle of Lust

sexual ethics

revelation Daniel Jesus revelation Daniel

The Descriptions of Jesus in Scripture: After reading Daniel 10 and Revelation 1, I was wondering what the connection is between the descriptions of the visions. The description of Jesus in Revelation is so similar to the description given in Daniel 10.

Q&A question: The Descriptions of Jesus in Scripture

Why Don’t the Jews Believe?: What is your understanding as to why the Jews don’t believe in Jesus and are waiting on someone else to come?

Q&A question: Why Don’t the Jews Believe?

About Receiving the Spirit: If we are to believe that you receive the Holy Spirit when you believe, why does there seem to be a separation from believing and receiving in Acts 19:1-2?

Q&A question: About Receiving the Spirit

Acts 19 Acts 19

Are Cards Inherently Sinful?: Are playing cards wrong? My parents think they are wrong even if I’m not playing Poker or anything like that. They think that there is some kind of evil in the card itself.

Q&A question: Are Cards Inherently Sinful?

salvation Mormonism heresy

Saved while Believing Heresy?: Can someone be saved without affirming certain correct propositions? If someone holds a believe that is heretical (to believe it would prevent salvation) but they are ignorant, are they saved?

Q&A question: Saved while Believing Heresy?

People we Shouldn’t Pray For?: My father believes that there are people we do not (or should not) pray for. He backs it up with John 17:9, saying that it may even be a sin to pray for people we shouldn’t pray for. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Q&A question: People we Shouldn’t Pray For?

Spiritual vs. Political Progressivism: Isn't Progressive Christianity simply the outcome of forcing progressive/leftist ideology onto Christianity? Should we even make the distinction between politically & religiously progressive beliefs?

Q&A question: Spiritual vs. Political Progressivism

progressive Christianity

Witnessing to a Dying Loved One: My grandpa is dying, and doesn't have long. He has dementia/Alzheimer’s now and has never been a Christian. Is it too late to share the Gospel with him? If not, how do I do it effectively?

Q&A question: Witnessing to a Dying Loved One

evangelism

Navigating Marital Struggles: What should a Christian wife do if her husband doesn't want to work on their marriage, expects her to do almost everything when it comes to responsibilities, and doesn't provide enough for her needs?

Q&A question: Navigating Marital Struggles

marriage

Ideas for What to Pray About: I have issues praying every day because I feel like I don’t have anything to pray about. What would you suggest, to help with this?

Q&A question: Ideas for What to Pray About

Guiding a Wayward Teen: How do I respond to my 17 year old daughter who is persistent in being with her boyfriend who is an unbeliever and has fallen into sexual immorality?

Q&A question: Guiding a Wayward Teen

Persis

Was Jesus ever Naughty as a Child?: Maybe a bit of a silly question, but do you think Jesus was an average naughty child or was He perfect as a child, too?

Q&A question: Was Jesus ever Naughty as a Child?

Who is our “Neighbor”?: “Who, then, is my neighbor?” In Luke 10: 25-37, I know the Good Samaritan is me, but who does the "neighbor" he helped represent? I have never met a naked, beaten, and robbed Jew...I don't think.

Q&A question: Who is our “Neighbor”?

Luke 10 Luke 10

Discerning True vs. False Prophecies: How do you test WOF prophecy when it sounds more like insights/encouragements, not foretelling future events? What SHOULD modern prophecy sound like?

Q&A question: Discerning True vs. False Prophecies

prophecy

1 Timothy 3:2 1 Timothy 3 Timothy 1 Timothy 3:2 elder qualifications

Can Past Sins Disqualify a Man from Leadership?: If a man’s pre-salvation life is especially disgraceful, could he ever truly be “above reproach” (1 Timothy 3:2)? Could old sin, then, even if confessed, disqualify him from being a pastor or elder?

Q&A question: Can Past Sins Disqualify a Man from Leadership?