Search — Theology Explorer

Marriage in God’s Eyes: What does it take for someone to be considered married in the eyes of God? A ceremony? A presiding religious leader? Religious words spoken? Having a legal certificate? Intimate acts?

Q&A question: Marriage in God’s Eyes

marriage

revelation Luke 16 Revelation 20 revelation Luke 16 Revelation 20

Are We Judged Twice?: Are we judged twice? Luke 16: 19-23 and Revelation 20: 11-13 suggest so.

Q&A question: Are We Judged Twice?

Can WE Bless GOD?: Popular worship song lyrics say things like "I bless You" (as in we humans can bless God) and "You are enough, so I am enough." Is this biblical? Does Christ's righteousness imparted onto us also make us "enough"?

Q&A question: Can WE Bless GOD?

worship

Voting for the “Lesser of 2 Evils”?: Is it biblical to vote for “the lesser of two evils”? Could you point to something in Scripture to help us understand why or why not?

Q&A question: Voting for the “Lesser of 2 Evils”?

The Chosen’s New Book: Did The Chosen make their own Gospel?

Q&A question: The Chosen’s New Book

Isaiah Galatians 6 Isaiah Galatians 6

Our Attitude when God Works Through Us: Is it sinful for a Christian to be pleased when God enables them to do a good work (Isaiah 64:6, Galatians 6:4)?

Q&A question: Our Attitude when God Works Through Us

Isaiah Isaiah 45 Isaiah Isaiah 45

Is YHWH Biased?: How do we know YHWH isn't just BIASED with His Word (as one would be in any form of competition), when God says "There is no other, beside Me there is no God" in Isaiah 45:5 or "I know not any" in Isaiah 44:8?

Q&A question: Is YHWH Biased?

1 Corinthians 15 1 Corinthians 15

Did Christ Become the HS?: Does 1 Corinthians 15: 45 mean that Christ became the Holy Spirit? I was taught this growing up, but it seems like Modalism to me now. I can’t break from this reading of the verse since I left that group.

Q&A question: Did Christ Become the HS?

How to Love Your Neighbor As Yourself: What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? Do I put their needs equal to mine, or above mine?

Q&A question: How to Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

1 Peter 2:5 Peter 1 Peter 2:5

Are Believers “Priests”?: What are the implications of believers being called to be "A Holy Priesthood" (1 Peter 2:5)? Does this mean we need to view ourselves as priests?

Q&A question: Are Believers “Priests”?

Typology = Eisegesis?: Is it eisegesis to interpret the Old Testament as depicting Jesus? I commonly hear this objection from Jews who say Christians are "inserting their theology into our book."

Q&A question: Typology = Eisegesis?

Jesus

1 Corinthians 14 Matthew Matthew 6 1 Corinthians 14 tongues Matthew

Tongues = Vain Repetition?: Would it be fair to consider the way some churches use tongues in opposition to 1 Corinthians 14 as a form of "vain repetition" (Matthew 6:5-8)?

Q&A question: Tongues = Vain Repetition?

How to Know if We Should Marry Someone: What are some biblical ways to help you decide if you should marry someone?

Q&A question: How to Know if We Should Marry Someone

Matthew 10 Matthew Matthew 10 Matthew angels

Why Evangelize?: Why should we evangelize, other than because God tells us to? If it would be God's will for someone to hear about Him, wouldn't God's will happen anyway? And based on Matthew 10: 14-15, wouldn’t they be worse off?

Q&A question: Why Evangelize?

What Did the Pope Say?: Have some of the things Pope Francis has recently said been heretical?

Q&A question: What Did the Pope Say?

heresy Pope Francis

John 9 John 5 John 9 John 5

Does Sin Cause Illness?: Does sinning cause physical illness? Does refraining from sinning stop it? John 9:3 and John 5: 14 seem to say both are true. Is this a contradiction?

Q&A question: Does Sin Cause Illness?

Matthew Matthew 7 Matthew Matthew 7

Casting Pearls before Swine: In what ways or in what situations might Matthew 7:6 be applicable today?

Q&A question: Casting Pearls before Swine

Was David Conceived in Adultery?: In Psalm 51:5, David says that in sin his mother conceived him. Is he saying that he has been in sin since his conception, or that his mother was in sin when she conceived him? Was David born in adultery?

Q&A question: Was David Conceived in Adultery?

Psalm 51 David Psalm 51

Is Calvinism Heresy?: Why isn’t Calvinism more strongly condemned among non-Calvinists? The doctrine essentially teaches that God will punish people for something completely out of their control, which makes God seem unjust.

Q&A question: Is Calvinism Heresy?

Calvinism heresy

Is God Prideful?: Is God prideful? If our purpose in life is to glorify God, does that mean we were created only to praise Him? I know He is worthy of praise, but was He seeking praise by creating us?

Q&A question: Is God Prideful?

Bible Typography: How important is Bible typography? For example, the way the KJV arranges paragraphs makes context harder to understand than in the ESV.

Q&A question: Bible Typography

hermeneutics

Standing With Israel?: With all of the tensions and things going on over in Israel, how should we be responding to those we’re surrounded by who hate Israel? They don’t seem to understand why we stand with Israel.

Q&A question: Standing With Israel?

Israel

Matthew 16 Matthew John 21 Peter Roman Catholicism Jesus

Was Simon Always “Peter”?: Catholics always say Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter. However, previous verses (Matthew 16: 16, John 21: 15, Matthew 4: 18, and Luke 5:8) refer to him as Simon Peter. Jesus says, “You are Peter…” not “From now on, you are Peter.” Was Simon always known as Peter?

Q&A question: Was Simon Always “Peter”?

Genesis 2 Genesis Genesis 2 Genesis

Adam – “Leave & Cleave”?: How do you interpret Genesis 2: 24? How could Adam come with such a statement, since he had no earthly mother or father?

Q&A question: Adam – “Leave & Cleave”?

Are Atheists Gullible?: Why do I say that atheists tend to be gullible?

Q&A question: Are Atheists Gullible?

atheism

Rapture: Do We Have a Choice?: Assuming a rapture, are we irresistibly taken, or is it a choice to leave with Him? I ask irrespective of Calvinistic irresistible grace. Luke 17: 31-36 seems to indicate both.

Q&A question: Rapture: Do We Have a Choice?

rapture Calvinism

The Multiple Beings of Polytheistic Religions: If God is one being and three persons (one “WHAT” and three “WHOs,” what would two beings of gods look like in false religions? How would those beings be differentiated in a way that the Trinity is not?

Q&A question: The Multiple Beings of Polytheistic Religions

Trinity

About Natural Selection: Regarding natural selection, I recently had a class on that topic in college and was a bit confused on how we, as Christians, should approach that topic with others.

Q&A question: About Natural Selection

No Persecution = No Godliness?: 2 Tim 3: 12 says, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” I’m not being persecuted. Does this mean I’m not living a godly life?

Q&A question: No Persecution = No Godliness?

Jesus

Daniel Daniel 4 Nebuchadnezzar Daniel Daniel 4

King Nebuchadnezzar – Saved?: I was wondering your thoughts on King Nebuchadnezzar. Do you think he was saved, based on Daniel 4?

Q&A question: King Nebuchadnezzar – Saved?

Does Satan Always Need God’s Permission?: Does Satan have to come to God any time he messes with us? I have a friend using Job as proof that Satan needs permission to mess with us, too.

Q&A question: Does Satan Always Need God’s Permission?

Satan

Matthew Matthew 27 Jesus Elijah Matthew

Jesus Calling Out for Elijah?: On the cross, why did the Jewish people think Jesus was calling out for Elijah (Matthew 27: 47)?

Q&A question: Jesus Calling Out for Elijah?

Staying Encouraged in Today’s Culture: How do you stay encouraged in today’s culture? The culture is so discouraging. I sometimes feel like a failure because other Christians seem to “have it all together.” Also, how can we pray for you?

Q&A question: Staying Encouraged in Today’s Culture

How You Can Be Blameless: How do you become blameless before God (Philippians 2: 15-18)?

Q&A question: How You Can Be Blameless

Philip Philippi

Bonus Prayer Request.Please pray for my cousin’s 3 grandchildren. A car wreck on Friday has left one paralyzed and 2 in still in the ICU. One has had 7 surgeries so far. They are all under age 12.

Q&A question

prayer

Genesis & Polygamy: Does the book of Genesis support polygamy?

Q&A question: Genesis & Polygamy

Genesis Genesis

1 Corinthians 3 1 Corinthians 3

Christ is “God’s”?: In 1 Corinthians 3: 23, what does it mean that Christ is “God’s”?

Q&A question: Christ is “God’s”?

When God Protects 1 Person but Not Another: How do we respond if God spares us from harm but not others (e.g., during the recent hurricanes)? I know we should trust His will and use our resources to serve, but it is still a complex topic.

Q&A question: When God Protects 1 Person but Not Another

Stay Focused on Christ!: How do I keep my mind on Jesus all day? I often get so distracted and conform to the ways of people around me. This is the thing I struggle with the most. I’d love your advice!

Q&A question: Stay Focused on Christ!

Jesus

revelation John 12 Revelation 20 eschatology revelation John 12

Eschatological Connections: Do Dispensational Premillennials see a connection between John 12: 31 and Revelation 20:1-3?

Q&A question: Eschatological Connections

God’s Creation of Those Who Would Fall: If God is all-knowing and foresaw the suffering that would result from the fall of Satan, Adam, and Eve, affecting billions, why would He create them, knowing the pain that would follow?

Q&A question: God’s Creation of Those Who Would Fall

Satan creation suffering

Thoughts on The Bible Project: What are your thoughts on The Bible Project?

Q&A question: Thoughts on The Bible Project

Our Motive for Good Deeds: Is it good to do good deeds purely to get heavenly rewards, since you have such great faith in the reward? Or is it bad because your motives are selfish/reward-centered and not centered around love for others?

Q&A question: Our Motive for Good Deeds

heaven

Being a Stay At Home Mom: How do you find meaning in being a stay at home mom and not pursuing a career at the moment?

Q&A question: Being a Stay At Home Mom

Advice for a New Youth Pastor: I just started into youth ministry. Jesus saved me in college; I never had a youth minister, and the position didn’t come with a manual. Any resources, recommendations, wisdom, etc.?

Q&A question: Advice for a New Youth Pastor

Jesus pastoral ministry

Ethical & Happy Non-Christians?: Can unsaved people “do good works”? Why do unsaved people often appear to be happy and live seemingly ethical lives?

Q&A question: Ethical & Happy Non-Christians?

Calling Out False Teachers: Who is supposed to call out false teachings and false teachers? How should it be done? I'm struggling to find Scripture.

Q&A question: Calling Out False Teachers

The Destruction of Jerusalem: Do you believe that in Luke 21: 20 Jesus is talking about the destruction of Jerusalem for today's time?

Q&A question: The Destruction of Jerusalem

Luke 21 Jesus Luke 21

How to Pray for our Enemies: How can we pray for our enemies biblically? Especially those actively trying to kill those you love.

Q&A question: How to Pray for our Enemies