Search — Theology Explorer

Philippians 1 Philip Philippi Philippians 1

Paul & the Female Slave: Why was Paul annoyed with the possessed female slave in Acts 16: 16 when she was actually telling the truth? What about Philippians 1: 18?

Q&A question: Paul & the Female Slave

Philippians 1 Philip Philippi Philippians 1

Does God Grant Our Belief?: What does Philippians 1: 29 mean when it says that God "grants" us belief in Him? Is this deterministic?

Q&A question: Does God Grant Our Belief?

Anger at God’s Word?: Do you have any specific advice on how to deal with emotions while reading the Bible? Recently, I can’t even get through a few verses without feeling overwhelmed with anger or frustration!

Q&A question: Anger at God’s Word?

Exodus 21 marriage Exodus 21

Exodus: Conjugal Rights vs. Adultery?: Exodus 21: 10 says a man married to multiple women shouldn't deny them conjugal rights. Isn't each instance of intimacy in that situation adultery against one wife?

Q&A question: Exodus: Conjugal Rights vs. Adultery?

The Purpose of The Church: What is the biblical purpose of the church, and do you believe modern Christianity is fulfilling that purpose today?

Q&A question: The Purpose of The Church

Bonus: More commentary on question #6 above!

Q&A question

Genesis 2 Genesis Genesis 2 Genesis

Confession Time: What did Mike get wrong about Genesis 2, relating to the topic of polygamy?

Q&A question: Confession Time

Philippians 4 Philippians 4 Philip Philippi

All Things vs. All This Through Christ?: The NIV changed Philippians 4: 13 from I can do "all things" to "all this" which makes more sense to me in context. Do you think "all things" has been misused historically? Will other translations follow?

Q&A question: All Things vs. All This Through Christ?

Unforgivable Sin in The Didache?: and In the Didache, judging the spirits wrongly was included as the unforgivable sin. Could you explain why you think that is not the case?

Q&A question: Unforgivable Sin in The Didache?

unforgivable sin

Genesis Genesis 6 Genesis 6:3 Genesis Genesis 6 Genesis 6:3

Can We Live More than 120 yrs?: How come people live more than 120 years when God said we wouldn’t in Genesis 6:3?

Q&A question: Can We Live More than 120 yrs?

Spiritual Power?: How can I argue biblically against the idea that we gain personal power/status in the spiritual realm by being full of the Spirit, and how does this relate to abiding in Christ & James 5-16?

Q&A question: Spiritual Power?

James James

anxiety and mental health

Advice for Depression & Spiritual Dryness: When I was a teen, I had depression leading to a suicide attempt. Through God I'm still here, married, and have a family. I read/study the Bible and pray, but I feel lost and far from God. Advice?

Q&A question: Advice for Depression & Spiritual Dryness

The Doctrine of Impassability: Can you help me understand the doctrine of impassability a little bit better? It's confusing for me, and I'm not sure how to relate to the Lord and bring Him my pain, knowing this doctrine.

Q&A question: The Doctrine of Impassability

Balancing Ministry & Family: As a young youth pastor, I am struggling to balance my desire to fully invest time and energy into ministry, with also being married with 2 young boys (2 and 1). Can you give some good principles here?

Q&A question: Balancing Ministry & Family

If Trump Wins, Were the Prophets Right?: If Donald Trump gets elected this year, does that somehow validate any of the false prophets from 4 years ago who prophesied that he would have a second term?

Q&A question: If Trump Wins, Were the Prophets Right?

prophecy Donald Trump

A Biblical View of Immigration: What are some biblical thoughts surrounding the political issue of immigration?

Q&A question: A Biblical View of Immigration

Confessing Your Faith when Difficult: I'm a 30 y/o woman in SoCal, financially dependent on my Muslim parents. I've studied for years and I’m now feeling called to Christ. I fear being kicked out. Any advice on how to tell them I'm Christian?

Q&A question: Confessing Your Faith when Difficult

Islam

Eternal Begottenness?: Should we hold to eternal begottenness of the Son which seems to suggest that the Son was caused? It seems orthodox, but wrong to say of God.

Q&A question: Eternal Begottenness?

When Discipline turns to Drudgery: William Booth says, “We ought not consult feelings but do our duty.” How does that not then become drudgery? How do we be disciplined like Daniel, yet not mechanical?

Q&A question: When Discipline turns to Drudgery

Daniel Daniel

1 Corinthians 5 1 Corinthians 5

Hosting Sinners in our Homes: Is 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 only for corporate gatherings or also for private gatherings such as family meals, etc.? Should Christians host professing Christian family members who are living in unrepentant sin?

Q&A question: Hosting Sinners in our Homes

Overcoming Difficult Addictions: I’ve tried SO many times trying to quit vaping. I’m starting to feel like a bad Christian. Any advice?

Q&A question: Overcoming Difficult Addictions

addiction

Contemplative Prayer: I'm curious about contemplative and listening prayer practices promoted in my church. Are they rooted in or influenced by Eastern mysticism or New Age ideologies?

Q&A question: Contemplative Prayer

prayer

Why Didn’t God Forbid Polygamy?: If verses like Exodus 21: 10 aren't supporting polygamy but protecting women in a bad situation, why didn't God just outlaw polygamy outright? I agree with you, but don't know how to counter this argument.

Q&A question: Why Didn’t God Forbid Polygamy?

Exodus 21 Exodus 21

Obeying our Conscience: Is Romans 14: 23 about emotional doubt or intellectual doubt? For example, I'm mentally convinced that ham is OK to eat but I still doubt it emotionally. Which is my conscience to obey?

Q&A question: Obeying our Conscience

Romans 14 Romans 14

What is a Heart of Flesh?: What does giving us a heart of flesh mean, when flesh is usually negative?

Q&A question: What is a Heart of Flesh?

generosity

Can Fallen Leaders Be Restored?: Can fallen pastors who have engaged in egregious sin be restored back to ministry?

Q&A question: Can Fallen Leaders Be Restored?

Matthew Jesus Matthew healing

Jesus’ Ministry – Which Nature?: Do you believe Jesus did His ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing out of His divinity, or out of His humanity empowered by the Holy Spirit, in light of Matthew 3: 16-17, etc.? What about us?

Q&A question: Jesus’ Ministry – Which Nature?

Being Zealous for God’s Glory: In light of God's zeal for His own glory in all the Earth (see Ezekiel 36: 22-23; Psalm 46: 10; 2 Chronicles 6: 32-33), how can Christians be zealous for His glory among the nations, especially those who cannot go?

Q&A question: Being Zealous for God’s Glory

Ezekiel Ezekiel

“The River” = Heaven?: Is there a biblical basis for songs about “crossing the river” into Heaven, or is that just Greek mythology? Is the Jordan River a legitimate biblical metaphor for dying and going to the Promised Land/Heaven?

Q&A question: “The River” = Heaven?

heaven

Thinking Biblically about All Creation: Since all is God’s creation, will God hold us blameworthy for killing insects and other critters like cockroaches, mosquitoes, bees, spiders, mice, etc.?

Q&A question: Thinking Biblically about All Creation

creation

Matthew Romans 3 Matthew 7 Jesus Matthew Romans 3

Can the Unsaved Seek God?: Can people not yet saved seek after God? Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:7 to “…seek and knock and it will be opened,” but in Romans 3: 10 it says “There is no one who understands; There is no one who seeks God.”

Q&A question: Can the Unsaved Seek God?

Lazarus’ Resurrection – Missing?: I find the fact that the resurrection of Lazarus is missing from the Synoptics and the epistles to be unsettling. Do you have any insights on why such a massive claim is not in the earliest texts?

Q&A question: Lazarus’ Resurrection – Missing?

resurrection Lazarus

“By Faith” vs. “Through Faith”: What is the difference between “by faith” and “through faith” in Romans 3: 30?

Q&A question: “By Faith” vs. “Through Faith”

Romans 3 Romans 3

Investing in Rental Properties – Sin?: I would like to start investing in rental homes. Is this flat out a sin and should I be just giving my excess to the needy people, or is it OK to invest to earn more, and just give then?

Q&A question: Investing in Rental Properties – Sin?

generosity

Are My Dreams from God?: My pastor says you can tell if a dream is from God by whether or not it aligns with Gods Word, but also if it’s very bright, warm, and vivid. He says if you’re afraid in the dream, then it’s not from God. Is that true?

Q&A question: Are My Dreams from God?

A Child’s Stage of Accountability: My three-year-old passed away in a tragic accident. I’ve heard that infants are welcomed into God’s presence when they die, but what about a slightly older child? Is my daughter in Heaven?

Q&A question: A Child’s Stage of Accountability

heaven

Author Unknown = Still Inspired?: Can we be confident that a book of the Bible is truly inspired and belongs in the canon if the author is unknown (like Hebrews)? If we don’t know who wrote it, how can we trust what it contains? How can we know it wasn’t just the written version of a sermon? A pastor may be educated, but they aren’t inerrant.

Q&A question: Author Unknown = Still Inspired?

The Kingdom – “Suffered Violence”?: Can you help me to contextually understand Matthew 11: 12? Teachings I’ve heard have made no sense, and I have tried to understand it myself, but I’m not sure if I’m understanding what Jesus was saying here.

Q&A question: The Kingdom – “Suffered Violence”?

Matthew Jesus Matthew

Psalm 1 marriage Mormonism Psalm 1

50/50 Churches?: My LDS husband wants me and our kids to go to his ward & my church, split 50/50 every other week. Should I submit to him and do this, or should I get out completely from doing this? See 2 Kings 5: 17-19 and Psalm 1:1.

Q&A question: 50/50 Churches?

Grain Offering = More Holy?: In Leviticus 2:9-10, the part of the grain offering for the priests is "a most holy part." Why is the part that the priests eat more holy than the memorial portion that is burned on the altar?

Q&A question: Grain Offering = More Holy?

tithing

Avoiding Anger while Guiding Others: I see a lot of New Age-ish things (energy, manifesting, vibes) creeping into Christ followers’ lives around me. I’ve gotten blow-back trying to correct people in love. Do you have any advice about how to continue the conversation without angering them?

Q&A question: Avoiding Anger while Guiding Others

new age

revelation Malachi Elijah eschatology revelation

Malachi 4, Elijah & The End Times: Does the last verse of Malachi 4 suggest that Elijah will be one of the two witnesses in Revelation?

Q&A question: Malachi 4, Elijah & The End Times

Romans 6 Romans 6 homosexuality

Dying to Sexual Addictions: I’m only 18, but I’ve been addicted to pornography for 5 years now, which slowly turned homosexual over time. Can you please explain the past tense of “died” in Romans 6:2? Am I dead to sin, or do I die?

Q&A question: Dying to Sexual Addictions

Matthew 18 Matthew elder qualifications Matthew 18 Matthew

How to Biblically Confront an Elder: How should a church member confront an elder biblically? Is Matthew 18 still applicable, or is there another text that applies since they are an elder?

Q&A question: How to Biblically Confront an Elder

Baptized in the Name of Jesus Only?: Why were people baptized in Jesus’ name in the book of Acts? I was challenged by this question and can’t figure it out.

Q&A question: Baptized in the Name of Jesus Only?

Jesus baptism

BONUS Q!.We'll probably never find every artifact or an original manuscript. But what is on your list of top biblical artifacts you hope are discovered? Israel in Egypt is one of mine.

Q&A question

textual criticism Israel

Learning to Pay Attention!: Were there really “Wise Men” at Jesus’ birth?

Q&A question: Learning to Pay Attention!

Jesus

No PSA = OK?: Is it possible to not believe in Penal Substitutionary Atonement without being a Progressive?

Q&A question: No PSA = OK?

atonement

Does God Know His Own Future?: Does God perfectly and exhaustively know His own future? If He does, is He able to change His future, or is He only able to do what He already knows He is going to do?

Q&A question: Does God Know His Own Future?