Search — Theology Explorer

Matthew John 11 Mark 11 Jesus Matthew John 11

Did Jesus Overturn the Tables Twice?: Why is Jesus overturning the money tables in John 2 and not later when He enters Jerusalem (around John 11 or 12)? Did He do this 2 times and not just in His last week (Matthew 21: 12; Mark 11: 15)?

Q&A question: Did Jesus Overturn the Tables Twice?

Did God Foretell Something that Didn’t Happen?: In 1 Samuel 23: 11-13 (ESV), the Lord says David will be handed over to Saul at Keilah, then David leaves town before Saul gets there, so he was not. Why did the Lord foretell a future event that didn't happen?

Q&A question: Did God Foretell Something that Didn’t Happen?

David Samuel

About the Cruciform Hermeneutic: What are your thoughts on the cruciform hermeneutic or cruciform theology?

Q&A question: About the Cruciform Hermeneutic

hermeneutics

Advice for a Tough Marital Situation: If my wife committed adultery against me and a child resulted from the affair, am I bound to care for the child? Why or why not, and how would I go about handling the situation after finding out?

Q&A question: Advice for a Tough Marital Situation

marriage

Should Couples Promise “Till Death Do Us Part”?: In many modern weddings, people promise before God "till death do us part,” or something similar. Doesn't that biblically preclude the option of even a biblical divorce?

Q&A question: Should Couples Promise “Till Death Do Us Part”?

divorce

Why was the Cross Necessary if God is All-Powerful?: I have an agnostic friend who can’t accept that the cross was necessary. They believe God was not all powerful if He could not find another way of saving humanity without sacrificing Jesus. Thoughts?

Q&A question: Why was the Cross Necessary if God is All-Powerful?

Jesus agnosticism

Genesis Genesis 32 Jacob Genesis Genesis 32

About Jacob’s Wrestle with God: How do you interpret Genesis 32, when Jacob wrestles with God?

Q&A question: About Jacob’s Wrestle with God

Having Insurance = Lack of Trust in God?: What are your thoughts on having insurance and medical aid? I've heard it said that these things are rooted in fear and keep us from truly trusting God. Is that a biblical/wise perspective to have?

Q&A question: Having Insurance = Lack of Trust in God?

What Kind of Jokes Fall Under “Jesting”?: I'm confused about “eutrapelia” and I don’t know if it is just crude joking or all jokes that word speaks of in Ephesians 5:4. I use the KJV and it just says "jesting."

Q&A question: What Kind of Jokes Fall Under “Jesting”?

Ephesians 5 Ephesians 5

Can We Rebuke the Enemy Ourselves?: Can we rebuke the enemy?

Q&A question: Can We Rebuke the Enemy Ourselves?

Are Flashy Lights Inappropriate for a Church?: My church recently renovated our hall to be more upbeat and have flashy lights. I'm extremely disheartened by this. Do you have any advice?

Q&A question: Are Flashy Lights Inappropriate for a Church?

Leviticus 25 Leviticus 25

Slavery in the Old Covenant: How do we reconcile the treatment of foreigner slaves (not Israelite servitude) under the old covenant (bought as property, handed down to children, etc. – Leviticus 25: 44-46)?

Q&A question: Slavery in the Old Covenant

Should we Only Have One Teacher?: Please, can you talk about what we should do when a spiritual leader wants you to only take advice from them and no one else, especially when the Bible says to have a “multitude of counselors”?

Q&A question: Should we Only Have One Teacher?

Why did Some Men in the Bible Have Multiple Wives?: Most of the men in Bible had multiple wives. Can’t you then say they lived in sin their entire lives? Many people say that continual sin doesn’t equate to being a true Christian.

Q&A question: Why did Some Men in the Bible Have Multiple Wives?

Respectfully & Effectively Witnessing to a Boss: My boss is a leader in the LDS church. He is a good and friendly boss but calls himself a Christian. Do I have a responsibility to confront him, and if so, how do I do this respectfully since he is my boss?

Q&A question: Respectfully & Effectively Witnessing to a Boss

Mormonism

2 Kings 2 Elisha 2 Kings 2

Does 2 Kings 2 Challenge God’s Goodness?: My brother brought up 2 Kings 2: 23-25 to challenge the goodness of God. He saw an imbalance of justice when bears came to maul 40 boys for making fun of Elisha. How would you respond to this?

Q&A question: Does 2 Kings 2 Challenge God’s Goodness?

Bookshelf Tour!: When can we get a bookshelf tour?

Q&A question: Bookshelf Tour!

Should Churches Keep Records of Giving?: My church requires all employees to give to the church (in general; any amount is fine). They pulled me aside to ask why I haven’t been giving, and when I told them I was, but that I felt better giving anonymously in the offering plate rather than having a record attached to my name, they told me it needed to be tracked. Am I wrong for feeling weird about this, or are they?

Q&A question: Should Churches Keep Records of Giving?

tithing generosity

Matthew Matthew 6 John 20 Matthew Matthew 6 John 20

Is Absolution or Absolving of Sins Biblical?: Does John 20: 23 and Matthew 6: 14 indicate that absolution (the act of forgiving someone for having done something wrong or sinful) is biblical?

Q&A question: Is Absolution or Absolving of Sins Biblical?

revelation Revelation 2 revelation Revelation 2

New Names in Heaven?: Do you have any insight about Revelation 2: 17, specifically about the implication of new names in Heaven?

Q&A question: New Names in Heaven?

Is Changing our Appearance Sinful?: Would changing our appearance in any way be a sin since God has created us in His image? For example, if we wear makeup, is that covering our natural beauty? And if we shave our body, is that destroying the beauty God has given us?

Q&A question: Is Changing our Appearance Sinful?

Am I Obedient Enough? Repentant Enough?: I have recently been worrying a lot about whether I am obedient enough, repentant enough, or believing enough to be a real Christian. How can I biblically deal with this struggle?

Q&A question: Am I Obedient Enough? Repentant Enough?

repentance

Why Does Jesus Conceal the Meaning of Things?: In Luke 9: 44-45, why would Jesus tell His disciples this, only to have the meaning concealed? Why tell them if it wasn’t meant for them to understand?

Q&A question: Why Does Jesus Conceal the Meaning of Things?

Luke 9 Jesus Luke 9

Matthew 10 Matthew Matthew 10 Matthew healing

Raising Dead & Healing for Today?: Raising the Dead: Should we practice Matthew 10:8 today, or has the command to heal, cast out demons, and raise the dead ceased?

Q&A question: Raising Dead & Healing for Today?

Why is Abraham Commended for being with Hagar?: Why is Abraham commended for his faith when he tries to conceive a son through his slave, Hagar? Isn't that an indication that he had a moment where he lacked faith?

Q&A question: Why is Abraham Commended for being with Hagar?

Hagar Abraham

Can the Deceased Hear/See Us?: Do you think that dead people can hear us and see what’s happening in our world?

Q&A question: Can the Deceased Hear/See Us?

Discerning God’s Voice: How can I tell when the Holy Spirit is talking to me? Ever since hearing a sermon about a pastor's conviction to spend more time with God, I think I’m hearing God ask for more time when I close my Bible.

Q&A question: Discerning God’s Voice

pastoral ministry

Encouragement amid Infertility: My husband and I have struggled to have a baby, and I have had Psalm 127:3 on my mind. It makes me feel like there is something I need to do, and a lack of faith. What is the context of the “reward”?

Q&A question: Encouragement amid Infertility

marriage

Why Can I Be Saved, But Not Judas?: Heartbreakingly, I have betrayed Christ for things worth far less than 30 pieces of silver. What is fundamentally different between Judas and me? Why can I still be saved, but he couldn’t?

Q&A question: Why Can I Be Saved, But Not Judas?

Judas

Who are the Called According to His Purpose?: Given the way Romans 8: 28 is worded, I am wondering: are all people called according to His purpose, or only those of us who love Him?

Q&A question: Who are the Called According to His Purpose?

Romans 8 Romans 8

Revelation 3 revelation Jesus Revelation 3 revelation

Hot? Cold? Lukewarm?: What does Jesus mean in Revelation 3: 16 when He says it’s better to be hot or cold than lukewarm?

Q&A question: Hot? Cold? Lukewarm?

Could Cain Still Be Alive?: How do you feel about the Bible conspiracy that Cain is still alive somehow and is wandering the Earth to this day?

Q&A question: Could Cain Still Be Alive?

Matthew 10 Matthew Matthew 10 Matthew

Witnessing to Stubborn Family Members: Does “shaking the dust off your feet” (Matthew 10: 14) ever apply to family? Or are we to always endure in witnessing to family, despite continual rejection?

Q&A question: Witnessing to Stubborn Family Members

Matthew 5 Matthew Jesus Matthew 5 Matthew

Was Jesus’ Analogy Flawed?: Someone's response to Matthew 5: 13 was “How can salt lose its saltiness? If it wasn’t salty, it wouldn't be salt.” I understand what Jesus is saying here, but does this mean Jesus’ analogy was flawed?

Q&A question: Was Jesus’ Analogy Flawed?

Principles for Offering Advice to Others: What are some good steps to giving advice to fellow Christians without coming across as condescending and patronizing?

Q&A question: Principles for Offering Advice to Others

tithing generosity

James James 1 Matthew James James 1 Jesus

How Could Jesus Have Been Tempted?: How can we reconcile James 1 which says God cannot be tempted with evil with the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4?

Q&A question: How Could Jesus Have Been Tempted?

Romans 14 worship Romans 14

Yoga Pants & Ripped Jeans?: Ladies on the worship team sometimes wear yoga pants and ripped jeans. I think that goes against the Romans 14 principle of not causing a brother to stumble. What do you think?

Q&A question: Yoga Pants & Ripped Jeans?

Wayne Grudem Jesus salvation

Did Jesus’ Atonement Require His Divinity?: Why was it necessary for Jesus to be fully divine in regard to our salvation? Wayne Grudem states, “Only someone who is the infinite God could bear the full penalty for all the sins of all those who would believe in Him..." Do you agree, and are there any other reasons stated in Scripture?

Q&A question: Did Jesus’ Atonement Require His Divinity?

Daniel: The Iron & Clay Kingdom: What is your interpretation of the 4th kingdom made of iron & clay in Daniel 2?

Q&A question: Daniel: The Iron & Clay Kingdom

Daniel Daniel

Did God Need to Create Humans?: It may be a simple question, but why did God create humans? I’d be happy to get your insight. He didn’t need to, or did he?

Q&A question: Did God Need to Create Humans?

Do Tiny Choices Affect History?: Should Christians ever concern themselves with ideas like the butterfly effect (the idea that tiny choices have big impacts on history)?

Q&A question: Do Tiny Choices Affect History?

Ministering to LDS Members: I showed some LDS members your Book of Abraham video, but because they believe they heard from the Holy Spirit, biblical arguments haven’t worked. How can I show that they haven’t heard the Spirit?

Q&A question: Ministering to LDS Members

Abraham Mormonism

Jesus resurrection Apostles

When Were the Apostles Saved?: When were the Apostles saved? They didn't have the full knowledge of what Jesus was doing until His appearance after His resurrection. Could they be considered "saved" before Pentecost?

Q&A question: When Were the Apostles Saved?

Will God Reveal when our Thinking is Unbiblical?: Philippians 3: 15 says God will reveal when our thinking is opposed to His calling. How, then, do so many dedicated Christians get all the way through life still utterly confused about essential moral issues?

Q&A question: Will God Reveal when our Thinking is Unbiblical?

Philip Philippi

How to Tell When Love Has Become Idolatry: Have I made my crush an idol? I’ve found myself crushing on a brother in Christ. I’ve also found that sometimes I prefer thinking about him more than God. I don’t want to do this. Any advice?

Q&A question: How to Tell When Love Has Become Idolatry

idolatry

Genesis Genesis 1 Genesis Genesis 1

Are Drugs OK if they’re Grown Naturally?: Is Genesis 1: 29 allowing us to smoke weed and to eat magic mushrooms because they’re found naturally? Hasn’t sin surely had a big impact after the fall, on vegetation?

Q&A question: Are Drugs OK if they’re Grown Naturally?

The Bible on Transgenderism: What is the best biblical case against transgender behavior?

Q&A question: The Bible on Transgenderism

Did God Die / Is Mary God’s Mother?: Can we say God died since Jesus died? And can we say Mary is the mother of God?

Q&A question: Did God Die / Is Mary God’s Mother?

Jesus

Can We Add Punctuation to Scripture?: A pastor at a local Bible study wants me to add punctuation to a section of Scripture that is just words to see multiple meanings. I feel uncomfortable with this. What are your thoughts on doing this?

Q&A question: Can We Add Punctuation to Scripture?

pastoral ministry