Search — Theology Explorer

Was Abel a Prophet?: Does Luke 11: 50-51 mean that Abel was a prophet?

Q&A question: Was Abel a Prophet?

prophecy

baptism pastoral ministry

Who Can Baptize People?: Can anyone baptize? Or must one be a pastor?

Q&A question: Who Can Baptize People?

Communicating with God: How can we have a relationship with God when He doesn’t talk back?

Q&A question: Communicating with God

Was Saul Justified in Ending his Life?: Could we say that Saul killing himself in 1 Samuel 31:3-5 was justifiable for the same reason 9/11 jumpers were justified?

Q&A question: Was Saul Justified in Ending his Life?

Samuel

Holy Week Reflections: With Easter coming up, what is something that we might overlook but shouldn’t, considering that celebrating Easter might just become a yearly habit or tradition to people?

Q&A question: Holy Week Reflections

Self-Loathing vs. Self-Love?: As Christians, how do we deal with self-loathing without indulging in and practicing too much self-love?

Q&A question: Self-Loathing vs. Self-Love?

Evolved from Monkeys?: From a biblical standpoint, is there any reason that Christians believe we evolved from monkeys? I'm confused why some Christians believe that, and I’m curious if it’s purely a worldview standpoint?

Q&A question: Evolved from Monkeys?

Romans 9 Galatians 3 Jesus Romans 9 Galatians 3

Who Are God’s Chosen People?: I had a debate with a friend about Israel still being God's chosen people. Doesn't Romans 9:6-8 and Galatians 3: 28-29 communicate that God's chosen people are anyone who places their faith in Jesus?

Q&A question: Who Are God’s Chosen People?

Do Animals Sin?: Are animals able to sin? They kill for food and sometimes it appears this may be likened to murder, but what does the Bible say about this?

Q&A question: Do Animals Sin?

Romans 8 Peter Romans 8 angels

Should our Main Focus be Evangelism?: John Wesley says, “You have one business on this earth: to save souls.” Is Christlikeness or spiritual maturity chiefly a means to an end – of bringing people to Christ (Romans 8: 29, 2 Corinthians 3: 18, 2 Peter 3: 18)?

Q&A question: Should our Main Focus be Evangelism?

Setting Biblical Boundaries as Parents: I had a domestic violence upbringing, and I now have a son of my own. I have fears of family telling me how to parent my son. How do I set healthy biblical boundaries that protect my son and honor Christ?

Q&A question: Setting Biblical Boundaries as Parents

Bored in the OT!: How do I read the Old Testament without getting bored and distracted 2 minutes in?

Q&A question: Bored in the OT!

Matthew 25 Matthew Matthew 25 Matthew

How to be a Worthwhile Servant: What makes a servant worthwhile to Christ? It seems like in Matthew 25, the servant was cast into outer darkness because he did not DO enough.

Q&A question: How to be a Worthwhile Servant

Understanding a Difficult Passage: I'm struggling to interpret Judges 19:2, 25 on why the concubine suffered abuse. Some have said God was punishing her for adultery. How do I understand this without reading into the text?

Q&A question: Understanding a Difficult Passage

Judges 19 Judges 19

Who Sinned First?: I have been asked, "Was Adam's sin the first sin?" Something along the lines of: “Wasn't Satan the first one that sinned?” Thoughts?

Q&A question: Who Sinned First?

Satan

How to “Work Out Our Salvation…”: What does it mean to "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling"? Is that a literal statement?

Q&A question: How to “Work Out Our Salvation…”

salvation

Is Nepotism Sinful?: Is nepotism a sin? My church was founded by my grandpa, my dad is the senior pastor, and my brother is a youth leader. I do believe they legitimately earned these roles, but others at my church don’t.

Q&A question: Is Nepotism Sinful?

pastoral ministry

revelation Revelation 2 repentance revelation Revelation 2

Repentance After Death?: Can someone repent after death? Hebrews 9: 27 seems to say “no,” BUT Revelation 2: 21-27 seems to suggest “yes” for it is the “unwillingness” to repent that condemns. I really hope the latter is true.

Q&A question: Repentance After Death?

Did Adam Know Right from Wrong?: I was talking to an atheist and they asked, “If Adam had not yet eaten of the tree of knowledge, therefore not knowing disobedience, how can God hold him accountable and judge him for it?”

Q&A question: Did Adam Know Right from Wrong?

atheism

Genesis Genesis 1 Genesis Genesis 1

The Waters “Above the Expanse”: What do you think the waters “above the expanse” are in Genesis 1:6-8?

Q&A question: The Waters “Above the Expanse”

suffering death and afterlife

How to Biblically Process Grief: How do we deal with grief in the right & biblical way? I lost my dad months ago by sudden death. I feel worried, I’m angry, and I cry. I’m so tired of the rollercoaster feelings.

Q&A question: How to Biblically Process Grief

About Foul Language: What makes language foul? Is it the words themselves, or the context? Like if I use a word in a friendly way, is it still considered foul language?

Q&A question: About Foul Language

hermeneutics

Can Evolution be Plausible?: Do you think evolution is plausible theologically? I have never heard a good response to how there would have been death before the fall.

Q&A question: Can Evolution be Plausible?

evolution

How Could Satan Stand in God’s Presence?: If sin cannot enter God's presence, how could Satan present himself before God in the book of Job?

Q&A question: How Could Satan Stand in God’s Presence?

Satan

Witnessing to Strangers: What’s your favorite way to witness to strangers?

Q&A question: Witnessing to Strangers

evangelism

“Work Out” My Salvation??: What does it mean to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling"? Is that a literal statement?

Q&A question: “Work Out” My Salvation??

salvation

Jesus resurrection Jehovah's Witnesses

Did Jesus Bodily Rise if He Appeared in the Flesh?: Jehovah's Witnesses claim that Jesus was resurrected as a spirit only (not a bodily resurrection) since He appeared in a locked room, and if He was in the flesh He couldn't have done that. What are your thoughts in response to this?

Q&A question: Did Jesus Bodily Rise if He Appeared in the Flesh?

Honoring Parents through Marital Friction: How can I honor and love my parents biblically when they take offense at and criticize my wife and I for every little thing we do? It's making my wife anxious, and we're going to have a baby. We want a relationship with them, but they seem committed to bitterness.

Q&A question: Honoring Parents through Marital Friction

marriage

Can Non-Believers bear the Fruit of the Spirit?: Can someone who is not a Christian show the fruit of the Spirit?

Q&A question: Can Non-Believers bear the Fruit of the Spirit?

Will Sharing Tough Truth Ruin our Witness?: I'm afraid to talk about issues like abortion, LGBT, etc. for fear that I'll turn people off so much that they won't listen AT ALL when I try to share the Gospel. How can I resolve this?

Q&A question: Will Sharing Tough Truth Ruin our Witness?

abortion

How Do We “Abstain from Blood” Today?: How, as 21st century Christians, should we understand the decree for gentile believers to abstain from blood (Acts 15: 20, 28, 29)?

Q&A question: How Do We “Abstain from Blood” Today?

Acts 15 Acts 15

Are there Really Any “Righteous” People?: Do the Righteous live by faith, or is no one Righteous? How do we reconcile these ideas without compromising their original meaning?

Q&A question: Are there Really Any “Righteous” People?

Does Sincerity = Salvation?: I have a Muslim friend that I speak with regularly about God. I am a firm Christian, but I question how other God-fearing people who have been indoctrinated into a specific religion are not saved.

Q&A question: Does Sincerity = Salvation?

salvation Islam

Could the HS be Feminine?: Could the Holy Spirit be feminine? A biblically sound, wiser, older Christian in my life is unsure about this. He brings up decent arguments affirming this view, but then there's John 15: 26. Thoughts?

Q&A question: Could the HS be Feminine?

John 15 John 15

Has God Hidden What We Need to Know?: What are your thoughts on Mathew 11: 25? I was raised in the Branham cult where there is a great deal of anti-intellectualism. They also claim that God has blinded most Christians from Branham.

Q&A question: Has God Hidden What We Need to Know?

Will We Receive Anything We Ask of God?: The Bible says, “Ask and you shall receive.” I asked Jesus to save my mother, but He didn’t. Then why did He say, “Ask and you shall receive”?

Q&A question: Will We Receive Anything We Ask of God?

Jesus

1 Corinthians 11:16 complementarianism head coverings complementarianism

Winger examines multiple translations of 1 Cor 11:16 ('if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom') and admits he can't identify the major translational difference the questioner sees. The core debate is whether 'custom' refers to head coverings or to being contentious.

Q: Why does 1 Cor 11:16 seem to have opposite meanings depending on the translation?

Missing Verses? Is My Bible Reliable?: I've just learned that some Bibles are missing passages. How should we approach the Bible knowing some verses have been left out?

Q&A question: Missing Verses? Is My Bible Reliable?

Why Is There Still Evil on Earth?: My 10-year-old wants to know, if Satan was defeated, then why is there still evil on the planet? I couldn’t think of a good way to answer her. Help?

Q&A question: Why Is There Still Evil on Earth?

Satan

What is “Hyper-Charismatic”?: Please explain what "hyper-charismatic” means. Thank you.

Q&A question: What is “Hyper-Charismatic”?

charismatic movement

Joshua 7 Ezekiel Achan Joshua 7 Ezekiel

Why was Achan’s Household Punished?: Ezekiel 18: 20 says that the son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father. How do you explain the story of Achan in Joshua 7: 25 where he and his household were stoned and burned because of his sin?

Q&A question: Why was Achan’s Household Punished?

Did YHWH Lose to the “god” of Moab?: Did Yahweh lose to the god of Moab in 2 Kings 3: 27?

Q&A question: Did YHWH Lose to the “god” of Moab?

Is There a Temple in Heaven?: Is there a literal temple in Heaven, or is that meant to be understood figuratively? I have always understood that the temple/tabernacle on Earth were to represent truths about Heaven.

Q&A question: Is There a Temple in Heaven?

NAR

Using Time Wisely in Marriage: My husband likes to spend hours on meaningless videos or gaming. How can I talk to him about how he spends his time as a Christian, especially that our young kids see this?

Q&A question: Using Time Wisely in Marriage

marriage

Why is Bible Reading Important?: How is it important to read our Bibles outside of the church setting? And is there scripture to back this up? Why is it important to you to read your Bible?

Q&A question: Why is Bible Reading Important?

Infinite Punishment for Finite Crimes?: Why does God give infinite punishment for finite crimes? Even from a biblical point of view, not every crime is prescribed the same punishment. So why, then, can a person never serve the entirety of their punishment in Hell?

Q&A question: Infinite Punishment for Finite Crimes?

hell

Why Did God Allow Sin?: If God knew that humans would fall into sin, why did He allow us to live in this fallen world and not take us straight to Heaven?

Q&A question: Why Did God Allow Sin?

heaven

Has Christianity Changed Over Time?: How do you know the Christianity you believe is the same they were practicing in the early Church if history says Constantine and the Greeks changed things?

Q&A question: Has Christianity Changed Over Time?

Constantine

Why Won’t Christians Marry Non-Christians?: A woman stopped dating me because of worldview differences. I believe in a higher power and wouldn’t have pulled her away from her faith. It hurt badly. Why do some Christians do that? She seems indoctrinated (“can’t marry a non-Christian”).

Q&A question: Why Won’t Christians Marry Non-Christians?

dating and relationships