Search — Theology Explorer

Luke 23 Jesus resurrection Luke 23

How Was the “Thief on the Cross” Saved?: How was the “good thief” in Luke 23: 42 saved? He died without knowing Jesus' resurrection. Jesus tells him, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” but Christ doesn’t rise for 3 days. Confused!

Q&A question: How Was the “Thief on the Cross” Saved?

Should We Hate Evildoers?: How do you talk to someone who claims the Christian faith but hates people groups because they are “haters of God and denied Jesus”? My friend won’t talk to me because I don’t hate evil people enough.

Q&A question: Should We Hate Evildoers?

Jesus

Meaning of the Leftover Miracle Food: What is the meaning of the 12 and 7 baskets left over from the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000?

Q&A question: Meaning of the Leftover Miracle Food

miracles

Should I Leave My Job if I’m Kept from Church?: Due to work, I’m not able to go to church. should I look for another job so I can maintain fellowship, or should I just continue with the job I have now?

Q&A question: Should I Leave My Job if I’m Kept from Church?

Why is the NAR Unbiblical?: Please explain why the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is unbiblical.

Q&A question: Why is the NAR Unbiblical?

Is Heaven a Choice?: Does Revelation 22: 17 mean that we have a choice to stay in Heaven (the last sentence specifically)? Would we be able to blink out of existence? Would this offend God?

Q&A question: Is Heaven a Choice?

revelation revelation

How Would Adam & Eve Know Disobedience was Wrong?: If Adam and Eve didn’t have knowledge of good and evil, how would they know it is wrong to disobey God and eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?

Q&A question: How Would Adam & Eve Know Disobedience was Wrong?

Adam and Eve

Can We “Declare” things in Prayer?: What are your thoughts on “declarative prayer” or “positive confession” (e.g., “I declare revival for this city,” “I declare that this day is blessed,” etc.)?

Q&A question: Can We “Declare” things in Prayer?

prayer

About Boycotting Businesses: Should Christians boycott businesses paying for abortion travel?

Q&A question: About Boycotting Businesses

abortion

How Deep in Theology to go while Evangelizing: How much of the doctrine of the Trinity do we need to explain while sharing the Gospel (especially when it comes to the hypostatic union)?

Q&A question: How Deep in Theology to go while Evangelizing

Trinity angels

Jesus second coming prophecy

Was Jesus’ Second Coming Prophesied?: Is it clear in Old Testament prophecies that Jesus will come not only once, but twice?

Q&A question: Was Jesus’ Second Coming Prophesied?

Should We Settle On a Religion that “Feels Right”?: If a friend says they're looking for a religion that "feels right," how do I approach them if they’ve already left Christianity?

Q&A question: Should We Settle On a Religion that “Feels Right”?

Will We Remember Unbelievers in Eternity?: After a believer dies, will they remember their loved ones who were unbelievers? I understand "perfect peace," but that doesn’t answer the question.

Q&A question: Will We Remember Unbelievers in Eternity?

evangelism

Why Do Two Peoples’ Prayers Yield Different Results?: Why do some people have a gift of healing that works when they pray for people, but I can’t do the same? If we are praying to the same God, why do two peoples’ prayers give different results?

Q&A question: Why Do Two Peoples’ Prayers Yield Different Results?

prayer healing

Choosing Biblical Homeschooling Resources: We homeschool, and one of the most popular "Christian" curricula happens to be from a Mormon. I keep going back and forth over if I should use it because it's very solid academically. Advice?

Q&A question: Choosing Biblical Homeschooling Resources

Mormonism

Handling our Emotions Biblically: What's the difference between suppressing our emotions vs. having self-control over our emotions? I struggle to show positive/negative emotions to God/others, and I seem to distrust God/others with my emotions.

Q&A question: Handling our Emotions Biblically

Genesis baptism creation Genesis

Did God Rest for More than 1 Day?: In the beginning of Genesis, it says God rested on day 7, but considering no creation happens beyond day 7, didn't He technically rest for more than 1 day, or am I misunderstanding something? Also, is it possible to ask you to pray for me? I'm getting baptized on Sunday and I hope my unsaved friends and family turn to Christ when they watch.

Q&A question: Did God Rest for More than 1 Day?

Are Soul Ties Biblical?: What are “soul ties,” and are they biblical?

Q&A question: Are Soul Ties Biblical?

Jesus baptism pastoral ministry

Has Jesus Always Been God?: Our pastor said on Sunday that Jesus wasn’t God here on Earth until the baptism of John and descending of the Holy Spirit. It sounded really bad to my ears. Can you comment, please?

Q&A question: Has Jesus Always Been God?

Honoring God Regardless of Feelings: When I feel "good" I find myself doubting less, being more loving, and sinning less. How do I know if I'm growing in the spirit or if it's just my antidepressants making me nicer?

Q&A question: Honoring God Regardless of Feelings

doubt and faith

Witnessing to Muslims: How do you convince a Muslim that Jesus is more than just a prophet?

Q&A question: Witnessing to Muslims

Jesus prophecy Islam

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