Search — Theology Explorer

When Translations Vary: What do we do when we find significant difference between translations (such as 1 John 5:7 in the KJV vs. modern translations)?

Q&A question: When Translations Vary

Bible translations

Why Did God Choose the Tribe of Levi?: Do we know why God chose the tribe of Levi to be the priesthood?

Q&A question: Why Did God Choose the Tribe of Levi?

Tips for Preparing Your First Sermon: I give my first sermon this Sunday. Any tips/pointers for those going through seminary/preparing for their first sermon(s)?

Q&A question: Tips for Preparing Your First Sermon

Advice for Raising Kids in the Faith: I want to raise my two kids aged 7 and 9 in the faith. I don’t want to push too hard. Any advice? My ex-wife has left the faith, so I feel like it’s up to me (and God).

Q&A question: Advice for Raising Kids in the Faith

marriage

Was Paul Married?: I heard a theory that the Apostle Paul was married and a widower. Do you think that’s relevant, and does it have any biblical standing?

Q&A question: Was Paul Married?

Is My Daughter’s Cancer a Punishment?: When I got pregnant from an ungodly relationship, I turned to God and know He forgave all my sins. But my daughter was born with cancer. Is this a punishment from God?

Q&A question: Is My Daughter’s Cancer a Punishment?

suffering

Should We Call Out Others’ Sins?: Should we call out sin in the lives of other Christian friends? I had a conversation with my pastor about this in regard to cussing, and he told me if we don't have a mutual edification then it might not be my place.

Q&A question: Should We Call Out Others’ Sins?

pastoral ministry

Feminism’s Impact on the Church: What’s your opinion on how feminism is impacting the modern Church?

Q&A question: Feminism’s Impact on the Church

Is Ordination Necessary?: What are your thoughts on the necessity to be ordained into ministry? Can I turn my home Bible study into a church?

Q&A question: Is Ordination Necessary?

Bible study

Heaven or Earth During 2nd Coming?: Will we be taken to Heaven during the second coming, or will God’s Kingdom come to Earth to reign? Seems odd to create Earth for Him to just destroy it and bring us to His domain.

Q&A question: Heaven or Earth During 2nd Coming?

second coming

Relationship Dynamics Before Divorce: I was wondering, if a couple is married and one of them is seeking an unbiblical divorce, does that give them the right to start dating other people before the divorce is finalized?

Q&A question: Relationship Dynamics Before Divorce

divorce

Witnessing to Muslims: I'm 15, and my best friend at school is a Muslim. Do you have any advice for trying to evangelize Muslims who are intelligent and rational but very set in their ways?

Q&A question: Witnessing to Muslims

Islam angels

Should Men Move Out Before Dating?: Looking at Ephesians 5: 31, Should a Christian man move out of his parents’ house before trying to date, to prove they can provide an income and a house?

Q&A question: Should Men Move Out Before Dating?

Ephesians 5 Ephesians 5

If God Seems Silent, Does He Still Care?: My sister walked away from God because she begged for direction in her life and she says she heard nothing from God. This led her to believe God doesn’t care about her. How do I respond to this?

Q&A question: If God Seems Silent, Does He Still Care?

Romans 8 Romans 7 Romans 8 Romans 7

Slave to Sin?: In Romans 7: 14, is Paul describing his experience before or after he became a Christian? He’s just shifted to the present tense, but says he is sold as a slave to sin. Does this differ from Romans 8?

Q&A question: Slave to Sin?

How Should We View Extrabiblical Books?: With extrabiblical books such as Enoch or 1 & 2 Maccabees, how do you discern within these books if they're true accounts, if they don't contradict our canon?

Q&A question: How Should We View Extrabiblical Books?

Enoch

1 Corinthians 2:8 Ephesians 6 Pharisees 1 Corinthians 2:8 Ephesians 6

Earthly Rulers vs. Spiritual Rulers?: In 1 Corinthians 2:8, is Paul referring to earthly rulers (i.e. Pharisees or Romans) or spiritual rulers as he does in Ephesians 6: 12?

Q&A question: Earthly Rulers vs. Spiritual Rulers?

1 Corinthians 13 1 Corinthians 13:1 1 Corinthians 13 1 Corinthians 13:1 forgiveness

Forgiveness while Guarding Against Abuse: In 1 Corinthians 13:1, we are told that love "keeps no record of wrongs.” But how do we reconcile this with setting boundaries to protect us from abusive behaviors?

Q&A question: Forgiveness while Guarding Against Abuse

Should we Pray for Specific Gifts?: What do you think about praying expectantly for a very specific gift of the Holy Spirit? I see people blessed with certain gifts teaching classes. For example, I've seen classes on how to prophesy.

Q&A question: Should we Pray for Specific Gifts?

Holy Spirit

Was Jesus Really Buried for 3 Days & Nights?: If Jesus died on a Friday and rose on a Sunday, then He was not in the grave for three days and three nights. Why is it that this seems never to be addressed?

Q&A question: Was Jesus Really Buried for 3 Days & Nights?

Jesus

About Theistic Evolution: Can you explain your understanding of Theistic Evolution? I saw a video by InspiringPhilosophy and have a hard time accepting this viewpoint.

Q&A question: About Theistic Evolution

Philo evolution

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