Search — Theology Explorer

What if God Has No Free Will?: Does God lack free will Himself, since He cannot act outside of or contrary to His nature? If so, doesn’t that make His actions questionable?

Q&A question: What if God Has No Free Will?

free will

How Did John have Materials to Write?: Were papyrus and writing supplies expensive? How did John, banished to the Island of Patmos, have all the necessary items to write down his Revelation?

Q&A question: How Did John have Materials to Write?

revelation revelation

Hebrews 12:1 Hebrews 12:1

Should we Infer Doctrine from Scripture?: Is it wrong to base doctrine on inference? Is it ever legitimate? E.g., the context of Hebrews 12:1 says nothing about saints watching us from Heaven, but some say it’s implied by the word “witnesses.”

Q&A question: Should we Infer Doctrine from Scripture?

Jesus second coming prophecy

Where is the 2nd Coming in Scripture?: Where does it say in the Bible that the Messiah will have a second coming? Does Jesus tell His disciples that He won’t be fulfilling all of the Old Testament prophecies just yet?

Q&A question: Where is the 2nd Coming in Scripture?

Did Jesus Always Have Power to Heal?: Regarding when Luke 5: 17 says, “The power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal,” did Jesus not always have this power, or does Luke emphasize it here because of what happens next? What’s your take on this?

Q&A question: Did Jesus Always Have Power to Heal?

Jesus

Do Our Prayers Affect Others’ Salvation?: Do our prayers for the unsaved actually increase their chances of being saved, vs. if they didn’t have anyone praying for them?

Q&A question: Do Our Prayers Affect Others’ Salvation?

salvation prayer

Our Sinful Flesh vs. Spiritual Warfare: How can I discern the difference between demonic influence and my flesh when it comes to sinful struggles?

Q&A question: Our Sinful Flesh vs. Spiritual Warfare

demons

revelation Timothy revelation

Which Scripture is God-Breathed?: In 2 Timothy 3: 16, when it says “All Scripture is God-breathed…” what would the author have meant by “Scripture”? Because as far as I know, books like Jude and Revelation hadn’t been written yet.

Q&A question: Which Scripture is God-Breathed?

About Asexuality: Is asexuality real? I know believers who say they’re asexual (not sexually attracted to anyone). I think this may be true of me, but could it just be God guarding my heart from lust over the years?

Q&A question: About Asexuality

sexual ethics

Physical Appearances of Jesus Today?: Does Mark 13: 21-23 refute present-day claims of Jesus physically appearing to people, or is this a misapplication of the text?

Q&A question: Physical Appearances of Jesus Today?

Mark 13 Jesus Mark 13

Is God Abusive?: Does a Christian’s relationship with God mirror what an abusive relationship would look like in other scenarios?

Q&A question: Is God Abusive?

Are Healings being Hindered Today?: What does James 5: 13-15 look like today? Are we missing something today that is hindering more healings from the Holy Spirit?

Q&A question: Are Healings being Hindered Today?

James James healing

Is Charity Meaningless Apart from the Church?: A pastor I listen to says that any community service/charity work that is not done through the Church or a Christian organization is meaningless to God. What are your thoughts on this?

Q&A question: Is Charity Meaningless Apart from the Church?

pastoral ministry

Hebrews 10 Hebrews 10 forgiveness

Does Sin Separate Believers from God?: I often hear that sin "breaks fellowship" or causes "relational unforgiveness" (to quote GotQuestions.org), but is there Scripture to show that sin can, in any way, separate a Christian from God (Hebrews 10: 19)?

Q&A question: Does Sin Separate Believers from God?

Are We Called to Love AND “Like” Others?: Do I have to like a brother in Christ? I know I should love my neighbor and not hate anyone, but there are some personalities I don't like. Is that sinful?

Q&A question: Are We Called to Love AND “Like” Others?

Who Will be Told by Jesus to “Depart”?: How is it that some people can cast out demons in Jesus’ name but then be told, “Depart from me for I never knew you”? How do I avoid that fate?

Q&A question: Who Will be Told by Jesus to “Depart”?

Jesus demons

Removing Shoes on Holy Ground?: What is the significance of people taking their shoes off in the presence of God in the Old Testament?

Q&A question: Removing Shoes on Holy Ground?

Overcoming the Pressure of Comparison: How do I stop comparing myself to others? As a college student, I’m surrounded by a highly competitive environment and I find myself comparing my grades and career to others. How do I overcome this?

Q&A question: Overcoming the Pressure of Comparison

Jews vs. Christians – Same God?: Do current Jews and Christians worship the same God? They claim to worship the God of Moses and the saints, but reject part of God.

Q&A question: Jews vs. Christians – Same God?

Moses worship

1 Kings 11 salvation Solomon 1 Kings 11

Solomon: Salvation & “The Book of His Acts”?: My question is, was Solomon saved? Did he repent after what he did? what is the Book of the Acts of Solomon (1 Kings 11: 41)?

Q&A question: Solomon: Salvation & “The Book of His Acts”?

(Just for fun!) BONUS Q: In LOTR Return of the King, it is mentioned that 3 days are needed to gather more forces. Before Aragorn leaves. However, only 1 day seems to pass. How do you reconcile this?

Q&A question

Matthew 18 Matthew Jesus Matthew 18 Matthew

Did Jesus Leave the 99 in Danger?: Regarding Matthew 18: 12, does Jesus know the 99 are safe when He leaves to find the 1? I’m trying to understand how this is responsible. Should we not do things for the greater good, but for the 1?

Q&A question: Did Jesus Leave the 99 in Danger?

revelation Revelation 20 Satan revelation Revelation 20

Are We Living in Satan’s Deception?: Have you heard of the theory that we're already living in Satan's short season of deception from Revelation 20:3-8? Some of the ideas are intriguing, but most also claim extra conspiracy baggage, e.g., the "mud flood" and much more.

Q&A question: Are We Living in Satan’s Deception?

James James 1 James James 1

Markan Sandwich in James?: Could James 1: 13-18, 1: 19-27 & 2:1-13 be similar to a Markan sandwich? If so, would it be correct that the focused interpretation of the 2 breads should be “Do not accuse God” of: 1. Tempting us to sin, 2. Not creating people equally? Can you explain the meat relative to the bread?

Q&A question: Markan Sandwich in James?

Does Satan Know his End?: Does Satan know he is going to lose? People say, “Satan just wants to take as many people down with him as he can.” Does he/can he know Scripture?

Q&A question: Does Satan Know his End?

Satan

Strategic Evangelism to Strangers: How do you initiate sharing the Gospel with a stranger? Is it best to be direct (e.g., “Can I share the Gospel with you?”), or would you recommend a more gradual approach?

Q&A question: Strategic Evangelism to Strangers

angels

Roman Catholicism communion

Different Views on Communion: Have you considered differing views on communion? I’ve just recently learned there are more than just the typical Baptist, Lutheran, and Catholic views. Some believe in Real Presence in spirit, not corporeal.

Q&A question: Different Views on Communion

Acts 13 Calvinism Acts 13 free will

Does Acts 13 Prove Calvinism?: I'd like to hear your thoughts about Acts 13: 48. It seems to contradict the idea that God wants everyone to be saved and that everyone has the same opportunity/free will to believe in Him.

Q&A question: Does Acts 13 Prove Calvinism?

1 Corinthians 11:3 Philippians 2:5-8 John 14:28 complementarianism headship Trinity

Winger affirms the Father has authority over the Son but attributes this to the Incarnation (Phil 2:5-8), not necessarily to the eternal nature of the Trinity. He's open to but not convinced by Eternal Functional Subordination (EFS). Explicitly says he does NOT use EFS to defend complementarianism.

Q: Do many scriptures showing different authority levels between Father and Jesus mean the Father has higher authority? (John 14:28, 1 Cor 11:3, Matt 28:18)

Living Productively & Overcoming Bad Habits: My apartment is a mess, I wake up late, I eat junk food, I'm too lazy to read the Bible and I feel like I know a lot about God, but I don't feel like His daughter. How can I turn my life around?

Q&A question: Living Productively & Overcoming Bad Habits

Mark 9 Matthew 12 Matthew Jesus Mark 9 Matthew 12

Mark vs. Matthew – Contradiction?: Can you explain what some say is contradictory between Mark 9: 38-41 (not against us = for us) & Matthew 12: 30 (not with me = against me) & how that applies to NAR/false teachers who profess Jesus?

Q&A question: Mark vs. Matthew – Contradiction?

Genesis John 1 Genesis 32 Jacob Genesis John 1

Has Anyone Seen God?: John 1: 18 tells us, “No man has seen God at any time…” but in Genesis 32: 30, Jacob says, “I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved.” Which is it?

Q&A question: Has Anyone Seen God?

Are we Equal with God in Heaven?: My wife had a question I did not know how to answer: If we are perfected at the end of time and perfect in God's presence, how are we not then equal with God? We realize that we will not be greater than God, but I am not sure how to explain this subject.

Q&A question: Are we Equal with God in Heaven?

marriage

Godly Womanhood/Biblical Femininity: How does godly womanhood differ from godly manhood outside of marriage? How do we define biblical femininity, especially for the unmarried woman? Does discipleship look different for women?

Q&A question: Godly Womanhood/Biblical Femininity

marriage

The LXX More Reliable for Typology?: Is the Septuagint more reliable for finding Jesus in the Old Testament? S. Douglas Woodward & others say that messianic passages & timelines in the Masoretic Text were altered in 2nd century to keep Jews from converting to Christianity.

Q&A question: The LXX More Reliable for Typology?

Jesus

Effectively Caring for the Homeless: How are we expected to help homeless people in our modern culture? Are we still expected to invite strangers into our very homes as they did in Bible times?

Q&A question: Effectively Caring for the Homeless

Must We Have an Eschatological View?: Do you think it is important to have a view on eschatology? Can we just all agree that one day, if we believe in Jesus and what He did on the cross and abide in Him, that we will go to Heaven?

Q&A question: Must We Have an Eschatological View?

Jesus eschatology

When was the Old Covenant in Effect?: Hebrews 8: 13 says that the Old Covenant is becoming obsolete and about to disappear. Does this mean the Old Covenant was still in effect at the time this book was written?

Q&A question: When was the Old Covenant in Effect?

Hebrews 8 Hebrews 8

Should Unequally Yoked Believers Bear Children?: I'm married to an unbeliever. I regret it and I worry that I’ve jeopardized my son's salvation! Would it be better not to have any more children in my “ungodly” marriage even though we'd like to have more?

Q&A question: Should Unequally Yoked Believers Bear Children?

marriage salvation

Jesus Leaves & Advocate Comes – Modalism?: Why is the Advocate unable to come unless Jesus leaves (John 16:7)? Why does this not imply Modalism?

Q&A question: Jesus Leaves & Advocate Comes – Modalism?

John 16 Jesus John 16

Believing in God but Not the Bible: How do I bring the Gospel to someone who believes there is a God, but rejects the Bible? My mom doesn’t believe God gave us the Bible and thinks that Christianity is man-made.

Q&A question: Believing in God but Not the Bible

BONUS Q! What's your favorite video game?

Q&A question

James James heresy homosexuality

About the Queen James Bible: What are your thoughts about the Queen James Bible, also known as the “Gay Bible”? Is this a blasphemous translation to be avoided, or did the QJV publishers have any linguistically valid reason to remove negative references to homosexuality from the Bible? Also, can the Holy Spirit still speak through heretical Bible translations?

Q&A question: About the Queen James Bible

Should Christians Leave Ungodly Areas?: Does the Bible say Christians should relocate their family (especially with young kids), or stop having kids altogether if evil/injustice continues to grow in their community?

Q&A question: Should Christians Leave Ungodly Areas?

Should We Only Help Others, Never Ourselves?: Is it a sin to help myself instead of others? I only know Scripture that tells me to give to others (Philippians). I'm often frustrated when I'm forced to help others when I need time myself.

Q&A question: Should We Only Help Others, Never Ourselves?

Philip Philippi

Why is Only a Single Creator Obvious?: What about creation makes a singular Creator obvious, as Paul suggests? What keeps us from concluding that multiple deities created the different aspects of the universe?

Q&A question: Why is Only a Single Creator Obvious?

creation

women in ministry pastoral ministry

What to Do if Your Pastor is Female: I've watched your Women in Ministry series and come to basically the same conclusions you have. However, I'm part of a church with a female lead pastor. How do I handle this?

Q&A question: What to Do if Your Pastor is Female

Paul’s Hands vs. Jesus’ Hands: “These hands” provided for Paul in Acts 20: 34 NKJV & ESV. But “…of mine” (i.e., “these hands of mine”) is in some translations such as NIV & NET. Is Paul referring to Jesus’ hands or his OWN hands?

Q&A question: Paul’s Hands vs. Jesus’ Hands

Acts 20 Acts 20 Jesus

Are Angels Purely Spiritual, Not Physical?: How can we know that angels are spiritual beings and not potentially physical beings? Some people say they're spiritual and do not have reproductive organs (since Jesus said they're not given in marriage).

Q&A question: Are Angels Purely Spiritual, Not Physical?

marriage Jesus angels