Search — Theology Explorer

About the phrase “Son of Perdition”: What is the Greek meaning of “Son of Perdition”? Is it a specific person, or a general statement?

Q&A question: About the phrase “Son of Perdition”

Should Atheist Arguments Concern Us?: Should we be concerned about counterarguments that atheists and skeptics present to our faith?

Q&A question: Should Atheist Arguments Concern Us?

atheism

Is “Praying the Gay Away” Biblical?: Is “praying the gay away” wrong? It seems biblical to me.

Q&A question: Is “Praying the Gay Away” Biblical?

homosexuality

About the Woman Caught in Adultery Passage: It's said that the story from John 7: 53 to 8: 11 isn't found in the earlier manuscripts. It's one of my favorite pictures of God's grace. What do you think about how we should deal with this?

Q&A question: About the Woman Caught in Adultery Passage

John 7 John 7

elder qualifications church leadership pastoral ministry

Church Leader Living in Sin? Letter vs. Spirit: I am a young adult, still living in my parents' home. My father is the pastor of our small church. One of my siblings has leadership roles, but is living in sin (cohabitation). My father has talked with him, but hasn't taken any biblical action to remove him from leadership or from church. The elders don't see a need to do anything either. What should I do? (I'm the youngest and a daughter.) I was told I was taking the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law.

Q&A question: Church Leader Living in Sin? Letter vs. Spirit

MW’s Personal Experience Witnessing: Could you share your most memorable experience in leading someone to the Lord?

Q&A question: MW’s Personal Experience Witnessing

evangelism

About Artaxerxes in Ezra: Are there two Artaxerxes in Ezra, or could it be that there is an interlude in Ezra 4:5-23? Artaxerxes stopped the building, but later seems to endorse it.

Q&A question: About Artaxerxes in Ezra

Are the Church and Israel the Same?: Are the church and Israel the same or different? Is the church the continuation of Israel and heirs of the promises of God to OT Israel?

Q&A question: Are the Church and Israel the Same?

Israel

2 Corinthians 7 2 Corinthians 7 forgiveness

How to Have Godly Sorrow Over Sin: How do you have a godly sorrow over sin (2 Corinthians 7: 10)? When I sin, I repent, feel really bad, and ask for forgiveness, but eventually fall for the same sin again. Do you just pray for God to give godly sorrow?

Q&A question: How to Have Godly Sorrow Over Sin

What does Ecumenical Mean?: I'd rather not identify myself with any particular denomination. What does it mean to be an ecumenical Christian?

Q&A question: What does Ecumenical Mean?

Is it Fair that Some People are Born in Unbelieving Areas?: How is it just that because a person is born in a specific region in the world, that they are more likely to follow the traditions and religion they are raised in and end up going to hell?

Q&A question: Is it Fair that Some People are Born in Unbelieving Areas?

hell

Is the Fire Mentioned in 2 Peter Literal?: In 2 Peter 3: 10 it says that on the "Day of the Lord" God will destroy the world and "its elements" with fire. Is this a literal or figurative fire, and why?

Q&A question: Is the Fire Mentioned in 2 Peter Literal?

Peter

Daniel Daniel 3 Daniel Daniel 3 NAR

Who was the 4th Person in the Furnace in Daniel 3?: Referring to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel, who was the fourth person in the furnace? Is this OT evidence of Christ?

Q&A question: Who was the 4th Person in the Furnace in Daniel 3?

Did Jesus Consider the OT to be Scripture?: You said in a past Q&A session that Jude references Enoch, and your best explanation is that it's just to make a point, not to say that Enoch is canon or inerrant. But that's also my conclusion about when Jesus refers to the Old Testament. Isn’t it the same for when Jesus refers to the Old Testament?

Q&A question: Did Jesus Consider the OT to be Scripture?

Jesus Enoch

If I Don’t Read Scripture, am I Still Accountable?: Romans 1:8-2: 16…Responsibility? I'm afraid to read/not read the Scriptures. So I read/don't read, sometimes feeling physically ill/deeply anxious/even empty. Is it normal to feel like this?

Q&A question: If I Don’t Read Scripture, am I Still Accountable?

Romans 1 Romans 1

1 John 4 1 John 4 forgiveness

Overcoming Condemnation/Embracing God’s Grace: I have a good understanding of God’s Love and forgiveness in my head, but I have trouble living as though I believe it in my heart, and I still feel condemned at times (1 John 4: 16-18). Any advice?

Q&A question: Overcoming Condemnation/Embracing God’s Grace

About Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh: What is your opinion on Paul's thorn in the flesh? I heard it was his eyes, maybe from his encounter on the road to Damascus? 1) He had Luke, a doctor, with him during his travels 2) He had others write his letters.

Q&A question: About Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh

Galatians 5 pastoral ministry Galatians 5

How to “Walk in the Spirit”: From Galatians 5, what is does it mean to “walk in the Spirit”? And do you have any pastoral advice for a new disciple on this subject?

Q&A question: How to “Walk in the Spirit”

Advice for a Difficult College Situation: I have to read “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” for school, but Oprah did a movie on it. Since she denied that Jesus is the only way, I don’t know if I should drop the class. Thoughts?

Q&A question: Advice for a Difficult College Situation

Jesus

Are Non-Believers Morally Superior?: How should I respond to the attitude of, “So-and-so is moral without a belief in God - therefore, they are better than someone who needs religion to be good”?

Q&A question: Are Non-Believers Morally Superior?

Can Preaching the Truth Harden Hearts?: What is a Christian’s role to speak truth on cultural issues to non-Christian society? Just preach good news & individual hearts get changed? It seems like preaching against homosexuality hardens hearts.

Q&A question: Can Preaching the Truth Harden Hearts?

homosexuality

Is Receiving Imputed Righteousness Just?: How/why can our sins be imputed to Jesus? I'm confused about the "transfer." If God is just, how can He let someone else step in for our sin? And how valid is the sacrifice if He was going to rise again?

Q&A question: Is Receiving Imputed Righteousness Just?

Jesus

Jeremiah John 15 Zechariah 3 Jeremiah Jesus John 15

Is God the Branch, or the Vine?: A few times in the OT, Jesus is referred to as the Branch (Zechariah 3:8, 6: 12, Jeremiah 23:5). Why then is He referred to as the Vine and us the branches in John 15:5?

Q&A question: Is God the Branch, or the Vine?

What is a Miracle?: What is a miracle? If it can be explained, is it still a miracle?

Q&A question: What is a Miracle?

miracles

Prayer to Help with Deep Depression: Can you pray for me? I’ve battled depression my whole life, and the past 2 weeks I’ve gotten so low I need some prayer if you have the time.

Q&A question: Prayer to Help with Deep Depression

prayer

What is Prevenient Grace?: I just heard about prevenient grace. I have looked it up and it just don't understand it. Can you explain it?

Q&A question: What is Prevenient Grace?

anxiety and mental health

Is Receiving Mental Health Therapy Biblical?: Is it a sin for Christians to see a mental health therapist/psychiatrist? Is biblical counseling the only option for Christians?

Q&A question: Is Receiving Mental Health Therapy Biblical?

Is God Actively Judging Today?: Is God actively judging the world today or is all judgment held out ‘till the second coming? When negative things happen like natural disasters, how much of this can we say is God’s judgment?

Q&A question: Is God Actively Judging Today?

second coming

prayer tithing pastoral ministry

How can I Better Support my Pastor?: Aside from tithing and prayer, what are good ways to support my pastor? Would it be weird to send an email each week thanking him for the sermon? I have a social disorder, so I’m always unsure.

Q&A question: How can I Better Support my Pastor?

Matthew 10 Matthew Matthew 10 Matthew

When to “Shake the Dust from our Feet”: At what point are we to "shake off the dust from our feet" as mentioned in Matthew 10: 14 when trying to witness to friends, strangers, loved ones, etc.?

Q&A question: When to “Shake the Dust from our Feet”

Is the Parable of the Talents Works Based?: How do you separate the Parable of the Talents from a works-based Salvation?

Q&A question: Is the Parable of the Talents Works Based?

salvation

Revelation 13 Matthew 1 revelation Revelation 13 Matthew 1 revelation

About Jewish Interpretation: What's your take on Jewish interpretive methods for Scripture such as Gematria (Matthew 1: 17, Revelation 13: 18) or the Hebrew alphabet and pictographic symbolism? (Psalm 119: 73 for example) "Yod" = Hand, etc.

Q&A question: About Jewish Interpretation

1 Corinthians 11:7 complementarianism creation order headship

Winger admits he doesn't have a fully clear teaching on 1 Cor 11:7 (head coverings) but explains 'woman is the glory of man' as related to creation order: God made Adam from dust, then Eve from Adam. Paul draws a parallel suggesting an interrelationship between man and woman that relates to authority in the relationship.

Q&A: struggling with 1 Corinthians 11:7 — what does 'glory of man' mean?

Contradicting Genealogies?: Why are the genealogies of Jesus different in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke?

Q&A question: Contradicting Genealogies?

Matthew Jesus Matthew

How to Overcome Nervousness in Prayer: Why do I feel nervous to pray? I want to but it feels unnatural to me.

Q&A question: How to Overcome Nervousness in Prayer

prayer

About Apologetics being Used in Fiction: How effective do you believe apologetics can be done in works of fiction (like Narnia) rather than just straight arguments? Should there be more of it?

Q&A question: About Apologetics being Used in Fiction

apologetics

Biblical Wisdom for a Tough Family Situation: My mother-in-law is in a gay marriage. My wife has shared the Gospel with her, but she rejects it. Lord willing, we'd like to have kids. Should there be boundaries between the kid/grandma relationship?

Q&A question: Biblical Wisdom for a Tough Family Situation

marriage homosexuality

Ephesians 1 Philip Philippi Ephesians 1

About being “In Christ” in Paul’s Letters: In Paul’s prison letters, he uses the phrases “in him, in Christ, and in whom.” He seems to use these a lot in Ephesians 1, but also uses them in Philippians and Colossians. What does it mean?

Q&A question: About being “In Christ” in Paul’s Letters

How Can We Pray Constantly?: What are some practical ways to practice 1 Thessalonians 5:7? Trying to pray constantly can be draining & discouraging because it feels like there are only so many things I can pray over.

Q&A question: How Can We Pray Constantly?

Is Lying Ever OK in Rare Circumstances?: What does the Bible say about lying to protect someone? Like if my brother breaks a vase and I say the dog broke it, or if I take the blame for something I didn’t do?

Q&A question: Is Lying Ever OK in Rare Circumstances?

Jeremiah Jeremiah 31 revelation Jeremiah Jeremiah 31 Jesus

Conscience before the New Covenant?: Based on Jeremiah 31: 33-34, did people before the New Covenant not have a conscience (innate knowledge of God and the ability to know right from wrong as we do now)? Based on the radical changes that Jesus and the Church brought to the world, and God seemingly needing to give people constant special revelation in the OT, could there be a case for this? Could the need for the cycle of sin-judgement-repentance/cry for help-deliverance be connected to this?

Q&A question: Conscience before the New Covenant?

Help for Maintaining a Godly Attitude: The Lord has blessed me tremendously in life. I love Him & want to please Him! But for some reason (& I have no excuse) I find it really hard to have a calm, grateful, God-honoring attitude. I'm easily irritated & find myself complaining about little things constantly, especially when I don't get my way or experience a minor inconvenience. I'm ashamed of this & don't want my attitude to be this way but I can't seem to change.

Q&A question: Help for Maintaining a Godly Attitude

revelation Revelation 21 revelation Revelation 21

About the Vanishing & Glass Seas – Revelation: In Revelation 21:1, it describes the "sea vanishing." Is this sea the same as the "sea of glass" in Revelation 4:6 where some have suggested it symbolizes the barrier that separated God from man?

Q&A question: About the Vanishing & Glass Seas – Revelation

1 John 2 John 16 1 John 2:1 Jesus Christ Jesus 1 John 2

About the Paraclete: John 16:7 says Paraclete is the Holy Spirit, and 1 John 2:1 says it is Jesus Christ. I cannot believe this is a mistranslation, so what is 1 John 2:1 talking about?

Q&A question: About the Paraclete

About the Covid Vaccine: How should Christians respond to the push to get the Covid vaccine (especially here in LA)? Is it our Christian duty to put others above ourselves, even if it betrays our own conscience?

Q&A question: About the Covid Vaccine

faith and science

About Exodus 4 & Zipporah: Please explain Exodus 4: 20-26, especially Zipporah's part in it.

Q&A question: About Exodus 4 & Zipporah

Zipporah

Jesus pastoral ministry Apostles

Why Didn’t Jesus Mention Paul?: Hello, I am a Christian, and it's been important to me to understand why the Lord Jesus didn't mention to the apostles or anyone that Paul would be coming to enlighten the Way for His Church. This question hasn't been addressed in any of the studies I've researched, nor by any of the pastors I listen to. But isn't this question a most serious matter, since Paul wrote the majority of our New Testament?

Q&A question: Why Didn’t Jesus Mention Paul?

About the Woman of Tekoa & Banishing: How can someone be banished, and yet not cast out from God? I’m referring to what the woman of Tekoa said in 2 Samuel 14: 14. Is it only within that context, or can it be applied transcendently?

Q&A question: About the Woman of Tekoa & Banishing

Samuel

About OCD, Vows, & Fear: I’ve been struggling with OCD vows recently (such as, if I don’t say this in prayer, I’m not saved). Many places online say to let it go, and that you can’t make a vow out of fear. How can I look at this biblically?

Q&A question: About OCD, Vows, & Fear

prayer