Lighting for houses was provided by the oil lamp. Originally this consisted of an open earthenware saucer containing olive oil. Part of the saucer was “pinched” in manufacture, so as to provide a place for a flaxen wick. Such lamps obviously had problems arising from spillage, and closed containers were therefore developed with two holes-one for wick and one to put oil in.
Continue reading MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF THE BIBLE (LIGHTING)
The Israelites found themselves in the midst of a Canaanite culture that was awash in pagan immorality. These heathen nations had merged spirituality with sensuality to create a very alluring and very dangerous combination. To keep His people from joining this around-the-clock celebration of perversion. God decreed severe punishment for those guilty of sexual sin. Continue reading WHY WERE PENALTIES FOR SEXUAL SIN SO SEVERE? (LEVITICUS 18:29)
13. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Problem: There were no women for Cain to marry. There was only Adam, Eve (4:1), and his dead brother, Abel (4:8). Yet the Bible says Cain married and had children.
Continue reading WHERE DID CAIN GET HIS WIFE? “GENESIS 4:17”
PROBLEM: Matthew speaks of the “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” all being part of one “name.” But these are three distinct persons. How can there be three persons in the Godhead when there is only “one God” (Deut 6:4; 1 Cor 8:6)?
Continue reading HOW CAN THREE PERSONS BE GOD WHEN THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD?
PROBLEM: The Bible teaches that Jesus is God (John 1:1) and that He knows all things (John 2:24; Col. 2:3). On the other hand, He “increased in wisdom” (Luke 2:52) and sometimes did not seem to know certain things (cf. John 11:34). Indeed, He denied knowing the time of His own second coming here, saying, “but of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Continue reading WAS JESUS IGNORANT OF THE TIME OF HIS SECOND COMING?
Problem: In two places in 1 Corinthians (7:12, 40), the Apostle Paul seems to imply that he is writing on his own authority, not the Lord’s. Continue reading HOW CAN PAUL’S WORDS BE INSPIRED IF HE SAYS HE IS MERELY GIVING HIS OWN OPINION? (1 CORINTHIANS 7:12)
Problem: Paul asserts here that Jesus was “made to be sin.” However, many other Scriptures insist that Jesus was “without sin” Continue reading HOW COULD JESUS BE MADE SIN WHEN HE WAS SINLESS? (2 CORINTHIANS 5:21)
Problem: Orthodox Christianity confesses Jesus is both fully man and fully God. Yet Continue reading DID JESUS THINK OF HIMSELF AS LESS THAN GOD? (JOHN 14:28)