Interest in Ancestry, Genealogy Wrong?
Q: Is it wrong to invest time in genealogies, family trees, etc.? I refer to Titus 3:9. A: Titus 3:9 reads, “But avoid foolish disputes, …
Puzzled by 1,260 vs. 1,290 in Daniel
Q: In reading the book of Daniel, I came across something that appears to be contradictory. Daniel 12:11 says 1,290 days, while my understanding from …
Born of Water
Q: What does “born of water” in John 3:5 mean? A: Several views exist. Some believe it refers to water baptism, meaning that a person …
Jesus’ Disciples—Married?
Q: We’re convinced Jesus never married, contrary to what some attention-getting liberals have advanced lately, but what about His disciples? And if any of them …
Unleavened Bread Required for Communion?
Q. Are churches required to use bread without yeast in observing the Lord’s Table? A. Churches use a variety of elements in Communion bread, but …
Judging vs. Discerning?
Q. Please explain Matthew 7:1 in relation to our need to exercise discernment. A. The familiar verse is, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” …
Can Humans Attain Godhood?
Q. Recently I heard that a certain cult teaches we can become gods, based on Psalm 82:6 and John 10:33 and 34. Please comment. A. …
Last First and First Last; Many Called, Few Chosen
Q. Please explain what two curious statements mean Biblically: “Many who are first will be last, and the last first” (Matthew 19:30; cf. 20:16); and …
Hebrew and Greek Required for Spirituality?
Q. I have met some believers recently who say that to truly be spiritual, one must know the original languages of the Bible (Hebrew and …
Issues Surrounding Mankind’s Fall
Q. I have some questions about Adam and Eve when they sinned. Where was Adam when Eve was tempted? Also, why does Adam apparently get …
Why Worship on Sunday?
Q. Why do we worship on Sunday instead of Saturday? Is it true that Sunday worship originated in Roman Catholicism? A. It may be true …
What Was Bad About the Knowledge of Good and Evil?
Q. In Genesis 3:22, God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil.” Many theologians say “Us” is …
Why Did They Need Manna?
Q. When the Hebrews left Egypt, they took their herds with them. Why didn’t they eat their flocks instead of complaining and receiving manna? Also, …
Should We Pray to Angels?
Q. Recently I was introduced to some literature by a group that says believers should petition angels. The group says that angels are our best …
Sign Gifts: What We Believe
Q. People in our fundamental circles believe that the so-called sign gifts in the early New Testament church, such as speaking in tongues, ceased and …
Why Aramaic?
Q. In Acts 23 or 24, Paul talks to his accusers in either Aramaic or Hebrew—it depends on which translation one reads. What is the …
Taking Communion Unworthily?
Q. Please comment on “unworthy” in 1 Corinthians 11:27. I’ll admit I sometimes am afraid of taking the Lord’s Supper unworthily. A. If you are …
“Angel” in Revelation 2:1
Q. Please comment as to who the “angel” is in Revelation 2:1. A. Revelation 2 and 3 include messages the Lord gave to the seven …
What about Polygamy?
Q. Legalizing polygamy has been in the news lately. If it’s wrong, why did so many Old Testament believers practice it? Why did they go …
When Did Lucifer Fall?
Q. Just when did Satan fall? Why did God allow Satan to fall, and why did God even create Satan in the first place? A.To …
The Death Angel in Exodus
Q. Please comment on Exodus 11 and 12, where the “death angel” supposedly killed the firstborn of any families who didn’t have blood sprinkled on …
New Wife for Job?
Q. After Job’s intense suffering, the Bible says he was given more than he had before his trials began, including seven sons and three daughters. …
John the Baptist, Landmarkers, and the Bride of Christ
Q. Recently I came across a person who insists that Baptists are the only true church because only Baptists can trace their heritage to John …
Unsure of Ezekiel
Q. We are currently in Ezekiel in Sunday School, and I am stuck (I teach the adult class). I have a problem knowing which judgments …
God Asks Questions?
Q. Every now and then in Scripture, I read about God asking people questions. Why would God, Who knows everything, bother to ask people things? …
Questions in Exodus
Q. In Exodus 2:18, the priest of Midian and father of Zipporah (wife of Moses) is named Reuel. In Exodus 3:1, the father-in-law of Moses …
Passage Teaches “Prosperity Gospel”?
Q. Why should we oppose the “prosperity gospel” in the light of 3 John, verse 2? A. The verse reads, “Beloved, I pray that you …
Pope the Antichrist?
Q. Do you think the pontiff at Rome could be the Antichrist? A. Some people believe that the pope is indeed the Antichrist, regardless of …
Delivering a Person unto Satan
Q. Please explain what the apostle Paul meant in 1 Corinthians 5:5. A. The verse reads, “Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction …
City of Palms
Q. Is Jericho also known in the Bible as the City of Palms? If so, I thought Jericho was destroyed by Joshua and not rebuilt …
Reconciling People and Places
Q. Is the story told in John 12:1-8 the same as the one in Matthew 26:6-13? I read a study that says so, but the …
Kept from the Tribulation
Q. Please explain what Revelation 3:10 means. A. The verse reads, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from …
Did Jesus Change the Rules?
Q. In Luke 9:1–6, Jesus told His followers not to take various necessities with them when they went out to minister. Why did He instruct …
Joseph Practiced Divination?
Q. In Genesis 44:5, it appears that Joseph practiced divination. I can’t imagine Joseph, the godly man he was, being involved with such. Also, I …
Resurrection Questions
Q. There’s a section of 1 Corinthians 15, verses 39-44, that simply doesn’t make sense to me. Please explain. A. Looking at the whole context …
“Destroy Both Body and Soul”
Q. What did Jesus mean when He told His disciples to “fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell,” if …
Is World Peace Our Objective?
Q. Taking the view your group does on dispensationalism, premillennialism, and the pretribulational Rapture, I sense that you don’t believe in peacemaking in the world …
Last Trumpets Not the Same
Q. First Corinthians 15:51 and 52, apparently referring to the Rapture, link that great event with a sounding of the last trumpet. In Revelation 11:15-19, …
Seven instead of One?
Q. Why does Revelation 5:6 speak of seven Spirits, when there is only one Spirit? A. The “seven Spirits” should be regarded as “sevenfold Spirit,” …
Why at Night?
Q. Why did Nicodemus come to talk with Jesus during the night? A. Nicodemus appears three times in the Gospels; you are referring to the …
Why So Little on Jesus’ Childhood?
Q. When one searches for information in Scripture on Jesus’ childhood, why do we find so little? One would think that more of Jesus’ example …
“Lily of the Valleys” and “Rose of Sharon”
Q. Is it right to call Jesus the “Lily of the Valleys” and “Rose of Sharon”? A. Song of Solomon 2:1 presents a conversation between …
Must Antichrist Be a Jew?
Q. I’ve always been under the impression that the Antichrist will be a Jew. Is this correct? A. The belief that the Antichrist will be …
When People Say Christmas Is Pagan
Q.What is a proper Christian response to people who claim Christmas and other Christian celebrations are pagan? A. First, if we are honest, we are …
Did They Go into Debt?
Q. I can’t understand 2 Corinthians 8:3. It appears that these believers, giving “beyond their ability,” were going into debt, and the Bible forbids indebtedness. …
Amillennialism: More Problems Than You Think
Q. How does one answer an amillennialist to prove Christ will reign a literal thousand years on earth? Revelation 20 clearly says so, but that …
Why Do Spirit-indwelt Christians Disagree?
Q. Why do believers, including Bible characters, have disagreements, when they all are supposedly indwelt by the same Holy Spirit? One would think that all …
Is Marriage a Covenant?
Q. Is marriage a covenant? A. I assume you are not asking about so-called covenant marriage, which has been in the news. In contrast to …
“Sin” or “Sins”?
Q. Which of these two words should we use—“sin” or “sins”? Is there any difference between the two? A. A fine passage to observe is …
Why the Word “Easter”?
Q. How did the word “Easter” get into Scripture? Easter has pagan connotations. A. Acts 12:4 is the single use of the word “Easter” in …
Into Outer Darkness
Q. Explain Matthew 22:13 and 25:30, where a person is said to be cast “into outer darkness.” Was the person a Christian? In Heaven, will …
Just Run and Finish the Race
Q. I’m concerned about coming in last, if that is the right way to put it, when it comes to Hebrews 12:1 and 2. It …
Witnessing to J.W.s—and Anyone
Q. Biblically, how does one witness to a Jehovah’s Witness? A. Your question reminds me of a story told by a pastor. A church member …
Does the Devil Make Us Do It?
Q. (1) Who was Jesus referring to when He said, “Get behind Me, Satan” in Matthew 16:23? (2) What did Jesus mean when He called …
Adam and Eve—Did They Repent?
Q. Did Adam and Eve ever repent after their sinning in the Garden of Eden? A. Initially they didn’t, of course. The Biblical account shows …
Blasphemy and the Unpardonable Sin
Q. I recently watched an evangelism training video that uses the Ten Commandments to reach people. One of the trainers says that if the persons …
Questions about the Death Penalty
Q. With the ugly happening at Virginia Tech recently, I see capital punishment being attacked with new vigor in the newspapers and on TV and …
Discernment a Gift for Just Some?
Q. Is there such a thing today as the gift of discernment? I’ve heard people talk about it, as though only certain believers have that …
Scriptural Principles for Fund-Raising
Q. I don’t know how prevalent it is in our group, but lately I’ve noticed more evangelical churches using such fund-raising methods as bazaars, bake …
From Faith to Faith
Q. What does the phrase “from faith to faith” mean in Romans 1:17? A. Romans 1:17 is the last verse in Paul’s introductory material of …
Descending and Ascending
Q. Ephesians 4:8 says Christ ascended on high. The next verse, Ephesians 4:9, says He first descended. What does this descending mean? A. First, let’s …
Not Taste Death Until…
Q. Please explain Matthew 16:27 and 28. It seems that Jesus was talking about the Second Coming. Is this right? If so, how could He …
Did They Lie, and Was the Lie Justifiable?
Q. In Exodus 1:15–21, was it right that the midwives lied? It seems that God honored what they said. A. The occasion of this passage …
What Does “Selah” Mean?
Q. What does the word “Selah” mean in the book of Psalms? I’ve noticed that in church, during Scripture readings in unison, people don’t know …
Just Because They’re Lonely?
Q. Every now and then I’ve heard speakers appealing to unbelievers to trust Christ because they’re lonely. Also I can think of a few songs …
Is Insurance Biblical?
Q. What does one say to a person who doubts that insurance is Biblical, believing it is a sign of distrusting God and also a …
Telling, or Not Telling, What Jesus Had Done
Q. In Mark 5:19 Jesus told the demon-possessed man of Gadara to tell his friends what had happened to him, but in Mark 5:43 Jesus …
Animals and the Flood
Q. How did animals find their way to the ark before the Flood? How did they survive all that time in the ark? After the …
Can a Vow Ever Be Broken?
Q. When I was young and before I became a believer in Christ, I took a vow that I would never leave the church I …
Were the Wise Men Astrologists?
by Norm Olson Q. I heard someone say the wise men were into astrology. I’ve been taught that astrology is sinful. Please comment. A. First …
Does a Believer Have One or Two Natures?
by Norm Olson Q. A born-again Christian I visited with the other day believes that we have just one nature, based on Romans 6:6 and …
Perplexing Movements vs. Scripture
by Norm Olson Q. What about a new movement or thought among Christians known as transformation? Is it Biblical? A. Is it Biblical? should be …
Parable of the Tares
by Norm Olson Q: I would appreciate your explanation of the Parable of the Tares (Matthew 13:24-30). It appears that the Lord directed the reapers …
Spiritual Education–Then and Now
by Norm Olson Q: What did the Jews and early church offer in training compared with churches today? For example, they obviously didn’t have Sunday …
Moving to Moab-Was Elimelech Wrong?
by Norm Olson Q: Was Elimelech right or wrong in moving his family to Moab in Ruth 1:1-5? A: Bible scholars hold varying views on …
Cursing of the Fig Tree
by Norm Olson Q: Why did Christ curse the fig tree in Matthew 21:19? A: This account is also found in Mark 11:11-14 and 19-26. …
Doubting Salvation
Q. What should people like me do who have asked Jesus to be our Savior and yet continue to doubt our salvation? A. You need …
“Lifting up Holy Hands”
Q. In 1 Timothy 2:8 does “men” mean “males” or “mankind” in general? Does “lifting up holy hands” indicate something we should be doing? A. …
What Sleeps?
by Norm Olson Q: When a Christian dies, does the soul go directly to Heaven (later to be reunited with the resurrected body to appear …
Complete in Christ? Or Complete Only When Married?
Q. Does Colossians 2:10, which says that Christians are complete in Christ, contradict Genesis 2:18, which implies that being married completes a person? A. When …
“Sons of God” in Job
Q. If the “sons of God” in Genesis 6 came from the lineage of Cain when fallen angels supposedly entered their bodies and married the …
Are Jerusalem and Bethlehem Both “the City of David”?
Q. It appears that both Jerusalem and Bethlehem are called “the city of David” in the Bible. Please comment. A. Yes, in 2 Samuel 5:6 …
“Palestine” vs. “Israel”
Q. Recently I heard that Christians shouldn’t use the word “Palestine” to describe Israel and the Holy Land. A. The term “Palestine” is a bit …
Why No Animal Sacrifices Today?
Q. Since Jews haven’t accepted Christ as having come and as being their Messiah, why aren’t they still sacrificing animal offerings today? A. There are …
Are Premillennial, Pretribulational Views New?
Q. Please comment on an editorial from a denominational magazine that criticizes what we Regular Baptists hold to eschatologically. The writing by this editor in …
Can We Cause Christ to Come Back Earlier?
Q. Please comment on 2 Peter 3:11 and 12. Does the verse mean we can actually cause Christ to come back earlier than otherwise divinely …
Offending Others
Q. What does 2 Corinthians 6:3 mean when it says we aren’t supposed to give offense in anything? A. First, I’ll mention what the verse …
Conversion vs. Regeneration
Q. Is there a difference between the words “conversion” and “regeneration”? A. We commonly use “conversion” and “regeneration” to refer to the “new birth,” the …
Pastors Leading More than One Church
Q. Is it Scriptural for a pastor to lead more than one flock at a time? I’ve known of some smaller (usually rural) churches that …
Is Spanking Biblical?
Q. Is corporal punishment (as in spanking) truly Biblical; and if it is, how do we answer all its opposition? A. Corporal punishment is certainly …
What Is the Basis for People’s Believing in Purgatory?
Q. What is the basis for people’s believing in purgatory? A. “Purgatory“ comes from a Latin word that means “to purge.” Roman Catholicism defines it …
Believers’ Response to Tsunami
Q. What stance should we believers take toward the recent tsunami, its toll on lives, and all the suffering? Some people in that part of …
Do Christian Workers Need a Call from God to Go into Ministry?
Q. Do pastors and other Christian workers, such as missionaries and teachers, need a definite call from God to go into their fields of ministry? …
The Value of a Conscience
Q. Please comment about the conscience. I have heard that we should not let it be our guide, as the saying goes; but what is …
Is the Kingdom within Us?
Q. What does Luke 17:21 mean when it says that the kingdom is within a person? A. Luke 17:20 and 21 read, Now when He …
Sarah’s Laughter: Why Was She Not Punished?
Q. Why was Sarah not punished for her laughing over the news that she would have a son, while Zacharias was struck dumb for a …
Why So Many Religious Denominations?
Q. Does the Bible offer any clue as to why so many differences of thinking and religious denominations exist even among true born-again Christians? A. …
God of the Old Testament vs. God of the New Testament
Q. Please comment on the seeming difference between the God of the Old Testament and of the New Testament. In the Old Testament He seems …
Dying Young
Q. The Ten Commandments and other Bible verses promise long life to people who obey God. Why then do some who have obeyed not get …
Acting Kindly toward an Enemy
Q. Romans 12:20 says that when a believer acts kindly toward an enemy, coals of fire are actually heaped upon the enemy’s head. Please explain. …
Sin during Millennium?
Q. Will people sin during the Millennium? A. You have asked an interesting and important question. The Millennium, which is the one-thousand-year reign of Christ …
“A Song of Degrees”
Q. Several psalms contain the heading “A song of degrees.” What does that mean? A. You’re referring to Psalms 120—134. Four of these psalms are …
“Elect Angels”?
Q. While I was studying 1 Timothy in Sunday School, the term “elect angels” came up. After searching, I could find no other use of …
Unpardonable Sin?
Q. Is the unpardonable sin the same as the “sin unto death”? A. The unpardonable sin and the sin unto death cannot be the same. …
Origin of Water Baptism
Q. In the New Testament it seems the act of water baptism appears rather suddenly. We read about John the Baptist, the disciples, and then …
Who Was Rufus?
Q. Romans 16:13 mentions a man named Rufus, and the apostle Paul wrote as though Rufus’s mother was also his own mother. Were the two …
Baptists Displaying Crucifixes?
Q. Why don’t Baptists believe in displaying crucifixes in the home and church? Couldn’t these serve as a good reminder of what Christ did for …
Why Did Jesus Tell Mary Magdalene Not to Touch Him?
Q. On the morning Jesus rose from the dead, Mary Magdalene met the Savior in the Garden near the tomb where Jesus had lain. Jesus …
Why Did Jesus’ Disciples Go Back to Galilee After the Resurrection?
Q. Why did Jesus’ disciples go back to Galilee after the Resurrection, when they would be going back to Jerusalem for Pentecost? How did they …
Who Were the Other Two Men on the Cross?
Q. John 18:40 describes Barabbas as a robber, and Matthew 27:38 calls the two men on the cross on either side of Jesus thieves (KJV). …
What Is So Great about What the Steward Did in Luke 16?
Q. The parable found in Luke 16:1‒9 seems so dishonest. For example, what is so great about what the steward did? Also, what is the …
What Does “Sea” Refer To?
Q. In 2 Kings 25:16 what does the word “Sea” refer to? A. The sad context of this verse is the fall of Jerusalem under …
Shunning
Q. While 1 Corinthians 5 tells believers in Christ to disassociate from a sinning brother or sister in the context of church discipline, does this …
Who Were the Magi?
Q. How did the wise men know that the star represented the Messiah? Why did they, as pagans, travel all that distance? Where did we …
What Does “Begotten” Mean?
Q. What does the Bible mean when it refers to the Son of God as “begotten”? A. This word, combined with the word “only,” indicates …
When Was Christ Born?
Q. I’m confused about this whole matter of when Christ was born: why do people say Christ was born in 4 B.C. if “B.C.” means …
Antichrist’s Alleged Miraculous Power
Q. Are the miracles of Satan through his cohorts, as recorded in Revelation 13, real, or are they just sleight-of-hand imitation deceptions of real miracles? …
David’s Five Stones
Q. Why did David pick out five stones instead of just one before he met and killed Goliath? Was it a lack of faith on …
Can We See God?
Q. John 1:18 says that no one has seen God at any time. I have no problem with that statement, but what do I tell …
King Solomon’s Wives
Q. Why did King Solomon have numerous wives, when Deuteronomy 17:17 prohibited kings from having many wives? A. The first part of the verse reads, …
Opinion Polls
Q. How should believers Biblically treat all the public opinion polls we’re being bombarded with these days? A. Polls, while they can be bothersome and …
Scripture’s Nagativity toward Money
Q. Please explain Ecclesiastes 10:19 in the light of other Scripture passages dealing negatively with money. A. You are probably thinking of passages such as …
Generational Curses
Q. Please comment on so-called generational curses found in the Bible. Are they in force today? Were they fair to those whose parents sinned? A. …