I often turn to ChatGPT to help with my topical research. My Bible study group is currently reading and studying The Gospel of Luke. We’re at chapter two reading what many call the Christmas Story. It got me thinking how momentous this event was to the world. The Jewish people had not had major prophesy…
Read moreThe Three Wise Men Weren’t (Three)
Each Christmas I get a little more scrooge-like as I drive past nativity scenes depicting three kings waiting in line to present the baby Jesus with their gifts. Some early church traditions even have names for the robed worshipers, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, but we have no way of knowing if this was accurate. So,…
Read moreMisquoting the Bible
If there is one word of advice, I’d give to new readers of the Holy Scripture it is “context.” With over 727,000 words in the NIV version of the Old and New Testaments, like fortune cookies, people can easily make up anything using out of context bible statements. Anytime you hear a bible phrase quoted,…
Read moreWe are not commanded to forgive everyone
You’ve heard ‘turn the other cheek’ and all that. So, does a good Christian (as if the term Christian needs a modifier, especially the word “good” since Jesus says “No one is good—except God alone” (Mark 10:18) but I digress. Where was I? Oh yes,) So, does a good Christian forgive those who wrong them?…
Read moreJesus was not the first nor the only person raised from the Dead
The New Testament story of Lazarus falling ill, dying, and laying in the tomb for four days is fairly well known. This story contains the verse we all volunteered to memorize in Sunday school since it was the shortest verse in the Bible; “Jesus wept”. John recounts the action in Chapter 11. Scoffers doubt Jesus’…
Read moreWhat must I do to be Saved?
As a student of the scriptures, I have come across a number of answers to this question in my readings. The purpose of this essay is to capture references that explicitly refer to salvation in hopes of having a clear and complete answer to this most important question. Did the requirements change over the course…
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