Posts Tagged ‘Bible’
Sola Scriptura or Sola Papa?
by Chuck Durham via Biblical Insights, Vol. 7, No. 9, Sept. 2007. Pope Benedict XVI released a Vatican document on July 10, 2007, that reasserted the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church as providing the only true path to salvation. The document claims that the Roman Catholic Church is the only true church on earth having…
Read MoreThe New Testament was written in Hebrew, not Greek!
Question: You seem to teach that the original New Testament was originally written in Greek. I hate to differ with you. Nowhere is that fact proven. I believe that Luke may have written his manuscript in Greek, since he was of Syrian descent and also perhaps the books of Acts, but as far as the…
Read MoreThe Power of God: The Bible
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/PowerOfGodTheBible.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 1:8-19 I. The Word of God is precious to believers, an object of desire – Psalm 19:7-11 A. O, how I love your law! – Psalm 119:97-100 B. Longing for God’s law – Psalm 119:40 C. Desire it like a new born babe desires milk – I Peter 2:1-3 II. A popular…
Read MoreWhy did it take 35-40 years to write the Gospels?
Question: What was the reason for John, Mark, Luke, and Matthew writing their gospels? Why did it take 35-40 years after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus to begin to write the gospels or the rest of the New Testament? Answer: As for the purpose of the gospel accounts, see “The Four Gospels.” As to…
Read MoreWhich book is the oldest in the Bible?
Question: Which book is believed to be the oldest book in the Bible? I found the following points: Many scholars agree that Job is the oldest book in the Bible, written by an unknown Israelite about 1500 B.C. Others hold that the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) are the oldest books in the…
Read MoreBiblical Reliability
by Dudley Ross Spears How reliable is the Bible? How do we know it is truly the word of God? What evidence is there that justifies our respect for and allegiance to the Book? In this installment, we will consider the things that prove the Bible to be a reliable revelation of the mind of…
Read MoreDo you know of any good books on how we got our Bible?
Question: You know of any good books on how we got our Bible and why we leave certain books out? I have two people who want to know a good book about this. I have read how we got our books, but I don’t have those books anymore. I can’t remember as it has been…
Read MoreThe Bible: Dare We Leave It?
by Dee Bowman It is amazing how many religions, in general, have left the Bible. Catholicism bears little resemblance to the Bible anymore, nor does denominationalism. In fact, some of the congregations that wear the name “Church of Christ” are quickly abdicating biblical principles in preference for what the people want instead of what the…
Read MoreThe Harmony of the Scriptures
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 30:2-9 I. The denominational world has long debated the relationship of faith, works, and grace in man’s salvation. A. Some argue that salvation is by faith alone while others argue the necessity of works. Some turn their attention to grace and argue that grace alone saves men. B. The problem has…
Read MoreOnce for All
by Billy Norris via Gospel Guide, Vol. 27, No. 12, December 1995 “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints…” (Jude 3). The original…
Read MoreWhat is the most quoted Old Testament book in the New Testament?
Question: What is the second most influential book in the world today? What Old Testament book is the most quoted or referenced in the New Testament? Which book of the Bible is thought to be the oldest in terms of when it was written? Answer: “Influential” is a subjective term, so the answer would depend…
Read MoreCan you say more about Aramaic being used in the Bible?
Question: I have a question concerning the two words, Arabic and Aramaic. In one of your most recent answers, you spoke about Aramaic being used in the Bible, but not Arabic. What is the difference between the two words? I understand that Arabic would be spoken by Arabian peoples, so where does Aramaic come from? I…
Read MoreWhy is Hong Kong calling the Bible indecent?
Question: Why is Hong Kong screaming about the indecency of the Bible and wanting it banned it from the children? Answer: You need to read the news reports more carefully. Hong Kong as a government or society is not calling the Bible indecent. There is an agency in the Hong Kong government who has reported…
Read MoreWhen did Adam, Eve, and the Bible come into existence?
Question: My girlfriend and I were discussing things in the Bible, and we were wondering when did Adam and Eve come into existence, and when did the Bible come into existence? We were just wondering. I have heard this question asked before in other people’s conversations and didn’t get a satisfactory answer. So, please help…
Read MoreWhat does the word “perfect” mean in I Corinthians 13:10?
Question: Regarding speaking in tongues, in the verse that says “when that which is perfect is come,” what does the word “perfect” mean in Greek? Answer: “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know…
Read MoreHow did your Bible come into existence?
Question: Could you please tell me how the Bible you currently have originally come into existence? Since we know that some of the apostles did not even start to write until about 50 AD, about 20 years after Christ ascended to heaven, we know with certainty that the apostles went out and established churches without…
Read MoreSelecting a Quality Bible
by Wayne Goforth Many articles have been written over the years concerning various translations of the Bible available. Which ones are good and reliable, which should be avoided like the plague, the specific errors or positive qualities, etc. of each. This series, however, views the physical construction of Bibles and their pros and cons of…
Read MoreHas the Bible Been Changed?
by Greg Gwin We are frequently asked about the reliability of our Bibles. Specifically, how can we be sure that the Bibles we are reading today are true to the original messages delivered so long ago? In particular, can we be sure that the New Testament has not been altered and changed in the almost…
Read MoreThe Character of the Bible’s Witnesses
by Jerry Blount “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the LORD, and there is no…
Read MoreThe Bible and The Old Wicker Coal Basket
Revised by Kenneth E. Thomas The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried…
Read MoreWhich Translation Should I Use?
Text: John 17 I. A question that I’m asked repeatedly is which translation is best? A. It is a good question because in English alone, one brother made a list of 128 different translations. The majority of them have been compiled in the last 100 years. B. Part of the reason for the wide variety is the…
Read MoreThe Scriptures
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Scriptures.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 24:33-49 I. How do you look at the Bible? A. Lately I’ve talked to people with wide opinions concerning the things written 1. One person seems to take great pleasure in locating and pointing every apparent inconsistency he can find in God’s Word. a. It is obvious to all that he…
Read MoreNotes on the Bible
Authored by God Galatians 1:11-12 2 Peter 1:21 Complete Guide Leviticus 10:1-2 Deuteronomy 4:2 Deuteronomy 12:32 Numbers 20:7-12 2 Chronicles 26:16-21 Proverbs 30:5-6 Matthew 15:9 Acts 17:11 1 Corinthians 4:6 Galatians 1:6-10 Galatians 3:15 Colossians 2:18-23 1 Timothy 1:3 2 Timothy 3:16 Titus 1:14 2 Peter 1:3 1 John 4:1 2 John 9 Jude 3…
Read MoreThe Development of the New Testament Text
by Jim Snapp II The history of the development of the New Testament begins (of course) with the original text. The first document to contain the original text is called the “autograph.” That is what the “A” in this box stands for. By “autograph,” I do not necessarily mean the text written by the main…
Read MoreBiblical Infallibility: Can We Trust the Bible?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Trust in the scriptures is important to every Christian. The Bible is the center of our faith. A. We are Christians because we believe that God exists and that the Bible is God’s word – II Tim. 3:16 B. Believing in the Bible’s message will save our souls – James 1:21, I Thess.…
Read MoreIn Case You Thought There Were Facts Behind “The Da Vinci Code”
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The April 8, 2006 issue of the Omaha World-Herald contained an interesting follow-up on the lawsuit by Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh, authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail, against Dan Brown, the author of the very popular The Da Vinci Code. The article contained some very telling conclusions by the judge in the case. London…
Read MoreThe New Testament Canon
The New Testament Canon – Part 1The New Testament Canon – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. On the night of Jesus’ betrayal, Jesus promised his troubled disciples that he would send a helper – John 14:16 A. The helper would be the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth – John 14:17 B. His purpose in coming…
Read MoreHow do you explain that the church is the pillar and ground of the truth?
Question: About the authority of the church: Do you have a response to I Timothy 3:15 where the church of God is referred to as the pillar and ground of truth? Whereas the Bible is never referred to because it did not exist until the church put it together? How can you accept the product of the…
Read MoreWhich version of the Bible is most accurate?
Question: I have a question about which version of the Bible is most accurate. Some believe that the King James Version 1611 is the only one that is the true Word of God. Then I hear otherwise. Also, the church I attend uses the New King James Version and the New Century Version. I was…
Read MoreWhere do I find a list of God’s laws in the Bible?
Question: Where in the Bible do I find a clear list of God’s law? Answer: You are expecting something from God’s word that it is not. The Bible is not a reference book where you can look under the topic “Law” and find everything you need to know, nor is it a set of statutes…
Read MoreThe Scriptures Alone?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 1 I. A fellow preacher received a question and he asked me what I thought about it. A. “Where in the Bible does it tell us that the Bible is the only or ultimate source of authority? I cannot find it anywhere! II Timothy 3:16 is the closest, but…
Read MoreNotes on the Law of Liberty
What is the Law of Liberty? The law of liberty is something that a person can look intently at, to listen to, and to put into practice – James 1:22-25 The law of liberty is something that we are judged by and can be transgressed. It includes laws such as not showing partiality, loving your…
Read MoreNotes on the Organization of the Bible
Old Testament Divison Purpose Books Books of Moses History of the World Genesis Law Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy History History of Israel Joshua Judges Ruth I Samuel II Samuel I Kings II Kings I Chronicles II Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Wisdom Poems Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Prophets Major Prophets (longer books) Isaiah…
Read MoreWhy Four Gospels?
by Shane Carrington “Take your child to work day.” What a great idea! How many young people see Dad as a father, yard-mower, car-washer, and neighbor, but never see him in his role as employee? Truthfully, we all take on different jobs that say many things about who we are. Just viewing one facet of…
Read MoreWhy do some consider the minor prophets one book?
Question: Why do some consider Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi all to be one book? Answer: The books that you refer to are commonly called the minor prophets. They are not minor because they are unimportant, but because their writings were short — so short that back…
Read MoreWhy are Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles divided into two books each?
Question: Why are Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles divided into two books each? Answer: In earlier times books were written on scrolls — long strips of parchment or similar material. The strips were wound around two sticks. This works well for small books, but large books become cumbersome. Imagine trying to look up a passage that you…
Read MoreWhat is the background of each book in the Bible?
Question: Tell me about the background of each book of the Bible. What was the reason for writing each book? Answer: The Old Testament The Books of the Law of Moses Genesis: The history of beginnings. The book describes how the world came to be, where man came from, and how the world ended up…
Read MoreWhich Bible translations are the best?
Question: Which Bible translations have the highest accuracy? Answer: At one time Bible translations were an arduous task that took years, if not decades to complete. Now translations are appearing in rapid succession and it is becoming difficult to keep up with the many that are available. I’ll restrict my comments to those translations of…
Read MoreHow do we know the Bible is inspired?
Question: How do we know absolutely that the Bible is the infallible and inspired Word of God? How did the Bible as we know it today come into existence? Answer: Entire books have been written on the subject of the inspiration of the Bible. It is unlikely that I will be able to address the…
Read MoreIs the Bible the only source of authority?
Question: Where in the Bible does it tell us that the Bible is the only or ultimate source of authority? I cannot find it anywhere! II Timothy 3:16 is the closest, but it does not say only! Where in history, the Bible, or the writings of the early Church was this concept ever taught? Since the church did…
Read More