Where does the Bible say the people of Babel defied God?

Question: Good day, I’m slightly confused about Scripture and interpretation here. The story of Babel is always propped up as a story of man’s defiance of God’s will, but nowhere do I see the Bible actually state that they defied God. Yes, they did go against God’s command. God wanted people to disperse around the…

Read More

How can angels eat?

Question: Dear Brother in Christ, Can you please explain Genesis 18:8 where it says Abraham offered them a calf, curds, and milk and they ate. Thanks. Answer: Before Abraham meets the three strangers, we were told that the Lord appeared to Abraham (Genesis 18:1). As the story progresses, one of the men begins to be…

Read More

Hagar and Exclusion

by Matthew W. Bassford This became apparent last week when we studied the use of the story of Lot by Jesus and Peter. Today, gospel preachers like to bag on Lot. They condemn him for “pitching his tent towards Sodom” and point to the corruption of his family with grim satisfaction. By contrast, the New…

Read More

The Sin of Sodom

by Matthew W. Bassford The most famous example of homosexual activity in the entire Bible occurs in the early part of Genesis 19. There, two angels in human form come to the city of Sodom and pretend to be travelers seeking hospitality. The patriarch Lot invites them into his home, but at evening, the men…

Read More

Saved Through Water

by Matthew W. Bassford Genesis 7:11-24 tells the story of the greatest cataclysm ever to overtake the earth. Because the wickedness of man was great on the earth, God sent a flood to cleanse it by destroying everything that lived on the land. In this flood, every human being died except for eight. The patriarch…

Read More

The Nephilim

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton (Short Talk) Text: Genesis 6:1-4   I.         There are three groups mentioned in our reading:             A.        The Nephilim             B.        The sons of God             C.        The daughters of men II.        It is frequently claimed that the Nephilim were beings who resulted from fallen angels having sexual relations with humans             A.        But angels are spiritual beings – Hebrews 1:14…

Read More

I think Adam and Eve sinned simultaneously

Question: Dear Minister: Adam and Eve Sinned Simultaneously. In “How Long Is A Day?” you said, “If Eve was not the first to sin, then what do we do with Paul’s proof in I Timothy 2:14?” First, consider the source (Saul|Paul, aka 18 verses in Acts 22:24-29; 22:30; 23:1-5; 23:6-11). Paul’s argument started from the wrong…

Read More

I’m confused by the names of Esau’s wives

Question: Hi, I have a question regarding the question asked to you: “Was Mahaleth a Canaanite and did Esau marry her to get back at his father Isaac?” Part of your reply mentioned Genesis 28:9, “so Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael.” In my Bible, it says that Esau took…

Read More

Did eating from the forbidden tree give Adam and Eve intelligence?

Question: After Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, they realized they were naked. Is it not that some kind of intelligence that was revealed in their mind? I am saying this because chimpanzees and other animals move around nude without realizing they are naked. Answer: Intelligence was already shown in the complexity of…

Read More

Remember Lot’s Wife

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Remember-Lots-Wife.mp3 by Ralph Walker Was Lot’s wife’s death an unfair result of a simple reflexive action? Preaching the Bloody Bible

Read More

Noah and the Flood

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Noah-and-the-Flood.mp3 by Ralph Walker A worldwide flood? Destroying all humans except eight people? Seriously? Preaching the Bloody Bible

Read More

Science Confirms Flood Timeline

Source: Jeffrey P. Tomkins, Ph.D., “Y-Chromosome Study Confirms Genesis Flood Timeline,” ICR.org, 17 December 2019. “In this current study, the authors note that if humans have actually been around for several hundred thousand years or more, they should have accumulated 8 to 59 times the amount of mutations that we currently observe in Y-chromosome DNA…

Read More

Jacob Blesses His Sons

Some thoughts on Genesis 49 by Jefferson David Tant Prophecy and its fulfillment present some of the strongest evidence of the inspiration of the Scriptures. This presents a strong challenge to those who seek to deny that the Bible is of Divine origin. The apostles also recognized the significance of prophecy, as so often they…

Read More

Were there other animals in the garden beside the serpent?

Question: Were there animals in the garden of Eden apart from the snake that Satan used as his tool? Answer: On the sixth day, prior to Eve being created, we are told: “Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to…

Read More

How did Adam find Eve?

Question: I hope you can answer these for me: When Adam worked in the Garden, did he have to work and show he was worthy Eve for God to present her to him? I understand the help meet part, but did God make Adam for Eve or Eve for Adam? I know it was a…

Read More

Did Ham have sex with his mother?

Question: I just read your answer to the question about whether boys should see one another naked as in locker rooms, etc. In the Bible, when Ham “saw his father’s nakedness,” that does not mean he literally saw his father without clothing on. It literally meant that he had sex with his father’s wife. That…

Read More

I’m confused by the apparent compilation of records in Genesis

Question: I have been reading your material in Genesis and find your conclusions intriguing on the book being a collection of inspired records that Moses made under the direction of the Holy Spirit.  I am creating material for my daily Genesis podcast, so I want to ensure that I’m accurately portraying this part of your…

Read More

Did animals start eating meat after the fall of man?

Question: Thank you for the wonderful and comprehensive website with so much Bible-based information.  I’m reading it daily and learning so much. Many thanks. One question comes to mind that I did not find an answer to, although the Bible does mention that the first animals in creation ate the grasses of the field.  Were…

Read More

What about other cultures that have different creation and flood accounts?

Question: Hey Jeffrey, I have a question: I just started a daily Bible reading program and went back over the history of mankind, creation, and the generations. I am wondering: Are these the only people who were living on the Earth at this time? How would you compare Genesis with other ancient civilizations’ generations or…

Read More

The sins of Sodom were not homosexual

Question: The sins of Sodom were not homosexual. The Bible itself tells us of her sins at least fourteen different places. This is false teaching at its worse. So why aren’t the fourteen verses stating her sins posted? Answer: Isn’t it interesting that you give a very specific number of passages regarding the sins of…

Read More

Can you help me with some questions from an atheist?

Question: I appreciate so much your willingness to answer questions. Here are the things which confuse me from an atheist: Why did Adam and Eve realize they were naked when there was not yet a concept of being clothed? Why was Adam lonely when he was in a perfect place and with God? I’m starting…

Read More

Joseph’s Brothers

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/JosephsBrothers.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

Read More

Was Cain conceived by Satan?

Question: [Since the author believes himself wise, I left the original note unedited.] Who ever said that Cain is Adams’ son and not the devil or Satan the Dragon or what ever name you want to use is out of there mind Very simply first check the Hebrew manuscripts and you’ll find that Eve had…

Read More

Shouldn’t there be 12 children in Genesis 32:22?

Question: Good morning, I am working on my Bible class lesson for my Bible class tonight. While reviewing Jacob’s children up to this point in Genesis, he should have 12 children: 11 sons and 1 daughter. However, Genesis 32:22 says that Jacob sent his two wives, two maids, and 11 children across the Jabbok. I…

Read More

What made God say that Abraham will be the father of the nation?

Question: What made God say that Abraham will be the father of the nation? Answer: God promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations. See: How was Abraham famous? God didn’t have to offer that promise. He chose to make that promise and through that promise we see God’s power. “And we desire…

Read More

Your commentary on Joseph was extremely helpful

Question: Hello, I’m reading through the Bible and wanted to let you know I came across your website while looking for a commentary on Joseph. I found the insights listed on your page extremely helpful and wanted you to know. Have a good day! Answer: Thank you for taking the time to write and let me…

Read More

Which book should be first, Job or Genesis?

Question: I’m confused. A brother mentioned what I understood to mean that Job was to be the first book in the Bible and not Genesis. Since then I have done my own research and am now seriously confused. The way I see it is “Does it really matter?” There are considerably good points brought up…

Read More

Since the Y-chromosome doesn’t activate until the fifth week, does this mean everyone starts out as female and that the first human could not be a male?

Question: There’s this meme going around that some people are trying to use against Creationism. It says, “All humans begin as female. The Y chromosome — which is only present in males — is not activated in the first 5-6 weeks of embryonic development.” Anyway, they’re trying to say that Adam couldn’t have been the…

Read More

What did the animals eat after leaving the ark?

Question: How did plants survive in the flood? Where did animals, like cattle, get their food after being released from the ark? Answer: Plant seeds can float and survive a flood, as evidenced by plants sprouting after the flood. “Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf…

Read More

Was Eve formed from Adam’s rib or Adam’s side?

Question: Was the word “rib” the correct translation in Genesis chapter 2? The NIV gives in their footnotes that it is a rib or he took a part from Adam’s side. So which is right? Answer: The Hebrew word tsela, can mean a rib, or a part of the side. How you translate it doesn’t matter.…

Read More

Were Adam and Eve married?

Question: Hello! This might be a dumb question but someone brought it up today at school and it was a little confusing. If premarital sex is a sin, Adam and Eve weren’t married, and they had sex. So is that why we are all born in sin? Answer: Actually, it is a very good question.…

Read More

Did the skins for the first clothing come from a sacrifice?

Question: Where did the “skins” come from that God used to cloth Adam and Eve? Genesis 3:20-21. Did this skin come from an animal? Wouldn’t this action by God be considered the “first” sacrifice? Please clarify. Thank you. Answer: After God issued the punishments to Adam and Eve for their sin, he took animal skins and made…

Read More

What about the claim that camels were not used during Abraham’s time?

Question: All these links keep popping up on my Facebook feed due to atheistic friends. Could you explain this one to me as well? It’s got me stumped, not enough to discredit the Bible or anything, but another to make me feel confused.  Carbon Dating on Camel Bones Contradicts Bible’s Accuracy Thanks. Answer: The claim…

Read More

Did God create other people besides Adam and Eve?

Question: Mr. Hamilton, I have a question: Were there any other people on Earth at the time of Cain and Abel or at the time of Adam and Eve were created? Because the Bible says Adam and Eve were the first two humans created. However, in Genesis, after Cain killed Abel, he was afraid of…

Read More

How did Jacob know he was wrestling with God?

Question: Please, how did Jacob know he was wrestling with God, saying that “I won’t let you go until you bless me?” Answer: “Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of…

Read More