Did man eat meat before the Fall and the Flood?
The Bible does not specifically answer this question. However, let's briefly examine some of the arguments. The first argument assumes there was no death at all before the Fall. From this follows…
Did Jesus ride a colt, a donkey, or both?
Matthew 21:2-7: Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me ... They brought the donkey and the colt and put…
What commandment(s) did Adam violate in the Fall?
This is a good question, because the fall of Adam isn't merely about the definite sin of eating a piece of forbidden fruit. It's about all the sins behind this sin of sins as well. It concerns the…
Did it rain before Noah's Flood?
Thanks for your question. The Scripture does not specifically answer this question. There are good theologians on both sides of the issue. Some scholar's state there was rain before the Flood, others…
Grain...dying...fruit? What does John 12:24 mean?
John 12:24: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. In context, Jesus is just about to speak more…
Can your briefly explain election in Romans 8:29-30?
I apologize, but this answer even in a very brief form is rather long. But in attempting to keep it as simple as possible: Romans 8:29-30 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be…
What does Higgaion and Selah mean?
Both Higgaion and Selah are used numerous times in the Old Testament. They occur together in Psalm 9:16. The meanings of these words are uncertain. We observe Higgaion in such passages as Psalm 9:16…
Freemasonry and Idolatry
Thanks for your question. This is a topic very close to my heart as my own father was a Mason. When he died he didn’t go to Heaven. Though a devote Freemason, he never knew Christ as his Lord and…
What's the meaning of I AM?
Names are important to God. In the beginning, he named Adam. The Hebrew word for man ( adam ) is the generic term for mankind and was the proper name Adam (cf. Gen 2:20; 3:17, 20; 5:2). As God's…
Is the NIV a good translation?
The NIV is a very good translation. It is, however, a "dynamic equivalent" translation. That is, they translate "thought for thought" rather than "word for word." That makes it more "readable" than…
What is the Raelism?
Raelism, or the Raelian Movement, is another UFO religion and claims to be the largest. The Raelians (Raelism, the Raelian Movement) are the followers of a cult founded in 1974 by the French auto…
Were Ruth and Naomi Lesbians?
Thanks for your question. Lesbianism is condemned in Scripture (Rom 1:26-27; cf. Lev 18:3 - the Sifra [an early rabbinic commentary on the book of Leviticus] interprets this passage to include that…
What are the Acrostic Psalms?
An acrostic is a poem in which the initial letters of each successive line form a word, phrase, or pattern. The acrostic Psalms tend to use the twenty-two letters with a few slight variations, of the…
Will Old Testament animal sacrifices be restored when Christ returns?
While there are different views concerning this, from what I consider the correct view of eschatology, which is amillennialism, I would say there absolutely will be no animal sacrifices. Let's divide…
Homosexuality and the Centurion's Servant?
Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10, and John 4:43-54 (see below) are interesting passages. Each contains a story concerning a Centurion (meaning "captain of 100"). Though closely related the different…
Why did the Ark require pitch?
Genesis 6:14 Make yourself an ark [ tebah ] of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch [ kopher ]. Exodus 2:3 When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a…
What is the meaning of Day in Genesis 1?
I previously wrote that the Hebrew word yom in Genesis 1, literally means a 24-hour Day, as supported by: (1) Yom's Sabbath Day usage in Exodus 20:9-11 (cf. Gen. 1:1-2:3). (2) Yom's appearance with…
Explaining Romans 7:14-25
Romans 7:14-25: For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now…
What is the New Lord's Prayer?
The "real" Lord’s Prayer is seen in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. The so-called "New Lord’s Prayer" (or NLP) reads as follows: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come…
Death of Animals and Man - Ecclesiastes 3:19
Ecclesiastes 3:19 Mans fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is…
Genesis 4:26 Began vs. Profane
Genesis 4:26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD. First, I believe the more correct interpretation of Genesis 4:26 would be to use the…
What does Legion mean?
First, let’s look at the meaning of the word "legion." It probably originated in Roman times. A Roman Legion officially consisted of approximately 6000 fighting men. Its basic structure went…
Does God the Father have a soul?
Thanks for your question. The answer depends upon how we use or interpret the word "soul." God created Adam and Eve in a unique way in comparison with the remainder of His creation, such as plants…
Does "all Scripture" in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 mean both testaments?
Thank you for your question. I'm persuaded that the preponderance of the evidence below reveals beyond any reasonable doubt that Paul is referring to both the New and Old Testament Scripture in his…