Results 281 - 300 of 568
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: MJH Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
281 | Expound on Mark 11:15-19 | Mark 11:17 | MJH | 186244 | ||
The temple had a "court of the Gentiles" where non-Jews could come to worship the One true God. The Sanhedrin decided to make things run smoother; the only lamb you could use at Passover was the lambs they raised and sold. That way they could streamline the "approval" process of the sacrifice. At least this was their said reasoning. Actually they were jacking up the price so high that those coming from far away, not only would not be able to use the lamb they brought, but they could not afford the lambs being sold. Their worship on Passover was in jeopardy. The reason they sold in the court of the Gentiles was because there just wasn't room anywhere else. So the Gentiles had no place to worship the One True God. There was dung everywhere. So Jesus (and others before and after him) drove out the money changers. Jesus called them a "den of thieves" but he also said, "My house is a house of prayer for ALL NATIONS." He said this because the Gentiles were being left out. The "den of thieves" carries with it an additional jab at the Herodians. Herod was often referred to as a "fox" in the first century. Paul latter says that the "wall of separation" is removed. He is talking about the wall that divided Gentiles and Jews in the Temple. Ezekiel’s temple also does not have a "wall of separation." MJH |
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282 | Receiving Communion if not married | 1 Cor 11:24 | MJH | 186243 | ||
Would getting married in the church now be a sin, or would it be wrong to do so when you are already married in God's eyes? If this matter is of such importance to your spouse and for you it is only an unnecessary act, then it might be best to follow him in this matter. For example, to you this is probably a 2 on a scale of 10. But for him it's a 10. I agree with Doc, who gave a great response, but based only on the text you typed in your question and knowing nothing else, I would encourage you to get married in the church as soon as possible. MJH P.S. – Doc and I agree most the time…except when he isn’t correct ;-) |
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283 | Destiny of created beings | Is 14:12 | MJH | 186242 | ||
Finder, You seem to have some VERY good questions. I was a bit disappointed in the responses you received so far. Sure, you could read mountains of books on theology, but your questions are also for what this forum is meant. I do believe that some people appear to dislike difficult questions, or questions that appear to carry presuppositions that don't agree with them. Personally I think everyone of your questions is valid not only to be asked here, but also to be asked of the Almighty Himself. They reveal your heart's ache and your desire to come to terms with evil in a world created by complete Good. All this being said, I'd spend several hours answering every one of your questions. How about doing this...ask one question at a time. I will try my best, if you respond to this post, to answer, and others tend to answer one question at a time better than so many. But either way....keep asking questions. MJH |
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284 | Help Bible study to accept differences? | Acts 20:7 | MJH | 185333 | ||
Hey Hank. Thanks for the quote. That was good. I also printed up a long history of the change from Saturday to Sunday that, surprisingly, did not include the often biased misinterpretations. I'll print your response too and include it when or if necessary. The "Torah Club" is studying the Bible in the same way Jesus did following the yearly Torah and Haftarah portions that all Jews do today and did back in the first century. (Actually Jesus probably followed the three year cycle.) The Torah Club includes 2 years in the first five books, 1 year of the Haftarah (the rest of the Old Testament), 1 year in the Gospels, and 1 year in Acts-Revelations. It is written from a Jewish believer in Jesus as Messiah. I avoid using terms like "Messianic Jew" and "Hebrew roots" because they carry different meanings to different people. This has been by far the best study I have been in and continue in personally. I do not agree with everything in the study, but then I don't agree with everything others say either. MJH |
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285 | Biblical views on castration | Matt 19:12 | MJH | 185332 | ||
Hank, Just a clarification. I was not arguing that the Old Testament was replaced, but rather the opposite. Your quote of mine is my quote of the previous poster who stated that the New "replaced" the Old. So I agree with you in that part of your note; that the Old is not done away with. I separate from you in that the Mosaic Covenant from Sinai is done away with. I think it is not. How that all plays out in doctrine is about a 500 page book or so, but Paul and James make is quite clear that the Mosaic Covenant from Sinai was not done away with in Acts 21-23, and Jesus of course in Matt 5:17-19, and the book of James particularly where as Jews in the first century equated "good works" with "doing the commands." That's a bit of a simplified statement to something more complex, but in short, when we were created in Christ Jesus to do "good works" which were prepared in advance for us before the creation of the world. This is speaking of "Torah" which had been assumed in the first century to have been conceived before the creation of the World. (One of the seven things that the Oral Torah taught came before "In the beginning.") Also, to "repent" which consequently is absent in Paul's teaching, had a specific meaning. Repent is to turn back, but one has to have something to "turn back" too. That is why John and Jesus could say, "repent" because the Jews were to "turn back to Torah" or the right way of living in the land. Paul does not tell the Gentiles to "repent" because it would not have made any sense. "Repent" to what? My old pagan ways? Of course not. They were to convert to a whole knew life, leaving the old life behind. "Do not go back to your old ways in which you once lived." In fact, Paul taught the Gentiles to "not repent." It's also true in our evangelism efforts. Words mean something. The way of God is a specific defined Way of living. To live in this way invites the "Kingdom of God" into our lives both now and in the world to come. A little rambling..... MJH |
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286 | Biblical views on castration | Matt 19:12 | MJH | 185301 | ||
You mention that the New Testament replaces the Old Testament and then quote a verse that says the very opposite. Matt 5:17-19 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Jesus did not come to put away or do away or replace the [Old Testament] but to [Do it completely]. Jesus came and lived it perfectly. In fact He was the Torah in flesh. But He never says that it is null and void. In fact the very next verse says "whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments...will be called least in the Kingdom." What you just stated was that Jesus Himself annulled not just the least, but the whole thing. Is He least in His own Kingdom? Thankfully it will only render many Christians "least" in the Kingdom, and not left out. And by "least" Jesus does not refer to some future punishment or place in line, but that because they annul the commands, they will not experience the true fullness of the Kingdom now, here, in this life and the next. Because they ignore some of the Law, they miss out on all God has for them. As far as castration is concerned, the Bible prohibited the castrated person from entering the Temple because of this deformity. God uses such pictures to demonstrate who He is, Holy. If being castrated meant being separated from God Himself (which it did not in the Old or New Testament) then why does Philip teach and baptize the eunuch in Acts 8? Romans 8:1-3 doesn't apply to the eunuch because being a eunuch was not a sin, it was simply of state of being. MJH MJH |
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287 | Help Bible study to accept differences? | Not Specified | MJH | 185299 | ||
I am a facilitator for a new Bible study group called "Torah Club." My job was to make sure the group melded well and not to be the answer man. I left them in early January and everything seemed to be going well. Now the group has a problem. The question is about the Sabbath and when it is. One member insists the Sabbath is on Saturday and the others are unsure (apparently). Now, I know that the Sabbath is Saturday, that isn't really a debate. The seventh day has always been the seventh day. But the question is which day ought we to observe as the (or a) Sabbath. I have my own beliefs in this area, but how might I guide the group so that they can continue to function as a community equally striving to learn God's Word. And to do this while accepting others who either are not as far along as them, or maybe have a different understanding of God's Word? My own study group, we do not all agree on a lot of things, but it just doesn't seem to be a problem. Some times its fun to poke at each other based on our differences. I'd like this group to have that same acceptance of each other and Monday night I will be meeting with them to help them achieve this. Any suggestions? MJH |
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288 | Help Bible study to accept differences? | Acts 20:7 | MJH | 185307 | ||
I am a facilitator for a new Bible study group called "Torah Club." My job was to make sure the group melded well and not to be the answer man. I left them in early January and everything seemed to be going well. Now the group has a problem. The question is about the Sabbath and when it is. One member insists the Sabbath is on Saturday and the others are unsure (apparently). Now, I know that the Sabbath is Saturday, that isn't really a debate. The seventh day has always been the seventh day. But the question is which day ought we to observe as the (or a) Sabbath. I have my own beliefs in this area, but how might I guide the group so that they can continue to function as a community equally striving to learn God's Word. And to do this while accepting others who either are not as far along as them, or maybe have a different understanding of God's Word? My own study group, we do not all agree on a lot of things, but it just doesn't seem to be a problem. Some times its fun to poke at each other based on our differences. I'd like this group to have that same acceptance of each other and Monday night I will be meeting with them to help them achieve this. Any suggestions? MJH |
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289 | what is without form and void0 | Gen 1:1 | MJH | 184754 | ||
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290 | what is without form and void0 | Gen 1:2 | MJH | 184752 | ||
"The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters." In the beginning there was darkness and chaos. Lack of order and light. The beginning of the Bible begins the two kingdoms of Light and Darkness, Life or death. Order or disorder. After this verse you begin to see light then order enter the void. The first verse is a preamble of sorts. It saying that in the beginning God created the heaven's and Earth, and then proceeds to explain how. Reading this in Hebrew blew me away. It is very poetic and filled with meaning. So much in these verses, too much to get into in this reply. The Spirit (or Holy Spirit) is "fluttering" like a dove would over the disordered dark chaos. The dove represents the Holy Spirit because it hovers. The Holy Spirit is seen as a wind or hovering. Here the world begins with chaos and God enters in. It's as if the kingdom of Satan was here first and God began an invasion. Anyway, those are my thoughts on this beautiful part of scripture. MJH |
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291 | What is the role of sex-drive/beauty? | 1 John 2:16 | MJH | 184750 | ||
Maybe the new book by Rob Bell Jr. would be helpful. It is entitled "Sex God" and no, it is not an autobiography. I have not read it all yet, but I have heard several audio messages about the topic and I think it would do you well to read or get from the Library. MJH |
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292 | Jesus getting the keys to hell | Rev 1:18 | MJH | 184749 | ||
The phrase "keys to death and Hades" has nothing to do with Hell as we understand it. It's simply a pictorial way of referring to the resurrection being made real because of Jesus. MJH |
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293 | Acts:What was the role of Gamaliel? | Acts 22:3 | MJH | 184748 | ||
Gamaliel was a very respected and good Rabbi during the days of Jesus and Paul. Probably one of the best during Paul's day. In Paul's day, Jewish boys in there early teens would want to follow a Rabbi. They would find a Rabbi they hoped to follow and ask. The Rabbi usually did not accept them, they limited their disciples to a few, never more than 70 at a time, but usually much less. To be a diciple of Gamaliel would mean the young man had the Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) committed to memory in Hebrew, and most likely all of the Old Testament. Paul would have begun walking with Gamaliel at a young age in his teens. To be a disciple of Gamaleil was saying a huge thing. It might be like saying, “I studied under Charles Spurgeon.” Jesus disciples too would have been in their teens, with the exception of Peter who was over 20 at the end of Jesus' ministry for sure. Following a Rabbi was not just learning what they knew and taught. Following a Rabbi meant becoming like the Rabbi. It was a total immersion. Gamaliel was more lenient (some say Liberal, but that has current political connotations that confuse.) He was not in the majority in his day. After the Jewish wars of the late 60's, most of the school of Shamie was killed off and the school of Hillel (Gamaliel's Grandfather) is the teaching that lived on and does to this day. Paul, by stoning Stephen, was NOT following the advice of his Rabbi, who would do almost anything to prevent the death penalty. The Torah is for LIFE not death. When Jesus meets the woman caught in adultery and they ask if she should be stoned, Jesus is following the logic and path of Hillel. Jesus and Hillel agree most of the time except when it comes to divorce. Jesus remained very strict on the limits of divorce. So Gamaliel was a good guy. He lived during the time of the Messiah, and even though he was a shinning star of Torah teaching in his day, even he missed the Messiah. MJH |
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294 | Did Jesus speak Greek in this verse? | Matt 16:18 | MJH | 181820 | ||
Thanks for the reply. Another good book is "Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus" by Bivin. But most on this forum stick stubernly to the Aramaic theory unfortunately. MJH |
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295 | Did Jesus speak Greek in this verse? | Matt 16:18 | MJH | 181770 | ||
What language Jesus normally spoke in is not my question. I know the answer to that, but this verse if originally spoken in any other language than Greek does not have the word play that Jesus is using. That is why when reading it this time, I was struck with a "hmmmm, that's weird, I wonder?" question. It's actually not that important to understanding the text etc... but I get inquisitive about this stuff sometimes. I don't know enough about Semitic languages to know how it would have sounded in those languages, but in English, the whole play on words is lacking. MJH |
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296 | What author in the Bible influences you? | 2 Tim 3:16 | MJH | 181757 | ||
I think first would be Moses, then Jesus, then Paul. Moses for the Torah of course, Jesus because he is the Messiah and interprets the Torah so well, and Paul for the shear volume. MJH |
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297 | Did Jesus speak Greek in this verse? | Matt 16:18 | MJH | 181756 | ||
I was wondering if any of you thought Jesus actually used the Greek language in this verse? I am not sure how else this would make sense. The play on words works in Greek, but does it work in Hebrew? Jesus was in a Greek pagan region, and I suppose it is possible he used Greek supposing some locals were there at this time who didn't speak Hebrew, but it is perplexing to me. Any thoughts? MJH |
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298 | The "dramatic addition" is extrabiblical | Luke 2:5 | MJH | 181514 | ||
In John 8:41, those Jesus is confronting say to him, "We are not illegitimate children..." I have heard more than one person mention that this may have been a jab at Jesus' questionable birth. It's not conclusive, but just a thought. Here is what I think.... Mary and Joseph go to the census during the feast of booths (Joseph would be going to Jerusalem anyway at that time, and Bethlehem was very close by so it “kills two birds with one stone”. The Romans usually had a window of time to register.) Since Bethlehem was Joseph's home town, many relatives would have been there. So why did they not find "room?" Really...a pregnant woman can't find room in their hometown? I figure 1 of 2 possibilities. 1) Joseph and Mary were ostracized by their family due to the questionable pregnancy, and her odd explanation. After the birth, the relatives relented and accepted them, especially after the witness of the shepherds from Migol Eder (the Temple shepherds) which would have confirmed Mary and Joseph's story from a third party. This is why later in Matthews story we see them in a home. 2) From Archeology we learn that the INN near Bethlehem was typical of the times. The people lived above and the animals. For any privacy, people could descend into the stable area below the housing (The stables below the housing served to warm the housing and give those staying close watch of their animals.) It is thought that for privacy, people could expel the animals from an area of the stable, clean it up, and find privacy. Since this time was so busy given a Festival at Jerusalem, the INN would be packed. Theory 2 does not match the history of being born in a cave, but does match archeology and inferences. As far as the people in Bethlehem NOT knowing about the questions surrounding Mary’s pregnancy assumes that the relatives from Bethlehem and Nazareth never communicated, which is hard to believe since they met at least 3 times a year at the feasts. Also, then why didn’t Mary and Joseph find accommodations with family if they had no reason to keep them apart. It is doubtful that the time of arrival and the time of birth were far removed. If not that night, then within a week would make most sense, but the text is not clear about how long they waited. MJH |
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299 | Baptism in order to be saved? | 1 Cor 12:13 | MJH | 181512 | ||
Baptism was a very Jewish ritual that was practiced for hundreds of years before Jesus and is still practiced today in the Jewish life. To keep this post short, I'll speak only of the baptism into the community. Gentiles who wanted to become a Jew had to perform certain actions and make certain pronouncements, but in the end, they were "baptized" dying to their old self and being re-born as a Jew. This was how things were done in Jesus’ day and prior. When Paul and the Apostles began a knew sect of Judaism called "The Way" or Christianity, they did not continue to convert a person to becoming a "Jew", but rather accepted Gentiles into the community of the Messiah based on belief in the Messiah, accepting His yoke, and being baptized. A Gentile died to his old "ways" and was re-born into a knew life into the community of believers. Baptism has always been seen as an outward symbol of an inward reality. Both in the Jewish life and Christian. For Jews to enter the Temple and go near the Holy God, one needed to be "holy" or "ritually clean." Everyone was baptized every time they wanted to enter the Temple. This act did not clean them or make them Holy (you had to be ritually clean, or holy, before entering the Mikvah aka Baptismal). If a person dies before baptism and enters the Heavenly Temple, they are still made holy by Jesus sacrifice and can enter the presence of God based on that fact. Missing the baptism will not cause a person to loose their right standing before God. In Judaism, when a person dies the people doing the burial will get “baptized” before they work on the body, they will clean and finally "baptize" the dead body and bury the person, and finally get "baptized" again after the burial. They did this to prepare the dead for the coming of the Messiah in the world to come. (Paul speaks of this rite when he argues for the Resurrection and asks, "If there is no resurrection then why are people being baptized for the dead?") The people doing the burial are doing all of this because they have faith that this person will rise again and will enter the presence of God. I hope this helps some rather than confuse. MJH |
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300 | Vegetarianism and the bible | Gen 9:3 | MJH | 179603 | ||
Where as it is not wrong to eat animals as is stated in Genesis 9:3 for all peoples and it is not wrong for Isreal to eat certain animals regarded as "clean" it is also not wrong for a person to refrain from eating any flesh. If you are a vegitarian, then God bless you in your choice. You may be better prepared in some ways for the "World to come." MJH |
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