Practical application of Pentecostal theology in politics, economy and social issues
Papias was a church father from 60-130 AD. It is often said that he represents an authentic chain of tradition back to the original apostles as he has connections to either John, or elders related to the apostles.
As such, Papias often bec…
In most articles I read online, the claim is that the Gospels originally were anonymous and that the current names were assigned to them in the 2nd century by the apostolic fathers in order to give them more authority.
What is the evidence…
Mark 16:8 seems much too abrupt for an ending to the Gospel of Mark. The textual evidence indicates that none of the four endings we now have after Mark 16:8 are original, in other words the original ending was lost. The ending may have …
With respect to the below scripture, why is it difficult for rich people to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
Matthew 19:23-24 (ESV)
23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the ki…
Another question of semantics – was the cock’s crow which Jesus prophesied Peter would hear before he betrayed Him thrice, the crow of a rooster or a trumpet blast which happened every 3 hours, or so.
The narrative of Jesus’ cleansing of the temple is present in all four gospels: Mark 11:15-17, Matthew 21:12-13, Luke 19:45-46, John 2:13-17. When He cleanses the temple, there does not seem to be any immediate legal ramification. No one s…
Matthew 3:4 and Mark 1:6 describe the food of John the Baptist as locusts and wild honey. The word locust takes different definitions as follows:
a. large and mainly tropical grasshopper with strong powers of flight. It is usually solit…
If sinners refers to the hard core, notoriously evil people (1 Timothy 1:9), why are tax collectors singled out? (When Jesus is caught eating with them, Luke 15:1, Mark 2:15, Matthew 9:11, 11:19, Luke 5:30) (Gk. ‘oi ‘amartoloi)
Or is sinne…
What was Judaism like in the Second Temple period? It was diverse. Very diverse. This week Pinchas Shir tells us about where that diversity came from and why we only talk about four of the more than ten divisions of Judaism from that time. We …
In John 20:24-25 one reads
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Then, Thomas answered as if he really believed what was in front of him (John 20:28)
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
To which Jesus replied
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
As Jesus only addresses the component of the vision, does it mean that for Thomas that was enough?
Notes:
Emphasis throughout the verses was mine.
Another question on this passage, on a different topic, that one might like to read: When Jesus tells Thomas to reach out his hand and ‘put it into’ his side, was he wearing clothing covering his side?
In Matthew 28:1, 5-6, 8, an angelic message brought joy to Mary Magdalene by informing her that Jesus rose (NKJV, emphasis added):
Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came t…
Jesus taught that if a man would divorce his wife and marry another, he would commit adultery. In other words, He taught in the following passages that divorcing one’s wife plus marrying another results in adultery (all NKJV, emphasis adde…