Jesus is known in part for being a powerful, memorable, and persuasive teacher. Sometimes he rebuked people with his teaching; at other times, he comforted them. Jesus also spoke commands to people as he revealed truths about God, sin, salvation, love, and other important topics. Like the Old Testament has the 10 Commandments, people wonder…
People have been fascinated with Jesus Christ for 2,000 years. From his birth in a manger to poor Jewish parents to his resurrection from the dead three days after his crucifixion, believers and even some non-believers are curious about his life. A common question people have about Jesus concerns where Mary and Joseph raised him….
God created food, which he uses to sustain the bodies of human beings (Gen. 1:29). It plays a part in many Bible stories, from the temptation of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:2) at the beginning of time to the Tree of Life at the end of it (Rev. 22:2). And from fasting to miracles to…
The Gospels mention Jesus’ family members several times. His mother, Mary, and his father, Joseph, are the most well-known because of their roles in Jesus’ birth story. Mary also appears at other times in the New Testament, such as at the crucifixion. But what about Jesus’ brothers? Who were they? How many of them were…
Jesus performed multiple resurrections during his public ministry, reanimating lifeless corpses. Readers can find themes like mourning, humility, faith, and worship in the stories. Each resurrection miracle also foreshadowed the future resurrection of his followers and his own three days after his crucifixion. So how many people did Jesus raise from the dead? According to…
According to the Gospels, Jesus’ baptism was one of the most significant events in his earthly life. When John the Baptist performed the ceremony in the Jordan River and immersed his cousin in the water, all three members of the Trinity were present. The event began Jesus’ public ministry. A common question Bible readers have…
During the last week of Jesus’ life, his disciples overheard him speak to a fig tree. The unexpected moment occurred the day after he entered Jerusalem riding a donkey, and the same day he overturned the tables in the temple. Yet, Jesus didn’t merely speak to the tree. He cursed it. But why? Jesus cursed…
Jesus performed many miracles during his public ministry. He turned water into wine, gave a blind man sight, and multiplied food for a crowd of hungry people. While many thousands benefitted from his miracles, only a few got to participate directly in his supernatural acts. Yet, one of the disciples didn’t simply see Jesus walk…
Paul is a central figure in the New Testament and the early Christian church. A former persecutor of Jesus Christ’s followers, Paul became a believer after encountering the risen Lord. As a result, he wrote 13 of the 27 New Testament books and was one of the early church’s first missionaries. Paul’s extraordinary life also…
The Gospels reveal that Jesus Christ knew the Old Testament well. He quoted it, alluded to it, and taught from it several times. Jesus cited events from the Old Testament, like the creation of the universe, Israel’s exodus from Egypt, and the lives of Abraham, Moses, and David. He also referred to the story of…
Peter is one of the most influential figures in the Gospels, the New Testament, and the history of Christianity. He is known for laying down his fishing nets and following Jesus, confessing that Jesus is the Messiah, denying him three times, and then being forgiven by him. All that Peter said and did lead many…
Discipleship was one of the central teachings of Jesus Christ, according to the Gospels. It plays an important role in several narratives, including stories about Peter, Nicodemus, Mary Magdalene, and many others. It’s also critical that Christians today understand what Jesus asks of them. Discipleship refers to following Jesus Christ as a way of life….
Lust is an important part of Bible stories like David and Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:2-4) and Jesus Christ’s teaching on adultery (Matt. 5:28). It also plays a significant role in contemporary society, from fashion trends to social media to corporate advertising. These facts lead many Bible readers to ask what lust is. Lust is a…
The ancient Israelites valued wisdom that reflected the morality of the Law that God gave to Moses. Because of this, they loved the book of Proverbs, traditionally classified with Psalms and others, as part of the Wisdom Literature in the Old Testament. The book contains many sayings and short teachings designed to help readers live…
Romans is one of the most influential books in the New Testament, creating converts, launching movements, and fueling the Church’s most powerful preachers. Its arguments are crisp and logical; its theology is rich and practical. The letter is the product of one of the most passionate, intelligent, and faithful followers of Jesus Christ who ever…
Coveting is an important concept in the Bible because it can harm individuals and their communities. It’s so critical that avoiding dangerous forms of it is one of the 10 Commandments, making it the only behavior on the list that refers to an inner state of being, not an action. Yet, the New Testament also…
Many readers find Revelation one of the most exciting books in Scripture. It’s the 66th book of the Bible and the 27th of the New Testament. Even though it’s the last book, it’s of utmost importance to understanding God and his plan for the world. Part of understanding Revelation’s message is knowing who wrote it….
The number seven plays a unique role in the Bible, from the seven-day creation account in Genesis to the seven seals broken in Revelation. Two consecutive sevens also occur in Scripture, like when Jesus Christ told his followers to forgive others 77 times. But what does the Bible say about three straight sevens? The number…
Circumcision is a topic that arises in the Old and New Testaments. For example, Bible readers encounter it in the biography of Abraham, the Law of Moses, and the early church, where it was a hotly debated topic. Scripture also uses circumcision metaphorically multiple times, which may confuse some Bible readers. For these reasons, many…
Hebrews is the 19th book of the New Testament. Though it’s often called a letter, many Bible scholars believe it was initially a sermon someone wrote down for preservation. Along with books like Romans and 1 Peter, Hebrews is known for being among the most theologically rich books in the New Testament. Because of the…
Aaron is an important figure in the Bible, especially in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. The Old Testament mentions him over 350 times. The New Testament refers to him five times. Aaron played a significant role in God’s work in Israel during his lifetime. Sadly, he also made big mistakes. So who was…
In the Bible, Acts is the 5th book in the New Testament. Its traditional title is “The Acts of the Apostles,” though its content persuades many readers that it could also be “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.” The book of Acts plays a pivotal role in the story of Jesus and his followers, beginning…
In the world today, the word “Zion” has multiple uses. For example, some people are named Zion. There are also towns, colleges, songs, and movies with Zion in their title. While some people know that the word comes from the Bible, its biblical significance has been lost because of how people use it today. So,…
One of the most important theological differences between the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant Christianity is the doctrine of purgatory. Catholicism teaches that purgatory is a temporary middle state between heaven and hell where disobedient Christians are purified. An important question Catholics and Protestants ask is where the Bible teaches about purgatory. According to the…
The Bible has 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New. All 66 books, which many authors wrote at different times and for multiple reasons, come in varying lengths. Many of the longest books are well-known, like the Psalms, Isaiah, and Genesis. But sometimes people pay less attention to the shorter ones….
The Bible mentions eunuchs over 20 times in the Old and New Testaments. A eunuch plays an important role in passages in Esther, Acts, and one of Jesus’ teachings about marriage. While eunuchs were common in some cultures in the ancient world, people are less familiar with them today. This fact leads Bible readers to…
The Bible teaches that God created animals. The Old and New Testaments mention many animals, such as bears, camels, donkeys, leopards, birds, fish, and ants. It also mentions dogs in several passages. However, only one verse in two related English translations refers to a specific breed of dog, and scholars have differing views about the…
Christians believe that God inspired the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Both testaments and all 66 books are the results of the Holy Spirit working through human authors to deliver God’s message to people. Because of the Bible’s importance, people want to know a lot about it. One of the questions people ask is how many…
God is the main character of the Bible. The stories of all the men, women, children, tribes, and nations in the Bible have to do with God. All the Bible’s events, from the universe’s creation to Israel’s exodus from slavery in Egypt to the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, relate to God….
Some historians believe that the Bible is the most-read book in history. They also say it’s the best-selling book of all time. One reason for this is that despite having multiple authors, different settings, and a variety of readers, the books of the Old and Testaments tell different parts of the same story. Therefore, one…
Halloween is a popular celebration that occurs on October 31st each year in many Western countries. Common activities people do on Halloween include trick-or-treating to collect candy from neighbors, dressing up in costumes, and carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns. A common question Christians and non-Christians ask is what the Bible says about Halloween. The Bible doesn’t…
The Bible is one of the most-read and best-selling books of all time. It has two testaments, the Old and the New, with 66 total books. There are 39 books in the Old and 27 in the New. Many readers consider the Bible “long” because many editions employ a two-column format with font sizes as…
Some people, mainly associated with New Age teachings, believe there is spiritual significance to numbers in the Bible that lies hidden behind their literal meaning. Theoretically, readers can unlock the full importance of numbers through the connection of the mind, body, and spirit, as the New Age movement defines the terms. For example, one number…
Fasting is an expression of spiritual faithfulness to and dependence upon God. The Bible mentions fasting in both the Old and New Testaments. In addition, devout people in Scripture, like Moses, Elijah, Esther, and Jesus, fasted for different purposes. As a result, some people today practice one of the types of fasts that the Bible…
Many people are fascinated with the numbers they find in the Bible. Numbers mainly have literal meanings in the Old and New Testaments, yet sometimes their purpose is symbolic. An example of a symbolic meaning of a number is 666, which, according to Revelation 13:18, is associated with the name of the beast. Another number…
Lot is an important figure in the Bible. For thousands of years, readers have been learning lessons from his life on topics like God, family, faith, and selfishness. Lot’s family, especially his uncle, wife, and daughters, are notable characters in his narrative. The decisions Lot makes sometimes affect them negatively and significantly. Lot was the…
The Bible mentions Asaph in several places in the Bible, but he’s not as well-known as figures like Abraham, Moses, or David. When all the references to “Asaph” are read and understood, it’s clear that there are four different men called that name in the Old Testament. However, one, a worship leader in ancient Israel,…
Jesus Christ’s public ministry, as recorded in the four New Testament Gospels, consisted of almost 40 miracles. However, he performed many others, too (John 20:30). The first miracle Jesus did has added significance because it foreshadowed his ministry and reflected his identity. These facts lead many people to wonder about when, where, and why Jesus’…
The night before Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, one of his most devout followers denied him three times. In his Gospel, John the Evangelist brilliantly weaves the stories of Jesus’ faithfulness to God in the last hours of his life and the weakness and failure of one of his most passionate disciples. Many…
The cross is the most common symbol of the Christian faith. Though it was known as a device for execution in the ancient world, it represents love, sacrifice, and forgiveness to Christians today. This meaning is why crosses decorate churches, adorn necklaces, and emblazon t-shirts, Bibles, and even tattoos. Yet, what’s less alluring to many…
Jesus of Nazareth is the central figure of the Christian faith. Born approximately 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem, not far from Jerusalem, Jesus never traveled a great distance, wrote a book, or held political office. And while he only lived about 30 years, he changed the world. Jesus’ legacy leads many people to ask where…
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ, along with his resurrection from the dead, is the climactic moment of all four New Testament Gospels. Crosses are common symbols in Christianity because they help people remember Jesus’ death and its meaning. Sometimes decorative crosses include the letters INRI at the top, and many people are curious about what…
Many people have heard of Pentecostal and Reformed churches but don’t know much about their similarities and differences. Because both faith traditions are Christian, they have overlapping beliefs and practices. Yet there are also essential contrasts between them because each has distinct origins, histories, leaders, convictions, and expressions. Pentecostal and Reformed churches, and those who…
Every Spring worldwide, millions of people observe Easter. Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ in churches and their homes because it’s the historical and spiritual reason for the special Sunday. Others, some of whom don’t believe in Jesus, observe the day with traditions involving the Easter Bunny, decorating chicken eggs, and hiding candy for…
The names “Lutheran” and “Reformed” are commonly found in the names of churches in America and Europe. On the outside, many of the places of worship in these traditions look the same. Moreover, some of what is said and done on the inside of them are similar, too. Yet, their names signify differences in history,…
The cross is one of the most displayed and recognizable symbols in world history. In the ancient world, its found on carvings, jewelry, and books. In the modern world, people see crosses on clothing, screensavers, and tattoos. Sometimes crosses are ragged, aged, and even blood-stained. At other times, people decorate crosses with flowers, colorful sashes,…
People regularly see Lutheran and evangelical churches in America and Europe, and in recent decades, both traditions have extended their influence worldwide. Many people know that Lutheran and evangelical churches are part of the Christian faith and therefore have certain beliefs and practices in common. Yet, since they are unique traditions, they have differences, too,…
Many people know that Jesus Christ died on a Friday and rose from the dead the following Sunday. However, what’s unclear is where he was and what he did between those events. Where Jesus went after his crucifixion and why has been one of the most discussed theological issues in Christian history. The most common…
“Presbyterian” and “evangelical” are two common adjectives describing Christian churches. Yet their names signify essential facts about their history, beliefs, and practices, some of which are unique. Presbyterians and evangelicals may look similar and have overlapping beliefs and practices but also have significant differences. The Presbyterian denomination and the evangelical tradition belong to the Protestant…
Every year people notice that the Jewish Passover festival and Christianity’s celebration of Jesus’ resurrection at Easter occur close together on the calendar. In some years, the commemorations even overlap. Many people who notice this understand that the proximity probably isn’t coincidental, but they don’t fully understand how Passover and Easter are related. Passover in…