Problem: Some critics have attempted to cast doubt on the validity of Christ’s resurrection by insisting that He appeared only to believers, but never to unbelievers. Is this so?
31
Oct
2021
Month: October 2021
30
Oct
2021
1 Cor 15:3-5 – Did Paul receive the Gospel from man or not?
Problem: Many have argued that there is a necessary contradiction between 1 Corinthians 15 and Galatians 1. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul received a creed (formulaic statement of belief) and passed it on to the Corinthians. This creed was probably composed shortly after Jesus‘ crucifixion by various Christians. Many scholars argue that Paul likely received this creed from the Jerusalem apostles (cf. Gal. 1-2). However, Paul says in Galatians 1:11-12 that he did not receive the Gospel from man.
29
Oct
2021
1 Cor 15:3-5 – Was this an early Christian statement of faith?
Problem: Scholars claim that this excerpt from 1 Corinthians 15 is actually a very early Christian statement of faith. Is this the case?
28
Oct
2021
1 Cor 15:2 – Does this passage threaten eternal security?
Problem: Paul says that salvation is conditional on following Christ (“if you hold fast the word”). He also questions whether they were even Christians in the first place (“unless you believed in vain”). Doesn’t this threaten the doctrine of eternal security?
27
Oct
2021
1 Cor 14:33 – If God is not the author of confusion, what about the Tower of Babel?
This isn’t a difficult issue at all. On the one hand, God is not the author of confusion: “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints,” (1 Cor. 14:33). The context of this verse is dealing with the gift of tongues as were spoken in Christian churches in its early years.
26
Oct
2021
1 Cor. 14:34-35 – Are women supposed to keep silent?
Problem: Paul writes, “The women are to keep silent [Greek sigaōpronounced see-GAH-oh] in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak [Greek laleō; pronounced la-LAY-oh], but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church” (1 Cor. 14:34-35). Are women allowed to speak during Bible studies or not? Does the OT Law really teach that women should be silent?
25
Oct
2021
1 Cor. 14:22 – Are tongues a sign for non-Christians?
Problem: Paul writes, “Tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers” (1 Cor. 14:22). However, usually when non-Christians see Christians speaking in tongues, this seems bizarre, and it pushes them away from Christianity. Why does Paul write this?
24
Oct
2021
1 Cor. 14:21 – Why does Paul quote Isaiah 28:11?
Problem: Why does Paul quote Isaiah 28:11 in this passage? Did he rip this passage from its original context?
23
Oct
2021
1 Cor 13:13 – Why does Paul place love above faith and hope?
Problem: The Bible places a high value on both faith and hope. The author of Hebrews explains that it is impossible to please God without faith (Heb. 11:6). Paul writes, “Whatever is not from faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23). However, Paul states that love is greater than faith and hope. Why does he say this?
22
Oct
2021
1 Cor 13:8-13 – Are prophecy and tongues temporary?
Problem: Cessationist Richard Gaffin writes, “A basic point of 1 Corinthians 13:8–13 is the temporary, that is, less than eschatological significance of prophetic gifts like prophecy and tongues.”[1] Does this passage teach that the charismatic gifts are limited to the first century church?
21
Oct
2021
1 Cor. 13:7 – Should Christians believe all things?
Problem: Does this passage teach that Christians should be gullible?
20
Oct
2021
1 Cor 12:31 – If coveting is wrong, why does Paul encourage coveting the best gifts?
Problem: One of the Ten Commandments says, “You shall not covet” (Ex. 20:17). Yet Paul encourages the Christian church at Corinth to “covet earnestly the best gifts” (1 Cor. 12:31, kjv).
19
Oct
2021
1 Cor. 12:28 – Are the spiritual gifts equal or not?
Problem: Paul argues that the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you” (1 Cor. 12:21). Earlier, he argues that “the body is not one member, but many” (1 Cor. 12:14). However, in this passage, Paul places the gifts in some sort of prioritized order (e.g. first, second, third, etc.). Are the spiritual gifts equal or not?
18
Oct
2021
1 Cor 12:3 – Is it impossible for a false teacher to say the phrase “Jesus is Lord”?
Problem: Paul writes, “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3). However, false teachers will often claim to speak for God, using the phrase “Jesus is Lord.” For instance, consider the documentary Marjoe. In this film, a non-Christian swindler steals thousands of dollars from Christian people, claiming to speak for God. In addition to modern examples, even within the NT, we see non-Christians speaking God’s truth (Acts 16:16-17; c.f. Mt. 7:21; Jas. 2:19). How does this all square with this passage?
17
Oct
2021
1 Cor 11:29 – Is Paul referring to transubstantiation in this passage? Or something else?
Problem: Paul writes, “He who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly” (1 Cor. 11:29). Roman Catholic theologians hold that Paul is referring to transubstantiation—where the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper become the literal body and blood of Jesus. After all, Paul calls these elements “the body” in this passage. Is this the case?