29
May
2020

Matthew 5:29—Is hell the grave or a place of conscious torment?

Problem: Jesus refers here to the “body” being “cast into hell,” and the psalmist speaks of “bones” being “scattered at the mouth of hell [sheol]” (Ps. 141:7, kjv). Jacob talked about his “gray hairs” being brought down to hell (Gen. 42:38, kjv; cf. 44:29, 31). However, Jesus referred to hell as a place where the soul goes after one dies and is in conscious torment (Luke 16:22–23). Is “hell” just the grave, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses and some other cults claim?

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Posted by petra1000
28
May
2020

Matthew 5:17–18 Did Jesus come to do away with the Law of Moses?

Problem: Jesus said very explicitly, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” However, on one occasion Jesus approved of His disciples when they broke the Jewish law about working on the Sabbath (Mark 2:24), and Jesus Himself apparently did away with the ceremonial law by declaring all meats clean (Mark 7:19). Jesus’ disciples clearly rejected much of the OT law, including circumcision (Acts 15; Gal. 5:6; 6:15). Indeed, Paul declared that “You are not under law but under grace” (Rom. 6:14) and that the Ten Commandments engraved in stone have been “taken away in Christ” (2 Cor. 3:14).

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Posted by petra1000
28
May
2020

Zionism

The term “Zionism” was coined in 1890 by Nathan Birnbaum.

Its general definition [involves] the national movement for the return of the Jewish people to their homeland and the resumption of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel.

Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Zionism has come to include the movement for the development of the State of Israel and the protection of the Jewish nation in Israel through support for the Israel Defense Forces.

From inception, Zionism avocated tangible as well as spiritual aims. Jews of all persuasions – left, right, religious and secular – formed the Zionist movement and worked together toward its goals.

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Posted by petra1000 in Apologetics
25
May
2020

Matthew 5:1 – How do we interpret the Sermon on the Mount?

The Sermon on the Mount is often confusing to biblical interpreters. In this section, Jesus emphasizes the importance of the OT law and moral obedience. However, the apostle Paul writes that believers are not under law (Rom. 6:14; 7:6). Some interpreters claim that this is hopelessly contradictory, while others use this section of Scripture to support the notion that Christians should be under law. However, we feel that this is misguided for a number of reasons:

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty
24
May
2020

Matthew 4:14-16 – Why does Matthew cite Isaiah 9:1-2?

Problem: Matthew writes, “This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 15 ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a Light dawned” (Mt. 4:14-16). Why does Matthew cite this passage, and how is fulfilled by Christ?

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty
22
May
2020

Matthew 4:5–10 – Is there a mistake in recording the wilderness temptation of Christ by Matthew or Luke?

Problem: According to both Matthew and Luke, the first temptation was to turn stones into bread to satisfy Jesus’ hunger. The second temptation listed by Matthew took place at the pinnacle of the temple. The third temptation listed by Matthew involved all the kingdoms of the world. However, although Luke mentions these same two events, he lists them in reverse order—the kingdoms of the world are mentioned second and the pinnacle of the temple is mentioned third. Which is the correct order?

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Posted by petra1000