Problem: The tarrying experience, as often practiced in Charismatic circles today, is described as follows:

The tarrying procedure for seeking tongues goes like this: Following the sermon, the preacher invites those who want the tongues experience to come to the altar and kneel. Then those who already have received this experience join the seekers to pray with them and offer help and advice. In a relatively short time, some of the seekers begin talking in tongues. For others, it is a much longer ordeal. In an evening service, it is not unusual for seekers to pray until after midnight, even though few of the “altar workers” may remain. And if a seekers doesn’t succeed on this particular night, he is encouraged to keep trying. I tarried many nights; I spent many hours in prayer at altars but no matter how long I prayed, I went without success.  [Wayne A. Robinson, I Once Spoke in Tongues, pages 37-38.]

Continue reading →

Problem: John concludes his gospel by referring to himself as the singular author (“This is the disciple who is testifying…”). However, he also uses the first person plural (“We know that his testimony is true”). Does this mean that John’s disciples wrote this book?
Continue reading →

Problem: Amillennial and historical premillennial interpreters argue that the rapture cannot be imminent because Jesus told Peter: “When you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go” (Jn. 21:18). John goes on to write that this described Peter’s death. Thus, they argue, if Jesus couldn’t return before Peter’s death by crucifixion (~AD 67), then how can the rapture be truly imminent?
Continue reading →

Problem: Roman Catholic theologians note that a “shepherd” was a metaphor for kingly authority (2 Sam. 5:2). From this, it is argued that Jesus was putting Peter in the position of authority over the other apostles. Is this the case?
Continue reading →

Problem: Christ’s Resurrection led to a confusing day, as His followers raced around the city. Skeptics point to alleged contradictions to prove Scripture wrong. Can the four Gospels be reconciled?

The Gospels can’t keep their stories straight! How many women went to the tomb and when did they leave? How many angels visited the tomb? Did Jesus appear to all the women or just Mary Magdalene?

Continue reading →

Problems: Critics argue that this chapter was a later interpolation onto John’s gospel for several reasons: First, the gospel of John appears to conclude with John’s purpose statement of the book (Jn. 20:30-31). Second, critics theorize that later authors (the Johannine community?) had to correct an error that Jesus would return before John’s death. Since John died, it must therefore be an interpolation by a later author or authors. Is this the case?
Continue reading →

Problem: A gentleman who was struggling with his beliefs in the inerrancy of the Bible recently contacted our offices questioning why Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees that “no sign shall be given to this generation” (Mark 8:12; cf. Matthew 12:39; 16:4; Luke 11:29). Since other scriptures clearly teach that Jesus worked “many signs” (John 12:37; 20:30-31; 3:2; Acts 2:22), how could Jesus truthfully and consistently say, “no sign shall be given to this generation”? According to certain Bible critics, Jesus was a false prophet since His “prediction that no sign would be given to that generation is clearly false” (McKinsey, 1995, p. 114; cf. Wells, 2010). How can a Christian reasonably and biblically respond to such an assertion?
Continue reading →

Problem: Jesus said to Thomas, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed” (Jn. 20:29). Fideists argue that this passage supports blind faith. Is this the case?
Continue reading →

Problem: When Thomas saw the risen Christ with his own eyes, he said to Him, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).
Continue reading →

Problem: Jesus said, “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained” (Jn. 20:23). Roman Catholic authorities claim that this passage supports the notion of penance being distributed through the priesthood (see The Catholic Catechism, paragraphs 976, 1461, 1485). Currie writes, “Only God can forgive sins. Jesus demonstrated that when he was here on earth. But here Jesus explicitly delegates this power to the group of men who will lead his Church.”
Continue reading →

Problem: Did the women tell the disciples what happened at the tomb and the resurrection of Jesus, or not? Matt 28:8; Mark 16:8; Luke 24:9; John 20:18
Continue reading →

Problem: John writes “[Jesus] breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (Jn. 20:22). Pentecostals interpret this as the firstblessing of the Holy Spirit (where we are sealed in Christ—Eph. 1:13-14; 1 Cor. 12:13), but then, the disciples wait for a time to get the secondblessing at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). Likewise, it is argued, people can be sealed by the Holy Spirit at conversion, but they should expect a second Spirit-baptism in the future, so that they can be effective in ministry. Is this the case?
Continue reading →

Problem: Sometimes it is the case that the enemies of Christ actually read the Bible before making allegations about its writers being uninformed or contradictory. At other times, however, Bible critics, even prominent skeptics, make such assertions about various Bible passages that one cannot help but wonder what book they are reading (or if they are reading the Bible at all). Take, for example, an accusation that appears on a fairly well-known skeptic’s Web site. When commenting on Jesus’ statement to Mary Magdalene, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father” (John 20:17), Steve Wells wrote:
Continue reading →

Problem:  The first one who saw Jesus after His resurrection was Mary Magdalene just as it says (Mark 16:9).  Matt 28:9; Mark 16:9; Luke 24:15-18; John 20:14; 1 Cor 15:3-5
Continue reading →

Problem: Even after seeing the risen Jesus, Mary “did not know that it was Jesus” (Jn. 20:14). Skeptics claim that this is a good reason for questioning the reliability of the resurrection account. Cultists (who deny the physical resurrection) claim that Jesus was no longer a physical body, and perhaps looked totally different. Are these claims reasonable?
Continue reading →