“The New Heavens and the New Earth”
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away, and the sea is no more…” (Rev. 21:1). Some, even some brethren, see this passage as literal and conclude that the eternal dwelling place of the redeemed, resurrected souls will be planet earth. Before […]
Does Silence Authorize Opinion?
Have you ever been discussing applications of authority with someone, and run into the argument that if the New Testament is silent on a specific subject, then man is free to exercise his opinion on that matter? It usually goes like this: “Yes, I realize the New Testament does not authorize it, but neither does […]
Who is the Author of the Bible?
Even though the word “Bible” gives the impression that it’s only one book, nothing could be further from the truth. The question of who is the author of the Bible is a great one. Many Books, Many Authors The Bible is actually is a library of 66 books. And they weren’t written at once. They […]
The Difference Between Christening and Baptism
Christening is another word for infant baptism. The practice is sometimes referred to as pedobaptism, whereas credobaptism is known as the “believer’s baptism.” The significance of the christening ceremony is heightened by the act of naming the child. This is especially true in the Catholic culture, and to a lesser degree among Protestant denominations that […]
Love Feasts
From time to time we hear of a church having a “love feast.” By this it is usually meant that the members are gathering together to have a common meal in the meeting house, or in some church-provided facility. The term “love feast” is found in Jude 12, and has been thought by some to […]
How Useful is the Book of Acts?
When I first started this training program, I was very impressed with how familiar I would become with the scriptures, in particular the book of Acts. However, now what I have become even more impressed with is just how useful the book of Acts is when it comes to teaching, no matter if it is […]
Firm Convictions
There is a channel of water on the island of Euboea in the Aegean Sea that reverses its direction about fourteen times a day. This mysterious and unnatural action has long mystified scientists. This constantly changing channel could well have been used as an illustration by Paul when he wrote in Ephesians 4:14, “As a […]
Attitudes Toward Sin and Error
In 2 Timothy 4:3-4 the apostle Paul warned young Timothy that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Paul told Timothy […]