Category: Bible

Question:

My question is more about the bible. As a Priest I am thoroughly grounded in the Church’s argument as to how it can be that a specific collection of writings which we call “the bible” is the word of God and not other writings. But I’ve long suspected that a denominationalist couldn’t ever use our reasoning. So the question is, “who says the bible is the word of God?” How do you establish its authority before you open it up and quote from it?”

Answer:

Thanks so much for writing.  You have a question that many people wonder about in their minds.Continue reading

Question:

I don’t think that the Old Testament should be taken literally. I believe when it says “And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died,” that Adam lived a real long life, maybe not exactly 935 years, but a good long life. Most of what I understand about the Old Testament is that the stories were passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Sometimes bits and pieces were left out and sometimes things were added to the story.

    Are you saying that the earth is only 6,000 years old, when scientist have claimed the earth to be older? Also, are you saying that man and dinosaur lived together at the same time? This is very interesting, because I have never heard anybody claim this. So, do you believe that the world was created in seven days by God? I believe that the world was created by God, but over millions of years.

Answer:

The Bible is to be taken literally, unless it clearly tells you that it is giving symbolism in some form, and then it will tell you what the symbolism means. Such a place is in Revelation 1:12-16 says, “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” We are told in that same passage that the candlesticks and the stars just represent some things. Notice down in verse 20 it says, “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The SEVEN STARS ARE THE ANGELS of the seven churches: and THE SEVEN CANDLESTICKS which thou sawest ARE THE SEVEN CHURCHES.” If the Bible is using figurative language, then it will tell us. If it was any other way, then we would not know what God was really saying.Continue reading

Question:

Is God’s law perfect?

Answer:

Yes. Psalm 19:7 says, “THE LAW OF THE LORD IS PERFECT, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”

Question:

OK, you state that the KJV is the ONLY version in English that is ok. I know for a fact that some of the translations in KJV are not correct. They are no big deal, and fall under the category of ” A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet”. The fact is any translations will have some general problems in perspective. Where one word in Greek may mean something CLOSE to something in English, but not quite. Example, in the KJV they use the word Charity for the Greek word agape. Now, charity in this day and age means something altogether different than it did when KJV translators used it, but it still didn’t come close to what Agape means. Get my meaning? Whether you read KJV or the NIV you are still reading God’s inspired word, but the translations may differ slightly. God does preserve his word, but there isn’t ANYTHING wrong with a pastor explaining what the original Greek/Hebrew was/is and explaining what the feelings are. That is, after all, what a pastor is for. NO translations is completely like the original text, it’s impossible. Even the KJV has variances from the original, yes it’s true. Translate the new testament!! See for yourself.

Answer:

Concerning the use of the word “charity” in passages such as I Corinthians 13, it is a much better word to use than the word “love.” What does “love” mean to most people in the English-speaking world? Selfish, sensual pleasure. Someone gratifying their flesh. Is that what the Bible meaning of love (agape) is? No. The Corinthian people were selfish in so many ways. Zealous to serve the Lord? Yes. But also zealous to be in the limelight. That is the best word to use, in that passage, to show that true love is one that gives and cares about others first.Continue reading

Question:

Does God’s Word ever change?

Answer:

No, God’s pure Word does not change. Matthew 5:18 says, “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Matthew 24:35 says, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” Psalm 119:160 says, “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”Continue reading

Question:

Who wrote the Bible, and how did they know the answers?

Answer:

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but HOLY MEN OF GOD SPAKE AS THEY WERE MOVED BY THE HOLY GHOST.” (II Peter 1:20,21).Continue reading

Question:

Which Bible is the Word of God?

Answer:

There are a multitude of so-called “Bibles” on the market today. They all seem to claim to be “easier than the others to understand.” But it does not take long to see that that is not the real issue out there. The NIV takes the word “blood” out of Colossians 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Now who does not understand the word “blood?” The real truth is that there is another motive out there for the multitude of Bible translations.Continue reading

Question:

There seems to be some contradiction between these two verses:  Acts 9:7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man, and Acts 22:9, And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.  Please clarify.

Answer:

In Acts 9:7, “And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing A VOICE, but seeing no man.”Continue reading

Question:

WHAT ABOUT THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE? HAS ANYTHING BEEN OMMITTED FROM IT OR IS IT OK FOR US TO READ?

Answer:

The New King James Version just claims to “update the Old English,” but it is deceitful in that claim, because it has changed the whole meaning of verses. I do not have a New King James Bible, because I am not going to financially support these publishers who are corrupting God’s Word. The following verse quotations from the New King James Version, are from an article by Chuck Bero, which may be viewed at “http://www.llano.net/baptist/isthenewkjv.htm”.Continue reading

Question:

I don’t know anything about this stuff. I’ve never gone to church before and someone’s been telling me about salvation and the Bible and things. How can someone like me believe the things the Bible says? To me it’s like someone telling me that everything in Cinderella is true and I should believe it! I’m not mocking. I just want to understand and would like someone to explain to me before I start taking the Bible for face value, that it really is true and not just a bunch of stories that different people made up and decided to make a book out of. Can you help me to understand?

Answer:

Belief starts with hearing and learning what the Bible says. The Bible says in Romans 10:13, 14 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”Continue reading