In Leviticus 16 we read of the scapegoat ritual, where the sins of the people are transferred onto an animal and it is sent away. The biblical ritual has parallels in ancient Eblaite, Hittite, Ugaritic, and Neo-Assyrian rituals and include bulls, mice, frogs, and more.
Too often, the Holy Spirit is all but ignored by modern Christians. The Father and the Son seem to get all of our attention, but the Spirit isn't a spiritual afterthought. What is His role in the life of a follower of Jesus?
Michael J. Kruger points to the underlying truth of biblical eschatology: that evil exists, and that it is a problem that God will ultimately solve. We believe that good things will happen but, better, that sad things will become untrue.
This article won't keep you from stumbling over the names of Old Testament people and places in your Sunday School class. It will, however, help you understand the variety in the linguistic history of written Hebrew.
Undesigned coincidences happen when one account of an event fills in a bit of information that another, separate account leaves out. Recently, these have provided support for the truth of the gospel accounts. Here's an older list of several apparent coincidences.
In Judges 4 and 5 we read about a battle Israelite prophet Deborah led an army of 10,000 against Sisera’s iron chariots and much larger army. The Israelites defeated the Canaanites, and Sisera was killed in his sleep by Jael, who drove a tent peg through his head. The evidence appears to be strong.
Sean McDowell talks with Robert Bowman of the Institute for Religious Research about his book, Jesus' Resurrection and Joseph's Visions: Examining the Foundations of Christianity and Mormonism. In the book, Bowman compares the historical evidence for Jesus' resurrection and Joseph Smith's first vision.
Oh, I’ve never been left alone in any problem that I’ve known, even though I’m to blame. There were times when things were dark and I’ve been known to miss the mark, but someone fixed my aim. From the album Bloom.
Both Christians and skeptics alike are interested in extra-biblical evidence for accounts found in Scripture. Of particular interest are bits of evidence for the life and death of Jesus. Here we see how the Pilate Stone and the Alexamenos Graffito add credibility to the events.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke record a three-hour period of darkness 'over the whole land' during Jesus' crucifixion. Do we have evidence that this actually occurred? Thallus, Phlegon, and Africanus wrote about the event. Read the details.
Most of us know someone who used to go to church, but then gave up and stayed home. Here are some of their reasons, gathered over 20 years. Note that most have no connection to whether Christianity is true.
Christianity is a belief system based on information: that Jesus is God in the flesh, come to reconcile us to Himself. However, following Jesus is about more than information. "We can only possess what we experience. The facts of theology can be altogether cold... though true in every way, they alone can't change me."
A common belief in our culture today is that all religions ultimately lead to God... that their differences are irrelevant, since 'all roads lead to Heaven.' Does this claim stand up to scrutiny? Video 4:30
The question of suffering is one that we all have to deal with. Why do we suffer? Why doesn’t God prevent suffering? Does Christianity have anything unique and helpful to say about death and suffering? Video 55:45
We all have doubts. That’s not a problem. The problems begin when we stop looking for answers to our doubts. A good first step in resolving doubt is to understand the reasons we doubt. Part 2.
We all have doubts. That’s not a problem. The problems begin when we stop looking for answers to our doubts. A good first step in resolving doubt is to understand the reasons we doubt. Part 1.
This important topic is the subject of much debate. Take some time to hear both sides. Look into the Scriptures. Use this debate as a starting point for your own research. Video: 42:31
Throughout history, Christians have used simple symbols - called monograms or Christograms - to represent Jesus. Some appear in early biblical manuscripts. Explore the history and meaning of some of these symbols.
Skeptics often claim that the gospels weren't written by eyewitnesses... that they were written later, embellished the facts, and so are unreliable accounts of history. Here we see that the authors have extensive knowledge of local geography, including towns, water, and directions.
The Dead Sea Scrolls, together, are a very important archaeological find. Among other things, they help establish the accuracy of the transmission of the Old Testament over time. However, studying such ancient documents can be very challenging. Video, 2:48:39
Who wrote the Gospel of Matthew? Was it originally written in Greek, Aramaic, or Hebrew? Can these two lines of evidence be reconciled? Look at evidence from the early church, including Papias, Tertullian, Eusebius, and more.
The Bible teaches that we are born in sin, and will not seek God on our own... yet all are called to repent. How is this possible? The answer is known as 'prevenient grace,' which bridges the gap between what we are able to do and what God calls us to to.
We who follow Jesus take part in the new covenant, but some are confused about whether Christians are included in the old. Here we see in Matthew 17 that Jesus' followers are exempt from the Law because we are children of the King.
This CCM classic expresses a timeless perspective: that followers of Jesus must give up ownership of our own lives. He died for us, and we should be willing to die for Him. In fact, we are called to die to self and carry our own cross.
Skeptics of Christianity often suggest that Jesus may not have existed. Extra-biblical evidence is especially helpful. Both Tacitus and Josephus mention Jesus, and this article outlines the evidence. Establishing the historicity of the Bible is an important part of discussing Christianity today.
Slavery has been a plague throughout all of human history, including today. Skeptics of Christianity point to the existence of slavery in ancient Israel as evidence that God is not the loving, self-sacrificing person portrayed in the rest of the Bible.
References to the Gospel of Matthew from the first 400 years of Christian history, including Papias, Clement, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp, and the Didache. These references are an important part of establishing the historicity of the Bible.
Does science prove or disprove the existence of God? Christians believe that science, when done well, reflects the reality that the universe was created by God. Atheists typically claim that science rules out the existence of God. Examine some of the claims of prominent atheists.
Christianity is under attack in many places around the world. Some American Christians are, for the first time, concerned about losing the freedom to worship openly. Big Tent Revival boldly proclaims their intention to be faithful to God under difficult circumstances.
