Points of Contention with the Biblical Narrative

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Where does the soul reside?

  • In the breath. God created Adam by sculpting him out of dust and breathing into his nostrils (GEN 2:7).
  • In the blood. This is why eating blood is prohibited (DEU 12:23).

Is man superior to other creatures?

  • Yes. God imbued man with dominion over all fish, birds, cattle, and insects (GEN 1:26).
  • No. Man is just another beast (ECC 3:19).

Can a Moabite enter the congregation of the Lord?

  • No. All Ammonites and Moabites were forbidden from entering into the congregation of the Lord, as their collective punishment for failing to provide the Israelites with food and water as they escaped from Egypt (DEU 23:3-4). Even their tenth-generation descendants were unable to enter the congregation of the Lord; their entire line was banned forever (DEU 23:3-4).
  • Yes. Ruth, the great-grandmother of David (RUT 4:10-17), was a Moabite (RUT 1:4).

Exactly how was Rahab the Harlot saved?

  • By her faith (HEB 11:31).
  • By her works (JAM 2:25).

When was the son of Nun first called Joshua?

  • Nun’s son was referred to as Joshua (EXO 17:9) before the events at Mt. Sinai (EXO 20:1; 24:13).
  • Nun’s son was not given the name Joshua (NUM 11:28; 13:8,16) until after the events at Mt. Sinai (NUM 3:1; 10:12).

How many men took place in Joshua’s ambush against Ai?

  • 30,000 (JOS 8:3).
  • 5,000 (JOS 8:12).

What was the fate of the city of Ai?

  • Ai was completely destroyed in a fire attack, which “made it a heap forever, even a desolation unto this day” (JOS 8:28).
  • The city of Ai continued to exist, because men from Ai are later mentioned (EZR 2:28, NEH 7:32).

What happened to the twelve stones Joshua pitched in Jordan?

  • They were removed. Joshua pitched them again in Gilgal (JOS 4:20).
  • They were not removed; in fact, they are still there (JOS 4:9).

Who were the Gibeonites?

  • They were Hivites, and the only allies the Israelites had (JOS 11:19).
  • They were “the remnant of the Amorites.” Although the children of Israel had sworn to spare them, “Saul sought to slay them in his zeal” (2SAM 21:2).

Who conquered the Canaanites?

  • Joshua did, he “took the whole land” (JOS 11:16-17, 23; 12:7-8; 21:43).
  • Judah did (JUDG 1:4-5), after the death of Joshua (JOS 13:1-6; JUDG 1:1; 2:23).

Were the Canaanites destroyed?

  • Yes. Joshua completely annihilated the entire Canaanite race; “he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded” (JOS 10:40). Their cities and farms were looted and plundered, and any stragglers or hideouts were hunted and executed (JOS 11:14).
  • No. The Canaanites were never completely driven out, and those who survived were forced to pay tributes (JUDG 1:28, 30, 33, 35).

Then why were the Canaanites spared?

  • To test the faith of Israel (JUDG 2:21-22; 3:4).
  • To teach ways of war to the children of Israel (JUDG 3:1-2).

Who killed King Jabin of Hazor?

  • Joshua. King Jabin was explicitly shown to be killed by Joshua (JOS 11:1, 10-11).
  • Not Joshua. King Jabin was not killed until 120 years after Joshua's death (JUDG 1:1; 3:11, 30; 4:2, 24).

Who conquered Bethel? Did they conquer Gezer as well?

  • Joshua and conquered Bethel and Gezer (JOS 12:7, 12, 16).
  • The House of Joseph conquered Bethel (JUDG 1:22-25), but they did not conquer Gezer (JUDG1:29).

What become of Anak's sons?

  • They were slain by Judah (JUDG 1:10).
  • They were expelled (JUDG 1:20) and driven out (JOS 15:14).

What became of the cities of Eshtaol and Zorah?

  • They were given to the tribe of Judah (JOS 15:20, 33).
  • They were given to the tribe of Dan (JOS 19:40-41).

How many coastal cities were south of Edom in Judah?

  • There were a total of 29 coastal cities south of Edom in Judah (JOS 15:38).
  • There were a total of 36 coastal cities south of Edom in Judah (JOS 15:20-37). While 38 cities are listed, there are duplicate entries.

Did the Israelites practice idolatry?

  • Yes. Joshua had to tell the Israelites to put away their idols (JOS 24:14) of “the strange gods which are among you” (JOS 24:23).
  • No. The Israelites only served the Lord (JUDG 2:7) and closely followed the teachings of Moses (JOS 22:2).

Was Sisera murdered in his sleep?

  • Yes, he was explicitly stated to be asleep at the time of his death (JUDG 4:21).
  • No. Sisera was awake, or at least awake enough to ask for something to drink (JUDG 5:25-27).

Did Eli correct his sons?

  • Yes. Eli is explicitly shown chastising his sons (1SAM 2:22-24).
  • No, “his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not” (1SAM 3:11-13).

Were the Philistines subdued throughout Samuel’s reign?

  • Yes. “The Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel” God was against the Philistines throughout Samuel’s reign (1SAM 7:13).
  • No. The Philistine army reassembled and mobilized (1SAM 13:5) during Samuel’s reign (1SAM 13:10).

How did Saul meet David?

  • Saul asked Jesse to bring David to him, and Saul was aware that David was his son (1SAM 16:19). David met Saul (1SAM 16:21) prior to fighting Goliath (1SAM16:50).
  • After the battle with Goliath, Saul asked Abner to bring David to him, unaware of who he was. (1SAM 17:55-58).

Was David detained at Saul's court?

  • Yes. Saul kept David in his court as his personal armor-bearer (1SAM 16:21).
  • No. David returned to his flocks of sheep, over in Bethlehem (1SAM 17:15).

Was David a warrior before his bout with Goliath?

  • Yes. David was known as a mighty, valiant, and cunning “man of war” (1SAM 16:18).
  • No. David was “but a youth” (1SAM 17:33), who admitted unfamiliarity with weapons and armor (1SAM 17:38-39).

What became of the Amalekites?

  • They perished. The Amelekites were smote and completely destroyed (GEN 14:1, 7, 12).
  • They endured. Despite being completely destroyed, the Amalekites continued to survive, and had to be re-annihilated (1SAM 15:7-8, 20, 32-33), again (1SAM 27:8-9) and again (1SAM 30:1, 17) and again (1CHR4:43). Yet despite five complete and total annihilations, the Amalekites continued to survive while the Jews were held captive in Babylon, long after David’s time (EST 3:1).

Who killed Saul?

  • Saul committed suicide. After being wounded by archers, Saul killed himself by falling on his own sword (1SAM 31:3-4) to escape being tortured by his enemies.
  • An Amalekite did, and he later recounted the story to David (2SAM 1:6-10).
  • The Philistines slayed Saul at Mt. Gilboa, and hung his bones in the streets of Bethshan (2SAM 21:12).
  • The Lord killed Saul, as punishment for his transgressions against him (1CHR 10:13-14).

Did Saul’s sons die with him?

  • Yes. Saul and all of his sons were killed together (1CHR 10:6, 1SAM 31:2, 6).
  • No. One of Saul’s sons, Ishbosheth survived and became a king who ruled over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all of Israel (2SAM 2:7).

Was the Dagon's temple closed in Samuel's lifetime?

  • Yes. The Dagon temple was permanently closed (1SAM 5:5) prior to Samuel becoming a judge (1SAM 7:3).
  • No. Saul’s head and armor were displayed as trophies in the Dagon’s temple (1CHR 10:8-10).

What did David think of Achishm, King of Gath?

  • David was “sore afraid” of him (1SAM 21:12-13).
  • David and his family lived with him and his men (1SAM 27:3). They got along well, and thought highly of one another (1SAM 29:6, 9).

Who were David's chief captains ("the three mighties")?

  • Their leader, Joab; Jashobeam the Tachmonite, who killed 300 men at a time with his spear; and Eleazar (1CHR 11:6, 11-12).
  • Their leader, the Tachmonite (who is implied to be Jashobeam); Adino, who killed 800 men at a time with his spear; and Eleazar (2SAM 23:8-9).

When did David take the Ark of the Covenant to Obededom's house?

  • David took the Ark of the Covenant (1CHR 13:6-7) to Obededom’s house (1CHR 13:13) prior to defeating the Philistines (1CHR 14:16).
  • David defeated the Philistines (2SAM 5:25), before taking the Ark of the Covenant (2SAM 6:3) to Obededom’s house (2SAM 6:10).

How long was the Ark of the Covenant at Abinadab's house?

  • 20 years (1SAM 7:1-2). This occurred before the reign of Saul (1SAM 10:24).
  • 47 years. Saul reigned for 40 years (ACT 13:21), and was succeeded by David, who ruled for 7.5 years in Hebron before entering Jerusalem (2SAM 5:4-7). The Ark of the Covenant did not leave Abinadab’s house until David had established himself in Jerusalem (2SAM 6:2-3).

When did David go to Jerusalem?

  • Before conquering Zion (1SAM 17:54-55).
  • After conquering Zion (2SAM 5:4-7).

Why did God forbid David from building a temple?

  • God has no need for a temple because he does not dwell in houses, and preferred to be wherever the Israelites were (1CHR 17:4-6).
  • David was unworthy to build a temple, because he “hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood” (1CHR 28:3).

Who tempted David to number Israel?

  • Satan did (1CHR 21:1).
  • God did (SAM 24:1).

Was David a sinner?

  • Yes. David sinned on multiple occasions:
    • David freely admitted to greatly sinning against God by conducting a unauthorized census (2SAM 24:10) after caving in to Satan’s desires (1CHR 21:1).
    • David lied to a priest, claiming to be on the king's official business, so he could obtain food and Goliath’s sword (1SAM 21:3-9).
    • David committed adultery with Bathsheba and impregnated her. David then ordered Joab to send Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, to the most dangerous forefront to quickly die in battle. Once Uriah was killed, David was free to marry Bathsheba (2SAM 11:2-27).
    • David begged for mercy and asked God to forget the sins of his youth (PSA 25:7; 119:176).
  • Mostly no. Every action in David’s entire life was considered good in God's eyes, because David complied with all God’s commands -- excluding the situation with Uriah (1KIN 15:5).
  • No. David claimed to have followed God’s path without any departures into wickedness (2SAM 22:22; PSA 119:110; ACT 13:22).

Did David want God to judge him?

  • Yes. David explicitly asked for God to judge him (PSA 7:8).
  • No. David did not want to be judged, since no man is justified in God’s eyes (PSA 143:2).

Who was the priest that David asked for some shewbread? Was David alone?

  • The priest was named Ahimelech, and David was alone (1SAM 21:1-3).
  • The priest was named Abiathar, and others were with David (MAR 2:25-26).

Jesus cited this incident as evidence that the priests who “profaned the Sabbath” were blameless (MAT 12:3-4; LUK 6:3-4), although no such incident occurred (1SAM 21:5).

Exactly what happened in the Valley of Salt?

  • David killed 18,000 Syrians (2SAM 8:13).
  • David killed 12,000 Edomites (PSA 60:1).
  • Avishai, son of Zeruiah, killed 18,000 Edomites. David was not involved in the Valley of Salt incident (1CHR 18:1).

How long was the famine that God offered David?

  • 7 years (2SAM 24:12-13).
  • 3 years (1CHR 21:11-12).

When did Solomon's begin his reign?

  • 476 years after the Israelites left Egypt (1KIN 6:1).
  • 570 years after the Israelites left Egypt, as determined by the 40 years spent wandering the desert (ACT 13:17-18), the 450 year rule of the judges (ACT 13:20), the 40 years of Saul’s reign (ACT 13:21), and the 40 year reign of King David (ACT13:22; 1CHR 29:26).

Did the Lord have a temple prior to Solomon's reign?

  • Yes.
    • There was a temple in Shiloh (JUDG 18:31), when there was no king (JUDG 19:1).
    • Hannah went to the temple (1SAM 1:9) to ask Eli to help her conceive her son, Samuel. (1SAM 1:20). God later called to Samuel as he slept in this temple (1SAM 3:3).
  • No. David wanted to build a temple, but God forbade him since he was “a man of war” (1CHR 28:2-3). David delegated the task of temple-building to his son, Solomon (1CHR 28:6), who carried it out to completion (1KIN 6:14).

Did King Abijam please the Lord?

  • Yes. In addition to making him king (2CHR 13:1), God granted Abijam victory in battle and punished his enemies (2CHR 13:2, 15-17, 20). Additionally, God granted him 14 wives, 22 sons, and 16 daughters (2CHR 13:21), and left him with and a lasting legacy (2CHR 13:22) following his proper funeral (2CHR 14:1).
  • No. King Abijam was considered to be a sinful man with an imperfect heart (1KIN 15:1-3).

How did God respond to Jehu’s killings at Jezreel?

  • God commended him (2KIN 10:30).
  • God punished him (HOS 1:4).

Was Asa perfect?

  • Yes. Asa’s heart was perfect for all of his days (1KIN 15:14; 2CHR 15:17).
  • No. He “oppressed some of the people” (2CHR 16:10). In addition, Asa “relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God” (2CHR 16:7), and when he took ill, he “sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians” (2CHR 16:12).

Did Asa remove the high places?

  • Yes. The Bible explicitly states that Asa “took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves” (2CHR 14:2-3).
  • No. “The high places were not removed” (1KIN 15:14) and they “were not taken away” (2CHR 15:17).

What is God’s chosen city?

  • Jerusalem (2CHR 6:5-6).
  • God has no chosen city (1KIN 8:16).

Did Elijah anoint Hazael and Jehu?

  • Yes. Elijah anointed Hazael (1KIN 19:13, 15) and Jehu (1KIN 19:16).
  • No. Elijah did not anoint Hazael (2KIN 8:13-15), and Jehu was anointed by someone else on his behalf (2KIN 9:1-3).

When did Elisha receive Elijah's mantle?

  • Elijah gave his mantle to Elisha before ascending into Heaven (1KIN 19:19, 21).
  • Elisha received the mantle after Elijah went to Heaven. He tore the mantle off of his clothes and let it fall to Elisha as a parting gift while he ascended (2KIN 2:11-13).

Which of Ahaziah’s relatives did Jehu like?

  • His brothers (2KIN 10:13-14).
  • His nephews (2CHR 22:8).

Is God always with Jesus?

  • Yes. Jesus and God are one (JOH 10:30), because God dwells inside him (JOH 14:10), and is with him even when he is alone (JOH 16:32).
  • No. The dying Jesus was convinced that God had forsaken him (MAR 15:34).

Did the men with Paul share his vision? Did they hear the same voice? How did Paul’s men react?

  • The men stood speechless, since they too heard the voice (ACT 9:7).
  • They men saw the light, but heard no voice (ACT 22:9).
  • The men fell to the earth (ACT 26:14).

Did Jesus tell Paul his intentions on the way to Damascus?

  • Yes. Jesus told Paul of his intentions to make him into “a minister and a witness” (ACT 26:15-18).
  • No. Jesus would explain everything upon Paul’s arrival in Damascus (ACT 22:10).

Who tried to kill Paul in Damascus?

  • The Jews (ACT 9:23).
  • The local governor appointed by King Aretas (2COR 11:32).

Where did Paul go immediately after his conversion?

  • To Jerusalem (ACT 9:19, 26).
  • To Arabia, and later, to Damascus (GAL 1:17).

From who did Paul received the Holy Ghost from?

  • From God (GAL 1:15-16).
  • From Ananias (ACT 9:17).

Was Paul recognized by the Judean church members?

  • Yes. Paul was well-known to the Judeans; that was where he grew up (ACT 22:3), and formerly persecuted church members (ACT 22:4). Paul was well-recieved, and people took him into their homes (ACT 21:15-18).
  • No. Paul was unknown to the Judeans (GAL 1:21).

Did Paul visit all the disciples in Jerusalem following his conversion?

  • Yes. Baranabas introduced him to all of the disciples (ACT 9:26-28).
  • No. Paul only ever met Peter and James (GAL 1:18-19).

Did Peter agree with Paul’s views on Gentiles and Jews?

  • Yes. Peter agreed that there were no differences between Gentiles and Jews, since Christ had saved both groups (ACT 15:7-11).
  • No. Peter resisted Paul’s teachings (GAL 2:11), prompting Paul to call Peter out for his hypocrisy (GAL 2:14).

Were the disciples supposed to be baptists?

  • Yes. Jesus explicitly instructed his disciples to “teach all nations, baptizing them” (MAT 28:19).
  • No. Jesus told Paul that preaching was more important than baptizing. (1COR 1:1,17).

Was Paul a baptist?

  • No, not really. Paul only claimed to have baptized Stephanas’ family. Paul did not regard baptism as important since “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1COR 1:16-17).
  • Yes. Paul was explicitly shown to be a baptist (ACT 19:4-5). Paul baptized many people: Lydia and her family (ACT 16:14-15), the jailor and everyone in his household (ACT 16:27, 30, 33), Crispus, “and many of the Corinthians” (ACT 18:8),

Did Paul try to please men?

  • Yes. Paul tried to please people any way he could (1COR 10:33).
  • No, because those who try to please others do a poor job of serving Christ (GAL 1:10).

Did Paul use trickery?

  • Yes. Paul described himself as “crafty” and caught people with guile (2COR 12:16).
  • No. Paul explicitly denied ever resorting to deceit, uncleanness, or guile (1THE 2:3).

Was Paul the exemplar of sinful pride?

  • Yes. Paul freely admitted to boasting about how holy he was (2COR 11:5, 16-18), claiming to be the greatest apostles (2COR 12:11), because he performed the most labor out of all of them (1COR 15:10).
    • Such boasting is discouraged (PRO 27:2) because it is debasing, and “the humble are exalted” (LUK 18:14). God is explicitly stated to “resist the proud” and give grace to the humble (1PET 5:5).
  • No. Paul considered himself to be the least of the apostles (1COR 15:9), and of all the saints (EPH 3:8), because no living person should ever feel glory in the presence of Christ (1COR 1:28-29).

Does Christ live within Paul?

  • Yes. Christ lived inside Paul (GAL 2:20).
  • No. Paul knew that no good thing dwelled within him (ROM 7:18).

Does Paul obey the Holy Ghost?

  • No. The Holy Ghost banned Paul from preaching in Asia (ACT 16:6), which he did anyway (ACT 19:8-10).

What was Paul’s view on sinners?

  • Paul taught that all sinners are intrinsically Satanic (1JOH 3:8-9).
  • Paul claimed that he was the chief sinner (1TIM 1:15).

Did Paul encourage others to covet?

  • Yes. Paul encouraged others to covet the best spiritual gifts (1COR 12:31), like prophesy (1COR 14:39).
  • No. Paul reiterated God’s Commandment against covetous behavior (ROM 7:7; 13:9).

Why did Titus go to Corinth?

  • Titus went to Corinth on his own accord (2COR 8:16-17).
  • Titus went to Corinth under Paul’s orders (2COR 12:18).

Did the author of The Acts of the Apostles accompany Paul on his travels?

  • Yes. The use of the plural “we” implies that author traveled with Paul to Macedonia (ACT 16:10), and later as they sailed from Philippi to Troas (ACT 20:6).
  • No. The author’s use of the plural “they” implies that the passage from Mysia to Troas (ACT 16:8), and going to Lydia’s house after getting out of jail (ACT 16:40) were secondhand accounts.

Is everyone descended from Adam and Eve?

  • Yes. Eve was given her name because she was the mother of all living people (GEN 3:20).
  • No. Melchisedec, the king of Salem who met with Abraham, was “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God” (HEB 7:1-3).

Who was Cain’s father?

  • Adam (GEN 4:1).
  • Satan (1JOH 3:12).

Who is the foundation for God's house?

  • Jesus Christ was (1COR 3:10-11).
  • Men are, with an emphasis on the apostles and prophets (EPH 2:19-22).

Is the Holy Spirit subordinate to God?

  • No, because the Holy Spirit is itself a divine being (ACT 5:3-4).
  • Yes. God dispatches the Holy Spirit, who follows God’s orders (JOH 14:16- 17; 15:26; 16:13).

Who sends the Holy Spirit?

  • God does, as a reward for obedience (ACT 5:32).
  • Jesus does (JOH 20:21-22).
  • The Apostles could, or at least Peter and John could (ACT 8:14-17).

When did other humans gain the ability to receive the Holy Spirit, and how may it be acquired?

  • John the Baptist had the Holy Spirit prior to both his own birth, and the birth of Jesus (LUK 1:15).
  • The Holy Spirit was said to be upon Simeon (LUK 2:25).
  • The Holy Spirit was not given to anyone prior to Jesus’ glorification (JOH 7:39).

How is man sanctified?

  • By the truth itself (JOH 17:17).
  • By the Holy Spirit (1PET 1:2).

How does one receive the Holy Spirit?

  • Asking God. God sends the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks for it (LUK 11:13).
  • Through laying-of-hands. The Holy Spirit is transferred only via a saved person laying their hands on someone (ACT 8:17-19; 19:6).

Is God’s law perfect?

  • Yes. The Bible states that God’s law is perfect (PSA 19:7; JAM 1:25).
  • No. God freely admitted to making bad laws and poor judgments which should not be followed or abided by (EZE 20:25). Perfection cannot be created through legal means (HEB 7:19).

Will God’s law endure forever?

  • Yes. Jesus explicitly taught that every single character of the Old Testament laws remained valid (MAT 5:18). Jesus’ teachings amended the old laws without repealing or replacing them. This, like all of Jesus’s teachings, will stand forever (1PET 1:25).
  • No. The Old Testament laws, including the Ten Commandments, were “abolished” (EPH 2:15) during the crucifixion. This created a clean slate between God and man; all debts were canceled, and all charges were dropped (COL 2:13-14).

How should the Moabites be treated?

  • The Moabites were to be killed (JUDG 3:29-30), because the nation of Maob was not permitted to exist (JER 48:2).
  • The Moabites were not to be fought or bothered. There was nothing to gain by doing so, since God had previously distributed those land rights (DEU 2:9).

Why is there a Sabbath?

  • To celebrate the creation of the world (EXO 20:11).
  • To celebrate the escape from Egypt (DEU 5:15).

Do Nazarites need to purify themselves after being near the dead?

  • Yes. Those dedicated to the Lord must avoid being anywhere near the dead, even if they were family members. Those who watched someone die must shave their heads to purify themselves (NUM 6:6-8).
  • No. Despite killing 1,000 men with a donkey’s jawbone (JUDG 15:16-17), Samson did not require purification, and remained intrinsically consecrated up until he received his first haircut (JUDG 16:17).

What should be done with the firstborn animals?

  • They are to be sold. All of the money being raised from the sale must be added to your disposable income, to buy whatever items which you have wanted or desired (DEU 14:22-26).
  • They are to be sacrificed. Their blood should cover the altar and their fat burned, simply because the LORD enjoys the smell (NUM 18:17).
  • They are reserved for priests to eat (NUM 18:8-10).
  • They are eaten by those who offer them for sacrifice (DEU 12:17-18).

Can Non-Levites offer sacrifices to God?

  • No. The Levites had exclusive access to the tabernacle (NUM 18:6), because a Levite was explicitly required to perform all altar-related activities (NUM 18:7).
  • Yes. Non-Levites have offered acceptable sacrifices:
    • Samuel sacrificed a sucking lamb to God (1SAM 7:9), despite being and Ephrathite (1SAM 1:1-2,20).
    • Solomon sacrificed 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep without incident (1KIN 8:63).

Who are to become priests?

  • Aaron’s sons (LEV 1:5, 8, 11; NUM 3:9-10, 6:23).
  • The Levites (DEU 18:1, 7, 33:8, 10).

Can the carrying poles be removed from the Ark of the Covenant?

  • No. The Ark of the Covenant's poles must remain in place (EXO 25:14-15).
  • Yes. The Bible mentions putting the poles in places when breaking camp, which implies that they are removed regularly (NUM 4:5-6).

How was a woman’s chastity tested?

  • A priest prepares contaminated water for her to drink. The woman's chastity was (somehow) determined from her degree of sickness (NUM 5:26-27).
  • The woman’s parents delivered her bedsheets to the city elders for inspection, who determined her chastity from the presence of bloodstains, which were presumably from her ruptured hymen (DEU 22:15).

Can Jewish women marry outside of her tribe?

  • No. Women explicitly cannot marry outside of their father’s tribe (NUM 36:8).
  • Possibly. A priest’s daughter can marry outside of her tribe, on the condition that she never eats the food offered to her husband’s gods. Nothing was said if the rest of the population could also do so (LEV 22:12).

Can the descendants of illegitimate children enter into the congregation of the Lord?

  • No. illegitimate children are expressly forbidden from ever entering the congregation of the Lord. Furthermore, being an illegitimate child is so intrinsically sinful that the next ten generations of your family are automatically banned as well (DEU 23:2).
  • Yes. The Lord favors such people:
    • Phares was the illegitimate son of Judah and his widowed-daughter-in-law, Tamar (GEN 38:15-29). If Phares and ten generations of his descendants are unable to enter the congregation of the Lord, then his ninth-generation descendant, David (MAT 1:3-6), was also banned. However, God himself selected David to become a king (1SAM 16:1).
    • Aaron married Elisheba, a daughter of Amminadab (EXO 6:23), who was a third-generation descendant (MAT 1:3-6) of Phares. As such, she was probably considered a member of the Lord's congregation in order to marry the high priest.
    • Naashon was Elisheba’s brother, and therefore, a fourth-generation descendant of Phares (MAT 1:3-6). Despite being unable to enter the congregation of the Lord, he was made numerous offerings to the Lord (NUM 7:12-17), and became a prince of Judah (1CHR 2:10).

Was it right for the Israelites to take captives?

  • Yes. Israelites should take captives, since they can be forced to pay tributes (DEU 20:11, 15).
  • No. God commanded the Israelites to outright kill all who oppose them (DEU 20:16-18).

Should the Israelites spare the trees in countries they invade?

  • It depends. Fruit trees must be spared in battle, since they provide soldiers with free food. Siege engines could only be built from non-fruit bearing trees (DEU 20:19).
  • No. Every single tree should be chopped down, since Israelites were to employ "scorched earth" tactics (2KIN 3:19).

Do the Levite's have a fixed residence?

  • Yes. Levites were to live in designated city neighborhoods (NUM 35:2), and rule the suburbs (NUM 35:2,7).
  • No. The Levites are homeless (DEU 14:27).

Can Ammonites enter God's congregation?

  • No. The Bible explicitly states that the Ammonites are permanently banned from ever entering God’s congregation (NEH 13:1).
  • Possibly? Rheoboam, one of Solomon’s sons (1KIN 12:23), was buried among the other Hebrew kings, despite the fact that “his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess” (1KIN 14:31).

Does God condone hatred and violence against the Edomites?

  • Yes. God sought vengeance upon Edom, and they would feel his anger and fury (EZE 25:14).
  • No. It was forbidden to hate the Edomites, because they were “thy brother” (DEU 23:7).

Will the prophecies come true?

  • Who cares? Prophecies are a sure thing (2PET 1:19), because they are tautological; by definition, prophecies which do not come true are not real prophecies (DEU 18:21-22). Prophecies are therefore always true, but utterly meaningless, since they can only predict what has already happened.
  • No. The Bible explicitly state that prophecies will fail (1COR 13:8), and backs this claim by citing examples of failed prophecies, like when Jonah prophesized the overthrow of Nineveh (JON 3:4), which never happened (JON 3:5, 10).

Were prophecies privately interpreted?

  • Yes. The disciples discussed their private interpretations of prophecy with Jesus on Mt. Olives (MAT 24:3-5).
  • No. “...no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation,” because they directly quote the Holy Ghost (2PET 1:20-21).

Does Jerusalem have special protections?

  • Yes. Jerusalem's holiness prevents “the uncircumcised and the unclean” from entering. (ISA 52:1)
  • No. Despite what Isaiah stated, the Romans conquered Jerusalem and expelled the Jews. After the fall of Rome, Jerusalem was conquered by the Muslims, who remain there to this day.

Does poverty exist in the Promised Land?

  • Yes. Poverty is a perpetual problem which can be mitigated, but never truly solved (DEU 15:11).
  • No. The whole point of a Promised Land was that it held great abundance for all (DEU 15:4).

What became of the House of David?

  • David’s bloodline will endure forever, and his throne will reign eternal, like the sun and moon (PSA 89:35-37).
  • David’s glory ceased and his throne was cast down to the ground (PSA 89:44).

When did the Tribe of Ephraim break up?

  • 65 years after the time of Ahaz, as prophesized by Isaiah (ISA 7:1, 3, 8).
  • >145 years after the time of Ahaz, because Ephraim still exists (ZEC 10:7) in the time of Darius (ZEC 1:1).

Will Judah fall with Ephraim?

  • Yes. The destruction of Israel and Ephraim (HOS 5:5) also included the destruction of Judah (HOS 5:14).
  • No. God explicitly stated that when he destroyed Israel, he spared Judah (HOS 1:6-7).

Will Ephraim return to Egypt?

  • Yes. “Ephraim shall return to Egypt” (HOS 8:13; 9:3).
  • No. “He shall not return into the land of Egypt” (HOS 11:3-5).

Were all of Amaziah's children murdered?

  • Yes. As punishment for questioning if Amos was a prophet, Amaziah was doomed to lose all of his property and die in a polluted land, while his wife became a prostitute after all of their children were murdered (AMO 7:14-17).
  • No. Amaziah’s son Uzziah (2CHR 26:1) died of leprosy (2CHR 26: 21), thus escaping a violent death.

How did Josiah die?

  • Josiah was promised a peaceful death (2KIN 22:20).
  • Josiah was slain in battle at Megiddo. His body was transported to Jerusalem for burial. (2KIN 23:29-30).
  • Josiah was wounded by archers at Megiddo, and was medievaced to Jerusalem, where he died of his injuries (2CHR 35:23-24).

What was Zedekiah's fate?

  • God promised Zedekiah that he “shalt not die by the sword” and that he would “die in peace” (JER 34:4-5).
  • The king of Babylon killed Zedekiah’s sons as he watched, right before killing all the Judean princes in Riblah. Zedekiah was then blinded, chained, and spent the rest of his life in a Babylonian prison (JER 52:10-11).

Who, or what, will be called “The Lord Our Righteousness?”

  • It is a poetic title given to the king that saves Judah and keep Israel safe (JER 23:5-6).
  • It is a nickname for Jerusalem (JER 33:15).

Will the endless cycle of planting and harvesting ever cease?

  • Yes. It was explicitly stated that there were no harvests during famines (GEN 41:53-57; 45:6).
  • No. The agricultural cycle can never cease (GEN 8:22).

Did God destroy Babylon?

  • Yes. God promised that Babylon would be a heap of smoldering rubble when he was finished. Even the building foundations would be destroyed, and Babylon would be desolate and uninhabitable forever (JER 51:24-26, 62), because the site would become a breeding ground for dragons (JER 51:37). God will get the entire Babylonian population drunk, just to make them easier to kill (JER 51:39-40), especially since most of them would just die from alcohol poisoning (JER 51:57). “Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her” (JER 51:64).
  • No. Babylon must have survived, since Peter made references to Babylonian churches (1PET 5:13).

Did God destroy Tyre?

  • Yes. God commanded that the walls of Tyre would be broken, and all of the topsoil removed to make it a barren, desolate place (EZE 26:4-14). The city would be so thoroughly destroyed that no one could ever suspect that the city had ever existed (EZE 26:4-21).
  • No. Jesus passed by Tyre (MAR 3:8), and Paul later stopped there (ACT 21:3-4).

Will God overthrow Nineveh?

  • Yes. Jonah foresaw the overthrow of Nineveh (JON 3:4).
  • No. God spared them, because they were redeemed by their good works (JON 3:10).

What will God do to Babylon?

  • God will make it wet (ISA 14:22-23).
  • God will completely dry it up (JER 51:35-36).

Who will be the ransom for the righteous?

  • The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous and the transgressor for the upright” (PRO 21:18).
  • Jesus will (MAR 10:45; 1TIM 2:5-6).

Will the world end?

  • No. The Bible explicitly states that the world will exist forever (PSA 78:69; PSA 104:5; ECC 1:4).
  • Yes. The Bible explicitly states that the earth shall pass away (MAT 24:35; MAR 13:31; LUK 21:33; 1JOH 2:17). The world will “perish” (HEB 1:10-11) and burn, along with all of the works which it contains (2PET 3:10).

When did Jesus think the apocalypse would occur?

  • Jesus was convinced that the apocalypse would occur during the lifetime of those who knew him (MAR 13:24-30).
  • Jesus was unconvinced that the world was going to end anytime soon, since he founded a church, which demonstrated planning for the future (MAT 16:18).

When will the world end?

  • The world will end before all of the cities of Israel hear God’s word (MAT 10:23).
  • The world cannot end until the gospels have been preached all over the world (MAT 24:14) and in every nation (MAR 13:10).

What will happen to the grasses and plants during the apocalypse?

  • The Bible explicitly states that all plant life will burn at the end of the world (REV 8:7).
  • The Bible explicitly states that all plant life will spared, despite the world ending around it (REV 9:3-4).

Will heavenly signs announce the coming of the kingdom of God?

  • Yes. The coming of God’s Kingdom (MAT 24:27) at the end of the world (ACT 2:17) will be announced by a number of heavenly signs (ACT 2:19). The stars will fall from the sky, and the sun and moon will darken (MAT 24:27) as the moon turns into blood (ACT 2:20).
  • No. Jesus taught that only “an evil and adulterous generation” would look for heavenly signs besides the one prophesized by Jonas/Jonah; i.e., the resurrection. (MAT 12:39)

What will the Day of the Lord will be like?

  • It will be incredibly dark (AMO 5:20), as the sun, moon (ISA 13:10) and stars (JOE 2:10) will all cease to shine.
  • It will be incredibly bright, since the moon will shine as bright as the sun, and the sun’s luminosity will increase sevenfold (ISA 30:26).
  • Neither, it shall be neither “clear nor dark,” and neither “not day, nor night” (ZEC 14:6-7).

What will men do in their last days?

  • They shall beat their swords into plowshares. (ISA 2:4; MIC 4:3).
  • They will beat their plowshares into swords (JOE 3:10).

How will the Son of Man arrive?

  • The Son of Man will come humbly, riding a donkey (ZEC 9:9).
  • The Son of Man will make a triumphant, grandiose entrance (DAN 7:1314).

When will the Son of man come?

  • “Immediately after the tribulation,” i.e., on Judgment Day (MAT 24:21, 29-30).
  • Once the rule Gentiles has ended (LUK 21:24, 27).

When will punishments and rewards be dealt?

  • The righteous shall be rewarded here, on earth (PRO 11:31).
  • In the next world, for all must be judged by Christ (MAT 16:27; 2COR 5:10) or by God (REV 20:12).

Will believers be judged?

  • Yes. All must face judgment; be it Christ’s (MAT 12:36; 2COR 5:10; HEB 9:27), or God's (1PET 1:17; JUDE 1:14-15; REV 20:12-13).
  • No. Believers will not be judged, as they are entitled to everlasting life (JOH 5:24; ROM 5:18).

Who will judge people?

  • God will judge man (GEN 18:25; PSA 50:6; ACT 17:31; ROM 2:2; 2THE 1:5; HEB 12:23; 1PET 1:17; REV 20:12).
  • God judges no one, because he delegated that task to Jesus (JOH 5:22, 27). Jesus commanded his disciples to teach this fact to the people (ACT 10:42), because all must face Christ’s judgment (MAT 25:31-32; JOH 5:22 27,30; 9:39; 2COR 5:10; ROM 14:10).
  • Jesus will not judge anyone (JOH 8:15), since he is neither a judge nor a divider (LUK 12:14). Jesus existed to prevent condemnation, not to confer it (JOH 3:17, 12:47).
  • The twelve disciples will judge (MAT 19:28; LUK 22:30). Apparently, this includes Judas.
  • The saints will be the judges (1COR 6:2, JUDE 14-15).
  • Spiritual people can judge all things (1COR 2:15).
  • Anyone can judge anyone else, provided that the judgment is not biased by the judged person’s socioeconomic status (LEV 19:15), or their outward appearance (JOH 7:24).
  • No person can. Men must “judge not, that ye be not judged” (MAT 7:1); anyone who judges another is condemned, since they are probably being a hypocrite (ROM 2:1). Since God is the only lawgiver, man has no authority to judge (JAM 4:12). As such, all judgment should wait until Judgment Day (1COR 4:5).

When will judgments occur?

  • They were already conducted during Jesus’ time (JOH 12:31).
  • Judgments will only start after the resurrection (ACT 17:31).
  • Judgments occur on an as-needed, case-by-case basis after the death of each individual (HEB 9:27).
  • All judgments are delayed until the end of the earth (2PET 3:7).

Will the dead be resurrected?

  • Yes. All of the dead will be resurrected on Judgment Day (ISA 26:19; JOH 5:28-29), to be “changed” (1COR 15:52) and sent to Heaven or Hell (MAT 25:46). To God, all are alive (LUK 20:37-38).
  • No. The dead will never rise (JOB 7:9; 14:10-12; AMO 8:14). They are destroyed, along with all of their memories (ISA 26:14; ECC 9:5-6), just like a beast (ECC 3:19-20).
  • Maybe? Some of the dead will be resurrected, while others will not (DAN 12:2).

What will become of sinners?

  • They burn. After tortuous deaths (MAT 24:51), the souls of sinners are punished (MAT 25:30, 46) with “shame and everlasting contempt” (DAN 12:2) by eternally burning (2PET 3:7; REV 14:10-11) in a “furnace” (MAT 13:49-50) or a “lake of fire” (REV 20:10, 15).
  • They cease to be (ECC 9:5, 10). The souls of sinners will die (EZE 18:20) and face “everlasting destruction” (PSA 145:20; THE 1:9).

Did God slay the Leviathan?

  • Yes. God has already done this (ISA 27:1).
  • No. God has not slain the Leviathan, but he will do so in the future (PSA 74:13).

What is the upper limit of the human lifespan?

  • 70 years (PSA 90:10).
  • 120 years (GEN 6:3).
  • Hundreds of years (GEN 11:11, 13, 15; EXO 6:25; JUDG 20:28).

Are the dead conscious?

  • Yes. The spirits of the dead talk to one another (LUK 16:22-24) and greet newcomers to Hell (ISA 14:9). The dead can talk to both God (REV 6:9-10) and Jesus (MAR 9:4), and listen to Christ preach sermons to them (1PET 3:18-20).
  • No. The dead are not conscious or awake (JOB 14:12), because death is like just sleep (JOH 11:11; ACT 7:59-60). The dead know nothing (ECC 9:5), because all knowledge and wisdom are destroyed upon death (ECC 9:10).

What is death like?

  • Death is silent (JOB 3:18) and dark (JOB 10:21; PSA 88:11 -12).
  • Death is glorious (PSA 73:24) and bright (PRO 4:18). Christians profit by dying. (PHILI 1:21).

Do the dead retain intelligence?

  • Yes, since the dead are still able to speak (ISA 14:9-10; LUK 9:30-31). God is a God of the living; so to God, all people are alive (LUK 20:38).
  • No. The dead cannot praise the Lord (PSA 115:17) and their thoughts perish upon death (PSA 146:4).

Do the dead possess knowledge?

  • Yes. The dead have been shown to demonstrate several forms of knowledge:
    • The dead retain their memories, since they can welcome relatives to the afterlife (GEN 37:35; LUK 16:22-25).
    • They are aware of earthly events which occured after their deaths (1SAM 28:15-18).
    • The dead retain opinions, which can still be swayed; this is why Jesus descended into Hell to preach to the dead (1PET 4:6).
  • No. The dead are explicitly stated to have none of their memories (PSA 6:5) or knowledge (ECC 9:5-6) of their lives. As such, the dead will not welcome you upon joining them (ISA 38:18).

Are the dead all together in one place?

  • Yes. Christians and their families join God upon death (1SAM 28:19).
  • Yes, but not “as advertised,” because “all go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again” (ECC 3:20).
  • No. The dead can't be all together:
    • Heaven and Hell are distinct, separate places (LUK 16:23-26).
    • There is a special place specifically set aside for Judas (ACT 1:25).

Can the spirit be retained after death?

  • Yes. Peter demonstrated this during Tabitha's resurrection (ACT 9:36, 40-41).
  • No, because “there is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit” (ECC 8:8).

Should you pray for the dead?

  • Yes. Praying on behalf of the dead helps them atone for their sins (2MAC 12:44-46).
  • No. Praying for the dead is a waste of time, as it will not restore them to life (2SAM 12:21-23).

Who has ascended into Heaven?

  • Only Jesus. The Bible explicitly states that only Christ has ever ascended to Heaven (JOH 3:13).
  • Elijah ascended into Heaven upon a flaming chariot (2KIN 2:11).
  • Some guy that Paul knew ascended into Heaven, but details are sketchy since Paul was not permitted to discuss this event. Paul only mentioned this event in passing, which apparently took place 14 years prior to writing his Second Letter to the Corinthians. (2COR 12:2-4).
  • Enoch was assumed into Heaven by faith alone, without ever dying (HEB 11:5).
  • Catholics believe that Mary assumed into Heaven, and never died per se. This quells the cognitive dissonance posed by the Catholic belief that Mary was exempted from Original Sin, because Original Sin is requisite for death (ROM 5:12-21; 6:23). The Assumption of Mary was declared dogma, ex cathedra, by Pope Pius XII in his 1950 Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus, based off of his interpretation of GEN 3:15 and 1COR 15:54.

Is Heaven eternal?

  • Yes. Heaven is “an inheritance incorruptible… that fadeth not away” (1PET 1:3).
  • No. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my [Jesus’] words shall not pass away” (MAT 24:35).

Who will enter the kingdom of heaven by force?

  • Violent people (MAT 11:12).
  • Everyone will (LUK 16:16).

Can thieves go to Heaven?

  • Yes. Jesus explicitly stated that one of the thieves that was crucified beside him would enter Heaven, simply for defending Jesus’ reputation (LUK 23:43).
  • No. Thieves are explicitly banned from ever entering Heaven (1COR 6:9-10).

Does Hell exist?

  • Yes. Jesus explicitly confirmed the existence of Hell, and that it a place of eternal fire prepared for the devil and his fallen angel brethren (MAT 25:41), which is meant to be an eternal punishment for the cursed (MAT 25:46). Jesus later describes how the rich man who refused to feed Lazarus is burning in Hell (LUK 16:22-23).
  • No. There is no need for a Hell, since the wicked will simply cease to be (PRO 10:25; 24:20), and all traces of their existence will be erased forever (OBA 1:16).

What is Hell like?

  • Hell is brightly lit from all of the fire (MAT 5:22). There is so much fire that it is described as being like a furnace (MAT 13:41-2).
  • Hell is described as being a place of darkness (MAT 8:11-12, 25:30).

Was Israel's sin eradicable?

  • Yes. Their sins and wickedness could be washed from their hearts (JER 4:14).
  • No. No amount of cleansing of the heart could ever remove the stain of sin (JER 2:22).

Who will perish?

  • The Lord’s enemies (JUDG 5:31).
  • The wicked (PSA 37:20).
  • Liars (PRO 19:9).
  • The righteous (ECC 7:15, ISA 57:1).
  • Good men (MIC 7:2).

Who will God devour on Judgment Day?

  • The wicked (HEB 10:27; REV 20:9).
  • The innocent (MAR 12:38, 40; 2COR 11:2).

When will Judgment Day occur?

  • Shortly after the time of Jesus. The Bible is quite explicit about the fact that the day of the Lord is at hand, and it states this multiple times (ISA 13:6; JOE 1:15; ZEP 1:7; MAT 4:17; PHILI 4:5).
  • Well after the time of Jesus. Paul’s trip to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus took place 14 years after his conversion (GAL 2:1), and the day of the Lord had yet to come.
  • In the far future. Before judgment Day comes, there will be a great falling away from the church, a “man of sin” will be revealed, and an all-powerful Satan will show off with all sorts of miracles and wonders (2THE 2:2, 9).
  • It is unknown and unknowable. Due to God's non-linear perception of time, it is impossible for humans to determine when Judgment Day will be (2PET 3:8-10).

What is the Kingdom of God like?

  • It's a physical place. During the Last Supper, Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God as being a physical place, where one could eat and drink (MAR 14:25; LUK 14:15).
  • It's a etherial place. The Kingdom of God is “not of this world” (JOH 18:36) and it is a purely spiritual world, since flesh and blood cannot enter (1COR 15:50). One cannot eat and drink food and water there, only “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (ROM 14:17).
  • It's a state of mind. The Kingdom of God is not a place of any kind; it is a metaphor for something within you (LUK 17:20-21).

Who does the world belong to?

  • God (GEN 14:19; EXO 9:29, 19:5; DEU 10:14; PSA 24:1, 47:7; ISA 37:16; MAT 11:25; 1COR 10:26; ACT 17:24).
  • Satan (MAT 4:8-9, JOH 12:31, 2COR 4:4).
  • Humanity itself (PSA 115:16).
  • The meek (MAT 5:5).

Is Satan confined to Hell?

  • No. Satan can roam freely (1PET 5:8), without God knowing his whereabouts (JOB 1:7). If Satan were confined, it would have been impossible for him to hang out with Joshua (ZEC 3:1) and Jesus (MAT 4:1).
  • Yes. The Bible explicitly states that all of the fallen angels are chained up in Hell until Judgment Day (2PET 2:4; JUDE 1:6).

Can man resist the devil?

  • Yes. The devil will flee from anyone who resists him (JAM 4:7).
  • No, the devil can take people captive at his will (2TIM 2:26).

Can Satan control Christians?

  • Yes. “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (LUK 22:31).
  • No. Satan cannot even touch, let alone control, a Christian (1JOH 5:18).

Who causes unbelief?

  • Satan does. He takes the word out of the hearts of those who fall by the wayside (LUK 8:12), and blinds the minds of unbelievers (2COR 4:3-4).
  • Jesus does. He intentionally obfuscated his teachings by speaking in parables, in an effort to keep people in the dark. This way, his followers could not be converted away or rebel, since they wouldn’t know what to rebel against (MAR 4:11-12).
  • God does. God hardened the hearts of the Jews, so that they would reject Jesus (JOH 12:38-40). God intentionally deludes people into believing lies in order to damn them to Hell (2THE 2:11-12).

Who was the greatest person ever?

  • Solomon was. The Bible explicitly states that there has been one greater before or since Solomon (1KIN 3:10-12).
  • John the Baptist was. The Bible explicitly states that no woman has ever bore a greater son (MAT 11:11).
  • Jesus is implied to be the greatest person ever, but the Bible is not explicit about this; it merely states that he was “greater than Solomon” (LUK 11:30-31).

Were all of Job’s children killed?

  • Yes. The Bible explicitly states that Job was the only survivor of the windstorm that leveled his house (JOB 1:19), and that God had “cast them away” (JOB 8:4).
  • No. Some of Job’s children must have survived, because Job laments about how his kids dislike him for being stinky (JOB 19:17).

Who cast Jonah into the sea?

  • The mariners did (JON 1:5, 7, 15).
  • The Lord did it himself (JON 2:1-3).

What swallowed Jonah?

  • “A great fish” (JON 1:17).
  • A whale (MAT 12:40).

Was Jerusalem conquered during the rule of Ahaz?

  • Yes. Under Ahaz, Jerusalem was conquered twice; once by the King of Syria, and later by the King of Israel (2CHR 28:1, 5-6).
  • No. Although both the Syrians and the Israelis besieged Jerusalem, neither was able to take it (2KIN 16:5).

Was Ahaz buried with his fathers?

  • Yes. The Bible explicitly states that Ahaz was buried with his fathers (2KIN 16:20).
  • No. Ahaz was denied his burial as punishment for laying waste to his lands and slaying his people (ISA 14:20, 28).

What did reversing the sundial show?

  • It was a sign that God would heal Hezekiah (2KIN 20:7-11).
  • It was a sign that God would defend Jerusalem from the Assyrians (ISA 38:4-8).

Is the ability to speak in tongues a blessing?

  • No. In fact, God explicitly created the concept of foreign languages as a curse in order to punish man for his insolence (GEN 11:6-7).
  • Yes. Speaking in tongues is one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (ACT 2:5-6, 11).

Were the pagans of Athens worshiping idols out of ignorance? If so, were they punished for this?

  • The Athenians worshiped idols because they were ignorant (ACT 17:22-23). God overlooked this sin because the Athenians acted out of ignorance, and not from malice (ACT 17:30).
  • The Athenians existed in the world God created, and thus had proof for his existence. As such, they had no excuse for their idolatry (ROM 1:18-20) and God punished them accordingly (ROM 1:24-28).

Exactly what is the Holy Spirit?

  • The Holy Spirit is an advanced intelligence, which can teach all things, and grant an instant perfect recall (JOH 14:26), in order to lead people to truth (JOH 16:13). This intelligence it itself a distinct, separate entity (ACT 8:29, 39; 13:2; 16:7).
  • The Holy Spirit is an influence, a supernatural force that God uses to complete tasks (GEN 1:2; ISA 42:1; ACT 1:5; 2:17; 4:8; 10:38).