TruthMatters_SJ
“The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God." Psalm 9:17 In recent years, I have encountered many atheists who have protested what they perceive from the Bible to be an unjust “infinite” punishment from God for their “finite” actions. I wondered about the identity of the source …
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the …
Continue reading "Why Did God Sacrifice God? An Explanation of Jesus’ Atonement"
“What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could ‘be like gods’ - could set up on their own as if they had created themselves - be their own masters - invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless …
Continue reading "Christians Answer Questions Atheists Say Christians Can’t Answer"
In his book “The God Delusion” Richard Dawkins states: “As another aside, it has occurred to various people, including Robert Graves in his epic novel King Jesus, that poor Judas Iscariot has received a bad deal from history, given that his 'betrayal' was a necessary part of the cosmic plan. The same could be said …
Continue reading "Was Judas Iscariot a Pawn or an Intentional Actor – or Both?"
In 2001, 75% of those polled by the Pew Research Center indicated that religious institutions have played a role in solving important social problems (Stonestreet, 2016), yet by 2016, the percentage had dropped significantly to only 58% (Lipka, 2016). This figure is disappointing, suggesting that the memories or knowledge of positive Christian influences have diminished. …
Continue reading "The Significant Contributions of Christianity to Healthcare and Education"
In the book of Acts (5: 34-39), Luke records the prescient words of a Pharisee called Gamaliel, who had questioned the wisdom of the persecution of Peter and other apostles: “But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men …
Continue reading "Early Christian Martyrdoms: Persecution in the Roman Empire"
Of all of the books of the Old Testament, only the book of Isaiah has been fully preserved in the Dead Sea Scrolls. To me, that is significant, given the fact that Isaiah is the source of some of the greatest prophecies of Jesus, which were made over six hundred years prior to his earthly …
Continue reading "An Explanation of Jesus’ Anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane"
"The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone" - Psalm 118:22 This morning I was tagged on social media by a person who calls himself Elisha Ben Abuya. Mr. Ben Abuya considers himself an expert in Old Testament exegesis and he has amassed many fans within the atheist community. He resides in Israel and …
Continue reading "The Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53: A Response to Elisha Ben Abuya"
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last” – Matthew 20:16. According to first-century Jewish historian Josephus, women in ancient Jewish societies were considered inferior in all matters (c.f., Green, McKnight & Marshall, 1992). They lacked rights, lacked an education, and played a small role in society aside from child-bearing. Josephus …
Continue reading "So The Last Will Be First, And The First Will Be Last: Women in the Gospels"
Of all of the kings who have ever lived and reigned, only one lives and reigns forever: Jesus Christ. But who is Jesus Christ? How did the humble son of a carpenter (and a handful of fishermen, a tax collector, a tent maker and a few others) make such an impact that by 312 AD, …