Category Archives: BIBLE QUESTIONS

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHURCH

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT “REVEREND” AS A TITLE FOR MINISTERS? — BOB  PRICHARD

It is a common assumption today that every minister ought to be addressed as “reverend.” Fortunately, though, many ministers are rejecting the use of this title, recognizing that it is unauthorized by the Bible, contrary to the Bible doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, and divisive to the cause of Christ.

The word “reverend” comes from the Latin word reverendus, meaning “worthy of respect.” The dictionary defines it as “a title of respect often used with the name of a clergyman.” “Reverend” is found only one time in the King James Version of the Bible. An unknown psalmist wrote, “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name” (Psalm 111:9). The application of the term is to God, not a man. The word is used frequently in the original languages of the Bible, but it is always applied to God, and never to man. Since the practice of using the title “reverend” is so popular today, it may be surprising to remember that neither Jesus nor any of the disciples ever used this or any other man-made title. There is never any mention of “Reverend Paul,” or the “Right Reverend John,” or the “Reverend Mr. Peter.” The use of titles such as “reverend” by the humble servants of Christ would have been contrary to their attitude of service to Christ. 

Paul said, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14). In other words, Paul was saying that he would glory in nothing but the cross of Christ. He demonstrated his humble attitude toward serving Christ many times in his letters. Paul was well educated and could have claimed human titles, but he chose to give all of these up for Christ (see Philippians 3:1-7). He began some letters with the words, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ.” Many times he simply referred to himself as “a servant” or “a bondservant.” The desire to use man-made religious titles such as “reverend” comes from a desire for exaltation. We must remember the words of Christ: “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28). 

The use of titles such as “reverend” helps to perpetuate a wrong concept of the nature of those who serve Christ. Peter referred to all Christians, not just a select clergy, as “an holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5). The clergy/laity division of our religious world is a man-made division. Though some, because of special training and a special desire to serve God may serve as ministers or preachers [not titles but descriptive terms of service], and may be called ministers [servants], in actuality every Christian is a minister, or servant, when he serves God. We need to reestablish the concept of the priesthood of all believers in service to Christ. Jesus warned, “Be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren” (Matthew 23:8).

BIBLE QUESTIONS, JESUS CHRIST, MATTHEW

HOW DOES THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION DIFFER FROM THE VIRGIN BIRTH — BOB PRICHARD

The virgin birth refers to the birth of Jesus Christ in fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, made more than seven hundred years before His birth. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us” (Matthew 1:18-23).

Mary, the mother of Jesus was a virgin when she conceived Him. She and her betrothed husband Joseph had never “come together” sexually. The child she conceived was the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16), conceived miraculously by the Holy Spirit. Thus the conception of Christ was unique in all history. His actual birth, although very humble, was a normal birth. Thus the virgin birth really has more to do with the conception of Jesus Christ than it does with His actual birth.

The immaculate conception is the doctrine that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived without “original sin,” and then remained a sinless virgin throughout life. This  idea has no basis in scripture. While it is true that Mary was a virgin before the birth of Christ, she did not remain a perpetual virgin. Joseph “knew her not till she had brought forth a son” (Matthew 1:25), implying Joseph did “know her” later. Mary and Joseph had other children, the brothers and sisters of Jesus (Matthew 13:54-56). 

Mary was not sinless. “All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, the “lamb without spot” (1 Peter 1:19) is the only exception. Christ had no need to offer sacrifice for His sins, because He had none (Hebrews 7:27). Mary, however, had to offer a sin offering (Luke 2:22-24; Leviticus 12:6-8). Only sinners would need to offer a sin offering. Mary was not without sin.

The Bible does not teach “original sin,” the idea that all human beings inherit Adam’s sin. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:20). Mary was born pure, like every other child, but then made her own choices about sin. Mary was a great woman, but nothing in the scriptures indicate that there was anything unusual about her birth.

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, JESUS CHRIST, LUKE, MARK, MATTHEW

DID JESUS MAKE HIS TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM ON ONE OR ON TWO ANIMALS? — BOB PRICHARD

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all record the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem. Mark and Luke record the instructions of Jesus to the disciples to go into the village to “find a colt tied, whereon never man sat” (Mark 11:2; Luke 19:30). John also mentions only one animal (John 12:12-18). Matthew, however, mentions two animals: “an ass tied, and a colt with her” (Matthew 21:2). He then adds, “And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon” (Matthew 21:6-7). While all four accounts agree that Jesus rode on the colt, Matthew’s mention of the mother donkey seems to be contradictory. Why did Matthew include this detail, when the others did not?

Matthew stressed that what happened that day was in fulfillment of prophecy. Zechariah prophesied “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (9:9). The gospel writers emphasized that the colt had never been ridden, which would indicate that the colt was still dependent on the mother. Thus it would have been much easier to lead the colt through the excited multitudes if led behind its mother, since it was untrained to follow a roadway. Matthew highlights the detail that the animal Jesus chose to ride was a colt, by mentioning its mother. The other writers simply omitted mention of the mother of the foal.

But did Jesus ride on one animal, or two? While the language of Zechariah 9:9 seems to say He rode two animals at once, it is merely a reflection of the Hebrew way of stating things in poetic parallelism. Psalm 24:1 shows similar parallelism: “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” “Earth” and “world” are parallel in meaning, repeated for poetic emphasis. The disciples “brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes [thus making a saddle out of their clothes], and they set him thereon” Matthew 21:7). Some have thought that Matthew was saying Jesus was riding both animals, but what Matthew was really saying is that the disciples set Jesus on the clothes-saddle, not on the two animals.

Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords entered Jerusalem on a lowly colt, fulfilling to the minutest detail the prophecies concerning the Messiah. He did not enter riding the white charger of an earthly king but as the Prince of Peace on a lowly beast of burden. In response, the whole city of Jerusalem was moved. “And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strowed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?” (Matthew 21:8-10). 

“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24:7–10). Jesus, the King of Glory comes in peace, acclaimed by the people, and crowned with praise.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHURCH

SINCE THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD, WHY ISN’T THERE JUST ONE CHURCH? — BOB PRICHARD

Paul tells us explicitly that there is “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:6). Most people have little trouble with this concept, understanding that our Heavenly Father created our world and loved us enough to send Christ to save us from our sins. Paul does not speak only of  “One God,” however, but mentions seven “unities.” “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;  One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). The first of the seven unities Paul mentions is “one body.”    

At the end of the first chapter of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul explained that because Christ obeyed the Father and conquered death, that God “hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23). The church is defined as His body, the “one body” that Paul mentioned in Ephesians 4:4. This is just what we would expect, one head connected with one body. Our religious world today, however, presents a monstrosity to God, with many churches or bodies claiming to be attached to the one head, Jesus Christ.

The Lord’s desire from the beginning was that all of His followers would be united in His church. As He prepared for the cross, Jesus prayed for His disciples, and then said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:20-23). Jesus understood that the unity (or disunity) of His followers would be a powerful witness to the world. Surely the disunity of the current denominational system hinders the spread of the gospel of Christ.

Paul warned the Corinthians against disunity, as they began to follow various preachers, forgetting Christ. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). Jesus promised Peter and the disciples, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). He did not promise to build the many denominational bodies we see today, but His church. The way to be a member of His church today is to reject the creeds, manuals, and catechisms of the denominations, and just be Christians, wearing the name of Christ. This is the plea of the churches of Christ.

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHRISTIAN LIVING

WHAT IS THE PARABLE OF THE WINE BOTTLE? — BOB PRICHARD

The weeping prophet Jeremiah told the parable of the wine bottle to the nation of Israel. Israel turned away from God repeatedly, and did not realize the consequences of disobedience. They thought they would continue to prosper, but God warned them that judgment was coming. He spoke of Israel saying, “This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing. For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear” (Jeremiah 13:10-11). Their pride was their downfall.

Jeremiah told them: “Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine? Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness. And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them” (Jeremiah 13:12-14). There may have been a common proverb about Israel that “every wine bottle shall be filled,” indicating that Israel would be very prosperous. God wanted Israel to know, however, that the wine of God’s wrath would fill the wine bottle. 

How fitting that Jeremiah described God’s wrath upon a disobedient nation with destruction as that which comes in drunkenness. Israel thought it would enjoy the pleasures of a full wine bottle, but God warned that the wine bottle brings destruction, as fathers and sons dashed together for destruction. The carnage on today’s highways by the drunk driver is testimony to the fact that the wine bottle still brings destruction. The effects of the use and abuse of alcohol are devastating to families daily in our nation. Those who use alcohol hurt not only themselves but family, friends, and other innocent victims caught in the wake of destruction associated with drinking. Solomon warned, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1).

Despite Israel’s wickedness, God offered hope if they would listen to his admonition.  “Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness” (Jeremiah 10:16). The warning continued, however, “But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive” (Jeremiah 10:17). History tells us that unrepentant Israel went into captivity. Pray that our nation will repent of its pride and wickedness.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHURCH

IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST A DENOMINATION? — BOB PRICHARD

A frequent follow-up question to “Are you a Christian?” is “What denomination are you?” “Denomination” is not found in the Bible, and the idea is based on sectarianism and division. “Denomination” is not simply an incidental name, but a choice to be divided from other believers who do not share the same sectarian doctrines. Religious denominations are divisions among people who may all claim to follow the same Lord and same Bible but cannot agree because of their denomination.

As Jesus prayed for His apostles before His arrest, he said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-21). Jesus wanted unity among His apostles, and among “them also which shall believe on me through their word.” He prayed for the unity of everyone who would believe the teaching of the apostles (whether through their direct preaching or through the written word of the Bible). This unity is not possible, however, as long as the divisive denominational system exists.  

The denominational system has developed with various creeds, manuals, handbooks, hierarchies, and systems of organization, which have grown more and more complex over time. Years ago many men and women understood that the denominational system was a violation of God’s will, and sought to leave the denominations so that they could restore the “undenominational” church of Christ of the New Testament. By being just Christians, without being associated with any denomination, they believed that they could better serve and obey God. That is why the modern day churches of Christ are undenominational. They have no creed but the Bible, no denominational or church hierarchy over the local congregation, and no authority for faith and practice other than the Bible. They are not “Church of Christ Christians,” but simply Christians.

There were “seeds of denominationalism” in the church at Corinth. Paul wrote, “it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:11-12). Some at Corinth were not satisfied to be Christians only, but wanted to be “Paulite Christians,” or “Apollosite Christians,” or “Cephasite Christians.” Paul asked, “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1:13). They had divided the church into warring factions. Paul emphasized the seriousness of the situation by saying he was glad he had only baptized a few at Corinth, so few could claim to follow Him, instead of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:14-16). Of what denomination were Peter and Paul? They were just Christians, and not members of any denomination. The church of Christ, if it truly is the church we read of in the New Testament, cannot be a denomination and at the same time pleasing to the Lord.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHRISTIAN LIVING

WHY DID PAUL ADVISE TIMOTHY TO “USE A LITTLE WINE”? — BOB PRICHARD

Timothy was Paul’s “son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). He carried heavy responsibilities for teaching, evangelizing, and building up the church. Paul told him, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). No doubt Timothy took this responsibility to heart, and wanted to make sure that he did nothing that might detract from his mission or hurt his influence. Among those things that would hurt his influence was the use of wine. Paul had warned, “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). He also warned that drinking wine could be a stumbling block to a brother (Romans 14:21).

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul gave qualifications for elders or bishops, and deacons. Among the qualifications for an elder was that he should be one who is “not given to wine” (1 Timothy 3:3). Likewise, the deacon was to be one “not given to much wine” (1 Timothy 3:8). Clearly, Timothy understood the dangers of using wine, and knew that he should avoid its use. Why then, would Paul follow his admonition to Timothy, “keep thyself pure,” with the command,  “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities” (1 Timothy 5:22-23)? The obvious answer is that Paul was suggesting to Timothy that he, because of his particular medical problems, should use a “little” wine strictly for medicinal purposes.

The water available in the first century was often polluted and unfit for consumption, especially by someone with medical problems, as Timothy must have had. It was a common practice to add a little wine to water to let the alcohol in the wine kill the bacteria, and make the water drinkable. Timothy must have been suffering health problems because he was avoiding all use of wine, and drinking unfit water. Paul’s admonition to “drink no longer water,” meant “stop drinking only water” (NIV). Paul’s command to Timothy was not a general green light for all Christians to “use a little wine,” but was specific to Timothy’s need and circumstances, for his medical problem. The nature of medicine is that you should take it when necessary. It is not only usually bad for you when you do not need it, but sometimes even life threatening. Medicine usually works as a toxin, or poison in the system, to force the body to respond and restore an imbalance caused by illness. No one should ever take another person’s medicine without competent medical authority.

Timothy’s hesitancy to use even a “little wine” for a medical purpose shows that he understood the dangers of alcohol (which was not nearly as potent as today’s alcohol). No Christian concerned about his or her influence or physical and mental health will use alcohol for any purpose other than medicinal purposes (but not self-medication)! Alcohol is useful for medical purposes because it is a good solvent. Alcohol dissolves chemicals, minerals and homes.  Casual use of alcohol costs our society in illness, injury, and violence. Fortunate is the home that has never been hurt by someone using alcohol.

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, CORINTHIANS, FIRST, NEW TESTAMENT

WHAT WAS “BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD”? — BOB PRICHARD

The fifteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians is Paul’s most lengthy and detailed defense of the principle of the resurrection. He stressed that the resurrection is at the very heart of the gospel of Christ: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Preaching the gospel is pointless without the resurrection. “If there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” (1 Corinthians 15:13-14). In the midst of his arguments concerning the principles of resurrection, Paul asked the Corinthians:  “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:29).

Since this is the only verse in scripture that makes any reference to baptism for the dead, it has been subject to much speculation. Paul did not explicitly approve or condemn the practice. He just used it as an example of the inconsistency of some at Corinth who “baptized for the dead” while rejecting the resurrection. All through the chapter Paul used pronouns such as we, us, our and ye [you], but in this verse he spoke of “they” who are baptized for the dead. Apparently only some Corinthians, and no one else, practiced “baptism for the dead.”

The idea that baptism for the dead involves “proxy baptism,” or the baptism of one person on behalf of another person, such as a dead relative, contradicts many other scriptures. While Peter does say that “baptism doth also now save us” (1 Peter 3:21), the teaching of scripture is clear that is not “baptism alone” that saves us, but the baptism that comes as a result of faith and repentance. If one could procure salvation for the dead through baptism, he would also have to believe and repent for the dead. Paul reminded the Romans that “we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Baptism for the dead certainly does not  bring “newness of life” to the dead!

Explanations of “baptism for the dead” that are consistent with other scripture are few. It is possible that some of the Corinthian Christians obeyed the gospel because of death-bed appeals of friends and relatives, so that they were baptized for (in response to the appeals of) the dead. It is also possible that some at Corinth considered that in their baptism they replaced those who were now dead or martyred, thus to fill vacant places in the church left by those who no longer lived. If some at Corinth baptized on behalf of the dead in proxy baptism, they did something that is inconsistent with the rest of scripture. Since no New Testament writer commanded or implied that the practice should continue, there is no evidence that the church should “baptize for the dead” today.

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, NUMBERS

HOW MANY ISRAELITES WHO LEFT EGYPTIAN BONDAGE ENTERED THE PROMISED LAND? — BOB PRICHARD

After being freed from Egyptian bondage, the Israelites made their way to Canaan, the promised land. When they arrived at the border of Canaan, Moses chose twelve men (one from each tribe) to go and spy out the land. After forty days of searching the land, Caleb reported, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it,” but the report of the majority was an “evil report.”  They said, “We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we” (Numbers 13:30-31). Only one other spy, Joshua, stood with Caleb against the other ten spies. Unfortunately, the people chose to accept the majority report, and prepared to stone Joshua and Caleb.

God’s anger was kindled against the people because of their faithless decision. He told Moses to tell his murmuring people, “Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun” (Numbers 14:29-30).

God’s condemnation of their unbelief meant that they had to spend forty extra years wandering in the wilderness. During that time, “all that were numbered … from twenty years old and upward” died in the wilderness. The only exceptions among those who were “numbered” were Joshua and Caleb. It is often thought that only two (Joshua and Caleb) of all the thousands who left Egypt were able to enter the promised land. The group that was condemned to die during the wilderness wandering, however, was those who had been numbered. This would not include the entire population, but was limited to those fighting men who had been numbered (counted for battle). God had told Moses, “Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies” (Numbers 1:2-3). This did not include women or the entire tribe of Levi, who were not fighting men or spies.

When the Israelites arrived again at the promised land forty years later, under the leadership of Joshua, Joshua had to circumcise all of the males, because “All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt” (Joshua 5:4). Numbers 34:17 indicates that not all of the priests and Levites would die during the forty years of wandering, because God told Moses that the high priest Eleazar, the son of Aaron, would join Joshua in dividing the conquered land. Later, after Israel had captured Canaan, “they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun” (Joshua 17:4) to receive their portions of the promised land. Thus Israelites who left Egypt, and were allowed to enter the promised land included Joshua, Caleb, Eleazar, and an unknown number of women and Levites.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHRISTIAN LIVING

DO “NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES” PROVE LIFE AFTER DEATH? — BOB PRICHARD

No. “Near Death Experiences,” or “NDE” are commonly understood to be confirmation of life after death, because those who have had these experiences generally express a common feeling of goodness, moving toward a light, seeing the Lord, or some similar experience. These are not evidence to prove life after death, however, due to their very nature. They are “near death,” not “after death,” and they are simply “experiences.” They are completely subjective, what people feel has happened, and have no real objective validity. Although some who have gone through these experiences may have been pronounced dead by some medical criterion [stopped breathing, no heartbeat, etc.], they were not in fact dead in the Biblical sense. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). The daughter of Jairus (Mark 5), the widow’s son (Luke 7), and Lazarus (John 11) were raised from the dead, but no one is raising the dead today.

The main danger of pinning beliefs on NDE is that they provide no objective basis for understanding life after death. Frequently the experiences are embellished with more and more details as they are explained, and while those who have had the NDE often say what they have experienced is “indescribable,” they none the less describe the indescribable. The Bible, on the other hand, provides an objective basis for believing in life after death. The life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ are described in detail in the Bible by credible witnesses. These witnesses give real evidence that what Jesus promised is true. He said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3). Perhaps the most complete picture of life after death is given in Revelation 21-22, John’s vision of heaven for the redeemed, and eternal condemnation for the wicked.

Paul spoke of a man, perhaps himself, who was “caught up to the third heaven” and “caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Corinthians 12:2-3). While this may have actually been a NDE, Paul indicates “it is not lawful for a man to utter” what he saw and heard. Lazarus was not just “near death,” but actually dead for four days (John 11:39). What did Lazarus see on “the other side”? The scriptures are absolutely silent about what he may have seen or heard. Perhaps God did not intend for us to know more.

Many different explanations have been suggested for the frequently positive feelings of those who believe they have had a NDE. A medical condition called “cerebral anoxia,” caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain when near death, could cause a person to have an altered state of consciousness. Medication administered near death, or the natural release of endorphins by the body could also produce hallucinations later interpreted as NDE. Other explanations could also be given which have no relationship to life after death.

One danger of relying on a positive feeling from a NDE is that while heaven is promised to the faithful, the Bible also warns that hell awaits the wicked. Though the righteous need have no fear of death, “the last enemy” (1 Corinthians 15:26), “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed … taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Some may be lulled into a false sense of security, or even contemplate suicide as an easy way out. Unfortunately, not all are prepared for death. Now is the time to prepare!

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHRISTIAN LIVING

WILL WE KNOW EACH OTHER IN HEAVEN? — BOB PRICHARD

Anyone who has lost a loved one to death is interested in knowing the answer to this question. Every man will one day face death, and needs assurance of heaven. All of us hope to be reunited with loved ones who have gone on before, but if we will not know each other in heaven, then the bonds made on earth are forever severed in death.

The idea that we will know each other in heaven is sometimes called the doctrine of “future recognition.” It is both reasonable and scriptural. If we know anything in heaven, we will surely know that we are in heaven. We must know ourselves, unless we lose all personal identity and recognition in death. Surely we will know Christ, and that He has redeemed us of our sins, thus allowing us to enjoy the rewards of heaven. If we will know we are in heaven, know who we are, know Christ, and know that He rewards us for our faithfulness, surely we will know one another.

Revelation 6:9-10 describes a scene under the altar of God. The souls of the martyrs, “slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held,” cried out for vengeance. They retained their personality in death, were conscious of where they were, and why they were there. They knew that they had been murdered, and that their murderers had not been punished. Surely they knew each other. David, stricken with grief over the death of his son, said, “Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). It is significant that David said he would “go to” his son. If he would not recognize or know his son, he would feel no comfort.

The story we know as “the rich man and Lazarus” is told in Luke 16:19-31. Whether or not this is a parable, it still indicates much about the state of the dead. The characters were all conscious, were all aware of their surroundings, and possessed a memory of the world they had left. Abraham told the rich man to “remember.” He could remember because he was conscious of who he was, where he was, and who the others were. We also have the example of Moses and Elijah at the Mount of Transfiguration  (Matthew 17). The apostles recognized them, so they had not lost their identity in death.

Many things will change in heaven. There will be no giving and taking in marriage as there is on earth (Luke 20:35-36). But we will know one another, and heaven will be much better than we can imagine. There “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4). The key is to obey the will of God, because heaven is a prepared place for prepared people (John 14:1-3).  

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHRISTIAN LIVING, CHURCH, SALVATION

HOW DOES ONE BECOME A PRIEST ACCORDING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT? — BOB PRICHARD

Priests performed very important tasks under the Old Covenant, with their primary purpose being a representative of man to God. The mediation that the priest offered was mainly through offering sacrifices and intercession to God. Priests, including the high priest, could only come from the tribe of Levi, and were separate from the people.

Under the New Covenant, things are very different, however. The high priest, under whom all other priests must serve is Jesus Christ, who did not bring an animal sacrifice to God, but instead offered Himself as the sacrifice. Peter recognized that the priestly functions in the church would not be performed by a special group of men, but instead they would be performed by all Christians. By virtue of this, all Christians are priests in God’s sight. Peter said, speaking of all Christians, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).  

Paul exhorted the Roman Christians, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). Only priests were allowed to offer sacrifices under the Old Covenant, so since Paul begged Christians to offer themselves as living sacrifices, he agrees with Peter that Christians are “an holy priesthood.”

Since all Christians are priests, that means that no Christian has to rely on a mere man as mediator between him and God. A Christian needs only go through the great high priest, Jesus Christ.  “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).  

Under the old covenant, men from the tribe of Levi were appointed to their priestly duties in elaborate rituals. They were clothed in ceremonial garments, and ritually cleansed of their sins. Of prime importance in their appointment was ceremonial washing in water, and sprinkling of the sacrificial blood on them. Christians today put on the ceremonial priestly garments, wash in water, and are sprinkled with the blood of Christ’s sacrifice when they obey the Lord in baptism. Paul wrote, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). As the Christian obeys Christ in baptism, he qualifies to come before the Heavenly Father, because he is symbolically clothed in the priestly garments. As the Christian is immersed in water, the penitent believer makes contact with the cleansing blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Paul reminded the Romans what they had done: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” (Romans 6:3). As the believer is baptized into the death of Christ, she contacts the cleansing blood of Christ. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22).

BIBLE QUESTIONS, JOHN, SALVATION

WHAT DID JESUS MEAN WHEN HE SAID “SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS”? — BOB PRICHARD

John chapter 4 describes the scene at the well outside the little Samaritan village of Sychar. Jesus had offered the Samaritan woman living water, and demonstrated He could truly give her that living water by telling her about her life, and her many husbands. Her wondering response was, “Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet” (John 4:19). When she spoke of the conflict between the Jews and the Samaritans over whether men should worship in Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim, Jesus spoke of the proper worship then and in the days to come. He said, “Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22).

Jesus wanted her to understand that Samaritan worship, based on only the five books of Moses, while rejecting the other inspired books of the Old Testament, was an ignorant worship. “Ye worship ye know not what,” He said. Then He spoke of the Jewish worship, saying, “we know what we worship.” The Samaritan worship was not acceptable to God, because it was a perversion of His plan. The worship of the Jews, centered in the temple at Jerusalem, was still acceptable to God at this time, even though the scribes and Pharisees had made their own worship vain. “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9).

When Jesus added to His statement, “for salvation is of the Jews,” He was referring to the fact that Messiah, the Savior of promise, was to come from the Jews. God promised Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). When the woman at the well spoke of the coming Messiah, Jesus plainly told her,  “I that speak unto thee am he” (John 4:25-26). Thus through the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the seed, or descendant of Abraham, God blessed all families of the earth.

The Jews today, like any other family or nation, must turn to Christ for salvation. Jesus told the woman at the well, “the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). Jesus contrasted the Jewish age in which he lived and died with the coming Christian age. Jerusalem was the center of Jewish worship, but worship in the Christian age is acceptable whenever and wherever Christians worship “in spirit and in truth.” Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). He is still the only way to the Father, for the Jew, the Gentile, the Samaritan, or anyone else. Paul asserted that the true heirs of Abraham are not heirs by birth but by faith. “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect” (Romans 4:13-14).

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHURCH, SALVATION

HOW DO YOU JOIN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST? — BOB PRICHARD

People join many organizations, from civic clubs like Rotary and Lions, to personal development clubs like Toastmasters, to special interest organizations like the P. T. A. It is natural then that most people think about “joining” the church. As strange as it may seem, however, that one cannot “join the church of Christ.” The idea of joining the church carries with it the thought that the church is just like other organizations that you may join at will. The church is unlike any other organization on earth, however, because of its divine origin.

If you cannot join the church, then how do you become a member of the church? The second chapter of Acts describes the beginning of the Lord’s church, on the day of Pentecost, almost two thousand years ago. The last verse of the chapter says, “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).  Notice that we do not join the church, but the Lord adds those who are saved to the church. Some discount the value of the Lord’s church, and say that it really is unimportant, but the church is the body of Christ. “He [Christ] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the prominence” (Colossians 1:18). The church is so valuable that Christ sacrificed Himself for it. Paul commanded, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25).

Since “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47), and the church is the body of Christ, and He “gave himself for it,” salvation and the church are intimately tied together. The Lord gives salvation and adds to His church at the same time. The key then, is “What must I do to be saved?” After hearing the sermon on the day of Pentecost, realizing that they had crucified the very Son of God, the multitude gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Their cry showed that they wanted to turn from sin and obey Christ. Peter’s reply was, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

Those on Pentecost expressed faith in Jesus Christ by the very nature of their question, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said, “repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness] of sins.” The response was such that “they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). Three thousand obeyed Christ in baptism, and the Lord added them to His church. None “joined the church,” but all were added by the Lord. The other conversion accounts in Acts show that each person found salvation by obeying the Lord in baptism, following repentance and faith in Christ. We do not join the church, but when we obey the Lord, He adds us to His church.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, EPHESIANS, JAMES, SALVATION

DOES EPHESIANS 2:8-9, WHICH SAYS WE ARE NOT SAVED BY  WORKS, CONTRADICT JAMES 2:24, WHICH SAYS WE ARE SAVED BY WORKS? — BOB PRICHARD

By pitting one verse against another, the Bible sometimes seems contradictory. God, the Creator of the universe inspired the Bible, though, so there cannot be any real contradictions. Apparent contradictions disappear with proper understanding of the text.

Emphasizing man’s need to rely on the grace of God, Paul wrote, “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). A simple definition of grace is “unmerited favor.” God grants that  unmerited favor for the salvation of mankind. Paul said salvation is “not of works, lest any man should boast,” indicating that man cannot perform any meritorious works that would earn salvation. Salvation is by grace.

The apparent contradiction comes when we compare Ephesians 2:8-9 with James 2: 24, in which James wrote, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” The two passages are not really in conflict, because James and Paul were each speaking of two different kinds of works, as each emphasized a different aspect of salvation.

Paul emphasized that the grace of God saves, and man cannot earn his salvation by works of merit. The fact that God’s grace saves, however, does not mean that God relieves man of the responsibility to obey Him to receive the benefits of that grace. If salvation is by “grace alone,” with no acts of obedience, then God, “who is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34), would automatically save every man, no matter what he did. We are saved by many things, however.  “For we are saved by hope” (Romans 8:24). Hebrews 5:9 tells us that Christ  “became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Peter wrote of the obedience of Noah and his family, saying “the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us” (1 Peter 3:21). The apostle John wrote, “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

How can salvation come by grace, by hope, by Christ, by the blood, and by baptism? All of these save because salvation is “by grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8), that is, an obedient faith. As James said, “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). A living faith is a faith that works, that obeys the commands of Christ, including being baptized. As one is baptized into Christ he makes contact with the cleansing blood of Christ (Romans 6:3-7). Hebrews chapter 11, sometimes called “Faith’s Hall of Fame,” is filled with examples of “grace through faith.”  “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice” (Hebrews 11:4). “By faith Noah … prepared an ark” (Hebrews 11:7). “By faith Abraham … obeyed” (Hebrews 11:8). We cannot earn our salvation through works of merit, but we must obey God to benefit from his marvelous grace. “By grace through faith” we obediently accept God’s love.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHURCH

IF THERE IS ONE GOD, WHY NOT ONE CHURCH? — BOB PRICHARD

Paul wrote that there is “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:6). Most people have little trouble with this idea, understanding that our Heavenly Father created our world and loved us enough to send Christ. Paul also mentions six other “unities.” “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). The first of the seven unities Paul mentions is “one body.”    

Paul explained that because Christ obeyed the Father and conquered death, that God “hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23). The church is His body, the “one body” that Paul mentioned in Ephesians 4:4. This is just what we would expect—one head connected with one body. Today’s religious world, however, presents a monstrosity to God, with many churches or bodies claiming to be attached to the one head, Jesus Christ.

The Lord’s desire from the beginning was for the unity of His followers in His church. As He prepared for the cross, Jesus prayed for His disciples, and then said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:20-23). Jesus understood that the unity (or disunity) of His followers would be a powerful witness to the world. Surely the disunity of the current denominational system hinders the spread of the gospel of Christ.

Paul warned the Corinthians against disunity. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). Jesus promised Peter and the disciples, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). He did not promise to build the many denominational bodies we see today, but His church. The way to be a member of His church today is to reject the creeds, manuals, and catechisms of the denominations, and just be a Christian, wearing the name of Christ. This is the plea of the churches of Christ.

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, PETER, SECOND

WHAT DOES “NO SCRIPTURE IS OF PRIVATE INTERPRETATION” MEAN? — BOB PRICHARD

Peter concludes the first chapter of his second epistle with these words: “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 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” (2 Peter 1:19-21). These verses of scripture (the written words of God) are especially important because of what they tell us about the inspiration of scripture, reminding us that we have a “sure word of prophecy,” meaning we have trustworthy scriptures.

Unfortunately, the words, “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation,” have been misused by some religious organizations to keep people from studying the scriptures for themselves. Some prefer to keep people in ignorance, teaching that the individual Christian cannot study or understand the scriptures themselves, but must rely on “the church” or church leaders to interpret the scriptures for them. Thus individuals may think that there is no reason to study and reason for themselves. This is contrary to all the rest of scripture, however. Saving faith comes from understanding and obeying the scriptures. All will be judged by the scriptures.

Some suggest that these verses are teaching that since the words of scripture have a definite meaning, then those who interpret scripture are not free to read whatever meaning they want to into the scriptures, but must consider the context of scripture. Surely it is true that no one should be free to read into the scriptures any of their own personal opinions, but this is not Peter’s concern in the passage. There is a better, more reasonable way to understand his words.

Consider the rendering of 2 Peter 2:20-21 in the New American Standard Version. “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” The prophecy of scripture did not come “by the will of man.” “No prophecy was ever made by an act of human will.” 

The prophets were inspired to write by God, and did not just speak what they wanted to speak, but instead spoke what was revealed to them by God. That is the reason for the amazing accuracy of the teaching of scripture, and the agreement among the different penmen. If each had been free to just write what he wanted to write, then there would be multiplied contradictions among different portions of scripture. The “holy men” were “moved by the Holy Ghost,” literally “borne along,” just as a strong wind propels a ship through the sea. Jesus told His disciples that “when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13). As the New Testament writers revealed the full truth of God’s revelation, the Holy Spirit guided them. Their message is one for all men to study, obey, and live by.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHURCH

WHAT IS THE RESTORATION MOVEMENT? — BOB PRICHARD

The Restoration Movement is the title given by historians to a religious movement begun at the end of the eighteenth century, and continuing to the present. The first participants were primarily in the United States and Britain but those who hold its principles are today found worldwide. Modern day churches of Christ are the heirs of the Restoration Movement. 

Those who began the Restoration Movement came from various religious denominations. They looked at their divided religious world and realized that it could not be pleasing to God. Barton W. Stone, Alexander Campbell, “Raccoon” John Smith and many others decided that they could find religious unity only if they abandoned their respective denominations. They had no desire to establish a new denomination, but sought to restore the original church of the New Testament. Thus “restoration” refers to the restoring of the original order of things concerning the church. The prophet Jeremiah stressed this principle in Jeremiah 6:16, where he said “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way,  and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” The “old paths” are be found in the Bible, and the Bible alone. We cannot find the “old paths” by merely compromising on existing denominational doctrines. Many in Jeremiah’s day refused to seek the “old paths.” We should not make the mistake they made.

The Restoration Movement differs from other religious movements such as the Protestant Reformation begun by Martin Luther, in that it did not attempt to reform the church, but to restore it by going back to the beginning. This meant doing away with denominational hierarchies and ecclesiastical systems, which are foreign to the Bible. Those following the restoration principles restored simple New Testament worship, with autonomous congregations meeting each Sunday to worship “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). The restoration called for the preaching of the clear message of the New Testament plan of salvation, including faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), repentance (Acts 17:30), confession of faith (Matthew 10:32), and baptism into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). 

The Restoration Movement is not just a movement of the past but is a continuing movement as Christians search the scriptures and strive to restore everything about the New Testament church, including its missionary zeal and loving generosity. While we appreciate the early leaders for their efforts to discard the denominational traditions they inherited, the purpose of the restoration idea is not to go back to Campbell and Stone, but to the first century church. What is important is what the  Bible teaches. Churches of Christ today still have this plea, that all believers in Christ be united by adhering to the Bible alone. The goal is completely undenominational Christianity. We desire to be Christians, and Christians only. “We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, JUDE

WHAT IS THE DURATION OF HELL, IN LIGHT OF JUDE 7? — BOB PRICHARD

It is quite common in today’s religious world to reject the biblical teaching of the reality and duration of hell. Many claim that the old time understanding of “eternal hell fire” is out of character for a loving God, and that when this life is over, the unsaved will simply cease to exist. This is an appealing doctrine to many, because it eliminates the possibility of punishment for sin. However, Jesus said, that the wicked “shall go away into everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46). Paul spoke of those who do not know God, and refuse to obey Him, “who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

Hell, the ultimate abode of the wicked, is translated from the Greek word, Gehenna. This is a different term from hades, another Greek word incorrectly rendered as hell in the King James Version. Hades is the abode of all the dead, righteous and unrighteous, before the resurrection. The literal Gehenna, from which hell is derived, was a narrow gorge near Jerusalem that represented the worst of Jewish history. Years before the Jews stained this valley with the blood of their own innocent children offered in sacrifice to the idol Baal. In Christ’s day, Gehenna was a continually burning garbage dump whose name He appropriated to describe the final abode of the wicked.

Again and again the scriptures describe hell as a place of unending punishment for the wicked. Jesus spoke of the day when His angels would gather those who do iniquity and “cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42). John described hell, saying  “the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night” (Revelation 14:11). Other passages describe hell as “outer darkness” (Matthew 8:12), a “furnace of fire” (Matthew 13:42), and “eternal fire” (Jude 7).

Jude 7 speaks of Sodom and Gomorrah, the wicked cities that were “giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7). Some contend that since the “eternal fire” that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah burned out, then the eternal fire of hell must do the same. The point Jude was making however, was that the wickedness of Sodom brought God’s wrath, and its destruction was so utter that the only thing to compare it with was eternal fire. Even today, the fire of Sodom is still burning in the sense that it serves as a warning to all men of the importance of obeying God.

What is the duration of hell? Jesus said that the wicked “shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:46). Hell is just as eternal as heaven is, and in the same sense. If the fires of hell burn out, and are not eternal, then we should not expect the bliss of heaven for the righteous to be eternal. The term “eternal” literally means “always being.” Hell is eternal, and is not going to burn out. We must prepare to avoid it by obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, JESUS CHRIST, MATTHEW

WHO WERE THE WISE MEN WHO CAME TO SEE CHRIST? — BOB PRICHARD

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” (Matthew 2:1-2). A star led these wise men, called in the original Greek text the magoi (thus often called the Magi, today). This word is rendered “sorcerer” in Acts 13:6-8, describing a false teacher named Bar-Jesus, and is rendered “astrologer” in Daniel 1-2. The general purpose of the wise men was to give advice to a king, and especially to interpret dreams and omens.

Daniel and his friends were wise men in Babylon. “Then the king commanded   to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king” (Daniel 2:2). Among the wise men at any king’s court might be many magicians, astrologers and sorcerers. Astrology, the superstitious study of “signs” found in the heavenly bodies, and astronomy, the scientific study of the heavenly bodies, were linked at that time. It would appear that the wise men who came to see Christ were astronomer-astrologers, because they had observed some special star, and were aware that the star signified a special birth.

It was natural that the wise men would first go to Herod, king of Judaea, to find out what his court knew about the birth of a new king. The wise men probably served in the court of another king in the east, but likely knew little about the Jews or Herod. All that Herod’s advisers could tell him was that Micah prophesied Bethlehem to be the birthplace of the king. “And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel” (Matthew 2:4-6).

The arrival of the wise men at Bethlehem was probably not at the time of Christ’s birth, as is usually thought, because He was no longer in the manger, as Luke described, but was now in a house. “When they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11). Although a popular holiday song proclaims that these wise men were “three kings,” they were advisers to kings, rather than kings, and although they brought three gifts (gold, frankincense and myrrh), the Bible does not reveal how many of them there were. They might have been only two men, or many more than three.  

The reason that they were truly “wise men” is that they followed the light from God. Wise men still follow the light of God’s written word. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).