Christian Publishing House Blog
Apologetic Defense of the faith, the Bible, and Christianity
The city of Smyrna was located approximately thirty-five miles north of Ephesus. It was a prosperous city with a population of over one hundred thousand in John’s day (c. A.D. 95). That location had been inhabited for over three thousand years and no one knows for sure who founded Smyrna or exactly when it was established.
There is nothing more important for the development of the spiritual life of the Christian than regular, systematic Bible study.
God has placed within each person’s heart a need for spiritual sustenance. He has provided for this need with his Word, which is literally more essential than physical food and literally more precious than any material resource.
Decades ago, when two people had a disagreement, they had three options: continue to disagree, adopt the opponent’s view, or mutually agree on some third viewpoint. A fourth option has been invented and become practically mandatory in modern times: everybody’s viewpoint is correct.
We need to be determined to emulate the faith of Abraham. As was true of him, we also need knowledge and experience. As we grow in our knowledge of God and be obedient to what we learn, we will see how He blesses and protects us.
Aaron, whose name might mean, a teacher, or lofty, was the eldest son of the Levite Amram by Jochebed, and the older brother of Moses and Miriam, born about 1600 B.C.
Most people who read the Bible do so without a clearly defined goal. It is better to study the Bible with a more defined purpose in mind, for its subject matter and its intended meaning.
Personal name meaning “life.” The first woman created and thus original ancestor of all people (Gen. 3:20; cp. 4:1–2, 25). She also faced the serpent’s temptation first (3:1; 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:13–14). Her fall illustrates the ease with which all persons fall into sin (2 Cor. 11:3).
"Preachers always have to be careful trying to make sweeping theological conclusions based on the lexical meanings of Greek or Hebrew words. Lexical meanings alone rarely settle those kinds of issues. Simply appealing to, "In the Greek (or in the Hebrew), it means this" is almost always not a good argument for whatever theological point you are trying to make." - Professor Gary Yates. Is this true?
John 1:1 is all about capitalization and the tiny word “a,” which in grammar is called the indefinite article. And yet, this clause has been the most debated verse for centuries. So, was the Word “God” or “a god”?