1st century Christianity in the 21st century
“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8). This is one of the verses where the New International Version gives us a better understanding of the text. It says, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another…”
Continue reading ““Owe No One Anything Except to Love One Another””
Fellowship is a widely used term in religious circles. Unfortunately, it is often misused and misunderstood. Many, when they speak of fellowship refer to potluck meals, game nights, birthday parties, baking contests, sports events and the like. But are these things fellowship? Yes, in the secular sense of the word, but our concern should be ‘what is biblical fellowship’?
Continue reading “Biblical Fellowship: Nurturing Faith and Building Strong Christian Bonds”
Last week, we examined the words spirit and soul, focusing specifically on the two Hebrew words that primarily render them. Likewise, the English New Testament primarily translates the words spirit and soul from two Greek words, psuche and pneuma.
Continue reading “Spirit and Soul: A Look into the Greek”The Bible uses both the word spirit and soul when speaking about man. What do these words refer to? Are they synonyms, or does each refer to something distinct?
To answer our questions, there are four words, two Hebrew and two Greek, which are translated as spirit and soul into English. They are nephesh and ruach (Hebrew), psuche and pneuma (Greek). This week we will look at the Hebrew words, next week we will examine the Greek.
Continue reading “Spirit and Soul: A look into the Hebrew”A Study of Instrumental Music in Worship – Part 4
We have previously looked at instrumental music in the book of Revelation, in the Old Testament, and in the rest of the New Testament. In Revelation, we found the instances of instrumental music deal with the heavenly realm and not the worship of the Lord’s church upon the earth. God commanded His people Israel to use instrumental music in worship in the Old Testament. But we are not subject to the Old Covenant. Coming to the New Testament, we noted tthat none of the occurrences of instrumental music therein address worship. Rather, every example or command to worship God in song calls for vocal, not instrumental music.
Continue reading “Instrumental Music in Antiquity and Beyond”A Study of Instrumental Music in Worship – Part 3
We have in previous articles looked at instrumental music in the book of Revelation and in the Old Testament. This week, we focus on the occurrences of instrumental music in the New Testament, from Matthew through Jude. What manner of music is used in New Testament worship?
Continue reading “Instrumental Music in the New Testament”A Study of Instrumental Music in Worship – Part 2
In the search for instrumental music in the Old Testament, one need not go very far. In Genesis 4:21, we learn that Jubal, the offspring of Cain, is “…the father of all those who play the harp and flute.” Thus, we have the beginning of instrumental music described for us. From this point onward, we find references to instruments of music in numerous Old Testament passages.
People used instruments for various reasons: calling an assembly together (Numbers 10:1ff), commands in battle (Joshua 6:4), worship of false gods (Daniel 3:5), entertainment or celebration (Genesis 31:27), to give honour to the king (1 Kings 1:34), aas a calming agent (1 Samuel 16:23), and in the worship of the God of heaven (Psalm 150).
Continue reading “Instrumental Music in the Old Testament”A Study of Instrumental Music in Worship – Part 1
In the religious world, there is a basic cognizance of the need to conduct ourselves within the confines of God’s authority. The apostle Paul, when writing to the brethren at Colosse implored,
“…whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)
Continue reading “Instrumental Music in the Book of Revelation”
Which came first in the creation account, beasts or mankind? Moses records in Genesis 1:25-26, “And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” One chapter later, in Genesis 2:18-19 he writes, “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.”
Did Moses make a mistake in his writings? Is there a contradiction?
Continue reading “Who Was First In Creation: Man Or Beast? Answering The Atheist”Is Jesus Equal to or lesser than the Father? In John 10:30, the apostle pens the words of Jesus, “I and My Father are one.” Again, Jesus’ words are recorded in John 14:28, “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Faher is greater than I.”
Has Jesus contradicted Himself?
Continue reading “Does Jesus Share Full Equality With The Father, Or Is He Inferior? Answering The Atheist”