Dr. John Oakes – Page 19 – Evidence for Christianity

If we allow for the multiverse idea, is it not possible that life on earth just popped into existence?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Creation, General, Philosophy, Q & A, Science and the Bible .

Question: Once you allow the multiverse, is it not possible that life on earth just popped into existence kind of like Boltzmann brains? Answer: First of all, there is absolutely zero evidence for the multiverse. This is utter speculation. This speculation only exists, in my opinion, because atheists need a fall-back argument against the FACT […]

Bart Ehrman says that the “we” passages in Acts are a deception used to convince readers that the writer was a companion of Paul. Your response?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

[Editor’s note: This question comes from a person who has asked many questions, as you will see from my answer. To find more on Ehrman, go to the site and do a search on his name] Question: Bart Ehrman claims that the “we” passages in Acts are forgery by the author to convince the readers […]

In a video by an atheist he claimed that the Bible teaches Christians to have a hostile attitude toward nonbelievers, using 2 John 9-11. Your response?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Q & A .

Question: I have a question. In a recent video that I saw, an atheist argued that the Bible teaches that Christians are to have a hostile and distasteful attitude toward nonbelievers. He cites 2 John 1:9-11 as evidence of this claim which says, “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching […]

I read an article that claims John 7:53-8:11 in the KJV was not in the original John. Is that correct?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: I read an article that claims that John 7:53-8:11 was not part of the original book of John. https://www.gotquestions.org/John-7-53-8-11.html Please comment on this article. Is today’s KJV bible accurate as to the original manuscripts written by the original gospel writers? Are there any additional example of material that has been added to the Gospels over the […]

The Kingdom of God

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Articles, Bible Teaching, PowerPoints .

Dr. John Oakes is giving a two-week series of lessons on the kingdom of God in Bakersfield. Notes and power point are here. Audio will be posted. Kingdom of God Notes Kingdom of God ppt Kingdom of God I Audio Kingdom of God II Audio

Is there an error in Ephesians 4:8 because it is a misquote from Psalm 68:18?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Question: Ephesians 4:8 is a quote from Psalm 68:18, but it is miss-quoted by Paul. The verse in Ephesians says “gave gifts to men,” while Psalms says “received gifts from men”. Please explain. Thank you. Answer: In Ephesians 4:8 it is likely that Paul is quoting the Aramaic Targum rather than the Septuagint. The Aramaic […]

Is Daniel 9:24-27 a credible messianic prophecy? What is the decree of Dan 9:25? Is it Neh 2:1 or Ezra 7:13?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Daniel, General, Q & A .

Question: I’ve been trying to understand if Daniel 9 actually presents a credible prophecy. I’m at least familiar with (though do not completely understand) all the different perspectives. I’m aware that some interpretations involve the beginning of the “decree” [Daniel 9:25] in 444/445 B.C. (Nehemiah 2:1). You begin the period of 490 years from 458 […]

How can free will exist if God is omnipotent?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Philosophy, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: How can free will exist if God is omnipotent? Answer: First of all, I assume you are asking about free will in light of God’s sovereignty, not his omnipotence. I see no logical problem in God being all-powerful preventing him from using his power to create a sentient being with free will. I know […]

What is the Christian response to the power of positive thinking? Is Jesus the “Master of positive thinking”?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Practical Christianity, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: What are the origins and influences of the science of positive thinking and personal development? Is it biblical when we know that this science mainly advocates the exaltation of the self? Autosuggestion, visualization and mental imagery? What do you think of the fact that some philosophers or psychologists claim that Jesus is a great […]

When Israel worshiped the golden calf Aaron made in the desert, were they worshiping God or a different god?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A .

Question: After leaving Egypt, did the Hebrew worship the True God of Israel in the desert through the Golden calf or did they worship another god through the use of the Golden calf ? Answer: The Hebrew may be subject to two different interpretations. Aaron said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you out […]

Are there any contemporary reports from the Jews of the resurrections on “Good Friday”?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: How did the Jewish government handle the resurrections of the dead during the Good Friday story? I mean today once your social security file is closed its over for you! Imagine how our government would handle the dead coming back into the cities! Is there any Jewish mention of these saints when they came back […]

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: Why do bad things happen to good people? Answer: This is a complex and difficult question and there is no simple answer. I have written an essay on the question of suffering. I am attaching it here and copying and pasting below. The Problem of Pain and Suffering Here is the “quick” version. Everything God […]

Can we trust Ron Wyatt’s published claim that they have discovered some of Jesus’ blood and that it has 24, not 23 chromosomes?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A .

Question: I heard about discovery of Jesus’ blood on the ark of covenant by Ryan Watt. He concluded they found Jesus’ blood ….when they tested this blood the results were that Jesus’ blood is still alive today, and it has 24 chromosomes: 23 from his mother and 1 from the Holy Spirit which proves the […]

Deuteronomy 8: Advice to Young Disciples

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Articles, Bible Teaching, PowerPoints .

Dr. John Oakes is giving a lesson from Deuteronomy 8, which are, in essence, Moses’ parting words to the second generation of those who had left Egypt and who are about to enter the Promised Land. Deuteronomy 8 PPT Deuteronomy 8 Notes Deut 8 Audio

God and Science at Bakersfield College

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Apologetics, Articles, Bible and Science .

Dr. John Oakes gave a lecture on God and Science for the alpha omega student group at Bakersfield College 4/4/2019. Audio and ppt are attached. God and Science God and Science PPT

Hosea 11:1 cannot be a prophecy about the Messiah because it speaks of Israel, not Jesus.

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Apocrypha, Bible Interpretation, Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible, Versions of the Bible .

[Editor’s note: I received a long and somewhat rambling set of comments and questions from someone. I asked for a more succinct set of comments and questions so that I could respond. You will see below that the shorter version is still a bit unfocused, but this person asks sufficiently important questions that I felt […]

What is “the name of” the Holy Spirit? (Matthew 28:19)

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A .

Question: In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now I know my question will sound silly, but keep in mind that there is indeed a reason behind it. So… what is the name of the Holy Spirit? Answer: This is not […]

What is your response to someone who says prayer is a waste of time? That “answers” are really just confirmational bias?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Practical Christianity, Q & A .

Question: What do you say to someone who claims that prayer is a waste of time because supposed “answers” to prayer are simply result of confirmational bias? Answer: The way I see it, either God exists or he does not. If he exists, either he listens to and answers prayer or he does not. I […]

What do you say to people who claim that Joseph of Arimathea did not actually exist?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: What do you say to the idea that Joseph of Arimathea did not actually exist? Is there good historical proof that he did? Answer: There is no “proof” that any single person lived in ancient history. It is literally impossible to prove that Nero or Julius Caesar or Nebuchadnezzar or anyone else in ancient […]

Why did the Council of Nicaea discuss whether Jesus was God or human?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Apocrypha, Church History, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Questions: 1.Why did the council have to meet to discuss if Jesus was the Son of God or if he was human or a spirit? 2.If God inspired man to write the Bible and he lives in me, why do I need the Bible or Jesus to tell me how to live when I can […]

Class on the Book of Daniel

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Articles, Bible Teaching, PowerPoints .

Dr. John Oakes is teaching a series of four classes on the Book of Daniel on Saturdays 9:00-10:45 beginning 2/16 at 3010 Amber Canyon Place, Bakersfield, CA 93313. Notes, power point and audio will be posted. Daniel PPT DANIEL Notes Daniel I Audio Daniel II Audio Daniel III Audio Daniel PartIV Daniel Part V Daniel […]

Did Paul really write the pastoral epistles?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: Did Paul really write the pastoral epistles? Most scholars refuse this opinion and say that they were written later after Paul’s death. They say that the vocabulary and style are different from that of the seven undisputed epistles. Some have suggested that Paul used a secretary to write these epistles, probably Luke, because he […]

I totally disagree with your article on the Roman Catholic Church tracing back to Pentecost and to Peter!

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, General, Q & A .

[Editor’s note: The one sending this comment read a Q & A at the site and took great exception to the article. My reply is below. The original article is here ] Comment: I am in absolute disagreement with your article on the Roman Catholic Church being able to claim its roots back to Pentecost, […]

Can God make a rock so big he cannot move it? How do I respond to this question from a skeptic?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Philosophy, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: What is the way to respond to this question? Can God make a rock so big, he can’t move it? Answer: This is one of the classic “challenges” to the idea of the Christian God that atheists and agnostics throw out there. It is really a rather unsophisticated challenge, but for those who do […]

Class on Church History by John Oakes for LASMM

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Articles, Church History .

Dr. John Oakes taught a class on the history of Christianity for the Los Angeles School of Ministry and Missions Nov 30-Dec 1 2018 and March 8-9, 2019. Notes and power point are here: church history notes Part I Church History Notes Part II Church History PPT Church History audio 1 Church History Audio […]

Teaching weekend in Central Massachussetts

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Articles, Bible and Science .

Dr. John Oakes is doing a teaching weekend for the Pioneer Valley Church of Christ March 1-3. This includes a class on Science and God at the University of Massachussetts, Amherst on Friday evening and a lesson on the existence of God on Sunday AM. For more information, contact Lee Callan at leemichaelcallan@gmail.com or go […]

Is the multiverse theory true and is this a reasonable argument against the existence of God?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Philosophy, Q & A, Science and the Bible .

Question: I want to ask you some questions about quantum mechanics, cause I know that’s your specialization. 1. I’ve read about the many-worlds interpretation and am wondering if it is true, and if it’s true then would this interpretation deny God’s existence? 2. I’ve also read about many-minds interpretation, but I am still confused about […]

The Bible says that Jesus was “conceived by the Holy Spirit.” Therefore he cannot be the son of the Father. How does this work?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Philosophy, Q & A .

Question: I believe the Holy Spirit is a person and I believe Jesus was conceived through the Holy spirit, but someone who thinks the Holy Spirit is not a person could ask me this question and I cannot find an answer..please help me ! The reasoning is this: If the Holy Spirit is a person of […]

Did Jesus become the Son of God at his resurrection as Bart Ehrman claims?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, Church History, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: Some people think that Jesus was begotten by the father only at his resurrection because the apostle Paul said about Jesus that he was appointed Son of God by His resurrection ( Romans 1 – or the speech of Paul in the Act of the Apostle). I’m currently reading the Bart Erhman’s book “How Jesus […]

Is Christianity a religion, or is it a way of life? Did Jesus start a religion?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Practical Christianity, Q & A .

Question: Can you tell me if Jesus said anything about forming a religion around him. The only thing I can find is that he was going to build his church on Peter’s foundation. I believe he was here to show us a way of life not a religion. How wrong do you think I am? […]

Is Zechariah 13:7 a prophecy of the Messiah or of the false shepherd of Zechariah 11:17 or the false prophet of Zechariah 13:1-6?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Uncategorized .

Question: Is Zechariah 13:7 talking about the Messiah or is it about the false shepherd whom God strikes in Zechariah 11:17 or perhaps the false prophet in Zechariah 13: 1-6? Answer: The shepherd of Zechariah 13:7 is the Messiah. I know this for sure because in Matthew 26:31 the inspired gospel writer Matthew tells us […]

Could the empty tomb of Jesus be the result of a conspiracy rather than Jesus actually resurrecting?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

[Editor’s note: I am dispersing my answers among the questions. They will be in italics.] Question: I have been a believer of Jesus Christ for more than 10 years. Recently my brother who is an atheist challenged me with many absurd theories he found on the internet. That provoked me to look for solid evidence […]

Who are the sixth and seventh kings in Revelation 10-12? Could they be Vespasian and Titus? Who are the kings who had not yet come?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Q & A .

Question: Doesn’t Revelation 17: 10 show that John got his vision during the sixth king, who is Vespasian? and the seventh king who is to come is Titus, who according to this verse will rule for a short time, and he did, from 79 till 81 AD? If this is true, then John got […]

The Jesus Study Series

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Articles, Bible Teaching, Jesus .

Dr. John Oakes, working with Mark Hodge, Jeff Chacon and Keith Wright put together a series of Bible studies to help unbelievers to become Christians for the San Diego Church of Christ. The study series is here: Jesus Series

The Kingdom of God

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Audio, Bible Teaching .

Dr. John Oakes gave a two-part series of sermons on the Kingdom of God April 29, May 5, 2019 and also a class on the kingdom for the Catalyst Conference May 4, 2019. Kingdom of God Catalyst Kingdom of God I Kingdom of God II...