Question: I am reading your book on Mormonism [editor’s note: available at www.ipibooks.com] and I came across the section about Mormon belief and one of the beliefs was baptism for the dead. Do they take this from the 1 Corinthian 15:29 verse? What does the verse mean? Answer: Mormons do not get baptism for the […]
[editor’s note: This is a follow-up from an inquiry last week. The original question is below to give context to the concern of the one who asked. As you read the question, bear in mind it is a follow-up to the original, which is if Luke grossly exaggerated the number of converts in Jerusalem in […]
Question: War or peace? Exodus 15:3 says The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Romans 15:33 says Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Can God be both a man of war and a man of peace? This question is so important I feel because it deals […]
Question: Dr. Oakes, I am reading a book for one of my classes called “the rise of Christianity” and the author makes a point that if the early church had well over 3,000 adherents then a significant of the population in Jerusalem would have been Christian. He claims that there is no evidence of this […]
Question: Is Foxe’s book called Foxe’s Book of Martyrs historically and biblically accurate? I was interested in purchasing it, and wanted to know what you thought about it. Answer: Foxe’s book of martyrs is mostly accurate, but it is extremely biased against the Catholic Church. The coverage of them martyrdoms in the early Church is generally good. […]
Question: Someone asked me “With all other religions in circulation why do you feel that only Christianity is the way?” How can you prove that it is the only way? I couldn’t prove this with scripture because this was a man who didn’t believe in scripture. So I ask how can a young man show […]
Question: God is, in principle, against human sacrifice: the religious ritual killing of innocents to appease God, or any gods, for that matter. So it would be likewise true that God is, in principle, against anyone’s ever *thinking* that God is ever in favor of such sacrifice. So, if God caused Abraham to think that […]
Question: For my philosophy class, I am writing a paper on God and free will. I am trying to prove that free will exists, and that having free will supports the existence of God. Because of this freedom, evil and God can coexist. Therefore, God can be omnibenevolent while evil exists because of free will. […]
Question: I have of course been exposed to a lot of apologetic “reasoning” and would like to know what your thoughts are on a moral world without religion. Do you feel morality can’t be derived from secularism? Or is religion the only way? I look forward to your response. What about gap arguments? Answer: Atheists […]
Question: Why do most scientist reject the possibility of God`s existence? Why do they embrace evolution? Answer: Two really good questions! First, it is simply not true that most scientists reject the possibility of the existence of God. Many do, but more do not. This is a stereotype which is created largely because the atheist […]
Dr. John Oakes taught a six hour class on Calvinism–the history and theological problems. It focuses in on the reason this led to the twin false doctrines of praying Jesus into our heart and once-saved-always-saved. The whole class: Answering Calvinism Entire Audio First and last parts in higher quality audio: Calvinism I Audio Calvinism IV...
Dr. John Oakes gave a sermon on Acts chapter 20 for the San Diego Church of Christ on 10/26/15. It focuses primarily on the farewell sermon of Paul to the Ephesian elders. The outline, power point and audio are attached. Acts Ch 20 sermon notes Acts Ch 20 sermon […]
Dr. John Oakes gave a public lecture on God and Science/Science and the Bible at the University of Connecticut 10/15/2015. The power point and audio are attached. God and Science PPT God and Science UConn Audio
Request: I need to understand the verse when Jesus said He will be at the right side of God. Response: Because God is not a physical being, I take this statement metaphorically. To be at the right hand means to be the chief support and second-in-command. A prince sits as the right hand of a […]
Question: I would like your perspective on the Hebrew Israelite faith (African Americans claiming Hebrew decent, specifically from the tribe of Judah). I will continue to dig deeper in my research, but was curious about your perspective, and how you would deal with someone like that. Thanks! Answer: I am not sure I understand the […]
Question: In the Old Testament God warned his people to stay away from the detestable practices of the pagans, which would include sacrificing their own children to the so called deities. Why, then, would God the Father want his only begotten Son to die as a sacrifice for us? I know he died for our […]
Question: Is there really a mother God in the Bible/Christianity? What about these scriptures: Revelation-21:9-10, 22:17 and Galatians-4:16? Answer: I assume you want the Christian answer to this question. Other religions do propose a mother goddess. This would include Mormonism and, in a sense, Hinduism. However, Christianity, like Judaism and Islam, is avowedly monotheistic. There […]
Dr. John Oakes is teaching a class on the Book of Acts for the singles ministry in San Diego September and October, 2015. Notes and power point will be included with the last class....
Question: Thank you sir for answering my many questions. My Hindu friend insists that the Bhagavad Gita is the best book ever, and gives so many answers to the questions of life. Can you give me an answer as to why this book doesn’t solve the problem of the sin of mankind? Also, are there […]
John Oakes and Pedro Firgueroa taught a six week 9 hour class on the Book of Romans. Audio, notes and power points are available here. Romans Audio Part I Romans Part II audio Romans Audio Part III Romans Audio Part IV Audio Romans Part V AudioRomans Part VI Romans Audio Part VII Romans Part VIII...
Question: First of all I would like to thank you for all the teaching you have available on your website. As a new believer, it has helped me tremendously to better understand the Bible and strengthen my faith. I do have one question (well have many more, but start with this one). In one of […]
Dr. John Oakes gave a sermon, primarily on Malachi Ch 1 and Ch 3 on our covenant relationship with God. We are challenged to give our best to God. Malachi Sermon Notes Malachi Sermon Audio...
Question: I am a science teacher. So far I haven’t had any issues with my faith and Biology or my position on evolution but with the recent discovery of water on Mars I’m starting to wonder…”What if there was bacteria or some other life form on Mars? What does that mean?” I was wondering if […]
Question: My question relates to Romans 2:12-16: “All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the […]
ARS is proud and excited to announce the opening of the John Clayton Museum of Ancient History, featuring the Foster Stanback Collection. This museum has been the dream of our board chairman Foster Stanback for more than a decade. Huge thanks to York College in York, Nebraska for hosting this amazing museum. Here […]
Question: Regarding the story of the flood: If God flooded the Earth, all the land mammals and insects would die, but not the sea animals. Maybe some of the birds would survive. Isn’t this unfair and needlessly cruel? Why would God destroy innocent creatures like deer and rabbits but leave sharks and killer whales alone? […]
Answer: I was reading my Bible this morning in Joshua, I noticed the word “darkness” in Joshua 24:8. I looked it up in Strong’s and in the Hebrew, it is called “maaphel”. In your opinion, is this literal darkness or something else? Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance says “something opaque”. http://biblehub.com/hebrew/3990.htm Joshua 24:7 NIV But they cried […]
Question: I was hoping you could help me understand how the the setting of Zechariah 14:16-18 could be referring to somewhere other than Earth. “Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. […]
Question: My question relates to Romans 2:12-16: “All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the […]
John Oakes is teaching a six-part class on the Book of Acts for the singles in San Diego starting Th. Sept 3rd. Acts Audio Part I Acts Part II Acts Part III Acts Part IV Acts Part V Acts Part VI Acts Part VII Acts Part VIII Audio Here are...
Question: Is someone who has an income that he does not pay tax on sinning? Answer: I cannot answer every possible issue related to your question. There may be some gray area here. I do not know what country you live in, which would also affect my answer. In the United States there are gray […]
John and Jan Oakes taught classes for a singles conference in Tijuana focusing in on the claims of Jesus. Notes and Power Point in English and Spanish and audio in Spanish. I AM The Way Notes I AM the Way PPT Yo Soy El Camino PPT Yo Soy El Camino Audio I AM The Truth Notes […]
Question: I have a question about creation: In Genesis 1 it says God made vegetation, water creatures and birds before making man but in Genesis 2 it’s says that man was made before vegetation and animals Is this a biblical contradiction? I ask this question as a disciple who struggles with being logical at times, […]
Question: I wonder why isn’t the name Yahweh mentioned anywhere in the NT? We only see Christ calling him Father in the gospels as well as the apostles addressing Him in the same way. Has it been omitted anywhere in various translations? For a new believer isn’t it essential to know that the Father […]
Question: I think it is hard to understand the trinity because a man cannot be in America, in Africa and in Asia at the same time: that make the trinity hard to understand when I take it in a human way. I want to ask you if the trinigy is like this: 3 forms of […]
Question: My teacher at my university claims that Daniel was written in 165BCE. [editor’s note: probably the professor meant that it was written after 164 BC when the events surrounding Antiochus Epiphanes occurred] He says that it was written with the Babylonian setting to make it look like it was prophesying the future. He also […]
Question: Dr Oakes, have you ever struggled with doubts in your faith? About God? Christianity? If so how have you overcome them? Thanks so much. Answer: A great question. Of course I have doubts. Faith without doubts is probably not real faith. A reasonable level of doubt is required in order to grow. We had […]
Question: There so many things in the Bible I don’t understand up to now. For example, I struggle to understand the nature of Jesus Christ. Some verses show us that he is God but some show that Jesus and God are different. In John 17 Jesus was praying God. So If he is God why […]
Question: I hope this email finds you well. I am a Christian and have a friend who is going through some unbelief, and he sent me this video to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pOI2YvVuuE which illustrates his thought process. He doesn’t believe in God anymore, and doesn’t believe Christianity is any more right than any other religion. My […]
Dr. John Oakes gave a sermon and public lecture on the evidence that Jesus is who he said he is. He asks what the most reasonable conclusion is–is Jesus a liar, a lunatic, or is he who he said he is? He looks at the claims of Jesus as well as the fulfillment of messianic […]
Dr. John Oakes gave a sermon and public lecture on the evidence that Jesus is who he said he is. He asks what the most reasonable conclusion is–is Jesus a liar, a lunatic, or is he who he said he is? He looks at the claims of Jesus as well as the fulfillment of messianic...
The Apologetics Research Society, along with the South Florida Church of Christ put on a Christian Evidence weekend in Miami/Dade and Broward County, including at Florida International University Sept. 18-20, 2015. The audio and some of the power points and outlines are attached. God is Good: The Problems of Pain, Suffering and Evil PPT Problem […]
Question: Hello Dr Oakes. I am taking an early Judaism and Christianity course in university and I have a question about the Bible. My teacher is very critical towards the New Testament writers and writings (as most are in the department of religion) and he told us in class the other day that the first […]
Question: I come from the land of a million gods( INDIA) where anywhere you look at any place it has the stench of idolatry. While hindus feel it’s nothing short of a blessing to have so many gods, I wonder why God allows something like a pagan religion of Hinduism to still continue today like […]
Brian Colon gave a class on the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus at a Christian Evidence Conference in Miami Sept 19, 2015. The focuses on the kinds of information that even the non-Christian or the skeptic will agree is true....
Dan Conder rand Kate Oakes gave a class at a Christian Evidence Conference in Miami Sept. 19, 2015. The class was on the wise use of Christian evidence in outreach to unbelievers. They suggest finding common ground, asking lots of questions and gently leading people to their own conclusions.
John Oakes gave a class on God and Science as well as Science and the Bible at a Christian Evidences Conference in Miami Sept. 9, 2015....
Dr. John Oakes taught a class on the Book of Genesis, focusing on the scientific implications as well as the worldview implications of the book–especially the first four chapters. He also gave a comparitive analysis of other creation myths. The class was given at a Christian Evidence Conference in Miami Sept 18, 2015....
Dr. John Oakes gave a series of classes on the Book of Acts in September and October, 2015 in San Diego. This is the third of the series. It covers Acts CH 1-6....
Dr. John Oakes taught a class on the Book of Ephesians for the Coastal Region of the LA Church of Christ August, 2015. The first is a sermon on the greatness of what we have in Christ and the second is a class on deepening our relationship with God. It uses Ephesians, but also Matthew...
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