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...
ARS, along with the South Florida Church of Christ is putting on an apologetics weekend designed for university students, but all are invited. Teachers include Dr. John Oakes, Dan Conder, Kate Hall and Brian Colon. There will be an evangelistic event Friday evening at Florida International University and several classes on Saturday as well as […]
Editor’s Note: This response comes from Kedron Jones, a member of the board of Apologetics Research Society Question: Thanks for following up about my baptism issue I brought up. Basically it was an article on the question as to whether “baptism” is necessary to be saved/go to heaven? The article went through many scriptures and […]
John Oakes gave a sermon from Hebrews 11 on Sunday Sept 13 in San Marcos, California. The notes, power point and audio are attached. Living by Faith Notes Living by Faith PPT Living by Faith Audio
Dr. John Oakes taught a seven-part class on the Book of Acts for the singles in San Diego September and October, 2015. This is part 5 of the series, covering Acts 12-15....
This is part four of a seven-part class on the Book of Acts taught by Dr. John Oakes for the singles ministry in San Diego September and October, 2015....
Editor’s Note: Rich Wright, one of the students in our ARS Apologetics Certificate Program, has written an excellent paper on the question of the inerrancy of the Bible, focusing in on the most important document on that topic ever published, which is known as the Chicago Statement on Inerrancy. He criticizes their approach, especially with […]
John Oakes is giving a sermon from Hebrews 11 titled Living by Faith in San Marcos. For location info contact him at john.oakes@gcccd.edu. The audio will be made available.
Question: I want to seek your thoughts on who Paul speaks to in 1 Corinthians 3:1-9. Is he talking to saved people who are sinning or to people who have gone back to their sinful ways, fallen away and are no longer saved? In the passage he says “you still live in flesh” which tells […]
Question: I’m a sophomore in a university. I’m part of a Christian fraternity on campus and my little is a Mormon. I’ve been doing as much research as possible to learn about Mormonism and to study the differences between Mormonism and Christianity, but I can’t seem to find a good way to effectively express to […]
Dr, John Oakes taught a class on the role of Holy Spirit in our lives for the staff of the San Diego Church of Christ. Notes and audio are attached. The Holy Spirit Audio Holy Spirit Notes...
John Oakes enseno una clasa para la iglesia de Cristo en Tijuana en Septiembre, 2015. Esa sermon es sobre razones creer que Jesus es que el afirmo....
John Oakes enseno una clase para solteros in Tujuana Septiembre, 2015 sobre la vida que tenemos en Cristo....
John Oakes enseno un clase para los solteros in Tujuana sobre Jesus como el Camino....
Comment: I’ve been reading your book “Daniel: A Prophet to the Nations” and I’ve been very inspired and overwhelmed by the very specific prophecies. I’m thankful for how God is using you to reveal his word to others. So suffice it to say, while I have a problem with your response to Daniel 11:36-45 my […]
Question: [editor’s note: This is a series of two questions from the same member of the same topic] I wanted to know if you know much about fulgurites and the evidence they give to support the reality of the ten plagues in Egypt? How about this for a bible study? Studying out about […]
Question: I’ve been reading Judges and, boy there are some good parenting lessons in this book. I’m writing because I would like your take on chapter 11, specifically the vow Jephthah made to God. Why do you think God allowed him to go through with his vow and not stop him, especially since she was […]
Question: Is the material found below about Jesus having a wife valid or false? http://www.livescience.com/34229-what-does-the-gospel-of-jesus-s-wife-say.html?cmpid=514627_20150825_51404246&adbid=10152957444286761&adbpl=fb&adbpr=30478646760 Answer: I would have to do some more care research to validate the age and to look at other attempts to translate, but please allow me to give my first quick impression. I would say that with a quick glance, […]
Question: I was wondering if you can send me some material on the question that many Christians and others struggle with….”Why is God so angry,violent and vengeful in the Old Testament and gracious in the New”?? Would really appreciate if you can provide some good material on this. Answer: This is a good question. First […]
Mike and Mary Shapiro gave a series of classes on Christianity and Mental Health in San Diego at a conference titled “Living Waters” Aug 14-16, 2015. This is one of the classes.
Question: I found your book From Shadow to Reality to be great and have since purchased your book Reasons for Belief. I have a question about a statement you made on page 144 of From Shadow to Reality. I understand the 2 classes of sacrifices… worship/offering and for sin, and how the worship sacrifice is […]
Dr. John Oakes taught a class titled Strong in Chrst and a sermon titled One in Christ for the Coastal Region of the Los Angeles Church of Christ for their family retreat 8/15/15. Notes power point and audio are attached. Strong in Christ is about how to deepen our understanding of the scripture, using examples […]
Question: My question is on this passage: “For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by […]
Question: Parchment 470–a Catholic writing from 250 AD that says they worshipped Mary in the early Christian church..this is from a Catholic scholar’s site from Canterbury England, I should have written down his name but I forgot to….he is trying to win Protestants to his Catholic faith. Answer: It is true that there is a […]
Question: I have a comment regarding your response to the question “If the Hebrew word “yom” in Genesis means a 24 hour period, why do you interpret it figuratively to be a period of time?” I do not agree with your answer. In NET translation it says “There was evening, and there was morning, a […]
Buy Now: MP3
Buy Now: MP3
Buy Now: MP3
Buy Now: DVD
