A recent video from Guy Hammond
Guy Hammond is a good friend of EFC. He gave a recent talk on the difficult topic of same sex attraction. He spoke at our conference on Christianity and Culture last June. Here is the URL for the video.
The last of the ten classes for the ARS Apologetics Certificate is now ready!!
We are excited to announce that the last of ten classes for the ARS Apologetics Certificate is now ready for students to take. The class is Apologetics and World Religions. It is taught by Dr. John Oakes and Dan Conder. It, along with our other nine classes are currently available. For more info, click on […]
Baptism/Conversion Part II
Normally, we do not post a lot of doctrinal material, but many believers do have questions about the biblical teaching about salvation, so we are publishing an outline, power point and audio of a class taught by Dr. John Oakes in San Diego 1/30/2014. Part 1 of the class is also at the site https://www.evidenceforchristianity.org/in-christ-a-study-of-christian-baptism/ Baptism–In […]
How do I convince a Jehovah Witness that Jesus is God?
QUESTION: I have tried to convince Jehovah Witnesses that Jesus is God but they interpret differently the scripture. Do you have a different aproach or material about this question? Answer: I address the question of Jehovah Witness teaching in notes and a power point at the web site. I suggest you go to the power point […]
The Book of Luke
Dr. John Oakes and Robert Carrillo taught a Bible workshop on the Book of Luke at San Diego State University Saturday May 3rd 2014. Notes, power point and recordings are attached. Luke Notes Luke PPT Luke Audio Part I Luke Audio Part II Luke Audio […]
Can you explain the nature of the Gospel of Barnabas and its author?
QUESTION: Hello. I was wondering about the information on the Gospel of Barnabas. I’d like to know who after this site and from which point of view was the gospel taken. I couldn’t find about the writer or the author? Another question please, how can the author judge the language of the bible and even the […]
Spinoza said that matter is eternal, yet the big bang theory says no. It bothers me to think that we came by a big bang.
Question: I was going through a book by Spinoza and he describes a substance as having its characteristic as existence and independence from any other substance. But if that’s the case, then matter has existed ever since and will continue to exist. It cannot be destroyed or created.In this sense isn’t matter self-existent? My physics […]
Can you give me some evidence about messianic prophecies I can use to convince my atheist/mathematician friend?
Question: My brother-in-law is an atheist and mathematician. He has a couple of master’s degrees in “pure math.” He also has completed all his doctoral classes in this area. He challenged me to send him a few of the most compelling prophecies and he would research them. He is contends with great assurance that God […]
Can I, as a Christian, work at a newspaper which publishes horoscopes, New Age ideas etc.?
QUESTION: I am a disciple of Jesus in Abidjan. I work as a graphic editor for hebdoomadaire space. I called up the newspaper. But in this paper, there are topics like horoscope, new age, and the meaning of names. I feel like my hands are used as a tool to hurt spirutually those who read the […]
Can you comment on an article titled "Life by chance?" as well as my atheist friend's response to the article?
Question: I had posted this article “Life by Chance” to a bunch of friends who claim to either be atheists, agnostic or skeptics. I know it’s outdated, but I could use some help as I am not an expert or well versed in electrons and the like. Is there an article that expands on this […]
Does all life contain DNA? (a question relating to the origin of life)
Question: I am now reading one of your books “Is There a God” [editor’s note: www.ipibooks.com]. I wondered about this: do simple one-celled organisms contain DNA? (I have heard of Dr. Flew’s view that DNA is too complex for accidental origination.) Answer: That is a simple question. All living things have DNA. Even the simplest […]
Is Easter a pagan holiday? Should we call it Passover instead?
Question: I am an American pastor in Thailand. This season I have been approached about our Easter celebration being pagan and reflecting too much of the Catholic doctrine. Suggestion has been made to drop the term Easter and adopt the Passover as the true form of worship. Can you illuminate for me any biblical reasons […]
What is the effect of Einstein's theory of relativity on our understanding of God?
Question: Does Einstein’s Theory of Relativity require that God be temporal or atemporal to logically interact with His creation? What is essentially the effect of God that is greater than the speed of light in this understanding? In his book A Brief History of Time in pages 25-28, Stephen Hawking describes time existing as a […]
What about the charge that God demands his people to force their daughters into prostitution or to beat and murder their slaves?
Question: I need your help on a few hard questions an atheist friend asked me: Before I state the questions, I wanted to let you know I have thoroughly looked at your articles on your website- Apologetics and Old Testament Atrocities. So here are the questions asked: What do you expect from a religion whose […]
A friend claims that Christians must keep the Sabbath and that Sunday worship is sinful. Response?
Question: I talked with someone from Asembly church and they say we should worship God on Saturday which is Shabbat day. Here are some scripture he showed me. Gen 2:1-3 Exo 20:8-11 Num 28:9-10 Mat 5:17-18 Jn 1:29 Lk 4:16 Mat 7:21-23 Mat 15:7-9 Mk 16:9 He said, worshiping God on Sunday is the ritual of men […]
How do I respond to what seems to be a bogus "burden of proof" argument against the existence of God?
Question: I had a recent debate with an atheist friend who claimed that those who believe in God have the burden of proof to support their claim. I would like to hear your thoughts on this question. Also, I came up with my own response shortly after debating my atheist friend. It attacks the prolific misuse […]
What is the meaning of 1 Thessalonians 5:20 when Paul commands not to scoff at prophecies, but to test everything?
QUESTION: What does 1 Thessalonians 5:20 “Do not scoff at prophecies,but test everythiing that is said” mean? Answer: We do not know the exact context of the interesting command from Paul to the Thessalonians. We must assume that some were “scoffing” at prophecies. Another translation has them treating certain prophecies “with contempt.” I will speculate […]
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What is your thought on those who say "Faith is released by speaking words"?
Question: The saying ‘Faith is released by speaking words’, is used by some preachers to describe that sick people remain sick though ‘saved’ because of their inability to release their faith and be healed. They say God has put authority under us to move mountains therefore we should exercise it for the purpose of healing. Also […]
Malachi: Faith in God or Faithful to God?
Dr. John Oakes gave a lesson about being faithful to God in our service to him from Malachi on 4/4/2014. The lesson focuses primarily on Malachi 1:6-14 and Malachi 3:6-18. Sacrifice in Malachi Note Malachi Sacrificial Giving Audio
Can you explain the meaning of the Greek hupostasis in Hebrews 11:1?
Question: I have tried to find out for a long time what the word “hupostasis” in Hebr 11:1 means – “Faith is the ‘hupostasis’ of things hoped for…” confidence, assurance, substance, and title-deed are some translations of the word “hupostasis”. The translation of this word is critical to the understanding of the verse and […]
Can you respond to a recent point made by Sam Harris in a debate with William Lane Craig?
QUESTION: I recently listened to a debate between Sam Harris and Dr. Craig. I remember listening to your audio where you mentioned that you have not come across any scientific discrepancies in the Bible. This is more or less a statement that Sam Harris made in regards to scientific discrepancies found in the Bible: ‘Genesis […]
What do you think about presuppositional apologetics and the work of Alvin Plantinga?
Question: I want to ask about a particular apologetics strategy know as Presuppositional Apologetics. What do you think about it? Do you believe that you presuppose that God exists and that everything the Bible says is true off the bat? Or does it take reasons to reach this conclusion? I recently heard a good explanation […]
Is it true that we have no free will, as a friend has been teaching me, using Romans 9:11-18?
Question: Hey Dr. Oakes, I have a question about predestination. I have been running into people that use Romans 9, or Romans 8:28-30. They claim that God chose those who are saved already and we have no free will. The particular verse in Romans 9 was verse 11-18. Answer: I have taught a class on […]
Class to be taught in San Diego: Jesus in the Old Testament
Dr. John Oakes taught a class, Jesus in the Old Testament: From Shadow to Reality in San Diego on six consecutive Saturdays beginning Feb 22, 2014. Outline and suggested reading for the class are below. Jesus in OT Notes Jesus in OT PPT The recordings of this class are available at the web […]
How do I explain the parallels between Mithraism and Christianity? Is the deity of Jesus a later invention of the church?
QUESTION: I have been a devout follower of Jesus Christ for 22 years. Recently, I have been questioning the validity of Christianity. The Freemasons tell their members that they have made up Christianity and all world religions as a way to better society. When I look at the ancient Sun God worship Mithraism and other forms […]
Sacrifice Prefigures
Dr. John Oakes gave a sermon on 3/15/2014 in San Diego. The topic was the Levitical sacrificial system as a prefigure of worship in the New Testament. The “sweet smelling” offerings are discussed as prefigures both of the offerings given by Jesus and by Christians. Specifically discussed are the burnt offering, the grain offering, the […]
Prophets of the Exile: Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel
Dr. John Oakes taught a class on the Prophets of the Exile for APLA (Asia Pacific Leadership Academy) Jan 16-18 in Manila, Philippines. Notes and a power point are attached. Prophets of the Exile notes Prophets of the Exile PPT The audio for this entire class is available in the store of the […]
Pro-life Apologetics 101 June 7, 2014
Kedron Jones, a board member of ARS (Apologetics Research Society) will be teaching a six hour class titled Defending Life: Pro-Life Apologetics 101. This will be a ground-breaking class for us as we explore the moral question of abortion. The class will be taught in such a way that the arguments are not necessarily […]
Where in the Bible do we find support for Sunday worship?
QUESTION: Where in the Bible do we find Sunday worship to be supported? Answer: I believe you put the question in a wise way. You ask, not “where in the Bible can we prove Sunday worship,” but rather where can we go to support the practice. The strongest support for Sunday worship comes from outside […]
Report on Missionary Teaching Trip to the Philippines
See below for a report from John Oakes on his recent trip to visit and teach for churches in Bacolod, Cebu and Manila Philippines.
I believe that the Bible is accurate history, but how do I maintain this belief if the New Testament is only 99% accurate?
QUESTION: If the Bible is the most accurate historical text, and doesn’t have any direct proof against it, then what makes the Old and New Testament only 99% accurate and not 100% accurate? Answer: The original writings of the New Testament authors (known as the “autographs” to scholars) are perfect and inspired. These letters were […]
What is tHul 2:22-23? (a reference used to show that Jesus worked miracles)
Question: Hi, John! I can’t find the meaning of “tHul 2:22-23”. What it is? An ancient book? I don’t know how to translate it into Russian. Thank you! Answer: tHul 2:22-23 is a reference to one of the Jewish writings of the very early centuries AD. It is the Hullin tracate of the document known […]
How do we know if we have lost our salvation based on deliberate sin?
Question: Hello! I was just looking through you’re site – a very interesting one, very thought provoking – and came across this article: https://www.evidenceforchristianity.org/once-we-are-saved-is-out-salvation-set-in-stone/. Now, I should say at the forefront that I am what you may call a “Calvinist” – that is, I believe that the doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints is […]
Are the 1/3 of all stars swept from heaven in Revelation 12:4 fallen angels?
QUESTION: I’ve heard a lot of other Christians say that the “third part of the stars of heaven” mentioned in Revelation 12:4 is a reference to the fraction of angels that followed Satan in his rebellion. In other words, this passage tells us one-third of the heavenly host followed Satan. They are the “stars of heaven” […]
Can you refute a recent argument against the existence of God based on contingency?
Question: I stumbled upon an unpublished blog and I was wondering if you could help me respond to it. The title of the blog post and the argument are below. I find this article to be quite fishy and it really bothers me because I don’t know how to answer it. A Short Proof […]
Is Acts 16:31-34 evidence of infant baptism in the primitive church?
QUESTION: I studied with a Catholic guy long time ago… He argued that they believed in baptizing infants because there are example(s) of such in the Bible, citing Acts 16:31-34; 16:15. I tried to convince him on the essence of ‘faith’ in salvation(Gal. 2:16; Romans 3:25-26;Romans 6:8) of which infants can’t even understand. but the […]
Did the believers receive the Holy Spirit when they were baptized in Samaria in Acts 8? When were they saved?
[Editor’s note: This question has little to do with Christian evidences, but I have gotten several versions of the question. Apparently it is on the minds of many EFC users, so I am providing an answer.] QUESTION: In Acts chapter 8 Philip, one of the Seven, goes to a city in Samaria and preached the gospel. […]
New Videos from Dr. John Oakes' teaching in Memphis
Dr. John Oakes taught lessons on: God, Science, and Miracles four-hour class on Hebrews a sermon on Acts and Church History on Jan 31-Feb 2. The audio of God, Science, and Miracles & the videos of the other two lessons are available at this link
Will discoveries involving stem cells allow us to live indefinitely? How will this affect Christian beliefs?
Question: I have been reading quite a bit lately about advancements in stem cell research especially in the area of tissue/organ regeneration. One article states that within 10-20 years the majority of damaged tissue will be able to be “grown” using stem cells. This may seem like a silly question, but will science/medicine get to […]
Why does God give Jesus a new name and take away his old name? Why not accept another new name, Bahaullah? How did Jesus fulfill the prophecy that all mankind will see God's salvation?
[Note: this query comes from a believer who got these questions from a friend who is Bahai. Question: One of my questions was WHY had not God in the Old Testament chosen for himself, the name Jesus the Christ, but many other names ? In addition, Christ Himself also promises that when he returns, he […]
Dr. Roy E. Knuteson says that cremation is pagan and sinful. Your response?
Editor’s Note: I just posted a Q & A on cremation a couple of weeks ago. Normally, I would not post two in a row on the same topic, but apparently my fairly short answer raised as many questions as it answered, so I am publishing a second question and the follow-up. I suggest that […]
Is the "war" describe in Revelation chapter 12 a literal war?
QUESTION: In rev.12 when they refer to war in heaven does this actually mean that there was a war in heaven? If this is the case then it seems that heaven is a bit like earth! Thank You Answer: Most of the book of Revelation is an example of a type of literature known as […]
What is your take on the Bill Nye/Ken Ham debate?
Question: What was your take on the Bill Nye and Ken Ham debate? Thanks Answer: First of all, take everything I say here with a huge grain of salt because I have only seen a little bit of the debate. My response is primarily to what I have heard and what I know of Ken […]
New Power Point on God Science and Miracles
Dr. John Oakes taught a lesson 1/31/2014 in Memphis at Memphis University on God, Science and Miracles The Power Point is attached. God science and miracle ppt
Do the two accounts of Judas' death in Matthew and Acts contradict?
Question: I have found seemingly two different versions of Judas Iscariot’s death. Version 1 in Matthew 27:3-6 NIV Judas Hangs Himself When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he […]
Did Judas die because of worldly sorrow or "karma?"
Question: According to Matthew 27:1-10, Judas hanged himself after he realized what he had done to Jesus Christ; but in Acts 1:18-19, he used his reward money to buy a field and he died and his intestines spilled out–pretty gruesome–when he fell to his newly bought field. Did he died because of worldly sorrow or […]
How do I explain to a friend how Catholicism has detoured from Jesus' teachings?
Question: It is a privilege to contact you and be able to share my dilemma. I am hoping you have time enough to direct me to readings where I can, upon understanding of them, inform my daughter-{recent “convert” to Catholicism}-of how Catholicism has detoured from Jesus’ original teachings. If you would just point me in […]
Is it true that there is no evidence for the Exodus story of Israel leaving Egypt?
Question: There is some information on the Old Testament I found through an atheist and I think it’s very interesting. It hasn’t harmed my faith but it did raise some interesting questions. http://www.theology.edu/ugarbib.htm This link implies that the God we know as God YHWH is actually a remnant of Canaanite mythology which was as you […]
Why did the name "the LORD" come to be substituted for Yaweh in the Jewish Bible?
QUESTION: Why is the name “the LORD” substituted for Yaweh? Answer: The Jews came to view the name of God YHWH to be too holy to be spoken in common language. For this reason, in Hebrew versions of the Old Testament they substituted the Hebrew word for The LORD for YHWH. This tendency goes all […]
