Living By Faith: Notes and Power Point
Dr John Oakes taught a class titled Living By Faith in Las Vegas 9/9/2012. It is an exposition on Hebrews 11, with the theme that faith is belief in things unseen. Living By Faith PPT Living By Faith Notes
Answering the Hard Questions: A Power Point
Dr. John Oakes taught a lesson for teens on the Christian World View and the Christian answer to the most common hard questions which all human beings ask. Why is there evil? Why is there suffering? Why does God allow killing of nations in the Old Testament? Why did God make hell? PPT Answering the Hard […]
Is it OK to rewrite the words of worldy songs and use them in worship?
Quetion: A fellow Christian recently asked me this question. His worry is rewriting worldly music and performing it in church. It can remind the church of those songs real words and or meanings and the worldliness of the artist who originally wrote them. Not to mention music rights issues which I don’t know how they apply to […]
How do I respond to the claim that evolution is disproved because Romans 5 and 8 prove that there was no death of animals before the sin of Adam and Eve?
Question: I am in a discussion with a friend in St. Louis. One issue he has brought up and its implication is that theistic evolution cannot be true as death did not enter into the realm of creation until Adam and Eve sinned and thus the geological sediments and all the animals and plants could […]
Interview with Douglas Jacoby at Apologetics 315
http://www.apologetics315.com/2012/12/apologist-interview-douglas-jacoby.html
Is there a literal hell with literal fire and brimstone where God annihilates his creatures?
Question: I just have one question for you. Do you believe there is a hell of fire and brimstone where the God of love, the God of the Bible, will annihilate billions of His creatures? This is an extremely important question as the implications for the answer are light years beyond gigantic, whatever the answer. Thank […]
What can you tell me about the transfiguration (Luke 9)?
Question: What’s up with transfiguration in Luke 9? Such a strange and eerie scene. Any thoughts? Maybe books to read about it? Response: I am not sure exactly what you want to know. To me, this is a fairly straightforward account of a very unusual event which happened. I will admit that this is not […]
How is it that "no bone was broken" when Jesus was crucified?
QUESTION: I was reading the Gospel of John earlier today and I came across the crucifixion account. There was one verse that I’m pretty sure I’ve looked over before but caught my attention this time around. John 19:36 “For these things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled, “Not a bone of his will […]
Is it wrong for a Christian to vote for a Mormon?
Question: My voter’s card has an “R” on it, although I don’t always vote that way. One of the choices for President is a Mormon. As a Christian, I’m not sure how I feel about voting for someone who is Mormon. I know that some of our earlier president’s were deists, Quakers, etc. It is […]
Was the prayer for forgiveness of the Romans (Luke 23:34) in the original of Luke? Is this a textual variation?
Question: Does this not give you something to think about ? [editor’s note: some personal info about where the questioner got this info and generated the question is left out here] Bruce wrote: “There are texts which may have lacked the Prayer of Forgiveness on the Cross in Luke (so like Luke to invent this in the […]
What is the banned book of Enoch?
QUESTION: I was recently browsing youtube,and found a video about a banned book called Book of Enoch. What is it? Answer: As far as I know, no important group has banned the book of Enoch. Just so you know, some call this book the 1st (1 Enoch) because other pseudepigraphal books (books with a falsely-claimed […]
How do I know God's will for my life/decisions?
Question: I’ve been struggling with making some major decisions in my life ie: move, withdraw my son from college etc. I want to do God’s will in any decision I make. It’s been hard for me to know what God’s will is. My friend directed me to Romans 12:1-2 but I still don’t have clarity. What […]
Why does God make things beautiful and then tell us it is sinful to value beauty?
Question: How is it that when God makes creation beautiful to the eye it is considered godly but when we value beauty to the eye, it isn’t considered godly? (prov 31:30, 1st peter 3:3) Or when God wants to build an entire city, New Jerusalem, with diamonds and gold ( revelations 21) it is considered […]
Audio on the Resurrection of Jesus by Brian Colon.
Brian Colon, one of the members of the ARS board, recently taught a class on the resurrection of Jesus. The audio is available at http://www.knowitstrue.com/audio/Rez.mp3
Have you ever noticed that neither Luke nor Acts makes any reference to the doctrine of savation by the bloood of Christ ?
Question: Have you ever noticed that neither Luke nor Acts makes any reference to the doctrine of savation by the bloood of Christ ? Answer: Yes, I have noticed that Luke does not mention this doctrine, although I would dispute that it is not found in Acts. I believe that it has been claimed that […]
I am taking a class on evolution this fall. How should I approach talking about evolution with my classmates? Any books to recommend?
Question: I’m going to be taking a class on evolution this fall and wanted to see what book(s) you recommend I read so I can help myself as well as my classmates. Also, if you could just give me some general advice about how to go about debating/talking about evolution that would be appreciated. Thanks! […]
Does Revelation 11:19 tell us anything about there the Jewish ark of the Covenant is?
Question: My dad brought this scriptire to my attention. What is your take on it? Revelation 11:19 (NIV) Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm. So the ark is not […]
Is there any evidence that Daniel 7:1-12:13 was not part of the original book of Daniel, but was written during the Macabeean period? (he notes that some is in 1st and some in 3rd person)
QUESTION: Is there any evidence aganst the idea that Daniel 7:1-12:13( the section of daniel that is written in the first person) was not a part of the original book of daniel,but was written dering the maccabean wars and then added to the original text( the section of daniel that is written in the third […]
From Shadow to Reality (French and English)
FSTR FrenchDr. John Oakes spoke to the Conakry Church of Christ in Guinea, Africa on July 22, 2012. The lesson was translated into French by Vincent Kamano. Audio attached.
You say that eternal always means until the thing is completed. I disagree (John 3:16, for example)
QUESTION: In a recent post you said: “the word “eternal” always means until the thing is completed. This applies to our eternal life as well.” Where did you come up with that definition? Rev 22:5 says believers will reign forever and ever. There is no “until the thing is completed” attached to this. Neither does […]
What are the strongest arguments for atheism?
QUESTION: My question for you is fairly simple and straightforward. What are the best arguments for atheism and why don’t you find them convincing? Answer: A good question. It is always advisable to understand the best argument of those with whom we disagree. Sometimes we might even change our mind if we are willing to […]
Why is the appearances of the risen dead in Matthew 27 not noted elsewhere by Christians or others? Would it not have been convincing evidence?
Question: I was reading this verse: The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. (Matthew 27: 52-53) I believe this statement to be true in that the dead […]
Report from teaching trip to Berlin, Conakry (Guinea), Accra and Lagos
John Oakes just finished a three week missionary teaching trip. A report is attached. Berlin and West Africa Report
What if new evidence arose which made it appear that the Bible is not inspired?
QUESTION: I’ve seen a lot of evidence that points to the direction of God’s existence. However, I was wondering what if in a couple of decades science and other areas (history, archaeology, etc) point to the opposite direction? I know new science discoveries are being made almost every single week. How would you respond if […]
Could hallucinations from some sort of a drug explain the witnesses to the resurrection? How would you respond?
QUESTION: John I was wondering if anyone has ever suggested a hypothesis based on drug hallucination for the resurrection? I know there’s a hallucination hypothesis but has anyone ever brought up drug hallucination like psilocybin mushroom hallucination? And if someone has how would you respond to that hypothesis? Thanks John! Answer: Hello from Conakry, Guinea; […]
Follow John Oakes' travels on Twitter
John Oakes is teaching in Berlin, Conakry, Guinea, Accra, Ghana, and Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria. You can follow on Twitter @evidence4christ or on facebook.
How do you explain Lot's wife being turned into a pillar of salt? What is the logic or scientific explanation?
QUESTION: How does one explain the fact of Lot’s wife being converted into salt when they were running away from Sodom’s destruction? What is the “logic” or scientific” explantion behind this fact. Answer: I do not believe that there is any “scientific logic” to what happened to Lot’s wife. What happened to his wife is […]
A New Power Point on the Resurrection
Dr. John Oakes did a presentation on the resurrection for the Berlin Church of Christ 7/19/2012. His power point and notes were updated and are attached here: PPT The Resurrection of Jesus Resurrection of Jesus Notes
What is the context of James 5:16? What is the relationship between confession and physical healing?
QUESTION: What is the context of James 5:16? What does confessing our sins have in relation to anointing the sick and him being raised up? Is that a commandment from Jesus to confess our sins to each other in any context? Answer: It does appear that James is a bit random in what he is talking […]
New Book by Dr. John Oakes Published
Illuminations Publishers has just published a new book by John Oakes. The title is “The Christian Story: Finding the Church in Church History.” It covers the history of Christianity from AD 30 to the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451. The book is intended to help Christians understand best how to “do” church today. Copies […]
What do you think about the view of Edward Fudge with regard to Hell?
QUESTION: I recently watched a video by Edward Fudge on Hell; you can see it at Douglas Jacoby’s website, clearly Douglas agrees with him, I would like your opinion. editor’s note: The lecture can be viewed at http://vimeo.com/30967402 Douglas Jacoby’s site is www.douglasjacoby.com Answer: I just listened to the lecture by Edward Fudge. I believe […]
What are some of the Christian explanations of the origin of species besides 6-day creation and evolution?
QUESTION: I’m really interested in the whole area of Apologetics and I am studying it out to try and establish my own beliefs according to the evidence. It seems to me that people either believe in creation that took place over six 24hr days or evolution whether unguided, partly or fully guided by an Intelligent […]
Is foot-washing a command for Christians (John 13:14)?
QUESTION: My friend is convinced that Jesus Christ commanded us to wash one another’s feet, literally. I would like to know how you understand the commandment of Jesus . Answer: I know of no serious Bible scholar who interprets what Jesus said in John 13:14 literally. As far as I know, none of those who […]
What is the significance of God using the firstborn son in Exodus 4:21-23, and how is this connected with Jesus? Also, why did God harden Pharaoh's heart and then blame Pharaoh?
Question: I was reading chapter 4 of Exodus this morning and a few things confused me. I am hoping that you can explain them or direct me to the answers. 1. (v 21-23) The LORD references Israel being his firstborn son. I’ve never noticed this before. Are there other references in the OT like this? What […]
What Bibles or concordances can I use to understand the Greek/Hebrew words better?
Question: I want to study out the New Testament and learn the Greek/Hebrew original words to understand it better. Do you know of any good Bibles, or concordances, etc? Answer: I commend your desire to “take it deeper” and to study the scriptures more comprehensively. We tend to get out of our Bible study in […]
Is speaking in tongues demonic or is it correct doctrine?
Question: I want to ask you about born again Christians and ‘speaking in tongues’. I experienced this at a different church recently and it was quite overwhelming, but now after I’ve tried to research it I’m quite shocked and confused. John MacArthur lectures on youtube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVSLc0cqlZM ) about it being demonic, existing before Pentecost […]
What did the Anabaptists teach on baptism?
Question: I have been wondering about the Anabaptists. To your knowledge, did any of them teach a thorough biblical baptism? Answer: The Anabaptists were a back-to-the Bible offshoot of the Reformation which came from the Ulrich Zwingli wing of the movement. What made them differ from other “Protestants” was that they were committed to separation […]
Please change your statement about the YEC position on evolution.
Request: I was reading your article about the 4 Christian views of evolution and got stuck on the way you describe YEC beliefs. “YEC believes in fixed species and completely rejects the theory of organic evolution commonly known as Darwinism or neo-Darwinism. Those who take this view believe quite literally that on the third through […]
Is the fact that Daniel has God saying to "seal up this prophecy" evidence that the book is pseudenimous (ie that the author is faking the story)?
QUESTION: I have a question about this article http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/chris_sandoval/daniel.html#forgeries. In paragraph 7 of the section called religious forgeries the writer writes “We read in the Book of Daniel that God’s angels ordered the venerable prophet Daniel to “shut up” and “seal” his book (Daniel 8:26; 12:4,9). Perhaps the author meant us to understand that Daniel […]
Doesn't God get bored with our little problems? Why does he keep up with things that happen to us?
QUESTION: Doesn’t God get bored of our same boring problems and ill health? Why does he keep up with everything in our lives for so long . Answer: A reasonable question. I do not know of you are a mother, but if you are, then you will be in a better position to understand God’s relationship with […]
Hebrews 11:24-27 says Moses' leaving Egypt was because of his faith and that he did not fear, but Exodus describes his as leaving because of his fear. How can I harmonize this?
QUESTION: I have been studying out faith recently in my Bible study; it has been amazing!! But as I was reading this morning Hebrews 11, I came across a passage that I have read before, but never looked deeply into it. The passage is Hebrews 11:24-27. In it the author describes Moses as doing the things […]
How do I deal with continuing doubts which prevent my having stronger faith?
Question: I was going over the passage in Luke 6:46 (the wise and foolish builder) and I realized that my foundation in God isn’t as strong as I would like. I feel like every time I have a question or doubt my faith is shaken. I know that the usual response to building a stronger […]
Who is right, Peter Flint who says the OT Hebrew text is confirmed to the 99% level or Emanual Tov who says the stability of the Hebrew text is a myth?
QUESTION: I know I’ve asked you questions regarding to the different OT translations and transmissions (Septuagint, SP, MT), however I’ve recently been troubled by two somewhat different positions on the accuracy of the transmission. Emmanual Tov a leading scholar on the dead sea scrolls and textual critic recently came out with a book “Textual Criticism […]
Are the recent findings reported from Khirbet Qeiyafa evidence of Biblical history or just a hoax?
Question: I found interesting article on findings in Khirbet Qeiyafa. May I ask, what is your opinion about that, is it another archeological proof of Bible historicity, or just a hoax? http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Early+History+-+Archaeology/Cultic_shrines_time_King_David_8-May-2012.htm Answer: No, this is the real thing. This is a very exciting discovery. Garfinkle is a highly respected archaeologist and this find will […]
Does Proverbs 26:4,5 contradict? How should I answer a fool in a specific situation?
Question: Prov 26:4-5 seem to contradict. I’m trying to figure out how to deal with the foolish arguments of someone I know, and I can’t figure out whether to argue back or answer!!! Input??? Prov 26:4 Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are. Prov 26:5 Be […]
New Archaeological Finds in Khirbet Qeiyafa Supports Biblical Account of King David
Professor Yosef Garfinkle of Hebrew University announced in May of this year his discoveries in the Jewish city of Khirbet Queiyafa. The city was occupied from about 1020-980 BC, during the reign of King David. It was a border city between Israel and the Philistines. Items in the city demonstrate conclusively that a uniquely Jewish cult, without graven […]
Is every word of the Bible inspired? What about the two fairly different versions of Jeremiah (DSS vs MT)?
QUESTION: I’m having trouble believing that every single word in the Bible is true. I do know that Jesus’ resurrection is true and can be proven to a certain degree historically and that the creation of the universe can also be proven to a certain degree with scientific data and theories. But I’m having a […]
Where is it that Voltaire said if it could be proved Isaiah 53 was written before Jesus he would believe?
Question: I remember reading in Evidence for Christianity that Voltaire scoffed at Isaiah 53 being written before Jesus’ time, and he claimed he would believe if someone could prove Isaiah 53 was written beforehand. I find that fascinating, what is the title of Voltaire’s work containing that quote? Answer: I did a fair amount of […]
In what way did Daniel seal the words of the scroll in Daniel 12:4?
QUESTION: In what way did Daniel seal the words of the scroll in Daniel 12:4? Answer: I will have to say I really am not sure that Daniel DID anything. I will be honest that I have not really thought all that much about the meaning of this passage. I have not seen any deep, […]
Libets' experiments and human free will.
See below for a Q & A of particular interest which was answered by John M. Beggs on the question of whether scientific results about the neural pathways for decision-making can be used to prove that we do not have free will.
