Question: The LDS church is very large. If The Book Of Mormon is not true then how come the church has been so prosperous? I am not saying that they are right but certainly they are doing goods things to earn God’s blessing. Answer: It is true what you say that Mormonism has grown fairly […]
Announcement: ARS will be sponsoring a two-part 10-hour class on the role of prophecy in Christian Apologetics September 6 and 13, 2008 in San Diego, California. Announcement: Two-Part class to be offered Sat. September 6th and 13th: The Role of Prophecy in Christian Apologetics The board of ARS is excited to announce that we will […]
Question: This has been bothering me for a long time, if Christianity is the true religion, why are there Christians converting to Islam? Answer: The fact that Christianity is the true religion (ie that is tells the correct story about God) does not prevent people from being Hindu, Buddhist, Confucionist or Islamic. People reject Christianity […]
Question: Is the Book of Mormon another testament of Jesus Christ? Answer: Joseph Smith certainly claimed that it was. This claim is found on the title page of the Book of Mormon. The simple answer is NO WAY. Joseph Smith showed no legitimate signs of being a prophet. He made no predictive prophecies which later […]
Question: Can you tell me About Baptisam? Without Baptisam can we be saved? Answer: All I can do on this one is go by what the Bible says. A good place to look is the first gospel sermon, preached by Peter on the Day of Pentecost, which is found in Acts chapter 2. After explaining to his […]
Question: Is saving grace conditional or unconditional? Answer: There is a sense in which this is a trick question, although I am sure you had no intention of posing a trick question. It reminds me of the situation in which Jesus was asked about whether one should pay taxes to Caesar. Simply saying either yes […]
Question: One might say it is unfair, that God might judge the world before some people (who are so very remote) ever get a chance to hear the message. What do you think? Answer: This is a very common question. I get it quite often at the site. It is a good question. My response is […]
Question: Is the situation in Irael just now, prophecy being fulfilled? Should we as Christians be concerned for the Israeli people? Answer: The quick answer is a definite no. I discuss in some detail the premillenialist view and the tendency to view modern events as fulfillment of prophecies in Revelation, Daniel or Ezekiel in an appendix […]
Question: Should christians or Elders today practice putting oil on their sick (siblings or relatives) and pray over them for healing? Is this something we shouldn’t be doing or should be doing? Answer; You question, I assume, is a reference to James 5:14-15. Here, James advises those who are sick to call upon the elders […]
Question: Why does the genealogy of Christ go from Adam to Joseph, when Joseph was not the father of Jesus (The Holy Spirit conceived Christ)? Answer: Actually, the genealogy in Luke goes through Joseph, but the genealogy of Jesus goes through Mary in Matthew. That is what most scholars accept. The reason for this is […]
Question: With all of the different dates that are floating around re: the manuscripts – especially those of the 4 major gospels – what dates do you rely on and how are those dated (e.g. carbon dating, etc)? Answer: One thing for sure is that we cannot use carbon dating to determine the date that […]
An outline on the role of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life by John Oakes, PhD The Holy Spirit The Facts About the Holy Spirit Genesis 1:2 The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts." (1 Samuel […]
A Response to The God Delusion: Power Point 21/07/2008,19:46 John M. Oakes, PhD Click the link below to see an outline of the class, or on the power point icon above to view the power point. A Response to Scientific Materialism and The God Delusion Richard Dawkins, author of A River out of Eden, […]
Hebrews: Fate or Freedom 21/07/2008,19:41 An outline of the class can be seen by clicking on the link below, or click on the power point icon to see the power point presentation. by John M. Oakes, PhD Fate or Freedom June 26, 2008 Outline: I. Extremely brief overview of Hebrews II. Brief introduction to […]
Question: I have been needing some evidence to prove evolution wrong. Could you help but put it in wording for a thirteen year old to underderstand? Answer: The problem with your request is that there is no evidence which proves evolution wrong. In fact, the scientific evidence in support of evolution is quite strong. Perhaps you […]
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John Oakes June 20-July 14, 2008 Report on Missionary Visit John Oakes June/July 2008 London and Scotland June 20-30 This is my fourth visit to the UK, so by now I have many established friendships with which to be reacquainted. My wife Jan and I traveled first to London. We visited the South region […]
Question: How, John, can you state so confidently that hostages were taken and that some items from the temple were taken." This clearly is what you would like to be able to establish in order to be able to clear up the conflict between 2 Kings 24:1 and Daniel 1:1. The author of Daniel transfers things that […]
Question: 1) Dan. 5:30 Belshazzar dies – Darius becomes king of Babylon 2) Dan 6:28 Daniel prospers during the reign of Darius and (later) Cyrus (Daniel 1:21) 3) Dan 9:1 Darius is said to be the son of Xerxes (Ahasuerus) 4) It is a historical fact that the conqueror of […]
Question: When did the ascension happen, on the first day of the new week as stated in Luke 24:51 or was it 40 days later, as stated in Acts 1:3? Answer: Of course, it was about forty days later. Luke does not say when it happened. The scene in Luke 24:33-49 takes place in Jerusalem, as […]
Question: I am currently reading your book on "Reasons for Belief" and I am learning so much new information that has been very faith lifting. I have recently come across a video on CNN about a certain tablet that looked similar to the one you talked about in your book. The reporters are calling it the […]
Question: Daniel 1:21 says that Daniel remained in the Babylonian court until the first year of Cyrus, which as you say, was 539/8BC, the year Cyrus conquered Babylon and became king of Babylon as attested by Ezra 5:13, as well as king of Persia as attested by Ezra 4:5. When did Darius the son of […]
A tablet discovered ten years ago has ink writing on it. It has been dated to the first century B. C. The tablet appears to mention a resurrection of the messiah on the third day. This find may prove to be very significant. Article by Ethan Bronner below (from http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/05/africa/06stone.php) Tablet ignites debate on […]
Questions: 1. Our GOD knows everything; even all thoughts before it appear to mind then why did he let Lucifer have a prideful thought? 2. In the begining how did the marriage of Cain take place as there were no women in that time(except Eve)? 3. Paul has written in 2 Corinthians 12:7 that he has wounded in his body. […]
Question: I’ve been wondering with regards to the Sabbath. Why do the 7th day Adventists still keep the Sabbath? I had an encounter with one of them and found that they practice Christianity much like I do. The only thing was that of the Sabbath. I then wanted to do a study but couldn’t wrap […]
Question: Is it true that parts of Noah’s ark where found in Turkey? Answer: The simple answer is no. Many have looked all over the region of Mt. Ararat and a number of expeditions have been made to the top of Ararat. A number of people have claimed to have found the ark or evidence […]
Question: I am reading your book on Daniel after listening to the sermon you gave out in Riverside back in 2005 about the book of Daniel. This was prompted by a read through the Bible were I am currently in Daniel. I notice in most versions the "ab" is translated father in Dan 5:18. However, […]
The purpose of this paper by William Golightly is to seek a solution to the problem that is consistent with well-supported scientific claims, but at the same time is also consistent with our view that the book of Genesis, like the rest of the Bible, is God’s Word. Genesis and the Beginnings of Humanity How […]
Question: Can you please explain to me Numbers Chapter 23:19? Wouldn’t that disprove the trinity? Can you please help me understand contradictions in the Bible? I am very confused with these. Answer: This is an interesting question. The answer involves how the phrase "son of man" is used in the Bible. Let me discuss "contradictions" in […]
Question: I am having a hard time convincing someone I am studying with about the Oneness of Jesus Christ and God. He has argued that if Jesus and God is one why is it that Jesus prayed to the Father/God, if He really is God. Can you please give me Scriptures and your insight about the Scripture about […]
Question: Please, explain me, what does it mean "to pray to the Hole Spirit". Yesterday during the lecture about the Hole Spirit this phrase was said twise. I don’t understand how to pray to the Hole Spirit, and i never saw this in the Bible. Answer: I am sure you pray to God the Father […]
Questions: In my study I have come to realize a few things. One of them is that Paul, "called to be an apostle", never really knew Jesus. How then can he claim that "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you…" (1 Corinthians 11:23)? How can he formulate theologies that […]
Question: When one reads your materials you seem to claim(though not clearly) that the four gospels recorded in the New Testament are the only ever written. However, nowadays some reseach has proven the existence of other gospels for instance "the Gospel according to JUDEA". Do you have anything to say about this? Answer: Yes, […]
Question When God created the heaven and the earth the Bible says the seventh day God rested. But when one thinks we realise that "rest" is a characteristic of imperfection. Can we say instead that God took one day to relaxe? Is it a translation mistake? Answer: The word translated "rested" in Genesis 2:2,3 is the Hebrew word […]
Question: Would you say that Proverbs 25:17 applies in our one another relationships as Disciples? Justin; I would say that this proverb principally applies to our neighbor who is not necessarily our brother in the church, but in principle it could even apply to our relationship with other Christians. Of course, as with Proverbs in […]
Question: Is it permitted for a woman to stand in an assembly and talk even if it is for a testimony? Answer: In my opinion, yes it is acceptable for a female Christian to speak in a church assembly, and to give a testimony. The matter of interpreting 1 Timothy 2:11-15 and 1 Corinthians 14:33-36 […]
Question: God says no one can come to me unless I call him.please could explain me what exactly are the meaning and the implication of this sentence, because on the other hand when one reads the Bible it appears clear that those who continue to live a sinful life will perish.so how should one know that […]
Question: 1. I was looking a little at a book called "A History of the Jews" by Abram Leon Sachar. He seems to suggest that the Bible’s account of Solomon is incorrect, exaggerated, and biased. He says his genius was never of a moral or spiritual quality, but the Bible says otherwise. He also says […]
Integrity in Apologetics A presentation produced by John Lang for the 2008 International Apologetics Conference.
The following is the notes by Dr. Robert Kurka from his class on the Christian worldview and that of other world religions at the 2008 International Apologetics Conference. 2008 International Apologetics Conference Dr. Robert C. Kurka Chicago, IL Prof., Theology and Church in Culture June 6-8, 2008 Lincoln Christian Seminary […]
On Saturday June 7, 2008 a ground-breaking debate was held between Dr. Douglas Jacoby, Imam Shabir Ally and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. Below is a review of that debate with commentary by Dr. John Oakes Review of the Debate Judaism, Christianity, Islam: Which is the True Legacy of Abraham? Rabbi Shmuley Boteach: author, scholar, TV […]
Question: I have recently heard that many scholars believe 2 Peter is pseudepigraphical and was written around 100-150AD. Is there any evidence that shows that it was written around 64-65 AD which is another possible date that it was written? Answer: The date of writing of the New Testament books will always generate some controversy. We […]
Question: Would you tell us from a scientific and Christian point of view how old is the earth? Answer: I answer this question in detail in several places at the web site. You can pick up a copy of my book Is There a God? from www.ipibooks.com which has an entire chapter devoted to this […]
Question: I want to know from when or which nation the Muslim religion started. Is it from Ishmael son of Abraham? Answer; Islam as a religion was established by Muhammad, a member of the Arabic Quraish tribe from the West-Central part of the Arabian Peninsula in the region of present-day Mecca. Muhammad is a real person […]
Question: I am from India, a country with majority of Hindus. Hinduism is now proclaiming itself to be the ‘most glorious religion’. ‘Human Gods’,with ability to show miracles,are sprouting up in Hindu community. Many Indian Christians are attracted to Hinduism through such miracles. Have you done a comparative study of Hinduism & Christianity? How can […]
Question: What is the "heart" behind Leviticus 5:3? The reason I asked is because according to this verse, in the Old Testament anyone who touches anything that could make him unclean, even unwittingly, makes him guilty. Now, Jesus intentionally touched a leper (Matthew 8:1-4), yet remained guiltless (Hebrews 4:15). I assume the reason for this […]
Question: Where was Daniel when the trio were in fire? What is your view on the rapture, pretribulation, posttribulation or midtribulation? Answer: The Bible does not answer this question. In such a case, one is left to propose reasonable speculation. Such "reasonable speculation," is just that–speculation. Bottom line, we do not know. Let me share […]
Question: In the beginning, GOD created the heavens and earth. Why not Pluto and Mercury at the same time? Answer: First of all, when Genesis describes the creation of "the heavens and the earth" this is language to those in the ancient Near East to mean, essentially, when God created the universe. In other words, […]
Question: If adam and eve were white people,how did blacks originate? Answer: First of all, what possible reason is there to believe Adam and Eve were white? I know of no reason to assume this. More likely, they may have been the color of people as we find them in Mesopotamia today, which is "olive […]
Power Point: Science and the Bible
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