Author

Author "john-oakes"

wrote in General, Practical Christianity, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question:,Do you think that from the Bible one can infer some Church governance patters with hierarchy, roles, tasks? What should be the model of church governance? ,Answer:,I believe that one can infer a broad and general pattern for church leadership and organization in the New Testament. However, this is only a broad and general pattern. […]

Read More

wrote in General, Practical Christianity, Social Issues .

Question/Comment: I have a question about the word pharmakea which appears in the sin list in Galatians 5:19-21. Probably because of the problems I see personally with people taking pharmaceuticals. Especially psychological (which are mind altering) drugs. I don’t know of anyone who does well spiritually who take these medicines. I also believe that God […]

Read More

wrote in General, Practical Christianity .

Question: Are playing certain video games not fit for a disciple of Christ? I am specifically talking about violent video games that involve elements of murder, magic, good vs. evil, etc, all in a fictional fantasy story. Are there any biblical principles that one should consider before involving themselves in these fantasy type video games? […]

Read More

wrote in General, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Question: I noticed something interesting while contrasting the gospels of Mark and Luke the other day. The passages specifically were Mark 16:5-7 and Luke 24:4-7. On the surface these two passages appear to conflict in their stories. Mark tells that when they entered the sepulcher they saw a young man sitting inside clothed in white. […]

Read More

wrote in General, General Apologetics .

Question; Is the quality of the lives of believers sufficient evidence of the truth of Christianity? Answer: I do not know what you mean by “sufficient evidence.” Sufficient to whom? I know from experience that for some people, seeing the life of Jesus Christ lived out in individual followers of Jesus is sufficient to convince […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, Church History, General .

Question; Why did the Christian Church begin to use a single pastor, elder, or leader in the second century, as opposed to the original leadership model used by the first church where several leaders, pastors, or elders governed each church? Was this switch a prelude to the clerical system? It appears likely. My search for […]

Read More

wrote in General, Other Religions, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

I’m studying bible with a friend but my friend is adventist. Please send me the real message about the “sabbath” and the day to worship God, because my friend is convicted that the day is sunday.what can i do? Answer: My advice is that you avoid a big debate over the Sunday issue. Bottom line, […]

Read More

wrote in General, Philosophy, Science and the Bible, Social Issues .

Question: You have spoken about the 2nd law of theromdynamics and entropy. I understand this specifically applies to chemical reactions, but the principal that things move from a more ordered to a less ordered state seems to be the overriding nature of everything in the post-fallen world. Governments, societies, our bodys, everything we put our […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, General, Versions of the Bible .

Question: Has there been any scientific analysis on the Book of Enoch that will prove it is unbiblical? Answer: I am not an expert on the book of Enoch. I doubt science will have anything to offer on the book of Enoch. Science generally has little if anything to offer in analyzing literature. However, scholars […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, General, Versions of the Bible .

Question: Has there been any scientific analysis on the Book of Enoch that will prove it is unbiblical? Answer: I am not an expert on the book of Enoch. I doubt science will have anything to offer on the book of Enoch. Science generally has little if anything to offer in analyzing literature. However, scholars […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General .

Question: I recently discovered that the Greek word “pharmakeia” was used in Galatians 5:19, the main definition of which is “the use or the administering of drugs”. And yet the NIV translated it as “witchcraft”. What do you think could be the reason for that? Also, which Bible translation do you find to be the […]

Read More

wrote in The Existence of God .

  Note:  This interview of Paul Davies is taken from the web site http://www. salon.com/books/feature/2007/07/03/paul_davies/index.html?source=email There are some highly speculative ideas, but we thought the article was interesting enough to publish here. John Oakes We are meant to be here People are not the result of a cosmic accident, but of laws of the universe […]

Read More

wrote in Apologetics, Bible and Science, Creation .

Click on the link below to view this paper, as it is in adobe format. This is a paper submitted by John Lang for credit in an on-line course at teachmethebible.org.  It is so good I asked and was given permission to post it. {jdownload HGP_Apologetics[1].pdf} Implications of the Human Genome Project on Modern Apologetics […]

Read More

wrote in PowerPoints, The Existence of God .

  Biomimetic Tissue Engineering:  Scientists’ and Engineer’s Reliance on The Master Designer This Power Point presentation was created for the Apologetics Conference in Irvine, California at Concordia University.  To view of download the power point, scroll to the bottom of the document and click on the link. Tom Hedman, PhD Associate Research Professor Biomedical Engineering […]

Read More

wrote in Pain and Suffering, Philosophy, Theology, World View .

Editor’s Note:  Below is an outline for the talk given by Robert Kurka at our recent Apologetics Conference.  At the bottom is included an outline on a case study:  The Problem of Pain and Suffering.   International Apologetics Conference                                                             Dr. Robert C. Kurka Irvine, California                                                                                             Professor, Theology and Church in Culture June 22-24, […]

Read More

wrote in Pain and Suffering, Philosophy, Theology, World View .

Editor’s Note:  Below is an outline for the talk given by Robert Kurka at our recent Apologetics Conference.  At the bottom is included an outline on a case study:  The Problem of Pain and Suffering.   International Apologetics Conference, Irvine, California   June 22-24, 2007     Dr. Robert C. Kurka  Professor, Theology and Church in Culture        LincolnChristian Seminary Lincoln, […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, Church History, General, Reliability of the Bible, The Flood .

Question: There are two questions that have been troubling me. 1) The Ark – how could such a modest sized boat keep so many creatures alive for so long? 2) Why is the book of Enoch not part of the Bible. Surely if the apostles could quote from it it should carry some weight? Answer: […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Practical Christianity, Social Issues .

Question: I am curious about the Biblical explanation of homosexuals and omnisexuals as advanced by Paul in Romans chapter 1. Paul claims that homosexuality is a punishment for idolatry. However, homosexual behavior is exhibited in over 1500 species of animals with roughly the same percentages as human beings across the globe. If it caused by […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: Many theologians and teachers say that the Leviathan is a mythical sea creature yet you state within your book that the Bible never resorts to myth. I know that there is much picture language in the book of Job, but this has often troubled me. I would really love to hear your thoughts. Answer: […]

Read More

wrote in General, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question I think this a perfectly rational question, so please don’t think that I’m trying to be insincere. What are the afterlife experiences like of aborted fetuses, children who die very young or at childbirth, or people who die with mental retardation? I’ve discussed this with friends, and we cannot rationalize how these “people” would […]

Read More

wrote in Theology .

BIBLICAL ELDERSHIP:  QUALITIES OR QUALIFICATIONS?               ?The reason I left you in Cretewas that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders (presbuteros) in every town, as I directed you.? (Titus 1:5).   In this passage and others in the New Testament, God is providing a model to his church for church […]

Read More

wrote in Bible, Theology .

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 16:13 Samuel, oil, David, ??The Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.) […]

Read More

wrote in Apologetics, Philosophy, PowerPoints, World View .

Ethical Answers in an Unethical World  Power Point: What is Truth? World View Apologetics 7.49 Mb  What is Truth? Subtitle:  World View Apologetics   John 18:37-38    Jesus:  ?I came to testify to the truth.  Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.?   Pilate:  ?What is truth??   Now that is a good question.  […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, General, General Apologetics, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: My pastor preached a sermon suggesting that we should not believe that the Bible is without error. I happen to disagree with his assertion however, he said that the numbers in the book of Numbers do not add up and used this as proof of his belief. He did not go into detail on […]

Read More

wrote in Church History, General .

Question: I am interested in your perspective that you considerus part of the Church of Christ, not the ICOC. I wonder if they agree. I am personally confused about church relations especially with Kip McKean?s new movement and establishment of churches. Response:I am, by nature, but also by biblical conviction, a believer in unity wherever […]

Read More

wrote in General, Practical Christianity, Social Issues .

Question: Should Christians allow themselves to watch movies that have sinful activities such as sex scenes, cursing, violence, etc? Answer: There is no simple answer to this question. We need to look at Bible passages which give principles to answer such quesions. One helpful passage in in Psalms 102:3; “I will set before my eyes […]

Read More

wrote in Daniel, General, History, Reliability of the Bible .

Comment: 1) The Medes became Zoroastrian before the Persians 2)Daniel 6;9 has King Darius signing a decree that no prayer should be directed to anyone except the king. This would be unthinkable for a Zoroastrian and therefore the account cannot be historical. 3) The word for king is totally separate from the word for governor […]

Read More

wrote in Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Comment: Leaving all nitpicking on one side, my main objection to the historicity of Daniel is that the Persians and the Medes were devout Zoroastrians and as such did not even have idols. It would be totally unthinkable for them to even consider being worshipped as a god. Anyone living at the time of the […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General .

Question: What are Leviathan and Behemoth? I have books that say they are the hippo and crocodile, I have books that say they are dinosaurs and I have books that say they are mythical creatures. Answer: Leviathan and Behemoth are certainly not dinosaurs and they probably are not a hippo or a crocodile either. In […]

Read More

wrote in General, General Apologetics, The Flood .

Question: The NLT of Genesis 7:20 says the water was “standing more than 22ft above the highest peaks” What may I ask is ambiguous about that? You cannot be “agnostic” about the Word of God. It is perfectly clear in what sense it covered the mountains. The depth of the water matters as much as […]

Read More

wrote in General, Other Religions .

Question: Are you aware of the Church “Iglesia ni Cristo” or the Church of Christ? This Church believes that Jesus Christ is just a “mere man” with extraordinary power given to him by God the Father and that Felix Manalo the founder of this Church is the fulfillment in Rev.7:2. What can you say about […]

Read More