Church History

Can you respond to an article by R. G. Price at rationalevolution.net in which he claims that Jesus was a fictional creation of the writer of Mark?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, Church History, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Reliability of the Bible, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

[Editor’s Note: I recently answered a question about R. G. Price but, not knowing his middle name, thought the question was about a different critic of Christianity named Robert Price. Interestingly, the positions of the Robert Price and of R. G. Price are actually fairly similar. Nevertheless, I am a bit embarrassed and apologize […]

How do I respond to Muslims who claim the Bible is corrupt based on the textual issues of Mark 16:9-20, John 8:1-11 and I John 5:7-8?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, Church History, General, Other Religions .

Question: I have a question regarding the disputed texts in the Bible i.e. the Adultery Pericope, the extended ending of Mark 16 and the Comma Johanneum. I’ve encountered some Muslims who try using these disputed texts in the Bible to prove that the Bible has been corrupted. While I’m aware that there is overwhelming consensus […]

Are critics reasonable to criticize the reliability of the gospels because they were written so long after Jesus died?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, Church History, General, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: Do critics have a case for the allegation that since Jesus’ life and events were recorded way after his actual death that they cannot truly reflect his image and deeds during his life? Are there any other examples of historical texts that were recorded 20 to 40 years after the fact? Is the reason […]

Do 1 Cor 12:28 and Eph 4:11-12 imply that the church should be led by apostles only? How do these passages apply today?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, Church History, General, Practical Christianity, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: Does 1 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11-12 imply that the church should be led by apostles only? What bearing do these scriptures have on the church today and it’s leadership? Answer: To be honest, I do not see where you could get the idea that the church should be led by apostles only from […]

Is there a Christian Sabbath and what is the day Christians should worship?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, Church History, General, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: My son asked me a question which I didn’t really know how to answer. Is the Sabbath the day we are to go to church and worship together? Or is the Sabbath the day we rest? One of his co-workers told him that Saturday is the day we are supposed to go to church […]

Is there any historical evidence that Paul was a real person?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, General, History, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: Is there historical evidence that the apostle Paul was a real person? Posted on May 12, 2013 by John Oakes wrote in Church History, General, Questions and Answers, Reliability of the Bible. You gave no evidence for Paul being a real person. I’ve searched and have yet to find any historical information outside of […]

What does the Bible teach about the divine right of kings?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, Church History, General, Practical Christianity, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: Why does the church follow the doctrine of the divine right of kings, in this country (USA) ? The founding fathers established a government based on limited government and a free market economy. Did the first century church believe in no king but king Jesus ? [editor’s note: This question included a […]

Celsus claimed that Mary was impregnated by a soldier named Pathera. Comment?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, General, History, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: In the works of Celsus recorded by Origen, Celsus tells of a Jew he obtained certain information from concerning the possibility that Mary was impregnated by a solider named Panthera. In addition the Talmud records an individual named Jesus ben Pandera or Pandira. Does this affirm that the Jews knew who Jesus’ biological father […]

Might Dec. 25th be the actual birthday of Jesus?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, General .

Question: A religious friend of mine shared this with me. Basically a “theologian” friend of hers wrote it showing “support” for Jesus actually being born on December 25th. “Why do we celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th? Dec. 25 was chosen because the 25th of the 12th month (Chislev) is the first day of […]

Does the account of the Last Supper as a Passover meal indicate a biblical error and historical unreliability?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Prefigures and Foreshadows, Reliability of the Bible, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Question: Does the account of the Last Supper as a Passover meal indicate biblical errors and historical unreliability? 1. Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, and Luke 22:7-38 call the Last Supper a Passover Meal as described in Deuteronomy 16:5-6, occurring on Thursday Nisan 14, and that Jesus was crucified on Friday and resurrected on Sunday.2. John 13:1 […]

Is Bart Ehrman right that the evidence for the martyrdom of the apostles is not strong?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, General, History, Q & A .

Question: Hi Dr. Oakes. I have a question about apostle martyrdom. It has been asserted by people like Bart Ehrman that the evidence for the martyrdom of the apostles is not very strong. I hope this is not true. For which apostles do we have the best evidence that they were martyred, and what are […]