General – Page 13 – Evidence for Christianity

How do you explain the apparent contradiction between Matthew and Luke about the resurrection appearances and where the apostles were told to go?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Question: Can you help me with this supposed contradiction? https://infidels.org/library/modern/j_c_jackson/galilee-or-jerusalem.html [Editor’s note: As you will see below, this is a claim that there is a contradiction between the resurrection accounts in Luke/Acts and Matthew with regard to where and when the apostles went to Galilee and Jerusalem.] Answer The claim is that the post-resurrection accounts […]

What is the meaning of the talk about Libya and Ethiopia and the kings of the North in Daniel 11:43?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Daniel, General, Q & A .

Question: I have a question concerning Daniel 11:43 where it talks about Libya and Ethiopia being at the northern kingdom leaders steps, do you have a clue what that means? Answer: This question is dealt with in my book, Daniel, Prophet to the Nations (www.ipibooks.com). You definitely should get a copy! But… I better answer […]

Is the story of Jesus created from others who claimed to be the Messiah, such as Simon and Judah?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

Question: I recently stumbled upon a theory that the story of Jesus as the Messiah is borrowed from people before him who also claimed to be the Messiah. Two claimants in particular were mentioned. The first one is called Simon, some aspects of his life are extremely similar to those of Christ. The second one […]

How did the priesthood in Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy come about?

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

Question: How did the priesthood of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy come to be? Were there priests in the early churche from the 1st century, which Jesus is said to have instituted? Answer: As I am sure you are aware, the Jews had priests. They were a group of Jews set apart from their brothers […]

In an article you say that “original sin” is false doctrine, but was there not an original sin–that of Adam and Eve?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, General, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: In reviewing one of your Q/A online I saw you refer to “original sin” as a false doctrine? What is your basis for this statement? Are you meaning that you don’t believe that sin originated with Adam and Eve? Do you believe that creation was perfect before Adams sin–that mankind did not, sin creating […]

If the trinity is true, then why did God not reveal this in the Old Testament?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: Why God did not reveal complete details of the Trinity to his prophets? Why did Jesus not give a full discourse about it? Answer: This is a good question, but I am afraid I cannot answer the question with certainty. God does not tell us why he reveals certain things to us at certain […]

Are the excavations of Tyre that of the ancient city from biblical times. I thought it was a sunken city.

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Archaeology and the Bible, General, History, Q & A .

Question: I have a question about the excavation of Tyre. Are these excavations really the city of Tyre. How do they know this if it is a sunken city? Alexander: I have been to the modern city of Tyre myself. I have also walked the ruins of Tyre–or more accurately the Tyre of the Roman […]

I am on a journey toward Christianity, but can you comment for me on pantheism–why it is or is not true?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Anthropology, General, Other Religions, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: Hi, you’ve helped so much on my journey to Christianity. There is just one thing holding me up: pantheism. I just want to know what your thoughts are on the idea that everything/everyone is ultimately one essence and everything we see in the world, including our personhoods, are just illusionary–that once we die we […]

Is Covid-19 because of God’s anger toward humans?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

[Editor’s note: As you can guess, I am getting a lot of questions about the Covid-19 outbreak. Here is one and my attempt at an answer. I want to urge believers everywhere to not fear, but to set a good example of trying to prevent the spread of this disease by following all guidelines from […]

How to you deal with the fact that so-called Saint Peter was a cruel murderer?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Archaeology and the Bible, Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, Church History, General, Other Religions, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

[Editor’s note: The answers from this Hindu gentleman are interspersed with the questions] Questions and Answers: Acts 5: 1-11 show that the so-called Saint Peter was a cruel murderer who murdered in cold blood both, Annanias & his wife Sapphira. I am sure Peter would be horrified to be falsely accused of murder. This is terrible false […]

How do you explain the textual variant in Mark 1:41 (Jesus felt indignation vs. Jesus felt compassion)?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Question: How do you explain the background to the textual variant in Mark 1:41 (whether Jesus felt anger or compassion)? It seems that it is very hard to resolve this variant. We can detect and resolve many textual variants easily…but when it comes to Mark 1:41 how do you consider this variant and explain its […]

When Jesus talked about the fall of Jerusalem, did he also warn the Jews? Is there evidence of the church fleeing to the mountains?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Q & A .

Question: When Jesus said the the Church of Jerusalem will fall, did he advise the Jews about the fall as well, or was it a prophecy and is there evidence of the church fleeing to the mountains? Answer: Actually, it was not the church in Jerusalem which fell in AD 70. It was the Jewish […]

Christians ought to still meet together in groups despite Covid-19 because this is commanded by God in Hebrews 10:25. On line is not a biblical meeting. Your thoughts?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Q & A, Uncategorized .

Question: I have done a Bible study about the COVID 19 Virus and I wanted to get your thoughts on it. I was recently asked if I think that “meeting on line” would satisfy the command from when God said “Do not give up meeting together as some are in the habitat of doing but […]

According to Rabbi Singer there is a contradiction between John which says Nicodemus added spices when Jesus was laid in the tomb and Luke/Matthew which says women did this two days later. Response?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Question: Why would the women go back to the tomb to spice the body after it was already in the cave? The spices usually were used to mask the smell of the corpse during the burial. Rabbi Tovias Singer says this verse is fake and not true. He adds that Nicodemus was created by John […]

A Rabbi claims on youtube that Psalms 22:16 (they have pierced my hands and feet) actually is a lion surrounded by dogs with paws upraised. Your response?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, Church History, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

Question: Rabbi Dtovia Singer has a video on youtube saying the church is lying about christology. In this video he says when Isaiah talks about Jesus’ peirced hands it is actually spun by Origen and other church fathers. The Rabbi claims the verse says that King David is like a lion surrounded by dogs with […]

Do history and archaeology confirm the historical accounts in Daniel?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Archaeology and the Bible, Daniel, General, History, Q & A .

Question: Many thanks for your kind replies to my recent questions. They are helpful. Ancient history books of Iran & Iraq confirm incidents such as the dream of Nebuchadnezer, Daniel’s interpreteion of it, God saving Daniel & his friends from fire and the mouths of lions. They also confirm both Nebuchdnezer accepting Jehovah/God is real […]

Who is the “man of lawlessness” in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12? Is it the Roman papacy as I have read?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, Daniel, End Times, General, Q & A .

Question: First I’d like to thank you for your teaching and answers on the Evidence for Christianity website. You helped me in understanding some parts of the scriptures that troubled me. I have had paranoid schizophrenia for several years and I can easily get fearful of the future. I can feel that I could be […]

Could it be that “fine tuning” which is used as evidence for God could be the result of some still-unknown “deeper” laws that will explain it?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Creation, General, Q & A, Science and the Bible .

Question: I have a few theological/scientific questions that I hope you will answer. I have seen fine tuning used as evidence toward God/creation. I have heard that this might not be reliable because fine tuning will eventually be explained by other “deeper” laws that show fine tuning isn’t actually that unique and could be something […]

Bart Ehrman says that the tomb of Jesus is lost. Does that matter? He also says that the Exodus is a myth. Is that true?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Archaeology and the Bible, General, History, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: Dear Sir, Please help! I have two questions: 1. Some like Bart D. Ehrman don’t believe in the empty tomb. Ehrman posted on the internet google page stating that the tomb of Jesus Christ was lost. Is the tomb of Jesus Christ actually lost and not found by his disciples or by other people? […]

How can I justify the scientific with the biblical picture of the origin of hominids?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Anthropology, Bible Interpretation, Creation, General, Q & A, Science and the Bible, Supernatural, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: I would be very grateful for your advice, opinion or any information concerning the matter of the origin of hominids as modern anthropology sees it in contrast to the Biblical story. I decided to ask for your help because I have been translating your book From Shadow to Reality for Moscow Church of Christ […]

If we say something in our mind, but do not speak that thought, are accountable for that thought before God?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: I am a doctor and a Hindu by birth, but also a lover of all religions. I have been very fond of the Bible in particular since childhood. My question to you is this, in the Bible, in matters of vows, promises and covenants, at all places it is mentioned about words coming out […]

You say that the Council of Jamnia set the Hebrew canon, but scholars all agree that this supposed council did not even happen.

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Apocrypha, Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: In some posts concerning Enoch, you have stated that determining the canon of the Old Testament belongs to the Jews. How is this possible if the Jews themselves had no Old Testament canon? The Sadducees, Pharisees, and Greek Jews all had different canons. I predict that you will appeal to the Council of Jamnia, […]

How do we relate the Law of Moses with Christianity? How might “uncleanness” in Leviticus relate to the idea of sin in the New Testament? (A great question, by the way!!)

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: Hello. I want to ask some question if you don’t mind. 1. How do we relate the Law of Moses with the Christianity nowadays? I’m somewhat confused because some sources I heard said that breaking the Moses Law does not mean you sin. So how do we consider this Law of Moses Only as […]

As a Theistic Evolutionist, do you believe that viruses, bacteria and parasites are the result of the “Fall” or are they the result of an evolutionary process?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Creation, General, Q & A, Science and the Bible .

Question: As a Theistic Evolutionist do you believe that viruses,bacteria and parasites are the result of the fall of man or are they the result of the evolutionary process? Answer: I am guessing this question is motivated at least in part by the emergence of Covid-19. There is plenty of evidence in the geological record […]

Who is Melchizedek? What is his significance in the Bible?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Uncategorized .

Question: Hi Dr. John. I want to have a better understanding about Melchizedek and the relevance of him to Jesus. Based on the text found in Gen 14:18 and Hebrews 7. What is his relevance to Jesus Christ? Thank you! Answer: Good to hear from you. It just so happens that I just published a […]

Could the rock formations near the Dead Sea be the source of the story of Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt?

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

Question: My question regards the story of Lot’s wife. I had a discussion a week ago with an atheist who told me that the Bible is a book of legends and a good proof for that is the story of the wife of Lot who was turned into a pillar of salt. He referred to […]

The Babylonian Talmud mentions Yeshu, but I heard that this means a person who practices magic, and is therefore not talking about Jesus. Your thoughts?

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

Question: I remember in your Evidence for Jesus articles that there was a Jewish source which talked about the fact that Yeshu was be executed. I looked up what Yeshu means on Wikipedia and it means Jesus but people say that Yeshu refers to people who practice magic or deal with sorcery. My question is […]

Is there any evidence other than the Bible that shows that the twelve apostles existed?

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

Question: Is there any evidence other than the Bible that show that the 12 disciples existed? Answer: Yes, there is plenty of evidence that the twelve disciples were real people. In fact, no one who knows the evidence can seriously entertain the thought that these men were not real people. We have evidence from both […]

Is there evidence for the crossing of the Red Sea by the Jews under Moses?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Archaeology and the Bible, General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: Is there evidence for the Red Sea crossing by the Jews under Moses? Answer; The answer is no. No physical evidence has been found to support the story in Exodus of the crossing of the Red Sea. But this is only what we would expect. What could we possibly find that would prove a […]

How can I defend to materialists the biblical idea that the shedding of blood can cleanse sins? To them it appears superstition or nonsense.

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: How can I defend my faith in Jesus when the question arises as follows: How can a physical shedding of blood cleanse the sins and iniquities of a person? Is it not like a superstition and even nonsensical? How can I defend the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ to the materialists? Answer: This […]

Did the number 666 in Revelation come from another culture or religion?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, End Times, General, Q & A .

Question: I have a question concerning “the number of the Beast” which is 666. Does 666 come from somewhere where the author could have copied it in Revelations and used it as the number. To put it simply did it come from any ancient civilization? Answer: The answer is no. The number 666 was chosen […]

Why do Western Christians not accept the Book of Enoch in their canon? Is it because it is from Africa?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Apocrypha, General, Q & A .

[Editor’s note: This person is asking about the book of Enoch and its discovery in the eighteenth century] Question: Before James Bruce stole the book in Ethiopia, Western world Christians did not know the book [of Enoch] existed, so why after studying the book, did they say the book is false or non canonical? Was […]

Where did Jesus live and what did he do between the ages of 12 and 30?

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

Question: What did Jesus do between the ages of 12 and 30? Where did he live? Did he travel? What is the evidence (not belief and conjecture) that forms the basis of your assertions in this regard? Thank you. Answer: My answer is that I do not know what Jesus did or even where he […]

What does it mean when Paul says we will judge angels? (1 Cor 6:3)

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, End Times, General, Q & A .

Question: What does it mean in 1 Corinthians 6:3 when it says, “Don’t you know that we will judge the angels?” Thanks. Answer; I get two things from this passage. 1. The angels will go through some sort of judgment at the end time. 2. We (ie faithful disciples or some subset of the faithful […]

Did Evil-Merodach rule Babylon before Belshazar (a question related to Daniel 5)

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Daniel, General, Q & A .

Question: I have a question on the dates when the kings of Babylon ruled. To be more specific I am referring to Nebuchadnezzar’s sons Belshazzar and Evil-Merodach. So my question is did Evil-Merodach rule Babylon before Belshazzar? Answer; Yes, Evil-Merodach ruled before Belshazzar. Evil-Merodach was legitimate heir of Nebuchadnezzar. Nabonidus had him assasinated after only […]

If the Ussher chronology is correct, and Adam was created in 4004 BC, then how can we explain Egyptian chronology?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Archaeology and the Bible, Bible Interpretation, General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: What is your comment on the Ussher chronology? He concluded that Adam was created in 4004 BC, and the flood covered the Earth 2348 BC, but this is incompatible with what we know about Egyptian history. The first king of Egypt, Menes died in 3150 BC (before the flood by 800 years!!!!) Can the […]

What does it mean when the Bible says that God “knows good and evil.”

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, Creation, General, Q & A .

Question: Gen 3:22 …the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil… It is confusing to me. How does God ‘know good & evil’? Answer; Let me be honest. I am not EXACTLY sure what the Lord meant when he described himself as “knowing good and evil.” Let me give you […]

What is the “mark of Cain” in Genesis 4? Is it literal or figurative?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Creation, General, Q & A .

Question: In your understanding of the scriptures, what is the mark of Cain as described in Genesis 4? Jude 1:11 talks about the “way of Cain” which could indicate a possibility of it being a figurative mark…but maybe not? Answer: The answer is that I do not know what the mark of Cain is. Genesis […]

If it is “obvious” that the universe was created, then why are so many scientists atheists?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Creation, General, Q & A, Science and the Bible .

Question: I have a question I hope you can help me with. It’s probably one you’ve answered before but I didn’t see any like it posted on your site. With so many great scientists not believing in God it sometimes makes me doubt my faith. I read somewhere it’s 30/70 for belief/non belief for scientists. […]

If Jannes and Jambres are not in the Old Testament, how did Paul know their names in 2 Tim 3:8?

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

Question: 2 Timothy 3:8 says : “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” How did Paul know the names of Jannes and Jambres while we can’t find them even in the Old Testament? Answer; A good question. Jannes and Jambres […]

Should William Marrion Branham be taken seriously as an end-time prophet as his followers claim?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in End Times, General, Other Religions, Q & A .

Question: William Marrion Branham is considered by some to be an end-time prophet. They say that in order to be taken up by Jesus, every Christian must believe his end-time message. What do you think about ? Answer; I have come across the Branhamites in both West Africa and in Central Africa, especially the two […]

If John was an “unschooled” man, then how could he write the book of John in Greek?

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

Question: How do I explain to someone who doesn’t believe in the inspiration of the gospels, how it is that John was able to write his gospel in Greek even though he was called “unschooled” Acts 4:13? “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they […]

What is the meaning of the parable of the two sons (Matthew 21:28)

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Q & A .

Question: I’ve been looking into commentaries regarding Matthew 21:28, the parable of the two sons. One commentary used this parable to explain how it does not necessarily matter the name an individual worships, as long as they are worshiping, connecting, and acting on the principles and power of universal love. As Christians, we happen to […]

Is human nature basically good or basically evil?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: Is human nature good or evil? For the majority of my life, I have been told humans are born evil. Evil humanity must choose God so they will completely alter the core of their being to ‘good’. Humanity then lives the rest of their lives fighting the true self so God can continue to […]

How Did Luke get his historical information? Did he interview eye-witnesses?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: Please explain to me the introduction of Luke’s account? 1. Is Luke stating or implying that he checked facts with those first eye-witnesses to the Gospel and the words of Jesus Christ of Nazareth? 2. Or, was Luke just stating that those eye-witnesses just left accounts he referenced, like the Gospel/documents? 3. Did […]

The Old Testament tells us to worship only one God. Why, then, do we worship Jesus?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: The ten Commandment speaks about worshiping only one God – “Almighty God. ” Also, in the Old Testament the Almighty God did not command us to worship his son Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The Almighty God did not say to worship any another god and the Almighty God did not say to worship my […]

My Evolution professor publicly ridicules believers, saying we believe in the “flying spaghetti monster.” Should I confront his behavior in class?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Practical Christianity, Q & A .

Question: This is my last semester in college and one the classes I’m taking is “Evolution and Systematics”. My professor is an outspoken atheist ( I had anticipated this) and regularly derides any belief in God ( sometimes adding foul language into the mix). During the first day of class, he asked us to “raise […]

Is it acceptable for a Christian to swear in court on the Bible?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Practical Christianity, Q & A .

Question: Should Christian Swear On Bible In Court? Answer: I cannot think of any biblical reason that a Christian cannot swear on the Bible if asked to in court. Now, it is true that Jesus said in Matthew 5:33-37 that we should not swear at all. However, we need to consider the context. In the […]

Some say that good research will tell us that Jesus did not exist. What is your response to this claim?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: I have three questions: 1. It is said by some who do a lot of research that Jesus Christ of Nazareth did not exist and all stories about Jesus Christ of Nazareth were retellings of older pagan myths by relatively well educated Greek-speaking (and writing) Christians during the 2nd half of the first century. […]

Is human nature good or evil? Are humans basically good?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Philosophy, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: Is human nature good or evil? For the majority of my life, I have been told humans are born evil. Evil humanity must choose God so they will completely alter the core of their being to ‘good’. Humanity then lives the rest of their lives fighting the true self so God can continue to […]