Question: It is said by some on youtube that there are over 10 significant major changes in the Bible and that the Bible has become corrupted over time. If it is true and that there are plenty of changes in the Bible, does it affect the core values belief of our Christianity like the resurrection […]
Dr. John Oakes gave a series of 15 sermons from the Gospel of John for the Bakersfield Church of Christ in Nov-Feb, 2020/21. Notes, power point and audio are attached. John Whole Series Notes John Whole Series PPT John I Woman in Adultery audio John II Meet Jesus Audio ...
Question: If Jesus of Nazareth indeed did miracles, healed the sick and raised many dead people, was crucified and was resurrected, then why don’t we have documents by non-Christian authors (Romans or Greeks or others) within His lifetime or within the first century. Many prominent leaders, kings, historians will surely have heard about such unique […]
Dr. John Oakes gave a class on Modernism and Postmodernism for the Dacca Church of Christ in Bangaladesh Saturday 10/24/2020. The class is not necessarily a condemnation of either modernism or postmodernism, but discusses the strengths and weaknesses of both, as well as where they fall short of being helpful to a Christian worldview. Here […]
Dr. John Oakes gave a four-part eight-hour class on the post-exile prophets in Bakersfield September, 2020 Repent, Return, Restore, Rebuild Audio I Repent, Return II Audio Repent Return Restore Rebuild III Repent Return Restore Rebuild IV Repent Return Restore Rebuild notes Repent Return Restore Rebuild PPT ...
John Oakes did a series of midweeks on the reliability of the Bible in Bakersfield, summer, 2020 Reliability of Bible Manuscripts Reliability History Archaeology and Bible ...
Dr. John Oakes is teaching a 12-hour class on Church History for campus interns in Bakersfield, California 7/24-25/2020. Notes, power point and audio are available here: Church History PPT church history notes Part I Church History Notes II Ch Hist Audio 1 Ch Hist Audio 2 Ch Hist Audio 3 Ch Hist Audio 4 […]
[Editor’s note: the one asking this question did some follow-up research, finding his own really useful additional information on what Nebuchadnezzar did to fulfill the prophecies in Ezekiel and Jeremiah. His additional information is at the end of my original response.] Question: I want to ask some things relating to some answers you’ve given on […]
Question: When Jesus said to Thomas “blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed” what does he mean? Does he mean that we should have a blind faith without looking for facts? Today we search for answers regarding the evidences of Bible’s reliability, we find solutions for apparent Biblical contradictions, we search for […]
Question: If we are 100 percent sure that the 4 gospels are written by authors whom we attribute them to, why don’t they identify themselves in the gospels? Let’s exclude 2 and 3rd gospels (Mark and Luke) because they were not eyewitnesses, but let’s take 1st and last gospel (Matthew and John) if these gospels […]
Question: In Matthew 11:25-27 (Luke 10:21-22) Jesus says, “I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned…this is what you were please to do…no one knows the father except the son and those to whom the son chooses to reveal him…come to me all…” […]
Question: I am reaching out to you today to ask a question. Sometimes it is easier to meditate on God’s Word intellectually but harder to connect to God through His Word emotionally or in a deeper level that produces transformation, which then leads to aligning myself to God. How do you gain the knowledge about […]
Question: Would you be able to explain the words Jesus spoke in his monologues to himself and with the devil (being tempted in Matthew and Luke 4… etc)? If He were alone at those times, how were the Gospel writers able to report what transpired ‘accurately’ – since no one except Jesus could be there […]
Dr. John Oakes’ new book In Christ has just been published by Illumination Publishers. It is available at www.ipibooks.com The book is about the blessings that come with life in Christ. A few of the chapters are: You Were Outside of Christ You Came Into Christ You Have Been Reconciled With Christ You Are a […]
Dr. John Oakes gave a series of lessons for the International Churches of Christ in Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya in March 13-20, 2020. Audio for the lessons in both English and Bahasa is attached. Hebrews 11 Bahasa Audio Hebrews Bahasa I Hebrews Bahasa II In Christ Bahasa Audio Holy Spirit Bahasa...
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 […]
Question: Recently I have heard from a Jew that Jesus was born of a Roman soldier and Mary. But I don’t no where he got this from nor do I know anything that says otherwise. So, does this claim have any backing or is this just a myth? Answer; This meme has floated around the […]
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 […]
Dr. John Oakes gave a series of six sermons from the Book of Ezekiel Fall, 2019 in Bakersfield. Audio, PPT and notes are included. Ezekiel I God Commisions a Prophet Ezekiel II God’s Watchman Ezekiel III God’s Justice Ezekiel IV God Calls a Remnant Ezekiel V God Saves a Remnant Ezekiel VI Gog […]
Dr. John Oakes gave a series of seven sermons from his new book “In Christ” in Bakersfield Fall, 2020. Recordings, PPT and notes are here. In Christ Part I In Christ Part II In Christ III In Christ Part IV In Christ V In Christ Part VI In Christ VII In Christ...
We want to invite you to our first annual teaching ministry conference. It will be Friday and Saturday, March 6-7, 2020 at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. This conference is for anyone who is now doing the work of a teacher or anyone who aspires to be a teacher in the […]
Dr. John Oakes is doing a very brief teaching tour in Mexico, specifically in Tlaxcala and Puebla. These two cities are part of old Mexico. Tlaxcala is the location of the first Catholic diocese in Mexico and is the route through which Cortex conquered Tenochtictan/Mexico City. Heb 11 Living by Faith Tlaxcala Viviendo por la […]
Question: Which of the Jewish biblical customs that are still binding on Christians today? Answer: This goes down as my easiest question this week. None. Period. Not one. We are not subject to the Law of Moses. Jesus fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17) so that we are not obligated to the Law of Moses. Jesus put […]
Question: Why do people use the first eleven chapters of Genesis for data on creation even tough it is one big poem pointing to our amazing creator? Answer: Probably the best way to get an answer to your question is to ask the people who do this. They are in a position to tell you […]
Dr. John Oakes is teaching a 16 hour class together with Glenn Giles for the Los Angeles School of Ministry and Mission 9/13-14/2019. Because I am sharing the class with Glenn, this material does not cover the entire book. The notes, however, do cover the entire book. Old Testament Allusions and Foreshadows of Revelation […]
Question: A Jewish Rabbi said that the Hebrew Tanakh (Tanach) and the Christian Old Testament are quite different . It seems Tanakh is not an Old Testament. More so, he said that Catholic Church misinterpreted several important verses (over and over) of the Old Testament to suits New Testament claims in order to make it fit […]
Dr. John Oakes is teaching a twelve hour class on Christian evidence specifically for a group of campus ministry interns in Fresno, California July 11-12. Power Point presentations and audio will be uploaded from the class.
Question: How do we know that the Bible consists of real-life events and is not just a story put together by some bloke in the first century using characters based off people around that time. For example we do not know that Jesus actually said any of the words that he is recorded as saying […]
Question: Is Zechariah 13:7 talking about the Messiah or is it about the false shepherd whom God strikes in Zechariah 11:17 or perhaps the false prophet in Zechariah 13: 1-6? Answer: The shepherd of Zechariah 13:7 is the Messiah. I know this for sure because in Matthew 26:31 the inspired gospel writer Matthew tells us […]
Question: I have three questions: 1- I have searched and found that there is division between scholars about dating the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. Although some believe that they were written before 62 AD because there is no mention of Paul’s death or destruction of Jerusalem, most scholars believe that they […]
John Oakes taught a four-day thirty hour class on Church History for the Los Angeles School of Mission and Ministry. This is a lot of material!!! Church History audio 1 Church History Audio 2 Church History Audio 3 Church History Audio 4 Church History Audio 5 Church History Audio 6 Church History Audio 7 Church...
Dr, John Oakes taught a series of lessons for the Pilgrim Valley Church of Christ in Central Massachussetts March, 2019 God and Science UMass Christianity and Postmodernism Living by Faith Heb 11 Mass Problem of Pain and Suffering
Question: Jehovah’s Witnesses state that Constantine made the Bible pagan, Hence their New World Translation. Do you have any evidence against this as nobody yet has been able to provide me something that backs up their claim. Thanks very much. Answer: This claim is so blatantly unfounded that for anyone to make the it they […]
Dr. John Oakes gave a sermon for the Bakersfield Church of Christ 12/08/2018 on Hebrews 11. Power Point and audio are attached. Living by Faith Audio HebrewsLivingbyFaith
Dr. John Oakes gave a sermon on finding Jesus in the Old Tesatment in Temecula, California on 10/14/18. Notes, PPT and audio are included. Shadow to Reality Notes FSTR PPT FSTR Temecula Audio
Question: Is PSALM 14 7 ” someone out of zion ” or “salvation out of zion” Answer: The Hebrew word in question here is yeshua. It is the word translated as salvation in most Bibles, which is the word equivalent of the names Joshua and Jesus, both of which are yeshua in Hebrew. The word Jesus means salvation. […]
Question: In Leviticus God tells the Jews not to eat winged insects which fly. Why, then, did John the Baptist eat unclean locusts and honey in the desert? Answer: About locusts being clean, Leviticus 11:20-23 addresses this issue. This passage declares all flying insects as unclean with the exception of those which walk and hop […]
Question: Is the Hebrew word “Lord” really a pagan title? I have come across teachings in books that claim to reveal the truth about Christianity’s pagan roots. Of course most of these sources claim to be Christian but they call themselves Messianic. I really think some of the things they teach are true but they […]
Question: In Colossians 4:16,Paul asks them to read a letter he wrote to the Laodiceans. Is this book available anywhere or is it permanently lost? Answer: That is one of the easier questions I have gotten. The answer is that this letter is lost. It is possible, but very unlikely, that this letter will surface. […]
Dr. John Oakes gave a sermon in San Diego on 3/25/28 on Philippians 3. The Title is Our Confidence in Christ. Philippians 3 Notes Philippians 3 PPT Philippians 3 Audio
Question: Shabir Ally frequently uses the ‘number miracles’ in the Quran to prove that it is the word of God. Here are 2 clips which shows what he’s trying to claim: 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEmCZ968PQI 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qunUypvBQ4 How would you respond to this claim? Answer; Actually, I have met Shabir Ali personally. We arranged a debate between […]
Dr. John Oakes is teaching for the Salt Lake Christian Church at the University of Utah. God and Science SLC Science and God PPT From Shadow to Reality SLC1 From Shadow to Reality SLC 2 From Shadow to Reality SLC 3 From Shadow to Reality SLC 4 From Shadow to Reality PPT Living by […]
Dr. Jennifer Konzen taught a class on the part professional counseling plays in the life of Christians. Christian Counselor 1 Christian Counselor 2 Christian Counselor 3 Christian Counselor 4 Christian Counselor 5 Christian Counselor 6 Christian Counselor 7 Christian Counselor 8 Christian Counselor 9...
Question: How can I understand the meaning when the Lord’s Prayer says- lead us not into temptation. This is confusing to me because of what James 1:13-15 suggests, which is that God does not tempt us. The Lord’s prayer seems to clearly say Jesus is telling us to ask God, “Please don’t lead us into […]
Question: Today I came across a difficult passage of 1Timothy 2:11 about how a woman should learn in quietness and that Paul doesn’t permit women to exercise authority over men. He further argued that this is because of how Eve first fell into temptation and not Adam and that Adam was formed first. The passage […]
The following is an essay by Dr. John Oakes. It is a reflection on the Christian Reformation in light its 500th Anniversary. A Reflection on the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation There is much interest in the Christian world on the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Even in mostly-atheist Germany, awareness of the […]
Question: I read your book Daniel: A Prophet to the Nations (editor’s note: available at www.ipibooks.com) and enjoyed it very much. I was going over my notes from it and got to the part where you talked about the prophesies in Daniel about Antiochus IV and how he was going to desecrate the temple and […]
John Oakes taught a class on Walking in the Light for the singles ministry in San Diego on 5/9/17. In the lesson he is attempting to provide a nuanced definition of walking in the light and the importance of being open with one another, with oneself and with God. Notes are posted here for those […]
Questions: If the Passover of the New Covenant (Jesus flesh and blood) is the only way to receive forgiveness of sins, then why did the Council of Nicaea remove this important teaching in AD 325? If the Passover of the New Covenant (Jesus flesh and blood) is the only way to receive forgiveness of sins, then […]
Question: I have a question for you. In the book of Ezra there are several decrees to rebuild Jerusalem. You count 490 years from Ezra 7, why not Ezra 1? [Editor’s Note: This is significant because in my book Daniel, Prophet to the Nations, I use Artaxerxe’s decree of 458 BC, combined with the 490 […]
