THE CURIOUS BELIEVERS

  There are stories in the Bible that are not easy to read. Some passages are so difficult that even respected scholars and theologians struggle to make sense of them. One of these is the story of the vow made by Jephthah (Judges 11:30–40).  This is about a judge who made a vow to God that if he were given victory in battle, he would offer as a sacrifice to the Lord whatever came out of his house to meet him upon his return (vv. 30–31). The good news is—he won the battle (vv. 32–33). The bad news is—it was his only daughter who came out to welcome him (vv. 34–35).  Did he really sacrifice his own daughter to the Lord?  Did God approve of what he did?  Today, let’s explore one of the most curious stories in the Bible.  A LIVING SACRIFICE? Before we talk about how exactly Jephthah’s daughter was offered, we need to first take note that he likely had a person in mind when he made the vow. It’s highly unlikely that a livestock animal, like a sheep, would come...

  How should the Bible be interpreted? Literally or figuratively? The answer is both. When the writing is literal, it should be interpreted literally. When it's figurative, then the meaning should also be taken figuratively. Our goal as readers is always to grasp what the writer originally intended to say. The process of interpretation can sometimes be challenging because the authors often use figures of speech that are unfamiliar to us as modern readers. If we can recognize what kind of figure of speech is being used, it becomes easier for us to understand the passages. Below are some of the commonly used figures of speech in the Bible: 1. SIMILE This involves a formal comparison because it uses "like" or "as." Usually, the images used for comparison are familiar objects in biblical settings. These are easy to recognize, as in the following examples: "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." (...

Since then, Christ has remained the most controversial figure in history. Even when He was still on earth, people already had many different opinions about Him (Matt. 16:13–14). Just imagine—He was physically present, yet fake news about His identity was already spreading. How much more now that He has returned to heaven? Looking at history, so many misconceptions have emerged and misled many people. Today, we’re going to talk about Adoptionism—the idea that Christ was merely adopted by God and only became the Son of God. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 For many modern scholars, Monarchianism (from monarchia , meaning “one rule”) refers to certain beliefs from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD that emphasized that there is only one ruling God, even in light of the Trinity. One heresy that came out of this view is called Dynamic Monarchianism , which claimed that God’s power (Greek: dynamis ) was merely given to Jesus—making Him divine only because of that power. This belief was influenced by earlier...

  For young boys here in our country, circumcision is a big deal. It’s not just for hygiene—it’s to avoid being teased! I still remember the mix of nervousness and excitement when it was finally my turn. Circumcision is seen as a rite of passage into manhood. You're considered a young man once you’re circumcised. In the Bible, this practice is portrayed as controversial in several parts of the Old Testament and also in the New Testament. Readers might find it strange to read that circumcision was a major concern at that time. Here are some points we need to know about it: 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 Circumcision was common in the ancient Near East, but the details and purpose of this practice differ according to culture. In some cultures back then, it was a preparation for marriage. But for the Israelites, it held a special meaning because of God’s covenant with their ancestor Abraham (Gen 17:1–27). When the Lord made a covenant with Abraham, He comman...

In Rev. 20:15 , we read a very sobering statement:  “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”  On Judgment Day, when everyone stands before God to be judged, those whose names are not in the book of life will be punished. It’s terrifying to think that your name might not be registered in that book! You can lose your spot on a government aid list—but not on the list of the book of life!  But what exactly is the book of life ? And how did people in biblical times understand it? Book of Life in the Old Testament First, we should note that during biblical times, books were actually scrolls . The codex—the book format we use today—came much later. So, technically speaking, the “book of life” is a “scroll of life.” The Old Testament already presents ideas related to the book of life. In Exodus 32:32 , when Moses pleaded for the Israelites, he said to God: “If you will not forgive their sin, then erase me from the book yo...

Some Bible scholars and students today believe that Job was just a literary figure—a character created to teach ancient people about God and the meaning of suffering. If they’re correct, then Job was merely a fictional figure in poetic literature or a parable, much like the shepherd who searched for the lost sheep in one of Jesus’ stories. Recently, a friend told me that their Bible school also teaches that Job wasn’t a real person. But there are a few points we can consider that might lead us to conclude that Job was, in fact, a real historical figure. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆.  The very first statement of the book says, “In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job” (Job 1:1). Because of this straightforward introduction—including his location—it’s hard to believe that the writer intended for us to treat Job as just a fictional character. This type of introduction is similar to how Elkanah was introduced: “There was a certa...