Difficult Bible Passages Archives - Page 5 of 5

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The Imprecatory Psalms, Part One

Feb 2, 2012

If you read the Psalter through in one sitting (which can be done) or at least read all 150 psalms in a concentrated period of time (which I have just recently done), a number of things will stand out. One

The Imprecatory Psalms, Part Two

Feb 2, 2012

In Part One of this article I offered some general considerations as to how the Christian might approach the rather troubling imprecatory psalms. To properly tease these ideas out it is worth looking at a few imprecatory psalms in some

Difficult Bible Passages: Judges 6:36-40

May 20, 2011

The difficulty of this text really lies in its application. Are Christians today to make use of this method when they seek to discover God’s will? The passage is the familiar story of Gideon using a fleece to find out

Difficult Bible Passages: John 7:53-8:11

May 3, 2011

This is a famous passage, but one which can often be rather poorly interpreted. At least it is often used to support various agendas which the passage itself may never have had in mind. Pacifists for example are happy to

The Cleansing of the Temple

Apr 23, 2011

One of the more familiar actions of Jesus was the so-called cleansing of the temple. This episode is recorded in all four gospels (Matt 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48; John 2:13-22), and has been commented on by believers and non-believers

Difficult Bible Passages: Matthew 5:39

Apr 20, 2011

In a recent discussion about an offensive work of art which some Christians took action about, one person said that turning the other cheek would be a better way to go. Admittedly Christians can debate what is the most appropriate

Difficult Bible Passages: Exodus 7:3-4

Apr 20, 2011

The issue of Pharaoh and the hardening of the heart as found in the Book of Exodus can seem problematic to many – believer and non-believer alike. When we read a text like this, it seems troubling: “But I will

On Date Setting and the Return of Christ, Part One

Apr 7, 2011

For the past 2000 years undiscerning and reckless Christians have been setting dates for when Christ would return – and this despite the clear teaching of Jesus that no man knows when he will return. We are clearly told not

On Date Setting and the Return of Christ, Part Two

Apr 7, 2011

One believer convinced about the soon return of the Lord described the signs of the times in terms of “the daily records of desolating earthquakes, sweeping fires, distressing poverty, natural perplexity, political profligacy, private bankruptcy, and wide-spread immorality, which abound

Against Universalism

Mar 12, 2011

There are two quite wrong ways to come to terms with the biblical teaching on the eternal punishment of the lost. One is annihilationism, which says the lost will simply cease to exist after this life. The other is universalism,

On Hell

Mar 11, 2011

One topic which is rarely discussed today – even by Christians – is that of hell. Yet it is a topic which should often be on our lips for the simple reason that the Christ we claim to follow spoke

A Review of Is God a Moral Monster? By Paul Copan.

Jan 25, 2011

Baker, 2011. (Available in Australia at Koorong Books)

There is nothing really new about the new atheists. They simply regurgitate the same old objections which have been levelled against Christianity for centuries now. Indeed, the idea that the Old Testament

Difficult Bible Passages: Matthew 27:34

Nov 21, 2010

This passage, and its parallels, is not actually all that difficult. It only becomes difficult – or contentious – when it is used to promote various activist groups’ agendas. Specifically, some people in the pro-euthanasia camp, especially misguided or deceptive

The Fear of God

Aug 29, 2010

This is a topic not often heard in today’s churches, and when it is, it is often misunderstood. Many believers think it has no place in contemporary Christianity, and if it is mentioned, it is usually with the disclaimer, “Oh,

Difficult Bible Passages: Acts 4:32-5:11

Jun 21, 2010

This passage of Scripture is not so much difficult to understand as it is prone to being misunderstood. It is regularly abused and misused, usually by the left – both religious and secular. It has often been used to justify

Difficult Bible Passages: Matthew 19:12

Oct 30, 2009

This is hopefully the first in an irregular series on difficult Biblical passages. I do this for several reasons. There are admittedly some passages in the Bible which are somewhat hard to understand, or open to all manner of interpretations

Thou Shalt Judge

Oct 8, 2008

No, I didn’t get it wrong: I did not mistakenly leave a word out of my title. While I certainly have Matt. 7:1 in mind, my thesis here is that believers are commanded to judge. When Jesus told us not

About CultureWatch

We live in an age where we see evidence of cultural decline, the erosion of values, the decline of civility, the denial of truth and the elevation of unreason. Many people are asking, “Where is our culture heading?” This website is devoted to exploring the major cultural, social and political issues of the day. It offers reflection and commentary drawing upon the wealth of wisdom found in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It offers reflective and incisive commentary on a wide range of issues, helping to sort through the maze of competing opinions, worldviews, ideologies and value systems. It will discuss critically and soberly where our culture is heading. Happy reading!

Bill Muehlenberg

CultureWatch

Bill Muehlenberg's commentary on issues of the day...

The Imprecatory Psalms, Part One

The Imprecatory Psalms, Part Two

Difficult Bible Passages: Judges 6:36-40

Difficult Bible Passages: John 7:53-8:11

The Cleansing of the Temple

Difficult Bible Passages: Matthew 5:39

Difficult Bible Passages: Exodus 7:3-4

On Date Setting and the Return of Christ, Part One

On Date Setting and the Return of Christ, Part Two

Against Universalism

On Hell

A Review of Is God a Moral Monster? By Paul Copan.

Difficult Bible Passages: Matthew 27:34

The Fear of God

Difficult Bible Passages: Acts 4:32-5:11

Difficult Bible Passages: Matthew 19:12

Thou Shalt Judge

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