what does the bible say?Philemon, a wealthy believer led to faith by Paul, hosted a first-century church in his home and was known for his faith and love for others. He owned a slave, Onesimus, who ran away and became a Christian after meeting Paul. Paul wrote a letter to Philemon, asking him to receive Onesimus back not as a slave, but as a belove

what does the bible say?Being rich and being famous are simply put: having financial abundance and great popularity. Being rich and famous are not wrong in themselves. It is also not necessarily wrong for a Christian to want to be rich and famous. The risk is not in the achieving of wealth or celebrity status but rather in the choice to live our li

what does the bible say?Casting lots was a practice used to make impartial decisions to determine God's will in various situations. While the Bible does not give specifics about the actual lots used when casting lots— perhaps sticks of different lengths or flat stones flipped like coins—the practice of casting lots seems akin to the modern day flip

what does the bible say?Noah and his family were on the ark for a total of 370 days, beginning from the second month, tenth day of Noah's 600th year until the second month, 27th day of his 601st year. The floodwaters prevailed for 150 days, including 40 days of rain, before the ark rested on Mount Ararat. This extended period illustrates the import

what does the bible say?The incident of the golden calf in Exodus 32 depicts the Israelites' idolatry while Moses was on Mount Sinai. They crafted a golden calf, worshiping it as their deliverer from Egypt. God, angered by their idolatry, told Moses He would consume the people and instead make a great nation out of Moses. Moses interceded, recallin

what does the bible say?Blessing, as understood in both the Old and New Testaments, transcends mere good fortune, representing divine favor and alignment with God’s will. In Hebrew (barak), blessing involves praising God and being a channel of His favor, as seen in God’s covenant with Abram to bless him and make him a blessing to others (Genesis 12

what does the bible say?The dogwood is a genus of between thirty and sixty plants including shrubs, evergreens, and flowering trees. Dogwoods are most common in China, Japan, and the US, but can also be found in Eurasia, although not naturally. The wood is very hard. As the poem named The Legend of the Dogwood suggests, trees large enough to provid

what does the bible say?From marking the firstborn in Genesis to Rahab's faithful act in Joshua, the scarlet thread accentuates themes of identity, redemption, and salvation. Scarlet threads in the tabernacle and priestly garments signified access to God and atonement for sins through sacrifice. Ultimately, the scarlet thread points forward to Jesu

what does the bible say?Depending on how you define "guns," guns were invented somewhere between AD 1000 in China and the 1860s during the American Civil War with early handguns being created in Europe in the 1500s. The Bible is silent on the issue of guns, per se, just like it does not mention computers and automobiles. Gun control is broadly cons

what does the bible say?Worship is the act of showing reverence, adoration, and devotion to God. True worship goes beyond external rituals and involves a heartfelt, sincere relationship with God, characterized by a commitment to live according to His will, exhibiting love, justice, and righteousness. Worship is a holistic response to who God is and

what does the bible say?Orphans, those without a parent to protect them, and widows, women whose husbands have died, are people who are vulnerable to exploitation. In the Bible, orphans and widows are often listed together with sojourners (noncitizens) or the poor and needy. The Bible is clear that God values every person and cares deeply for orpha

what does the bible say?The four hundred years mentioned in Genesis 15:13 were significant for several reasons. This period demonstrated God's foreknowledge and sovereignty, as He revealed to Abraham the future enslavement and eventual liberation of his descendants, which was fulfilled in the exodus. It allowed time for the iniquity of the Amorites

what does the bible say?The New Testament mentions four individuals named Philip, including King Herod the Great's sons, Philip the apostle, and Philip the evangelist, who are distinct figures. Philip the apostle, originally from Bethsaida, Galilee, was called by Jesus to follow Him and played a role in bringing others to Christ. Despite initial do

what does the bible say?People who subscribe to aromatherapy use plant extracts, sometimes referred to as essential oils, to treat ailments—both medical and psychological. Many who use them claim a medical benefit, but as yet, there is no scientific evidence for their positive effect. There is nothing unbiblical about using scents or plant oils for

what does the bible say?Gary Chapman's book The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts (Northfield Publishing, 2015) describes five primary ways people receive and express love. According to Chapman, every person can both receive and express love in multiple ways. However, typically there is one primary method that makes a person most e

what does the bible say?The Bible does not explicitly condemn birth control but emphasizes that wisdom and guidance should be sought when making decisions about having children. The only mention of a type of birth control is in Genesis 38:9–10. There a man named Onan was in a Levirate marriage with a woman named Tamar. He was to provide offspring f

what does the bible say?In the Old Testament, the Mosaic law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai and served as the authoritative statutes for Israel during the period before Christ came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). The Law revealed the seriousness of our sin and provided the way God called His people to respond to sin. Yes, the

what does the bible say?Gilead, a mountainous region in modern-day Jordan, was named by Jacob after a peace treaty with Laban. It was allotted to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh during Israel's settlement. Gilead was significant for battles, served as refuge for King David, and was the hometown of Elijah. Known for its healing balm,

what does the bible say?Zilpah, initially given to Leah as a handmaid, eventually became the mother of Gad and Asher through Jacob. Despite her lack of autonomy and status, Zilpah's role in the propagation of nations is recognized, with her descendants numbering sixteen among Jacob's seventy descendants who went to Goshen in Egypt. Zilpah’s story i

what does the bible say?It is natural to experience anger, especially when we face situations we don’t understand, but being angry with God often stems from a limited perspective. Biblical examples, such as Jonah’s anger when God spared Nineveh, remind us that our frustrations can reveal a lack of trust in God’s ultimate plan. While Ephesians 4:26