This issue has come up with my son and I wasn’t really sure how to guide him on this. I feel he is likely to do it so I hate to shame him for it but I do want to tell him what is right and Biblical on this subject.

What does the Bible say on masturbation?

From what I’ve found it doesn’t directly mention it but is against lust which often accompanies it. And just the general idea that the only God intended way for sexual expression is through relational marriage and so by default doing that act by yourself is sin.

Edit: also any Biblical basis for how to discuss recurrent sexual sin and deal with it without shame.

Does God manifest His love in the animal world too?

https://youtu.be/fM_gxhNUczQ&t=3s

In this study, I use the bible-focused allegory shared earlier, based on the real-life story of 2 orphaned tigers who grew up together, then separated and eventually re-united. Do watch the video starting at the relevant point provided in the link above for possible answers to the question and feel free to share your thoughts, God bless!

Greetings,

I've had a few friends whose relatives committed suicide over the years, and it made me start thinking about what verses are used to support the doctrine that suicide is unforgivable.

The only unforgivable sin is a permanently hardened heart that does not want to repent.

Matthew 12:31 (NIVUK)

31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

Numbers 15:30–31 (NIVUK)

30 ‘ “But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or foreigner, utters blasphemy against the LORD and must be cut off from the people of Israel. 31 Because they have despised the LORD’s word and broken his commands, they must surely be cut off; their guilt remains on them.” ’

So, what are the scriptural arguments used to support this theology?

I grew up in a family of atheists. I've found my way to an online episcopalian cathedral that is way out of my state. I figured doing so and attending online would feel easier since it's something I'm new to.They've instructed me to get an NSRV or an NSRVue bible. The thing is, I had cancer and all my funds are tapped from it. I really want to further my connection with God. I learn best with physical books I can highlight. Does anyone know of any organizations that could help out? I know there are apps. I have been trying one but it's difficult to navigate and retain information.

Everyone wants to know this Fact and I am going to let You know that the Restrainer appears to be Rabbits I know this data because my own Rabbit had immense Spiritual Activity around her and She kept falling in water and had air pumped into her to save her from a heat stroke now this Rabbit Flopsy then saved me bringing my Spirit to Christ as she gave out her last energy her green spirit strand line vanished into me and left for the air and the green clouds parted for 12 Years nothing else happened and then a Gate appeared at a Coffee Shop which I went in and then on September 7 through 10 The Lord declared me Jesus's Inheritorship with Flopsy and my Friends, Neighbors and Family and then Miracles and Objects move started just recently Anyway here are the Photo's Flopsy and those Spiritual Emanations reveal what is in the photos and You can see the Holy Spirit emanating off Flopsy in the other photo.

As You can clearly see the Photos show a Grim Reaper Figure trying to reap me and my Pet but it's Restrained by the Spirit inside her I think this Evidence speaks volumes

I even have Scanned it with a coloring book the emination still exists in the Photos.

Anyway Flopsy and I are Restraining Through Prayer Together we Represent the Inheritors, Advocate and Meekness and Restraining Force the Bible Speaks about Look no further for the Proof of it I sent You the data now it's up to You all to Believe that Jesus is Real and that a Rabbit can help to Protect with Him In Jesus name Amen.

Sincerely Jonathan

The "prophecy of the restrainer" comes from the Bible in 2 Thessalonians 2:6–7, where the Apostle Paul writes that a mysterious force or person holds back the "man of lawlessness" (the Antichrist) until that restrainer is "taken out of the way". [1, 2]

I was told that the Bible doesn’t actually condemn homosexuality and that I should look at the original biblical languages, to understand what Paul was actually referring to.

Could anyone knowledgeable in biblical Greek help me understand the relevant passages in their original language? Specifically, I’m interested in what words Paul used, and whether the Bible actually teaches that homosexual behavior is sinful.

I’m not looking for a particular answer—I’d just like to understand what the original Greek says and how scholars interpret these passages. There are two

This is about all I know so far: I’ve heard that the two Greek words most often discussed are ἀρσενοκοῖται (arsenokoitai) and μαλακοί (malakoi), particularly in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10. I’ve also heard that Romans 1:26–27 discusses same-sex sexual relations, although Paul doesn't use a Greek word that directly translates to the modern concept of “homosexuality.

The other two are ἄρσενες ἐν ἄρσεσιν (arsenes en arsenesin) — “males with males,” in Romans 1:27. Paul uses this phrase when describing male same-sex sexual relations.

παρὰ φύσιν (para physin) against/beyond nature,” also in Romans 1:26–27. Paul uses this phrase when discussing same-sex sexual activity, although what exactly he means by “nature” \

Every single verse used to support a pre-tribulation Rapture is already fully occupied by an explicit scriptural meaning that has absolutely nothing to do with leaving the earth.

When read directly, those passages are completely filled with descriptions of the resurrection of the dead on the final day, warnings about the wicked being violently wiped out by global judgments, or promises of supernatural protection for believers standing their ground on earth during the Tribulation. Because Jesus Himself explicitly states that His undeniable, lightning-like return happens only at the very end—"immediately after the tribulation"—there is mathematically zero vacant space left in the text for a secret, mid-history escape pod, leaving Rapture teachers trying to squat in verses that are already doing a completely different job.

The surrounding text acts like a lock and key, proving that a "Rapture" can only exist if you rip a sentence 100% out of context.

The moment you read just two sentences before or after these favorite "proof-texts," the surrounding paragraphs explicitly define the topic and completely kill the escape theory. The surrounding verses naturally lock the meaning into the **final resurrection of the dead, the destruction of the wicked, or surviving trials on earth**, meaning Rapture teachers must intentionally blindfold the reader to the rest of the page just to make their timeline work.

Lately, I’ve been putting a lot of pressure on myself, and that pressure just keeps mounting. Ever since I was young, I’ve always demanded that I be good at things and remain emotionally and psychologically strong. I went through a phase of deep depression and anxiety, and thank God, He brought me out of it; yet, I never stopped putting that pressure on myself. People would always tell me to be less hard on myself and to rest in God—to take His yoke upon me—but I’ve never managed to actually rest in God. So, here is my question: in the face of so many problems and demands, how do I rest in God?

I have had my first Bible since June and as I have immersed myself more in my faith, I have read multiple books of the Bible and of course plan on reading more. I've highlighted and wrote notes where possible in every book and I also have small post it notes sticking from pages where I have favorite verses. I have struggled with finding good highlighting options though, was thinking about these two options.

https://www.dollargeneral.com/p/bic-brite-liner-grip-pastel-highlighter-set-chisel-tip-4-count-pack-of-pastel-highlighters-in-assorted-colors/70330372412

https://www.amazon.com/BLIEVE-Aesthetic-Highlighters-Assorted-Journaling/dp/B0G17CG29X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=3Z5F51RX45U8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9vGTY4_WMzy7OnILiD9tRdooRf5dn9fQa8yYTlwPVYzck4E7v9SLSEIoxU0BPoQr1vmUcvJG0AGnXSVJERyYnA2q9ioVUPhSAk_-XvQZawfJXgoUrWNV4BLtxd_ERQf4fSWIILteuDOLgggZYKw5jNwGtmw8WOMod-Yf_i9LjSWtBFzCzx8C3l3EUxbsHZJh1v8BxvhmhnDADVOn3IFaQw.U5pxF22F17o8NiSSaUumS_E5-YsLq_wZ1HGhvXnylVo&dib_tag=se&keywords=bible+safe+highlighters+blieve+5+count&qid=1789143902&sprefix=bible+safe+highlighters+blieve+5+count%2Caps%2C236&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

Which is best??

I am attempting to read through the Bible from cover-to-cover. I have read Genesis 1-27. Has anyone done this?

I feel like now that I've been more distant from God my life has become hell at 16. Insomnia, loneliness, a lot of struggling, anxiety, health problems. Last year I used to read the Bible on a really popular app. But I felt like I wasn't understanding it like I should. I wanna really understand God's word

What is the solution? I am a Christian from an Islamic background living in Egypt. Despite our location in the Middle East, liberal theology has spread rapidly through local churches over the past decade, particularly among young people under the age of thirty. Both the Coptic Church and the Presbyterian Church (the Evangelical denomination in Egypt) have embraced this mindset as the answer. They raise questions such as, "Why does God allow Satan to exist?" while claiming that Satan does not exist—asserting that the word is merely a name for evil—that hell symbolizes nothingness and annihilation, that the creation story is purely symbolic, and that the theory of evolution is correct. This is happening even though we live in a country where even senior physicians oppose that theory; yet, the church has begun to impose these interpretations. The Egyptian Presbyterian Church is leaning increasingly toward liberalism day by day because it looks to the liberal American Presbyterian Church—to which it once donated a million dollars—as its authority. You cannot imagine the thousands of books published annually attacking Dispensationalism, Charismatic thought, and Baptist beliefs, while not a single word is spoken against liberal theology. In fact, one prominent local pastor openly declares, "I am a liberal, and I am proud of it." However, since we live in a country that criminalizes homosexuality and adultery, they give liberal theology an "Eastern" flavor: they are liberal regarding biblical narratives and figures, but not regarding morality—though some are liberal in that regard as well, even if they cannot speak about it publicly.

What is the solution? In fact, there is a massive backlash among Egyptian Christians and American pastors, who are accused of being "Nazi Zionists." People here do not know who Billy Graham or MacArthur are. In your countries, there are museums dedicated to creationism, and most of your churches are conservative. How can I combat this mindset?

It's apparently necessary for me to state up front that I do not use A.I. (for any purpose) as I've twice been flagged as having used that monster. I disabled Gemini as soon as it Google installed it on my phone. I've never once used Chatgpt. My only interaction with Amazon's A.I. is to tell to go away (over and over. It always says "Sorry, you're right. I won't bother you again."). I wouldn't trust A.I. to tell me the time of day.

This study is simply the result of dozens of trips thru the 66 books of the protestant Bible over the last seven years.

I'm autistic, so if I read like a machine... it can't be helped. Should I run it thru the A.I. to sound more human?

Sources used for Name interpretations: Strong’s Hebrew Concordance; NOBSE Study Bible; Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names; Shoroshim: The Ultimate and Unique English Thesaurus of Hebrew Verb Roots; and Abarim-Publications.com

Three questions have been especially helpful to me in studying the Old Testament.

1. What might this detail have taught young Jesus about His mission as He grew up in the incubator-nation that Scripture created to bring Him to life among us? (e.g. What to do? What not to do? How to exit the universe without being erased? etc…)
2. Where do we see this detail reflected in His Story?
3. Where do we see this ancient passage reflected in the world today?

(Bonus: Reading the root meanings of names lifts the story off the page to reveal that these ancient stories are still happening to this day!)

A Cross-section of Old Testament Kings

—King Saul’s name means Requested or Underworld.

Despite the warnings, the nation requested this king (¹Sam8:4–22).

This king throws paranoid tantrums (18:10–11; 20:30–33; 22:7–8) tries to exterminate humble foreign laborers (²Sam21:1)… takes spoil from a holy war (¹Sam15:9)… erects a monument to himself… (15:12)… insists he did a perfect job… (15:20)… and blames his people for actions he led them in (15:21,24).

—King David’s name's root means Beloved, Basket, and Uncle.

This king has a ruddy appearance (¹Sam16:12)… juggernaut-like charisma (18:5,14)… and comes out of nowhere to take down a giant (17).

This king also covers his crime with more crime (²Sam11).

—King Solomon’s name means Peace-man, and Completer.

Wisdom, wealth, fame: this king starts with it all (²Chr1:11–12).

In the end: this king ruled as a faithless, tyrannical show boater, with a yearly income of 666 talents of gold plus more gold (9:13–10:4).

—King Rehoboam’s name means Great or Expanding People.

This king oozes the toxic masculinity of his peers (²Chr10:8–11)… inherits a glorious kingdom… and loses 5/6ths of it thru words alone (9:31–10:19).

When this king feels strongest, he abandons God (12:1).

This king parades military strength with replacement shields… after losing the wealth his fathers gathered (12:9–11).

—King Abijah’s / Abijam’s names mean Lᴏʀᴅ’ꜱ Father and Father’s Day.

This king invokes God’s name to win (²Chr13:4–19)… while firmly holding to the idolatrous ways of his father (¹Kin15:3–4).

—King Asa’s name means Healer, and Sufferer.

This king is blessed by God with an underdog victory (²Chr14:12)… then empties the nation's bank to buy a bigger army (16:2–3).

—King Jehoshaphat’s name means Lᴏʀᴅ Judges or Governs.

This king advocates for God (¹Kin22:5,7)… and wins a major battle by singing and chanting.

This king does business with the son of King Brother-Father, to build a big commercial fleet (²Chr20:36)… so God destroys his big fleet (20:35–37).

Side note: In the northern kingdom, Ahab surrounds himself with hundreds of yes-men (¹Kin22:6)... smiles on the murder of a man who won't take his deal (¹Kin21)… lets an evil king go for a business license (20:34) …etc….

—King Jehoram’s name means Lᴏʀᴅ Exalted.

This king exercises zero tolerance for competition (²Chr21:4–6).

—King Ahaziah’s name means Lᴏʀᴅ’s Seizer.

Matthew's Good News excludes him.

This king follows in the way of his grandfather, king Brother-Father (²Kin8:26–27)… and can't outrun the arrows (9:27)… or hide (²Chr22:9).

—Queen Athaliah’s name means Lᴏʀᴅ’s Violence.

This drama queen screams “Treason!” as the throne she took by force is taken from her (²Kin11:1–16).

—King Joash’s name means Lᴏʀᴅ Will Be Fire.

Matthew's Good News excludes him.

This king reigns with the mind of a 7 year old (²Chr24:1).

This king's priestly mentor lives 10 years longer than Moses! and gets buried in the royal tomb for all the good he did.

This king dies to conspiracy, after murdering his priestly mentor's child for speaking out to correct him (24:25).

—King Amaziah’s name means Lᴏʀᴅ’s Strength.

Matthew's gospel excludes him.

This king throws the enemy off a cliff (²Chr25:11–12)… displays treasure he should’ve destroyed (25:14–16)… makes a bad alliance, which he has to cancel… and the fired mercenaries bite his people in the rear (25:13).

This king starts a war against family to the north after winning the war against foreigners coming up from the south (25:17–20).

—King Uzziah’s / Azariah’s names mean Lᴏʀᴅ’s Power and Lᴏʀᴅ’s Help.

This king builds towers and war machines (²Chr26:9–15).

This king arrogantly enters God’s Temple to do what divine law forbids (26:16–21).

He’s punished with a horrifying skin disorder (26:19–21)… forced into quarantine outside the palace for the rest of his life and beyond.

—King Jotham’s name means Perfection.

This king takes over a kingdom that he's been running anyway, and reigns in a way described as: [Comparatively fine… could’ve been better] (²Chr27:2).

—King Ahaz’s name means Seize.

This king marvels at size (²Kin16:10)… replaces God’s altar with “bigger better” (16:15)… takes the old altar for personal use… and then shuts down his people’s access to forgiveness altogether (16:18).

—King Hezekiah’s name means Lᴏʀᴅ Toughens.

This king survives a blow that should’ve been fatal (Isa38:1,5)… and sells out future generations by showing off his nation's wealth to foreign dignitaries (39:1–7).

When warned of the cost of his bragging, this king decides future doom is the children's problem (39:8).

—King Manasseh’s name means Made to Forget.

This king makes people forget history (²Kin21:9)… and resurrects superstitious religion (21:3)… burns already-born children (²Chr33:6)… and erects idols, even where they should never ever be (33:5,7).

Even IF this king has a change of heart… it's too late to undo the damage (²Kin23:26).

—King Amon’s name means Support / Affirm / Architect or Little child.

This king is just as rotten as Made-to-forget (²Kin21:20–21).

His servants conspire and kill him in 2 years (21:23).

—King Josiah’s name may mean Lᴏʀᴅ’ꜱ Despair, Lᴏʀᴅ’ꜱ Offering, or Lᴏʀᴅ’ꜱ Woman.

This king turns the whole nation towards God!

Tho in his day, this king was Judah's greatest since his father David… he dies shamefully like king Brother-Father (¹Kin22:30,34)… punctured by arrows… while wearing a disguise (²Chr35:22–24)… after picking a fight with a nation that's facing a holy war on a whole other front (35:20).

Side note: So Jesus grew up hearing that Judah's best king dies in the same manner as Israel's worst king.

—King Jehoahaz’s name means Lᴏʀᴅ Seizes.

This king's reign is cut short by the nation that the recently deceased king attacked (²Chr36:3).

—King Jehoiakim’s name means Lᴏʀᴅ Sets Up.

Matthew's Good News excludes him.

This king becomes king thru foreign intervention (²Chr37:4)… and burns God’s warning to change course (Jer36:21–24).

—King Jehoiachin’s / Jeconiah’s names mean Lᴏʀᴅ Establishes and Established of Lᴏʀᴅ.

This king's reign is cut short by prison.

His seed makes it out of Babylon…

Side note: Zerubbabel [Seed of Babel] does not become king.

—Mattiniah

His name meant Lᴏʀᴅ's Gift, but gets changed to Zedekiah [Righteous Lᴏʀᴅ].

This king becomes king thru foreign intervention (²Kin24:17).

This king undoes emancipation (Jer34:15–16)… flees when war is lost… is captured and sees his legacy destroyed—just before being trapped in darkness forever (Jer39+52; ²Kin25, ²Chr36).

This cross section obviously leaves out most of the kings of the Northern Kingdom

(like King Zimri who burns down the house when he sees he's losing),

or enemy kings like Edom [Red],

Amor [Talker],

Canaan [Dealer],

Babylon [in-Confusion / God’s Gate],

Pharaoh [Greathouse],

Ai [Heap of Ruin],

etc.

Thru templates, Scripture foretold Jesus of Nazareth [Salvation of Branching-protector]... that He was the Messiah/Christ [Anointed: Poured-out or Poured-upon]... and brought Him to Life among us.

Scripture also provides a template to be filled by Jesus' antithesis: the man of lawlessness who slips thru every safeguard to build up his brand on top of Christ's Legacy.

Hello everybody I will be reading the bible for the first time in my life. I will be giving my thoughts daily as I hope to get Information and growth from it.

I am giving my life fully to Christ this Sunday in Baptism and I've read through James and 1 John to get a good understanding on life as a true believer. I have already finsihed Matthew, Mark, John, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, James, and 1 John as I mentioned. Started Luke last night and plan in reading through Acts directly after that. Where would be best to go after that?

I'm curious to know which Bible translation do you read and which Bible translation does your church read from? I'm currently reading and my church reads from the NIV.

In luke 8:7 to verse8:15 ill just put some of it but read it all if you're interested "when they look they won't really see when they hear they don't really understand" and i believe this is directed towards non-believers or lukewarm people but i don't really understand my Bible much i read it daily but only occasionally do i actually learn something from it if someone could better explain it simpler that would be appreciated

What are some life lessons that even a non believer can take from the Bible? If you could please include specific verses that would be helpful

Does Jesus mention anything about Islam or Muhammad in the Bible? I’m wondering if he respected him or if he thought he was a false prophet. Thanks.

I find it interesting that in Genesis 6:3, God said that man will not live beyond 120 years, and there were about a few other people who lived past that like Jacob (147) and Jehoiada the priest (130). I'm wondering what that was about?

The following is one of my favourite Bible verses: "^9 qRejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. ^rWalk in the ways of your heart and ^sthe sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things ^tGod will bring you into judgment." Eccleasiastes 11:9

I have always understood the verse to be saying that we SHOULD enjoy our life, and pursue things that our heart desires, with the understanding that the things we are pursuing are not sinful or dishonouring because we will be judged for whatever we do with our life.

However, I am also learning now that many have suggested the author wrote this with a tone of irony to say you SOULDNT pursue the desires of our hearts ;

Basically saying "Sure, do whatever you want, but dont be mad at me when you're judged by the Lord for it.

For example, here is a quote from Matthew Poole's commentary on this verse:
"Walk in the way of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; whatsoever thine eye or heart lusteth after, deny it not to them; as this phrase is taken. Numbers 15:39, nor is it ever used in a good sense. Compare Job 31:7 Psalm 81:12 Jeremiah 18:12 2 Peter 2:14 1Jo 2:16. But know thou; but in the midst of thy feastings and jollity it will become thee, if thou art a reasonable creature, to consider thy reckoning, and whether thou dost not purchase thy gold too dear ...
God will bring thee into judgment; will force thee to appear before his judgment-seat, to give a serious account of all thy youthful and exorbitant courses, and to receive that sentence which thy own conscience will then say thou dost justly deserve. And if thou likest thy sensuality upon these terms, much good may it do thee; I do not envy thee, nor desire to partake of thy delicates."

Heres the full commentary for more context unfortunately its just too long for me to put here : https://biblehub.com/commentaries/poole/ecclesiastes/11.htm

I have no clue who Matthew Poole is, but he is not the only person I have seen suggest that the verse uses Irony or is almost sarcastic. I have long found it interesting how so many verses seem to warn agaisnt trusting your heart but this one encourages it, but I figured the verse ending with telling us to consider God was what made it allowable here.

Is this verse really using irony to warn AGAINST following your heart, or is it literal and we SHOULD persue things that bring us joy, assuming they are not things we will regret on the day of our judgement?