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I wish they'd make an updated version of Rose book. Their illustrations and slides are well-done, aside from the information there being significantly out-of-date now.

Merry Christmas to Friends and Frenemies alike!

Rev 11:8 is speaking of Jerusalem. There are several places in the New Testament where cities are called by the names of other cities. Matthew 2 isn't one of those. It's clear from the rest of the New Testament, and from the writings of the early church, that they believed Jesus went to...

Every AI seems to have a confirmation bias built-in. I'm not sure if that's designed behavior or learned behavior on the part of the AI. I suspect that they have learned that telling people what they want to hear elicits positive feedback. 2Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not...

Makes sense. Jupiter was the symbol of kingship. Leo (the lion) is the symbol of Judah.

Not that verse. The ones in Matthew 2.

Once you've examined it, you ought to discard it. All the New Testament treats it as literal

This says Herod inquired of the priests and scribes, who told him to look in Bethlehem, per the book of Micah. It does not say that Herod directed the Magi there, nor that they found him there.

So, an astrology lesson, then? The NT word translated star (ἀστήρ = aster) properly denotes the planet Venus, rather than an actual star. While we're at it, "wandering stars" are πλανήτης (planetes), which you might recognize in modern English as Planets. Not every star is a star.

According to the Infancy Gospel of James (yes, yes, not a canonical book), the Magi found Jesus while He was still at Bethlehem: 21. And, behold, Joseph was ready to go into Judaea. And there was a great commotion in Bethlehem of Judaea, for Magi came, saying: Where is he that is born king of...

Never heard of a second Bethlehem. I only know the one in Ephraim

There were two cities named Ur in the Middle Bronze Age. Saying Urfa distinguishes which one I think is correct.

2000+ years of it as a whole, without question? Definitely not. Selected bits from the early church? Probably so. The Didache, the Epistle of Barnabas, and Shepherd of Hermas should be books the church studies, even if they're not canon. Fox' Book of Martyrs, too. If the story is true...

You won't find it in the Bible, but Jewish tradition records several stories of Abraham's youth. Per tradition... Abraham's daddy was an idol-maker by trade. At some point, Abraham became convinced of the worthlessness of idols of stone, wood, and metal. He forsook the family business and...

I think the message is powerful. Power is actually at the core of the message. The problem is... well, the church doesn't exactly model it, do we? Are we really out there acting in unity, exercising divine authority to rule and to reign? I don't say that to place blame. For myself, I...

>> Repentance is included in Abraham's story. "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Sounds like you need to update your definition for 'repentance.' That word means "to think the same" or "agree." Even if one isn't doing wrong, agreement with God is still...

In the previous topic, I answered saying that the gospel is that "God is present, active, powerful, and working through us." I still think that's a good answer... for a one-line response. But like most one-line responses, a more complete answer can be given with a little more time/effort...

That's because the death, burial and resurrection is NOT the gospel. Jesus certainly didn't go about proclaiming His impending death, nor that He would be kicking down hell's gates to lead captivity captive. Those things are important, even necessary to the covenant, but they aren't the gospel...

Yes Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, [saying], In thee shall all nations be blessed.

I'm going to attempt an answer... in the new topic. :)