Agur son of Jakeh: The mysterious proverb writer
Proverbs chapter 30 begins by noting that the following text is “sayings of Agur, son of Jakeh” and, depending the translation, that it is “an inspired utterance” (NIV) or a “prophecy” (KJV); that he is “the oracle” (ESV); and ...
What is Goshen in the Bible? Pharoah's gift to Israelites
The “land of Goshen” is the name of the region that the pharaoh of Egypt gave to the Israelites when they settled in Egypt. This gift is the culmination of the story of Joseph, an Israelite sold into Egyptian slavery by his bro...
Did Jesus have a tattoo? Revelation 19 and tattoos
In an apocalyptic vision in the final book of the Bible, St. John offers one of the most awesome and powerful depictions of Jesus in holy scripture. He is riding on a white horse, his eyes are like flame, he wears multiple crow...
Why stay away from the Book of Enoch
If you’ve heard of the Book of Enoch, you probably know it’s very weird. It’s an ancient document that claims to be written by the great-grandfather of Noah, a mysterious man who is mentioned in the Bible as being “taken away” ...
"Your gift will make room for you." A look at Proverbs 18:16
Proverbs chapters 18, like the rest of Proverbs, consists of a series of edifying sayings, good advice, and wise observations about the world. Because the Proverbs are written in a way that makes them seem like self-contained e...
What does the Bible say about drugs, drinking, and smoking?
It is common for people to wonder what the Bible says about drugs, drinking, or smoking. This curiosity can be helpful, because it points to the more important discussion of the nature of sin. Let's explore the issue of drinkin...
What does the Bible say about self-satisfaction?
Christians in modern, western countries have a weird relationship with pleasure. There’s often a sense that Christianity is against pleasure, or at least suspicious of it, especially with sexual pleasure. How do we navigate ple...
The Bible on pornography: What does God say about porn?
Pornography is not mentioned in the Bible, which should be fairly obvious. Pornography as we understand it today did not exist in the ancient world, especially since when most people talk about pornography they are talking abou...