What is the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
The “litany of the sacred heart” is a prayer that petitions God to have mercy on the petitioner. The prayer directly addresses the “heart of Jesus”, with much of the litany describing its characteristics, such as “king and cent...
Samyaza and the fall of the angels
Samyaza (also spelled Shemyaza or Semjaza) was the leader of the angelic beings as depicted in the Book of Enoch, an ancient Jewish text that was very influential on the early Christians. The text tells the story of a group of ...
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” ...
What is Goshen in the Bible?
The “land of Goshen” is the name of the region that the pharaoh of Egypt gives to the Israelites when they settle in Egypt. This is the culmination of the story of Joseph, an Israelite sold into Egyptian slavery by his brothers...
What does the Bible say about self-satisfaction?
Christians in modern, western countries have a weird, back-and-forth relationship to pleasure. There’s often this vague sense that Christianity is against pleasure, or at least suspicious of it, and this is especially true for ...
"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 can be an important curiosity, because it points to the more important discussion of what sin is. So let's explore the issue of drink...
Who was Agur son of Jakeh in the Bible?
Proverbs chapter 30 begins by saying that the following text is “sayings of Agur, son of Jakeh” and – depending on which translation – that it is “an inspired utterance” (NIV), a “prophecy” (KJV), that he is “the oracle” (ESV),...