Latest articles byDr. Zachary Porcu
What is wrong with reformed theology? By a Christian PhD
Reformed theology is a broad religious system with many different elements. Its theology is organized around the absolute sovereignty of God—the idea that God is in total, complete control of everything. In grappling with this ...
Who was Phanuel? Archangel or Father of Anna?
Phanuel the angel is not mentioned in the Bible. This figure comes from the Book of Enoch, where he belongs to the ranks of the good angels who serve the God of gods. Those good angels are opposed to the fallen Watchers, a grou...
Maher-Shala-Hash-Baz, the Son of the Prophet Isaiah
The book of Isaiah features a long name: Maher-Shala-Hash-Baz. It is often considered the longest name in the Bible, though that depends on how you count. It first occurs in Isaiah 8:1: “Moreover the Lord said to me, ‘Take a la...
Plant of Fertility and Magic: Are mandrakes in the Bible?
The mandrake is mentioned in two places in the Bible: in an episode between Rachel and Leah concerning fertility, and in the Song of Solomon. The Song of Solomon, also known as the Song of Songs or the Canticle of Canticles, is...
The First Friday Devotion and the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The devotion was started by Margaret Mary Alacoque. She was a Catholic nun and mystic who received private visions of Jesus for two years, in which he revealed to her the practice of devotion to the sacred heart of Jesus. One m...
Is “love conquers all” in the Bible?
There are a lot of little catchy sayings that may seem like they’re from the Bible, but actually aren’t. A great example is “hate the sin, love the sinner” which comes from one of the letters of St. Augustine: “cum dilectione h...
Tychicus of the Seventy Apostles: The Bishop of Colophon
Tychicus was one of the Seventy Apostles mentioned in the New Testament. While you might call the Twelve Apostles Jesus’ “inner circle,” the Seventy were something of an outer circle that was nevertheless important in the minis...
The Baptism of Poland: Unification and Christianization
Mieszko I was born around AD 930 and ruled from 960 until 992—over thirty years. He was baptized on Holy Saturday, April 14, 966, which serves as a good official date for the Christianization of Poland—at least the beginning of...