Topheth was a place of pagan worship and human sacrifice located in the Valley of Hinnom just outside Jerusalem. It was originally built by the Canaanites and later used by some idolatrous Israelites to sacrifice their children to the false god Molech by burning them alive (2 Kings 23:10). The word Topheth comes from the Hebrew word toph, meaning “drum,” because drums were beaten loudly during the rituals to drown out the screams of the children being sacrificed. King Josiah destroyed the site as part of his religious reforms to purge Judah of pagan practices (2 Kings 23:10). After this,…
Author: Mike Solis
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians contains instructions for how Christians should live. In Ephesians 4:31, Paul writes, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” Here, Paul instructs believers to put away sins like bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander. The Greek word translated as “slander” is blasphemia, which means evil or abusive speech. This provides insight into what Paul meant by instructing Christians to avoid “evil speaking.” Definition of Evil Speaking At its most basic level, evil speaking refers to speech that is harmful, corrupt, or malignant…
The phrase “good confession” in 1 Timothy 6:12 refers to publicly professing faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Here is the verse in context (ESV): “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” Let’s break this down: The Good Fight of Faith – As believers, we are called to “fight the good fight of the faith.” This means vigorously contending for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).…
Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” This verse contrasts trusting in earthly powers and military might with trusting in God’s power and deliverance. Let’s explore the meaning and implications of this verse. The Historical Context Psalm 20 is attributed to King David. During his reign, the Philistines were a constant military threat. They had the advantage of iron chariots, while the Israelites fought on foot. When facing the Philistines’ forces, it would have been tempting for the Israelites to trust in amassing superior military…
The phrase “a prophet is not without honor except in his own country” comes from Matthew 13:57 in the Bible. In context, this verse describes how the people in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth took offense at Him and lacked faith in Him as the Messiah. Though Jesus had taught and performed miracles with authority, the Nazarenes could not accept Him as anything more than the carpenter’s son they had known while He was growing up. They were blind to His true identity. This passage reveals a sad but common tendency of human nature to underestimate and fail to appreciate those…
The concept of atonement is central to Christianity and salvation. At its core, atonement refers to reconciliation between God and humanity through Jesus Christ. Here is a 9000 word examination of what the Bible teaches about atonement: In the Old Testament, atonement was made through animal sacrifices. When the Israelites sinned and broke their covenant with God, they would offer sacrifices at the tabernacle or temple to atone for their sins. These sacrifices allowed for the forgiveness of sins and restored the relationship between God and man (Leviticus 4:20). However, the Old Testament sacrifices were limited in their effectiveness. As…
The Geshurites were an ancient people group that inhabited the land of Geshur during biblical times. Geshur was a small kingdom located east of the Sea of Galilee, in the region between Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights. The Geshurites are mentioned several times in the Old Testament, particularly in relation to King David’s family ties. The first reference to the Geshurites is in Joshua 12:5, which lists Geshur among the kingdoms defeated by the Israelites under Joshua’s leadership as they conquered Canaan: “And ruled in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the…
God’s patience is a central theme throughout the Bible. Scripture reveals that God is extraordinarily patient and longsuffering towards humanity. Despite our constant failings and sins against Him, God withholds His judgment and wrath, giving people time and opportunity to repent and turn to Him. God’s patience reflects His mercy, grace, love and compassion for His creation. The Bible declares that the Lord is “slow to anger” (Exodus 34:6, Numbers 14:18, Psalm 103:8). He is “patient…not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God waits patiently for sinners to repent before unleashing His judgment.…
The birth of Jesus Christ is one of the most significant events in human history. Jesus, the Son of God, humbled himself by being born in a manger in Bethlehem. This remarkable event was prophesied centuries earlier and fulfilled God’s promise to send a Savior to redeem mankind. Though Jesus is the King of Kings, his humble birth shows that the Messiah came first as a servant. Understanding the circumstances of Jesus’ birth in a manger reveals God’s amazing love and the far-reaching impact of this momentous occasion. Old Testament Prophecies Pointed to the Humble Birth of the Messiah Several…
What is a theist? A theist is someone who believes in the existence of a god or gods. Specifically, a theist believes in a personal, transcendent God who created the universe and is involved in the world. There are several key beliefs that characterize theism: 1. Belief in a transcendent reality beyond the natural world. Theists believe in a divine realm that transcends the physical universe. This divine reality is not limited by natural laws. 2. Belief in a personal God. Theists do not see God as an impersonal force, but as a conscious being with whom humans can have…
