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In the Gospels, is there any recorded instance of the Pharisees quoting Scripture? In a discussion, a family member said that the Pharisees often quoted Scripture. Do we have any record of this in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)? I don't mean just referring to Biblical concepts or Jewish tradition; I'm lo...	I find no other examples of Pharisees directly quoting scripture recorded in the New Testament, based on my search at Bible Gateway .
Is there a commandment to love your parents? In Exodus 20:12 or Deuteronomy 5:16 (i.e. in the ten commandments), it states that you should honour your father and mother. I have often heard that we are commanded to love our parents: is this just folk-religion? Is there a Biblical commandment to love your parents? Is thi...	We are commanded to obey our parents as people who deserve great respect, but not to love them in the emotional sense.
Does Roman Catholicism teach that man is body and soul (bipartite) or body, soul, and spirit (tripartite)? According to Rev. S. D. F. Salmond's English translation , John of Damascus wrote, (1) For since man’s nature is twofold, consisting of soul and body , He bestowed on us a twofold purification, of water and of...	The unity of soul and body is so profound that one has to consider the soul to be the "form" of the body: 1
Can Man see God? Genesis 32:30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. Ex. 33:11 And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, dep...	Another instance that comes to mind is when He appeared to Abraham as a man, after which Abraham was immediately prompted to fall down to his face, yet he didn't die (I think that's on Gen 18).
How do Jehovah's Witnesses interpret verses like Isaiah 9:6 which call the messiah 'God'? For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, THE MIGHTY GOD , The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. ( Isaiah 9:...	Jesus is A God, but not The God.
Is there such a thing as a Catholic commentary on the Bible? In the Protestant world there are endless commentaries on Biblical books, or series of commentaries that cover either the whole Bible or at least the New Testament. Does the same exist in the Catholic world? (Modern, I mean, not patristic commentaries.) If ...	The ultimate Catholic "study bible" (not just commentary) is the Original Douay-Rheims Bible .
What does it mean that "many parts which are plain have been taken away"? The question https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/35704/to-what-point-in-time-can-the-bible-be-proven-accurate made me wonder: Is the common interpretation of 1 Nephi 13:26-28 that something was physically omitted from scripture? I ...	We believe there have been doctrines which have been physically removed from The Bible either by an honest mistake in translation, or a deliberate omission.
Meaning of the expression "I cling to cross of Christ" What is meaning of the expression « I cling to cross of Christ »? (1) In the context of this expression, what does the act of clinging mean? Was it an expression or something similar used by early Christians? Notes For example, a fragment of the hymn Rock ...	The declaration “I cling to cross of Christ” is a defensive statement reflecting an emotional sense of attack and an affirming pronouncement of position similar to Luther's "Here I stand".
In LDS canon, is the Final Judgement before or after the resurrection? I've always understood the Final Judgment to occur just before the resurrection because the judgement determines which glory you are resurrected to. The Gospel Principles lesson on the Final Judgement seems to imply that also. It makes sense becau...	So, yes, we are judged after we have been resurrected, and how that judgement is going to turn out determines when it happens (along with the resurrection of that individual).
Are there any verses showing God being fooled or deceived? Are there any passages in the bible (old or new) that display god as getting tricked by somebody? For example in the Garden of Eden God didn't know (or seemed to not know) about the apple being eaten until he was told. Could they have lied? Are there any exampl...	God is cannot be deceived.
Why was the Angel Michael fighting the Devil for Moses' body? I get this from the book of Jude. I know the meaning of the chapter as a whole it's just that this verse stuck out. Does anyone have a clue on this event? Here is the verse for reference. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he dispute...	Michael fought over Moses' body because Moses needed his body still to appear to Jesus in the future, when he appeared on Mount Hermon (Matthew 17:1–4).
Which people in the Bible are antichrists? Mormons have the view that antichrist refers to anyone who lives to deny/replace Christ. Korihor, Sherem, and Nehor are examples from the Book of Mormon; are there specific people from the Bible? I got this question after reading this related question, where the idea that ...	I will speculate however that it could be debated that one other person who could be considered an antichrist is Judas Iscariot (see Luke 22:3 ).
Usage of Hades in the New Testament If Hades is the name of a Greek god, why then did it find its way into the Greek translation into the New Testament? Wouldn't the NT writers refrain from associating their beliefs to Greek polytheism? Thanks. <Q> I suppose the authors of the Greek New Testament scriptures could have ...	The New Testament writers were also using the same name used in the Greek Mythology for Hades . Since they also have similar meaning and concept behind them, it probably was a better option to use the same name .
What is the biblical argument against baptism by sprinkling/pouring? What is the biblical basis for the idea that it is wrong or incorrect to baptize by sprinkling or pouring the water? Growing up as a baptist I heard this all the time. Related, but opposite: What is the biblical basis for baptism by sprinkling? <Q...	Apart from the root meaning of the word Baptizo as 'dip' or 'submerge', there are some instances in the Bible which suggest that the act was not performed by simply sprinkling.
How did Cain kill Abel? Genesis 4:8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out in the field.”* When they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. * [4:8] Let us go out in the field: to avoid detection. The verse presumes a sizeable population which Genesis does not otherwise explain. M...	Although an answer from the Book of Jasher has been given, Pseudo-Jonathan's targum (Aramaic paraphrase of the Tanakh with commentary) says Cain drove a stone into Abel's forehead, killing him.
Can a Catholic married to an Orthodox in an Orthodox church re-celebrate her wedding in a Catholic church? My Catholic daughter will marry an Orthodox boy in an Orthodox church in Macedonia. After this ceremony we will go to Slovakia to continue the celebration. Can we celebrate a Mass in a Catholic church (not a weddi...	According to the Catholic Church, your daughter's marriage to a non-Catholic, without her bishop's permission, is invalid; so she would absolutely need to marry in the Catholic Church.
Why was Ham cursed for seeing his father naked? In Genesis 9:22-25, Ham's son Canaan was cursed because Ham saw his father (Noah) naked. I don't understand why. Is there something implied by the passage that is not stated? <Q> There are homosexual tones to this passage, especially in verse 24, suggesting that there w...	The likely explanation for this passage, based on my own study and consulting numerous commentaries of Bible scholars, is that, while Noah was drunk and unaware of what was going on around him, Ham entered his father's tent and had relations with his mother.
Is the Roman Catholic church condemning Protestants? In the early church the apostles often use the term 'let them be anathema'. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, were to preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be anathema. Galatians 1:8 If any man does not lov...	The Catholic Church has traditionally declared, "There is no salvation outside the Church", meaning, "outside the Catholic Church".
Who does Paul consider to be "Saints" in Romans 1:7? I am not a Roman Catholic. In my understanding of Roman Catholicism, the term "saints" is not applied to all believers. It's applied to a subset of believers who have performed some miracle or great act. When I look at Romans 1:7, I see: To all those in Rome who a...	Positionally, all NT believer is considered a saint.
According to LDS teaching, why should we worship this God? This question discusses the LDS teaching that “As man now is, God once was; as God is now man may be.” ( The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, ed. Clyde J. Williams [1984], 1.) The teaching is partially motivated by the passage from John5:19, So Jesus said to t...	Mormons worship God the Father, through the Son.
Where did Jesus stay during his 3.5 year ministry? The Bible says all people went to their home but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and came back to the temple early in the morning. but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and h...	There are a number of occasions where Jesus is recorded as staying at the Mount of Olives, notably during visits to Jerusalem.
Why is there a need for a perfect sacrifice? Why does Jesus have to be perfect? Theologically, why was it necessary that Jesus be perfect? Couldn’t there be another ordinary human who said “I will be the sacrifice and take on all the sins of the world past, present, and future and suffer and die as a substitutionary at...	His being God added an eternal element to His redeeming blood.
How did Zipporah know that God was going to kill Moses? How did Zipporah come to know that God was going to kill Moses? Exodus 4:24–25 (NASB) Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and ...	It could be that Moses had already told her about the God of Israel and His command and consequences regarding circumcision.
Did the Saints commit mortal sin sometimes? Does the Catholic tradition record if some saints committed mortal sin from time to time during their holy life or after conversion? There are many saints who converted and lived their lives in the state of grace. I'd like to know if they still committed a mortal sin from ti...	It is often not possible to know whether someone else commits a mortal sin as the degree to which they know it to be grave matter and the internal freedom and full turning of the will are often part of the internal forum.
In John 4:1-3, in whose name were Jesus' disciples' baptizing? In regards to John 4:1-3, were Jesus' disciples in this passage baptizing with John's baptism? If not, and they were baptizing in the name of Jesus, did the people who receive this baptism have to be re-baptized to receive the Holy Spirit (as did those who...	There's no indication Jesus' disciples were baptizing in any name other than Jesus'.
How do Southern Baptists who believe in the immortality of the soul explain what death means in scripture The Bible often speaks of death as "sleep" and Ecclesiastes 9:5 says dead aren't aware of anything. Yet many Christians claim reward or punishment begins immediately when one dies. If there is really no death, but...	If we die (our heart stops beating) and we have entrusted our heart to Christ, we will never experience the death referred to in the scriptures but only eternal life.
Can a Mormon reach salvation if they do not pay tithes? This is actually a question that stems from some information that I found when reading this article . The article claims that Mormon Mission Presidents receive each a lot of tax free benefits, and it says the following: Unlike other church members, this family ...	In order to be saved, you have to have lived "a life of obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel and service to Christ."
Since YHWH and the Bible acknowledge other gods, does that mean that they literally exist? Exodus 20:3 (NIV) reads, "You shall have no other gods before Me." According to the Tanakh (Old Testament), YHWH / Yahweh / (God) is an individual divine being, and the only God. Some sections of the Scriptures seem to state ...	The bible states in any translation that I have read this far, that Yahweh is the only power in the universe and that even when he made himself known to the holy men of old, they never saw his form or his face.
Is there any denomination that fully embraces Dispensational Premillennialism? I'm not a fan of dispensational premillennialism, but I don't know of any denominations that specifically hold to it. I'm just fairly curious. I've met individual people that believe it, but never an entire denomination that supports it. Do ...	In addition to most Baptist groups, many non-denominational associations of churches, and the church groups of the more recent charismatic movements since the early 1960s which hold the doctrine, the two largest and most prominent Pentecostal denominations in both Canada and the USA also hold to the doctrine.
Where is the verse about people sinning because they know God will forgive them? I've been trying to find a verse I read not too long ago for quite some time about sinning and knowing it's wrong, but sinning anyway because you know God will forgive you. I believe it also mentioned how people who do this are even lower ...	That scripture references Isaiah 22:13-14 which also closely matches your description: Isaiah 22:13-14 13
How can one offer Christ's sacrifice to God? I'd like to know what is the Catholic theology behind offering Jesus's suffering to the Father. I'm trying to understand this prayer (from St. Bridget's 12-Year Prayer ) more deeply: Eternal Father, through Mary’s unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offe...	We offer his sacrifice at mass and in the prayers in remembrance of Him.
What caused the shift from "Faith Of Christ" to "Faith In Christ" in modern translations? The phrase "Faith in Christ" can also be translated "Faith of Christ" (or "Faithfulness of Christ" [NET]): In the older school of translations of the Bible into English (I'll call them the "King James school" of translations), a...	“Faith in Christ” is a symbolicexpression for experiencing a more authentic understanding of themeaning of existence! I think this is simply because English has changed.
What is the significance of position of fingers in Jesus' hand as shown in his images? In most of the visual images of Jesus – both in picture and sculpture forms – fingers of His right hand, raised in blessing, follow a particular arrangement. Is there any significance to that arrangement? Have different Churches incl...	In each tradition, the upheld fingers correspond to those which are anointed with oil upon ordination of the priest, which are then used by the priest to bless others with oil for anointing.
Is celebrating Christmas required of Catholics? I understand that Catholics are obligated to attend mass and take communion on Christmas — are they obligated to celebrate Christmas in the traditional tree-in-the-house, gift-giving sense? <Q> As a Catholic, you are required to celebrate the "holy-day" of Christmas, as y...	The only requirement for Catholics is to obey the precept of resting and attending Mass on Christmas, which is a holy day of obligation: No, they are not obligated.
Why did Jesus confront the official who had slapped Him in the presence of the High Priest? John 18:20-23 (NIV) reads: “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard ...	Jesus confronted the official because he was and always will be testifying on the side of the truth.
Why do some Christians oppose Tarot cards? The title should explain it all. Many (perhaps most) Christians view Tarot cards as evil, or at least something to be avoided. Why? <Q> While the cards may not be themselves considered bad, or possessing them inherently sinful, it is likely to be thought of as an indication ...	Tarot cards are widely used for fortune telling and other occult practices, which most Christians consider to be sinful.
Why doesn't the Pope try asserting doctrines ex cathedra to check if they're true? My understanding is that the Catholic Church teaches that when the Pope speaks ex cathedra, he is infallible, because what he says in such instances is divinely protected from error. There are a lot of questions that the Church considers...	Although a pope has the authority to define a dogma without asking for counsel regarding its "definability," it would be rash not to seek counsel.
Is there a name for the low wall that is often in front of a choir? There's typically a low wall, about hip-high, in front of the first row of the choir. Religious architecture typically has its own terminology, and Christian architecture in particular. So is there a special name for that wall? Or is it just "that wall...	In Catholic Churches the benches (wall) in front of the first pews are called a prie-dieu.
What is the significance of the donkey Jesus rode on Palm Sunday? I'm working on different symbols of Palm Sunday. Has anyone done work on the significance of the donkey Jesus rode on? <Q> Yair Zakovitch, as cited by Bruce Feiler in Abraham , page 89, has considered the significance of the donkey. <S> He explains: ...	The use of a donkey instead of a horse is highly symbolic, it represents the humble arrival of someone in peace, as opposed to arriving on a steed in war.
According to the LDS Doctrine of Exaltation, where did the Father live as a man? According to the LDS Doctrine of Exaltation (the Father was once a man who was exalted by his Creator to Godhood as Christ is exalted by the Father), did the Father live on this Earth at a previous time, on another planet in this cosmo...	God the Father, Elohim, dwelt as a man prior to the existence of the observable universe.
Is there more than one Joseph in the Bible? When reading my Bible, I've noticed Joesph's name listed in both the Old and New Testaments; is it the same person or is there more than one Joseph in the Bible? <Q> There are 3 distinct (fairly) well-known Josephs in the Bible, firstly in the Old Testament (mainly): <S> J...	There is more than one person named Joseph in the Bible.
Can the human spirit remember anything without a physical body? (LDS perspective) I work doing support work for adults with disabilities. I have a friend who recently graduated with a degree in psychology. One day we got talking about all the ways that brain damage (through accident, injury, age, disease, etc.) can aff...	Yes, our spirits can store and remember and recognize truths, lessons, and even people we knew in our prior existence before coming to earth.
Relationship between Mary/Elizabeth or Jesus/John? How were Mary and Elizabeth related, outside of the obvious of being of the children of Abraham. Mary was of the tribe of Judah, and Elizabeth would have been a Levite. How could Mary and Elizabeth be related that would make Jesus and John to be considered cousins? ...	The term 'relative' is most likely referring to a blood relationship, so it is reasonable to believe that they were related through Elizabeth's blood relationship to either Mary's father or mother in the Tribe of Judah.
How can 1 Corithians 15:3 and Psalms 49:7 be reconciled? In Corinthians 15:3 it states that Jesus died for our sins. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, In Psalms 49:7 it states no man can die for the sins of another. No one can...	Jesus died for our sins, because He is God & He has no sin.
Is there a complete list of Catholic Saints somewhere online? I'd like to find a list of Catholic Saints who names end in "bert". IF we have a boy, I'd like my next child to be named "...bert" Keith Turner after his uncle Keith and potential saint GKC and I'm looking for the most wondrous Northumbrian names to annoy m...	The ultimate "List of Saints" from Rome can be found in this book which is published by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints: Index Causarum Sanctorum ac Beatorum .
How do those who support the perpetual virginity of Mary doctrine harmonize the Protevangelium of James with the Gospel of Matthew? I have a question concerning those who support the perpetual virginity doctrine. The Protoevangelium of James is the earliest source used to demonstrate how Joseph had children from a prev...	The harmonization would be that the Gospel of Matthew is divinely inspired Sacred Scripture, while the Protoevangelium of James is merely pious tradition.
What is the difference between the KJV, AKJV, NKJV, etc? Hello I've been confused by the amount of KJV bibles there are. The AKJV means the authorised King James Bible but AKJV also stands for American King James Bible as well. From my understanding the Authorized KJV (1611) is the KJV but I've read that the 1611 vers...	AKJV usually stands for the Authorized King James Version, which is usually used in reference to the pure Cambridge edition (1901). There's a distinct difference, but unless you are in sincere study to know God you probably would not notice the differences.
Are there any Protestant denominations or churches that reject penal substitution? I come from a background in Protestant/Evangelical churches. The trademark salvation message in those churches is that Christ bore the wrath of God for your sins to satisfy his justice that we have offended by our sin; it's basically a t...	So, if you look at some of the continuing Anglican denominations you may find a church that is Protestant but does not hold to Penal Substitution Theory.
How can Saint Thomas Christians who are Catholic have confidence that St. Thomas sailed to Muziris? This question is addressed to Saint Thomas Christians that are Catholic. Since the Catholic church rejects the authenticity of both the Gospel of Thomas and the Acts of Thomas , how can anyone in the Catholic segmen...	At this stage, the story of St. Thomas sailing to Muziris is best regarded as a legend.
Why do Catholic laity cross themselves three times before the Gospel is read? Why does the laity (and sometimes the priest) cross themselves 3 time before the Gospel is read? Like holding hands during the Lord's Prayer, and unlike bowing at the mention of the Incarnation during the Creed, it's not something that is c...	Before the Gospel is read, a Catholic makes signs of the cross, with the thumb, on his or her forehead, mouth, and heart, which represents that the Catholic must understand the Gospel,
Are there gender requirements for Sponsors for a Catholic baptism? In the Catholic Church, do sponsors for baptism need to be male and female, or are you able to have two females or two males as sponsors? <Q> The Code of Canon Law for the Latin Rite Catholic Church states that there may be one or two sponsors for the...	No more than two sponsors are permitted, however, and the two sponsors may not be of the same sex.
In LDS belief, why are eternal families so important? I know that the family is central to God's plan, and that families give you more joy in life than anything else ever could. But I've often wondered why it is necessary for everyone to be sealed together? I know the classroom answers. We teach in the LDS church tha...	This is the significance of eternal families: so that we can all be sealed to Christ and our Father in Heaven. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave.
Do Mormons celebrate Christmas on/or around the 25th of December? Being a denomination which prides itself of the restored beliefs of the original church before false doctrine infiltrated the truth, do Mormons celebrate Christmas on/or around the 25th of December? If so on what scriptural basis do they have for that da...	Yes, Mormons generally celebrate the birth of Christ on the traditional day of Christmas, December 25.
Tithing and excommunication question (LDS) Member of LDS Church asking: Will the LDS hierarchy excommunicate me if I do not pay them the required 10% of the difference between my home purchase price and my home sale price? Anyone know about that? It is a bit more than just a tithing question because I had to pay $44.0...	I'm not gonna answer your question as-is because it's personal, but in general: Tithing is between the individual and the Lord.
According to the doctrine of Trinity, was Jesus always co-equal to the Father? So I'm trying to understand the Trinity. I always thought of it like this: Jesus was 100% divine when he was with the Father. In other words, he was fully co-equal to the Father. Then, when he became a human being (on earth), he wasn't 100%...	– Jesus was simultaneously 100% God and 100% man while on earth; his divinity was not compromised.
What writing materials did the writers of the Gospels use? I am wondering what kind of writing materials the writers of the Gospels used to make the original scrolls. I know that papyrus and parchment were used widely at the time. <Q> Echoing @djclayworth: We do not have any of the original manuscripts of the scri...	Looking at other documents from around the same time period we can assume papyri and/or parchment ( Dead Sea Scrolls ).
Why do images of saints often depict them with unusual hand gestures? Many saints are often depicted holding a book or some other object. However, I have noticed that there are quite a few that have unusual hand gestures. Why is this? Augustine of Hippo Index finger, middle finger, and ring finger together, other fin...	It is a way an artist can depict the story of that saint and how his/her life pointed and was oriented towards God.
Is the Book of Mormon considered to be another Gospel? (LDS perspective) Is the Book of Mormon considered to be another Gospel? Paul tells us not to accept any other gospels apart from the one he has preached. Is the Book of Mormon considered to be another gospel? If so, why? Inviting Mormon perspectives. 6 I marve...	It contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel, not a new gospel.
Where can I find a complete set of Ante-Nicene Writings? I am a self-learner and am really interested in the writings of the Christian fathers during the Ante-Nicene period. I found an great e-book for a few dollars titled "The Complete Ante-Nicene Church Fathers Collection [9 volumes]", and I also found a set of book...	Unless I am mistaken, there has never been an English translation set that encompasses absolutely all the ante-Nicene writings.
Is the English translation of "Book of Mormon" ever revised or updated, and if so, on what basis given that the golden plates have disappeared? The English used in the initial translation of the book of Mormon is KJV-esque English. I'm wondering if there have ever been new English translations as time goes by, and as t...	There have been various updates to the printing of the Book of Mormon over time to correct errors in the typesetting of earlier editions.
What was the amount of bread and wine used when Jesus did communion? I could imagine that times then were hard and food somewhat scarce. A whole loaf of bread divided equally would be a small meal and a bottle of wine could serve well to wash down the bread. I could not imagine that Jesus would only give a tiny peace o...	The size of [the loaf of] bread used by Jesus in the post Pasch communion of the gospels is not known to us.
What steps has the Catholic Church taken as a whole to address a shortage of priests? It seems like the first instinct of the news media when it comes to the Church's response to a shortage of priests is to end the rule enforcing celibacy. But that is not what the Church has been doing. So, what has she done (as a...	One of the things some bishops are doing is increasing the number of permanent deacons in their dioceses.
Is it appropriate (as a Catholic) to make the sign of the cross when passing an Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox or Church of the East church? It is an old tradition in Catholicism to make the sign of the cross when passing a Catholic church, as a sign of respect to the Eucharist contained in the tabernacle, located...	Yes, the Orthodox Churches do have tabernacles in their churches
Are there explicit statements in the New Testament about the purpose of life? Is the purpose of life directly and explicitly addressed in the New Testament? Most of the citations I found are implicit at best. <Q> Here are just a handful of New Testament verses relating to life purpose (based on Rick Warren's The Pur...	The Apostle says that God created humans from one blood and they are placed around the world so that they may seek the Lord and come to repentance. A more explicit declaration of life purpose (using the phrase "whole duty of man") can be found in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14:
Who was Cain afraid of? After Cain kills Abel and God gives him protection, who is he being protected from? Genesis 4:14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me. <Q> If we consider Genesis 5, we'l...	As an outcast, he was afraid that future generations will come for him and slay him.
Catholic baptized in another church A catholic wanted to have her baptism blessed under full water method. The Church is not familiar with this , so she had a evangelical church do it. So, her local Catholic priest forbid her from receiving communion. She was not aware of the consequences of minor excommunication. Now,...	She will have to go through formal acceptance into the Catholic church, but that will likely not involve another baptism.
Is there a term for children whose parents' marriage ends with nullity? In its discussion of marriage, the Catechism of the Catholic Church ( CCC ) states, "The Church holds the exchange of consent between the spouses to be the indispensable element"( CCC 1626 ) that seals the covenant of matrimony. "If this freedo...	A marriage is certainly valid if contracted without an invalidating impediment and according to the form prescribed by the Church.
What is the difference between an apostle and a disciple? Some people use "apostles" and "disciples" interchangeably when talking about the 12 that originally followed Jesus. Yet, I don't commonly hear the opposite, people using those two words interchangeably when talking about those that follow Jesus after his resur...	A definition of apostle is An important early Christian teacher or pioneering missionary.
Is God the Son's divine nature human? According to the hypostatic union, God the Son assumed a human nature, so that he is both fully divine and fully human. The two natures, although distinct, are not separated. Does this mean god the son's divine nature is fully human ? If not, what does "without division, witho...	The divine nature is united with the human nature in person of Jesus Christ, but it is unchanged by this union.
is Adam no longer the son of God? Luke 3:38 (KJV) states (emphasis added): which was the son of Enos, which was the son of seth, whcih was the son of Adam, which was the son of God" . The verse uses the past tense. Does that indicate that Adam is no longer a son of God? When Jesus was speaking to the Sadducees ...	The use of the past tense in Luke 3:38 does not mean Adam is no longer the son of God anymore than the past tense in any of the verses of Luke 3:23-38
Where in the Biblical narrative does God first reveal himself as the only living and true god? It seems upon course consideration that God has always taught that he is the only actual God. But upon closer inspection, it appears that God reveals himself to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as "El Shaddai" which is "God Almighty...	I would say therefore, in answer to the question, that it is first made clear in Job chapter one that God is above all other who might be called 'god'.
What to do with a Nun’s silver wedding band? I found the silver wedding band that belonged to a deceased nun . I do not know the family, but her name is engraved inside and dated 2-12-46. What does the Church teach about the sacramental status of these objects and how can I avoid blasphemy while possessing them? <Q>...	From what I've read, I think that the wedding band given to a consecrated religious sister is given to her for the same reason it is given to a married laywoman.
Does faith cometh by hearing only as alluded to in Romans 10:17? (KJV) Romans 10:17 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. It seems Paul alludes to faith cometh by hearing the word of God,but in several instances in bible(Hebrews 4:1)(Isaiah 53:1) they heard the word of God but did not ...	Nothing in the passage talks about exclusivity of how faith comes, but it clearly states that one way is through hearing the word of God.
Can Papal Supremacy be relinquished? Is there anything in the Roman Catholic doctrine of papal supremacy that would prohibit the Pope from relinquishing his authority as head of the Church, and instead be "First among Equals?" One of the fundamental differences separating the Roman Catholic Church from our fellow Chri...	The quick answer is no; the Roman Catholic Church will never relinquish papal supremacy.
How can I defend my position of being against homosexuality in front of unbelievers? I am a high school student who stands fervently against homosexuality. I have remained quiet about my belief so far, but now it has been coming up in class as a topic that should be supported, and those against homosexuality have been ...	It is against the law, here in the UK, to make remarks that would be considered 'homophobic' in a public place and, in certain circumstances, in private.
What is the Biblical basis that God "cannot" act against his nature? I understand the traditional theology of omnipotence to be that God can do anything He wills, and that his omnipotence is thereby limited to His nature. In other words, saying that God can do anything does not imply that He can lie or sin. For exam...	For God to act against His nature would mean, employing the COED definition of "nature", that He would be exhibiting features, quality, or character that were not basic or inherent to Him.
When would a Mormon choose to go to the temple instead of the church? The accepted answer to this other question mentions that Mormons have two types of meeting locations: temples and churches. According to the answer, the churches have a 3-hour meeting every Sunday. In what kind of cases or times would a Mormon th...	Some members attend the temple regularly; others go when they can, or when they need to.
Does the Catholic Church have a list of Good Books? The Church maintained an index of banned books for a long time, until it got to be a "must read for Satanists" list. Has the Church (or affiliated bodies) ever maintained a list of good books. Here's what I know so far: I know of the Catholic Library Associatio...	The Catholic Church has a concept of an imprimatur ("let it be printed") , an approval granted to a book by a bishop.
Why are there so many priests in the LDS Church? I don't have any hard number, but in most other churches, usually there are only a few priests per church (if they have priests). In the LDS Church on the other hand, usually almost half of the congregation is priests. So, why does the the LDS Church have so many more p...	Priests are able to baptize but not confirm, can ordain deacons, teachers (priesthood offices lower than priest), and priests, can bless the sacrament in addition to passing the sacrament (which deacons and teachers can also do) and preparing the sacrament (which teachers can also do).
Why was the Holy Family instructed to flee to Egypt? At Matthew 2:13-14 (NRSVCE)we read about the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt: " Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for...	There are many Reasons I suppose that the Holy Family went to Egypt, The main being the simple fact that they knew who Jesus was and that an Angel of God directed them to do so.
Are there any denominations that do not require pastors to be college educated? I am curious if there are any denominations that do not believe in college education for church leaders such as pastors, missionaries, etc. There are many churches that do. I am asking because I do not agree with college education. I strong...	Technically, many Evangelical Presbyterian bodies like the PCA allow for it in special circumstances.
Why do some Christians believe a very young Earth? AFAIK, some Young Earth Creationists (YEC) believe that Earth was created less than 10000 years ago ; that is a relatively small interval before the creation of human beings. However, I also perceive that most creationists do not have a problem with a "huge" (i.e. li...	You find more Christians who believe in a young Earth because they tend to be more well versed in these sciences since they align with what they are taught nonscientificly.
What is the meaning of the phrase "Entertaining Angels"? For inexplicable reasons I've been listening to a lot of Newsboys lately and also recently finished reading Dorothy Day's Auto-Biography. What do these things have in common? Well there's an intensely catchy Newsboys song called "Entertaining Angels" and the bi...	The phrase entertain strangers comes from the Greek word φιλοξενίας (philoxenias) which literally means to love or befriend strangers.
Can Catholics serve as godparents at an Anglican infant's baptism? My wife and I (both Catholic) have been asked to serve as godparents at our niece's baptism. The child's parents are fully aware of our strong commitment to the Catholic faith. I've received conflicting advice, and I wonder if anyone here can point to c...	It is the Catholic understanding that godparents, in a liturgical and canonical sense, should themselves be members of the Church or ecclesial Community in which the baptism is being celebrated.
What is the fewest number of cardinal electors are needed to validly elect a pope? What is the fewest number of cardinal electors are needed to validly elect a pope? Pope St. John Paul II, in his Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis on the vacancy of the Apostolic See and the election of the Roman Pont...	There is no minimum number of cardinals set in the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis , written in 1996 by Pope St. John Paul II.
Do any Christian denominations forbid pronouncing the Tetragrammaton? In Judaism it has been a taboo to pronounce the four letter name of God. It was never explicitly said when reading the Jewish scriptures. Do any forms of Christianity have a similar approach? <Q> The Tetragrammaton ('Hashem', The Name) was written ma...	Although specifically not forbidden from saying it, Catholics are not supposed to use the the name of God in their Liturgy: Of the more than 5,000 available copies of ancient Greek Christian Scripture manuscripts (MSS), some from as early as 200 C.E., there are no MSS that show any evidence of the Tetragrammaton.
In the New Testament who was the first person to recognize Jesus as the Messiah? Other than the Apostles, who was the first person in The New Testament to recognize Jesus as the Messiah? <Q> Mary was informed by Gabriel that her Son would be Son of God, and be given the throne of David; while Joseph was made aware that...	The first to be made cognisant of the fact that Jesus was specifically Messiah, or Christ, were certain shepherds abiding in the fields outside Bethlehem, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
Does the Seal of Confession include saying whether or not a person confessed to them? The Seal of Confession is the duty of Catholic priests to not disclose anything they hear from someone who comes to them for confession. Does this include disclosing whether or not someone has seen them for confession? For instance, c...	No, a priest cannot even reveal that because it would betray the penitent. So yes, a preist can reveal that someone has attended a confession service.
What was Jesus referring to when He said "it is finished"? What is "it" in this case? At the end of Jesus' ministry, what did Jesus mean when He said "it is finished" (John 19:30)? Is this to be considered the end of Satan's Reign over humanity? <Q> Yes, victory over Satan and over sin, for HE had accomplished what had...	What Jesus meant by 'it is finished' are the things that were written for him to do.
Marriage invalid. Would a church annulment require a state annulment or state divorce? This question may be wrong. I think the right question is in the following link: How do Filipino Catholics get a church annulment when their state marriage is valid, considering the Philippines doesn't have divorce? Example: Let'...	No, the Church doesn't need the law to recognize that you were not married by it, it simply has to look into the circumstances before the marriage.
Which are the sins that will not be forgiven in the age to come? At Matthew 12:32 we hear some tough talk from Jesus: Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. I wish to know whether there...	For the Catholic Church, the sins that are not forgiven are mortal sins unrepented.
Why is God considered by many to be a male? I am not a Christian, but I believe in many of the biblical stories and the message that they provide for the world to be a better place. I think the Bible could be more accepted and it’s strong ethical messages become regarded and understood better, if people discussing the ...	Anthropomorphism is simply a means for God (a spiritual being) to communicate truth about His nature to humanity, physical beings. With regards to God, the Bible informs us that God is neither male nor female:
Why was the Sea of Galilee called so? We see the mention of a freshwater lake of 167 km square in Israel called as the Sea of Galilee or the Sea of Tiberias at Mtt 4:18, Mtt 15:29, Mk 1:16, Mk 7:31 and Jn 16:1. I wish to know the logic behind calling a lake a sea. <Q> This is not an unusual usage, nor one that needs a ...	And there may well be a spiritual allusion in the fact (as reported by Wikipedia ) that the sea of Galilee is freshwater, so crops could flourish right up to (and, possibly, into) its very waters.
Why did Jesus call Abel a prophet? In Luke 11:50-51, the Lord Jesus Christ calls Abel a prophet: "Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the al...	Our Lord is simply identifying Abel as the first martyr and prophet in the Old Testament and Zechariah as the last Old Testament martyr and prophet.
What is the Bible's oldest Messianic prophecy? Some Messianic prophecies occur near the beginning of the Bible, such as Deuteronomy 18:15 (or even Genesis 3:15). What I want to understand is which Messianic prophecy do scholars believe was actually recorded first? Does, for example, the Immanuel prophecy of Isaiah ...	The first Messianic prophecy occurs in the first book of the Bible, Genesis 3:15., probably written in the 15th century BC.
Foot Washing - Required for salvation? Jesus said to Peter that his feet must be washed to "have part with Jesus" (John 13:9). Jesus also commanded all disciples to wash each other's feet (John 13:14). Our church practices foot washing as a sacrament (must do to be saved). I know that we are probably the only church ...	Bible Churches, Methodist, and Baptist doctrines do not consider foot washing a sacrament (what one must do to be saved).
Catholicism: How to treat beggars? My country is full of beggars asking for money, sometimes it's kinda family controlled business, the parents ask their children to beg for money and then steal the money from them, some beggars are really poor, others are just scammers. But you don't have anyway of telling, the vast...	Giving money to the less fortunate of society is fine, but one must be cautious about doing so.
Better safe than sorry? Should you confess if you're not sure if you've committed a sin? I’m guessing if you aren’t sure if you have committed a sin it is better to confess anyways than to be stuck in hell forever? Is there anything wrong with wrongly confessing or is it OK? <Q> If you aren’t sure if you have committed...	If however one is not sure if one has committed a mortal sin, one should go confession.
Do Latter Day Saints / Mormons consider themselves to be henotheists? Up until now, I saw Christianity as a whole to be monotheistic (there is only one god that created the world, is all-powerful and intervenes in the world). Whilst looking at monotheism and henotheism (belief in a single god while not denying the...	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' official website explains how their Church may have both monotheistic and henotheistic aspects. Latter-day Saints also believe strongly in the fundamental unity of the divine.
Has a slave served as a priest? In a recent sermon on Ephesians 6.5-9, the possibility was raised of a slave being a priest/pastor/bishop with authority over his earthly master. I couldn't think of an example from Church history. What examples are there in Church History (ancient or modern) of a priest or equivalent ...	Nevertheless the Church does have examples of ex-slaves being ordained priests and even consecrated bishops and eventually canonized a saint.

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