Q. First, thank you so much for all the added insight to scripture, tradition and other resources; it has been very helpful.

My question is whether or not Adam and Eve were the literal first two people created who then went on to populate the earth, if they were two of a tribe of people or if they were symbolic of the human race in its creation.

Read Post »

Q. I was just wondering what your opinion is on this Gospel of Judas that has mysteriously shown up recently. I know Paul says not to accept any Gospel other than the one he preached. I really don’t believe this Gospel of Judas is true and I’m very suspicious of it since it apparently was written by gnostics.  I would love to know your “take” on it. Read Post »

Q. There are so many versions of the bible out, NKJ, NIV, etc to name just a few, and then there is the Catholic bible with the Apocrypha. How do we know that we have the right books in the bible? Maybe that’s why there are cults out there that state that the bible has been changed and by man. Could you explain why certain books are in our bible and why there are certain books that were not accepted and why is it that the Catholics have additional books that the Protestant world doesn’t? Are those “missing books” not the word of God? Read Post »

In the past you’ve sent me some good information that supports my belief (that the Bible is authentic) but I was hoping you could point me in a direction outside the apologetics world for facts to dispute claims that it isn’t. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Read Post »

In your commentary on Psalm 137, re: “under the leadership of Ezekiel the Jews put together the books of the O.T.” Could you tell me where I could get more information on this?

Read Post »

This may be a hypocritical statement and question. I believe there is a God and I believe Jesus Christ is my savior, but I often wonder “who made God”…Do you ever wonder this and would you have a theory to clarify my wondering?

I love your website. Thank you and God bless you!

Read Post »

I was reading Genesis 7 where God told Noah to take seven of every clean animal and only two of the unclean ones. The Levitical system wasn’t given until the Israelites were in the wilderness. How did Noah know which animals were clean and which were not?

Read Post »

I was reading your answer to the question: How Can Angels And Humans Have Children? I looked up the Book of Enoch. Very Interesting. Can you tell why it wasn’t included in the Bible?

Read Post »

Q. Could you please explain who decided what books would be in the bible? And when was this decided?

A. The earliest indications of the Old Testament canon come from the time of Ezra and Nehemiah and suggest that the process had begun during the Babylonian captivity (605-535 BC) with the Torah (the 1st 5 Books of the Bible). But the process was probably not complete until sometime in the 2nd Century BC. Deciding which books were to be included was done by senior priests based on general agreement that each book was authentic (written by the person identified as its author) and divinely inspired.

The New Testament had pretty much come together by 150AD but there continued to be discussion about a few books until about 400 AD. It was not officially canonized until the Council of Trent in the 1500’s. There were three basic criteria for inclusion.

1. Were the authors either eyewitnesses to the events they wrote about or at least directly taught about them by the Apostles?
2. Was each book’s teachings consistent with church practice and tradition?
3. Was each book already in general use by the church, and accepted as the Divine Word of God?

In both Old and New testaments, the books included had to be generally viewed as the work of divinely inspired writers who faithfully converted God’s Word into written form. (2 Peter 1:20-21)

Jack could you please teach me about the Book of Remembrance found in Malachi 3:16? Thanks!!

Read Post »