Theology & Doctrine

Christians sometimes disagree about what the Bible teaches. They disagree about baptism, spiritual gifts, church government, the timing of Christ’s return, predestination and free will, women’s roles in church leadership, communion, divorce and remarriage, and many other subjects. For some Christians, disagreement itself can feel threatening. If the Bible is God’s Word, shouldn’t faithful Christians … Read more

The short answer is no. The exact phrase “patience is a virtue” does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Like “God helps those who help themselves” and “this too shall pass,” it is a widely circulated saying that sounds biblical, carries a moral weight that feels religious, and is frequently quoted in Christian conversation, but … Read more

The short answer is no. The phrase “good things come to those who wait” does not appear anywhere in the Bible. It is one of the most widely quoted phrases in Christian culture, attached to the concept of patience and often offered as comfort during seasons of waiting. But it originated not in Scripture but … Read more

Knowing about God and knowing God are different things, but the second depends heavily on the first. The attributes of God are what Scripture reveals about who God actually is: his nature, his character, and the qualities that make him distinctly and unchangeably God. These are not abstract theological categories. They are the specific, revealed … Read more

Few questions in modern Christianity generate as much discussion as this one. Christians are divided. Some see the modern state of Israel as the direct fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Others see the church as the true Israel that has inherited all the promises. Others hold a more nuanced position somewhere between. What is needed is … Read more

This question sits at the intersection of several of the most significant theological debates in Christianity: the nature of God’s love, the security of salvation, the doctrine of perseverance, and the meaning of Romans 8:38–39. It demands a rigorous answer that does not flatten any of the relevant distinctions. The Central Passage and What It … Read more

A crown of thorns ring is one of the most theologically loaded pieces of jewelry a Christian can wear. Unlike a cross, which has become so common in culture that its weight can be forgotten, a crown of thorns ring is specific, uncomfortable, and demanding in what it points toward. Understanding what it means requires … Read more

The soldiers who twisted that crown thought they were being creative in their cruelty. They had no idea they were enacting one of the most theologically precise moments in the entire Bible. The crown of thorns was not an accident of history. It was, unbeknownst to its makers, the visible sign of everything Jesus came … Read more

The 24 elders are among the most debated figures in the book of Revelation. They appear in John’s vision of the throne room of God, seated on thrones, dressed in white, crowned with gold, and engaged in unceasing worship. Every detail about them has been disputed. The answer lies not in tradition or speculation but … Read more

Adoration in the Catholic Church is the practice of spending time in the presence of Jesus Christ, as he is believed to be truly and physically present in the consecrated Eucharistic host. It is not a supplementary devotion tacked onto Catholic life. For those who practice it, it is an encounter with the person of … Read more