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Unfortunately for this theory, it's generally reckoned that Herod the Great died in 4BC. So Jesus must have been born in the year 5 or 6.

The New Testament canon was decided somewhere around the 4th century (I forget which council it was). As far as I know, no serious attempt has been made to change it. Luther is notorious for not liking the book of James, but that was just his opinion - he didn't have authority to remove it from...

Do all believers receive the same spirit? All believers receive the Holy Spirit from God. If that is so, what does that spirit cause? The Holy Spirit makes us holy! He cleanses and transforms our hearts, gradually making us more like Jesus Christ. He produces the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy...

Jewellery can be modest, or ostentatious. People put the dividing line in different places, depending on their cultural background. Much of the jewellery I wear is made from semi-precious materials by artisans in developing countries.

The Bible IS inspired by God - but not all of it was dictated by God. Each book (sometimes even parts of books) has to be read in its context and with regard to literary genre. "Apocalyptic" literature (such as the last few chapters of Daniel and the book of Revelation) was never intended to be...

I'll be getting the booster when it arrives. It should give me better protection against the delta variant, which would be a good thing. I've lost count of the number of tetanus boosters I've had. No-one has ever suggested that they were a bad idea.

There were a few transgender people around even in the first half of the last century, but there's been an explosive increase in the last decade or so. I doubt that full-time working mothers have much to do with it, and it really doesn't help to "blame" the parents. There are more plausible...

Both artists are wrong. Artist A almost certanly has Jesus in the correct position, but the nail is going through the palm of His hand (which would not have supported His body weight). Artist B almost certainly has Jesus in the wrong position, but the nails are in the right place, above the...

The breastplate of righteousness Ephesians 6:14 A soldier can quickly be put out of action by an injury to the chest or abdomen. So the breastplate has always been a fundamental piece of armour, protecting all the vital organs. The Christian’s ‘body-armour’ is righteousness. This is probably...

The belt of truth Ephesians 6:14 A Roman soldier’s belt (or girdle) was used to gather up his loose tunic, so that he could fight unhampered. Times (and uniforms) have changed, but not the basic function of a belt; it still holds your clothing together! But a modern soldier’s belt doesn’t just...

Ephesians 6:10-12 At the beginning of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes about God’s eternal plan to bring the entire universe back under His rule. But there is fierce opposition, for even after his comprehensive defeat at the cross (Colossians 2:15), the devil refuses to surrender. And...

Marriage is the ceremony, and always has been. It's a public statement ensuring that everyone knows which man belongs to which woman (and vice versa). Lots of other stuff (religious, ceremonial, legal and emotional) has got added to it over the centuries, but that was the most fundamental point...

Although the bible doesn't specifically say so, I think there are plenty of hints that they do. Do our pets go to heaven? Do our pets go to heaven?

I've now had both doses. "Without question" is not exactly my position, but I don't regard taking the vaccine as a gamble. The benefits greatly outweigh the risks, so it's NOT taking the vaccine that's the gamble.

It wasn't a "rule of Scripture". That just happened to be the culture at the time. Couples didn't 'date'; marriages were arranged. The betrothal was a binding contract, as binding as the actual marriage, and if the families decided they didn't want to go ahead then the couple had to divorce.

At school, children have to learn a wide range of subjects - whether or not they are interested in them, or have any aptitude. That's one reason why lots of children don't like school. But when you go to college or university you get to choose what you study - which makes it a completely...

Ideally when leaving a church one should go with the good will of the leadership and membership. But I've never heard of it being formalised quite like this. When we moved house 3 years ago, we were presented with a gift during the last morning service we attended at our old church. I suppose...

Sin shouldn't be defined simply as "something that hurts other people". That's the world's definition of sin. But we know that sin is also an offence against God. It includes things that harm other people, but there's a lot more to it than that. Sin can - and does - happen inside our heads, as...

This may not apply to your particular vehicle, but if the car you're driving is fitted with an airbag and you're NOT wearing a seatbelt when you crash, your injuries will likely be fatal even in a minor crash - because the airbag design assumes that you will be wearing a seatbelt. Another...

We disagree on what constitutes a "fact", don't we! The new vaccines are not "bogus" in anyone's eyes but your own, because you have a quirky personal definition of "vaccine". Both my husband and I have now had the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and we are fine thankyou.