Bible Archives

April 1, 2026March 31, 2026

The Last Supper and What It Means to Us

Everyone is familiar with Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, The Last Supper. The painting shows the moment after Jesus revealed to His apostles that one of them would betray Him. We see each apostle’s reaction. Leonardo divided the twelve into four groups of three.

On the far right of Jesus, we see Bartholomew, James (the son of Alphaeus), and Andrew with surprised looks. Next is Peter, holding a knife that perhaps he would later use to cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. He leans over to John, the youngest apostle, who seems to have swooned, perhaps telling him to ask Jesus who the betrayer is. Judas, leaning forward between Peter and John, holds the money bag and reaches for the same loaf of bread Jesus is reaching for.

On Jesus’ left side, we see Thomas, James (the brother of Jesus), and Philip. Thomas looks to be questioning what Jesus just said about betrayal. James appears stunned, while Philip seeks clarification. On the far end of the table, we see Matthew, Jude (Thaddeus), and Simon the Zealot. Matthew and Thaddeus are looking at Simon. Did they suspect him?

Leonardo spent a lot of time walking around Milan looking for ordinary individuals to model the faces of the apostles. After all, the apostles were just ordinary people. Does the painting accurately show the real setting of the Last Supper? Probably not. The Bible says they gathered in a large above-ground room (Mark 14:18). It might have been the same place where Jesus appeared to them a week after His resurrection. The painting depicts a banquet hall with all the men seated on one side of a long table covered with a white cloth with blue stripes, and each man has a glass and a plate. In the first century, it was common to follow the Roman custom of reclining on a U-shaped arrangement of lounges called a triclinium around a small table.

Does the painting accurately show the apostles’ immediate reactions? We have no way of knowing, but it’s interesting to think about. If you were one of the apostles, how would you have reacted? Would you be shocked to learn your friend and teacher was about to be betrayed and killed? Would you want to know who the betrayer was? Could it be you?

Jesus told His apostles what was ahead to prepare them for the grief they would soon face. At the Last Supper, He also gave them the symbols of a loaf and a cup, to remind them whenever they gathered of His sacrifice — His body and blood. It also reminds us “until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26) that everything happened according to God’s plan to redeem all who accept His gift of grace through Jesus Christ.

Reference: Wikipedia.com

March 31, 2026March 30, 2026

A Class Hated for Their Abominations

Is it possible that Christians could be a class hated for their abominations and their hatred against mankind? Unfortunately, the answer is “yes.” Building on yesterday’s account of Suetonius, we have the report of another Roman historian. Cornelius Tacitus lived around AD 55-120. He is known as “the greatest historian of ancient Rome.” Tacitus wrote Annals around AD 115, in which he recounts the great fire that burned much of Rome during Nero’s reign. Here is a shocking excerpt from that account: (Emphasis added)

“Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their center and become popular.

“Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination when daylight had expired.

“Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle and was exhibiting a show in the circus, while he mingled with the people in the dress of a charioteer or stood aloft on a car. Hence, even for criminals who deserved extreme and exemplary punishment, there arose a feeling of compassion; for it was not, as it seemed, for the public good, but to glut one man’s cruelty, that they were being destroyed.”

Nero probably set the fire himself, but he had to blame someone, and Christians were not popular in pagan Rome, even among the Jews living there. Christians became the scapegoats. Notice Tacitus’ historical confirmation of the biblical account of Christ’s crucifixion.

Could Christians today become “a class hated for their abominations” and “hatred for mankind”? In some countries and among some groups, they already are. As Christians, we must follow Christ’s teaching and example and love even those who hate us. (See Matthew 5:43-48.)

March 30, 2026March 29, 2026

Christians Accused of Being Troublemakers

Recently, we noted that Paul caused trouble for the silversmiths who made idols of Artemis in Ephesus. So many people were converting to Christianity that it was hurting the sale of Artemis idols. A riot broke out when Demetrius the silversmith accused the apostle Paul of being a troublemaker. History records other instances of Christians accused of being troublemakers.

During Emperor Claudius’s reign in AD 49, a series of riots erupted among the Jews in Rome. At that time, many Jews were becoming Christians, and the Jews who rejected the gospel didn’t like it. Claudius decided to expel all the Jews from the city. Roman historian Suetonius, who served as chief secretary to Emperor Hadrian (117-138), recorded this event. Though he wrote later, his position gave him access to the imperial records. He wrote:

“Because the Jews at Rome caused continuous disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he expelled them from the city.”

“Chrestus” is a variant spelling of “Christ,” and Suetonius could not distinguish between Christ and the Christians. They were Christians accused of being troublemakers. We read in Acts 18:1-2 about two of the Jewish Christians who were expelled from Rome:

“After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.”

Suetonius’s account provides evidence from a reputable Roman historian supporting the biblical record. After meeting Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth, Paul preached to the Jews there, telling them Jesus was the Christ (Acts 18:5). However, the Jews “opposed Paul and became abusive” (verse 6), just as they had in Rome. This led Paul to declare that he was free from his responsibility to the Jews. He said, “From now on, I will go to the Gentiles.”

Suetonius also wrote about the great fire in Rome, likely started by Nero, who blamed it on Christians. More on that tomorrow. The key point is that Roman history confirms the biblical account. Earlier in Thessalonica, Christians accused of being troublemakers were called “these who have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). Actually, they were turning it right side up, and we still have much work to do in that regard today.

March 26, 2026March 26, 2026

Who Is Artemis?

In just a few days, as early as April 1, 2026, NASA will send astronauts to the Moon to orbit it and then return to Earth as part of the Artemis program. This will be the first time in over 50 years that American astronauts have traveled to the Moon. NASA named the project Artemis for several reasons. Why did NASA choose this name, and who is Artemis?

In Greek mythology, Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo. During the Apollo program, NASA successfully landed astronauts on the Moon six times between 1961 and 1972. The ancient Greeks believed Apollo was the god of the Sun, and Artemis was the goddess of the Moon. NASA chose to name the project Artemis to connect it to earlier lunar missions. Additionally, the Greeks believed Artemis was protective and closely linked to nature. This lunar mission emphasizes sustainability and long-term exploration. While the Apollo missions landed near the Moon’s equator, the Artemis astronauts will explore toward the Moon’s south pole, where they hope to find water. Another reason for choosing a female goddess is that NASA plans to land the first woman on the Moon.

So, who is Artemis? You may be familiar with the incident in Ephesus described in Acts 19. Ephesus was a Greek city in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). It was home to a temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Paul had been preaching there for two years (verse 10) and had led many people to be “baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus” (verse 5). Verse 20 states that “the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.”

The gospel’s success in Ephesus angered some merchants, especially a silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis. Selling these idols brought in a lot of money for the local merchants. Demetrius stirred up a crowd, telling them that Paul was convincing people that “man-made gods were no gods at all.” He warned: “There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

Demetrius’s speech caused a stir, and the entire city was in an uproar (verse 29). The people seized Paul’s companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, and took them into the theater. Only the city clerk was able to calm and dismiss the crowd, telling them that the matter should be settled in court, not in the theater of public opinion.

The question of “who is Artemis” can be answered by saying she is “no goddess at all.” I pray that the Artemis mission will be safe and successful. I also pray that we, as a nation, will not depend on false gods or goddesses but will turn to the one true God, just as many of the people in Ephesus did.

March 20, 2026March 19, 2026

Access to the Bible

This ministry is dedicated to affirming that science and the Christian faith are allies that support each other. The Christian faith is based on the belief system presented in the Bible, which we believe is the Word of God. One common challenge from skeptics is the lack of access to the Bible for everyone. It is unreasonable to claim that Christianity cannot be true because most people in the world have not had access to the Bible or learn what it teaches.

Certainly, some people have not had access to the Bible, but claiming that the Bible isn’t available to most people worldwide is not accurate. According to the Wycliffe Global Alliance website, at least part of the scriptures has been translated into 4127 languages. The Search Light from Edmond, Oklahoma, reported that the entire Bible has been translated into 776 languages, and the New Testament into an additional 1,798 languages.

The dictionary defines language as “a system of communication used by a particular country or community.” God has provided everyone with the opportunity to know He exists. (See Romans 1:20.) There are forces in the world that deny God’s existence and attempt to block access to the Bible. Additionally, human-made religions are plentiful and often distract people from God’s message. While work remains to be done, the “Good News” is widely available in both written and spoken forms, and online. It is up to Christians to spread that message, and it is up to each individual to decide whether to act on what Jesus has taught us.

References: Wycliffe Global Alliance and The Search Light (PO Box 371, Edmond, OK 73083-0371) (Website: www.searchtv.org).

March 11, 2026March 9, 2026

AI to Study the Dead Sea Scrolls

Beginning in 1946 and 1947, some Bedouin shepherds accidentally (or providentially) discovered what has become known as perhaps the most important collection of ancient documents ever found. Known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, more were discovered in the Qumran caves near the Dead Sea until 1956. Researchers are now using AI to study the Dead Sea scrolls.

For Bible scholars, the significance of these documents lies in their confirmation of the accuracy of the transmission of many Old Testament books. Of 15,000 scrolls and fragments dating from the third to the first centuries BC, 40% contain Hebrew scriptures. The most complete Old Testament book is Isaiah, the messianic prophet who predicted much about Jesus Christ seven centuries before His birth.

These scrolls have been studied using paleography (the study of letter shapes), radiocarbon dating, and even DNA analysis of the animal skins on which they’re written. Now, researchers are using AI to study the Dead Sea Scrolls. They named their AI model “Enoch” after the Old Testament figure who didn’t die. (See Genesis 5:21-24 and Hebrews 11:5.)

To train Enoch, researchers used radiocarbon data from other scrolls found in various locations in the Judean Desert. They also instructed the model to analyze the distinctive styles of the characters, cross-referenced with other scrolls. Using this AI method, they examined over 130 scrolls and found that almost all of them were even older than previously estimated.

The bottom line is that these ancient scrolls containing Old Testament texts align closely with the text in our Bibles today. This demonstrates that the Bible has been reliably copied and transmitted over thousands of years. The Bible text today can be trusted to reflect the original writings. Although using AI to study the Dead Sea Scrolls is still in the early stages, it is providing us with a clearer understanding of how and when these documents were produced.

Reference: Biblical Archaeology Review, Spring 2026, page 10, and Wikipedia.org

March 4, 2026March 3, 2026

Water Into Wine Controversy

The “News and Notes” section of our fourth-quarter 2025 Does God Exist journal included an item about the Cana wedding feast where Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1-11). Our skeptic friends have been quick to challenge this biblical event, claiming it is impossible from a chemical standpoint. John Lankford, a chemistry teacher in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and supporter of this ministry, sent the following comment on the matter:

In the last journal, you addressed this event of “water into wine.” While teaching AP chemistry, a student asked me, “Wouldn’t H₂O changing into all the organics needed for flavoring require a nuclear event?” I explained a POSSIBLE scenario to the class.

Since we don’t know many details of the event, we can logically SPECULATE some things. First, the “water” was not pure (a misnomer itself) but contained gases like carbon dioxide and oxygen. So, all the basic atoms were in the water. In fact, CO₂ + H₂O + energy —> a sugar + O₂. So, no nuclear reaction is needed to get carbon for grape sugars or flavorings. But an external energy and organizational force is required (which was Jesus, the Word). The oxygen, as a by-product, could give the “wine” a “bubbly effect” that might enhance the taste (similar to how people buy “oxygenated water” today).

This, of course, is just SPECULATION, but basic FACTS about ancient waters and the chemical reaction we see in photosynthesis suggest that Jesus called into play what was already available in nature to perform a miracle. (PS-even the assumed clay jar may have acted as a catalyst). The fact that a miracle can have a “mechanism” does not negate its being a miracle.

At any rate, this SUPPOSITION lets the student know that a “nuclear reaction” need not be what “must happen.”

Thanks to John for his explanation of the water into wine miracle from a chemistry teacher’s perspective.

February 20, 2026February 18, 2026

Information Is Fundamental to Everything

At the core of everything is information. DNA carries information in every cell of the human body, as well as in the cells of animals and plants. Without the information in our genes, we could not exist. DNA is a physical molecule, but it contains information that is not physical. We write words with physical ink on physical paper, but the information in those words is not physical, and it is far more valuable than the paper itself. Information is fundamental.

Ancient Greek Stoic philosophers used the word “logos” (translated as “word” in English) to refer to the rational principle behind the universe. The apostle John gave that term a deeper meaning when he used it to refer to the One who created all things. John’s gospel begins with, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” He goes on to say that the Word created all things.

When you read the Genesis creation account, you find, “And God said let there be light” (verse 3). The phrase “And God said” recurs in verses 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, and 29. Hebrews 11:3 tells us, “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Words are not visible. Information isn’t visible. We can put information on paper by writing visible words, but the information behind those words is not visible—yet it is more important than the paper on which it is written.

Information is fundamental, immaterial, and invisible. God is spirit (4:24), meaning that He is not material. The cosmic creation event, popularly known as the Big Bang, involved the creation of matter/energy, space, and time. That means the Creator of matter/energy, space, and time must be immaterial and outside of space and time. Matter/energy cannot create itself. God’s Word created everything we see as God spoke the universe into existence. The Bible doesn’t specify when God created the universe, what physical processes He used, or how long it took. Since God is not limited by our time dimension, time means nothing to Him (2 Peter 3:8).

After the physical creation, God used information to create life, with a DNA code far more complex than any human-made computer code. There could be no life without information to guide the production of proteins necessary for forming living cells and to direct the metabolism that sustains life. Information comes only from intelligence.

The bottom line is that information is fundamental, and it’s built into every living cell. If someone says, “I will not believe unless I can see it,” they are not being honest. Everyone believes in things they cannot see. Information is fundamental, and we cannot see it. The Word created all things (John 1:3). At the right time, the Word became visible: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Those who refuse to believe in God because they can’t see Him should remember that “the things that are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (See 2 Corinthians 4:13-18.)

January 16, 2026January 14, 2026

The Ignorance of Modern Churchgoers

Postmodern America is searching for answers in all the wrong places, and this is evident both in churches and in the secular world. The Family Research Council (FRC) and the Cultural Research Center (CRC) surveyed 1,000 churchgoers, adults who attend Christian church services at least once a month. The survey found that the ignorance of modern churchgoers is significant.

Only 54% of churchgoers said they believe that the Bible is the true, inspired, and error-free Word of God. Only 61% can say that they believe in the God described in the Bible. Only 51% said the Bible speaks clearly on abortion, and only 47% said it is clear on homosexuality. When asked whether they prefer capitalism or socialism, 32% of churchgoers favored socialism.

Although 30% of those surveyed claimed to have a biblical worldview, the survey shows that only 11% actually do. CRC research director George Barna remarked, “This generation of churchgoers is increasingly unsure of what they believe—or why.” The challenge for church leaders is how to modify their education programs to confront this ignorance. Currently, the tendency is either to deny the problem or to offer a simplified, outdated explanation that doesn’t meet the needs of today’s young people.

The FRC findings indicate that there is “widespread confusion about the most basic truths of the Christian faith—about who God is, what sin is, and how someone is saved.” I would add to this list confusion over WHAT God is. The ignorance of modern churchgoers is troubling, and clearing up this confusion is what this ministry is about.

References: frc.org and arizonachristian.edu

January 5, 2026December 30, 2025

Planet Earth is a Very Special Place

People often dream of leaving Earth and exploring or establishing residency elsewhere in the universe. Whether it is Star Wars, Star Trek, or The Martian Chronicles, entertainment media suggest that soon, humans won’t be limited to the planet on which we were born. What these people may not realize is that planet Earth is a very special place, carefully designed to support and protect life from deadly forces.

The Sun provides the heat, light, and energy essential for life on Earth, but its nuclear processes also release energy that can be harmful. Stars in other parts of our galaxy emit radiation capable of ionizing atoms in living cells, destroying them. Some of these radiation forms can be easily blocked—beta and alpha particles can be stopped by plastic, glass, or aluminum. But higher-energy radiation, like gamma rays, X-rays, and high-energy particles such as protons, neutrons, and HZEs (high-energy ions), requires heavy shielding like lead, concrete, or thick layers of water. Of course, building shields of such materials around a spaceship isn’t practical.

Scientists are exploring ways to use magnetism or exotic energy sources to solve this problem—and they may succeed someday. The point is that planet Earth is a very special place, beyond what most people understand. The author of the Genesis account had to describe creation in a way ancient shepherds could understand, yet one that scientists in 2026 couldn’t dismiss as just an old myth.

Genesis 1:1 in Hebrew reads, “reshith elohim bara shamayim erets.” The ancient shepherd would read “In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.” A scientist reading these words in 2026 would understand that the author was describing a beginning to time, caused by an intelligence outside of space and time, that created a planet with water so carbon-based life could live on it.” Planet Earth is a very special place.

Reference: American Scientist, January/February 2026, pages 40-47. For more on the language of Genesis 1, go to “God’s Revelation in His Rocks and in His Word,” on doesgodexist.org.