We read: “‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey”’” (1 Samuel 15:2-3).

Note that God says, “I will punish Amalek…”

Following their crossing of the Red Sea, the children of Israel encamped at Rephidim (Exodus 17). There, the Amalekites fought with Israel. The Amalekites, a tribal people living in the Negev and in the Sinai Peninsula, are first mentioned in Abraham’s time (Genesis 14:7). Amalek was one of Edom’s grandsons; Edom being Turkey today. Amalek’s descendants would include certain violent groups such as the PLO. In this battle, God helped Israel be victorious, but it was done through Moses holding up the Staff of God as Joshua and the Israelites fought with Amalek:

Continue reading "Why did God command Saul to utterly destroy Amalek rather than doing so Himself?"

More specifically, can you use a sourdough starter, or allow it to live in your fridge through the spring Holy Days? 

There are a few bakers in the Church who have received sourdough starters and have started to make sourdough bread. A sourdough starter is essentially flour, water and salt. Once these ingredients are added together it begins to ferment. There is natural wild yeast that is on ground flour that begins the process of fermentation when it is combined with the water and salt. The longer a starter is allowed to grow and be used, it gains flavor characteristics, and older starters are prized as having a fuller flavor and stronger binding properties. 

Some of the oldest actively used sourdough starters are over a century old, with notable examples including a 120-year-old Yukon Gold Rush starter and San Francisco starters dating back to the mid-19th century. Many family-kept starters are 50–100 years old. Recently, there was even an experimental, 4,500-year-old yeast from Egyptian pottery that has been revived and used to bake bread. 

Continue reading "Is sourdough bread allowed during the Days of Unleavened Bread?"

In the last four Q&As, we covered Paul’s first and second missionary journeys, and we also began to cover his third journey. We focused on events in Ephesus and will continue to describe what happened there. We are informed in Acts 19:20 that the Word of God grew mightily and prevailed in the city, and so Paul was desirous of going to Jerusalem and Rome (verse 21). Reaching both destinations would not happen right away; in fact, we read in the letter to the Romans that he had planned to go to Rome on several occasions, but was hindered from doing so (Romans 1:13).  

We read that Paul stayed for a time in Ephesus, and because of the great impact of Christianity, a riot occurred there. Acts 19:24-28 tells us:

Continue reading "Would you please explain in detail Paul’s three missionary journeys? (Part 5)"

In the last three Q&As, we covered Paul’s first and parts of his second missionary journeys. We discussed his experiences in Athens where most rejected his teachings. He then departed from there and went to Corinth. He arrived there about 50 AD.

Corinth was an extremely evil city, filled with temple prostitutes who “served” during the day in the temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of “love,” and would come down in the evening for their sexual activities. Some of those problems of the Corinthians were carried into the church which Paul would establish (see 1 Corinthians 5:1-2), and Paul later wrote two letters to the Corinthian church, while he was in Ephesus, correcting illicit behavior. He also pointed out that some of the brethren had been fornicators, adulterers, homosexuals and sodomites, but upon baptism, they had been washed, sanctified and justified (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Continue reading "Would you please explain in detail Paul’s three missionary journeys? (Part 4)"

In the first two parts of this new series, we discussed the apostle Paul’s first missionary journey which is described in Acts 13 and Acts 14. We also started discussing Paul’s second missionary journey, beginning in Acts 15. We addressed his and the other disciples’ experiences in Philippi and their departure from that unfriendly and hostile city.

From Philippi, they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1). That city was about 100 miles away from Philippi. The city of Thessalonica was Greek, but Romans and Jews lived there as well. We read that “as his custom was,” he went to a Jewish synagogue and “for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures” (verse 2).

Paul made it clear again that he kept the Sabbath, as he had always done. In this, he followed the example of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). After all, Christ, “as His custom was,” “went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read” (Luke 4:16). As true Christians and followers of Christ, we must keep the Sabbath day as well, on which we study the Scriptures and worship God.

Continue reading "Would you please explain in detail Paul’s three missionary journeys? (Part 3)"

In the first part of this new series, we discussed the apostle Paul’s first missionary journey which is described in Acts 13 and Acts 14. We saw that he was accompanied, at times, by John Mark and Barnabas. They traveled to Syria, Cyprus and Southern Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Their return to Antioch was described in Acts 14:26-28:

In this second part, we will begin to discuss Paul’s second missionary journey which would last for about three years. The preparation for this trip is reported in Acts 15:36-41.

“Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.’ Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”

Continue reading "Would you please explain in detail Paul’s three missionary journeys? (Part 2)"

In previous Q&As, we addressed, at times, the workings of the Apostle Paul. It is therefore interesting to investigate, in more detail, his three missionary journeys which are recorded in the Book of Acts.

Paul was born and raised in Tarsus, in Cilicia, as a Roman citizen. Tarsus was known as an educational center. Commentaries tell us that Paul learned seven languages there. He later moved to and resided in Antioch, where he and Barnabas pastored a church for a year (Acts 11:25-26). Tarsus was about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northwest of Antioch.

He began his first missionary journey from Antioch together with Barnabas (a Levite from Cyprus, Acts 4:36), after they had both been appointed as Apostles.  The ordination occurred about AD 47 and, and, according to William Barclay, “The Acts of the Apostles,” the journey lasted about three years. Others say it lasted one to two years. Paul travelled on his first missionary journey approximately 1,400 to 1,500 miles (2,250-2,400 kilometers), going from Antioch to Cyprus and continuing to Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He travelled by boat or on foot, walking on Roman roads.

Continue reading "Would you please explain in detail Paul’s three missionary journeys? (Part 1)"

Many believe that Jesus just called His disciples randomly, without having known them before. This assumption is false. Christ knew them quite well. This includes His brothers and sisters.

As we explain in detail in part 3 of our free booklet, “Jesus Christ—a Great Mystery,” Jesus had half-brothers and half-sisters through His mother Mary. We read in Matthew 13:53-56 that the Jews said: “Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, ‘Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s Son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?’”

Continue reading "Can you explain Christ’s family relationship with many of His early disciples?"

In the first part of this two-part series, we looked at the difference between the soul (the person) and the spirit in man.   We quoted from an article about “soul sleep” which rejected the concept that the soul is mortal, that the person is the soul, and that when a person dies, the person (the soul) sleeps in an unconscious state. The quotation from the article taken is in italics, followed by our comments below in roman type.

Let us continue with quoting from the article under discussion, and with our comments.

Until the final resurrection, there is a temporary heaven—paradise (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4)—and a temporary hell—Hades (Revelation 1:18; 20:13-14). According to Jesus’ account in Luke 16:19-31, neither in paradise nor in Hades are people sleeping. The three individuals in Jesus’ story—Lazarus, Abraham, and the rich man—are quite conscious and active in the afterlife, prior to the resurrection.

Continue reading "Could you explain what is meant by Soul Sleep? (Part 2)"

“Soul sleep” is not a phrase that we would use in the Church of God, even though, as we will see, it is an accurate description of biblical teaching. Rather, we would say that a baptised faithful Christian who had repented of their sins and lived the Way of Life—the narrow way, not the broad and easy way—will upon their death be awaiting the resurrection at the return of Jesus Christ.   We read this in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16:

^“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

Continue reading "Could you explain what is meant by Soul Sleep? (Part 1)"