Ask a Bible Teacher

Jack answers your questions on a variety of Bible topics. Updated daily. Have a question? Send it to questions@gracethrufaith.com

Confusion Of Languages

Q. In Genesis 10 where the table of nations is recorded, we are told in verse 4 that Japheth’s descendants spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language. Also the same is said of Ham’s and Shem’s descendants in verses 20 and 31 respectively. How do we reconcile this with Genesis 11:1 which says, at one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words?

A. Genesis 10 is the overview of God’s dispersion of the people and how they were divided. Genesis 11:1-9 explains why it happened. It appears to be in reverse order to us, but it’s similar to the way a news report often gives us the end result of a major event first (the headlines) and then goes back to fill in the details (the story).

Tags: Bible Accuracy

Do I Need To Be Baptized Again?

Q. I was baptized when I was 23 years old in the 1st Baptist Church in Memphis, the Preacher took my wife and me in his office after the service and asked if we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and we said yes. He didn’t ask us to repent or ask for the forgiveness of our sins. I did not live my life for Jesus for a long time, but In the last few years I have turned all of my life over to Jesus completely and read the bible every day and Pray every day almost all day. Do I need to be Baptized again? Everybody I have asked said no. What do you say?

A. Baptism is a public declaration that you believe you’re a sinner, that the Lord died for your sins, and that you’ve accepted Him as your Savior. If you believed that when you were baptized, then I don’t think you need to be baptized again. But the opinions of other people are not important. What is important is whether you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you to be baptized. If you do, then you should obey and have another baptism.

Tags: Spiritual Life, The Holy Spirit

How Did Revelation Get Distributed?

Q. Since John was exiled to Patmos, how did the letters to the seven Churches get distributed? While we’re at it, how did the book of Revelation get dispersed and enter the cannon of scriptures? I thought being exiled meant that there was nobody around.

A. According to the dictionary a person who is exiled is separated from his or her country or home, either voluntarily or by force of circumstances. It’s not the same as solitary confinement. John was sent to the Island of Patmos, which was a Roman prison colony in those days. We don’t know how many people were on the small island but John certainly was not alone there.

Ships would have arrived with food on a regular basis, and there was likely some form of mail service, whether legitimate or not. There would also have been administrative personnel there to maintain order and they might have helped. Once off the island it was only a short distance by boat to Ephesus, the closest city, and each of the other 6 churches was within a few day’s journey from there. Since John was the last disciple still alive, his letters would have been treasured by the early church. Copies would have been made for all the churches, not just the seven addressees, and kept for posterity. Shortly after he wrote the letter, he was released and returned to Ephesus. He was about 100 years old at his death, the only disciple to die of natural causes.

Tags: Bible And History

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Tuesday, February 15, 2011