In Romans 1:16, Apostle Paul urges GOD TV to evangelize Israel's Jews - Tovia Singer

Frequently Asked Questions

1.Why did Apostle Paul preach a new religion?

When Rome adopted Christianity with the conversion of the Roman Emperor (4th Century) and his official campaign to repress anyone who refused to conform; to kill those Christians who refused to follow Romes 'Trinitarian Christianity'.
Paul knew that the victors wrote history and in order to win 'he had to be all things to all men' (I Corinthians 9:24-27).
Those who dig their heels in 'beat the air' and refused to compromise any detail of the true faith ended their days as martyrs.

2.What did early Jewish-Christians think of Apostle Paul?

Paul's popularity was in decline between 55-66 CE because missionaries from the Church of Jerusalem publicly rejected his innovation and claim to be an Apostle.

3.How did Saul become Apostle Paul?

A young man named Saul was bent on murdering all the Christians he could. He was a Jew, a Pharisee (well-versed in the Law of Moses), a man of knowledge, letters and spirit.

Following a dramatic experience, where according to Saul, Jesus Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus.

Saul converted to Christianity and now became the beloved apostle, saint, evangelist, theologian, and pastor we call Paul.

4.How was Apostle Paul's message different to Jesus?

Paul played an important role in the development of Christianity. In opposition to Jesus, Paul maintained Judaism was inadequate; and Paul taught a different theology to Jesus:

* Jesus was more than the long-awaited Messiah; he was divine incarnation.
* Jesus' crucifixion was not a political martyrdom, but a cosmic sacrifice intended as salvation from evil.
* The actual life of Jesus, his political persuasions and religious teachings were irrelevant and not important.

5.How did Apostle Paul view Jesus?

According to Paul:

* Jesus was the 'image of the invisible God'
* The first-born of all creation
* In him were all things created in Heaven and Earth
* He is before all things and in him all things hold together
* He is the begining, the first-born from the dead
* In him, the fullness of God was pleased to dwell
* Through him reconcile all things in Heave and Earth
(Colossians 1:15-20)

6.How did the Jews view Apostle Paul?

Paul's salvation theory was considered blasphemy by faithful Jews. The Jews knew Pauls teachings ridiculed all previous revelations from God as expressed through the Torah.

The Jews after all, were the one race of people in the world who were taught God was One, without form or substance, and did not bear the likeness of anything in the universe.

7.How did Apostle Paul become the authority?

Initially, Paul violently opposed the growing Jewish-Christian movement right up to his dramatic conversion. After his dramatic conversion, Paul believed he had the authority to speak on behalf of God.

He preached that God's grace depended on believing that Jesus was part of the Godhead, and not a mere prophet or messenger.

8.According to Apostle Paul, why did God give Jews the Torah?

Paul claimed God gave Jews the Torah so that they could be saved later on by believing in Jesus Christ. This was God's divine plan.

9.How did Apostle Paul differ with the Jewish Rabbis?

The Jewish Rabbis preached a person was saved so long as their intention was to remain within the covenant, and one truly repented and seek forgiveness for their sins.

Paul preached that every person was 'damned' until they was offered salvation. Mans problem was that he was 'in the flesh' in bondage to the Law, sold under Sin, enslaved by the fundamental spirits of the universe (ie. dead).

Paul preached the only cure was liberation from slavery and death by union with Christ, who had conquered death and sin.

10.What was the core message of Apostle Paul's teachings?

11.What happened after Apostle Paul converted to Christianity?

After his conversion, Paul who was the enemy to Christians suprisingly did not go back to Jerusalem to meet learn from, or even apologise to the Apostles.

Instead he went to Arabia, and then returned to Damascus, Syria. After three years, Paul returned to Jerusalem when he spent fifteen (15) days with Peter and met James. He did not meet any of the other Apostles.

12.What about Apostle Paul's writings?

Out of 27 books in the New Testament Bible, Paul wrote 13 book; this was the majority of writings, in spite of the fact his writings were in clear contradiction to the original teachings of Jesus Christ.

13.What books did Apostle Paul write?

Romans
Paul explains how the gospel works and how to respond. Paul wrote this letter before he had visited the Roman church.

1 Corinthians
In 55 A.D., Paul admonished the local church that he had founded in Corinth.

2 Corinthians
Come 56 A.D., the Corinthian church had escalated and then resolved their conflict with Paul. Second Corinthians is Paul's a letter of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Galatians
Someone had misled the churches of Galatia—resubjecting them to the Law of Moses and devaluing God’s grace. Paul writes the Galatians an aggressive letter to set them straight on their freedom in Christ.

Ephesians
Paul outlines doctrines of grace, peace, and salvation, and then instructs the church to walk in a manner worthy of Jesus Christ.

Philippians
Even though he’s suffering in prison, Paul finds joy in Christ. He writes to the church at Philippi urging them to take on a Christlike attitude.

Colossians
This letter explains to the church at Colossae who they are in Christ.

1 Thessalonians
The church of Thessalonica is setting a great example for other churches, even though they’re being persecuted for their faith. Paul encourages them to “excel still more.”

2 Thessalonians
The affliction just won't let up on the Thessalonian church, so Paul coaches them on standing firm until Jesus’ return.

1 Timothy
This is Paul’s guide to godliness and sound teaching for the young pastor Timothy at Ephesus.

2 Timothy
Paul's death is drawing near, and he charges Timothy to carry on his gospel work.

Titus
Paul had left Titus at Crete to set up order in the churches there. Now he writes Titus instructions for leading a counter-cultural church.

Philemon
It’s a message to Philemon, a leader in the Colossian church.

14.Why is believing in Apostle Paul so wrong?

1. If Paul was right, then Jesus must have chosen the wrong individuals as his disciples.

2. If Paul's writings were true, a complete nonsense is made of the earthly life of Jesus and of his preachings to his disciples.

3. Paul never saw or met Jesus in person. Yet, Paul rejects the teachings of those who did meet, sit, learn from him and knew Jesus best.

4. The final range of New Testament gospels has been restricted. The gospels of Peter the Apostle, Barnabas and James (Jesus' brother) are strangely missing.

15.What did Apostle Paul think of his fellow Gospel writers?

16.How did Apostle Paul break Gods Law?

Two of the most demanding requests made by God of all faithful Jews was:

1. Circumcision of males as a sign of covenant
2. Ritual Purity - Both physical purity and dietary, careful regulation of what foods passed the lips

By rejecting the Torah, Paul broke away from God's requests.

17.How was Apostle Paul viewed in his time?

Paul's doctrine of justification by faith in Jesus alone had three effects:

1. It made Paul the implacableenemy of the Jewish people who refused to accept his arguement
2. Christians viewed Paul as an outsider, and even a threat at times
3. Paul caused the severance of Christianity from Judaism, and gave its first real independant theological basis

18.Was Apostle Paul an Apostle?

An Apostle is one of the original 12 disciples called by Jesus to preach the gospel: Simon Peter, the brothers James and John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot.

As Paul never met Jesus, many Galatians and Corinthian Christians actively challanged Pauls right to even teach, and his right to call himself an Apostle.

19.What dramatic experience made Apostle Paul convert to Christianity?

Their are a number of varying versions of Paul’s vision as he describes it to various different people of different races.

20.How did Matthew (Gospel) support Apostle Pauline Christian doctrine?

It did not! Matthew (85 CE) was written for Jewish-Christians who observed the Law and did not wish to break away from Judaism. Matthew is in complete opposition to Pauline doctrine.

21.Why was Apostle Paul superior to other Apostles?

22.Did Apostle Paul face any opposition. If so how?

John the Evangelist wrote:

23.What did Apostle Paul mean when he said that he became all things to all men?

24.What was the message preached by Apostle Paul?

To be members of God’s covenantal people, it is not necessary for gentiles to become Jews. They do not need to be circumcised, observe the Sabbath, keep kosher or any of the rest.

They need to believe in the death and resurrection of the messiah Jesus.

Prior to this, the followers of Jesus – the first Christians – were of course Jews who understood that he was the messiah who had died and been raised from the dead. But they knew this as the act of the Jewish God given to the Jewish people.

Certainly gentiles could find this salvation as well. But first they had to be Jewish. Not for Paul. Jew or gentile, it didn’t matter. What mattered was faith in Christ.

25.Why did Apostle Paul choose to preach to the Gentiles?

In Paul’s time there were two primary groups of to whom he could have preached; the Jews and the Gentiles.

Paul chose the gentiles and quickly won favour among their peoples and entitled himself as the ‘Apostle of the Gentiles‘.

26.How was Apostle Paul viewed by the Jews?

Although, Paul was of the Jewish background, the Jewish-Christian followers of Jesus rejected Paul and wanted to kill him.

27.What did Apostle Paul achieve by his Christian conversion?

1. Paul managed to defeat Jesus' Jewish-Christian followers whom he was persecuting by establishing a new version of Christianity which preached exactly what the high priest suggested; that murdering Jesus was not a bad idea after all

2. He defeated Jesus and Peter, the rock on whom Jesus promised to build his church and so became himself the rock of a new church (and Christianity later)

28.What did Apostle Paul say about the other gospels?

Paul rebuked other gospel writers.

29.How was Apostle Paul viewed by the Jews?

The Jews and early Jewish-Christians who observed Mosaic Law constantly harassed Paul. They even followed him around and stirred the people against him. To the extent he was often beaten and threatened with death.

30.How important was Jesus' crucifixion to Apostle Paul?

Paul does not show any interest in the life and career of Jesus'. Instead his writings depict someone fixated on the death and resurrection of Jesus, the man he calls 'the Lord'.

31.Was Apostle Paul a disciple of Jesus?

No, Paul never met Jesus in the flesh. Influenced by Greek Hellenism and various religious mystical cults, Paul turned Jesus into a deity for worship.

32.What life did Apostle Paul lead before his miraculous conversion to Christianity?

Paul was known as Saul was a prosecutor and law enforcer for the Romans, the Caiaphas. He was hostile towards Judaism.

33.Why did James allow Apostle Paul to preach a new religion?

James accepted Paul and his missionary activities as the money he raised from wealthy gentiles helped to support the Jerusalem church (?)

34.How did Apostle Paul view Jesus' teachings?

According to Paul, Jesus' Jewish teachings are not relevant to salvation. While Jesus is regarded by Christians as the founder of the faith. Paul's role in defining Christianity is absolutely fundamental.

35.What did Apostle Paul do after his miraculous conversion to Christianity?

After his vision, Paul in his own words went into the desert of Arabia for a period, seeking no instruction. These accounts reflect a change in Paul's status: in his own view, he had received a revelation from Jesus/God directly and that elevated his status far higher than Jesus' twelve disciples.

36.What was the main difference between Apostle Paul's religion and the message of Jesus?

Paul's religious creed fundamentally is in his concept of the death of Jesus as saving mankind from sin. Instead of seeing Jesus as a messiah of the Jewish human savior, he saw him as a God-like diety whose atoning death by violence was necessary to release his devotees for immortal life and attain salvation. This view of Jesus' death seems to have come to Paul in his Damascus vision.

37.How did Apostle Paul convince the Gentiles?

Paul's new religion had the advantage over other salvation-cults of being close to Hebrew Scriptures, which Paul now re-interpreted as forecasting the salvation-death of Jesus. This gave Pauline Christianity an authority that proved attractive to the Gentile masses.

38.How did James, leader of the Jerusalem Church, view Apostle Paul?

Paul's new doctrine met with disapproval from the Jewish-Christians of the Jerusalem Church, who regarded the substitution of Jesus' atoning death for the observance of the Torah as a lapse into paganism.

Paul was duly summoned to Jerusalem by the leaders James, Peter and John to explain his doctrine in 50 AD.

39.What was Apostle Paul's view on circumcision?

Paul did not consider the practise of circumcision as important. According to him, keeping the commandments through faith was more important.

40.What did Apostle Paul do after he converted to Christianity, on the road to Damascus?

According to historical records, Paul converted to Christianity between 1 to 3 years after Jesus' crucifixion. Following this mystical encounter, Paul disappeared from the scene to emerge 13 years later (47-60 CE) as Paul, a missionary to the gentiles.

41.The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mark 12:28

28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Mark 12:28-30

42.And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mark 12:29

43.How did the Early Jewish-Christians practise their religion?

The Jewish-Christians practised three daily prayers, male circumcision, ritual washing for purity, fasting, attention to clean/unclean foods, giving charity and pilgrimage to a central temple.

44.Did Jesus claim to be 'King of the Jews'?

A placard where Jesus was accused of claiming to be 'King of the Jews' was nailed to his cross. Today this placard can be found at the Church of Santa Croce in Rome.

45.How was Jesus Jewish?

In many ways, Jesus was Jewish:

He did not preach a new religion He taught people to do the Will of God; not a new God
He never went to Church
He fully observed the Jewish Law
His followers continued attending and meeting at the Temple
His followers observed the dietary regulations of the Torah and continued the practise of circumcision

Therefore, the early Jewish-Christians did not give up Judaism, nor did Jesus every ask them to do so.

46.What did early Jewish-Christians think of Apostle Paul?

Paul's popularity was in decline between 55-66 CE because missionaries from the Church of Jerusalem publicly rejected his innovation and claim to be an Apostle.

47.Were the early Christians Jews?

Yes. Jesus himself and his immediate followers observed all Jewish law, customs and practise.

48.Did Saul kill the early Jewish-Christians?

Prior to becoming a Christian, Saul of Tarsus hated Christians. He made it his goal to capture, then bring Christians to public trial and execution.

49.How did the Jews view Apostle Paul?

Paul's salvation theory was considered blasphemy by faithful Jews. The Jews knew Pauls teachings ridiculed all previous revelations from God as expressed through the Torah.

The Jews after all, were the one race of people in the world who were taught God was One, without form or substance, and did not bear the likeness of anything in the universe.

50.According to Apostle Paul, why did God give Jews the Torah?

Paul claimed God gave Jews the Torah so that they could be saved later on by believing in Jesus Christ. This was God's divine plan.

51.How did Apostle Paul differ with the Jewish Rabbis?

The Jewish Rabbis preached a person was saved so long as their intention was to remain within the covenant, and one truly repented and seek forgiveness for their sins.

Paul preached that every person was 'damned' until they was offered salvation. Mans problem was that he was 'in the flesh' in bondage to the Law, sold under Sin, enslaved by the fundamental spirits of the universe (ie. dead).

Paul preached the only cure was liberation from slavery and death by union with Christ, who had conquered death and sin.

52.How did the early Jewish-Christians view Jesus' resurrection?

53.Who seperated Christianity from Judaism?

It was Paul's dramatic conversion to Christianity that resulted in the seperation of Christianity from Judaism. Within months of his disappearing, Jesus' teachings were changed.

54.Why Jews do not accept Jesus as the Messiah?

The Bible claims the Messiah will accomplish certain signs:

A. Build the Third Temple (Ezekiel 37:26-28).

B. Gather all Jews back to the Land of Israel (Isaiah 43:5-6).

C. Usher in an era of world peace, and end all hatred, oppression, suffering and disease. As it says: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall man learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4)

D. Spread universal knowledge of the God of Israel, which will unite humanity as one. As it says: "God will be King over all the world—on that day, God will be One and His Name will be One" (Zechariah 14:9).

The historical fact is that Jesus fulfilled none of these messianic prophecies.

Christians counter that Jesus will fulfill these in the Second Coming, but Jewish sources show that the Messiah will fulfill the prophecies outright, and no concept of a second coming exists.

Read More

55.What does the Quran say about Jews and Christians?

The Jews say "The Christians have nothing [true] to stand on," and the Christians say, "The Jews have nothing to stand on," although they [both] recite the Scripture. Thus the polytheists speak the same as their words. But Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
[Quran 2:113]

56.How was Apostle Paul viewed by the Jews?

Although, Paul was of the Jewish background, the Jewish-Christian followers of Jesus rejected Paul and wanted to kill him.

57.Does the Quran tell Jews and Christians to refer to their Scriptures (Torah and Bible)?

When the Quran refers to the previous Scriptures (Torah, Gospel etc.), this is understood to mean the original revelations sent to Moses and Jesus, and not the 'corrupted' versions we have today

58.In the time of Jesus, what qualities would identify the Messiah, to the Jews?

A human empowered by God. Not a God-man, a person of the Godhead or part of a Triune God (Trinity)
From the lineage of Abraham (Gen. 22:18)
From the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10)
A descendant of David (2 Sam. 7:12)
A Lord under Yahweh, the God of Israel (Ps. 110:1)
From amongst their own people (Jer. 30:21)

59.How did the 1st century Jews view the Holy Spirit?

First century Jews believed the Holy Spirit was another name for God, similar to Yahweh, Elohim or El Shaddai - not a separate Person in the Trinity!

There is no record of Jesus ever trying to correct the Jews and prove the Holy Spirit was a third Person in the Trinity.

60.How was Apostle Paul viewed by the Jews?

The Jews and early Jewish-Christians who observed Mosaic Law constantly harassed Paul. They even followed him around and stirred the people against him. To the extent he was often beaten and threatened with death.

61.Jesus claimed to be God. The Jews must have understood this, as they accused him of blasphemy and were ready to stone him?

The Jews were mistaken. Jesus did not claim to be God, claim divinity or commit blasphemy. In the next verse (John 10:34), Jesus tells the Jews to read their own books, Psalm 82:6 where men in power, eminence, dignity, government, judges, magistrates, in high office posts are called Gods too. i.e. the term God does not literally mean GOD.

62.Why do Jews let the hair grow on the sides of there head?

In the Torah, God forbids the cutting of the hair on the sides and the beard

63.How did Jews view the Greek Bible (Septuagint)?

For the Jews, the Septuagint would always be a translation of the Hebrew bible.

64.In the time of Jesus, how were the Jews viewed by the Greeks?

Judaism was views as an inward looking, demoralized by centuries of Roman occupation, declining economic fortunes and ongoing emigration.

65.Why did God send so many prophets?

God sent thousands of prophets with the sole message to worship the one, true God (the Creator) and not worship Creation, such as other men, prophets, spiritual leaders, trees, water, fire, animals, weather, money etc.

66.How did God send his revelation to us?

The Angel Gabrial (Jibreel) was tasked with conveying God's message to His prophets

67.What is the basic teaching of Islam about God?

Islam teaches that there is one, and only one, God Who is the Creator and Controller of the entire universe. He is unique in every respect, and there is nothing which bears any likeness to Him. He is the Knower of all things, and has full power over the whole of creation. He does not stand in need of anything at all, while everything is totally dependent on Him. He possesses all the perfect qualities, and man should worship Him, and Him alone.

68.Does Islam give any arguments to prove the existence of God?

The Holy Quran gives three kinds of arguments on this point.

Firstly, it refers us to the physical world which shows great order and arrangement, works according to laws, and where everything has a set purpose in the whole scheme of things. There is also immense beauty in nature which attracts man's heart. Science is discovering more and more of these characteristics of the world all the time. So behind this highly purposeful and beautiful working of nature must be One, single Intelligence of great beauty and attraction.

Secondly, the Quran tells us about the close and deep connection between God and the inner nature of every person. There is an in-built desire in each and every person to search for something higher than oneself, and when in difficulties a person instinctively wants to call upon a Hidden Power to help him.

Thirdly, and most convincingly, Prophets and men of God appeared in every nation in the world and showed their people the reality of God through their teachings and works. Just as most of us learn about science not by making all the discoveries ourselves, but by accepting the work and evidence of those who devote themselves to the study of science, similarly the proof of the existence of God is provided by the lives of the great luminaries whom God sent all over the world for this very purpose.

69.Other religions also teach the existence of God. Is there any difference between their teaching and the Islamic concept of God?

The first major difference is that Islam teaches the absolute one-ness of God, with Whom no one can share in Divinity. No idol or heavenly object, nor any religious or spiritual teacher, can possess some Divine power or attribute.

Secondly, Islam teaches the highest conception of God, and does not accept any limitation to His power and knowledge, while other religions set limits to Him. For instance, Islam rejects the Hindu belief that God is not the Creator of matter and souls but exists alongside them. It also rejects the Christian doctrine that God is unable to forgive sins unless He punishes someone, and so He sent His 'son' to suffer the punishment for the sins of all humanity. Moreover, a son is needed to take the place of the father when the father dies, and clearly this cannot apply if God is perfect.

Thirdly, Islam refutes the idea that any human being, however great, was a 'manifestation' of God on earth, or a Divine incarnate.

70.What is a prophet or messenger of God?

A prophet or messenger of God is a human being to whom God gives His guidance and whom He charges with the task of conveying that guidance to the people, so that they may do good and avoid evil.

71.Christianity and Hinduism revere their religious figures as gods or incarnations of God

According to Islam, all these righteous persons were mortal, human prophets of God, like Muhammad, having the same needs that every human being has. They all eventually died, as everyone must.

There are several reasons why they have come to be revered by their followers as 'gods'. One is that their words were misunderstood by the later generations, who mistook their figurative expressions in a literal sense. Another is that the details of their lives were not preserved accurately, and therefore a great many myths have grown up around them, and their works and deeds have been much exaggerated.

72.Is Allah the Moon-God?

Robert Morey, a Christian pastor first claimed Allah was a pagan Moon God. This is a false claim

73.Do Muslims believe in a God?

Yes, Muslims believe in Allah(God)

Muslims believe that Allah is the all-powerful Creator of a perfect, ordered universe.

He is transcendent and not a part of his creation. He is all-powerful, absolutely Just and He is First, Last, and Everlasting; He was when nothing was, and will be when nothing else remains. Also, There is no other entity in the entire universe worthy of worship besides Him.

This belief in God is how one becomes a Muslim and is similar to the first commandment of Christianity and Judaism: You shall have no other gods before Me.

The Quran presents this belief in Allah as:
Say He is Allah,the One,
Allah the Eternal,Absolute;
He does not beget,not nor is He begotten,
And there is none like Him.

Al-Ikhlas(1:1-4)

74.How many prophets did God send?

According to sources, God sent 124,000 prophets to guide mankind

75.In the Bible, God says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Begotten son"

The words "Begotten" and "Son" are not accurate. View Jesus is the Son of God for more information.

In the Quran, God says:

"They say: (God) Most Gracious has begotten a son! Indeed ye have put forth a thing most monstrous! At it the skies are ready to burst, the earth to split asunder, and the mountains to fall down in utter ruin, That they should invoke a son for (God) Most Gracious. For it is not consonant with the majesty of (God) Most Gracious that He should beget a son." (Quran 19:88-92)

76.According to Apostle Paul, why did God give Jews the Torah?

Paul claimed God gave Jews the Torah so that they could be saved later on by believing in Jesus Christ. This was God's divine plan.

77.Does the resurrection of Jesus prove he is God?

No. Jesus himself raised people after their death:

1. Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:35-43)
2. Son of a widow at Nain (Luke 11:11-17)
3. Lazarus, who was dead for four days (John 11-1-44)

Furthermore, the Old Testament shows women received their dead by resurrection (Hebrews 11:35)
Elijah raised a widows son from death (I Kings 17:17-24)

Therefore, the resurrection itself would not make Jesus unique or divine even.

78.How did Apostle Paul break Gods Law?

Two of the most demanding requests made by God of all faithful Jews was:

1. Circumcision of males as a sign of covenant
2. Ritual Purity - Both physical purity and dietary, careful regulation of what foods passed the lips

By rejecting the Torah, Paul broke away from God's requests.

79.How did the Sun-God manifest itself?

The Sun-God had many manifestations including:

* Apollo or Dionysus among the Greeks
* Hercules among the Romans
* Mithras in Persia
* Adonis and Attis in Syria
* Phrygia, the Osiris, Isis and Horns triad (Trinity) in Egypt
* Baal, Astarte and Tammuz triad (Trinity) among Babylonians
* Jesus Christ the 'Son-of-God' (Sun-God?)

80.How were the Triadic or 'Trinity-like' Pagan Gods presented?

The pagan Triadic dieties were shown as a single-head with 3 faces, 3 mouths but only 4 mouths. Such images were preserved across the Roman Empire.

81.Who was Mithras, the Sun-God?

Long before Jesus arrived, the Sun-God Mithras was worshipped.

* Mithras was said to have been a great mediator between God and humanity
* Mithras was born of a virgin in a cave on December 25th
* Mithras travelled far and wide with 12 disciples
* Mithras died in the service of humanity.
* Mithras rose again from the tomb, and his resurrection was celebrated with great rejoicing.
* His great festivals were the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox.
* Mithras was called Saviour and sometimes figures as a lamb. People were initiated into the cult through the baptism of blood

82.Who was Dionysus, the Greek God of Wine?

* Dinoysus, the Greek God also known as Bacchus was born on December 25th
* Dinoysus' mother was a virgin called Demeter
* The world was full of evil, so the GOD of Gods was called on to save humanity
* The prayer was accepted by Jupiter who declared his Son would redeem the world from its misery
* Dionysus known as his only begotten-Son, was sent as the Saviour
* The shedding of Dinoysus' blood was symbolized in his gift of wine to humanity

83.Who was the Attis God?

* Attis was born of a virgin named Nana
* Attis bled to death on a pine tree and his blood renewed the fertility of the earth; bringing life to humanity
* He rose from the dead and this event is celebrated on 24th March when Attis' image is attached to a pine-tree
* Attis' image was placed in a tomb, but the tomb was later found to be empty and so the festival of resurrection was celebrated

84.Were the Gods sacrificed?

* Horus - In Egypt, in the Heb-Sed festival, the powers of Pharaoh (Horus incarnate) were tested. If found weak, Horus was expected to sacrifice himself by donating his blood to the soil

* Kronos - A man was sacrified annually at the Phoenician feast of Kronos. Kronos had a son, Ieoud who he sacrificed. Ieoud was known as 'the only begotten son of his Father'

* Tammuz - A popular Syrian saviour-God born of a virgin was killed and rose again every spring. Wherever Tammuz was worshipped a human victim in royal robes was killed and eaten, so his body and blood might bring salvation to the community.

85.Who was the Tammuz God?

Tammuz was a popular Syrian saviour-God who pre-existed Jesus Christ yet shared a number of similarities:

* Tammuz was born of a virgin
* Tammuz was killed and rose again every spring.
* Wherever Tammuz was worshipped, he was celebrated with a human victim in royal robes who was killed and eaten. This was so the sacrifice, his body and blood might bring salvation to the community
* One of the chief centres of Tammuz worship was Bethlehem, said to have been the birthplace of Jesus
* Tammuz was called 'the Carpenter', a title related to the 'Architect' of the universe. Jesus too was called the 'son of the carpenter'
* Tammuz was said to have entered Jerusalem riding two asses, because this represented the passage of the sun at the summer solstice through the sign of Cancer (two asses star-sign)
* In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus enters Jerusalem on two animals.

86.Who was the Babylonian Baal God?

Details of the Babylonion Baal or Bel God were found by German excavators in 1904 at the site of the ancient city of Ashur.

* Details of Baal's capture and his trial in the House on the Mount
* Baal's torture and being led away to his death
* The city broke out in fighting
* Baal's clothes were carried away
* A woman wiped away blood from the weapon thrust into his heart
* A weeping woman came to lament him at the 'Gate of Burial'
* Baal was brought back to life at the spring equinox

87.Why are their so many similarities between Jesus Christ and all the pagan Gods?

It is highly likely the reason why the Church priests burned and destroyed the earlier records of pagan Gods was to hide the evidence for the real origins of their own Christian mythology.

88.What is the God of the Old Testament like?

The God of the Old Testament is a jealous, bloodthirsty, vicious God that mercilessly commanded horrific attrocities like, for example:

Killing every human on the planet except the handful that went with Noah.

Moses commanding his people to shed each others blood as atonement for creating and worshiping the golden calf

The genocide of the people in the promised land when the Hebrews finally ended their 40-year stay in the dessert. Under the command of God, they wiped out whole cities, killing every man, woman and child.

89.In Islam, can God become a Man?

God is perfect and He is all powerful. Both Muslims and Christians accept that this is true. The ontological term for this is that God is "immutable" or absolute in His perfect nature. In the Christian faith, God's incarnation is seen as a manifestation of His power, whereas in Islam it is seen as the changing of God's nature. If God is perfect, and God's nature changes, how can He be perfect?

It would have to mean that He was not perfect before and is now perfect, which would not make Him God or that He was perfect before and is now not perfect, which would also not make Him God.

If God is perfect, then there is no need for Him to become anything, so that He can grant us salvation. Since He's already perfect, loving and merciful, why would He need to change His nature to a weaker, human nature to grant us salvation? That's a contradiction. Therefore, when the Christian argues that God changing His nature makes Him perfect, this is not the case. They need to think before they speak. If God is perfect and you add something to His nature, does that mean He was not perfect before? Which means He was not a God before this addition?

If God is perfect and you add something to His nature, that would mean He lacked something before and thus could not be a God.

90.Jesus is the son of God as he had no Father?

If Jesus is the son of God, Adam is the greater son of God as he had no father and no mother

91.In John 1:1. Jesus claims to be God?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

In actual fact, the 'Word' is God's wisdom and action and not as a separate deity, as is presented in the Old Testament:

And the word of the Lord was Joseph’s helper (Gen.39:2)

And Moses brought the people to meet the word of the Lord (Ex. 19:17)

And the word of the Lord accepted the face of Job (Job 42:9)

And the word of the Lord shall laugh them to scorn (Ps. 2:4)

They believed in the name of His word (Ps. 106:12)

92.The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mark 12:28

28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Mark 12:28-30

93.All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy 3:16

Yet in other Bible verses, Paul claims he is not inspired by God.

12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
1 Corinthians 7:12

25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
1 Corinthians 7:25

17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
2 Corinthians 11:17

94.And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent
John 17:3

One does not need to be a doctor of divinity to construe our point! The archaic pronoun "THEE", as use in the text, alludes directly and distinctly to the father; no Trinitarian would deny this.
That being the case, if we substitute subject "Father" for the pronoun "THEE" we get:
"And this is life eternal, that they might know FATHER the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent"

95.For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

96.And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mark 12:29

97.How did the prophets Moses, Jesus, Abraham etc. call out to God?

Most likely the Aramaic or (later) Hebrew form of Allah, which would be Elah or El. These are the generic names, but we do not know if it became generic due to normative use.

98.In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God
John 1:1

99.Why does God allow suffering?

In general, God has allowed suffering to remind us that we need to adhere to His laws. The other reason for suffering is as a punishment for those who have violated Gods laws. Ultimately, suffering is a test of our faith in God and we must endure it with patience and appreciation for those who are suffering even greater trials.

100.How did God address Abraham and his wives?

101.How did Jesus tell people to reach God?

By following his way by keeping the law

102.Did Jesus claim to be equal to God?

Jesus confirmed God was greater then him

103.Are Jesus and God the same?

Jesus makes a distinction between himself and God here

104.Was Jesus sent and approved by God?

Jesus was sent and approved by God.

105.Was Jesus a servant of God?

Although the King James Version (KJV) Bible claims "his Son Jesus". Modern, more reliable Bible translations use "his servant Jesus" for this verse.

106.What is the greatest of Gods commandments?

To love God will all our heart.

107.Was Jesus and God one?

Jesus was saying that He and the Father are of one nature and essence.

Christians claim that this statement proves that Jesus is one or united with God and, consequently, Jesus is God. However, when Jesus died, he did not give up the Father, he only gave up the ghost, "And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost" (Mark 15:37).

This claimed unity was not available to Jesus when he died; what happened to this unity and why did not the Father die when Jesus died, if Jesus and the Father are one?

108.Does the Bible support the Trinity (3-in-1) God concept?

This verse mentions the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Ghost) in the King James Version Bible (KJV). Bible critics agree the KJV verse is a forgery that was added into the Bible. More modern, accurate Bibles give different text:

And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth - (RSV Bible)

And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth - (ASV Bible)

For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. (NIV Bible)

109.If God is so powerful, can he become a man?

The Bible tells us that God is not a man or son of man.

110.Do all Christians believe Jesus was God or Son of God?

The early Jewish-Christians such as the Ebonites, the Cerinthians, the Basilidians, the Capocratians, and the Hypisistarians. The Arians, Paulicians and Goths also accepted Jesus as a prophet of God.

Even in the modern age there are churches in Asia, in Africa, the Unitarian church, the Jehovah's witnesses, and even the majority of todays Anglican Bishops do not worship Jesus as God.

111.Did God sent Jesus with the task of guiding people?

The Bible confirms that God sent Jesus, and God gave Jesus a job to do, which he duly completed (i.e. called the 12 disciples and others to the worship of God)

One does not need to be a doctor of divinity to construe our point! The archaic pronoun "THEE", as use in the text, alludes directly and distinctly to the father; no Trinitarian would deny this.
That being the case, if we substitute subject "Father" for the pronoun "THEE" we get:
"And this is life eternal, that they might know FATHER the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent"

112.Jesus was God as he had the power to forgive sin

113.What did God promise Abraham regarding Isaac?

God promised Abraham he would establish an everlasting covenant with Isaac. If this is true, then why would God tell Abraham to sacrifice his 'only son' Isaac? A sacrifice would nullify the covenant?

114.What does God say about Ishmael, Abraham's eldest son?

God promises to make a nation from Ishmael. This is the Arab nation from whom Muhammad came.

115.Did Jesus confirm the oneness of God?

Yes

116.Did Jesus call for worship of one God?

Yes

117.Did Jesus call for the worship of one God?

Yes

118.Does God make a distinction between clean and unclean animals?

In the account of Noah's Flood. God makes a distinction between clean and unclean animals, but it is obvious that Noah knew the difference.

119.Does God make a distinction between clean and unclean animals?

In the account of Noah's Flood. God makes a distinction between clean and unclean animals, but it is obvious that Noah knew the difference.

120.Does God define clean and unclean animals, i.e. those we can eat?

God goes into great detail and lists which animals were clean (kosher; fit for human consumption) and which are unclean (non kosher; not fit for human consumption)

121.Did Jesus claim to be God?

When read in context with previous verses 22-30, Jesus makes a distinction between himself and the Father. 'My Father who has given them to me, is greater than all'. Therefore, Jesus and the Father are not one in person, for the Father must be a distinct person from the Son, and the Son a distinct person from the Father. The use of the verb plural, "I and [my] Father", (esmen) , "we are one" is in nature and essence.

122.Who are the Gods in the Bible?

Emperor Constantine at the opening of the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) quoted Psalm 82:6 to remind the bishops that their high office should raise them above jealousy and party feeling.

The term 'God' was applied to people of power, authority and rule who were considered to have greater nearness to God than others - an appellation which implies that you are God's representatives on earth, and that your decision is, in an important sense, to be regarded as his.

123.Does God have many sons?

According to Bible scholars the term 'sons of God' here refers to kings, rulers or princes. The term is plural and points to many sons.

124.Jesus claimed to be God. The Jews must have understood this, as they accused him of blasphemy and were ready to stone him?

The Jews were mistaken. Jesus did not claim to be God, claim divinity or commit blasphemy. In the next verse (John 10:34), Jesus tells the Jews to read their own books, Psalm 82:6 where men in power, eminence, dignity, government, judges, magistrates, in high office posts are called Gods too. i.e. the term God does not literally mean GOD.

125.In John 9:38, Jesus is worshipped like a God?

According to verse 38, a blind man is healed by Jesus, and after seeing Jesus he worships him.

In the Codex Sinaticus, the oldest manuscript of John, dated to 330-years after Jesus, verse 38 is not recorded. The entire verse 38 appears as an additional footnote on the side of the Codex Sinaticus.

Verse 38 was inserted into the bible to prove that Jesus was worshipped and that he acknowledged and allowed the people to worship him.

This proves that the early Jewish-Christians did not interpret Johns gospel in the way we do today. At some point a scribe felt so strongly about the divinity of Jesus that he was compelled to include a footnote into the main text as an actual verse.

126.In John 20:28, Jesus is called a God?

This verse 28 is a statement by Doubting Thomas and is used to demonstrate that Jesus was viewed as God, and therefter worshipped as one.

In the earliest manuscript, Papyrus66, the words "and my God" are missing. So verse 28 reads "And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord".

It appears that later bible scribes came across a gap in the manuscripts and using guesswork and speculation, filled it with the words "and my God".

Unfortunately, it is impossible to know what the original words in the papyrus were.

127.Are children born believing in a God?

Led by two academics at Oxford University, the £1.9 million study found that human thought processes were 'rooted' to religious concepts.

The project involved 57 academics in 20 countries around the world, and spanned disciplines including anthropology, psychology, and philosophy.

The co-director of the project, Professor Roger Trigg, from the University of Oxford, said the research showed that religion was “not just something for a peculiar few to do on Sundays instead of playing golf”.

"We have gathered a body of evidence that suggests that religion is a common fact of human nature across different societies. This suggests that attempts to suppress religion are likely to be short-lived as human thought seems to be rooted to religious concepts, such as the existence of supernatural agents or gods, and the possibility of an afterlife or pre-life."