Introduction
The Bible offers timely guidelines and verses that guide them to remain religious and pursue their spiritual aims. The passages, stories, and events described in different books make it easier for believers to get a clear image of the world, how and when God created it, and their responsibilities as followers of Christ.
According to many religious scholars, those who consider the teachings presented in the Bible and follow them will have increased chances of becoming part of God’s kingdom. This discussion paper uses the Bible and other sources to describe various religious events, thoughts, and views from a Christian perspective.
First Rain on Earth
One of the contentious questions many Biblical analysts try to answer is whether it had rained before the flood recorded during the time of Noah or not. It is evident that the Bible does not mention the presence of rain before this period (The English Standard Version Bible, Gen. 7.4-12). It identifies rivers and streams as the major sources of water on earth during that period. Some scientists have gone further to argue that groundwater might have been responsible for replenishing such rivers (Ham and Hodge 83).
Prior to Noah’s flood, the earth was characterized by stable weather conditions that made it impossible for human beings to experience rain. Additionally, the Bible reveals that Noah had been warned about new events and happenings that humans had never seen on earth before (Heb. 11.7). God’s promise of such floods might be a clear indication that rain had not been experienced on earth before the completion of the ark.
Noah’s Ark
The Bible does not give the exact period Noah took to build the Ark. However, some verses provide insightful information that can guide readers to make an accurate estimation. For instance, Noah gave birth to his first son when his age was around 500 years (Gen. 5.32). It is further indicated that Noah had to build it for himself, his wife, and his sons. His sons’ wives would also be aboard it before the floods (Gen. 6.18). Noah was aged 600 when it started to flood.
Considering that Noah’s family took some time to load the ark and gather adequate food, it would be appropriate to indicate the ark was constructed for around 50-70 years. This is a clear indication that the period of 120 years mentioned in the Bible (Gen. 6.3) is not part of the ark building process.
Pentecost and the Holy Spirit
Before the Day of the Pentecost, 120 people were present in a meeting aimed at replacing Judas as a disciple (Act. 1.26). However, only a small percentage of those presented during this day of Pentecost relieved the Holy Spirit (Act. 2.1-4). These were the ones who received the power to speak in different tongues.
The Bible indicates that the disciplines were the ones who were filled with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Tallon 52). With this kind of doctrine or blessing, the apostles were tasked with spreading the Church and performing miracles (Act. 3). These people were in a meeting in Jerusalem when they received the Holy Spirit.
Translating or Explaining Scripture that Contradict the Bible
The Bible has a number of passages and scripture that appear to contradict each other. People should be aware of such issues and make appropriate changes in the manner in which they study and analyze most of these texts. For example, a new approach in explaining the Bible is essential since it should be read as a complete spiritual book (Tallon 64). When people consider specific lines or verses independently, chances of becoming more confused or troubled will increase significantly. Such a change in studying the Bible will guide more individuals to explain or translate scripture effectively.
God as a Person
Several passages in the Bible explain why and how God is a person. When it comes to how, God possesses some of the unique attributes that are associated with the concept of personality. For instance, God is self-aware, Has a will and emotions, and possesses a mind (Psa. 139.17). According to the Bible (Corinth. 1.1), God has volition.
These attributes reveal or show how God is a person. Throughout the Bible, it is evident that these personal pronouns are used many times to refer to God: His, Him, and He. In terms of why, the Bible denotes that He exists in these three persons: Holy Spirit, Son, and Father. God the Father has a will, emotions, and a mind while the Holy Spirit fills and protects His people (Hudson 71). He also proclaims much pleasure in Christ, His son.
God as a Spirit
The most convincing reason that explains why God is a Holy Spirit can be found in different verses in the Bible. A good example is the one that states: “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being” (Ephes. 3.16). When Jesus was on earth, He always made reference to the Holy Spirit and the Father (Luk. 4.14-19). He also assured different followers that the Holy Spirit would descend and fill them with peace and love (Hudson 38). Since the Bible describes God’s existence as a trinity, it is agreeable that the Holy Spirit possesses or has all the aspects of God.
Dying in Christ: Glorified Body
The Bible teaches Christian believers that they get into God’s presence after they die. This means that they lose their physical bodies in order to be with the Lord (Tallon 61). However, those who die in Christ will not get a glorified body immediately. Instead, they will have to remain with the Lord until the time when Jesus will return (1 Thess. 4.16). It is during such a time when He will raise and transform them. Those who lead righteous lives will eventually live in the eternity God created for them.
God, Godhead, One
The word “God” can be defined as the Supreme Being. It denotes the creator of the universe and everything in it. The term “Godhead” is widely used to refer to the divine nature, deity, or godhood (Tallon 59). Christians use it to refer to the trinity of the Father, Holy Spirit, and Son (Tallon 65). The word “One” can be used to indicate that both God and the elements of the trinity refer to the presence of a single Supreme Being in the entire universe.
Source of Demons
The origin of demons remains unknown since they are not theological or Biblical passages to support it. However, some theories have emerged that try to provide convincing information. For example, many people believe that they might have originated from fallen angels (Hudson 71). The assumption that they originated from the pre-Adamic race is erroneous since the Bible identifies Adam as the very first human being on earth (1 Corinth. 15.45).
Sons of God: Daughters of Men
In Chapter 6 of the book of Genesis, it is described that the floods recorded during the time of Noah were as a result of mankind’s sins. This means that the interpretation that “sons of God” refers to fallen angels who descended from heaven. These sons of God decided to cohabit with human beings on earth and gave birth to descendants who would later be destroyed by floods (Hudson 102). The term “daughters of men” appears to be used in a literally manner to refer to women born by normal men on earth. These daughters appeared pleasing and beautiful in the eyes of the fallen angels.
Origin of Giants
The giants described in the Bible should have been the fruit of human marriage. This is true since angels are usually unable to have children (Matt. 22.23-30). By the time the fallen angels came to earth, the Bible reveals that there were still monsters in it (Gen. 6.1-8). This is a clear indication that such giants were as a result of men’s sins against each other (Hudson 91). It is still evident that human beings with giant stature continued to occupy the earth even after the end of the floods during the time of Noah (Gen. 6.4).
Conclusion
The above discussions and answers have presented reasonable arguments on a number of biblical issues. The paper has identified the events surrounding the building of the ark, the position of the Holy Spirit in religious theory, and the nature of God. The position and origin of demons and giants on earth has been described in details. Christians should, therefore, read the entire Bible as a complete text if they are to get the right information and eventually get closer to God’s kingdom.
Works Cited
The English Standard Version Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments with Apocrypha, Oxford UP, 2017.
Ham, Ken, and Bodie Hodge. A Flood of Evidence: 40 Years Noan and the Ark Still Matter. New Leaf Publishing Group, 2016.
Hudson, Christopher D. The Most Significant Teachings in the Bible. Zondervan Academic, 2019.
Tallon, Philip. The Absolute Basics of the Christian Faith. Seedbed Publishing, 2016.