THEOLOGY QUESTIONS FOR JAN 9

Post a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

Admin wrote:Post a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

Why do each of the four gospels begin with a different approach to the story about Jesus and what is the meaning?

Admin wrote:Post a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

What did Jesus' ascension look like? Did he float away? Did his body get all pixelated and just disappear?

Also why do we call Easter, Easter? Why not a word that is more closely related to the meaning of the day?

Mary is referred to as theotokos (God-bearer) according to Church tradition, as opposed to Christokos (Christ-bearer). I've heard her called Mother of God before, and I had a question of how theologically accurate this statement was?

Is there a difference between election and predestination? Who does the atonement apply to? Is once saved always saved a thing?

Admin wrote:Post a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

With all of the different atonement models, are some right and others wrong? Or are they all different variations of the Gospel with different strengths and weaknesses?

Why is it that after Jesus is resurrected from the dead, his disciples don't immediately recognize him? Is it that he had a new spiritual body? Are there other theories/ reasons out there as to why this was the case?

Admin wrote:Post a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

I've heard it said before that two people can look at the same mountain but look from different sides and thus see different things. How many angles or models of the atonement are appropriate for one to accept as everyone looking at the same mountain (atonement)?

I understand obviously why Jesus had to leave, but why did he stay for so long after he was resurrected? Why not reveal himself to the disciples and others for a few days and then hurry on back to Heaven so that the Holy Spirit could come?

Why didn't Jesus stay longer on the Earth? Learning about the session makes a lot more sense, and especially learning more about the "Son of Man" and the new Adam idea really helps. But I still wonder -- why didn't Jesus show himself to more people, especially those in power or those who would record his presence?

Admin wrote:Post a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

So in the genealogy of Jesus (specifically in Matthew 1), the intent is to show that Jesus is the Messiah whom God promised as He is a descendant of Abraham and David. It is a pivotal part of our belief in Jesus as it relates to the Old Testament and how the overall narrative of the Bible comes to be. But, in the genealogy it states that Joseph (Jesus' father) is in the lineage of David. But if it was the Holy Spirit who made it so that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, would Joseph not be in Jesus' lineage? How does Joseph play a role in the lineage of Christ because of the virgin birth?

Why did/do theologians spend so much time and energy trying to determine if Jesus died for all the earth (literally) or just the elect? I get trying to know God more and understand his character, but I still don't understand why this is such a point of contention. Why doesn't everyone see it the way Bird summarizes: "Everyone believes the universal offer of the gospel. Everyone affirms the universal love of God for the lost. Everyone can affirm in their own way that Jesus' death is sufficient for all, but efficient only for the elect. Despite differences between Reformed, Arminian, and Amyraldian views, we can all affirm as much."?

What is the importance of the Holy Order in the Catholic Church and how can we refute the idea that the Pope is an appointed descendent of the apostles?

Admin wrote:Post a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

What would be a good response to a Muslim who claims that Jesus was switched with Judas Iscariot on the cross, but was actually supernaturally meant to look like Jesus? How can I explain the historical evidence of the hundreds of people who Jesus appeared to after he resurrected from the dead to someone with that belief?