I have a question that I haven’t seen answered and I couldn’t find it when I did a search on your website. I want to know why the Bible is called the Bible. Where does the name come from and who decided to call the Old and New Testaments together the Bible.

I often hear friends and family say that they pray for a certain sports team to win a game. I wonder if God bothers with such trivial matters, when I consider the fact that there are others who would inevitably be praying for the opposing team. Does God intervene in the affairs of mankind for matters like sports?

Re: Does God choose Our Leaders. I am confused on this because Daniel 2:21 says “And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.” This verse tells me that God does control who is in office. Am I not understanding this correctly?

You’ve written that you don’t believe the Bible supports corporal punishment. What form of discipline do you think the Bible does support and what means of punishment are acceptable? And if you and, as you claim, the Bible, do not support corporal punishment then what do you do with a child who refuses a timeout? If you tell a child to sit in a chair or go to their room, and they tell you to drop dead, what is your response? Also would it not be safe to say that Jesus Himself used corporal punishment when he cleansed the Temple?

I have a friend who thinks it doesn’t matter who gets elected as President because God has already predetermined it so it won’t make any difference. BTW, this person is a Christian and also a very intelligent and educated person who thinks this is a correct analysis. I personally do not go along with this philosophy but don’t know how to counter it adequately. I know in my heart what I think, but find it hard to put it all into words that make sense. Can you add some reality to this thinking?

I am writing in response to your answer to the question “Does God choose Our Leaders” (at least I believe that was the wording of the question). From your answer I am getting the feeling that you do not believe that God is in total control of everything!! Could you please clear this up for me.

Re: Ephesians 3:10-11. I was hoping you could help me to understand who the rulers and authorities (or principalities and powers) are in the Heavenly realms and why wouldn’t they know such heavenly things. That it’s the job of the church to teach them. Is this literally something we are doing without realizing it? If angels rejoice when a person accepts Christ they must know something about the plan of redemption. Did they learn that from the Church?

I have heard of a few people in my life who appeared to be devout Christians, who later rejected Christ and become devoted atheists and enemies of the Faith. According to 1 John 2:19, it would appear these people never were saved to begin with. Is that the correct interpretation? In light of this, how can anyone be certain of their own salvation?

Regarding the reason Job was afflicted by Satan in Chapters 1 and 2. You’ve made the point many times that is was due to the sin of self-righteousness, he was out of fellowship with God and thus Satan was allowed to afflict him. This is diametrically opposed to what we read in the Word of God. In Job 1:8 God says to Satan “Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?”, no condemnation here. Satan’s only response was not to point out any sin, but to say (v. 9-11) “Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.”

We know that Job was not without sin but in the eyes of God he was perfect and we are told this twice. So we must conclude that Job was afflicted by Satan only because God allowed it to happen to prove to Satan how a believer can live a life pleasing to God no matter of one’s circumstances in life.

I recently had a friend ask me, “If the Jews rebuild a temple and offer sacrifices again at some point in the last 7 years, what Law is it that they will be observing? Will it be a return to their Mosaic Law, or will there be a ‘new law’ imposed by the anti-Christ that allows them to worship and sacrifice in this way?” I could not answer and told her I would ask you!