Bible Q&A: June 2009 Archives

It was written that we were made in God's image. What did God mean by "his image"?

In my view, the image of God is something which distinguishes us from all the other creatures on the earth. It has to do with the fact that we have a capacity for a personal relationship with God, a loving relationship that other creatures cannot have. We are the religious creatures on the earth, created "to love God and enjoy his presence forever," as Calvin once said.

--Ben Witherington III

I once heard a preacher say that God did not control the weather, that the power to control the weather was given to the devil or one of his minions. Is this true?

There is absolutely nothing in the Bible about Satan controlling the weather, and much to associate God with the weather. See, for example, the story of the plagues in Exodus, or the discussion in Revelation about final judgment, which involves, among other things, catastrophic weather.

--Ben Witherington III

Doing a comparison of twelve tribes list in Genesis 35 and Revelation 7, what happened the tribe of Dan? Could you explain why Joseph ends up with his own tribe plus the tribe named after his son?

The tribe of Dan, the northernmost tribe, was considered apostate in some circles of early Judaism, and so was replaced in some lists of the twelve tribes that appear around the turn of the era.

--Ben Witherington III

Is there anywhere in the Bible where God says singing in a choir or a solo is a sin, as a Christian group called "Truth for the World" says?

Not only is there nowhere in the Bible that prohibits singing in a choir or singing a solo, the psalms regularly refer to the choir and the choir director in Solomon's temple, and of course we have the example of David singing solo to Saul.

--Ben Witherington III