#Christianity #Jesus #Bible – Dr. Eitan Bar | Bible Scholar https://eitan.bar Eitan Bar is a Theologian & Author Bringing a Jewish Perspective to the Christian Faith Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:58:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://eitan.bar/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/icon-logo-eb-eitan-bar-scaled.webp #Christianity #Jesus #Bible – Dr. Eitan Bar | Bible Scholar https://eitan.bar 32 32 Tartarus and “Hell” in the Book of Enoch https://eitan.bar/articles/tartarus-and-hell-in-the-book-of-enoch/ Sun, 22 Feb 2026 17:16:31 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=5183 When modern readers hear the word hell, they usually imagine a place of endless torture for human souls. But that picture does not come from the earliest Jewish texts. One of the most important sources shaping early Jewish and early Christian thought on judgment is the Book of 1 Enoch.…

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]]> Thoughts on NDEs (Near-Death Experiences) https://eitan.bar/articles/ndes-near-death-experiences/ Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:45:22 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=5178 Scripture, Not Sensation: Why Theology Cannot Be Built on Visions Healthy theology cannot be built on private visions. It must be grounded in the text—its language, its context, and its coherent witness. My conclusions do not arise from what someone claims to have seen in a vision, during a coma,…

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]]> The True Meaning of Daniel 12:2 and John 5:28–29 (Everlasting Life vs. Everlasting Contempt) https://eitan.bar/articles/the-true-meaning-of-daniel-122-and-john-528-29-everlasting-life-vs-everlasting-contempt/ Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:38:46 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=5141 In another article, I already addressed the meaning of the Hebrew word olam, so often translated as “everlasting” in English, and demonstrated that it does not mean endless time. That mistranslation imports later theological assumptions into the text and obscures the original biblical sense, where olam speaks of an age,…

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]]> “They Sit on Moses’ Seat”: What Jesus Did—and Did Not—Authorize https://eitan.bar/articles/they-sit-on-moses-seat-what-jesus-did-and-did-not-authorize/ Sat, 17 Jan 2026 09:31:02 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=5129 Matthew 23:2–3 in Context, History, and Theology One verse, lifted from its setting, can be made to carry far more weight than it was ever meant to bear. Matthew 23:2–3—“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you”—has often been invoked to…

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]]> Biblical Repentance and the Day of Atonement https://eitan.bar/articles/biblical-repentance-and-the-day-of-atonement/ Tue, 13 Jan 2026 07:59:41 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=5121 Every year in Israel, life comes to a complete halt for one day. Shops close. Roads empty. Even the noise of ordinary existence falls silent. For twenty-four hours, an entire nation stops—not as individuals in isolation, but together. Whether religious Jew or secular, citizen or outsider, everyone is caught up…

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]]> The Calvinistic Dilemma—Was John Calvin Truly Saved According to Calvinism? https://eitan.bar/articles/the-calvinistic-dilemma-was-john-calvin-truly-saved-according-to-calvinism/ Fri, 05 Dec 2025 07:30:32 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=5106 Calvinists often claim that if a Christian sins and doesn’t repent, that proves they were never truly “born again” to begin with. If that’s true, then John Calvin, the mind and soul behind Calvinism, isn’t saved according to Calvinism’s own decree. The founder of Calvinism, John Calvin, played a central…

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]]> Why I Believe Eastern & Oriental Orthodoxy Mostly Preserves the Earliest Christian Faith https://eitan.bar/articles/why-i-believe-eastern-oriental-orthodoxy-preserves-the-earliest-christian-faith/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:47:44 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=5100 While I probably won’t ever fit any Christian label perfectly, being a Jewish follower of Jesus, a biblical scholar, theologian, and author, I believe Eastern & Oriental Orthodoxy are the closest to the original view of the Gospel—back when it was still very Jewish. Christian groups within both the Eastern…

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]]> What Is Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit? Understanding “the Unforgivable Sin” in Its Historical Context https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-blasphemy-against-the-holy-spirit-understanding-the-unforgivable-sin-in-its-historical-context/ Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:58:17 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=5090 “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven” (Mark 3:29) Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (“the Unforgivable Sin”) was not a general sin that anyone in any generation could accidentally commit — it referred to a very specific historical situation. Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders of…

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]]> האם היהודים ישרפו לנצח בגיהינום? מיני-דיבייט עם עובד (“מבשרת”) במכללה למקרא של היהודים המשיחיים (מאמר שלישי בסדרה) https://eitan.bar/articles/%d7%94%d7%9e%d7%9b%d7%9c%d7%9c%d7%94-%d7%9c%d7%9e%d7%a7%d7%a8%d7%90-%d7%99%d7%94%d7%95%d7%93%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%9e%d7%a9%d7%99%d7%97%d7%99%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%92%d7%99%d7%94%d7%99%d7%a0%d7%95%d7%9d/ https://eitan.bar/articles/%d7%94%d7%9e%d7%9b%d7%9c%d7%9c%d7%94-%d7%9c%d7%9e%d7%a7%d7%a8%d7%90-%d7%99%d7%94%d7%95%d7%93%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%9e%d7%a9%d7%99%d7%97%d7%99%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%92%d7%99%d7%94%d7%99%d7%a0%d7%95%d7%9d/#comments Sun, 23 Nov 2025 18:56:30 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=5040 למאמר הראשון בסדרה: תקציר: מקור התאולוגיה ה”יהודית משיחית”למאמר השני בסדרה: זה למה יהודים משיחיים מאמינים ששאר היהודים ישרפו לנצח בגיהינום מאמר זה הוא “העתק הדבק” של שיחה שהתקיימה ביני ובין עובדת (“מבשרת”) של ‘המכללה למקרא’ (המכללה של היהודים המשיחיים בישראל – בה בעצמי הייתי אחד המנהליםהמורים בעבר), בנושא של “האם יהודים…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/%d7%94%d7%9e%d7%9b%d7%9c%d7%9c%d7%94-%d7%9c%d7%9e%d7%a7%d7%a8%d7%90-%d7%99%d7%94%d7%95%d7%93%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%9e%d7%a9%d7%99%d7%97%d7%99%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%92%d7%99%d7%94%d7%99%d7%a0%d7%95%d7%9d/feed/ 1 What is Taqiyya? Islamic Taqiyya Explained: From Protective Shield to Lying Sword https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-taqiyya-islamic-taqiyya-explained-from-shield-to-sword/ Wed, 12 Nov 2025 15:28:36 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=5026 Please note: The following excerpt is drawn from my book, “Trojan Religion: The Final Prophetic Warning to the West“. Complete sources, citations, and references are documented within the book itself. Taqiyya began as a shield — a desperate survival instinct in the early years of Islam. When Muhammad’s followers were few and…

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]]> Why is the Christian Sabbath on Sunday Instead of Saturday? https://eitan.bar/articles/why-is-the-christian-sabbath-on-sunday-instead-of-saturday/ Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:21:21 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4950 For many believers, especially those new to Christian history, it can feel confusing that the Bible speaks clearly of the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday), yet most Christians today gather on Sunday. How did this happen? Is it biblical? Is it good? And why do some scholars say the shift to Sunday…

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]]> Muhammad: A Prophet or a Warlord? https://eitan.bar/articles/muhammad-a-prophet-or-a-warlord/ Tue, 11 Nov 2025 13:13:06 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=5018 Please note: The following excerpt is drawn from my book, “Trojan Religion: The Final Prophetic Warning to the West“. Complete sources, citations, and references are documented within the book itself. The question of Muhammad’s character isn’t just a matter of history; it’s central to the ongoing ideological and spiritual tensions between Islam…

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]]> Who ‘Allah’ (the god of Islam) is? https://eitan.bar/articles/who-is-allah-the-god-of-islam/ Tue, 11 Nov 2025 07:58:18 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=5012 Please note: The following excerpt is drawn from my book, “Trojan Religion: The Final Prophetic Warning to the West“. Complete sources, citations, and references are documented within the book itself. From a theological perspective, there are serious doubts about the identity and origins of “Allah” as understood in Islam. Unlike the “God…

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]]> זה למה יהודים משיחיים מאמינים ששאר היהודים ישרפו לנצח בגיהינום (מאמר שני בסדרה) https://eitan.bar/articles/%d7%94%d7%91%d7%a9%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%94-%d7%94%d7%90%d7%a0%d7%98%d7%99%d7%a9%d7%9e%d7%99%d7%aa-%d7%a9%d7%91%d7%94-%d7%9e%d7%90%d7%9e%d7%99%d7%a0%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%94%d7%99%d7%94%d7%95%d7%93%d7%99%d7%9d/ https://eitan.bar/articles/%d7%94%d7%91%d7%a9%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%94-%d7%94%d7%90%d7%a0%d7%98%d7%99%d7%a9%d7%9e%d7%99%d7%aa-%d7%a9%d7%91%d7%94-%d7%9e%d7%90%d7%9e%d7%99%d7%a0%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%94%d7%99%d7%94%d7%95%d7%93%d7%99%d7%9d/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:50:17 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4956 למאמר הראשון בסדרה: תקציר: מקור התאולוגיה ה”יהודית משיחית”למאמר השלישי בסדרה: האם היהודים ישרפו לנצח בגיהינום? מיני-דיבייט עם עובד (“מבשרת”) במכללה למקרא של היהודים המשיחיים רוב—אם לא כל—היהודים המשיחיים מאמינים שהיהודים ה”רגילים” (יהודים דתיים, מסורתיים, חילונים) יענשו לנצח בגיהינום. מאמר זה יעסוק בהתפתחות התאולוגיה המשיחית לגבי הגיהינום. רקע: במה האמינו השליחים…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/%d7%94%d7%91%d7%a9%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%94-%d7%94%d7%90%d7%a0%d7%98%d7%99%d7%a9%d7%9e%d7%99%d7%aa-%d7%a9%d7%91%d7%94-%d7%9e%d7%90%d7%9e%d7%99%d7%a0%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%94%d7%99%d7%94%d7%95%d7%93%d7%99%d7%9d/feed/ 1 Is Allah the Same as the God of the Bible? https://eitan.bar/articles/is-allah-the-same-as-the-god-of-the-bible/ Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:00:12 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4932 When you look at the fruit of a tree, you can tell what kind of tree it is. That was Jesus’ simple but profound test for truth: “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). If we apply this same test to Islam, the results are sobering. The fruit…

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]]> This Is Why Israel “Kills Children” in Gaza https://eitan.bar/articles/this-is-why-israel-kills-children-in-gaza/ Sun, 05 Oct 2025 06:35:35 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4928 Please note: The following excerpt is drawn from my forthcoming book, The Elephant in the Middle East: The Spiritual Battle Christians Often Miss Behind the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Complete sources, citations, and references are documented within the book itself. No child is born a hater; no baby longs to kill. It is…

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]]> What is Islam? A Crash Course in Islam: A 1,400-Year History of Islam in 6 Minutes https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-islam/ Sat, 04 Oct 2025 09:21:42 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4921 Please note: The following excerpt is drawn from my book, “Trojan Religion: The West’s Last Great Warning“. Complete sources, citations, and references are documented within the book itself. Most Westerners know Islam only as a religion that prays five times a day and forbids pork, or as a faith sometimes associated with…

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]]> Why I Respectfully Disagree with Pope Leo on What It Means to Be Pro-Life https://eitan.bar/articles/why-i-respectfully-disagree-with-pope-leo-on-what-it-means-to-be-pro-life/ Fri, 03 Oct 2025 07:09:17 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4918 I want to begin with respect. I (a Jewish believer in Jesus) don’t necessarily agree with all Catholic doctrine, but I have no issues with Catholics as people of faith. In fact, I count several Catholics among my personal friends, including Archbishop Cardinal Pizzaballa, whom I have great respect for.…

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]]> Why Gaza’s Occupation Is Actually The Best Idea https://eitan.bar/articles/why-gazas-occupation-is-actually-the-best-idea/ Wed, 01 Oct 2025 07:30:46 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4913 In many honor-and-shame cultures, especially throughout the Middle East, revenge is often considered a sacred obligation. In such places, allowing an enemy to live may be perceived not as mercy but as weakness. This was true in the ancient world, and in many tribal and Islamic societies today, it remains…

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]]> Did Jesus Actually Practice Non-Violent Pacifism? https://eitan.bar/articles/did-jesus-actually-practice-non-violent-pacifism/ Mon, 29 Sep 2025 06:41:53 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4909 While I disagree on certain points, there are aspects of liberal Christians that I deeply admire, particularly their profound grasp of God’s mercy and compassion for all and their emphasis on loving our enemies more fully. That said, I think there’s a blind spot. War may not be the morally…

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]]> Purim: A Christian Perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/purim-a-christian-perspective/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:58:37 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4892 Among the most vibrant and emotionally charged festivals in the Jewish calendar, Purim stands out as a celebration not only of survival but of divine orchestration—a joyous festival that springs from the shadows of looming destruction. It commemorates the remarkable deliverance of the Jewish people from annihilation, as recounted in…

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]]> Hanukkah: A Christian Perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/hanukkah-a-christian-perspective/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:56:04 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4889 In John chapter 8, we find Jesus in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. Two chapters later, in John 10, He is in the Temple again—this time during Hanukkah. While Hanukkah is not a biblical feast, it is deeply connected to one: Sukkot. The Light of the World The name…

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]]> Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): A Christian Perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/feast-of-tabernacles-sukkot-a-christian-perspective/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:52:19 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4887 Marking the culmination of the sacred cycle of Jewish festivals, the Feast of Tabernacles, known in Hebrew as Sukkot, guides believers into a profound season of reflection, rejoicing, and spiritual renewal. Occurring just five days after the solemn observances of Yom Kippur, Sukkot presents a striking yet harmonious contrast: moving…

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]]> Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): A Christian Perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/day-of-atonement-yom-kippur-a-christian-perspective/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:50:35 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4884 As we continue our journey through the Jewish biblical festivals, we arrive at Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement. Among the many sacred moments on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur stands apart as the highest and holiest day of the year: a solemn day set aside for repentance, deep reflection, and…

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]]> Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah): A Christian Perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/feast-of-trumpets-rosh-hashanah-a-christian-perspective/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:47:58 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4882 Venturing deeper into the tapestry of Jewish festivals, we encounter Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets. Signaling the advent of the autumn festivals, Rosh Hashanah rings in the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month on the Jewish calendar. This festival offers an invitation into a sacred…

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]]> Feast of Weeks (Pentecost): A Christian Perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/feast-of-weeks-pentecost-a-christian-perspective/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:42:38 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4880 As we progress through the Jewish religious calendar, we encounter the Feast of Weeks, known in Hebrew as Shavuot and recognized by many Christians as Pentecost. This distinctive festival, fourth in the series of major Jewish holidays, occupies a special place, distinctively positioned between the spring and autumnal observances. Unlike…

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]]> Festival of First Fruits (Bikkurim): A Christian Perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/festival-of-first-fruits-a-christian-perspective/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:41:01 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4878 The Festival of First Fruits, known as ‘Bikkurim’ in Hebrew, holds a significant place within the Jewish religious calendar, vividly connected to the cycles of agriculture and life in the ancient Holy Land. Deeply embedded in historical context and spiritual symbolism, Bikkurim offers an extraordinary glimpse into the everyday lives…

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]]> Festival of Unleavened Bread: A Christian Perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/festival-of-unleavened-bread-a-christian-perspective/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:39:43 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4876 As we continue our journey through the biblical festivals, we come to the Feast of Unleavened Bread—Chag HaMatzot in Hebrew—closely intertwined with Passover in both timing and thematic resonance. This seven-day festival begins immediately after Passover, to the extent that the two are often combined or confused. Yet the Feast…

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]]> Passover: A Christian Perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/passover-a-christian-perspective/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:36:02 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4865 Passover, known as Pesach in Hebrew, is far more than just a historical observance—it is a sacred intersection where the divine narrative of liberation, redemption, and profound symbolism converge. As we journey into its depths, we find it echoing across centuries, speaking powerfully into both Jewish and Christian traditions. At…

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]]> Is Israel Really Committing Genocide in Gaza? https://eitan.bar/articles/is-israel-really-committing-genocide-in-gaza/ Sun, 21 Sep 2025 11:03:23 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4802 This excerpt is drawn from my forthcoming book, The Elephant in the Middle East: The Spiritual Battle Christians Often Miss Behind the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Complete sources, citations, and references are documented within the book itself. Background Israel possesses nuclear weapons and advanced technologies that could have reduced Gaza to rubble…

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]]> The Apostles’ Creed and Hell https://eitan.bar/articles/the-apostles-creed-and-hell/ Sun, 21 Sep 2025 08:14:41 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4785 The Apostles’ Creed is one of the earliest and most enduring confessions of Christian faith. Though not written directly by the apostles themselves, it restates an earlier version or encapsulates their fundamental teachings and has served for centuries as a baptismal creed and a standard of orthodoxy. It likely took…

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]]> What Every Christian Must Know About Israel and the Jewish People https://eitan.bar/articles/what-every-christian-must-know-about-israel-and-the-jewish-people/ Wed, 17 Sep 2025 07:34:03 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4782 The story of Israel begins not with a nation, but with a man who would not let go of God. In the midnight struggle by the Jabbok River, Jacob wrestled with the divine until daybreak, and there received a new name: Israel — “the one who strives with God” (Genesis…

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]]> Romans 11 (Olive Tree) — Israel’s Rejection of Christ Is Not Final https://eitan.bar/articles/romans-11-olive-tree-israels-rejection-of-christ-is-not-final/ Wed, 17 Sep 2025 06:30:48 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4779 The Olive Tree: Grafting, Not Replacing Grafting an olive tree is an ancient agricultural skill used to preserve and strengthen trees. The process involves carefully cutting a branch from one tree and inserting it into a slit in the bark of another. The farmer then binds it tightly so that…

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]]> Who Are the Palestinian People, and Where Is Palestine? A Historical and Religious Examination https://eitan.bar/articles/who-are-the-palestinian-people-and-where-is-palestine-a-historical-and-religious-examination/ Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:13:57 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4772 The word Palestine echoes with ancient sounds, but its political sting comes from Rome. In 135 AD, after crushing the last Jewish revolt under Bar Kokhba, Emperor Hadrian sought to erase Judea not only from the map but from memory. With one stroke, he renamed the land “Syria Palaestina,” a…

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]]> Charlie Kirk’s Final Lesson and the Warning Christians Cannot Ignore https://eitan.bar/articles/charlie-kirks-final-lesson-and-the-warning-christians-cannot-ignore/ Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:47:31 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4761 I remember vividly the day Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. Thirty years ago, I was a child in Tel Aviv. I recall the shock, the grief, and the overwhelming sense that something irreversible had occurred. The ideological war in Israel was at its height. It was different from the climate surrounding…

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]]> “Neither Jew nor Gentile”: Why Galatians 3:28–29 Is Not About Replacing Israel https://eitan.bar/articles/neither-jew-nor-gentile-why-galatians-328-29-is-not-about-replacing-israel/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 10:28:49 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4756 Few verses have been more misread than Paul’s declaration in Galatians 3:28–29: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s…

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]]> Can Prayer Replace Sacrifice? (Hosea 14:2) https://eitan.bar/articles/can-prayer-replace-sacrifice-hosea-142/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:38:57 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4733 God’s decree about atonement isn’t vague or peripheral — it sits at the heart of Moses’ Torah: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes…

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]]> Does the New Testament Water Down Jewish Torah? https://eitan.bar/articles/does-the-new-testament-water-down-jewish-torah/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:38:15 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4732 Does the New Testament water down the Torah and God’s standards? Does “grace” give people permission to sin? Those charges get repeated a lot, but they rest on a pair of mix-ups: (1) confusing Moses’ Torah with later rabbinic tradition, and (2) assuming that Yeshua relaxed the Law when, in…

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]]> How to Solve “Contradictions” in the New Testament? https://eitan.bar/articles/how-to-solve-contradictions-in-the-new-testament/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:36:53 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4731 Honest readers deserve more than drive-by objections. Many so-called “contradictions” dissolve as soon as we (1) read precisely, (2) remember there were multiple textual traditions in Second Temple Judaism, and (3) let ancient authors speak in their own literary conventions. Below are the top popular claims (collected from rabbis’ articles,…

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]]> Does the New Testament Misquotes the Old Testament? https://eitan.bar/articles/does-the-new-testament-misquotes-the-old-testament/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:36:16 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4730 Accusations that the New Testament “forces” Israel’s Scriptures to say what they do not say are not new. What’s often missed is that the New Testament’s way of reading the Tanakh is thoroughly Jewish — riffing on motifs, echoing earlier texts, and weaving together promise and fulfillment the way Israel’s…

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]]> Doesn’t the New Testament Say God Is Done with Israel? https://eitan.bar/articles/doesnt-the-new-testament-say-god-is-done-with-israel/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:35:18 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4729 The charge is common: “The New Testament tosses Israel aside and replaces her with the Church.” Many repeat it without opening the book they critique. But when you actually read the relevant passages, the story sounds very different — deeply Jewish, fiercely opposed to boasting, and saturated with covenant hope.…

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]]> Do Christians Believe in Three Gods? https://eitan.bar/articles/do-christians-believe-in-three-gods/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:34:46 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4728 Every serious conversation must begin here: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord alone” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Whatever Christians mean by Father, Son, and Spirit, if it does not safeguard the Shema, it is not the faith of Yeshua or his apostles. The New Testament does not replace…

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]]> Was Jesus a False Prophet? https://eitan.bar/articles/was-jesus-a-false-prophet/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:34:02 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4727 A common Rabbinic objection to Jesus is that he is considered a false prophet, accused of leading the people of Israel away from the God of Israel. Deuteronomy gives Israel a fierce clarity: if a prophet speaks in the name of other gods or presumes to speak what the Lord…

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]]> If Jesus Is the Messiah, Where Is the World Peace? https://eitan.bar/articles/if-jesus-is-the-messiah-where-is-the-world-peace/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:31:47 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4726 “If Jesus were the Messiah,” the argument goes, “the front page would announce world peace. Isaiah says wolves and lambs will live together — yet history after Jesus looks bloody, not blissful.” That objection deserves a careful, Jewishly literate reply. Scripture does bind the Messiah and shalom (Hebrew for peace)…

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]]> Why Must the Messiah Be God? (Isaiah 6:9) https://eitan.bar/articles/why-must-the-messiah-be-god-isaiah-69/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:31:16 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4725 Jewish critics often charge that the New Testament “turns a man into God,” smuggling pagan ideas into Israel’s faith. Scripture tells a different story. The Bible rejects the idea of human beings climbing up to become gods. It also witnesses — again and again — to the Holy One freely…

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]]> When Will the Messiah Come? (Daniel 9:24-27) https://eitan.bar/articles/when-will-the-messiah-come-daniel-924-27/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:30:01 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4724 Daniel 9 is one of Scripture’s most daring claims: it binds the hope of Israel to a clock. Not a vague “someday,” but a countdown tied to a royal decree, a rebuilt Jerusalem, the public arrival of “Messiah the Prince,” his being “cut off,” and — after that — the…

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]]> What Are Messianic Prophecies? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-are-messianic-prophecies/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:29:20 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4722 From the perspective of Rabbinic halakhah (religious tradition; also known as Oral Torah), Jesus of Nazareth is not only disqualified as the Messiah but branded a false prophet, one who sought to lead Israel astray. Stories and fables about Him — some grotesque, others satirical — were told in rabbinic…

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]]> Is Jesus Just a Copy of Eastern Religions? https://eitan.bar/articles/is-jesus-just-a-copy-of-eastern-religions/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:28:34 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4736 It is tempting to solve Yeshua by analogy. Put him beside Krishna, Horus, Attis, Dionysus, or Mithras, list a handful of alleged similarities, and conclude that his story is a late remix of older myths. The move feels tidy—and it spares us the scandal of Israel’s Messiah entering history. But…

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]]> Was Jesus an Anti-Semite? https://eitan.bar/articles/was-jesus-an-anti-semite/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:25:48 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4735 Jesus was a Jew from the tribe of Judah who lived, worshiped, taught, and died in the heart of Israel. Calling Him “anti-Semitic” only works if “anti-Semitic” now means “a Jewish prophet who confronted corrupt leaders the way Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Elijah did.” That’s the whole point: His sharpest words…

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]]> Inquisition, Crusades & Pogroms … In the Name of Jesus? https://eitan.bar/articles/inquisition-crusades-pogroms-in-the-name-of-jesus/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:25:31 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4734 The Crusades, pogroms, the Inquisition, blood libels, expulsions, and the Holocaust — so much Jewish suffering has occurred under banners displaying the cross, in Jesus’s name, or by individuals identifying as “Christians.” How can such horrors possibly square with Yeshua? They don’t. These acts were not obedience to Yeshua but…

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]]> Reading Moses Seeing Jesus: How Jesus Fulfills Moses https://eitan.bar/articles/reading-moses-seeing-jesus-how-jesus-fulfills-moses/ Wed, 03 Sep 2025 07:59:41 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4693 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. (Deuteronomy 18:15) Jewish people often say, “We believe in Moses, not Jesus,” as if honoring one cancels the other. Scripture itself refuses that rivalry. Moses points…

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]]> What Does it Mean that Jesus is “The Son of God”? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-does-it-mean-that-jesus-is-the-son-of-god/ Wed, 03 Sep 2025 07:56:49 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4691 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the…

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]]> The True Meaning of “Messiah Son of Joseph” https://eitan.bar/articles/the-true-meaning-of-messiah-son-of-joseph/ Wed, 03 Sep 2025 07:49:27 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4689 The phrase “The deeds of the forefathers are a sign for the children” encapsulates a foundational principle in Jewish thought: that the lives and actions of the patriarchs serve as spiritual and historical templates for their descendants. This concept, though not stated verbatim in the Talmud, is deeply rooted in…

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]]> Bible AI: How to Use —and Not Use— ChatGPT for Studying the Bible https://eitan.bar/articles/bible-ai-how-to-use-and-not-use-chatgpt-for-studying-the-bible/ Wed, 03 Sep 2025 07:21:05 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4683 Artificial Intelligence tools like ChatGPT are powerful, but they come with real limitations—especially when it comes to studying the Bible. An AI model doesn’t know right from wrong, truth from falsehood. It only knows what has been written, uploaded, and debated across the internet over the past few decades. Because…

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]]> The Virgin Birth Prophecy (Isaiah 7:14) https://eitan.bar/articles/the-virgin-birth-prophecy-isaiah-714/ https://eitan.bar/articles/the-virgin-birth-prophecy-isaiah-714/#comments Mon, 01 Sep 2025 15:18:39 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4676 The New Testament tells us that, according to the Old Testament prophecy, Jesus was born through a supernatural birth – his mother was a virgin. This is based on the verse Isaiah 7:14 where it says: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/the-virgin-birth-prophecy-isaiah-714/feed/ 1 Is Jesus Truely From the Line of David? https://eitan.bar/articles/is-jesus-truely-from-the-line-of-david/ Mon, 01 Sep 2025 13:07:36 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4674 According to the prophecies in Old Testament, the Messiah must be a descendant of David. In the New Testament the apostle Paul starts his letter to the church in Rome: “Jesus the Messiah, our Lord, who was descended from David according to the flesh.” (Romans 1:3) In the past, nobody questioned that Jesus was a descendant of David, neither historians nor the Sages.This was because the…

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]]> Jeremiah 31: The New Covenant Prophecy https://eitan.bar/articles/jeremiah-31-the-new-covenant-prophecy/ Mon, 01 Sep 2025 13:05:12 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4669 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of…

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]]> The Crucifixion Foretold by Zechariah 12 https://eitan.bar/articles/the-crucifixion-foretold-by-zechariah-12/ Mon, 01 Sep 2025 13:03:32 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4667 We are all very familiar with the famous icon of “the Crucified Jesus”, probably mostly recognized as the symbol of Christianity. But what if we told you that this image of the pierced Messiah is actually a biblical Jewish concept? And what if we told you that there is a…

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]]> What Does It Mean That God Has a Son? Isn’t That a Pagan Concept? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-does-it-mean-that-god-has-a-son-isnt-that-a-pagan-concept/ Mon, 01 Sep 2025 13:02:07 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4666 What does it mean that God has a son? Did God have intercourse, go into labor and deliver the son of God? Of course not! In the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), the angels, who partake in the heavenly and spiritual nature of God (in contrast to the fleshly and…

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]]> Psalm 22 – The Prophecy About The Crucified Messiah https://eitan.bar/articles/psalm-22-the-prophecy-about-the-crucified-messiah/ Mon, 01 Sep 2025 12:54:24 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4663 Psalm 22: Possibly the most famous prophetic psalm about the Messiah! Much like Isaiah 53, it describes the Messiah’s torment, rejection and death: “To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?Why are you so far from saving me, from…

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]]> Isaiah 53 – The Forbidden Chapter https://eitan.bar/articles/isaiah-53-the-forbidden-chapter/ https://eitan.bar/articles/isaiah-53-the-forbidden-chapter/#comments Mon, 01 Sep 2025 12:52:00 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4660 Long ago, the rabbis used to read Isaiah 53 in synagogues, but after the chapter caused arguments and great confusion, the rabbis decided that the simplest thing would be to just take that prophecy out of the Haftarah readings in synagogues.1 That’s why today when we read Isaiah 52, we stop…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/isaiah-53-the-forbidden-chapter/feed/ 1 Rapture Theory Debunked: “Caught Up in the Clouds” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) https://eitan.bar/articles/rapture-theory-debunked-caught-up-in-the-clouds-1-thessalonians-4-13-18/ Mon, 01 Sep 2025 06:57:57 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4651 This article – an excerpt from my book “Left Behind Deconstructed: Why I Left Pre-Tribulation Rapture Behind” – is meant to help you disprove, refute, and debunk the Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory (aka “Left Behind”) In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul provides instruction on living a life pleasing to God, particularly emphasizing…

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]]> Rapture Theory Debunked: “God Did Not Appoint Us to Suffer Wrath” (1 Thessalonians 5:9) https://eitan.bar/articles/rapture-theory-debunked-god-did-not-appoint-us-to-suffer-wrath-1-thessalonians-5-9/ Mon, 01 Sep 2025 06:57:41 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4652 This article – an excerpt from my book “Left Behind Deconstructed: Why I Left Pre-Tribulation Rapture Behind” – is meant to help you disprove, refute, and debunk the Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory (aka “Left Behind”) In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul continues his teaching on the Day of the Lord, which he…

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]]> Rapture Theory Debunked: “The Restrainer” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-7) https://eitan.bar/articles/rapture-theory-debunked-the-restrainer-2-thessalonians-2-3-7/ Mon, 01 Sep 2025 06:57:16 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4653 This article – an excerpt from my book “Left Behind Deconstructed: Why I Left Pre-Tribulation Rapture Behind” – is meant to help you disprove, refute, and debunk the Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory (aka “Left Behind”) After receiving Paul’s first letter, the Thessalonian church found itself in a worsening situation—intensified persecution, mounting…

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]]> Rapture Theory Debunked: “I Will Keep You From the Hour of Trial” (Revelation 3:10-11) https://eitan.bar/articles/rapture-theory-debunked-i-will-keep-you-from-the-hour-of-trial-revelation-3-10-11/ Mon, 01 Sep 2025 06:57:00 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4655 This article – an excerpt from my book “Left Behind Deconstructed: Why I Left Pre-Tribulation Rapture Behind” – is meant to help you disprove, refute, and debunk the Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory (aka “Left Behind”) Revelation 3 concludes the risen Christ’s personal letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor. These…

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]]> Rapture Theory Debunked: “Son of Man Coming in a Cloud” (Luke 21:10-28) https://eitan.bar/articles/rapture-theory-debunked-son-of-man-coming-in-a-cloud-luke-2110-28/ Mon, 01 Sep 2025 06:50:19 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4650 This article – an excerpt from my book “Left Behind Deconstructed: Why I Left Pre-Tribulation Rapture Behind” – is meant to help you disprove, refute, and debunk the Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory (aka “Left Behind”) In Luke 21, Jesus delivers one of His most sobering and apocalyptic sermons while teaching in…

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]]> Rapture Theory Debunked: “As in the days of Noah” (Luke 17:26-37 / Matthew 24:36-41) https://eitan.bar/articles/rapture-theory-debunked-as-in-the-days-of-noah-luke-17-26-37-matthew-24-36-41/ Mon, 01 Sep 2025 06:32:00 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4644 This article – an excerpt from my book “Left Behind Deconstructed: Why I Left Pre-Tribulation Rapture Behind” – is meant to help you disprove, refute, and debunk the Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory (aka “Left Behind”) One of the most commonly cited passages in support of the pre-tribulation rapture view is found…

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]]> “Dogs” in Matthew 15:21–28: Not an Insult but a Lesson in Faith https://eitan.bar/articles/dogs-in-matthew-1521-28-not-an-insult-but-a-lesson-in-faith/ Mon, 25 Aug 2025 08:31:51 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4638 Few passages in the Gospels have been so misunderstood as Jesus’ conversation with the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21–28 (and its parallel in Mark 7:24–30). When Jesus says, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs,” many modern readers hear a sharp insult.…

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]]> No, the Early Church Fathers Did Not Teach the Rapture Theory https://eitan.bar/articles/no-the-early-church-fathers-did-not-teach-the-rapture-theory/ Sun, 24 Aug 2025 12:11:46 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4634 Modern rapture advocates often insist the doctrine is ancient. For instance, Southern Baptist pastor Greg Laurie recently wrote: Some say, “Oh, the Rapture is just a modern invention, some 19th-century gimmick.” Nonsense. Yes, J.N. Darby helped popularize it in more recent times, but long before him, the early Church Fathers…

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]]> How Will Humanity’s Story End? https://eitan.bar/articles/how-will-humanitys-story-end/ Sat, 09 Aug 2025 08:08:03 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4621 There are two very different ways Christians have told the story of how everything ends.In the first version, the one that’s especially popular in many modern Western churches, the tale begins with Jesus returning in glory. At last, everyone sees the truth and admits He is Lord. The next scene…

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]]> What Was The Point Behind The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-was-the-point-behind-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/ Wed, 06 Aug 2025 15:18:35 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4618 The Choice That Changed Everything In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve existed in a world untainted by evil. They knew only what was good, pure, and harmonious. God’s warning not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was not a test for its…

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]]> No Condemnation in Christ? What Paul Really Meant in Romans 8:1 https://eitan.bar/articles/no-condemnation-in-christ-meaning-romans-8-1/ Sun, 03 Aug 2025 09:59:45 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4603 When Paul wrote to believers in Rome, he began chapter 8 with one of the most profound declarations in Scripture: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1) Paul begins Romans 8:1 with the word “Therefore,” signaling that his declaration is the logical…

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]]> Israel: God’s Chosen People — For What Purpose? https://eitan.bar/articles/israel-chosen-people-for-what-purpose/ Wed, 30 Jul 2025 14:43:32 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4598 “Chosen” means to be set apart for a special purpose, not chosen for any inherent superiority. God elected Israel out of all nations to receive His revelation and to model a relationship with Him. As Moses told the Israelites: For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.…

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]]> Refuting the Two Most Common Antisemitic Conspiracy Theories https://eitan.bar/articles/refuting-common-antisemitic-conspiracy-theories-rothschild-jews/ https://eitan.bar/articles/refuting-common-antisemitic-conspiracy-theories-rothschild-jews/#comments Tue, 29 Jul 2025 14:38:56 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4594 Many antisemitic conspiracy theories and myths — such as those popularized by the Nazis in the 19th century — continue to be repurposed today by anti-Israel activists and other antisemites to vilify Jews and delegitimize the Jewish state. Let’s take a quick look at two examples. 1. Are the Jews…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/refuting-common-antisemitic-conspiracy-theories-rothschild-jews/feed/ 1 Who Are the Israelites and the Jews? https://eitan.bar/articles/who-are-the-israelites-and-the-jews/ Tue, 29 Jul 2025 12:05:15 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4590 At the heart of God’s relationship with Israel stands the Abrahamic covenant, described in Genesis 12, 15, and 17—the foundational promise God made to Abraham and his descendants. God pledges to make Abraham into a great nation, to give his offspring the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession, and…

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]]> Islamic Dilemma Explained: How to Debunk Islam/Quran https://eitan.bar/articles/islamic-dilemma-explained-islams-self-destructive-doctrine/ Mon, 28 Jul 2025 12:20:16 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4583 Islam claims to be the final and most complete revelation from God, affirming the prophets who came before Muhammad and acknowledging the Scriptures they brought—the Torah (Tawrat), the Psalms (Zabur), and the Gospel (Injil). Yet this affirmation is only alleged, because at the same time Islam insists that Jews and…

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]]> Are We Under the Law? (Matthew 5:17–18) https://eitan.bar/articles/are-we-under-the-law-matthew-5-17/ Sat, 12 Jul 2025 08:38:36 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4551 The debate over whether Christians—or specifically Messianic believers—are “under the Law” often hinges on one of Jesus’ most quoted yet frequently misunderstood statements: Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly…

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]]> Are the Jews Still God’s Chosen People? https://eitan.bar/articles/are-the-jews-still-gods-chosen-people/ Thu, 26 Jun 2025 12:26:32 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4535 The Unbroken Promise: Why Israel Remains God’s Chosen People Few topics stir as much passion, confusion, or debate in the Christian world as the question of Israel’s ongoing chosenness. For nearly two millennia, many have asked: if the Church is now the “new Israel,” does God still have a unique…

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]]> Was King David a Bastard (Psalm 51:5)? https://eitan.bar/articles/was-king-david-a-bastard-psalm-51-5/ Wed, 25 Jun 2025 08:39:33 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4528 Psalm 51:5 In the January 2006 article titled “What Is the Biblical Evidence for Original Sin?” on John Piper’s website, “desiringgod,” the article opens with the claim that “Psalm 51:5 states that we all come into the world as sinners.“ Psalm 51 is a penitential psalm expressing deep remorse and…

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]]> A Jewish Reflection on the Eucharist https://eitan.bar/articles/jewish-reflection-eucharist/ Mon, 23 Jun 2025 12:42:38 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4521 In the Gospels, healing is a central sign of God’s kingdom. Jesus does not merely forgive sins or mend bodies—He restores SHALOM (peace, oneness, wholeness). When He says, “Your faith has made you whole,” there is more to it than a mere physical cure. Becoming whole means restoration: body, mind,…

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]]> The Jewish “TZIMTZUM” from a Christian Perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/the-jewish-tzimtzum-from-a-christian-perspective/ Thu, 19 Jun 2025 09:42:28 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4514 If the universe originates in God’s Word, what, then, is the relationship between Creator and creation? Is the world simply an emanation of the Divine, a theater for God’s self-expression? Or does creation possess a distinct existence, a true “otherness” that God lovingly sustains? Throughout history, thinkers have debated the…

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]]> What’s the Point in Evangelizing If Salvation is Universal? https://eitan.bar/articles/whats-the-point-in-evangelizing-if-salvation-is-universal/ Thu, 19 Jun 2025 08:32:49 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4510 An objection frequently raised is, “If everyone will eventually be redeemed, then why evangelize?” During one of the Iranian missile attacks here in Israel (June 2025), a siren sounded and chaos erupted. Everyone scrambled for shelter. People who happened to be on the street rushed into the nearest bomb shelter—just…

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]]> Analysis of Didache 16:7: “…the resurrection of the dead – yet not of all…” https://eitan.bar/articles/analysis-of-didache-167-the-resurrection-of-the-dead-yet-not-of-all/ Thu, 12 Jun 2025 13:14:09 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4506 Introduction The Didache, or “Teaching of the Twelve Apostles,” is an early Christian text (1st–2nd century) that concludes with a brief apocalyptic discourse in Chapter 16. In its closing verses, the Didache describes signs of the truth preceding the Lord’s coming, including a final sign: “the resurrection of the dead…

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]]> List of the Verses About Hell in the BIble https://eitan.bar/articles/list-verses-hell-bible/ Mon, 26 May 2025 12:45:43 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4498 To get to the list of verses about hell in the Bible scroll down There are quite a few verses about hell in the Bible—at least, that’s what many Christians have been taught. These verses are often quoted in sermons, tracts, and books to paint a vivid picture of eternal…

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]]> What is “Messianic Jewish” Theology? The Theology Behind Today’s “Messianic Judaism” https://eitan.bar/articles/what-messianic-judaism-jewish-theology/ https://eitan.bar/articles/what-messianic-judaism-jewish-theology/#comments Mon, 12 May 2025 05:55:54 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4363 The roots of the Messianic movement run far deeper into Western Christian theology than most realize. If you want to truly understand the theology behind today’s “Messianic Judaism,” you must first understand one pivotal historical figure: Augustine of Hippo. I spent 20 years in as a leader in Messianic Judaism…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/what-messianic-judaism-jewish-theology/feed/ 1 “Abomination of desolation,” “Wars and Rumors of Wars”: A Commentary on Matthew 24 https://eitan.bar/articles/wars-rumors-commentary-on-matthew-24/ Thu, 08 May 2025 09:03:41 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4357 Matthew 24:1-2 Jesus walks from the temple and tells His disciples that not one stone will be left upon another—a prophetic declaration of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and its temple, which historically occurred in 70 AD under the Roman General Titus. This sets the stage: the physical temple, long…

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]]> The Biblical Concept of Time https://eitan.bar/articles/the-biblical-concept-of-time/ Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:59:32 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4349 While Western thought tends to view time as a straight line — past, present, future, with a clear beginning and end — the biblical Jewish mindset sees time as a series of cycles, rhythms, and recurring patterns that move history forward like a spiral, not a line. This can be…

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]]> This is What “Going to Church” Looked Like 2,000 Years Ago https://eitan.bar/articles/what-church-looked-like-2000-years-ago/ Sat, 19 Apr 2025 09:24:44 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4308 No church building.No one-directional benches or rows of chairs.No stage.No pulpit.No amplification.No disco lights.No altar.No single teacher and long monologues. Instead: “You can all prophesy in turn…” (1 Corinthians 14:31)“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts” (Acts 2:46)“Each of you has a hymn, a…

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]]> Guilt Offering (ASHAM) & Purification/Sin Offering (HATA’AT): What You Must Know https://eitan.bar/articles/what-guilt-offering-sin-offering/ Thu, 17 Apr 2025 07:57:15 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4296 The rich variety of sacrifices described in the Torah reveals a far more beautiful and relational pattern — a way for humanity to draw near to God in gratitude, worship, restoration, and communion. Each category of sacrifice served a different purpose, and remarkably, each finds its ultimate fulfillment in the…

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]]> Life is in the Blood (Leviticus 17:11) https://eitan.bar/articles/life-is-in-the-blood-leviticus-1711/ Wed, 09 Apr 2025 09:17:46 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4258 We live in a world where the sight of blood rarely brings comfort. In fact, it’s usually the opposite. News broadcasts spill it across our screens in stories of war and terrorism. Video games glorify it. Movies drench it across battlefields, back alleys, and broken bodies. Blood, in modern consciousness,…

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]]> A Demon’s Guide to America’s Downfall https://eitan.bar/articles/a-demons-guide-to-americas-downfall/ https://eitan.bar/articles/a-demons-guide-to-americas-downfall/#comments Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:04:43 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4249 The internet is today’s political battlefield — and your mind is the target.This means you can’t believe 90% of what you see on the internet because most of what you see online is carefully engineered to push specific agendas, shaping what you believe and fueling division, confusion, and chaos in…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/a-demons-guide-to-americas-downfall/feed/ 1 What is God’s Wrath? Hebrew Old Testament perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/gods-wrath/ https://eitan.bar/articles/gods-wrath/#comments Sat, 05 Apr 2025 13:32:00 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2322 When many Westerners hear the word “wrath,” they picture a storming deity with clenched fists, ready to smite. For centuries, this image has haunted pulpits and darkened the gospel. But the Hebrew Scriptures offer a very different vision—one far more tragic, far more loving, far more relational, and far more…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/gods-wrath/feed/ 1 How Should the Book of Revelation Be Read? https://eitan.bar/articles/how-should-the-book-of-revelation-be-read/ https://eitan.bar/articles/how-should-the-book-of-revelation-be-read/#comments Tue, 25 Mar 2025 08:56:40 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4228 The Book of Revelation is rooted in a worldview where the physical and spiritual are deeply interconnected, Jewish apocalyptic literature is highly abstract, often operates on multiple levels of meaning. This multidimensionality allows for nuanced interpretations that go beyond the literal. It makes apocalyptic literature—like the Book of Revelation—especially powerful for conveying deep theological truths.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/how-should-the-book-of-revelation-be-read/feed/ 3 Hebrew Word Study: Dust (APHAR) https://eitan.bar/articles/why-dust-a-reflection-on-genesis-319/ Wed, 12 Mar 2025 08:53:37 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4201 For dust you are, and to dust [APHAR] you shall return. (Genesis 3:19) This verse, uttered in the Garden of Eden as part of humanity’s curse, might be one of the most haunting—and humbling—lines in all of Scripture. But what is it really saying? Why dust? Why not something grander…

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]]> “The Jews Rejected Christ, So Why Should We Care About the Jewish Perspective?” https://eitan.bar/articles/the-jews-rejected-christ-so-why-should-we-care-about-the-jewish-perspective/ Tue, 11 Mar 2025 14:54:53 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4197 Some argue that since “the Jews rejected Christ,” their perspective on Scripture no longer matters. However, this claim is both historically inaccurate and logically flawed. In fact, understanding the Jewish perspective is essential to grasping the original meaning of the Bible and Jesus’ teachings. Here’s why: 1. The First Christians…

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]]> Does “All” Really Mean All? “Universal Atonement” vs. “Limited Atonement” https://eitan.bar/articles/all-mean-all-universal-atonement-vs-limited-atonement/ Tue, 11 Mar 2025 14:25:23 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4194 The gospel, especially in Protestant and Catholic conservative circles, is often presented as an offer limited to a select group. For instance, “Limited Atonement“ in Calvinism is the belief that Jesus’ sacrifice was only for the elect—those predestined by God to be saved (from hellfire, in their paradigm). It teaches…

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]]> What Are We Saved From? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-are-we-saved-from/ https://eitan.bar/articles/what-are-we-saved-from/#comments Thu, 06 Mar 2025 15:12:04 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4163 If you are a fundamentalist Protestant or a conservative Catholic, you have likely been taught that salvation means being saved from the Augustinian-Calvinist version of hell – a sadistic eternal torment in hellfire. However, the Bible consistently teaches that salvation is tangible, and that we are saved not from eternal…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/what-are-we-saved-from/feed/ 1 Why Did Jesus Die? https://eitan.bar/articles/why-did-jesus-die/ https://eitan.bar/articles/why-did-jesus-die/#comments Thu, 06 Mar 2025 13:04:46 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4149 “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” (Leviticus 17:11) Life is in the Blood Some things in life are inseparable. You can’t…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/why-did-jesus-die/feed/ 1 This Is Why the Doctrine of Hellfire Is Logically Pro-Abortion https://eitan.bar/articles/this-is-why-the-doctrine-of-hellfire-is-logically-pro-abortion/ Wed, 05 Mar 2025 08:08:06 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4143 Hellfire, or Eternal Conscious Torment (ECT) in theological terms, is the doctrine held by most Catholics and Protestants (who adopted it from the Catholics) that teaches most people in the world will be tormented in hell forever. Ironically, this doctrine creates a severe moral contradiction because for most people, it’s…

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]]> The Meaning of ‘Salvation’ in the Hebrew Bible & New Testament https://eitan.bar/articles/the-meaning-of-salvation-in-the-hebrew-bible-new-testament/ https://eitan.bar/articles/the-meaning-of-salvation-in-the-hebrew-bible-new-testament/#comments Sun, 02 Mar 2025 11:07:04 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4123 The meaning of Salvation in the New Testament is the same as the meaning of Salvation in Judaism. In Jewish thought, ‘salvation’ encompasses broader concepts than the Catholic-Protestant view of it as a means to avoid eternal torture in hell. For Jews, salvation primarily means enjoying God’s blessings and protection. In Jewish…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/the-meaning-of-salvation-in-the-hebrew-bible-new-testament/feed/ 2 Did Jesus Really Say the Criminal Would Be in Paradise ‘Today’? (Luke 23:43) https://eitan.bar/articles/jesus-criminal-paradise-today-luke-23-43/ Wed, 26 Feb 2025 10:51:18 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4119 No, Jesus did not say the criminal would be in Paradise with him “Today” in Luke 23:43… One of the most debated topics in the New Testament is what happens once we die. As part of this debate, people often quote Luke 23:43, where Jesus speaks to the repentant criminal…

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]]> The Meaning of “Tohu wa-Bohu” (Formless and Void) in Genesis 1:2 https://eitan.bar/articles/tohu-wa-bohu-formless-void-genesis-1-2/ Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:06:46 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4113 The phrase Tohu wa-Bohu (תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ) appears in Genesis 1:2 to describe the state of the world before God’s creative act: “The earth was formless and void (Tohu wa-Bohu), and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1:2)…

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]]> Your Bible Translation Shapes Your Understanding of the Afterlife https://eitan.bar/articles/your-bible-translation-shapes-your-understanding-of-the-afterlife/ Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:09:34 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4109 The way we translate and understand the words of the Bible significantly influences our theological views on the afterlife. In particular, our understanding of terms related to “hell” can lead us to conclusions that differ dramatically from those held by the first-century Jewish Christians. The Power of Words: How Bible…

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]]> What “Perish” and “Eternal Life” Really Means (John 3:16)? https://eitan.bar/articles/john-316-does-perish-support-eternal-torment-in-hellfire/ Mon, 10 Feb 2025 17:53:09 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4082 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) John 3:16 is one of the most quoted Bible verses—often seen on soda cups and burger wrappers—but it’s also among the most…

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]]> God Is a Consuming Fire: The Purifying Power of Divine Flame https://eitan.bar/articles/god-consuming-fire/ Sun, 02 Feb 2025 13:22:57 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4072 The phrase “God is a consuming fire” appears multiple times in Scripture, often evoking images of divine judgment and awe-inspiring power. Many interpret this as a fearful concept, associating fire with destruction and wrath. Fundamentalist theologians and pastors, mostly those from the Calvinist tradition, often describe God’s fire as something…

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]]> Does ‘The Parable of the Tenants’ (Matthew 21) Suggest God Replaced Israel? https://eitan.bar/articles/the-parable-of-the-tenants-matthew-21-israel/ Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:03:08 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4067 Christian antisemitism has long misused Matthew 21 to argue that God “rejected the Jews” in favor of the Gentile Church. The parable of the tenants (Matthew 21:33-46) is often cited to support the claim that God replaced Israel with a new people. But is that really what Jesus was saying?…

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]]> What Does “All Israel Will Be Saved” (Romans 11:26) Mean? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-does-all-israel-will-be-saved-romans-1126-mean/ Sun, 02 Feb 2025 09:55:45 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4062 The phrase “All Israel will be saved” in Romans 11:26 has been the subject of much theological debate. Many Christians today interpret this passage through the lens of Western theology, assuming that salvation refers to being saved from eternally burning in God’s cosmic furnace. However, when examined through a Hebraic…

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]]> Does a ‘Too Merciful’ God Weaken His Justice? https://eitan.bar/articles/does-a-too-merciful-god-weaken-his-justice/ Thu, 30 Jan 2025 14:08:35 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4059 One of the most common concerns among Christians is whether emphasizing God’s love, grace, and mercy somehow diminishes His justice. When someone suggests that we should focus more on God’s kindness, an almost reflexive reaction follows: “Don’t go too far!” as if we might accidentally make God too good. But…

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]]> Don’t Worship Religion: The “Religion Leads to God” Oxymoron https://eitan.bar/articles/stop-worship-religion/ Thu, 30 Jan 2025 12:23:49 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4049 You’ve heard the argument, “Do all religions lead to God?” But what if the real question is—what if no religion leads to Him at all? The idea that religion is the way to reach God is, in many ways, an oxymoron—a contradiction in terms. Religion, at its core, consists of…

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]]> Eternal Conscious Torment (ECT) Serves No Purpose Other Than Cruelty for Cruelty’s Sake https://eitan.bar/articles/eternal-conscious-torment/ https://eitan.bar/articles/eternal-conscious-torment/#comments Thu, 30 Jan 2025 11:25:57 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4045 I know—talking about hell makes many Christians squirm in their chairs. Yet I believe hell is perhaps the most crucial yet misunderstood doctrine in Western Christian theology. This is partly because those who believe in Eternal Conscious Torment (ECT) rarely take the time to study the doctrine in its original…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/eternal-conscious-torment/feed/ 3 Self-Test: Are You a Modern-Day Pharisee? https://eitan.bar/articles/self-test-are-you-a-modern-day-pharisee/ Thu, 30 Jan 2025 09:53:11 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4041 The Pharisees were a prominent religious group in Jesus’ time, known for their strict adherence to the law. However, some of them—though not all—were particularly harsh, judgmental, and lacked the heart of God’s compassion. Jesus often rebuked them for their hypocrisy, pride, and condemnation of sinners. He exposed their obsession…

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]]> Why ‘Free Will’ is a Terrible Excuse to Send People to Hell https://eitan.bar/articles/why-free-will-is-a-terrible-excuse-to-send-people-to-hell/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 10:23:24 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4034 For centuries, the Augustinian-Calvinist interpretation of hell, known as Eternal Conscious Torment (a place where, allegedly, God sadistically tortures people forever), has been defended on the grounds of free will. The popular argument of many fundamentalist evangelists goes something like this: “God doesn’t send people to hell; they choose it…

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]]> The Demonic Aspect of Calvinistic Theology https://eitan.bar/articles/this-is-why-calvinism-is-often-associated-with-pride-sociopathism-and-narcissism/ Tue, 28 Jan 2025 15:00:19 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4020 Calvinism, with its doctrine of predestination and limited atonement, presents a version of God that is not only unjust but also fundamentally unloving. It warps the character of God, distorts the gospel, and creates a cold, exclusionary religious system that destroys both faith and human compassion. 1. Calvinism Teaches That…

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]]> The Theological Reason Why Many Fundamentalists Suffer from Anxiety https://eitan.bar/articles/the-theological-reason-why-so-many-fundamentalists-suffer-from-anxiety/ Tue, 28 Jan 2025 12:37:18 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4016 Having spent over 20 years in a fundamentalist Messianic movement in Israel, one troubling observation was clear: a significant number of adherents struggle with anxiety and OCD, often resorting to antidepressants to cope. I was unaware at the time that Fundamentalism is scientifically linked to anxiety. The root of this…

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]]> Why the Doctrine of Hellfire (ECT) May Contribute to Religious OCD https://eitan.bar/articles/why-the-doctrine-of-hellfire-ect-may-contribute-to-religious-ocd/ Tue, 28 Jan 2025 11:25:54 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=4011 The doctrine of Eternal Conscious Torment (ECT) in Hellfire has long been a cornerstone of many fundamentalist Catholic and Protestant traditions. It posits that those who fail to meet specific religious or moral standards will face perpetual, conscious torment in hell. While this doctrine has been used as a motivator…

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]]> How 1st-Century Jews Understood Jesus’ Teachings on “Hellfire” https://eitan.bar/articles/jews-jesus-teachings-hell/ Mon, 27 Jan 2025 13:59:20 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3994 When you hear phrases like “financial meltdown,” do you picture Wall Street skyscrapers literally dissolving into puddles? Or consider a “political battlefield” — does it bring to mind politicians wearing armor and dueling with swords? How about the “corporate jungle”? Perhaps you visualize business managers hunting junior employees as if…

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]]> 10 Beliefs Most Christians Think Are True But Are Not https://eitan.bar/articles/10-beliefs-most-christians-think-are-true-but-are-not/ Sun, 26 Jan 2025 14:53:48 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3968 1. “The Word of God” is not the Bible; it’s Jesus (John 1:1; Revelation 19:13) Spending 20 years with fundamentalists, I’ve probably heard the term “the Word of God” being used to refer to the Bible at least 9,340,589 times. However, the term “Word of God” in Scripture refers only…

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]]> What If Christians Deconstruct Fundamentalism, Not Jesus? https://eitan.bar/articles/christians-deconstruct-fundamentalism/ Tue, 21 Jan 2025 20:01:39 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3947 In recent years, a significant wave of Christians has begun to “deconstruct” their faith. While some observers dismiss this trend as abandoning faith or pursuing worldly pleasures, a closer look reveals a more nuanced reality. Most individuals undergoing this process are not rejecting Christianity itself but are instead deconstructing Fundamentalism.…

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]]> KOSHER: Why Were the Israelites Forbidden to Eat Pork? https://eitan.bar/articles/why-were-the-israelites-forbidden-to-eat-pork/ https://eitan.bar/articles/why-were-the-israelites-forbidden-to-eat-pork/#comments Tue, 21 Jan 2025 14:19:51 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3941 In the Torah, the Israelites were forbidden to eat pork because pigs were classified as ritually unclean animals. The reasoning is explicitly stated: while pigs have split hooves, they do not chew the cud (Leviticus 11:7-8; Deuteronomy 14:8). This distinction served as a symbol of Israel’s call to holiness and…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/why-were-the-israelites-forbidden-to-eat-pork/feed/ 1 Fundamentalism and the Absence of Empathy: A Case of “Bad Fruit” https://eitan.bar/articles/fundamentalism-and-the-absence-of-empathy-a-case-of-bad-fruit/ Tue, 21 Jan 2025 10:40:14 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3935 One of the most troubling phenomena observed in many individuals who grew up in religious-fundamentalist families is their often-marked lack of empathy. This is not an isolated observation but a pattern that raises serious questions about the theological frameworks and character assumptions that underpin such environments. Additionally, the severe legalism…

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]]> Why Calvinism’s Hellfire (ECT) is Spiritual Child Abused https://eitan.bar/articles/were-you-spiritually-abused-as-a-child/ Sun, 12 Jan 2025 09:36:27 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3738 “Mom, I miss Grandma so much. Is she resting in a better place now?”“Well, sweetie, absolutely not. God may have loved her, but your dear old Grandma is now writhing in agony, engulfed by hellfire, and tortured in the fire for all eternity in God’s merciless dungeon. She’s trapped there…

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]]> The Meaning of “Inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) https://eitan.bar/articles/inherit-the-kingdom-of-god-1-corinthians-69-11/ Mon, 06 Jan 2025 14:57:00 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1860 Jesus never said "if you sin no more then you are good to go"; he said "go, and sin no more." Jesus didn't set the woman caught in adultery free from punishment because she promised never again to sin. He hoped she would stop sinning because she had been freely forgiven.

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]]> This is What “Every Knee Will Bow, Every Tongue Confess” Means https://eitan.bar/articles/this-is-what-every-knee-will-bow-every-tongue-confess-means/ https://eitan.bar/articles/this-is-what-every-knee-will-bow-every-tongue-confess-means/#comments Sun, 03 Nov 2024 13:49:14 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3617 In the narrative of Christian theology, Satan represents the principal adversary, actively working to lead humanity away from God by trying to convince us He can’t be trusted. Yet, if we accept that God’s attributes surpass any of His creations, including Satan, then the Devil’s power to deceive and corrupt…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/this-is-what-every-knee-will-bow-every-tongue-confess-means/feed/ 1 “Justice” According to Fundamentalism https://eitan.bar/articles/hell-justice-according-to-calvinism/ https://eitan.bar/articles/hell-justice-according-to-calvinism/#comments Wed, 30 Oct 2024 10:24:44 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3599 In contrast with the biblical portrayal of justice, which harmonizes retribution with mercy, the Augustinian-Calvinist “Hellfire” view asserts that God’s justice demands a rigid, eternal punishment for any sin. When I say rigid, I mean melting your skin in flames of fire forever and ever, a doctrine that always struck…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/hell-justice-according-to-calvinism/feed/ 1 Justice in the Ancient Near East https://eitan.bar/articles/justice-in-the-ancient-near-east/ https://eitan.bar/articles/justice-in-the-ancient-near-east/#comments Wed, 30 Oct 2024 10:19:04 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3596 As humans, we have the tendency to be overly judgmental due to a combination of psychological, religious, and social factors. However, the ability to quickly assess situations and people was always crucial for survival and social cohesion. Psychologically, judgment helps simplify the complexity of human behavior and social interactions, providing…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/justice-in-the-ancient-near-east/feed/ 1 The Doctrine of Hellfire: The Devastating Psychological Effects https://eitan.bar/articles/the-doctrine-of-hellfire-the-devastating-psychological-effects/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 10:07:14 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3593 This is a short testimony I came across on YouTube from a woman who grew up in what seems a conservative, fundamental Christian home: When I was 6 or 7, I burned my hand and it was excruciating. My mother took the opportunity to say, “Imagine if that feeling was…

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]]> What is the Lake of Fire, Sulfur and Smoke in the Book of Revelation? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-the-lake-of-fire-sulfur-and-smoke-in-the-book-of-revelation/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 09:23:32 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3589 Very little in the book of Revelation could be interpreted literally. While it is crucial to read and study the book thoroughly, appreciating its language, imagery, and themes, it is equally important to recognize the book’s genre and that almost every element in Revelation is steeped in references to Hebrew…

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]]> To Be Blotted Out of the Book of Life? (Revelation 3:5) https://eitan.bar/articles/being-blotted-out-of-the-book-of-life-revelation-35/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 09:04:52 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3585 The Book of Revelation is a book steeped in symbolism and metaphor, written in the apocalyptic genre. It features descriptions of beasts, dragons, flying horses, and other imagery that first-century readers would not have interpreted literally. The apocalyptic genre is characterized by vivid imagery and symbolic language meant to convey…

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]]> What is “Eternal Fire” (Jude 1:7)? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-eternal-fire-jude-17/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 08:57:14 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3582 For an article on the meaning of the word “eternal” in Greek and Hebrew, visit here. The Epistle of Jude, which was written to warn of the destructive concourses of false doctrines, is often cited by the Augustinian-Calvinist Eternal Conscious Torment proponents as supporting the concept of hellfire. For instance,…

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]]> What is “Everlasting Destruction”‭ (2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭8-9)? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-everlasting-destruction-2-thessalonians-18-9/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 08:46:48 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3579 For an article on the meaning of the word “eternal” in Greek and Hebrew, visit here. New Testament’s 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 is often cited by proponents of Eternal Conscious Torment (ECT) as a key passage supporting the doctrine of hellfire. However, a careful analysis of the text within its context…

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]]> Fear God Who Could Throw You Into Hell?! (Matthew 10:28) https://eitan.bar/articles/fear-god-who-could-throw-you-into-hell-matthew-1028/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 08:04:38 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3573 “Then Jesus took the teenage girl and threw her into the fire. As he watched her scream in the flames, he said unto her, ‘Your parents warned you, but you did not listen!'” (Matthew 10:28, according to Calvinism) Sounds too harsh? Sadly, this is exactly how many Christians today read…

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]]> What are the “Gates of Hell” (Matthew 16:18)? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-are-the-gates-of-hell-matthew-1618/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 14:18:48 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3568 Matthew 16 is where Jesus finally introduces the concept of his death and resurrection to his disciples. In verse 18, Jesus declares something that confused many: And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not…

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]]> “Lord Lord….”, “I Never Knew You. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:21-23) https://eitan.bar/articles/lord-lord-i-never-knew-you-away-from-me-you-evildoers-matthew-721-23/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 13:54:05 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3565 There are two kinds of “Christianity.” One is a religion that, on paper, intellectually adheres to all the correct theological recipes and doctrines about Jesus’ Lordship and Divinity. The other is a way of life—represented by the kingdom of heaven—embodied by Christ-like individuals who live out the values Jesus taught…

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]]> Aren’t we “Born Again” to Avoid Hellfire? https://eitan.bar/articles/arent-we-born-again-to-avoid-hellfire/ https://eitan.bar/articles/arent-we-born-again-to-avoid-hellfire/#comments Tue, 29 Oct 2024 13:35:05 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3562 Evangelicals, commonly self-identified as “Born-again Evangelicals,” generally interpret “born again” as a profound experience of repentance and faith in Jesus’s sacrifice for sins. This experience is often specific, memorable, and pivotal to their personal testimony. These experiences, usually emotionally charged, can look like reciting a “salvation prayer” from a pamphlet…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/arent-we-born-again-to-avoid-hellfire/feed/ 2 What Are the “Unquenchable Fire” and “Wheat and Chaff”? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-the-unquenchable-fire/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 13:00:04 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3559 When the Western mind encounters the word “fire,” it often conjures images of witches being burned at the stake, nuclear bombs, or Dante’s depictions of individuals tormented by flames, which has significantly influenced Western Christian theology. However, in the Bible, Judaism, and other ancient civilizations, fire, though potentially painful, primarily…

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]]> What are “Outer Darkness” and “Gnashing of Teeth”? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-outer-darkness-weeping-and-gnashing-of-teeth/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:42:25 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3555 When these metaphors are taken literally and out of context, their imagery might appear quite terrifying, akin to a vivid depiction of the Augustinian-Calvinist hellfire: But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 8:12 They…

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]]> Is the Parable of the Sheep & Goats About Hell? (Matthew 25:31-46) https://eitan.bar/articles/is-the-parable-of-the-sheep-and-the-goats-about-hell-matthew-2531-46/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:27:17 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3551 Jesus presents three parables in Matthew 25: The Parable of the Ten Virgins (verses 1-13), The Parable of the Bags of Gold (verses 14-28), and the one we focus on today, The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (verses 31-46). Some, Augustine himself included, interpret a section of this parable…

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]]> The Biblical Concept of Time and Why Hell Won’t Last Forever (Aion / Aionios / Olam) https://eitan.bar/articles/what-eternal-punishment-aion-and-aionios-really-means/ https://eitan.bar/articles/what-eternal-punishment-aion-and-aionios-really-means/#comments Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:13:46 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3545 Justice demands punishment; without it, crimes such as murder and theft would go unchecked, leading to chaos and lawlessness. Retribution is a necessary deterrent to maintain order and protect society. While the opposite extreme of ‘Eternal Conscious Torment’ in Hellfire are those who do not anticipate any form of punishment…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/what-eternal-punishment-aion-and-aionios-really-means/feed/ 4 ‘Hell’ in the Hebrew Prophets https://eitan.bar/articles/hell-in-the-hebrew-prophets/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 11:50:27 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3542 The Hebrew Prophets also do not contain a Hebrew term equivalent to the concept of hellfire as understood in later Augustine-Calvinist Christian theology. Instead, the Hebrew word “SHEOL,” which simply refers to the realm of the dead, is variably translated in English versions of the Old Testament as “grave,” “underworld,”…

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]]> ‘Hell’ in the Torah (Pentatuch) https://eitan.bar/articles/hell-in-the-torah-pentatuch/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 11:44:37 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3539 The Hebrew Scriptures, which chronicle God’s relationship with Israel over thousands of years, do not contain a Hebrew term equivalent to the concept of hellfire as understood in later Augustinian-Calvinist theology. Instead, the Old Testament’s Hebrew word “SHEOL” simply refers to the realm of the dead, akin to a grave.…

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]]> Does a Sin Against an Infinite God Merit Infinite Punishment? https://eitan.bar/articles/does-a-sin-against-an-infinite-god-merit-infinite-punishment/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 10:30:43 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3536 Once upon a time, a naïve couple lived in blissful ignorance, unaware of their own lack of knowledge. Then, a cunning, malevolent figure exploited their innocence, convincing them they could become all-knowing, just like God. Seduced by this idea, they ate from the Tree of Knowledge, which opened their eyes…

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]]> Why God Allowed Sin in the First Place? https://eitan.bar/articles/why-god-allowed-sin-in-the-first-place/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 10:17:51 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3533 “I’m only human. Of flesh and blood, I’m made. Human. Born to make mistakes.“ (Human, Song by The Human League, 1986) Imagine a game where you put someone in an Escape Room, telling them that unless they figure it out, you’ll burn the room with them in it. It sounds…

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]]> Calvinism’s “God Can’t Stand You” Theology Debunked https://eitan.bar/articles/calvinisms-god-cant-stand-you-theology-debunked/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 09:49:50 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3530 An article titled, “Why do I face the consequences of Adam’s sin when I did not eat the fruit?” on the popular Reformed website “GotQuestions” reads: The Bible says, “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because…

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]]> The Doctrine of ‘Hell’ in Modern Christianity https://eitan.bar/articles/the-doctrine-of-hell-in-modern-christianity/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 09:39:19 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3525 Here is a brief summary of the most prevalent views on hell in contemporary Christianity, detailing the main advocates and the evolution of each perspective: Annihilationism (Conditionalism) Annihilationism asserts that the wicked will ultimately be destroyed or cease to exist rather than suffer eternally. Annihilationism believes that only the saved…

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]]> The Doctrine of ‘Hell’ in Late Christianity https://eitan.bar/articles/the-doctrine-of-hell-in-late-christianity/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 09:34:27 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3522 On July 16, 1054, Michael Cerularius, the Patriarch of Constantinople, was excommunicated from the Christian church based in Rome, Italy. This excommunication marked a critical juncture in the escalating tensions between the Western Roman church (in Rome) and the Eastern Byzantine church (in Constantinople). This division is referred to as…

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]]> The Doctrine of ‘Hell’ in Early Christianity https://eitan.bar/articles/the-doctrine-of-hell-in-early-christianity/ https://eitan.bar/articles/the-doctrine-of-hell-in-early-christianity/#comments Tue, 29 Oct 2024 09:27:59 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3519 The understanding of hell has varied significantly throughout Christian history, reflecting differing theological frameworks across the early church. While views on the afterlife, especially hell, appear to have been underdeveloped during the early days of the church, below are some noteworthy statements from key figures in early Christianity that merit…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/the-doctrine-of-hell-in-early-christianity/feed/ 1 ‘Repentance,’ ‘Salvation,’ and ‘Hell’ from a Jewish Perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/repentance-salvation-and-hell-from-a-jewish-perspective/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 09:00:07 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3516 This article will explore the concepts of ‘repentance,’ ‘salvation,’ and ‘hell,’ examining their interconnections from the perspective of the Hebrew Scriptures and Jewish thought. Repentance In certain conservative Christian traditions, such as Calvinism, Evangelicalism, Pentecostalism, Messianic Judaism (a small Evangelical Fundamentalist group I used to be associated with), and several…

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]]> The Hisorical Meaning of the Word ‘Hell’ https://eitan.bar/articles/the-hisorical-meaning-of-the-word-hell/ https://eitan.bar/articles/the-hisorical-meaning-of-the-word-hell/#comments Tue, 29 Oct 2024 08:37:23 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3512 The English word “hell” originates from the Old English “Hel” or “Helle,” which was derived from the Proto-Germanic term “haljō.” This term generally referred to an underworld or a hidden place. “Haljō” is also related to the Old Norse word “Hel,” which referred both to the underworld—a realm of the…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/the-hisorical-meaning-of-the-word-hell/feed/ 1 How Can One Atone for All? https://eitan.bar/articles/how-can-one-atone-for-all/ Mon, 28 Oct 2024 14:22:03 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3486 A significant misconception within Calvinistic theology is the idea that Jesus’ power to atone for sins must lay in the extent of cosmic suffering, pain, and abuse he endured from God. This concept suggests that the magnitude of human sin necessitated Jesus’ extreme suffering. Calvinist preacher and former president of…

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]]> What Most Christians Get Wrong About “Worship” https://eitan.bar/articles/what-most-christians-get-wrong-about-worship/ Mon, 28 Oct 2024 14:05:26 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3483 What images come to your mind when you hear the term “worship night”? Regrettably, contemporary Western Christian thought frequently equates “worship” with amplified music and congregational singing in a venue bathed in vibrant lights. While this is undoubtedly fun, it is a far cry from the scriptural understanding of “worship.”…

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]]> John 1:1 from a Jewish Perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/john-11-from-a-jewish-perspective/ Fri, 25 Oct 2024 08:37:47 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3455 John 1:1 is a profound verse that has sparked considerable theological discussion, especially around the identity of the “Word” (Greek: Logos) and its relationship with God. Here’s a detailed look at what John may be communicating… Text of John 1:1 The verse reads: “In the beginning was the Word, and…

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]]> Is the Story of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16) Really About Hell? https://eitan.bar/articles/lazarus-and-the-rich-man-luke-16-jewish-perspective/ Fri, 25 Oct 2024 07:33:40 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3452 In the Bible, the term "Abraham's Bosom" (sometimes translated as "Abraham's side") is a unique expression found only once. In Jewish tradition, however, "Abraham's Bosom" is a well-known metaphor (e.g., Apocalypse of Zephaniah 11:1-2;  Kiddushin 72b; Genesis Rabba 67), not regarded as a literal place or as a historical account of events but a metaphor for being in a state of peace and blessing.

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]]> Was Adam’s Relationship With God Broken? https://eitan.bar/articles/was-adams-relationship-with-god-broken/ https://eitan.bar/articles/was-adams-relationship-with-god-broken/#comments Fri, 30 Aug 2024 14:58:55 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3442 If God cannot even look at sinners, it implies that He cannot be near them. If God is unable to be near sinners, it suggests that He hates them. If this is true, then the argument that God must send all sinners—all of humanity—to hellfire is validated. As the renowned…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/was-adams-relationship-with-god-broken/feed/ 1 Original Sin Debunked https://eitan.bar/articles/original-sin-debunked/ Fri, 30 Aug 2024 13:07:06 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3439 The doctrine of Original Sin holds that Adam and Eve’s transgression in the Garden of Eden left humanity with permanent guilt. This belief suggests that humans inherit a fundamentally flawed or “totally depraved” nature from birth, thus rendering them guilty from the outset. This belief posits that because of Original…

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]]> Who is Satan: A Jewish Perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/who-is-satan-a-jewish-bible/ Fri, 26 Jul 2024 05:55:34 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3426 The figure of Satan, or “the satan” (Hebrew: הַשָּׂטָן), appears in the Hebrew Bible primarily as an accuser or adversary, rather than the fully developed devil figure seen in later Christian theology. The term “satan” is derived from a Hebrew verb meaning “to obstruct” or “to oppose.” In the Old…

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]]> Why the God of the Old Testament Wasn’t as Scary as You Think https://eitan.bar/articles/why-the-god-of-the-old-testament-wasnt-as-scary-as-you-think/ Sat, 06 Jul 2024 08:04:02 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3387 The Old Testament portrayal of God often evokes images of wrath, judgment, and fear. Many people in the modern Western world—where people actually respect social boundaries and rules—find it difficult to reconcile this image with the God of love and grace presented in the New Testament. However, understanding the historical…

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]]> This Is (part of) My Story https://eitan.bar/articles/eitan-bar-testimony-story-part1/ Thu, 04 Jul 2024 09:55:06 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3380 If you have followed me long enough, you have probably noticed two things. First, I emphasize love and grace in a way that really annoys some types of religious people. Second, I have developed the same “Matthew 23 style” of antagonistic chutzpah against religious legalism. This is because, ever since…

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]]> The Dark Side of the Purity Movement: How Religious Teachings on Sexuality Can Create “Monsters” https://eitan.bar/articles/the-dark-side-of-purity-movement/ Fri, 21 Jun 2024 10:18:27 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3369 Themes of infidelity, adultery, and betrayal are common in stories, movies, songs, and novels, reflecting their presence in human history, as also depicted in biblical narratives. However, the heinous acts of religious leaders, including pastors, priests, and rabbis, involving the sexual abuse of women and children are utterly demonic. In…

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]]> What Watching Seinfeld Taught Me About Reading the Bible https://eitan.bar/articles/what-watching-seinfeld-taught-me-about-reading-the-bible/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 07:19:01 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3354 I admit, I have watched each Seinfeld episode a million times already; it’s something weird some of us Jews like to do. I guess it helps calm down our cynical view of the world. But as I continue to watch it repeatedly, I slowly start to notice motifs and themes…

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]]> Because He First Loved Us? https://eitan.bar/articles/we-love-because-he-first-loved-us/ Mon, 10 Jun 2024 08:55:42 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3347 According to 1 John 4:19, “We love because God first loved us.” So, if you wait for your enemy to love on you first before you are willing to love on them, and the same goes for them, when will you ever meet? The Gentiles were well aware of the…

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]]> “Love Always Hopes and Perseveres” https://eitan.bar/articles/love-always-hopes-and-perseveres/ Mon, 10 Jun 2024 07:15:28 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3343 Jesus met individuals often viewed by society as irredeemable or beyond help, such as the woman caught in adultery, the tax collector Zacchaeus, or the Samaritan woman at the well. In each encounter, Jesus looked beyond their current situation and envisioned what they could become, instilling hope and offering a…

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]]> “Love Always Trusts” https://eitan.bar/articles/love-always-trusts/ Mon, 10 Jun 2024 07:08:59 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3339 The Greek term translated as “trusts” is “pisteuō,” often used in the New Testament to denote belief or faith. In the context of Paul’s message, this concept emphasizes not a naive or blind trust but a choice to always see at least some potential for good in others and to…

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]]> “Love Always Protects” https://eitan.bar/articles/love-always-protects/ Mon, 10 Jun 2024 06:55:03 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3336 Here, Paul emphasizes love’s protective nature. The Greek word translated as “protects” literally means to cover, suggesting that love provides a protective barrier, holding up under pressures and difficulties and keeping out negative influences that might undermine relationships. Love’s protection means it is willing to suffer for others, regardless of…

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]]> “Love Rejoices With the Truth” https://eitan.bar/articles/love-rejoices-with-the-truth/ Mon, 10 Jun 2024 06:43:17 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3323 From the outset, justice has been a prominent recurring motif. Discussions on justice appear early in the Torah (e.g., Leviticus 19:15) and are also emphasized by the prophets (e.g., Micah 6:8). In the intricate dance of human interactions, love and justice are often seen as partners whose steps occasionally misalign.…

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]]> “Love Does Not Delight in Evil” https://eitan.bar/articles/love-does-not-delight-in-evil/ Mon, 10 Jun 2024 06:26:36 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3320 To delight in evil—or schadenfreude—is the pleasure of seeing others fall, sin, suffer, or get in trouble. In the original context of Paul’s writing, this message would have resonated deeply in a community like Corinth, where social and moral discord has tempted some to find satisfaction in the failures of…

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]]> “Love Does Not Keep a Record of Wrongs” https://eitan.bar/articles/love-does-not-keep-a-record-of-wrongs/ Mon, 10 Jun 2024 06:19:18 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3317 Gossip and “keeping a record of wrongs” are closely intertwined, reflecting a failure to grasp the grace of God fully. When people gossip, they often do so from a place of insecurity and fear. This is particularly prevalent among religious individuals who are constantly anxious about their afterlife and their…

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]]> “Love Is Not Selfish and Is Not Provoked” https://eitan.bar/articles/love-selfish-provoked-corinthians/ Mon, 10 Jun 2024 06:09:21 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3301 This directive challenges the natural human inclination towards selfishness, self-preservation, and self-promotion, urging a shift towards altruism and collective well-being. Jesus reminded us to “seek first his kingdom” (Matthew 6:33), suggesting a hierarchy of priorities. Just as our bodies urgently signal hunger or thirst, we should feel an intense spiritual…

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]]> “By Faith Alone”—Really?! https://eitan.bar/articles/by-faith-alone-really/ Thu, 06 Jun 2024 05:33:32 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3304 The phrase “by faith alone” is frequently cited within Evangelicalism, but its interpretation varies significantly between its two main theological camps (Arminianism vs. Calvinism). In fact, I would say that “by faith alone” is nothing more than a placebo in most of Western Christian theology. What do I mean? On…

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]]> “Love Does Not Act Rudely” https://eitan.bar/articles/love-does-not-act-rudely-a-short-commentary-on-1-corinthians-135a/ Wed, 05 Jun 2024 14:38:38 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3298 Rudeness, often characterized by abrupt, harsh, or unconsidered behaviors, disrupts the fabric of community and personal relationships. It reflects a disregard for the feelings of others, operating against the grain of social harmony and mutual respect. In this verse’s original context, Paul addresses a community riddled with conflicts, boasting, and…

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]]> “Love Is Not Envious, Boastful, or Prideful” https://eitan.bar/articles/love-is-not-envious-boastful-or-prideful-1-corinthians-13-4/ Wed, 05 Jun 2024 14:02:21 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3293 A Short Commentary On 1 Corinthians 13:4 [c-e]

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]]> “Love Is Kind” https://eitan.bar/articles/love-is-kind-1-corinthians-13-4/ Wed, 05 Jun 2024 13:23:11 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3290 Kindness is the act of showing compassion, generosity, and consideration towards others, often involving selfless actions and a genuine concern for their well-being. It encompasses gestures of goodwill, such as offering help, expressing empathy, and treating people with respect and understanding. At its core, kindness reflects an inner attitude of…

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]]> “Love Is Patient” https://eitan.bar/articles/love-is-patient-1-corinthians-13-4/ Wed, 05 Jun 2024 13:12:56 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3287 The Hebrew Bible frequently discusses the theme of patience, particularly highlighting God’s forbearance with Israel (e.g., Exodus 34:6; Proverbs 19:11; Hosea 3:1; Psalm 103:8). The Hebrew word for patience is conceptualized in two primary ways. The first uses the imagery of a “long nose,” suggesting that it takes a longer…

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]]> “If I Am Magnificent But Have Not Love” https://eitan.bar/articles/1-corinthians-13-1-3-commentary/ Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:57:23 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3282 The deeper our understanding of God’s love as expressed through Christ, the more effectively we can love others. Indeed, before we can extend love outwardly, we must first internalize and experience it. In chapter 13, Paul anchors his definition of love on the perfect embodiment and demonstration of love: the…

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]]> The Parable of the Good Samaritan From a Jewish Perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/parable-good-samaritan/ Tue, 04 Jun 2024 14:44:49 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3276 Long before it became embedded in legal frameworks, Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to a question from a Torah scholar—a Jewish lawyer—seeking to understand how to gain God’s favor. This story has transcended its biblical origins to become synonymous with selflessly aiding strangers and even…

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]]> Love as Evidence of God’s Existence https://eitan.bar/articles/sacrificial-love-prove-the-existence-of-god/ Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:16:06 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3272 Does the universal regard for sacrificial love as the highest moral value suggest the existence of God? Love, a concept often portrayed through various art forms, including literature, songs, and films, presents a compelling argument for the existence of the God of Christianity. I believe the universality of sacrificial love…

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]]> The Wounded Raise Higher: Broken People’s Potential for Greatness https://eitan.bar/articles/broken-peoples-potential-to-succeed/ Sun, 02 Jun 2024 13:05:59 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3259 To those who feel broken and defeated, know that your journey is far from over. No matter how badly you've messed up, God's love, grace, and redemption are powerful enough to transform your life. Your failures do not define you; instead, they are opportunities for God's purposes to shine through you. In your brokenness, God sees the potential for growth, purification, and profound spiritual success that goes beyond human strength.

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]]> The Tabernacle: Essentials, Symbolism, Fulfillment in Jesus https://eitan.bar/articles/tabernacle-fulfillment-jesus/ Sun, 02 Jun 2024 10:04:52 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3252 The Tabernacle, a divine structure outlined in the book of Exodus, served as the dwelling place of God among the Israelites during their wilderness journey. During the Exodus and the wandering in the desert, the Tabernacle was portable, symbolizing the closeness of Emmanual—God with us. The Tabernacle’s detailed construction and the…

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]]> What is Atonement (Propitiation)? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-atonement-propitiation/ https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-atonement-propitiation/#comments Tue, 28 May 2024 12:52:25 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3248 Atonement is a central concept in the Hebrew Scriptures, intricately tied to the relationship between humanity and God. The Hebrew term for atonement, “כפר” (kipper), appears over a hundred times in the Old Testament, most notably in the context of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Understanding the nuances of…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-atonement-propitiation/feed/ 1 Understanding the Bible’s Message Through Its Narrative https://eitan.bar/articles/bible-narrative/ https://eitan.bar/articles/bible-narrative/#comments Tue, 28 May 2024 12:08:45 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3241 At their core, biblical narratives are far from simplistic or rudimentary recountings of historical events. They are intricate literary creations that employ sophisticated narrative techniques to convey their messages. The Bible’s narrative structure, with its interweaving of plotlines and meticulous character development, serves more than just a storytelling function—it embeds…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/bible-narrative/feed/ 1 The Ten Plagues of Egypt: A Scientific Perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/the-ten-plagues-of-egypt-a-scientific-perspective/ Mon, 27 May 2024 06:48:36 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3237 Researchers previously showed that volcanic eruptions occasionally affected Egypt and caused climatic and environmental disruptions. Volcanic ash in the atmosphere can lead to cooler temperatures, altered weather patterns, and disruptions in agricultural productivity, potentially triggering a chain of natural disasters. From a scientific perspective, each of the ten plagues of…

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]]> Can God Exist if Evil Exists? Debunking the Epicurean Paradox https://eitan.bar/articles/epicurean-paradox-debunked/ Sun, 26 May 2024 08:24:29 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3214 The Epicurean Paradox is perhaps the most popular philosophical argument used by atheists to question the existence of an omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnibenevolent (all-loving) God in the presence of evil. The paradox is often attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus and is usually formulated as follows: This…

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]]> 9 Reasons Not to Trust Only One Bible Translation https://eitan.bar/articles/trusting-bible-translations/ https://eitan.bar/articles/trusting-bible-translations/#comments Fri, 24 May 2024 09:12:30 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3207 As a native Hebrew speaker, I recall the first time I read an English translation of the Hebrew Bible and noticed significant differences in some sections. This experience was echoed during my Koine Greek classes, where I saw how translations could diverge greatly from the original text and each other.…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/trusting-bible-translations/feed/ 1 C.S. Lewis’s Free Will vs. Calvinism’s Predestination & Total Depravity https://eitan.bar/articles/c-s-lewiss-free-will-vs-calvinisms-predestination-total-depravity/ Mon, 20 May 2024 08:03:08 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3194 C.S. Lewis, one of the most influential Christian apologists of the 20th century, is renowned for his profound theological insights and literary contributions. Despite his broad influence within Christian thought, Lewis held specific theological positions that set him apart from other traditions, particularly Calvinism. For instance, C.S. Lewis’s theology is…

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]]> Why Generosity Was So Crucial for Jesus and Its Effect on Modern Society https://eitan.bar/articles/why-generosity-was-so-crucial-for-jesus/ Mon, 20 May 2024 07:11:40 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3190 Generosity is an often overlooked core principle in Jesus’s teachings. Christ emphasized the importance of giving, sharing, and caring for others throughout His ministry. One of the most profound examples is the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), where Jesus illustrates the essence of loving one’s neighbor through acts…

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]]> Justice: Why Love Can’t Survive Without It https://eitan.bar/articles/justice-bible-love/ Mon, 13 May 2024 08:50:05 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3168 From the outset, justice has been a prominent recurring motif. Discussions on justice appear early in the Torah (e.g., Leviticus 19:15) and are also emphasized by the prophets (e.g., Micah 6:8). In the intricate dance of human interactions, love and justice are often seen as partners whose steps occasionally misalign.…

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]]> Why Sacrifice is the Highest of Virtues https://eitan.bar/articles/sacrifice-highest-virtues/ Sun, 12 May 2024 13:39:42 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3153 Sacrifice, a virtue deeply embedded in human culture and spiritual consciousness, stands out as a profound expression of altruism and selflessness. Throughout history, it has shaped the contours of morality and ethics, guiding individuals and communities toward higher ideals. The essence of sacrifice involves giving up something valued for the…

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]]> Antisemitism as Evidence of God’s Existence https://eitan.bar/articles/antisemitism-evidence-god/ Sat, 11 May 2024 15:04:52 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3163 In this short article, I quickly explore the Jewish people’s enduring presence and profound significance, as seen through history, prophecy, and modern events, demonstrating the unmistakable hand of God on His chosen people as evidence of His existence. Divine Preservation Through History Firstly, the historical persistence of the Jewish people,…

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]]> What Language did Jesus Speak—Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-language-did-jesus-speak-greek-hebrew-aramaic/ Sat, 11 May 2024 07:47:50 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3144 It is ubiquitous that Jesus spoke Aramaic, the common language in Israel at the time, and spoke its sister language,1 Hebrew, as all other religiously educated Jews. But what about Greek? Historically: Jesus’s Linguistic Abilities The linguistic environment of first-century Israel was notably diverse, primarily featuring Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek.…

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]]> What Most Christians Overlook Regarding Sacrifice in the Bible and Jesus’ Atonement https://eitan.bar/articles/sacrifice-atonement-jesus-bible/ Fri, 10 May 2024 12:43:16 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3135 Well, perhaps not “most Christians,” but certainly most Protestants (Calvinists, Baptists, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, etc.) and most Catholics. Historically, this overlook made them develop their Theories of Atonement pretty late in the game, disregarding the earlier teachings of the Church Fathers.1 The Models of Atonement held by both the Catholic and…

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]]> Why Forgiveness is the Highest of Virtues https://eitan.bar/articles/why-forgiveness/ Thu, 09 May 2024 14:26:21 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3131 Forgiveness, a profound virtue embedded in the fabric of human morality, stands out as a beacon of transformative power, both for the individual soul and the broader society. Its universal value crosses all cultural and religious landscapes, acting as a pivotal element in fostering healthy relationships and robust communities. At…

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]]> Every Knee Shall Bow: Putting God’s Wisdom & Power to the Test https://eitan.bar/articles/every-knee-shall-bow/ Sun, 28 Apr 2024 09:41:48 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3098 Can we truly trust that God is the wisest, strongest, and most loving? Or was the serpent correct in suggesting otherwise? All of us, along with the rest of creation, bear witness to the ongoing vast cosmic theological debate surrounding the nature of God. One way to interpret Genesis 3…

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]]> The Parallels Between the Gods of Ancient Egypt and the Ten Plagues https://eitan.bar/articles/parallels-gods-egypt-ten-plagues/ Thu, 25 Apr 2024 05:53:32 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3092 The ten plagues of Egypt, as described in the Book of Exodus, is a direct challenge to the gods of ancient Egypt, each plague serving as a refutation of the powers of specific Egyptian deities. Here are some parallels: These parallels suggest that the plagues were symbolic acts meant to…

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]]> Was King David Really Teaching “Original Sin” & “Total Depravity” in Psalm 51:5? https://eitan.bar/articles/david-original-sin-psalm-51-5/ Fri, 19 Apr 2024 11:12:52 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3077 Throughout history, scholars and theologians have presented various interpretations to define ‘sin’ and ‘original sin.’ One influential perspective is that of Augustine (354–430), which was later picked up and promoted by Calvin and Luther, who believed that humans are born with a “Destination: Hell” imprinted due to the sin of…

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]]> Does God Hate Us, Love Us, Or Both? https://eitan.bar/articles/does-god-hate-or-love-us/ Thu, 18 Apr 2024 12:25:56 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3068 Imagine explaining to your child that because they are not perfect, you must take them to the backyard, tie them to a tree, and burn them in a fire. However, because you also love them, you decide to burn the dog instead. Your logic, as you explain to your confused…

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]]> “Ask,” “Seek,” “Knock.” https://eitan.bar/articles/ask-seek-knock/ Wed, 17 Apr 2024 11:50:03 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3049 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for…

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]]> “Do Not Judge” – What Did Jesus Mean? (Matthew 7:1-6) https://eitan.bar/articles/do-not-judge-matthew-7/ Wed, 17 Apr 2024 09:21:18 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3042 Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention…

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]]> This Is Why God Created Us Limited and Finite and Allows Evil https://eitan.bar/articles/adam-eve-not-perfect/ https://eitan.bar/articles/adam-eve-not-perfect/#comments Wed, 17 Apr 2024 07:46:25 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3034 “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”. Genesis 1:31 In our quest to comprehend the intricate subtleties of religious texts, we often grapple with abstract concepts that defy easy understanding. One such notion is the distinction between “good” and “perfect,” especially when considered within the realm…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/adam-eve-not-perfect/feed/ 1 Jesus’ Definition of True Spirituality in the Lord’s Prayer https://eitan.bar/articles/the-lords-prayer/ Mon, 15 Apr 2024 14:30:04 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3029 Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and…

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]]> “Eye for an Eye” Will Turn Us All Blind! https://eitan.bar/articles/eye-for-an-eye-meaning/ https://eitan.bar/articles/eye-for-an-eye-meaning/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2024 12:04:39 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3024 You have heard that it was said, “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.” But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/eye-for-an-eye-meaning/feed/ 1 The Meaning of “Love Your Enemies” (Matthew 5:43)? https://eitan.bar/articles/love-your-enemies-matthew-5-43/ Mon, 15 Apr 2024 11:35:22 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3021 You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on…

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]]> Why Are The Merciful Blessed? (Matthew 5:7) https://eitan.bar/articles/blessed-merciful-matthew-5-7/ Wed, 10 Apr 2024 13:53:32 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3015 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7) Some Christians like to emphasize God’s justice as often as possible, but they often fail to remember that with God’s judgment comes mercy. This concise yet deeply meaningful statement about mercy from Rabbi Yeshua serves as a cornerstone of…

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]]> 7 Ways Bad Theology Impacts Life https://eitan.bar/articles/7-ways-bad-theology-impact-life/ Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:37:42 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3011 Understanding the profound impact of theology on individuals and communities requires a deep dive into the relationship between beliefs, behaviors, and social structures. Let’s explore how bad theology can lead to the formation of harmful individuals and dysfunctional communities. 1. The Basis of Theology in Shaping Worldview Theology fundamentally shapes…

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]]> Beauty for Ashes: This is Why the Gospel is Good News https://eitan.bar/articles/beauty-for-ashes-isaiah-61/ Sun, 07 Apr 2024 10:51:04 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3001 Yeshua, visiting Nazareth, attended the synagogue on the Sabbath. There, He stood and read the first verses of Isaiah 61 (Luke 4:16-19). Isaiah 61, a messianic prophecy, is divided into four parts. The first part of the prophecy (Isaiah 61:1-3) is a beautiful reflection of Rabbi Yeshua’s beatitudes and sheds…

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]]> Fear, “the one who has authority to throw you into hell” (Luke 12:5) – A Jewish perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/fear-him-hell-luke-12-5/ Fri, 05 Apr 2024 10:54:52 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2976 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not…

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]]> The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Top Must-Know Facts and Context https://eitan.bar/articles/israeli-palestinian-conflict-facts-context/ https://eitan.bar/articles/israeli-palestinian-conflict-facts-context/#comments Thu, 04 Apr 2024 15:24:00 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=3621 Many inquire about my stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict; hence, I aim to provide a concise summary of what I believe to be the most essential information. Let’s jump right into it! In 1948, the establishment of Israel was internationally recognized and supported, with the United Nations voting in favor…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/israeli-palestinian-conflict-facts-context/feed/ 1 Penal Substitutionary Atonement: A Critical Examination https://eitan.bar/articles/penal-substitutionary-atonement-critical/ https://eitan.bar/articles/penal-substitutionary-atonement-critical/#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2024 12:50:57 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2967 The doctrine of Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA) has long been a cornerstone of the Reformed Calvinistic theological framework. It later became the “gospel message” of several post-reformation protestant denominations, such as Baptist, Evangelical, and Pentecostal. What is Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA)? Penal Substitutionary Atonement was developed during the Protestant Reformation…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/penal-substitutionary-atonement-critical/feed/ 6 Who or What is the “Word” of God? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-the-word-of-god-bible-or-jesus/ https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-the-word-of-god-bible-or-jesus/#comments Sun, 10 Mar 2024 10:44:39 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2940 What is the Word of God? Is it the New International Version (NIV), a modern English translation based on the Critical Text, or perhaps the King James Version (KJV), an older translation also in English but based on the Textus Receptus? If, instead, we consider the original Hebrew and Greek…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-the-word-of-god-bible-or-jesus/feed/ 1 Kindness as Evangelism (Matthew 7:12) https://eitan.bar/articles/kindness-as-evangelism-matthew-7-12/ Tue, 05 Mar 2024 11:14:50 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2934 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 Rabbi Yeshua’s teachings might sound like a tenet of Eastern religions like Buddhism or Hinduism. However, while concepts such as “karma” are impersonal laws of…

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]]> Death and Life: The Power of Our Tongue https://eitan.bar/articles/death-life-power-of-tongue/ Thu, 29 Feb 2024 12:26:34 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2900 Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.” But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the…

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]]> The Power of Your Imagination (Matthew 5:27-28) https://eitan.bar/articles/lust-woman-matthew-527-28/ Thu, 29 Feb 2024 10:30:32 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2894 You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28 In this profound and memorable passage, Rabbi Yeshua reveals a fundamental yet often overlooked truth:…

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]]> Your Anger Can Destroy You (Matthew 5:21-22) https://eitan.bar/articles/your-anger-can-destroy-you-matthew-521-22/ Thu, 29 Feb 2024 09:15:01 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2889 You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.” But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a…

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]]> What “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness” (Matthew 5:10) means? https://eitan.bar/articles/blessed-are-those-who-are-persecuted-because-of-righteousness-matthew-5-10/ Wed, 28 Feb 2024 14:16:35 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2886 Rabbi Yeshua is not advocating for physical persecution or suffering at the hands of others but is referring to the rewards those who do suffer will earn if their suffering is because they seek justice. However, persecution is also an internal struggle each person undergoes in the pursuit of inner…

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]]> What “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9) means? https://eitan.bar/articles/blessed-are-the-peacemakers-shall-be-called-the-children-of-god-matthew-5-9/ Wed, 28 Feb 2024 13:45:01 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2882 Here, Yeshua wasn’t advocating for a particular political stance. While Yeshua was undoubtedly a Jew living in the land of Israel, occupied and oppressed by the Romans, he never engaged in the politics of borders, soil, and land. Instead, His focus was on much deeper matters: the human heart. The…

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]]> What “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) means? https://eitan.bar/articles/blessed-are-the-poor-in-spirit-for-theirs-is-the-kingdom-of-heaven-matthew-5-3/ Wed, 28 Feb 2024 10:10:35 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2878 To be “poor in spirit” is a concept far removed from what we modernly understand as being “poor-spirited.” It involves a profound humility: emptying oneself of the desire to exert personal selfish will and, equally crucial, shedding all preconceived notions in a devoted quest for God. It means a willingness…

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]]> “The Armor of God” (Ephesians 6:12-18) In Its Original Context https://eitan.bar/articles/the-armor-of-god-ephesians-6/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 12:27:38 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2869 Let’s jump right into it! Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against authorities, powers, the rulers of this world’s darkness, and evil spiritual forces in the heavens. Ephesians 6:12 Paul’s assertion that we do not fight against flesh and blood doesn’t imply we never confront people. Indeed,…

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]]> How Literally Should You Read the Bible? https://eitan.bar/articles/should-you-read-the-bible-literally/ Wed, 21 Feb 2024 10:57:57 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2864 Many Christian Fundamentalists (often Calvinists, Baptists, Pentecostals, Evangelicals, etc.) argue that the Bible must be read literally. For instance, in the Popular Calvinistic website, it stated: “Not only can we take the Bible literally, but we must take the Bible literally. This is the only way to determine what God…

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]]> Genesis 6: Why the Flood? https://eitan.bar/articles/genesis-6-why-god-flood/ Sun, 21 Jan 2024 07:35:50 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2811 Was it an act of evil for God to initiate the great flood? Sometimes, Christians begin reading the flood narrative with verse 5: And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.…

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]]> Acts 13:48 Beyond Calvinism’s Predestination https://eitan.bar/articles/acts-13-48-calvinism-predestination/ https://eitan.bar/articles/acts-13-48-calvinism-predestination/#comments Sat, 20 Jan 2024 09:03:45 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2807  And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48 Acts 13:48 has long been a cornerstone for the Calvinistic doctrine of Unconditional Election. This short article endeavors to present a quick…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/acts-13-48-calvinism-predestination/feed/ 2 “Lord, Lord, Did We Not Have a Great Ministry in Your Name?” (Matthew 7:21-23) https://eitan.bar/articles/lord-lord-depart-from-me-evildoers-matthew-7-21-23/ https://eitan.bar/articles/lord-lord-depart-from-me-evildoers-matthew-7-21-23/#comments Thu, 11 Jan 2024 14:50:33 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2797 Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/lord-lord-depart-from-me-evildoers-matthew-7-21-23/feed/ 1 “By Their Fruit You Will Recognize Them” and What My Experience in the Messianic Movement Taught Me https://eitan.bar/articles/messianic-movement-by-their-fruit-you-will-recognize-them-matthew-7-15-20/ https://eitan.bar/articles/messianic-movement-by-their-fruit-you-will-recognize-them-matthew-7-15-20/#comments Thu, 11 Jan 2024 13:40:01 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2791 Watch out for false prophets [teachers]. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/messianic-movement-by-their-fruit-you-will-recognize-them-matthew-7-15-20/feed/ 2 What Are the Narrow & Broad Gates & Roads Jesus Spoke of (Matthew 7)? https://eitan.bar/articles/narrow-broad-gate-jesus-matthew-7-13-14/ https://eitan.bar/articles/narrow-broad-gate-jesus-matthew-7-13-14/#comments Thu, 11 Jan 2024 11:16:15 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2778 Matthew 7:13–29 concludes the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus discusses the choices that lead to a blessed and prosperous life when living a life of righteousness. He emphasizes the importance of not only hearing His words but also acting on them, likening those who do to a wise man…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/narrow-broad-gate-jesus-matthew-7-13-14/feed/ 1 Was Jesus a “Palestinian”? https://eitan.bar/articles/jesus-palestinian-freedom-fighter/ Thu, 28 Dec 2023 11:12:07 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2756 If you’ve been out of touch for some time, you might be surprised to learn about a narrative that has surfaced, claiming “Jesus was a Palestinian freedom fighter,” suggesting He led a revolt against – you guessed it – the Jews! Some Muslims and even radical liberal Christians now publicly…

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]]> Does Romans 9 Really Teach Unconditional Election (Calvinistic Predestination)? https://eitan.bar/articles/romans-9-unconditional-election-predestination/ Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:14:39 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2621 Refutation for the Calvinistic view of Unconditional Election and Predestination in Romans 9:11-14

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]]> The Hebrew Meaning of “Salvation” https://eitan.bar/articles/salvation-saved-from-what/ https://eitan.bar/articles/salvation-saved-from-what/#comments Mon, 11 Dec 2023 08:52:08 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2561 You have likely noticed that in fundamentalist Christian traditions, being “saved” is understood as avoiding a place where God sends people to be tortured in eternal flames, burning them ceaselessly, a concept commonly referred to in these traditions as “hellfire.” However, Judaism, the root of Christianity, interprets ‘salvation’ quite differently.…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/salvation-saved-from-what/feed/ 7 What does “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) really mean? https://eitan.bar/articles/i-am-the-way-truth-life-comes-father-except-through-jesus-john-14-6/ https://eitan.bar/articles/i-am-the-way-truth-life-comes-father-except-through-jesus-john-14-6/#comments Sun, 10 Dec 2023 10:35:07 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2538 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/i-am-the-way-truth-life-comes-father-except-through-jesus-john-14-6/feed/ 1 To Be “Born Again” – Beyond the Mystical-Transcendental Evangelical Phenomenon https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-born-again/ https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-born-again/#comments Thu, 07 Dec 2023 09:59:10 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2516 In 2014, I sat down with Mitch Glazer, the president of Chosen People Ministries, and shared my idea to film the testimony stories of Jewish individuals who have been “born again.” He was very excited about it and generously offered to cover the entire project’s cost. Over the next eight…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-born-again/feed/ 1 What is “Porneia” (Fornication)? https://eitan.bar/articles/porneia-fornication/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 06:41:31 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2488 I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication (porneia)… Notice that the cause cited in Matthew 5:32 is not ‘adultery’ but rather ‘fornication,’ sometimes translated as “sexual immorality.” Both ‘adultery’ and ‘fornication’ are used in the verse, but they are…

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]]> Why “God’s Justice Means He Must Burn You Forever” Is a Terrible Argument for Divine Justice https://eitan.bar/articles/god-must-burn-hell/ https://eitan.bar/articles/god-must-burn-hell/#comments Fri, 03 Nov 2023 07:30:14 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2404 His holiness is so pure that he cannot forgive without punishing. Stan Mast, Calvinist Preacher Some Christian denominations, such as Calvinists and Evangelicals, rigidly adhere to Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA), asserting that God’s holiness demands a rigid punishment for sin. And when I say rigid, I mean melting your skin…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/god-must-burn-hell/feed/ 2 What the Bible Says About Divorce? What Does “God Hates Put Away” Mean (Malachi 2:16) & Jesus on Divorce (Matthew 5:32?) https://eitan.bar/articles/bible-divorce/ Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:48:41 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2399 Becoming “one flesh” is the ideal of any marriage, a model established with the first couple in Genesis 2:24. However, it faltered after the fall when Adam blamed Eve for his eating of the forbidden fruit. This breach of trust in their union marked a turning point. Since then, ‘one…

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]]> “Is this the end?” Evangelical End Times Speculative (Problematic) Predictions https://eitan.bar/articles/end-times-prophecies/ Thu, 26 Oct 2023 11:00:56 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2387 “Is this the end?” Was the text I received from a dear American evangelical friend. The evangelical fascination with end-times prophecy is not new, but in recent years, it has been widely popularized. I often receive referrals and questions from frightened Christians worldwide about different publications by figures such as…

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]]> From Belief to Disbelief: My Journey Away from Pre-Trib Rapture Doctrine https://eitan.bar/articles/pre-trib-rapture-left-behind-decontrust/ https://eitan.bar/articles/pre-trib-rapture-left-behind-decontrust/#comments Sun, 22 Oct 2023 07:45:27 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2376 As someone deeply rooted in the Fundamental-Evangelical-Dispensationalist community for over two decades, my life and theology were intricately woven around end-times eschatology. I had invested years studying and defending these beliefs. However, my most intense examination of the subject came when I enrolled in a doctoral program at Dallas Theological…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/pre-trib-rapture-left-behind-decontrust/feed/ 1 Hamas = Modern-day Antisemitism? https://eitan.bar/articles/hamas-modern-day-antisemitism/ Fri, 13 Oct 2023 08:02:24 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2369 “We have understood, with horror,that antisemitism is still alive.And on this issue, our response must be unforgiving.” (Emanuel Macron, President of France) After enduring two millennia of relentless persecution and antisemitism, it became imperative for the Jewish people to establish their own homeland. This would not only offer them a…

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]]> Do Poor People Tend to Sin More? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-human-motivation-to-sin/ Fri, 06 Oct 2023 06:31:11 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2327 The concept of “sin” is deeply rooted in religious, cultural, and philosophical traditions, and its interpretation can vary widely among different belief systems. Generally, sin refers to acts that are considered morally wrong or in violation of divine law. The motivation to sin can be complex and multifaceted. Here are…

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]]> Jesus’ Love for Prostitutes https://eitan.bar/articles/jesus-love-for-prostitutes/ Wed, 27 Sep 2023 13:31:27 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2312 “But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!” Luke 15:30 The older son continues to express his frustration, hurt, and perhaps even jealousy over the celebratory response his father has towards the return of the prodigal…

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]]> Why Did the Older Brother Become So Angry? (The Prodigal Son) https://eitan.bar/articles/older-brother-angry-the-prodigal-son/ Thu, 14 Sep 2023 10:37:07 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2284 "The elder son, in many ways, represents the legalistic approach to religion — the belief that salvation is to be earned and kept by good deeds, loyalty, and unwavering dedication. His resentment stems from the perception that he’s been righteous and done everything by the book, yet the return home of a sinner his father chooses to celebrate reveals his true colors."

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]]> The must-know meaning of the ‘robe,’ ‘ring,’ and ‘sandals’ in the Parable of the Prodigal Son https://eitan.bar/articles/parable-prodigal-son-robe-ring-sandals/ https://eitan.bar/articles/parable-prodigal-son-robe-ring-sandals/#comments Sun, 10 Sep 2023 12:31:13 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2264 "The threat of death that overshadowed the Prodigal Son wasn't because of something the father would do to him if he didn't repent. There was no torture chamber the father kept hidden in some faraway basement where he planned to burn him alive. The son's real hell was simply being away from his father's house."

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/parable-prodigal-son-robe-ring-sandals/feed/ 2 This Is Why So Many Christians Deconstruct Their Faith https://eitan.bar/articles/why-christians-deconstruct-their-faith/ Thu, 07 Sep 2023 12:03:09 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2244 “Deconstruction, is a phenomenon within American evangelicalism in which Christians rethink their faith and jettison previously held beliefs, sometimes to the point of no longer identifying as Christians.” Wikipedia Why are several generations now deconstructing? I know you all went through at least one phase of deconstructing when you were younger, but it’s…

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]]> “Repent or Burn!”: Repentance in the Bible and Why It Should Never Be Associated With Salvation! https://eitan.bar/articles/repentance-salvation-calvinism/ https://eitan.bar/articles/repentance-salvation-calvinism/#comments Wed, 06 Sep 2023 08:44:29 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2219 If you are a Christian or were ever part of a church, you must have heard the idea that you are saved by grace BUT you can either lose it (Arminianism) or prove you’ve never really had it in the first place (Calvinism) if you have unrepented sin in your…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/repentance-salvation-calvinism/feed/ 1 Rabbi Tovia Singer & Isaiah 53: My Rebuttal https://eitan.bar/articles/rabbi-tovia-singer-isaiah-53/ Mon, 28 Aug 2023 11:11:27 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2207 Some of you sent me (and I myself also came across) several videos1 on YouTube by Rabbi Tovia Singer where he challenges the Christian perspective on Isaiah 53. In this article, I’ll quote his 10 top arguments and refute them. Who is Rabbi Tovia Singer? Rabbi Tovia Singer is an…

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]]> Why Didn’t God Make Us Perfect Like Him from the Start? https://eitan.bar/articles/why-didnt-god-make-us-perfect-like-him-from-the-start/ Fri, 18 Aug 2023 11:12:42 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2202 If God desires everyone’s salvation, as stated in 1 Timothy 2:3-4, why doesn’t He grant salvation from the get-go? Well, because He wants us to go through a process. God is omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipotent (possesses full control), which enables Him the ability to avoid mistakes. So, why didn’t He…

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]]> Communion / Eucharist / Lord’s Supper, from a Jewish perspective https://eitan.bar/articles/lords-supper-communion/ Thu, 17 Aug 2023 11:38:40 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2197 The Lord’s Supper (aka communion), a solemn ceremony that echoes throughout Christian communities, has, over time, become an almost weighty and alien ritual, far removed from what’s described in the Jewish writings of the New Testament. I can’t speak for its observance elsewhere, but in conservative Evangelical circles, this event…

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]]> Hebrew Word Study: FAITH (EMUNA) https://eitan.bar/articles/hebrew-word-study-faith-emuna/ Sun, 13 Aug 2023 12:15:14 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2194 In the Hebrew language, the ideas of “belief,” “trust,” and “faith” are not separated as they often are in English theological discourse. They are unified through a single linguistic root: A-M-N. From this root come the words: EMUNAH: Faith EMUN: Trust AMEN: A declaration of trust, belief, or affirmation So…

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]]> Hebrew Word Study: FEAR (YIR’AH) https://eitan.bar/articles/hebrew-word-study-fear-yirah/ https://eitan.bar/articles/hebrew-word-study-fear-yirah/#comments Sun, 13 Aug 2023 12:11:06 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2192 Have you ever ascended to the summit of the Eiffel Tower or stood at the prow of a boat amidst the vast ocean? Maybe you’ve perched on the edge of a mountain cliff or lain under a star-studded sky in the desert. If you have, you might remember the deep…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/hebrew-word-study-fear-yirah/feed/ 1 Hebrew Word Study: HATE (SANE) https://eitan.bar/articles/hebrew-word-study-hate-sane/ Sun, 13 Aug 2023 12:09:07 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2190 The Hebrew word translated as “hate” is SANE—but it’s crucial to understand that the way this word is perceived in the modern Western world is vastly different from how it functioned in biblical Hebrew. In contemporary English, “hate” is an emotionally charged word. It evokes intense feelings of hostility, disgust,…

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]]> Hebrew Word Study: WORSHIP (SHACHAH) https://eitan.bar/articles/hebrew-word-study-worship-shachah/ Sun, 13 Aug 2023 12:07:50 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2185 What do you imagine when you hear the word “worship” or “worship night”? For many modern Christians, it conjures up images of dimly lit auditoriums pulsing with music, arms raised in emotive surrender, and a worship leader guiding a congregation through swelling choruses. It feels spiritual. It sounds beautiful. But…

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]]> Hebrew Word Study: SERPENT or SHINING ONE (NAHASH) https://eitan.bar/articles/hebrew-word-study-serpent-nahash/ Sun, 13 Aug 2023 11:59:56 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2183 To the modern reader, the serpent of Genesis 3 seems fantastical—mythic, even absurd. A snake that speaks? Really? For centuries, skeptics have dismissed the Garden of Eden story on this very ground. Museums and children’s Bibles show Eve chatting with a coiled reptile, perched innocently in a fruit tree, whispering…

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]]> Hebrew Word Study: COVENANT (BRIT) https://eitan.bar/articles/hebrew-word-study-covenant-brit/ Sun, 13 Aug 2023 11:56:40 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2181 In Hebrew, you don’t “make” a covenant. You cut one. The Hebrew phrase is KARAT BRIT—literally, “to cut a covenant.” The first word (KARAT) means to excise, amputate, sever. The second word (BRIT) means covenant, alliance, or sacred pact. Together, these two words carry far more than contractual implications. They…

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]]> Hebrew Word Study: BLOOD (DAM) https://eitan.bar/articles/hebrew-word-study-blood-dam/ Sun, 13 Aug 2023 11:49:48 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2177 We live in a world where blood usually signals one thing: violence. We see it splattered across war zones on the evening news. We play games that reward it. We watch films that glorify it. In modern consciousness, blood has become the language of trauma, danger, and death. We hide…

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]]> Hebrew Word Study: SACRIFICE (QORBAN) https://eitan.bar/articles/hebrew-word-study-sacrifice-qorban/ Sun, 13 Aug 2023 11:43:29 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2175 In most people’s minds, the word sacrifice evokes images of blood, death, and loss. In the modern West, it often carries a negative tone—something you’re forced to give up, something painful, something you endure reluctantly. But in the ancient Hebrew mind, sacrifice had a completely different connotation. It was not…

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]]> Hebrew Word Study: SHALOM (Peace) https://eitan.bar/articles/hebrew-word-study-shalom-peace/ Sun, 13 Aug 2023 11:38:59 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2157 If there is one Hebrew word the world seems to recognize, it is SHALOM. It echoes in greetings and farewells, sung in synagogues, whispered in prayers, stitched onto banners, and spoken in longing. It is most often translated as “peace,” but this English equivalent only touches the surface—like calling the…

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]]> Messianic Judaism: Two Movements with the Same Name https://eitan.bar/articles/messianic-judaism/ https://eitan.bar/articles/messianic-judaism/#comments Tue, 08 Aug 2023 13:03:08 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2151 Messianic Judaism: One name, two different movements Messianic Judaism is a unique and evolving religious movement that intertwines Christian theology with Jewish customs and traditions. With roots extending back several decades, its genesis can be traced to believers who felt an intrinsic need to recognize and honor the Jewish origins…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/messianic-judaism/feed/ 2 Did We Forget What the Gospel is All About? https://eitan.bar/articles/did-we-forget-what-the-gospel-is-all-about/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 13:59:00 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2094 Say a doctor loathes and detests their patients due to their illnesses. Can such doctor genuinely treat their patients?Even psychologists who have seen it all can sometimes be taken aback by what their patients reveal. But here’s the thing: unless patients feel that their psychologist accepts even their worst, ugliest…

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]]> There’s Something Wrong if Your Theology Never Changes https://eitan.bar/articles/theres-something-wrong-if-your-theology-never-changes/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 14:42:12 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2088 The Bible is the foundation and Truth we extract and develop theological concepts from. Theology can be approached from two distinct perspectives. One viewpoint is rooted in the idea that all essential theological understanding has already been revealed. Proponents of this perspective value the wisdom and insights of early Church…

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]]> The Antisemitic Link Between Hitler and Martin Luther https://eitan.bar/articles/antisemitism-hitler-martin-luther/ https://eitan.bar/articles/antisemitism-hitler-martin-luther/#comments Wed, 19 Jul 2023 09:07:39 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2041 Martin Luther was a German theologian and religious reformer who initiated the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. Regrettably, the reformation did not bring about a reformation in attitudes toward Jews. In fact, the animosity toward the Jewish people was reinforced and intensified by the reformers’ writings, especially Martin Luther,…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/antisemitism-hitler-martin-luther/feed/ 1 Christian Antisemitism In The Church Is Much Worse Than You Thought! https://eitan.bar/articles/christian-antisemitism-church/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 08:52:28 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2036 Antisemitism, or hostility and discrimination towards Jews, has a long and complex history within Christianity. While Christianity emerged from Judaism and Jesus himself was a Jew, over the centuries, many Christians have harbored deep-seated prejudices against Jews and Judaism. These attitudes have often been fueled by religious and political ideologies…

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]]> What Is Replacement Theology, And How To Debunk It? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-replacement-theology-debunk/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 08:26:47 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2032 Christianity argues that God was fed up with Israel, revoked his covenant and replaced Israel with Christianity…Christians teach that God broke his covenant with Israel.(Rabbi Moshe Rat)[i] Have you ever strolled through a museum admiring paintings only to notice that Jesus and his disciples are depicted with distinctly European features?…

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]]> Judaism’s Greatest Objection to Christanity https://eitan.bar/articles/judaisms-greatest-objection-to-christanity/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 08:01:51 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2028 My 2019 book, “Refuting Rabbinic Objections to Christianity,”  addressed Judaism’s most common objections to Christianity. Therefore, I will only briefly address Judaism’s two most significant objections to Christ in this book. The first objection concerns the triune God and the divinity of Christ, while the second is the claim that…

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]]> The Remnant: Famous Jewish Believers in Jesus Throughout History https://eitan.bar/articles/the-remnant-famous-jewish-believers-in-jesus-throughout-history/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 07:02:17 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2025 While rabbinic Judaism managed to overcome and eliminate most other Jewish sects, one group, despite its small size, has survived until now. In his letter to the Romans, Paul speaks of the “remnant” (11:5), a group of Israelites who remain faithful to God despite the majority of Israelites rejecting Christ.…

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]]> What Does Talmudic (Orthodox) Judaism Believe About Jesus? Christ in the Jewish Talmud https://eitan.bar/articles/what-judaism-believe-about-jesus-christ-in-the-jewish-talmud/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 06:46:08 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2022 By the third century AD, talmudic (Orthodox) rabbis attempted to further separate Jesus’ disciples from mainstream Judaism by introducing a controversial legend into the Oral Law. They hoped this legend would create discomfort among Jesus’ followers and ultimately create animosity between rabbinic Jews and Christian-Jews, expelling the latter from Jewish…

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]]> What Does Judaism Believe? What is the Oral Law? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-judaism-believe-oral-law/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 06:32:15 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2018 This is what the Talmudic (Rabbinic Orthodox) version of Judaism believes: We believe that when Moses brought the Written Law down, he did not only bring with him the Written Law but also the Oral Law. We believe that the Written and Oral Torah were brought down together. Thus they…

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]]> Israel & The Jews: Why Should Christians Care? https://eitan.bar/articles/israel-jews-why-should-christians-care/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 06:19:55 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=2014 For several reasons! Israel, often referred to as the Holy Land, is regarded as the spiritual heart of Christianity. Primarily, it is the birthplace of Yeshua (Hebrew for “Jesus,” meaning salvation), the most renowned Jewish figure in history and the central figure of Christianity. According to the New Testament, Jesus…

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]]> Sin, Sacrifice and Forgiveness: Judaism vs. Evangelicalism https://eitan.bar/articles/sins-sacrifices-judaism-vs-evangelicalism/ https://eitan.bar/articles/sins-sacrifices-judaism-vs-evangelicalism/#comments Thu, 29 Jun 2023 11:25:49 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1992 Forgiveness of sins and sacrifices are core to both religions. In Judaism, forgiveness never depended on the act of killing an animal. The God of the living does not take pleasure in death (Ezekiel 33:11) because death is the very opposite of what God is: life. Instead, the sacrifices symbolized generosity, dedication, celebration, peace, forgiveness, etc.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/sins-sacrifices-judaism-vs-evangelicalism/feed/ 2 What is Faith? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-faith/ https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-faith/#respond Wed, 07 Jun 2023 16:57:28 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1734 This article explores the distinctions between being a believer, a disciple, and a child of God. We'll delve into the varying levels of engagement and commitment each term embodies, providing insights into how these roles shape one's spiritual journey and personal growth within their faith.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-faith/feed/ 0 Faith Vs. Works: Salvation According to the Hebrew Scriptures https://eitan.bar/articles/faith-vs-works-how-to-get-saved-salvation/ Wed, 07 Jun 2023 16:57:25 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1730 Contrasting modern interpretations of salvation, which often intertwine works and faith, the Hebrew Scriptures emphasize salvation as solely dependent on faith. This distinction underscores a more genuine reliance on one's faith, rather than works, as the path to salvation.

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]]> Appalling Quotes by Preachers of “Divine Abuse” https://eitan.bar/articles/divine-abuse-quotes/ https://eitan.bar/articles/divine-abuse-quotes/#comments Mon, 05 Jun 2023 15:20:49 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1965 The Calvinist doctrine of Penal Substitutionary Atonement teaches that God, consumed by wrath, hated, and anger toward humanity, had to torture and abuse Christ in order to spare us: R.C. Sproul, a famous reformed (Calvinist) theologian, said: We always say the Cliché, ‘God Hates the sin, but he loves the…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/divine-abuse-quotes/feed/ 1 Angry gods vs. A Loving Father: How Your View of God Affects Your Reading of Scriptures https://eitan.bar/articles/loving-father/ https://eitan.bar/articles/loving-father/#comments Tue, 30 May 2023 19:11:13 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1953 The wrath of God can be allegorically likened to a loving father who sternly warns his child against touching a hot stove. The father’s prohibition is not borne out of anger or hatred but rather out of love and a desire to protect the child from harm. Yet, if the child disobeys and touches the stove, they inevitably get burned. This painful consequence is not a direct infliction by the father; rather, it's a result of the child's choice to ignore the father's warning. The burn is not a symbol of the father's wrath or anger but rather a natural consequence of the child's disobedience. The father doesn’t delight in the child's pain; instead, he takes this opportunity to help the child learn an important lesson. Similarly, God's wrath is not about Him punishing us out of anger but about the natural consequences of our actions when we choose to ignore His guidance. He, like the loving father, hopes we learn and grow from these experiences, drawing closer to Him and understanding His will more fully.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/loving-father/feed/ 1 The Book of Revelation – Bird’s Eye View https://eitan.bar/articles/revelation/ Tue, 30 May 2023 17:44:51 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1950 Once, I found myself seated in the pews of a Baptist church, absorbed in a sermon from the pastor who undertook the formidable task of elucidating the Book of Revelation. With words that carried an undercurrent of dread, he depicted apocalyptic visions of monstrous beasts about to rise up from the depths of the sea to wreak havoc and destruction on humanity. His vivid interpretation, while stirring a sense of imminent danger, seemed to serve a broader purpose — a call to moral rectification. The pastor stressed that every individual should strive to get their house in order, suggesting that such purification could serve as a shield against the beasts' terror. His message implied a dire ultimatum: get your act together, or brace yourself for the foreboding consequences about to take place!

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]]> Why I Love Theology And Why You Should As Well https://eitan.bar/articles/theology/ Tue, 16 May 2023 13:20:56 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1914 One can study theology – that is, about God and of God – just as a science enthusiast learns about nature or the stars – in a way that leaves him awestruck. Theology can be pursued just like a lover ardently investigates and learns everything possible about their beloved partner.

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]]> The 4 Spiritual (F)laws: A Critique and Why It Never Worked on Jews https://eitan.bar/articles/4-spiritual-laws/ Thu, 11 May 2023 12:26:44 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1876 The Jewish people could never relate to the idea that mankind is entirely separated from God's love, as promoted by preachers like Paul Washer and in pamphlets like the "4 Spiritual Laws," because it contradicts the Hebrew Scriptures.

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]]> What Was So Radical About Jesus’s Teaching About Love? https://eitan.bar/articles/love-thy-enemies/ Sun, 07 May 2023 14:40:40 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1869 The Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Matthew 7:12), is a principle found in various forms across different cultures and religious traditions.
In light of this, what makes Jesus's teach about love so radical?

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]]> When Did Judaism Stop Believing in a Divine Messiah? https://eitan.bar/articles/is-messiah-god-in-judaism/ Tue, 02 May 2023 11:57:01 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1851 The doctrine of the divinity of Christ and the concept of the Trinity are perhaps the most challenging Christian beliefs for Jews to accept. While Christianity posits that Jesus is the divine Son of God and a part of the Holy Trinity - consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - Judaism firmly upholds the belief in a singular, indivisible God. This fundamental difference creates a theological divide between the two faiths, as the notion of God taking human form and the idea of a triune deity directly contradict the principle of monotheism held by modern Judaism.

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]]> Jesus in the Talmud: The Talmudic (Orthodox) Rabbis’ Horrific Legends about Christ https://eitan.bar/articles/jesus-in-the-talmud/ Tue, 02 May 2023 07:14:08 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1847 In the Talmud's tractate Gittin 56b-57a, another account referencing Jesus describes him enduring eternal punishment in hell, submerged in boiling excrement (yes, poop). This punishment is presented as retribution for his alleged misdeeds and for supposedly leading the people of Israel away from God and towards idolatry.

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]]> When Judaism and Christianity Parted Ways https://eitan.bar/articles/when-judaism-christianity-parted-ways/ Tue, 02 May 2023 07:07:03 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1842 At first, during the first century, the distinction between Jews and Christians was not as clear-cut as it is today. Christianity initially emerged as a Jewish movement from within Judaism, with many of its early followers, including Jesus and his disciples, being Jews.

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]]> What is the “synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9)? https://eitan.bar/articles/synagogue-of-satan-revelation-2-9/ Sun, 30 Apr 2023 11:25:10 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1825 I witnessed a protest in the US where people were holding signs that read "synagogue of Satan" (Revelation 2:9), essentially hinting that Jews should be hated. So, who exactly are the "synagogue of Satan" that the Book of Revelation refers to?

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]]> Creative Survival: How Trauma Made the Jews Resilient https://eitan.bar/articles/trauma-and-the-jews/ Fri, 28 Apr 2023 06:08:59 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1818 Through enduring traumatic experiences and historical persecution, the Jewish community has cultivated creativity and resilience as a means of survival. These hardships have honed their adaptability, problem-solving skills, and resourcefulness, allowing them to overcome adversity and flourish. The Jewish people's ability to transform trauma into creative strength serves as an inspiring testament to the human spirit.

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]]> God’s Wrath and Judgment: What Is It All About? https://eitan.bar/articles/god-wrath-judgment/ https://eitan.bar/articles/god-wrath-judgment/#comments Mon, 17 Apr 2023 05:09:09 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1782 God is not soft on sin, but His judgment intertwines with mercy, aiming to rebuild and elevate the individual. This approach highlights the perfect balance between justice and compassion, ultimately seeking the spiritual growth and redemption of those who have faltered.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/god-wrath-judgment/feed/ 1 What is “Divine Abuse” Model of Atonement? https://eitan.bar/articles/divine-abuse-model-of-atonement/ https://eitan.bar/articles/divine-abuse-model-of-atonement/#comments Sun, 16 Apr 2023 13:58:30 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1766 Ok, you got me. There is no theory of atonement called “Divine Abuse,” not officially, at least. It’s an expansion pack on top of the Penal Substitution theory. I put it at the bottom of the list of theories because I don’t think it deserves to be taken seriously. In…

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/divine-abuse-model-of-atonement/feed/ 3 Did God Commit A Cosmic Suicide? (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46) https://eitan.bar/articles/matthew-27-46-david-platt-cosmic-suicide/ Sun, 16 Apr 2023 13:44:53 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1760 In this article I critique David Platt's interpretation of Matthew 27:46, which posits that God the Father killed God the Son, expelling Him from the Trinity. This article explores alternative perspectives on this verse, dissecting its theological implications and offering fresh insights into the nature of Jesus' crucifixion and the dynamics within the Godhead.

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]]> Does the Bible Really Say God Chooses Who to Save? https://eitan.bar/articles/does-god-chooses-who-to-save/ https://eitan.bar/articles/does-god-chooses-who-to-save/#respond Sun, 16 Apr 2023 13:16:55 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1751 Let's examine whether the notion of God selecting individuals for salvation originates from biblical teachings or is simply a Calvinistic concept. By analyzing relevant scripture passages, we aim to shed light on this contentious theological debate.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/does-god-chooses-who-to-save/feed/ 0 Free Will of Men and God’s Sovereignty: A Paradox for Calvinist John Piper https://eitan.bar/articles/free-will-men-god-sovereignty-calvinist-john-piper/ https://eitan.bar/articles/free-will-men-god-sovereignty-calvinist-john-piper/#comments Sun, 16 Apr 2023 12:19:33 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1741 Fate has permeated Christianity, particularly Calvinistic theology, under the guise of "unconditional election." This predestination concept asserts that God predetermines individuals' eternal fates before birth, leaving no true choice in one's hands. In Calvinism, people become mere puppets, devoid of authentic decision-making power.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/free-will-men-god-sovereignty-calvinist-john-piper/feed/ 1 Who Killed Jesus: God or People? (rebuttal to John MacArthur) https://eitan.bar/articles/who-killed-jesus/ https://eitan.bar/articles/who-killed-jesus/#respond Sun, 16 Apr 2023 08:23:02 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1737 While many Calvinist preachers attribute Jesus' death to God, we will delve into the disciples' perspectives by examining biblical accounts and historical context, offering a deeper understanding of this crucial moment in Christianity.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/who-killed-jesus/feed/ 0 “God Is Fear”? 10 Signs That Your Church is Becoming A Cult https://eitan.bar/articles/christian-cults/ https://eitan.bar/articles/christian-cults/#comments Sat, 15 Apr 2023 08:31:07 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1675 Real-life cults differ from Hollywood portrayals, focusing on subtle psychological control rather than bizarre rituals. Members often seem ordinary, friendly, and unaware of their involvement in a cult, making it difficult to recognize and address the hidden manipulation and indoctrination at play.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/christian-cults/feed/ 2 Logical Critique of 5-Point Calvinism (TULIP): How It Undermines God’s Love and Grace Through Fear and Legalism https://eitan.bar/articles/5-point-calvinism-tulip/ https://eitan.bar/articles/5-point-calvinism-tulip/#comments Fri, 14 Apr 2023 07:57:54 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1666 Explore how 5-Point Calvinism may actually undermine the very foundations of God's love and grace. By relying on fear and legalism, this theology may lead to a distorted understanding of God's character and salvation.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/5-point-calvinism-tulip/feed/ 3 SIN: You can’t live with it; you can’t live without it https://eitan.bar/articles/spiritual-growth-sin/ Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:31:36 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1643 It's paradoxical but it's a logical conclusion: Sin is necessary for spiritual growth and maturity in the Christian faith.

The post SIN: You can’t live with it; you can’t live without it appeared first on Dr. Eitan Bar | Bible Scholar.

]]> Did Sexual Immorality Become the Greatest Sin in Christianity? https://eitan.bar/articles/sexual-immorality/ Thu, 13 Apr 2023 12:32:56 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1638 This article examines why sexual immorality often elicits stronger reactions from Christians compared to other sins. Through an exploration of Christian theology and cultural attitudes towards sex, this article seeks to provide insight into the roots of this phenomenon.

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]]> SIN: What Is It? Why Do We Do It? https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-sin-meaning/ https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-sin-meaning/#comments Thu, 13 Apr 2023 12:15:46 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1636 This article explores the nature of sin and its role in shaping human experience and understanding. While sin is often viewed as a negative or destructive force, it can also lead to important lessons about forgiveness, grace, and the purpose of life.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-sin-meaning/feed/ 2 The Church’s Sin of Hyper-Individualism: Examining the Consequences of a Me-Centered Faith https://eitan.bar/articles/hyper-individualism/ https://eitan.bar/articles/hyper-individualism/#respond Thu, 13 Apr 2023 12:02:32 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1640 This article delves into the sin of hyper-individualism within the Church. Through an analysis of cultural trends and Christian theology, this article examines the impact of a me-centered faith and the consequences of prioritizing personal needs over communal well-being.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/hyper-individualism/feed/ 0 Augustine’s Concept of Original Sin and Its Connection to Infant Baptism https://eitan.bar/articles/augustines-concept-of-original-sin-and-its-connection-to-infant-baptism/ https://eitan.bar/articles/augustines-concept-of-original-sin-and-its-connection-to-infant-baptism/#comments Thu, 13 Apr 2023 10:13:50 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1624 Not many Christians know that Augustine developed the concept of original sin as a way to justify infant baptism and assert the need for salvation through the Church. If not Augustine's Original Sin, how else can we view Romans 5:12?

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/augustines-concept-of-original-sin-and-its-connection-to-infant-baptism/feed/ 2 Did God Make Man A Woman Servant Suitable for Him? (Genesis 2:18) https://eitan.bar/articles/servant-help-suitable-him-genesis-2-18/ Thu, 13 Apr 2023 09:03:51 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1621 Genesis 2:18 states that God created a "suitable someone" for Adam, yet many interpret it as "suitable server." This article challenges the traditional interpretation and delves into the deeper meaning of this verse.

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]]> Are We Separated From God Who Can’t Even Look At Us (Isaiah 59:2)? https://eitan.bar/articles/god-separated-sin/ https://eitan.bar/articles/god-separated-sin/#comments Thu, 13 Apr 2023 07:27:15 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1618 Many evangelists preach that God is so holy that He cannot even look upon sin, leading to a permanent separation between God and humanity. But is this really true? This article explores the concept of God's holiness and how it relates to His love, mercy, and grace towards sinners.

The post Are We Separated From God Who Can’t Even Look At Us (Isaiah 59:2)? appeared first on Dr. Eitan Bar | Bible Scholar.

]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/god-separated-sin/feed/ 1 The Parable of the Prodigal Sinner and His Forgiving God https://eitan.bar/articles/parable-prodigal-son/ https://eitan.bar/articles/parable-prodigal-son/#respond Wed, 12 Apr 2023 17:08:00 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1614 The parable of the prodigal son" offers a powerful message about God's love for sinners. This article explores the themes of forgiveness, redemption, and grace found in this story and how it can inspire us to extend love and compassion to those who have strayed from the path of righteousness.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/parable-prodigal-son/feed/ 0 The Real Meaning of “Spares the Rod Hates His Son” (Proverbs 13:24) https://eitan.bar/articles/spares-the-rod-hates-their-children-proverbs-13-24/ https://eitan.bar/articles/spares-the-rod-hates-their-children-proverbs-13-24/#comments Wed, 12 Apr 2023 14:15:30 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1602 Many Christians believe that "spare the rod, spoil the child" (Proverbs 13:24) means they can, or even should, hit their young children. But what if this verse actually means the opposite of what they think? This article challenges the common interpretation of the verse and offers a different perspective on how to raise children.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/spares-the-rod-hates-their-children-proverbs-13-24/feed/ 3 Jesus Died Because God Hates Us? https://eitan.bar/articles/god-hates-sinners/ https://eitan.bar/articles/god-hates-sinners/#respond Wed, 12 Apr 2023 13:10:54 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1597 Some preachers teach that God hates mankind by nature and that Jesus died because of that hatred. But is this what the Scriptures truly say? This article explores this controversial topic and offers a different perspective on God's love and justice towards humanity.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/god-hates-sinners/feed/ 0 What “Hell” (Gehenna) Did Jesus Speak of? (Matthew 5:29) https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-hell-geena/ https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-hell-geena/#comments Wed, 12 Apr 2023 12:47:35 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1594 Jesus' words in Matthew 5:27-29 have often been interpreted to mean that looking at a woman with lust is a ticket to hell. But what did He really mean? This article explores different interpretations of this controversial passage in the context of biblical teaching on sin and salvation.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/what-is-hell-geena/feed/ 4 Is Hell the Consequence for Breaking the 10 Commandments? https://eitan.bar/articles/is-hell-the-consequence-for-breaking-the-10-commandments/ Wed, 12 Apr 2023 09:36:26 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1548 Many wonder if violating the Ten Commandments will lead to eternal damnation in Hell. In this article, we explore the relationship between sin, judgment, and salvation in the context of these ancient laws, shedding light on the nature of God's justice and mercy.

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]]> Top 6 Historical Theories of Atonement Every Christian Must Know https://eitan.bar/articles/historical-theories-atonement/ https://eitan.bar/articles/historical-theories-atonement/#comments Wed, 12 Apr 2023 08:46:43 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1542 Understanding the reason(s) behind Jesus' death is fundamental to Christian belief. Explore five historical theories that attempt to explain why Jesus died, each offering a unique perspective on the significance of His sacrifice and its impact on our faith.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/historical-theories-atonement/feed/ 9 8 Reasons Why Jesus’ Sacrifice is Superior to the Levitical Sacrifices https://eitan.bar/articles/8-reasons-why-jesus-sacrifice-is-superior-to-the-levitical-sacrifices/ https://eitan.bar/articles/8-reasons-why-jesus-sacrifice-is-superior-to-the-levitical-sacrifices/#respond Wed, 12 Apr 2023 08:06:41 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1539 Explore eight compelling reasons why Jesus' sacrifice stands out as superior to the Levitical sacrifices of the Old Testament. This illuminating comparison sheds light on the unique qualities of Christ's atoning death and its transformative impact on our relationship with God.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/8-reasons-why-jesus-sacrifice-is-superior-to-the-levitical-sacrifices/feed/ 0 Two Sacrificial Offerings in the Hebrew Scriptures That Will Completely Revise How You View Forgiveness of Sins https://eitan.bar/articles/two-sacrificial-offerings-in-the-hebrew-scriptures-that-will-completely-revise-how-you-view-forgiveness-of-sins/ https://eitan.bar/articles/two-sacrificial-offerings-in-the-hebrew-scriptures-that-will-completely-revise-how-you-view-forgiveness-of-sins/#comments Wed, 12 Apr 2023 07:51:50 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1536 Discover the two sacrificial offerings in the Hebrew Scriptures that challenge our conventional understanding of forgiveness of sins. This exploration will provide a fresh perspective on how these ancient practices can inform our approach to sin and redemption today.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/two-sacrificial-offerings-in-the-hebrew-scriptures-that-will-completely-revise-how-you-view-forgiveness-of-sins/feed/ 3 Hebrew Word Study: HOLY (KADOSH) https://eitan.bar/articles/what-does-it-mean-for-god-to-be-holy/ https://eitan.bar/articles/what-does-it-mean-for-god-to-be-holy/#respond Wed, 12 Apr 2023 07:32:06 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1530 God's holiness is often mentioned in the Bible, and it's a characteristic that we should strive to emulate. However, the true meaning of holiness may not be fully understood. In this regard, a particular Hebrew word can provide a valuable insight into what holiness truly entails.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/what-does-it-mean-for-god-to-be-holy/feed/ 0 The Real Reson God Rejected Cain’s Sacrifice & Accepted Abel’s (Genesis 4) https://eitan.bar/articles/heres-why-god-really-rejected-cains-sacrifice-but-accepted-that-of-abel/ https://eitan.bar/articles/heres-why-god-really-rejected-cains-sacrifice-but-accepted-that-of-abel/#comments Wed, 12 Apr 2023 06:52:01 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1521 By examining the biblical text in its context, we may uncover the essential factors that determined God's acceptance and rejection of Cain and Abel's sacrifices.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/heres-why-god-really-rejected-cains-sacrifice-but-accepted-that-of-abel/feed/ 1 Did Adam and Eve’s Tunics Really Involve Sacrifice? (Genesis 3:21) https://eitan.bar/articles/is-genesis-3-really-about-god-sacrificing-an-animal-to-make-adam-and-eves-tunics/ https://eitan.bar/articles/is-genesis-3-really-about-god-sacrificing-an-animal-to-make-adam-and-eves-tunics/#comments Wed, 12 Apr 2023 06:14:46 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1517 Is Genesis 3 truly about God killing an animal as a form of "substitutionary atonement" or does it carry an entirely different meaning? By analyzing biblical context and symbolism, we may uncover the truth.

The post Did Adam and Eve’s Tunics Really Involve Sacrifice? (Genesis 3:21) appeared first on Dr. Eitan Bar | Bible Scholar.

]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/is-genesis-3-really-about-god-sacrificing-an-animal-to-make-adam-and-eves-tunics/feed/ 1 What’s the Deal With Blood in the Bible? https://eitan.bar/articles/life-is-in-the-blood-covenants-gospel/ Tue, 11 Apr 2023 17:06:38 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1490 Let's explore the significance of blood and covenants in understanding the Gospel message. These foundational elements symbolize the bond between God and humanity, illustrating the depth of divine commitment, the power of sacrifice, and the transformative nature of redemption.

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]]> What is Love: A Logical Exploration https://eitan.bar/articles/biblical-love/ https://eitan.bar/articles/biblical-love/#respond Tue, 11 Apr 2023 14:31:10 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1483 Biblical love encompasses closeness, free will, and sacrifice, reflecting the depth of God's affection for humanity. It embodies selflessness, patience, and kindness, fostering true connection and unity. Embracing biblical love empowers individuals to make choices that honor relationships and promote growth, ultimately reflecting divine love in our lives.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/biblical-love/feed/ 0 Was the Binding of Isaac (Genesis 22) Really About Substitutionary Atonement? https://eitan.bar/articles/was-the-binding-of-isaac-genesis-22-about-substitutionary-atonement/ https://eitan.bar/articles/was-the-binding-of-isaac-genesis-22-about-substitutionary-atonement/#respond Tue, 11 Apr 2023 13:34:48 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1474 John Piper draws a parallel between Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac and the belief that God sacrificed Jesus for sin. However, this interpretation may not align with the original intent of Genesis 22. It's important to consider how the New Testament authors viewed this story and whether the concept of blood sacrifice for sin is applicable to both situations.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/was-the-binding-of-isaac-genesis-22-about-substitutionary-atonement/feed/ 0 Debunking the Calvinistic “Cup of Wrath” Whereby God Allegedly Abused Jesus https://eitan.bar/articles/cup-of-wrath/ https://eitan.bar/articles/cup-of-wrath/#respond Tue, 11 Apr 2023 12:54:18 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1464 Many Christians believe that Jesus' death was a result of God's wrath towards human sin. But was it truly God who poured out the "cup of wrath" on Jesus? This article explores different theological perspectives on this controversial topic.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/cup-of-wrath/feed/ 0 Isaiah 53: God Crushed Jesus? https://eitan.bar/articles/isaiah-53-god-crushed-jesus/ https://eitan.bar/articles/isaiah-53-god-crushed-jesus/#comments Tue, 11 Apr 2023 11:45:08 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1452 Isaiah 53 raises questions about God's will to crush Jesus. Was this truly divine intent or a potential misinterpretation? Reexamining the text can shed light on its meaning and promote deeper understanding of this pivotal scripture.

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]]> https://eitan.bar/articles/isaiah-53-god-crushed-jesus/feed/ 1 10 Harmful Doctrines and Ideas Fundamentalist Christianity Must Outgrow https://eitan.bar/articles/harmful-doctrines-fundamentalist-christianity/ Tue, 11 Apr 2023 05:38:10 +0000 https://eitan.bar/?p=1313 Does God really hate our imperfections and therefore abused and killed Jesus with His wrath? Delving deeper into these questions can help us uncover the true essence of divine love, which may reveal a more compassionate and understanding relationship with the Creator.

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