New Testament Doctrine: Divergent Views Quiz

Answer: Hell is a place of eternal, conscious, physical punishment.

If both the soul and the body are destroyed in hell, some Christians argue, then people cannot spend eternity in hell suffering conscious, physical punishment. Hell, they suggest, exists as a state of permanent destruction, and thus eternal separation from God.

They also use verses like 2 Thessalonians 1:9 to support this view. Those who argue that hell is a place of eternal, conscious, physical punishment refer to such passages as Matthew 25:46 and Luke 16:20-25.

Answer: Christ is not equal to God.

Arians have argued that Christ is the highest created being, but not equal with God. This verse, they would argue, shows that Christ, unlike God, is not omniscient, since there is something He does not know. Trinitarians would argue that Christ chose willingly to limit His own omniscience, and they would refer to a number of verses to defend His equality with God: John 10:30, John 8:58, and 1 John 5:7, among others.

Answer: The Perpetual Virginity of Mary

People often confuse the Virgin Birth with the Immaculate Conception and the Perpetual Virginity of Mary. Both Catholics and Protestants believe in the Virgin Birth. The Virgin Birth doctrine does not say that Mary was a virgin for life. It is the doctrine that Mary was a virgin when she had Jesus--only. The doctrine says no more than that. Protestants believe in the Virgin Birth and also believe Mary had other children after Jesus.

The Immaculate Conception, however, is the uniquely Catholic doctrine that Mary was, "from the moment of her conception" free "from every stain of sin" ("Bull Ineffabilis," Pius IX. 1854). This has come to include a belief in The Perpetual Virginity of Mary, that is, the belief that Mary never had sex. Protestants refer to this passage in Mark to refute that belief, pointing out that she had other sons. Catholics in turn argue that these brothers of Jesus were stepbrothers, the sons of Joseph from a prior marriage, and not the biological sons of Mary.

Answer: The death penalty

Those who oppose the death penalty refer to this passage as well as to Matthew 26:52 ("for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword"), arguing that Christ set a new, higher standard for man that forbids retaliation. Those who support the death penalty argue that Matthew 5:38-39 refers only to personal injury, and not to societal crimes.

They point out that if taken to refer to societal crimes, this passage must also mean the abolition of imprisonment and all other forms of punishment, not just the death penalty. Christians who support the death penalty often refer to Romans 13:4 for support.

They also have a different interpretation of Matthew 26:52.

Answer: Original Sin

Original sin is the doctrine that man is born already stained by sin, naturally depraved, and incapable of saving himself without God's aid. Other verses used to support it include Exodus 20:5 and Romans 5:12-19. Christians opposed to this doctrine refer most often to the Old Testament to refute it, citing Ezekiel 18, a chapter which insists, in detail, that each man will pay for his own sin.

They also offer a different interpretation of Romans 5:12-19, emphasizing the "because all have sinned" part of verse 12, making the sin individual (rather than inherited).

Answer: Predestination

The traditional doctrine of predestination, as expressed by Calvin, maintains that man cannot choose to accept or reject God, but rather God chooses whom He will save. Those whom He chooses cannot resist or reject His grace. This doctrine is often supported by referring to Romans 8:2, 9:14-23, 11:28, and 1 Peter 1:2, among others. Those who refute the doctrine of predestination often refer to 2 Peter 3:9 and argue that if God is not willing that any should perish, and His grace is indeed irresistible, then no one could perish.

Therefore, they conclude that His grace is *not* irresistible, and argue that if men perish, they perish because they do have free will and in fact can reject God's grace. Those opposed to predestination also cite Matthew 23:37, suggesting that while God longs to gather men to him, sometimes they refuse to come.

Answer: Universal Salvation

The doctrine of predestination suggests that God died only for the elect, so this verse would not likely be cited in defense of that particular doctrine. The verse is not particularly relevant to the other two ideas. Few Christians believe in universal salvation, but many hope for it.

They cite also 2 Peter 3:9; Romans 5:18, 11:25-26, and 11:32; and I John 2:2. Those who believe that salvation cannot possibly be universal cite such passages as Matthew 22:14, Matthew 7:14, and Matthew 7:22-23, to name but a few.

Answer: Eternal Security

This is the verse most often cited by Christians who believe that once a person has been saved, he cannot fall from God's grace ("once saved, always saved"). They also cite Matthew 24:24 to support the idea that it is not possible for the elect to be deceived.

However, those Christians who believe that salvation is conditional usually cite Hebrews 10:26-39, I Corinthians 15:2, Hebrews 6:4-7, and 2 Peter 1:10, among others.

Answer: Women should not be pastors

The verse is most often used to argue that women should not be in leadership positions over men, such as being a pastor. (Those churches that prohibit female pastors do not, usually, prohibit women from teaching children or other women in Sunday School.) Those who believe women should be allowed to lead or teach men cite the New Testament examples of Priscilla (Acts 18:26) and Phoebe (the latter of whom is referred to as a "deaconess" in the original Greek; a word which also means and is often translated "servant" in English).

They cite the Old Testament examples of Deborah and Huldah. They point out that women prayed and prophesied in the early church (1 Corinthians 11:5). They argue that I Timothy 2:12 should be taken in context and that it should not be regarded as a universal prohibition. Those opposing female leadership in turn also cite the qualifications for elders, which refer to men (for example, Titus 1:6).

Answer: Baptism is not necessary for salvation

The verse continues, "but he that believeth not shall be damned." Many Christians point to the second part of this verse to emphasize that it is belief, and not baptism, that is essential to salvation. However, the first part of this verse, along with 1 Peter 3:21, is frequently cited by those who believe baptism is necessary for salvation. Those who do not believe baptism is necessary for salvation, but that only faith is necessary, refer to Luke 7:50, Ephesians 2:8, and Acts 2:21.

They say baptism is a symbol of a salvation that has already been attained through faith. Those who believe baptism saves, however, will counter, don't stop at Acts 2:21; read onto 2:38.