QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (LIZ)

Here are some questions I have come across that I would love some deeper knowledge of if possible. 

1. Who are the 24 elders mentioned in Revelation? What is the significance, if any, of them holding bowls full of prayers of the saints before God? (Rev. 5:8)

2. In regards to Enoch and Elijah being taken into heaven by God, how does John 3:13 relate? 

3. What is Abraham's bosom from the story of Lazarus and the rich man? Is that were believers are after death if no one has every gone into heaven (John 3:13)?

4. What does it mean to greet one another with a holy kiss? What was the practice of that and is it something we can/should still practice today?

The kiss seemed to simply be a common greeting in the ancient culture of Greco-Roman world. (It would parallel the handshake or hug in the western world today.) The “holy kiss” would have been the greeting between Christians or those who are called to be holy. The “holy kiss” would also be a greeting that would be completely holy in intention or motive. Giving a greeting of fellowship could only really be done in the right heart if there was peace between those greeting each other. Also, the relationships of Christians are “holy” or set apart because their bond is in Christ.

The “holy kiss” was not so much a call to the particular action of kissing but of the Christians greeting one another and accepting one as brethren in Christ. (Which would have been very important considering that Jews and Gentiles were making up the church.) So the heart of the person doing the greeting is more important that the action in greeting which is largely culture. (i.e. Handshake, hug, kissing on each cheek in Italian culture, etc.)

5. Why do we no longer wash one another's feet? (John 13:14-17) 

Foot washing was something that was more necessary in the culture of Jesus’ day. This is true because everyone wore sandals and everywhere they went the roads were dirty so their feet would become dirty. We do not have the same problem in our culture today for obvious reasons. (However in some countries it would still be a good practice.) But it is not so much the practice of foot washing that is important in this passage. The truth in the passage is emphasizing being a servant in a way that was relevant to the needs of people at the time, not necessarily the foot washing itself.

We do not wash feet today (except for illustration purposes) because it is not necessarily a need that people have for us to meet. However when we serve people in other ways through meeting real needs, we are in essence doing the same as Jesus did in washing the disciples feet.

This section from a commentary helps to illustrate this as well:

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 13:15–16

The foot-washing was an example (hypodeigma, “pattern”). Many groups throughout church history have practiced literal foot-washing as a church ordinance. However, present culture in many lands does not call for the need to wash dust from the feet of one’s guests. Whereas the Lord’s Supper was practiced by the early church as an ordinance, it apparently did not practice foot-washing as an ordinance in church gatherings. This passage emphasizes inner humility, not a physical rite. A Christian widow’s practice of “washing the feet of the saints” (1 Tim. 5:10) speaks not of her involvement in a church ordinance but of her humble slavelike service to other believers. Not to follow the example of Jesus is to exalt oneself above Him and to live in pride. No servant is greater than his master (cf. John 12:26).

6. From my understanding during the exile of the Israelites, 10 tribes were in the North and 2 where to the South. How did the 10 tribes in the North celebrate the Passover during exile without a temple? Or did they at all?

The Passover feast was originally observed in homes (Exodus 12) and only later was observed at the temple but by Jesus’ day it was really observed two different ways; (1) at the temple and (2) in the homes of the people as with Jesus and His disciples (John 12).

During the division of the kingdom the passover was observed (by some of God’s people who were being faithful) in the homes of those who did not go to the temple. During the exile, the same would have been true (by those who were a position to do so.) Historically, some Israelites did observe the passover during exile and some new traditions came from that time.

7. Can we still celebrate/observe the Passover feast from the OT as a way of remembrance and in the context of Christ fulfilling the prophesy? It seems like the first century Church still did in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 and according to some historical documents.

8. Why do we refer to the day we celebrate our Savior's resurrection as a day named after a pagan goddess?

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9. Why do we commonly refer to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego by the names given to them to honor pagan gods instead of their names given to honor God?

This is a good question. I think it would actually be better if we did refer to them by their Hebrew names. However, I think the main reason that we call them by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is that the story that is taught most about them is the fiery furnace in Daniel chapter 3. In that chapter they are referred to by their Babylonian names, even though in the previous two chapters they are addressed by their Hebrew names. (It may be that in the previous chapters Daniel is addressing them and in chapter 3 the King is addressing them.)

It is interesting that Daniel is referred to as Daniel throughout the book while Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael are called by both.