Mel Gibson’s motion picture, “The Passion of the Christ,” has ignited a storm of controversy, once again raising the question, “Who was responsible for the death of Jesus of Nazareth?” This week’s Penpoints explores this “hot” topic.

Does the Bible contradict itself when it calls Jesus the Prince of Peace, and then Jesus says: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword”?

Why do Christians believe in angels? What does the Bible actually say about the existence of angels, their origin, nature and role as God’s ministering spirits?

Moslems insist that Jesus Christ was merely a “messenger” of God, in the same sense that others (e.g., Moses) were but prophets. They deny that he possessed the nature of deity, or that he even claimed to be the “Son of God.” But what does the actual evidence reveal?

Critics claim that the Gospel records contradict due to the fact that some passages speak of Jesus being in the tomb three days and three nights, while other texts mention only three days. What is the solution to this alleged discrepancy?

A church leader teaches that both Christ and the Holy Spirit were created by God. He denies that Jesus and the Holy Spirit possess the nature of deity. What should be done by the faithful of that congregation?

Who was Caiaphas, the official so instrumental in the death of Jesus?

Some Christians have never graduated out of biblical kindergarten.

Why did John the Baptist seem to doubt the identity of Jesus Christ?

Matthew records eleven arguments establishing the virgin birth of Christ — an important doctrine related to Jesus’ divine nature.

Christ and his apostles were able to “cast out demons” to demonstrate the power of God. Were the Pharisees able to accomplish the same feat? Study this question with us.

“He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.” If there is one verse most folks have memorized, it is this one. But what does it really mean?

Are some sins “greater” than others? There is a sense in which any sin will condemn. There is another sense in which greater responsibility is attached to some acts of sin. Explore this topic with us.

A Christian writer/speaker, who travels extensively and lectures on “Does God Exist?,” has written that the Bible indicates that Jesus, on one occasion, “violated” the Old Testament Sabbath-day law. He has cited the Gospel of Mark 2:23-24. Would you comment on this?

A recently-published book, Rescuing Jesus from the Christians, seeks to throw the spotlight on some of the alleged “errors” in the beliefs and teaching of Jesus Christ. The fact is, Clayton Sullivan, the author, has revealed how very little he knows about Gospel history. Wayne Jackson briefly reviews this new volume.

Do the Gospel Accounts contradict themselves in the matter of whether Jesus ate the Passover Supper?

A golden lamp stand with seven lights was placed in the ancient tabernacle of Jehovah. In the book of Revelation, we find the “seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God” (Rev. 4:5)—the number seven symbolizing the perfect Spirit of God. What do you know about the Holy Spirit?

It is sometimes claimed that the Bible is inconsistent in its theology in that it claims infallibility for the apostles’ teaching, yet acknowledges they made mistakes in their personal lives. How does one address this alleged difficulty?

Must baptism be administered “in the name of Jesus” only to be valid?

Luke 17:31ff has been a confusing text to some Bible students. Does this section of Scripture refer to the destruction of Jerusalem (A.D. 70), or to the final Coming of Christ? This context is examined in this week’s Q&A segment.