04May 2026 by Post

Jonah and the Big Fish, Part 2

3. Are Miracles Possible?, Anthony Williams, Apologetics, Archaeology, Assyria, bellatorchristi.com, Big Fish, Christianity, Gospel, history, Jonah, miracles, Nineveh, Old Testament, Prophet
In my previous article, Jonah and the Big Fish Part 1, I spoke about Jonah, the wayward prophet who initially tried to avoid God’s command to warn the people of Nineveh about the impending judgment they were about to receive for the wickedness of their culture. In that article, I discussed the identity of Jonah, who is also mentioned in 2 Kings, as well as the historical realities of Israel, Nineveh (an Assyrian city), and the archaeology that helps us connect what is written to what has been found in the dirt, including what was known for centuries as the grave of Jonah near the lost (but now found) city of Nineveh. I will hereafter do my best to add to the historical and Biblical evidence to show that Jonah and…
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29Apr 2026 by Post

Jonah and the Big Fish (Part 1)

3. Are Miracles Possible?, Anthony Williams, Apologetics, Archaeology, Assyria, bellatorchristi.com, Big Fish, Christianity, Gospel, history, Jonah, miracles, Nineveh, Old Testament, Prophet
The Book of Jonah is very short, only four chapters long. It tells of a prophet named Jonah who was told by God to go to the great city of Nineveh and warn them of a coming judgment. Jonah goes the opposite way on a ship, but a violent storm ends with Jonah being tossed overboard by the sailors because they learn he is fleeing from God. Jonah is swallowed by a great fish, and after three days and some prayers of repentance, he is spit out at Nineveh. [1] He gives his short warning and waits for God to destroy the evil inhabitants. However, the Ninevites repent, and God spares them from the judgment. Jonah is upset with God, Who reminds Jonah that He (God) has every right to…
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25Mar 2026 by Post

Faith in Action

Apologetics, bellatorchristi.com, Christianity, Gospel, Theology and Christian Apologetics, Tim Woods
Each and every sermon we listen to, every teacher we hear, every Bible verse we read, and even the article you’re reading right now has only so much effect. We can listen and agree with what is being said. We can agree that the words we read hold truth. But then what? Do we give our “Amen” in agreement and swiftly move on? Do we skip the prayer and application process, hoping it will fill and meet our needs? Are we simply only hearing the Word? If we say we are faithful followers of Jesus Christ, are we living out that truth every day, or are we just listening? But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22 NKJV) When we truly trust in God,…
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28Jan 2026 by Post

A Case for an Eternal Hell (Part 1): A Biblical Defense

annihilationism, Apologetics, bellatorchristi.com, Brian Chilton, Christianity, ECT, end times, eschatology, eternal conscious torment, Gospel, Hell, Theology and Christian Apologetics
Recently, the Christian world was abuzz with the news that popular Christian star Kirk Cameron had considered switching his view of hell from the traditional view to annihilationism.[1] While I will not engage the specific comments made by Kirk Cameron on his podcast, I do think that it is important to discuss the topic of hell’s duration, annihilationism, and the traditional view known as eternal conscious torment (ECT). Also, we should note that Kirk is working through his beliefs about hell. Therefore, this article and series are not a response to Kirk Cameron or his beliefs. Rather, the series serves as a necessary engagement on a hotly contested issue. This article is the first of a three-part series defending the traditional view of hell, otherwise known as ECT. The series will…
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08Sep 2025 by Post

What is the Role of A Priori Knowledge?

2. Does God Exist?, A Priori Knowledge, bellatorchristi.com, Christianity, Epistemology, Gospel, Justin Angelos, Kalam Cosmological Argument, Ontological Argument, philosophy
A priori reasoning originates from a Latin word which means, “beforehand.” Knowledge gained from experience is called a posteriori, and knowledge that doesn’t require experience is called a priori.[1] Our primary concern here is with factual knowledge. For example, Little Italy is located in New York on the East Coast of the United States, Plato lived in Athens, Greece, and Seattle, Washington, is in the Pacific Northwest. This type of knowledge is often referred to as “knowledge that” or propositional knowledge because it involves statements or propositions that are [or can be] certain to be true.[2] There are compelling reasons to consider a priori knowledge as a valid form of knowledge. For instance, the statement “bachelors are unmarried men” indicates that a certain level of experience is needed to grasp the meanings of the words “unmarried”…
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20Aug 2025 by Post

Four Ways that Middle Knowledge Helps to Explain Unanswered Prayer

Apologetics, bellatorchristi.com, Brian Chilton, Christianity, Gospel, Luis de Molina, Middle Knowledge, Molinism, Theological Apologetics, Theology and Christian Apologetics, unanswered prayer
Country singer Garth Brooks popularized the song, “Unanswered Prayers.” The song recounts how he prayed to have the love of a young woman earlier in his life. His prayer, however, was declined. While he didn’t understand why God did not allow him to have the love of this young woman when he was young, he later reflected on why God did not answer his prayer when he looked upon his wife and valued the love they had for one another. Brooks then sings, “One of God’s greatest gifts is unanswered prayer.” In his book Luis de Molina: The Life and Theology of the Founder of Middle Knowledge, Kirk MacGregor recounts the life and belief system of Luis de Molina. Unfortunately, much of Molina’s works are still left untranslated. MacGregor, who is able to…
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30Jul 2025 by Post

Why Biblical Authorship Matters: A Test Case

4. Is the NT True?, Apologetics, bellatorchristi.com, biblical apologetics, Biblical authorship, Christianity, Crucifixion, Daniel Sloan, Gospel, Inerrancy
On April 14th 2025, Christianity Today published an article entitled “Was Jesus Crucified with Nails?” In the article, the author asserted that it was likely that Jesus was not nailed to the cross but was instead tied to the cross with ropes. He argues this by appealing to an authority, a professor from Gordon College, who has made this argument based solely on some limited archaeological data. Indeed, in the article, the professor is cited as saying, “he wanted to explore the issue because it’s good to question tradition and people can benefit from closer scrutiny of history.”[i]   Did the Article Miss the Johannine Reference to the Nailprints?    When the article was published, it immediately came under fire on social media. After all, John 20:25 clearly states, “The other disciples therefore…
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02Jul 2025 by Post

Is It Wrong to Doubt?

bellatorchristi.com, Christian Living, Doubt, faith, fideism Categories: Theology and Christian Apologetics, Sherene Khouri, skepticism, Theology and Christian Apologetics
In the age of critical thinking, many people doubt their beliefs. Churches teach dogmas and present their faith as certain, as if there is no room for doubt. Secular and scientific sectors are intrinsically linked to doubt. Claude Bernard, the father of modern Physiology, states that the doubter is “the true scientist; he doubts himself and his interpretations, but he believes in science.[1] Can faith and doubt coexist? Are not they two ends of the spectrum? Is doubt good or bad? This article will try to answer these questions. Types of Doubt: Good or Bad Christians usually perceive doubt as a bad thing. Many pastors encourage their congregations to just believe, quoting verses such as Matt 17:20, Mark 4:40. Probably the most quoted verse is when Jesus answered “Truly, I say…
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04Jun 2025 by Post

Countercultural Warriors…

Apologeticxs, bellatorchristi.com, Christianity, cultural apologetics, Gospel, Practical Apologetics, Spiritual Warfare, Theology and Christian Apologetics, Thomas Gentry, TJ Gentry, Worldview
An Age of Mirrors Ours is an age of mirrors. Addicted to the thought of self, individuals of profound dignity and worth huddle together en masse as they shuffle along the broad road that leads them anywhere but towards life. The sides of the road are lined with mirrors, reflections of this act or that moment or those days. Deceptively effective, the mirrors keep the eyes of the people on themselves as they desperately seek to find deeper meaning in rituals and events made shallow by selfishness. The mirrors control the persons, reducing them to spectators of their own existence. Always primping, endlessly posturing, carefully portraying what they believe is the best face for others to see, the faces in the mirrors present a staged collage of a life that…
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26Mar 2025 by Post

Defense of the Immaterial Soul

Apologetics, bellatorchristi.com, Brian Chilton, Christianity, Gospel, materialism, personhood, philosophical anthropology, philosophy of mind, soul, spirit, theological anthropology, Theology and Christian Apologetics
The human body is a marvelous and complex system. Of special interest is the cellular mechanism of the body. Every 7-10 years, the cells of the body replace themselves, to the point that the body is essentially new every decade.[i] While the DNA remains the same over the course of a person’s life, the cells change at varying rates. A person’s stomach lining replaces itself every few days. The skin’s epidermis replaces itself every 2 to 4 weeks. The body’s hair changes every 6 years for women and 3 years for men. Liver cells rejuvenate every 150 to 500 days. Bones take around 10 years to change. Philosophically speaking, the materialist has a problem if he decides to claim that the body is all of human existence. If humans are…
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