Agnostics and atheists often point to the differences in the genealogies of Matthew and Luke as a reason not to trust scripture. However, it actually points to the superior wisdom of God. 

Ever wondered why there are so many translations? Or asked, how do I know which one I should use? Augustine, a theological scholar of the Church who wrote in the late 300’s AD, noted the use of many translations can help the reader to produce a better rendering of the original text.

Why so many names for God in the Bible? Because God and his glory are too magnificent for us to grasp in one word. The Lord reveals various aspects of his glory through his many names. The Old Testament was mainly written in Hebrew and the New Testament was written in Greek. Most English bibles follow a format that changes the spelling for each Hebrew name used for God. Here are some examples.

Ephesians 6:10-17 tells Christians how to protect themselves in battle. This passage explains who the enemy is and how to stand strong in the battle against him. Though it is not a battle of flesh and blood, it is nevertheless a very serious battle where losses can occur. It is a battle that can drain you. It can make life very difficult - like the life of a soldier. This is a war against the evil one himself. So, it is a battle we need to take seriously and one we need to prepare for.

Matthew 4 tells us that Jesus was sent into the wilderness where he fasted and prayed forty days. You can imagine how hungry he was when he came out. The enemy immediately attacked him right where it mattered - the belly! He tried to antagonize Christ - mockingly saying that if he was truly the Son of God, he could turn the stones into bread and eat. But Jesus disarmed his enemy.

Luke 10:27 says that we are to love God with all of our mind. Interesting thought. We usually think of love in terms of emotion, but here it is a rational action. Something that is done through reason – our mind!