Resources for a Biblical Worldview
Resources for a Biblical Worldview
Section:
Keywords ⋅
Controversial Topics ⋅
Complex Topics ⋅
Connecting the Dots ⋅
Differentiations ⋅
Closer Looks ⋅
Revelation ⋅
All Book Summary ⋅
Extensions
This page is a single reference to help me remember what the Bible has to say about many things and is my personal, original, attempt to pursue truth wherever it takes me. All text I have added (like section titles and conclusions) is just to get you thinking about the context in which to think about the verses. To read more about why I made this, or to contact me (please do), click here. Here is a quick reference to my many sections:
Keyword
Verses (in NIV84 translation)
Bad-Neutral-Good
My Comments
287 occurrences
...
These are the messengers of God, so of course they are good (see two additional sections on angels below)
JOB 21:11, EC 3:4, SS 6:13, JER 31:4, JER 31:13, MT 11:17, LK 7:32
0-3-4
See also "danced, dancing"
EX 15:20, EX 32:19, JDG 11:34, JDG 21:21, JDG 21:23, 1SA 18:6, 2SA 6:16, 1CH 15:29, PS 30:11, PS 149:3, PS 150:4, LA 5:15, LK 15:25
0-4-9
See also "dance, danced"
73 occurrences
...
These are angels who "turned to the dark side", so of course are bad, don't miss REV 12:4
DT 4:36, DT 11:2, DT 21:18, JOB 5:17, PS 6:1, PS 38:1, PS 39:11, PS 94:10-12, PR 1:2-3,7, PR 3:11-12, PR 5:12,23, PR 6:23, PR 10:17, PR 12:1, PR 13:18,24, PR 15:5,10,32, PR 19:18, PR 22:15, PR 23:13,23, PR 29:17, ISA 26:16, JER 17:23, JER 30:11, JER 31:18, JER 32:33, JER 46:28, HOS 5:2, 1CO 11:32, 2TI 1:7, TIT 1:8, HEB 12:5-11, REV 3:19
0-9-37
1. ability to postpone pleasure
2. punishment that corrects character
2. punishment that corrects character
GE 30:27, GE 44:5, GE 44:15, LEV 19:26, NU 22:7, NU 23:23, DT 18:10, DT 18:14, JOS 13:22, 1SA 15:23, 2KI 17:17, 2KI 21:6, 2CH 33:6, ISA 2:6, EZE 13:23, MIC 3:6
10-5-0
See also "magic, medium, sorcery, witchcraft" as well as EC 7:14 and DT 26:14
DT 22:13-19,
DT 22:28-29,
DT 24:1-4,
ISA 50:1,
JER 3:8,
MAL 2:13-16,
MT 1:19,
MT 5:31-32,
MT 19:3-12,
MK 10:2-12,
LK 16:18,
1CO 7
7-5-0
This is an abomination with few specific exceptions, see also
EZR 10:10-12,
NE 13:23-27,
PR 6:32,
RO 7:1-3, and complex topic below.
EC 10:17, JER 13:13, EZE 23:33, LK 21:34, RO 13:13, GAL 5:21, 1TI 3:3, TIT 1:7, 1PE 4:3
10-0-0
God is fine with us drinking wine (alcohol), He just never wants us to abuse (or get adicted to) anything, and getting drunk (by any means) is clearly seen as abuse. See also
DT 14:26,
PR 20:1,
PR 21:17,
PR 23:20-21,29-35,
PR 31:4-7,
ISA 5:11-12,22,
HOS 4:11,
HAB 2:15,
LK 12:42-47,
EPH 5:18, and
1TH 5:7-8
1TI 1:9-10
1-0-0
PR 6:25, ISA 57:5, EZE 20:30, EZE 23:8, EZE 23:11, EZE 23:17, NA 3:4, RO 1:27, EPH 4:19, COL 3:5, 1TH 4:5, 1PE 4:31, JN 2:16
14-0-0
See also "perversion, relations, sex"
ISA 47:12, EZE 13:18, EZE 13:20, AC 8:11, REV 9:21 , REV 18:23, REV 21:8, REV 22:15
6-2-0
See also "divination, medium, sorcery, witchcraft"
LEV 19:31, LEV 20:6, LEV 20:27, DT 18:11, 1SA 28:7, 2KI 21:6, 2KI 23:24, 1CH 10:13, 2CH 33:6, ISA 8:19, ISA 19:3, JER 27:9
12-0-0
See also "divination, magic, sorcery, witchcraft"
EX 19:15, EX 22:19, LEV 18:6-23, LEV 20:15-19, DT 27:21, JDG 4:17, 1KI 1:4, 1KI 5:12, RO 1:26, RO 1:27, 2CO 1:12
25-2-3
See also "homosexual, lust, perversion, sex"
GE 19:5, EX 19:15, EX 22:19, LEV 18 - 20 , NU 25:1, DT 27:21, JDG 19:22, MT 15:19, MK 7:21, AC 15:20, AC 15:29, AC 21:25, RO 1:24, RO 13:13, 1CO 5:1, 1CO 6:13, 1CO 6:18, 1CO 10:8, 2CO 12:21, GAL 5:19, EPH 5:3, COL 3:5, 1TH 4:3, JUDE 1:7, REV 2:14, REV 2:20, REV 9:21
26-1-0
See also "homosexual, lust, perversion, relations". See also my spinoff page on Biblical Gender Identity.
LEV 19:26, NU 23:23, NU 24:1, DT 18:10, DT 18:14, 2KI 17:17, 2KI 21:6, 2CH 33:6, ISA 47:8-12, NA 3:4, AC 8:9, AC 19:19
10-3-0
See also "divination, magic, medium, sorcerers, witchcraft"
EX 7:11, EX 22:18, ISA 57:3, JER 27:9, DA 2:2, MAL 3:5, AC 13:6, AC 13:8
6-2-0
See also "divination, magic, sorcery, witchcraft"
LEV 19:28
1-0-0
Does Jesus have one or two in REV 19:11-16 (or could they just be on his clothes)? Then there's ISA 49:16 which is probably referring to Jesus nail marks, but could be something else.
DT 18:10, 2KI 9:22, 2CH 33:6, MIC 5:12, NA 3:4, GAL 5:20
6-0-0
See also "divination, magic, medium, sorcery"
Specific words not found in the NIV translation of the Holy Bible: Abortion, Bible, Gamble, Reincarnation, Theocracy, Trinity
Topic
Verses
My Conclusion
DT 5:17,
EC 11:5,
ISA 44:24,
ISA 46:3,
ISA 49:1,
ISA 49:5,
JER 1:5,
PS 51:5,
LUK 1:13-15
This word is not technically found in the NIV translation but clear instruction is given about life and death (murder). If we read the 32 references to conceive, conceived and conception we see the strong indications that human life (in this case let's define life as the assignment of a spiritual soul to a biological body) begins at conception, not birth nor some other arbitrary time after that. Just as important as those 32 verses is the complete lack of any verses that indicate life begins at any other time. Also notice the verses that severely frown on child sacrifice: EX 1:15-21, LEV 18:21, LEV 20:1-5, DT 12:31, DT 18:10-12, 2KI 17:17, 2KI 21:6, PS 106:37-38, JER 32:35, EZE 16:20. Clearly abortion is wrong and the child, if unwanted, should instead be given up for adoption at birth. As is the case with all sin, if it has already been done then it cannot be undone but we can repent (reverse our opinion) and encourage others of this truth so that they do not make the same mistake. This encouragement is not "make up" for sin because God loves us no matter what we have done, if we repent, and this good deed of encouraging others is simply the right thing to do. (See related quote for relationship to feminism.) Note that abortion and (a) unintentional miscarriages or (b) surgically extracting ectopic pregnancies are completely different things.
GE 2:16-17,
JN 4:23-24,
JN 8:44,
JN 14:6,
JN 18:33-38
The 21st century exists in "post modernity", where the lies of "modernity" (see quote for brief explain) have seriously revolted people, so truth is now considered relative. However relativism is just another lie, otherwise the tree of the knowledge of good & evil would not make sense, nor would Jesus' teaching, and Satan would not be referred to as the opposite. The word "truth" shows up 15 times in Psalms, just over a hundred in the gospels, and another hundred times in the remaining books. Besides, we would sure hope our surgeon, chef, or banker believes in absolute truth. It would only be our pride that would make us think we could get by without it. Granted some things are more absolute than others: facts are typically absolute, opinions and feelings are more nebulous.
EST 2:15,
MAL 2:15,
RO 8:15,
RO 8:23,
RO 9:4,
GAL 4:5,
EPH 1:5
Since God is willing to adopt us, then there's absolutely no theology that says anything wrong about us adopting other people (babies, kids, etc.)
GE 12:17-19,
GE 20:2-9,
EX 20:14,
LEV 20:10,
NUM 25,
DT 5:18,
DT 22:22-29,
2SA 12:10,
PR 5,
PR 6:26-35,
MT 5:27-30,
MT 15:19,
MT 19:9,
MK 7:21-23,
MK 10:11-12,
LK 16:18,
ROM 13:9,
HEB 13:4
This is about as non-controversial of a topic as we can get, but since it's such a problem for us hypocrites I thought I'd list the verses just so we're crystal clear. Also, notice in Genesis 20 that a random king recognized that sleeping with another man's wife was a heinous activity (I'm sure it helped that God himself spoke in a dream declaring it such). Somewhere along the line we have lost this. Keep reading below for more controversial topics of living together outside of marriage, homosexuality, marriage & poligamy...
x
Between humans, angels, and demons there is enough intelligence on this planet. We don't need artificial intelligence, we do need more compassion.
GE 8:21,
DT 24:16,
PR 20:11,
2SA 12:23,
MT 18:1-11,
MK 10:14,
LK 18:15-17,
JN 3:18,
RO 9:11,
ACT 2:38,
ACT 16:31
If we begin our theology in Genesis 1-11 like Ken Ham often suggests then the Genesis passage would tell us of course babies go to heaven because man is evil from childhood rather than from birth or conception. The Deuteronomy passage would also have special meaning to a remorseful abortion victim. If we look at the rest of scripture we don't find contradictions but we also don't get clarification.
EZE 36:25,
MT 28:18-20,
MK 16:16,
LK 3:7-9 MSG,
AC 2:38,
AC 8:16-17,
AC 10:44-48,
AC 16:29-34,
RO 2:25-3:2,
RO 4:9-12,
EPH 2:8-9,
PHP 3:2-7,
COL 2:11-12,
1PE 3:21,
1JN 5:7-9
Not salvific but modeled by & suggested by Jesus so highly recommended. Don't let the Christian cermeony of baptism become like the Jewish ceremony of circumcision.
GE 3:19,
DT 21:22-23,
MK 16:1
I am not really clear why this is so important, the only references are more of an implication than a specific command.
GE 9:5-6,
EX 21:17,
EX 22:18-20,
EX 23:7,
EX 31:14-17,
LEV 20:2,
LEV 20:9,
LEV 20:27,
LEV 24:14,
LEV 24:16,
LEV 27:29,
NU 15:35,
DT 13:10,
DT 18:20-21,
DT 21:21,
DT 22:21,
DT 22:24,
1KI 21:10,
PR 24:11-12,
PR 28:17,
MT 15:4,
AC 5:1-10
Recurring theme of "you must purge the evil" proves God is definitely for it. The command "must be put to death" can be found 30 more times and "do not spare" five more times. And remember the story of mass punishment in EX 32:27 after Moses is interrupted talking with God on Mt. Sinai because the whole community was going wild (see all of EX 32). Note that the one time Jesus quotes one of these Old Testament verses He does not "update" it to be more lenient but instead expands upon it. Note that God is punishing blatant disobedience not simply mean nor showing favorites. Of course how this is carried out and by who after we put a non-theocratic government in charge, that is a different issue.
MT 10,
MT 12:6-8 MSG,
MT 12:18-21,
MT 16:12,
MT 16:18,
MT 18:12-14,
MT 28:19-20,
MK 2:17,
MK 16:15-16,
LK 15:1-7,
JN 21:17,
AC 2,
AC 20:28,
EPH 3:10-11,
EPH 4:15-16,
1CO 1:10,
1CO 9:19-23,
HEB 10:24â€-‬25
Dave Ramsey (Financial Peace University) says "If you aren't mad at your church then you're not involved". The church's biggest problem is it's full of people. It's so easy to forget why we're here and just think about ourselves, even if we continue to use religious sounding speech. Jesus was known for what He stood for, not what He stood against. If Jesus was known like this and we're His ambassadors then maybe we're doing something wrong.
When Jesus told Peter to "feed His sheep," He wasn't talking about the other disciples but rather the rest of the world. "Membership" as an organizational technicality is an orthodox concept, not a biblical one. People who are part of a community receive benefit by being with other believers, but the focus should be on the outsider, not the insider. The church is not supposed to be self serving, it's supposed to serve the world. In USA church circles there's a disagreement on whether our pastors should preach to "believers" or to "seekers." They can preach to both but if push comes to shove then the seeker must get a higher priority since they presumably have not repented and been saved from their sins, and the believer should be capable of and trustworth to study God's will on their own. The events at Babel (GE 11:1-9) are a perfect example of how many churches, at least in the USA and Europe, are so tempted to hunker down, bask in their own greatness, and let the world come to them. But that's not what God had in mind when He was in agony on the cross. The simple purpose of the church is that we can do more together than on our own. (See also [if] it matters which denomination we go to below.)
By the way, Christians want to hear theology and reassurance they're right. Visitors want truth (history, character of God & people) and may not even want our theology.
When Jesus told Peter to "feed His sheep," He wasn't talking about the other disciples but rather the rest of the world. "Membership" as an organizational technicality is an orthodox concept, not a biblical one. People who are part of a community receive benefit by being with other believers, but the focus should be on the outsider, not the insider. The church is not supposed to be self serving, it's supposed to serve the world. In USA church circles there's a disagreement on whether our pastors should preach to "believers" or to "seekers." They can preach to both but if push comes to shove then the seeker must get a higher priority since they presumably have not repented and been saved from their sins, and the believer should be capable of and trustworth to study God's will on their own. The events at Babel (GE 11:1-9) are a perfect example of how many churches, at least in the USA and Europe, are so tempted to hunker down, bask in their own greatness, and let the world come to them. But that's not what God had in mind when He was in agony on the cross. The simple purpose of the church is that we can do more together than on our own. (See also [if] it matters which denomination we go to below.)
By the way, Christians want to hear theology and reassurance they're right. Visitors want truth (history, character of God & people) and may not even want our theology.
MK 9:38-41,
LK 9:51-56,
AC 11:1-18,
AC 15:1-31
This is a ridiculous, dogmatic, prideful opinion that people add to their religion. There is a huge difference between what God/Lord we believe in and what human leadership/fellowship we belong to. The orthodox church tried that hundreds of years ago and the Jews tried it before them, but God said no then and he still says no now. Note this doesn't mean all churches are equal, but just that denominational affiliations neither make nor break a church. (See also the church and its purpose above.)
MT 26:26-29,
MK 14:22-25,
LK 22:14-20,
RO 14:10,
1CO 11:20-34
- There is no scriptural basis for believing that every time we take communion the wine/juice turns into blood in our stomach and the bread turns into flesh in our stomach. This is just a tradition of the orthodox church. As for me, just because Jesus said "this is my body" doesn't mean when we quote Him later that the bread is anything more than symbolic, just as baptism and repentance is symbolic/ spiritual/ theological more than it is physical. Granted the bread itself and the baptism itself are physical, but their importance comes from the symbolism, so there isn't a need/reason to believe in the wine & bread turning into blood & flesh inside our body except to honor the tradition of men.
- The sign of the covenant was the "cup", not the "wine". Jesus didn't have Walmart or a corner Walgreens to choose milk, OJ, apple, Bud, or wine. All they had was dirty water or wine. We're missing the point if we allow ourselves to get bent out of shape on how some churches use grape juice instead of wine.
- Jesus simply said to "do this" and Paul said "every time you [do this]", neither gave instruction as to when/how often we should.
(the only verse I can find is GE 38:8-10 but the specific context makes it difficult to accept as a model for everyone, see complex topics of fathers, mothers, parents and kids below for closest thing)
First some clarification on terminology: Contraception is the prevention of pregnancy from happening in the first place, as opposed to birth control which is concerned with terminating a recent conception. Abortion is the termination of a more mature human life that birth control can't. Some people believe they should have as many kids as possible because they think there is a "pool" of souls who get born arbitrarily to whoever gets pregnant first, but there is no scriptural basis for this and AC 17:26 may even contradict this. The Bible does say children are a blessing and God wants couples to raise them to follow Him. He is very clear that we shouldn't kill the innocent and should protect the defenseless, but unjoined sperm and eggs aren't human by themselves so don't fall under the umbrella of those instructions. Life starts at conception, not before and not after. An adult is fully human, so is a child, an infant, a baby, a fetus and a zygote. Unjoined sperm and eggs are only half human and don't deserve full respect. (Though I'm not saying they can be disrespected, I'm just saying there's a distinction between a sperm or egg and a adult that can't be made between a zygote and an adult.) God neither says "have as many kids as you can" nor "don't avoid having kids", and there is no absolute correct number a couple should have. There's no scripture saying we can have too many, though intentionally avoiding ever having any kids would be a risky thing for a couple to do for an entire marriage. But even then as long as we're discipling other peoples' children to know/ fear/ love God that wouldn't be too much different than couples who can't have kids (and don't want to or can't adopt). Contraception is neither scripturally right nor wrong. (See also abortion above and God's plea through Zechariah below.)
LEV 19:18,
PS 141:4-5,
PR 12:1,
PR 15:31-32,
PR 25:9-13,
PR 27:6,9,17,
PR 28:23,
PR 29:1,
MT 18:15-17,
GAL 6:1-2,
PHP 3:15-16,
HEB 3:12-13,
2TH 3:14-15,
1TI 5:19-20,
2TI 2:23-25,
2TI 4:2,
1JN 5:16-17,
TIT 3:10-11
We can all be wrong sometime, but correct in love.
MT 20:1-16,
JN 3:16,
JN 5:24
God is beyond time so sees us as an infant, when we take our first step, laughing with mom & dad when our first tooth still hasn't come through, observing a sunset for the first time, committing every sin we ever imagined, and repenting all at once. This is true for every person. If we don't approve of deathbed forgiveness then we don't understand what the love of God is really like nor how bad our own sin really was.
GE 1:24-28,
JOB 40:15-24,
JOB 41:1-34,
PS 74:13-14,
PS 91:13,
ISA 14:29 KJV,
ISA 27:1,
ISA 30:6 KJV,
JER 51:34
If land animals and Adam were created together on day 6, of course it was true. Why would all these references be nonchalantly included if they were not real?
MT 10:1-2,
MT 11:1,
MT 20:29,
MT 23:1,
MT 26:18,
MT 28:16-20,
MK 3:7,
MK 4:34,
MK 6:41,
MK 8:1,
MK 8:34,
MK 10:10,
LK 6:13,17,
LK 7:11,
LK 8:22,
LK 9:36,
LK 14:25-27,
LK 19:37,
LK 22:38,
JN 4:1,
JN 6:24,
JN 6:66-67,
JN 7:3,
JN 8:31,
JN 13:5
(Disclaimer: this "controversy" is just a technicality.) If we infer our definition from Matthew and Mark then it seems the word disciple is synonymous with apostle. However if we read Luke and John then we'll see the two words are not synonyms. There were twelve apostles (minus Judas who betrayed him and plus Matthias, Saul/Paul was great but not one of the official 12) but by the Luke & John definition there were very many disciples. Not all disciples were believers because the word actually means follower and is a broad term but apostles is a narrow term meaning the elite in-crowd of people who both knew Jesus in person and were instrumental in spreading His message. Therefore we today can easily make disciples of non believers by simply engaging them in matters that are important to God and getting them to be curious about Jesus. Discipleship is not a concept meant to be exclusive and make the members of a church feel like an in-crowd.
MT 22:37-39,
LK 12:13-15
Among other things God created man to rule the Earth, but He never said how (other than to demonstrate good character while doing it). As with government submission (below) no matter which macro economic theory we prefer (for example: capitalism, socialism and feudalism) the "bottom line" is: are we brining honor to God through our lives and obeying God by being generous to our fellow man? If not then all economic systems turn into enablers for "redistribution of wealth" and separation of made-up classes. To deny this reality some people will try to claim their perspective is fair and everyone else isn't. However there are two kinds of fair:
- egalitarianism: everyone gets the same (MT 20:1-16, AC 2:44-47, 2CO 8:13-15)
- meritocracy: everyone gets what they earn/deserve (MT 16:27, MT 25:1-13, MT 25:14-30, LK 12:42-48, 2CO 5:10, REV 20:12)
GE 4:7,
MT 11:27,
RO 8:28,32,
RO 11:36,
1CO 9:22,
EPH 1:22,
TIT 1:15,
1PE 2:11-12,
1PE 4:11
These are not a matter of right & wrong but of self discipline, nobility and even being a good example. Any hand tool can be used both for good or evil depending on the user and this applies to media & technology as well. Jesus was a carpenter and Paul was a tentmaker. Just because hammers and scissors can be used to kill people doesn't mean they should be avoided as legitimate tools or that we shouldn't teach our kids to use them appropriately. As with dancing (see above) and gambling (see above) the real question is what is the end result, what is the trajectory of the action? If people are brought closer to God then great and who should care if it is done with paper or computer, speech or music, personal dialogue or prerecorded video? Of course the concern some people have is how easy we allow/ excuse ourselves to sin when we use the medias since they can be used alone. So we must remember the little children's song "Oh be careful little eyes what you see," regardless of how demeaning that may feel to a grown-up.
From another angle, AC 8:11 reminds us we must be careful about entertainments role in our worship. The more senses are engaged (audio, video, drama) the more the people will be able to relate to the message the leader is communicating. Jesus spoke in parables on purpose, and perhaps one small reason was so we'd relate to his teachings. As long as the message is explicitly worthy of hearing, we shouldn't worry over whether it's presented by parable, story, drama, band, video, etc. Though we must be careful not to cross the invisible philisophical line between engaging our audience and simply entertaining them, lest we fall into the trap of simply having followers of our magic than followers of Christ. See also Purpose of the Churh above.
From another angle, AC 8:11 reminds us we must be careful about entertainments role in our worship. The more senses are engaged (audio, video, drama) the more the people will be able to relate to the message the leader is communicating. Jesus spoke in parables on purpose, and perhaps one small reason was so we'd relate to his teachings. As long as the message is explicitly worthy of hearing, we shouldn't worry over whether it's presented by parable, story, drama, band, video, etc. Though we must be careful not to cross the invisible philisophical line between engaging our audience and simply entertaining them, lest we fall into the trap of simply having followers of our magic than followers of Christ. See also Purpose of the Churh above.
GE 1:1,
GE 1:31,
JOB 38:1-38,
PS 102:25,
PR 3:19-20,
ZEC 12:1,
MK 10:6,
AC 17:24-25,
2PE 3:5-6
There is no scriptural basis for anything other than a literal six day creation about 6,000 years ago. All other beliefs are attempts to compromise between atheistic/ agnostic men and God's Word to keep men happy. (Hint: these people don't make anyone happy but themselves.) I made a whole separate page to discuss this controversy here.
GE 22:12,
EX 20:20,
DT 6:1-3,
DT 10:12,
DT 31:12-13,
JOS 4:23-24,
2SA 23:3-4,
2CH 26:3-5,
NE 5:9,
JOB 28:28,
PS 25:14,
PS 34:7,
PS 103:13,
PS 110:10,
PS 112:1,
PS 128,
PS 130:3-4,
PS 147:11,
PR 1:7,
PR 3:7,
PR 14:27,
PR 29:25,
EC 12:13,
ISA 8:12-13,
JER 5:21-25,
LK 12:5,
1PE 2:17,
1JN 4:18,
REV 14:7
If we read all these verses, or even just 1JN 4:18 and PR 1:7, before reading this conclusion, at least if we have a critical heart, we may be saying "ah ha, here is a perfect example of how contradictory the Bible is!" However the explanation is: what you fear establishes the boundaries of your freedom. (See quote from Erwin here.) Moses explained why we should do this (EX 20:20) and God both gives us the original warning in GE 4:7 and assures us of His intent for us in JER 29:11. (There are over two hundred references to fearing God or fearing the Lord, these are just some highlights)
PS 118:6,
ISA 8:12-13,
RO 8:30-39
There is no need to fear anyone or anything but God, even death. For to follow Jesus means we die up front so that we can truly live. And God can take care of anyone we leave behind.
PR 4:23,
EC 11:9,
JER 17:9-10,
MT 6:21,
JN 5:37-38 NLT
Considering the natural state of man (see below), we should lead our heart rather than follow it.
GE 2:16-17,
GE 4:7,
DT 30:19,
PR 1:32-33,
EC 11:9,
RO 6:16,
JAM 4:11
There are two kinds of freedoms: 1. freedom to gratify the now, 2. freedom to live a long peaceful life. The two are incompatible more often than we'd like, hence the need for discipline (see keyword review above). God always prefers us to choose the later but he still gives us the choice. Have you noticed how God is obsessed with free will? Once we come to grips with this we may resent God for giving us this burden because sometimes we are too immature to make the right decision, but another reality is freedom is mandatory for love to exist.
GE 4:7,
ISA 65:11-12,
1CO 6:12,
1CO 10:23,
2PE 2:19
As occasional mindless entertainment (as opposed to watching a movie, eating out, playing miniature golf, etc, where we go into it expecting to leave with one more experience and a little less money) fine. As a money maker or a lifestyle, forget it. Social evidence clearly shows gambling is addicting and any addiction is harmful since we should not be mastered by anything but God. See complex topic of money (below).
EX 22:28,
EC 10:20,
ISA 8:12-13,
DAN 4:17,
RO 13:1-8,
COL 1:16,
HEB 13:17,
TIT 3:1-2,
1PE 2:13-17
All human governmental systems can seem good in an ideal world but we are quick to forget that we have an invisible enemy who wants to ruin our lives and all our plans for utopia. It's in our own best interests to understand that each design has fatal flaws in it. For example, we must remember that power corrupts and no help is needed from Satan. Any form of government (for example: dictatorship/ fascist, democracy, monarchy, republic, communist/ marxist and theocracy) have the potential to be good (and can only truly have long term feasibility) when the people in power are moral, and better yet if they fear, obey, and honor the living God. As Christians we are called to be God's ambassadors, exemplifying His love and the rest of His character no matter where we are and who our leaders are. This doesn't excuse people in leadership to lead any which way they choose (see National Accountability below) nor excuse Christians from serving in the military (see Should we be pacifists below). Don't confuse governmental systems with economic systems (above).
MT 18:10
Considering the only quote in the Bible I can find is from Jesus Himself there must be some truth to it. But He only mentions it offhand and doesn't get into any detail so we can't seriously claim to have any idea how this really works. (For more on angels see my 3 consecutive angel sections below.)
EX 28:4,
LEV 8:9,
LEV 16:4,
JOB 29:14,
ISA 61:10 (isaiah 61:10`NIV),
EZE 21:26 (ezekiel 21:26`NIV),
EZE 23:15,
EZE 24:17-23,
EZE 44:17-18,
DAN 3:21,
ZEC 3:5,
1CO 11:2-16
The only instructional reference to a turban I can find is for the priests (Aaron and his descendents.) Growing up as a westerner I don't get why middle easterners wear so many turbans, nor have they been able to explain it to me when I've asked. Perhaps the custom began as a symbol of a spiritual revival and a noble call to return to the holiness of the priesthood? But since then it just degraded into a cultural norm.
JOB 1:1-2:10,
PS 25:1-3,
PS 34,
PS 37:22-40,
PS 91-92,
PS 112,
PS 116:15,
PS 121:5-7,
PS 128:1-4,
PR 12:21,
PR 14:11,
EC 2:26,
JER 20:7-18,
JER 29:11,
MT 5:45,
MT 10:16-28,34-39,
MK 10:29-30,
LK 10:19,
LK 13:1-5,
LK 18:18-30,
JN 17:15,
RO 5:3-4,
RO 7:21-25,
RO 8:17,
RO 8:35-37,
1CO 3:17,
1CO 4:9-14,
1CO 15:30-31,
1CO 11:23-29,
1PE 1:6-7,
1PE 4:12-16
A related concept is "there is no safer place to be than the center of the will of God". Surely if anyone experienced the center of the will of God then the Apostle Paul was one of those people. With eternity in mind, these concepts are right on. But during our short time on Earth, which is usually where these are applied, what a dumb idea.
At a high level, when we obey God we are acknowledging that He understands the way life is supposed to work and things will naturally go better for us. But God is slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love so does not necessarily punish evil immediately (though He does say we may as His ambassadors, see why is there evil below). Lastly, since He is more concerned about our character than our comfort He does not shelter us from all short term suffering but instead may use it (see inevitable suffering below).
At a high level, when we obey God we are acknowledging that He understands the way life is supposed to work and things will naturally go better for us. But God is slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love so does not necessarily punish evil immediately (though He does say we may as His ambassadors, see why is there evil below). Lastly, since He is more concerned about our character than our comfort He does not shelter us from all short term suffering but instead may use it (see inevitable suffering below).
MT 19:28-30,
MT 25:14-30,
LK 19:11-27,
2CO 12:2,
REV 22:12
We won't all be equal in Heaven, but that doesn't mean there are "levels," as described in Dante's fictional work, Divine Comedy, or by some religions/denominations. Historically the term "heaven" has interchangeably been used to refer to the sky, outer space, and a spiritual heaven. This triplicate of concept is likely what Paul is referring to.
MT 5:29-30,
MT 7:13,
MT 13:49-50,
MK 9:45,
LK 12:5,
LK 13:22-30,
LK 16:19-31,
2TH 1:9,
JAM 3:6,
2PE 2:4,
JUD 1:6,
REV 1:18,
REV 14:9-11,
REV 20:10-15,
REV 21:8
Hell/Hades is a very serious topic that shouldn't be taken lightly nor simply thrown out into a conversation. It's not simply an alternative to Heaven where we can go if we don't want to bother worshiping God all the time. It's the worst place immaginable and then infinitely worse. People say experiencing a war is like experiencing Hell on Earth, yet no one would claim experiencing war is just an alternative if we don't like the picket fences in the suburbs.
JN 19:30,
ACT 2:31,
EPH 4:8â€-‬10
While this is preached in the Apostles' Creed, the scriptural basis is doubtful.
EX 3:5,
1SA 4:22,
2CH 8:11,
PS 127:1
Where God is, is holy. Where He's not, isn't. No matter how much stained glass or how many religious objects are there.
MT 11:12,
LK 10:19-20,
RO 12:21,
2CO 10:4-5,
EPH 6:12,
REV 19:11
Um, no. God can do this because he is holy, but we cannot because we are not. (For example, the European Crusades of the 12th & 13th centuries were a perfect lesson in missing the point.) In the last couple years I've noticed that my strategy at debate has always been superior firepower. That is good for winning battles and wars, but not people.
GE 1:27,
JOS 1:8,
PS 1:1,
PS 127:3-5,
PR 13:20,
PR 22:6,
ISA 54:13,
MIC 2:9,
MT 12:30,
MT 22:21,
MK 12:17,
LK 6:40,
LK 11:23,
LK 20:25,
RO 12:2,
2CO 10:5,
COL 2:8
One of the primary jobs of parents is to raise their kids to know and fear God (see MAL 2:15 and 'fear God' topic above). Nothing informs worldview like education. If there are teaching environments available to us that prove themselves better at doing this than we can do, then great. But the track record of the American public school system and even most of our private schools are going from dismal to worse (see PEERS trend chart here or here). Thinking our kids will be "salt & light" isn't an acceptable excuse to send them to public school because our kids aren't going to change the school, it's got teachers' unions and hoards of secular humanists running the whole thing (see website). When we're honest the reason most people fear home schooling is they don't trust the teacher, and sadly the reason they don't trust the teacher is because so many home schoolers are taught an explicitly biblical worldview.
GE 19:5-7,
LEV 18:22,
LEV 20:13,
DT 22:5,
JDG 19:22-24,
RO 1:26-27,
1CO 6:9-10,
1TI 1:9-10,
2PE 2:6-8,
JUDE 1:7,
JUDE 1:22-23
Homosexuality is a sin and therefore a choice, so it deserves no protection and no benefits. Like any sin, some people are more tempted by it than others, but we must all repress any urge to sin and acknowledge that any thought or activity is wrong. (Compare sexual immorality of homosexuality to adultery.) That being said, nobody deserves persecution (not even homosexuals) and all people need protection (even homosexuals) from evil (in its many forms). Remember, this is not an unforgivable sin and these people need to be treated with love just like anyone else. We must also be careful how we handle sins we do not personally struggle with, lest our motives and intentions be misinterpreted. But fewer people will misinterpret love than condemnation, and the Holy Spirit can take care of convicting any sinner. (read more)
GE 8:21,
ISA 14:13-14
We want to be God and we don't care what it costs. It's not good enough that God created us in his likeness, we want to take His place and forget He ever existed. Fortunately, in addition to having all the omni's (omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient) God can also be described as loving & just, so being made in His likeness means we have a knowledge of what it means to be like this too. Some of us accept the word of our Creator and try to exemplify the characteristics that God has asked us to exemplify (and yes, we can exemplify them without acknowledging the Creator but then can't assume our plans for the afterlife will be accurate). Some of us rebel against our Creator and just pursue getting those omni's, even if it means the rest of the universe must burn. From the second we're born we want everything our way and we want it now. As we get older we realize that it takes one or both of two things to get our way: being nice and being cunning. When someone is being "mean", there's a good chance they're being very logical and very reasonable, it's just that they're being self centered and don't care about what that means to us. This human condition is why popularity is so widely desired and envied: we want to be worshiped like a god.
GE 24:3-4,66-67,
GE 41:45,
EX 2:21,
RUTH 1:4,
RUTH 4:10,
EST 2:17,
2CO 6:14
EX 3:14,
JN 8:58,
JN 10:30-33,
JN 14:1-11
When He claims to be one with the Father that means He's claiming to be one in essense, of the same substance, of the same nature, different from all of humanity. Similar to how a son has (can have) a unique relationship to a father (both biologically, phyically, emotionally, etc.) compared to a neighbor or distant stranger.
MK 13:21-23,
JN 14:6,
AC 4:11-12,
RO 6:23,
RO 10:9-10,
COL 2:8,
1TI 2:5,
1JN 2:22-23,
1JN 5:3-5,
1JN 5:12
This is a black and white issue, no gray. What people do with this truth is a different matter.
GE 2:24,
GE 4:7,
EX 22:16,
NUM 25,
DT 23:17-18,
PS 119:9,
PR 4:14-15,
PR 6:27,
PR 16:2,
SS 2:7,
SS 8:6-7,
JN 4:16-18,
RO 6:11-14,
1CO 5:9-13,
1CO 6:9-20,
1TH 4:3-5,
HEB 13:4
Notice in the original law that as soon as a man had sex with a woman he was commanded to marry her. This is not to say that "two wrongs make a right" (note that sex is a consecration of marriage, not the other way around) but to minimize the effects of the sin and to inform people of how significant sexual relations are. Not that I need to add to scripture, but for those of us who still don't get it, let's read between the lines. Surely this is bad for at least five reasons:
- In the modern western world marriages are initiated by love but in the grand scheme they are (should be) more about commitment than they are about love. Sex out of marriage undermines the absolute commitment of marriage (instills the "try it before you buy it" mentality) which irrevocably taints the presence of unconditional love which was intended to be fully present,
- It is a bad example for your inevitable children and/or all other children (people) in your lives,
- It encourages child conception outside of an absolutely committed marriage and allows for the parents to easily separate thereby (a) destroying the family unit that God designed and (b) damaging the parent/child relationship that is intended to model the God/human relationship. These problems give children a desire to say "if God could not keep my parents together then he can not do anything for me either",
- It is especially a bad witness to non believers if believers do this because it allows a non believer the opportunity to say "your morality is no better than mine so your God must be no better than mine",
- At its highest level and at its core, this idea is exclusively the conclusion of a belief (whether active or passive) that "yeah, God may have said marriage first is the best way, but I am willing to bet my life that I can do it better, or at least different and still end up just as good." When God calls you on this, what will you say?
EX 32:33,
EZE 18:20-28,
MT 24:24,
MK 13:22,
LK 12:4,
LK 22:3,
JN 10:24-30,
RO 8:35-39,
RO 11:19-22,
COL 1:21-23,
1TI 1:19-20,
1TI 3:6,
1TI 6:10,20-21,
2TI 2:18,
HEB 2:1,
HEB 3:12-19,
HEB 6:4-6,
HEB 10:26-31,
HEB 12:16-17,
JAM 5:19-20,
2PE 2:20-21,
2PE 3:17,
REV 3:11
We can not lose it (have it taken from us) but we can give it up.
EX 21:10,
DT 17:17,
DT 21:10-14,
1KI 11:3-4,
2SA 5:13-16,
2CH 11:18-23,
AM 2:7,
MAL 2:15,
1CO 7,
1TI 3:2,
1TI 3:12,
TIT 1:6
The original design was one man and one woman. No other option is offered us, we made up all the other options. Now let's just admit we're all hypocrits, so for a minute stop being judgmental of the people in the Bible who are too. Any time there is instruction about marriage it's clearly paterned after the GE 1 & 2 model, despite however many examples of people who deviate.
- For those thinking about it, be clear on Biblical roles of husbands, wives and parents (below).
- From the skip-it perspective, see Living Together Outside of Marriage (above).
- From the same-sex perspective, see Homosexuality (above). Note this doesn't mean two men or two women can't be better friends than some married couples can be, but it does mean we shouldn't pervert the concept of marriage to mean anything we want.
- From the poligamous perspective, Solomon was an example of his many wives leading him astray from his faith, and he was the smartest man who ever lived! If anyone should have been strong enough to stand up to his wives you'd think he'd be, but he wasn't.
- From the work-around perspective, see adultery (above).
- For those wanting out, remind yourself of the Biblical roles of husbands, wives and parents (below) and see divorce (above).
- Last but not least, I find no instruction nor explicit condemnation on the concept of concubines (although AM 2:7 gets really close). Either this is an indication that this topic is less black and white than some of us would like to believe, or it's an example of how God doesn't think He needs to tell us every little detail and we should be able to imply the right and wrong based on what He's already told us. The trick of course would be when we take the attitude of "what can I get away with to bring me the most pleasure?" versus "what will really create the healthiest people and bring the wholeness that comes with truly honoring the two greatest commandments and the rest of scripture?" (By the way, there are a few examples where the results of having concubines was very negative and no examples where having concubines was a true benefit.)
(x)
There are some who worship Mary, mother of Jesus, but the scripture they cite I just don't agree has any merrit (it has the resonance of people just picking scripture to back up their belief rather than getting their belief from the scripture). Additionally the Catholic Encyclopedia indicates that most of the basis for this belief is founded in tradition, so by definition it is a non-biblical concept and out of scope of this page.
GE 6:5,
GE 8:21,
1KI 8:46,
2CH 6:36,
PS 14:3,
PS 19:12,
PS 51:5,
PS 53:1-3,
PS 143:2,
PR 27:19-21,
EC 7:20,27-29,
EC 9:3,
ISA 64:6,
JER 6:16-17,
JER 17:9-10,
MT 7:11,
JN 2:24-25,
RO 3:12,
EPH 2:3,
JAM 3:7-8
Clearly we are evil without God's help. Yes we are capable and aware of good, even from birth (see article), but just because we are intelligent enough to recognize good doesn't mean we will avoid committing evil when no one is watching. Our tendency as autonomous creatures is evil due to the human condition (see above).
(See conclusion to right)
More than once it was the faith of one man alone that changed the world. Consider:
Adam (GE 1:26-5:5),
Noah (GE 5:28-9:29),
Jesus (MT, MK, LK, JN), &
Paul (AC 9:1-28:31).
Sometimes one man changes the fate of a nation: Abraham (GE 11:26-25:8), Joseph (GE 30:23-50:26), Moses (EX 2:10-DT 34:7), Josiah (2CH 34-35), Joshua (EX 17:9-JOS 24:29), David (1SA 16:11-1KI 2:11), & Solomon (<2SA 12:24-1KI 11:43)
Sometimes one man affects the fate of his entire family (good or bad): Korah (NUM 16:32), Achan (JOS 7:24), Zacchaeus (LK 19:9), Jailer (Acts 16:34), & Crispus (Acts 18:8)
Sometimes one man changes the fate of a nation: Abraham (GE 11:26-25:8), Joseph (GE 30:23-50:26), Moses (EX 2:10-DT 34:7), Josiah (2CH 34-35), Joshua (EX 17:9-JOS 24:29), David (1SA 16:11-1KI 2:11), & Solomon (<2SA 12:24-1KI 11:43)
Sometimes one man affects the fate of his entire family (good or bad): Korah (NUM 16:32), Achan (JOS 7:24), Zacchaeus (LK 19:9), Jailer (Acts 16:34), & Crispus (Acts 18:8)
GE 20:3-7,
EX 23:23,
LEV 26:23-25,
DT 20:10-18,
DT 21:18-21,
DT 32:40-42,
JDG 3:2,
1SA 15:2-3,
MT 5:17,
MT 10:34,
LK 12:49-53,
LK 19:27,
REV 3:19,
REV 19:11-16
The smartest man who ever lived said in Proverbs that God disciplines (see keyword review above) those He loves, and God confirmed this himself in Revelation. The Deuteronomy passage seems harsh but I think the takeaway is how serious disobedience is, and the role of the strong leader to lead strongly at all costs, even if the price is your own Son and God modeled this for us by sending His Son to die on the cross for us. God does not appease evil in hopes it will simply go away because He knows the natural state of man (see above). Nor is He passive enough to simply ignore evil without punishing it (see God fights for Israel below). God is clearly in favor of capitol punishment (see above) so killing individuals because of heinous sin is not against God's character/will. On multiple occasions in the Old Testament God commands His people to go to war and He promises in the New Testament to someday wage war on Satan and Satan's followers (both angelic and human). Of course God would not seriously have to fight Satan because God has no equal nor anything even close but God has a master plan that involves this war He describes in Revelation, possibly for our benefit more than His. Another interesting practical look at scripture is how often angels, who are God's personal messengers, carry and even use swords:
GE 3:24,
NU 22:21-33,
1CH 21:12-17,
2CH 32:21
NU 15:14-16,29-31,
EST 9:1-17,
PS 82:3-4,
PS 110:3,
PS 118:10-12,
PS 144:1,
PR 3:11-12,
PR 20:18,
PR 21:31,
EC 3:3,8,
ISA 1:17,
MT 5:9,
MT 5:38-48,
MK 12:28-34,
LK 6:22-23 MSG,
LK 6:27-38,
RO 12:17-21,
RO 13:1-5,
2CO 10:3-6,
HEB 12:14-15,
JAM 1:27
(See Is God a Pacifist above first.) This is a hard one since Old Testament precedence is overwhelmingly against this, but New Testament teaching could make us think so. And we know that God does not change, so how do we reconcile this? War is often referred to as "hell" by those who experience it, but is there such a thing as a "just war"? The Hebrews passage is interesting because it has seemingly contradictory sentences back to back, starting off making us think pacifism is the way to go but then doing a 180 at the end when it warns against allowing evil among you. The James passage is actually a fairly recurring theme which could be generalized as "protect the defenseless". So if we are all to embrace discipline, leaders are to administer discipline, the two greatest commandments in existence say to love (honor) God and love (treat) our neighbor (everyone else) like ourselves, we are to protect the defenseless, and discipline has no limits, then I believe this is the justification for the "just war". There is no contest that individuals and even organizations should exemplify love, peace, patience, etc., even to their enemies, but Paul reminds us that governments have a special role with an obligation to punish evil (wrongdoing) and the police and military forces who carry out that punishment must be allowed to do so. As followers of Christ's teaching we should never incite (unless our acting righteously infuriates, which it has a tendency to do) nor administer any violence, but we are to respect authority (see Government Submission above) so when our leaders call us to war, so long as it is for the reason described here, then we should obey and restrain our criticism.
1SA 15:22-23,
EC 9:10,
EPH 2:8-9,
JAM 1:22-26,
JAM 2:14-26
While not all wrong, this is an incomplete concept. Yes God wants us to be good and yes He wants us to do our best, but what does it mean to be good and what are we trying our best at? Being lazy can never please God, but doing our best to be a good person without explicitly & educatedly following Christ is not going to make us right with God. If we truly have a biblical worldview and are trying to be an informed obedient servant of God then and only then do these two thoughts apply. (Consider my content differentiation below.) But at the same time, if we have an informed biblical worldview and are connected to the God of creation we aren't going to use these phrases the way most people do.
GE 2:16,
ISA 38:5,
MT 24:20-31,
MK 13:20-27,
RO 9:11-12,
RO 11:7,
RO 11:28-29,
EPH 1:11,
1TI 5:21,
2TI 2:10,
TIT 1:1,
1PE 1:1,
2PE 1:10
(See Freedom of Choice above first.) Since Jesus talked about the elect then whether we like it or not and whether we understand it or not it's a real thing. He didn't ever talk about predestination. Remember that God created time so He is outside of it. When humans elect someone we do so only knowing their potential and we don't know what they will actually do until they do it. God isn't like that. He knew everything we'd ever do before we were born. Considering God's obsession with free will and the lack of any verses predestination isn't supported by the Bible, but in the context of God's omniscience the concepts of election and free will aren't mutually exclusive.
MT 16:17-19,
MT 23:1-12,
HEB 7:23-25
Priests act as intermediaries between God and men. This job was essential in the Old Testiment but eliminated by Jesus. Popes head up an institution that God never asked for, exemplified, nor suggested. Pastors help us develop our own relationship with God...
PS 49:7-10,
LK 16:22,
LK 23:42-43,
JN 5:28-29
Nope, it's not in here. This was invented by men as an excuse for a fund raiser for the orthodox church.
DT 7:3-4,
DT 10:17-19,
EX 22:21,
EX 23:9,12,
LEV 19:10,33-34,
LEV 23:22,
LEV 24:22,
LEV 25:35,
NU 9:14,
NU 15:15-16,29-31,
DT 5:14,
DT 10:18,
DT 24:14,17,19-21,
DT 27:19,
PS 146:9,
JER 22:3,
EZE 47:23,
ZEC 7:10,
LK 10:25-37,
AC 11:1-18,
AC 17:26,
ROM 10:12-13,
GAL 3:28,
COL 3:11,
JAM 2:1
Don't be stupid. No way, no how. Racism is the big brother of prejudice and both are the offspring of ignorance and fear. The closest thing we get to "racism" is "worldviewism", where God says don't intermarry because the beliefs of the other people will draw us away from Him, not because of any biological or other demographical excuse. (See interracial marriage above and God loves everyone below.)
NUM 14:18,
1SA 15:23,
PR 17:11,
EPH 6:12
In the context of the church this is often thought of negatively, and rightly so. However it can be used for good when directed not against God but against Satan, against sin, against complacency and ignorance. Find a way to channel the rebellious energy of teens (really all people) into something constructive, don't just force them to conform.
JOB 14:1-12,
PS 88:10,
PS 103:15-16,
PS 115:17,
PS 144:3-4,
2CO 5:10,
JAM 4:14,
HEB 9:27
We only live once. We only get one chance at life. Memories of past lives can come from demons.
EX 3:7,
EX 12:43-44,
EX 21:1-11,
EX 21:20-27,
EX 23:12,
LEV 19:20,
LEV 22:10-11,
LEV 25:39-46,
DT 23:15-16,
DT 24:7,
PR 22:7,
MT 20:26-28,
MK 10:43-45,
JN 8:35,
RO 6:15-23,
1CO 7:21-24,
1CO 12:13,
GAL 3:28,
EPH 6:5-9,
COL 3:22-24,
COL 4:1,
1TI 1:9-11,
1TI 6:1-2,
TIT 2:9,
1PE 2:18-19
As an American the first thing I need to do is point out that slavery in the biblical context looked nothing like slavery did in this country. The Bible never allows us to define slaves as non-humans. I'm not lobbying for slavery here but I am pointing out that God has little interest in defining the structure of how humans relate, His main concern is our character & worship. Remember that it was evolutionary thought, not the Bible, that was the motivation behind the belief that people from one geography with a certain skin shade were less "evolved" and hence "inferior" and therefore worthy of life long, multigenerational slavery (see racism above). Slavery (defined simply as, and limited to, mandatory work without pay) as a temporary result of a temporal situation (including military conquest or economic hardship) is tolerable as long as we remember that when God tells us to be kind to each other He was including slaves, too.
EX 20:13,
DT 5:17,
DT 30:19,
JDG 9:54,
JDG 16:30,
1SA 31:4-5,
2SA 17:23,
1KI 16:18,
MT 5:21,
MT 27:5,
JN 15:13,
RO 14:7-8,
1CO 3:16-17,
1CO 6:19-20
Seven people in the bible commit suicide (if we count Samson) but they aren't ever criticized. However murder is clearly wrong and it's not a stretch to say suicide is murdering ourself. Some people also dislike this practice because it implies that we don't think God can do anything further in our life so we take His place to end it. But if it were a black and white issue then surely it would be described as such in the scripture, and after reading the bible all the way through four times I just don't find it described that way. I'm not exactly experienced in this topic, but if I was counceling someone on when it is acceptable I would say not to do it for self-centered reasons. For example, if you think no one cares about you or that you are not good enough for the world then you are ill-informed and should not kill yourself. Either you don't know the right people or you're believing a lie. If you are trying to get out of problems (such as addictions or guilt) there is no reason to believe killing yourself will actually help anyone (even if you have life insurance). Now if you are a soldier and possess tactical information or your life will be used as a ransom in such a way that will harm the society you have sworn to protect, or you take a bullet for someone else (sometimes referred to as the 'ultimate sacrifice') that's actually commended by God. Suicide bombing is not the same thing as the ultimate sacrifice and is definitely wrong since it involves murdering other people. I'm sure this list could go on and I'm not trying to be exhaustive when the scriptures aren't. If you're reading this and have accepted Jesus but are trying to find a loop hole that will justify a premeditated decision to commit suicide and still allow you to go to heaven then you need to get help, both from God and from people around you. (See also health & wealth above.) If you haven't accepted Jesus as your Lord then this question isn't your first priority anyway (see above).
GE 4:4-5,
EX 13:1-2,11-16,
EX 22:29-30,
EX 23:19,
EX 30:12,
EX 34:26,
LEV 27:30-33,
DT 14:22-29,
DT 26:1-15,
NUM 18:25-32,
PR 3:9,
MAL 3:8-10,
MT 23:23,
LK 11:42,
2CO 8:13-15
See complex topic of Money below. But in short, always give at least our first 10% of our gross/total/before deductions income back to God. Remember, in a more broad context, there are many ways we can give sacrificially: time, talent, treasure, and testimony. Notice in GE 14:20 Abraham intuited the need/value in tithing, and in GE 28:20-22 his grandson Jacob (Israel) intuited it too.
GE 1:1,
GE 1:26-27,
GE 3:22,
GE 11:7,
DT 6:4,
ISA 6:8,
ISA 9:6,
MT 28:19,
MK 12:28-34,
JN 1:1,
JN 5:18,
JN 8:56-59,
JN 10:30-33,
2CO 13:14,
PHP 2:5-7,
COL 1:15-19,
TIT 3:4-6,
HEB 1:3-14,
HEB 2:9-10,
1PE 1:2,
1JN 5:7,
REV 22:12-13
- It's not named as such, but the concept is accurate. Man made up the name but the concept came from God. Regarding Jesus, scripture is not self contradictory so no matter how many verses someone points out where Jesus refers to the Father as another entity they don't mean Jesus is not God nor that God the Father created Jesus in any way like He did angels or people. Those verses just elaborate on Jesus' character as described in Philippians. They just reinforce the mysterious concept of the trinity. Regarding the Holy Spirit, nothing God created is omnipresent, but the Holy Spirit is always referred to as a singular entity yet is given to all believers simultaneously (Luke 24:49, John 14:26, John 20:22, Acts 2:4). See also my closer look at the physical precidence for the Trinity (below.)
- I had some Jehovah's Witnesses stop by my door once and try to tell me Jesus was God's first creation, essentially the archangel, and I'll grant there are very few verses in the Bible that explicitly make the point that Jesus is God, but they are there and I was able to make my own reference which I have preserved here.
- The English word "God" in GE 1:1 is translated from the Hebrew word "Elohim" which is actually a plural word (reference).
- (Note the 1 John 5:7 verse won't display correctly with the "hover" feature on this website because NIV, NLT, MSG and others don't include a line that is only in a few very late Greek copies and the Latin Vulgate. Other translations like KJV, NKJV, NCV, GW and YLT have the line I am referring to.)
GE 4:3-15,
EC 3:11
(Note this is different than specifically incited anger.) Hard rock and even rap music reaches a distinct harmonic resonance frequency within many people's soul that most Christians have repressed or try to repress. What I mean by "universal rage" is that whether we admit it or not we are furious that we are not God. Granted, some of us have come to terms with this fact better than others, but we all experience the annoyance that we are not the supreme being, the creator of everything, and that the universe doesn't have to bow to our wishes. (See the human condition above.) Similarly, we intuitively know that God made everything and we know God made it good yet the world around us isn't so good anymore and so we all get frustrated in that gap. We want to live in that perfect world God created (because we want everything to be easy like we assume it would be in paradise) but we can't so our frustration builds and eventually turns into rage.
EX 35:22,29,
JDG 4:4,
1TI 2:11-14,
1TI 3:2,
TIT 2:3-5
If we take the scripture at face value then we can see it discourages women from being in leadership positions over men, though it encourages women to be leaders to younger women. However there is plenty of room for debate on exactly what these passages were trying to say and what the unwritten context was of these statements. For example, all 3 of the passages I know that contribute to this controversy were written by Paul. And in the most critical one he says "I" rather "God". As far as I can tell there is no command to differentiate leadership based on gender in the old testament. There is an implied distinction though since God is almost always recorded as having any strategic talks with men and assigning roles (like the priesthood) to men. Deborah the prophet would be a good exception to this, seemingly proving that women as a gender can be as successful and as divinely blessed with leadership as any man. See my complex topics on men and women below for related verses.
GE 3:12,
HOS 4:6,
MT 12:1-5,
MT 12:22-24,
MT 12:36-37,
MT 25:24-30,
JAM 2:19
We might think that since sin (evil) is such a big problem that it must have taken a huge event to cause it to enter the world. We might think that there must have been some sort of huge battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil, but humanity was just tragically overpowered. But here's the story according to the man who was in charge of it all: "she gave me the fruit and I ate." Adam knew God. Perhaps as well as we do, even though we have a multi-thousand page book to read. The implications of his thoughtless and unprepared answer are exactly why it is so important to explicitly have a well informed biblical worldview. (See also losing our salvation above.)
DT 8:19,
1SA 15:22-23,
JN 4:23-24,
RO 12:1,
1CO 14:21-25
Lots of people confuse or blend the two concepts of doctrine and style. Doctrine comes from God and is what this webpage is dedicated to clarifying. Style is a personal choice. Scripture never once defines any specific physical definition of worship, but does multiple times describe it as a matter of the spirit/heart.
MT 12:6-8,
MK 16:9,
AC 1:14,
AC 2:44-46,
AC 5:12,
AC 20:7,
RO 14:4-6
It's all or nothing. There is no command nor special benefit to worship on Sunday, and Saturday is technically (was originally) the Sabbath. We are supposed to worship God every day. (One way of defining worship is how we spend time, money, or effort to give glory, honor, or recognition to someone or something.) By the way, there is a reason Jews worship on Saturday, Christians worship on Sunday and Muslims worship on Friday, and it's less holy than we might think. The Jews at least have the original command (EX 20:8-10) but then the other two just needed an excuse to be different.
Why is there evil in the world?
Similarly, why do bad things happen (to good people) or worse, why do good things happen to bad people?
Similarly, why do bad things happen (to good people) or worse, why do good things happen to bad people?
GE 1:31,
ISA 24:5-6,
ISA 64:9-65:12,
JER 6:16-19,
JER 7:1-29,
JER 16:9-13,
2CO 12:8-9,
RO 8:28,
1CO 3:10-15,
JAM 1:12-15
God made everything good but the sad truth is we messed it up and continue to mess it up. Consider the natural state of man (above) and the freedom of choice God gives us (above). God did not create mindless zombies to worship Himself, he created fully intelligent people with a freewill. He allows us to choose to honor Him or not. All suffering is caused by sin and there are four notable sources of sin: our own, our ancestors, other unrelated people, and Satan (or his demons). Evil could actively be described as intentionally doing wrong (sinning) and passively as the absence of active good. God does not cause suffering, but He certainly allows it either when it is the consequence of bad choices or simply to test us (test as in "see if we make the good choice" not "see if we make the bad choice", DT 30:19) and then He uses it to help us align ourselves with Him. Once we are aligned the suffering will be relieved, though perhaps not as soon as we would like.
Editor's note: if you are not in alignment with me on these conclusions then ask yourself if you disagree with or disapprove of these conclusions? Disagreement would involve having contradictory or conflicting facts or interpretations. If you do not have this then you just dislike my conclusions. I am not trying to be arrogant nor dogmatic and if you disagree with any of my conclusions I am very happy to discuss them with you. Feel free to send me your feedback.
Meaning of life
GE 2-3
EC 3:10-14
EC 3:22
EC 5:18-20
EC 12:13
JER 7:23
MIC 6:6-8
MAL 2:15
MT 7:12
MT 22:36-40
MK 12:28-34
JN 6:28-29
JN 13:34
1CO 10:31
GAL 6:10
1TH 4:11-12
1PE 2:12
1PE 4:8
Wisdom
JOB 5:12-13
JOB 32:8
PS 19:7
PS 37:30-31
PS 94:11
PS 51:6
PS 107:43
PS 111:10
PS 119:24
PR 1:7,20-33
PR 2:6-12
PR 3:13-20,35
PR 4:7-8,11-13
PR 7:4
PR 8
PR 9:1-12
PR 10:19
PR 12:14-18
PR 13:20
PR 14:6,12
PR 15:31
PR 16:16,23-24
PR 17:27-28
PR 18:13
PR 20:15
PR 21:16,30
PR 22:3,9,23
PR 24:3-7,13-14
PR 25:4-5,12,16
PR 27:12
PR 28:11
PR 29:11
PR 30:24-28
EC 1:17
EC 2:12-16,26
EC 4:13-14
EC 6:11
EC 7:4-5
EC 7:10-14,19
EC 7:19
EC 8:1
EC 8:15-17
EC 9:13-17
EC 10:1-2
EC 10:12-13
EC 10:20
EC 12:8-14
ISA 29:13-16
JER 33:2-3
DA 2:19-22
HOS 4:6
MT 11:19
MK 4:23-25
LK 7:35
1CO 1:18-31
1CO 2
1CO 3:18-20
COL 2:1-3
JAM 1:5
JAM 3:13-18
Work ethic
EX 20:8-11
EX 31:12-17
PS 127:2
PR 6:6-11
PR 10:4-5,26
PR 11:1
PR 12:14-15,24,27
PR 13:4,11
PR 14:4,23-24
PR 15:19
PR 16:3,9,26
PR 19:1-2,15,22
PR 20:4,13
PR 21:25
PR 22:29
PR 23:4
PR 24:27,30-34
PR 29:19,21
EC 2:24-25
EC 3:22
EC 5:7
EC 9:10
EC 10:15-18
MT 10:10
LK 6:40
LK 10:7
LK 17:7-10
AC 20:33-35
RO 12:3-8,11
1CO 3:5-9
1CO 15:58
COL 3:22-4:1
GAL 6:4-5
EPH 6:5-9
2TH 3:6-13
1TI 6:1-2
TIT 2:9-10
1PE 2:18-20
Money
Note: this idea isn't limited to adults, but applies to all humans. The challenge in the USA is children are bored from lack of productive work since we've automated everything, though this problem is shared around the world in all cities. People with a strong work ethic and the opportunity to work either for themselves or society are rarely bored but perhaps one of the great dilemmas is how to keep busy the people who aren't intellectually prepared for hard work?
Note: work didn't come after the fall of GE 3. It was a gift by God in GE 2:15 to give us something to do, to feel productive, and most importantly to participate in what God was doing in the world. What the fall did was make it difficult (GE 3:17-19).
Note: work didn't come after the fall of GE 3. It was a gift by God in GE 2:15 to give us something to do, to feel productive, and most importantly to participate in what God was doing in the world. What the fall did was make it difficult (GE 3:17-19).
EX 23:3
DT 25:4
PS 37:21
PS 39:6
PS 49:5-10,16-20
PS 62:10
PS 119:72,127
PR 3:9-10
PR 10:2,16
PR 11:24-26
PR 14:20-21
PR 15:6
PR 16:8,19,32-33
PR 17:1,18
PR 19:4
PR 20:21
PR 21:5-6,20
PR 22:1-2,4,16
PR 23:5
PR 27:23-24
PR 28:6,8,19-22,25,27
PR 30:7-9
EC 5:10-15
EC 10:19
EC 11:1-6
MAL 1:6-9
MAL 3:6-12
MT 6
MT 7:9-11
MK 12:41-44
LK 10:7
LK 12:22-34
LK 16:1-13
RO 13:1-8
1CO 9:14
1CO 16:2
2CO 8:7-9
2CO 8:10-15
2CO 9:6-9
GAL 6:6
EPH 4:28
1TI 5:17-18
1TI 6:3-10
1TI 6:17-19
HEB 13:5
1PE 1:7
Human relationships...
Husbands/Fathers/Men
Character of...
EX 20:17
EX 22:16-17
EX 34:23-24
LEV 15:16
DT 17:17
DT 21:15-17
DT 23:10
DT 23:17-18
DT 24:5
PS 128:1-4
PR 5:15-21
PR 18:22
PR 19:13-14
PR 23:24
PR 27:15-16
PR 31:23,28-29
EC 9:9
SS 5:16
MAL 2:13-16
MT 5:27-32
EPH 5:25-33
EPH 6:4
COL 3:19,21
1TI 2:8
1TI 3:1-15
1TI 5:1
1TI 5:17-20
TIT 1:6-9
TIT 2:2,6
1PE 3:7
1PE 5:1-5
...
Wives/Mothers/Women
Abraham may have wanted a son more than a wife (remember how he practically gave Sarai to Pharoh in GE 12:11-15 and was convinced to have adultry so easily in GE 16:2) more than anything (GE 15:2), that's why God asked him to sacrifice Isaac (GE 22:2) and then relents when Abraham proves he'd actually do it (GE 22:10-13). This was to test Abraham and allow him to prove his priorities were straight. Remember God put His money where His mouth was when He sent His Son, Jesus here to teach and die for us, so God's request of Abraham was neither callous nor arbitrary. What is it for you that God may need to test your priorities with?
LEV 12
DT 23:17-18
DT 25:11-12
PR 11:22
PR 12:4
PR 14:1
PR 21:9,19
PR 25:24
PR 29:15,17
PR 30:21-23
PR 31:10-31
SS 2:16
SS 4:8-5:1
EPH 5:22-24
EPH 5:33
COL 3:18
1TI 2:9-15
1TI 3:11
1TI 5:2-16
2TI 3:6
TIT 2:3-5
1PE 3:1-6
...
Parents
GE 2:18-24
EX 20:4-6
EX 21:10-11
LEV 18:6-23
LEV 20:10-21
NUM 5:11-31
NUM 30
DT 4:9-10
DT 5:8-10
DT 6:5-7
DT 22:5
DT 22:13-30
DT 24:1-4
DT 24:16
PS 78:4-8
PS 90:16-17
PS 103:17-18
PS 127:3-5
PS 144:12
PS 145:4
PR 4
PR 6:20-7:27
PR 6:24-35
PR 11:21
PR 13:24
PR 14:26
PR 17:6,21,25
PR 19:18
PR 20:7
PR 22:6,15
PR 23:13-14
PR 29:15,17
SS 2:3
SS 4:16
SS 8:2
MAL 2:15-16
MT 7:9-11
MT 10:34-37
MT 18:4-7
MT 22:30
1CO 7:1-16
1CO 11:8-12
2CO 6:14-16
2CO 12:14
1TH 4:3-8
HEB 13:4
3JN 1:4
Kids
PS 78:5-8
PS 37:26
PS 102:28
PS 119:9
PR 1:8-9
PR 4:1-9
PR 6:20-23
PR 10:1
PR 13:1
PR 15:5,20
PR 19:26-27
PR 20:11,20-21
PR 23:22,24-25
PR 28:7,24
PR 29:3,15,17
PR 30:11-12,17
LA 3:27
EZE 18
COL 3:20
EPH 6:1-3
HEB 12:8-11
1JN 5:21
2JN 1:4
TIT 1:6
...
God & humans
DT 29:29
NUM 24:23
JOB 9:2-3,14-20
JOB 33:4
JOB 34:14-15
1SA 16:7
PS 27:14
PS 37:3-7
PS 63:3
PS 7:9-13
PS 25:6-14
PS 32:8-9
PS 33:13-22
PS 34:15-22
PS 33:4
PS 50:7-23
PS 55:22
PS 56:11
PS 57:10-11
PS 62:5-8
PS 71:5-8,17-18
PS 73:23-27
PS 84:9-12
PS 90:2-12
PS 100:2-4
PS 102:11-12
PS 103
PS 106:1-2
PS 115:16
PS 118:8
PS 130:3-4
PS 144:1-4
PS 145:16-20
PR 3:6
PR 17:3
PR 18:10
PR 19:3
PR 20:22-27
PR 21:1-3,30
PR 28:9
PR 30:6
PR 31:8-9
EC 5:1-2
ISA 29:13-16
ISA 43:22-27
ISA 45:9,23-24
ISA 46:3-10
ISA 59:1-2
ISA 66:2
JER 7:23
JER 17:5-8
DAN 4:35
JOEL 2:11-13
AMO 5:14
MIC 6:6-8
HAB 2:20
ZEC 1:2-3
MT 3:8
MT 6:32-33
LK 12:16-21
JN 15:3-4
RO 1:18-25
RO 2:29
RO 3:38-39
RO 12:1
1CO 11:3
EPH 2:8-10
EPH 2:15-20
COL 1:21-22
COL 2:6-10
1TH 1:10
2TH 1:11-12
1TI 2:5-6
1TI 4:10
TIT 3:3-8
HEB 4:13-16
HEB 6:18
HEB 7:24-26
HEB 10:23
HEB 12:1-3
1PE 1:3-5
1PE 2:5
1PE 4:19
1JN 1:9-10
1JN 2:3-6,29
1JN 4:7-10,17,20-21
1JN 5:3,20
2JN 1:9
3JN 1:11
...
God
Core Christianity
GE 6:5-6
EX 3:13-15
EX 6:2
EX 34:5-7
NUM 23:19
JOB 9:4-13
JOB 12:13-15
PS 5:4-7
PS 18:30-31
PS 9:7-10
PS 10:16-18
PS 19:7-9
PS 29
PS 30:5
PS 33:5,11
PS 36:5-9
PS 40:5-6
PS 41:13
PS 44:21
PS 50:1-15
PS 71:19
PS 74:12-17
PS 83:13
PS 85:13
PS 86:15
PS 89:5-14
PS 93
PS 95:3-5
PS 96:4-6
PS 97:1-9
PS 99:1-5
PS 100:5
PS 102:25-27
PS 103:8
PS 104
PS 108:4
PS 111
PS 113:4-9
PS 115:3
PS 119:64,68
PS 121:4,8
PS 135:5-7
PS 136:1-9
PS 138:6
PS 139:1-18
PS 145
PS 146:6-10
PS 147:3-18
PR 6:16-19
PR 12:22
PR 15:3,11,26
PR 16:4-5,11
PR 17:15
PR 20:10
PR 30:4-5
EC 11:5
ISA 8:13
ISA 33:3
ISA 40:12-31
ISA 42:5-9
ISA 43:10-13
ISA 45:5-12,18-19
ISA 55:8-9
ISA 66:1-2
JER 10:10-16
JER 23:19-20
JER 23:23-24
EZK 17:24
DA 2:19-22
DAN 4:34-35
HOS 6:6
JOEL 2:23
AMO 5:8-9
JNH 4:2
MIC 7:18
NAH 1:2-8
HAB 1:12-13
ZEP 3:5
ZEC 8:14-17
ZEC 12:1
MAL 3:6
MT 6:4,6,18
JN 3:16-17
JN 10:29
AC 17:24-29
RO 2:11
RO 3:4
RO 9:15-23
RO 11:22
RO 11:32-36
1CO 1:9
1CO 14:33
2CO 1:19
EPH 1:3-14
EPH 1:19-23
EPH 2:4-7
EPH 4:6
COL 1:15-20
1TH 1:4-6
1TH 2:1-4
1TH 6:15-16
HEB 2:10
HEB 4:13,15
HEB 6:13,18
HEB 12:29
HEB 13:8
2PE 3:8-9
1JN 1:5
1JN 3:20
1JN 4:4,16
REV 1:8
Satan
JOB 1:6-12
JOB 2:1-7
ISA 14:12-17
EZE 28:11-19
MT4:1-11
LK 10:18
LK 22:31
JN 8:44
JN 14:30
2CO 4:3-4
2CO 11:14-15
EPH 2:2
1TH 2:18
2TI 2:25-26
JAM 4:7
1PE 5:8
1JN 3:8
1JN 5:18-19
REV 12:3-4
REV 12:7-9
REV 13:6
GE 1:1
EX 20:2-17
EX 34:5-7
1SA 15:22
ISA 1:16-17
MT 3:2
MK 12:29-31
JN 8:31
JN 10:30
AC 15:28-29
PHP 2:9-11
1JO 1:5
| GE 1:1-2:4 | Creation (many followups, see my Creation versus Evolution FAQ here) |
| GE 2:4-3:24 | The garden of Eden |
| GE 4 | Cain & Abel (followup in HEB 11:4 and 1JN 3:12) |
| GE 6-9 | Noah, the ark, the world wide flood and the rainbow (followup in MT 24:37-39, HEB 11:7 and 2PE 2:5) |
| GE 11:1-9 | The tower of Babel |
| GE 12-18:15 | Abraham, Sarah and Isaac (part 1, followup HEB 11:8-12) |
| GE 18:16-19:29 | Sodom & Gamorah destroyed (followup in MT 11:23-24, 2PE 2:6-8 and JUDE 1:7) |
| GE 20-25:10 | Abraham, Sarah and Isaac (part 2, followup HEB 11:17-19) |
| GE 25:19-34 | Jacob & Esau (part 1, followup in RO 9:10-15 and HEB 12:16-17) |
| GE 27-33 | Jacob & Esau (part 2, followup in MAL 1:2-5 and HEB 11:20-21) |
| GE 37 | Joseph (part 1) |
| GE 39-50 | Joseph (part 2, followup HEB 11:22) |
| EX 1-4 | Moses (followup HEB 11:23-26) |
| EX 5-14 | The Exodus (followup PS 78:5-56 and HEB 11:27-29) |
| EX 19-20:20 | The 10 commandments (part 1) |
| EX 31:18-34:35 | The 10 commandments (part 2) |
| DT 5 | Retelling the 10 commandments (part 1) |
| DT 9-10:5 | Retelling the 10 commandments (part 2) |
| JOS 1-6 | Joshua, Rahab and the wall of Jericho (followup HEB 11:30-31) |
| JDG 3:12-30 | Ehud (lefty) |
| JDG 4 | Deborah (woman) |
| JDG 6:11-8:35 | Gideon (small) |
| JDG 11:1-12:7 | Jephthah (son of prostitute) |
| JDG 13-16 | Samson (womanizer) |
| RU | Ruth |
| 1SA 1 | Samuel (part 1) |
| 1SA 3 | Samuel (part 2) |
| 1SA 17 | David & Goliath |
| 1SA 18-20 | David & Jonathan |
| 2SA 12:1-25 | David, Bathsheba & Nathan (followup in PS 51) |
| 1KI 18 | Elijah's contest at Mount Carmel (mentioned later in JAM 5:17-18) |
| 1KI 3:16-28 | Solomon solves an arguement |
| 2KI 22-23 | Josiah, the 8 year old king (see also 1KI 13:1-6 and 2CH 34-35) |
| NE 1-6:16 | Nehemiah rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem |
| EST | Esther |
| JOB 1-2 | Job (part 1) |
| JOB 38-42 | Job (part 2, mentioned later in EZK 14:12-20) |
| DA 3 | Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego |
| DA 6 | Daniel in the lions den |
| JNH | Jonah and the great fish (mentioned later in MT 12:38-41, MK 16:1-4 and LK 11:29-32) |
| MT, MK, LK, JN | The life, teaching, death & resurrection of Jesus |
| AC 1-12 | The beginnings of the church |
| GAL 5:16-26 | The fruit of the spirit |
| EPH 6:10-18 | The armor of God (see also 1TH 5:8) |
| HEB 11 | The faith chapter |
| HEB 12:5-11 | Discipline |
Note: see also my 2012 spinoff page Bible Stories where I outline every story (over 350) in the Bible.
| DT 8 | Moses speaks to Israel |
| JOS 24:1-15 | Joshua reminds the people where they came from and gives them a choice |
| 2SA 7:18-29 | David's response to God's promise that the Messiah would come from his children (interesting model prayer, contrast to prayer of Jabez in 1CH 4:10) |
| 1CH 29:10-19 | David praises God before Israel |
| PS 78:10-72 | Summary of history from Egypt to David |
| PS 105,106:7-46 | Another Genesis recap |
| NE 9:5-37 | A prayer of remembrance of the wonder of God from the leaders of the Levites |
| ISA 43:10-13 | God speaks to Israel about their relationship |
| JER 25:1-14 | Jeremiah calls the people to repentance or else face captivity |
| EZK 20:1-44 | Recap of history of Israel from God's perspective |
| MT 5-7 | Jesus' sermon on the mount (see also LK 6:20-49) |
| MT 26:39,42 | The words are few, so it's not much of a speech, but given the context I think this counts as "great" |
| JN 13-17 | Jesus' final talk to his disciples |
| AC 2:14-42 | Peter addresses a crowd on Pentecost |
| AC 3:12-26 | Peter addresses a crowd after healing a man born lame (complete story is AC 3:1-4:31 and worth reading) |
| AC 6:2-7:60 | Stephen is martyred in Jerusalem |
| AC 13:13-43 | Paul preaches in Antioch |
| AC 15:1-31 | Letter (not speech) to gentiles about their need to conform to Jewish tradition |
| AC 17:16-31 | Paul preaches in Athens |
| GE 15 | God's covenant given to Abraham |
| GE 28:10-21 | "Jacob's ladder" and "stairway to heaven" |
| GE 31:10-13 | Jacob told to return home (followup GE 31:24, a vision ignored) |
| GE 46:2-4 | God reassures Israel about going to Egypt |
| 1KI 3:5-15 | Solomon asks for wisdom (Notice his request was essentially "change me" rather than "change my circumstances" or "change them". How often do we pray this but rather for ease?, compare PR 30:7-9) |
| 1KI 22:10-28 | Micaiah condemns Ahab (repeated in 2CH 18:9-27) |
| PS 18:5-17 | David has an unusual perspective on his rescue from Saul |
| ISA 6:1-13 | Isaiah touches a hot coal to his tongue |
| EZK 1:1-3:14 | Four living beings escort the glory of the Lord and Ezekiel's commission (these special four living beings also mentioned again 14 times in Revelation 4-19, see outline below) |
| EZK 8:1-11:25 | The results of idolatry in the temple of God |
| EZK 37:1-14 | Valley full of dry bones become an army of living soldiers |
| DAN 7 | Four beasts |
| DAN 8 | The ram (Media/Persia), goat (Greece) & angel Gabriel |
| DAN 9:20-27 | Seventy sevens |
| DAN 10-12 | Northern and southern kingdoms continuously fight |
| AMO 7:1-9 | Locusts, fire, plumb line and Amaziah |
| AMO 8 | Israel is ripe for punishment, like fruit ripe for picking |
| AMO 9 | God at the alter |
| ZEC 1:8-2:5 | A man on a red horse among some myrtle trees in a small valley |
| ZEC 3 | Satan accuses the high priest |
| ZEC 4 | Gold lamp stand with a bowl of oil on top and seven more lamp stands around it, each with seven spouts & wicks, and two olive trees on each side |
| ZEC 5:1-4 | A flying scroll with a curse for thieves & false swearers |
| ZEC 5:5-11 | A woman, named Wickedness, in a basket, carried off by two other flying women |
| ZEC 6:1-8 | Four horses/chariots/spirits who stand before the Lord and do his work (compare REV 6:1-8) |
| MT 2:12 | The wise men are warned about going home |
| MT 2:13-15 | Joseph warned to go to Egypt |
| MT 2:19-21 | Joseph told to return to Israel |
| MT 2:22-23 | Joseph told to go to Galilee |
| JN 1:51 | Promise of a vision |
| AC 7:55-56 | Stephen sees into Heaven |
| AC 9:1-9 | Saul meets Jesus |
| AC 10:1-8 | Cornelius told to meet Saul |
| AC 10:10-16 | Peter told to accept gentile (non Jewish) believers |
| AC 16:9-10 | Paul asked to go to Greece |
| AC 18:9-11 | Paul encouraged to stay in Corinth |
| 2CO 12:2-4 | Paul knows a man who went into heaven |
| REV | Almost everything in the book of Revelation |
| GE 6:4 | Sons of God and daughters of men |
| GE 16:7-12 | Hagar is comforted |
| GE 18:1-19:29 | Abraham, Sarah and Lot dialogue |
| GE 32:1-2 | Jacob sees angels but there is no record of interaction |
| GE 32:24-32 | Jacob wrestles with God |
| EX 3:1-4:17 | Moses and the burning bush (recounted in AC 7:30-35) |
| EX 19-34 | Moses at Mount Sinai (referenced in AC 7:38) |
| NUM 22:21-35 | Balaam and his donkey are stopped (referenced in 2PE 2:15-16) |
| JOS 5:13-6:5 | Joshua given instruction about the seize of Jericho |
| JDG 2:1-4 | The Israelites are confronted |
| JDG 6:11-24 | Gideon's commission |
| JDG 13:1-23 | The birth of Samson |
| 1KI 19:3-8 | Elisha is encouraged |
| DAN 7 | Four beasts explained |
| DAN 8 | Gabriel explains the ram and goat vision |
| DAN 9:20-27 | Gabriel explains the seventy sevens |
| DAN 10-12 | The future is revealed to Daniel (the angel was delayed 21 days to answer Daniel's prayer because he was delayed by the spirit prince of Persia.) |
| ZEC 1:7-17 | A vision explained |
| MT 1:18-25 | Joseph reassured about Mary |
| MT 28:1-7 | An angel rolls back the stone of Jesus' tomb |
| MK 16:1-8 | An angel speaks inside the empty tomb of Jesus |
| LK 1:5-25 | Zechariah temporarily loses his speech for disbelief (restored in LK 1:57-64) |
| LK 1:26-38 | Mary is told the good news |
| LK 2:8-15 | An army of angels appear before shepherds |
| LK 24:1-8 | Angels speak at the empty tomb of Jesus |
| AC 1:6-11 | Onlookers of the ascension are encouraged |
| AC 5:17-25 | The apostles are let out of prison |
| AC 8:26-29 | Philip is told to go to a road and intercept a chariot |
| AC 12:1-19 | Peter is let out of prison |
| AC 27:21-26 | Paul is told what will happen next |
| REV 19:9-10 | How angels should act when we get confused (compare REV 22:8-9 and COL 2:18) |
| ISA 6:2-4 | Seraphim description, attitude and sample of power, as observed by Isaiah |
| EZK 1:4-24 | Four living beings described, as observed by Ezekiel |
| MT 18:10 | Always in God's presence |
| MK 12:25 | No marriage (also LK 20:34-36) |
| LK 15:10 | Joyful at a sinner's repentance |
| HEB 1:4 | Less important than Christ/God |
| HEB 1:7 | Comparable to wind and flames of fire |
| HEB 1:14 | Servants of God chartered for the saved |
| 1PE 1:12 | They desire to "look into" the relationship of the messiah and his people |
| 2PE 2:11 | Respectful |
| JUDE 1:6 | Tight operating limits |
| JUDE 1:9 | Very humble |
| ... | |
| LK 2:13-14 | Angels appear to shepherds giving glory to God |
| REV 14:6-7 | An angel flys across the sky praising God |
| REV 15:2-4 | Not exactly angels, but people in heaven praising God |
| ... | |
| EX 3:6 | Somehow Moses knew not to look at God |
| EX 24:9-11 | Moses and the elders see and eat a meal with God |
| EX 33:11 | Moses meets with God in the Tent of Meeting (see full context in EX 33:7-11) |
| EX 33:18-23 | Moses asks to see God, offered to see His back |
| EX 34:5-8 | God passes in front of Moses |
| JOB 19:25-27 | Job yearns to see God |
| PS 11:7 | Righteous will |
| PS 17:15 | David knew what to expect |
| PS 27:4 | David yearns to see God |
| PS 63:2 | Strange |
| ISA 6:1 | Isaiah sees God (not necessarily His face) on His throne in His temple |
| ISA 26:17 | A line of a song |
| EZK 1:26-28 | Ezekiel sees a vision of God |
| MT 5:8 | Who will see God |
| MT 17:1-6 | The transfiguration: even His glory is so great it is terrifying (compare MK 9:2-6 and LK 9:28-34) |
| LK 5:8-9 | An example of when we realize we are truly in the presence of God we will drop all pretension and intuit His holiness and our contamination |
| JN 4:24 | God is spirit (not gold, wood, man, beast, planet nor star, etc.) |
| JN 14:9 | We see God through Jesus |
| 1TI 6:15-16 | No human eye has nor can ever seen Him |
| HEB 12:14 | Without holiness we can forget about seeing Him |
| 1JN 4:12 | He can't be seen but we live with him none-the-less |
| REV 4:2-5 | God on His thrown |
| REV 22:4 | We (believers) will see God's face after all the events described in Revelation |
| GE 3:6 | They walked with God and yet still believed the serpent |
| EX 32:23-24 | They had seen the ten plagues in Cairo, the Red Sea get parted, the entire mountain catch fire and the thunder of God, and yet still didn't really believe |
| JDG 8:33-35 | God freed them from foreign adversaries and the moment the figurehead disappeared they were right back to their old ways |
| MT 27:62-28:15 | If they had any sort of an open mind they would have responded differently to this eye witness story |
| MK 8:11-12 | If it would have worked Jesus would have done it (compare MT 16:1-4, LK 11:29-30) |
| JN 6:1-15,22-71 | The crowds followed Him because of His miracles yet all they wanted was free food and when He confronted them about this shallowness they just asked for a sign |
| JN 9:25-34 | Jesus did something Moses never did and yet the Pharisees dismissed it |
| JN 11:45-48 | Raising Lazarus from the dead after he had been dead for 4 days was a turn off to many |
| JN 12:28-29 | It is so tempting just to explain away the miracles of God |
| JN 12:37 | When it is not you, it is easy to criticize, but we are all like this |
| JN 20:24-29 | Doubting Thomas, Jesus is not fooled by our flippant emotions, he knows where real faith comes from and it is not our eyes (see HEB 11:1) |
| ___ | revelation? |
| ... | |
| JN 14:6 | Jesus (see also JN 1:12) |
| AC 3:19 | Repent |
| AC 16:31 | Believe |
| RO 10:9-10 | Confess, believe |
| EPH 2:8 | Not us, Him (see also TIT 3:5) |
| ... | |
| GE 12:1-3 | God made Abraham a blessing for the whole world (repeated GE 18:18, GE 22:15-18 and GE 26:2-5, followup AC 3:25) |
| DT 10:17-19 | No partiality |
| JOS 4:24 | May the whole world know of God's power |
| 1KI 8:41-43,60 | Solomon dedicates the first temple and includes foreigners (compare 2CH 6:32-33) |
| PS 145:9 | We are all His creation |
| ISA 28:11 | God will use other nations (even non believers) to rebuke us if we intentionally go astray (quoted 1CO 14:21) |
| ISA 45:20-23 | He brings salvation to the whole world |
| ISA 56:1-8 | Blessings for foreigners who serve |
| JER 32:27 | God of all mankind |
| HOS 1:10 | Gentiles will get their chance (also HOS 2:23, quoted RO 9:25-29) |
| JOEL 2:28-32 | "All" and "everyone" (quoted RO 10:13-21) |
| AM 9:7 | God has been at work with more people than the Jews, with more people than are recorded in the Bible |
| AM 9:11-12 | Temple will be rebuilt (a third time) and everyone will go to seek God (quoted AC 15:13-19) |
| JNH 4:11 | Even those whose lifestyles are despicable |
| MT 5:43-48 | Both the righteous and the unrighteous |
| MT 8:10 | The Roman soldier was more impressive than any Jew Jesus had met |
| MT 9:10-13 | Sinners |
| MT 21:43 | The Kingdom of God will be taken from arrogant believers and given to others more humble |
| MT 22:37-40 | 2nd greatest commandment (compare to MK 12:29-31) |
| MT 28:19-20 | Jesus' great commission to us (compare to MK 16:15-18) |
| LK 2:10 | The Christmas story was for all of us, but balance LK 2:14 |
| LK 2:32 | A Jewish priest got it when he met Jesus as a baby |
| LK 10:25-37 | The Good Samaritan |
| JN 3:16 | One of the most famous verses in the Bible |
| JN 10:16 | Other sheep |
| AC 10:34-36 | Peter's first witness to gentiles (complete story is AC 10:1-48) |
| AC 11:18-24 | Peter & Barnabas verify gentile believers |
| RO 3:9,22-24,29 | He is the God for everyone |
| RO 10:9-13 | Salvation is available to anyone who trusts (puts their faith in) God |
| RO 11:16-21 | Gentiles are grafted in to the tree of Abraham |
| RO 15:9-12 | Jesus came to show mercy on the Gentiles too (quotes DT 32:43, PS 18:49, PS 117 and ISA 11:10) |
| 1JO 2:29 | Faith & obedience get us into the family (compare MT 3:9 and LK 3:8 which claim faith & obedience are more important than biological family or group association) |
| REV 5:9 | Jesus shed His blood for everyone everywhere |
Note: Obediah, Jonah and Nahum are three prophets who made it into Old Testament scripture, with their own book, and were sent by God to the gentiles, not the Jews.
Note: God wants a relationship with us, not a world religion. It's often said by atheists that religion is the opium of the masses, and I don't disagree, but the trick is our God doesn't want us to have a religion, He want's a relationship.
Note: God doesn't appreciate it if we claim He spoke to us when He didn't. (DT 18:20, ZEC 8:17, JER 8:8)
When God...
| PS 50:7-15 | God doesn't need our sacrifices (He wants our heart, our gratitude) |
| 1SA 15:22-23 | Sacrifice vs obedience (compare to PS 40:6-8, PS 50:14-15,23, PS 51:16-17, PS 69:30-31, PR 15:8, PR 21:3,27, EC 5:1-2, HOS 6:6, MT 12:7 and 1CO 7:17-19) |
| ISA 1:10-15 | God's sick of our show |
| ISA 58 | God's lament over the hypocrisy of a nation that calls His name but lives like He doesn't exist |
| JER 7:1-15 | Church/temple does nothing to save us (faith and obedience do, quoted MT 21:12-13, MK 11:15-17 and LK 19:45-47) |
| AM 5:21-24 | He can see through our show and he "hates" it |
| MIC 6:8 | We know what we need to do, so disobeying God and then trying to worship Him is foolish (compare GE 4:7 and ZEC 7:8-10) |
| MT 3:8-10 | Good anti-legalism reminder |
| MT 6:15 | The "golden rule" can be used against us |
| MT 7:1-5 | Humans judging (see also Judging below) |
| MT 9:10-13 | He accepts people who admit to be sinners but rejects people who are self righteous (since we are all sinners whether we admit it or not, see RO 3:9-20) |
| MT 15:1-12 | Wrongfully placing human traditions over the commands of God (also MK 7:1-13) |
| MT 18:21-35 | The parable of the man who owed an unpayable debt and owned a trivial loan (compare to 2SA 12:1-13 and LK 7:36-50) |
| MT 21:28-32 | Warning against "civilized" religion |
| MT 23:1-12 | Respect authority, but only until they require us to disobey God |
| MT 23:23-36 | Tithing vs doing good (consider this use of the word "camel" when reading MT 19:16-30, MK 10:17-31 and LK 18:18-30) |
| MK 2:23-28 | Working on the Sabbath? |
| MK 3:1-6 | Healing on the Sabbath (also LK 6:6-11 and LK 13:10-17) |
| MK 12:38-48 | Public prayers evil hearts (also LK 20:46-47) |
| LK 6:46 | Obedience |
| LK 7:36-50 | Self righteousness versus humility (remember see RO 3:9-20) |
| LK 9:37-43 | Faithless people are repulsive, yet He chose to love us anyway |
| LK 11:33-12:2 | Jesus slams the Pharisees & teachers/experts in religious law to their face in their home (Be extra careful with this passage: we all act like these people unless we are very intentional not to.) |
| LK 12:54-59 | We understand interpreting the weather, why not spiritual things |
| LK 13:22-30 | Proximity even to Jesus is not salvific, faith is |
| LK 18:9-14 | Self righteousness keeps us from God |
| JN 5:39-40 | We study Him so we can know who He is but we don't want to know Him personally |
| RO 2:23-24 | Here is why (quotes ISA 52:4-6, compare EZE 36:20-21) |
Note: God doesn't appreciate it if we claim He spoke to us when He didn't. (DT 18:20, ZEC 8:17, JER 8:8)
| MT 8:5-13 | Was amazed (compare to LK 7:1-10 and contrast to MK 6:1-6) |
| MK 3:1-6 | Was angry with us (compare to LK 6:6-11 as well as MT 21:12-13, MK 11:15-17 and LK 19:45-47) |
| MK 8:11-13 | Was annoyed (compare to MT 17:17, MK 9:19 and LK 11:39-52) |
| MK 10:13-16 | Was indignant |
| LK 7:11-17 | Had compassion (explicitly) |
| LK 8:25 | Was disappointed |
| LK 9:37-43 | Was annoyed (contrast to MT 21:18-22 and MK 11:12-14,20-21) |
| LK 10:21 | Was happy (if you found this annoying then you're not alone but given God's emphatic attitude here it's too bad) |
| LK 15:11-32 | Ran |
| LK 19:41-44 | Cried (because our unbelief makes Him sad, compare to JN 11:32-37) |
Note: the primary purpose of the prophets was not so much to tell the future but was to tell who God is, what He cares about, and what He's going to do if we don't take Him seriously (AM 3:7).
Prophecy
Fulfillment
Explain
DT 18:15-18
MT 1:1-17, LK 3:23-38, AC 3:22, AC 7:37
In the bloodline of Israel
DT 18:19
AC 3:23
Non belief is very bad (also LEV 23:29)
DT 21:22-23
MT 27:57-61, MK 15:42-47, LK 23:50-56, JN 19:31-42
Don't leave a body on a pole overnight
1SA 2:35
(non specific)
Will do the will of the Father, note his "family" is spiritual not offspring, see MT 12:49, MK 3:34 and LK 8:21
PS 2:7
MT 3:16-17, MT 17:1-13, MK 9:2-13, LK 3:21-22, LK 9:28-36, AC 13:33
Son/Father relationship
PS 8:2
MT 21:16
Children & infants praise
PS 16:8-11
MK 16:9, AC 2:22-32, AC 13:34-37
No stay dead
PS 22:1
DT 21:22-23, MT 27:46, MK 15:34
He would be/feel abandoned by God the Father
PS 22:7-8
MT 27:38-44
Onlookers sneer (at crucifixion) and tease about separation from God
PS 22:15, 69:21
MT 27:48, MK 15:36, LK 23:36, JN 19:28-30
Thirsty yet given garbage to drink
PS 22:16-18
MT 27:35, MK 15:24, LK 23:34, JN 19:24
Lots would be cast for His clothes
PS 30:1-3
MK 16:9
Would die but rise again
PS 31:5
MT 27:50, LK 23:46, JN 19:30
Gave up His spirit
PS 34:20
JN 19:31-36
No broken bones (like the Passover lamb mentioned in EX 12:46, NU 9:12 and JN 1:29,35-36)
PS 35:19, 69:4
JN 15:23-25
The world hates Him for no reason
PS 41:9
JN 13:18-19
Share food with His betrayer
PS 69:9
MT 21:12-13, MK 11:15-17, JN 2:13-17
Passionate about sanctity of God's house (see also ISA 56:7 and JER 7:11)
PS 69:25, 109:8
AC 1:16-22
(Not so much about Jesus but one of His disciples)
PS 78:2
MT 13:33-35
Speak in parables (see also ISA 6:9-10 just below)
PS 110:1
MT 26:64, MK 14:62
Will return on clouds with power (also DA 7:13)
PS 118:22-23
MT 21:42, MK 12:10-11, LK 20:17, AC 4:11
Rejected but the cornerstone
ISA 6:9-10
MT 13:1-23, MK 4:11-12, LK 8:10, JN 12:37-43, AC 28:25-28
We will see and hear but not understand
ISA 7:14
MT 1:18-25, LK 1:34
A virgin will give Him birth
ISA 9:1-3
JOS 20:7,9, 1KI 9:11-13, MT 2:19-23, MT 4:12-25, MK 1:14-39, LK 4:14-15, LK 5:17, LK 23:4-7, JN 2:11, JN 4:43-54, JN 7:32-52
From/preached in Galilee
ISA 9:4-7
MT 11:29-30, GAL 5:1
Replace the yoke of spiritual slavery to evil with freedom to be God's instrument
ISA 40:3
MK 1:1-8
Get ready in the desert, make a straight path
ISA 42:1-4
MT 12:15-21
Would be gentle
ISA 53:1
JN 12:37-38
No one will believe (see all of ISA 52:13-53:12)
ISA 53:4
MT 8:14-17
Healed the sick
ISA 53:7-8
MT 26:57-68, MT 27:11-14, MK 14:53-65, MK 15:3-5, LK 23:6-10, JN 1:29,35-36, JN 19:6-10, AC 8:26-40
Lead like a sheep to slaughter, silent, childless
ISA 53:12
MK 15:27-28, LK 22:35-37
Treated as a rebel
ISA 54:13
JN 6:45
Will bring the teachings of God
ISA 55:3-5
AC 13:34
would be given what was promised to King David
ISA 61:1-2
MT 5:1-12, LK 4:17-21
Good news given to the poor
JER 31:15
GE 30:1, GE 35:16-18, JOS 18:25-28, MT 2:16-18
Crying in Ramah
DAN 9:24-27
MT 21:1-9, MK 11:1-10, LK 19:29-38, JN 12:12-15
The day Jesus would ride into Jerusalem
HOS 11:1
MT 2:14-15
Called out of Egypt
MIC 5:2
MT 2:1-6, LK 2:4-7
Born in Bethlehem (also 2SA 5:2)
MIC 7:5-6
MT 10:34-39, LK 12:49-53
Came to spark division (between righteousness and unrighteousness)
ZEC 9:9
MT 21:1-9, JN 12:12-15
Enter Jerusalem on a donkey
ZEC 11:12-13
MT 26:14-15, MT 27:3-10
His life would be valued at 30 pieces of silver (also JER 32:6-9 (not remembering why?))
ZEC 12:10
JN 19:31-37
He would be pierced
ZEC 13:7
MT 26:31, MT 26:44-56, MK 14:27, MK 14:41-50
Strike the shepherd and the sheep scatter
MAL 3:1
MK 1:1-8
God will send His messenger ahead of His Son
?
MT 2:19-23, MK 14:66-67
Called a Nazarene
x
JN 11:47-52
Would die for the whole nation (followup JN 12:9-11 & JN 12:19)
What does Jesus say about himself?
What did the apostles say about Jesus?
What does the Bible say about itself and what does God say about His word?
Don't miss the very next section on the sufficiency of scripture.
God's word to humanity is sufficient to understand without external context
One book perhaps more important than the Bible
Contradictory perceptions of God
Truth versus virtue (Do our beliefs matter?)
Attitude is [almost] everything (just a start)
Dealing with Satan
[Some of] the promises of God
Spiritual gifts
Diet/nutrition
Stories where animals played a significant role
Warnings
Things to Remember
The correct attitude toward inevitable suffering
The burden of being stronger
God Fights for Israel
Sometimes God blesses us for His sake, not ours (just a start)
Miracles just for the sake of God's glory or demonstrating his power
National accountability/leadership
| MT 5:17 | Came to complete the law, not replace it |
| MT 10:34-39 | Did not come to bring peace but a sword (compare LK 12:49-53) |
| MT 11:28-30 | Relieving, wise, gentile, humble, non-burdensome |
| MT 26:53-54 | Could ask for Angles to protect Himself but chose sacrificial love |
| MT 28:18 | Has complete authority everywhere |
| MK 1:38 | Came to preach in many towns (compare LK 4:43) |
| MK 2:4-12 | Possessed authority to forgive sins |
| MK 2:17 | Came to help the acknowledged sick rather than the presumptuous healthy (compare LK 5:32 and JN 9:41) |
| MK 2:28 | Ruler of the Sabbath |
| MK 10:45 | Came to serve, not be served, and to be the sacrificial lamb of the world |
| MK 14:61-62 | Messiah, the savior of Israel (compare LK 22:69-71 and JN 13:19) |
| LK 9:22 | Must suffer, be rejected, murdered & return from the dead |
| LK 9:50 | Don't stop other believers who don't believe every detail exactly the same way you do. Contrast this to MT 12:30 and LK 11:23 (and JAM 4:4) where Jesus says anyone who is indifferent (at best) to Him is actually working against Him. |
| LK 10:22 | No one knows the Father except Himself |
| LK 12:13-15 | Does not want to judge every detail of our lives |
| LK 14:25-27 | He must be first in our lives/hearts |
| LK 18:31-33 | Knew his earthly fate |
| LK 23:3 | King of Jews |
| JN 3:13-17 | Came to save rather than to judge, judgment would come later, and He knew how He would die (compare JN 12:47-48 and JN 12:32-33 & JN 18:31-32) |
| JN 4:26 | Messiah (compare JN 8:24 and JN 9:35-37) |
| JN 5:16-30 | Son of God (therefore equal to God, compare JN 10:30) |
| JN 5:39 | Scriptures point to Himself |
| JN 6:15 | Was not an earthly king |
| JN 6:35 | Bread of life (complete story is JN 6:22-59, compare to MT 26:26-28, MK 14:22-24 and LK 22:19-20) |
| JN 7:16-18 | Origin of & motive for his teaching |
| JN 8:12 | Light of the world |
| JN 8:50-51 | Humble to not self glorify but allow God to glorify, also His teaching is powerful enough to save our soul |
| JN 8:56-59 | Equal to the great I AM (direct reference to EX 3:13-14) |
| JN 10:1-18 | Good shepherd |
| JN 10:30 | Equal with (same as) God |
| JN 14:6 | No one gets to God without going through Him |
| JN 16:28 | Came from God and returned to God (compare JN 17:4-5) |
| JN 18:9 | No loose any of His followers (JN 6:39 & JN 17:12) |
| REV 22:12-13,16 | He is returning, He is everything |
| JN 1:1-18,29-34 | Lots of praises (Yes, JTB is not an apostle) |
| JN 3:27-36 | Lots more praises |
| AC 2:36 | Lord and Messiah |
| AC 4:11-12 | Since the beginning, He was God's plan |
| AC 10:36-43 | Supreme judge, forgives sins |
| AC 17:2-3 | Messiah |
| RO 3:23-26 | Sacrificed His life for our sin |
| RO 5 | Contrasting Adam and Jesus |
| RO 6:9-10 | Died, was raised from the dead, can not die again |
| RO 9:5 | Descendent of Abraham |
| 1CO 1:2 | Makes us holy |
| EPH 1:21-23 | Above all powers and everything |
| PHP 2:5-11 | He humbled himself from God to slave so has been raised to heights of heaven |
| COL 1:15-22 | Pre-existent and [to be everything] |
| 1TI 2:5 | The only mediator |
| TIT 2:13-14 | He gave His life to free us and make us His own |
| HEB 1:1-13 | (This section is packed and granted the author of this book is not clear) |
| HEB 2:6-3:6 | Above all things, including Moses |
| HEB 4:15 | Able to relate to us yet never sinned while with us (compare 1JN 3:5) |
| 1PE 2:21-25 | Never sinned and was still able to trust God for all judgment, even in the face of severe persecution |
| 1PE 3:18-22 | Suffered, died, resurrected, now seated in place of ultimate honor |
| 1JN 3:3-5 | Pure & sinless |
| 1JN 4:14 | Savior of the world |
| NUM 33:2 | Commanded by God |
| DT 4:1-2 | Listen & obey, don't change to meet our needs |
| DT 6:1-2 | Contains a message from God, must be obeyed (taken seriously) |
| DT 29:29 | Provided for our enlightenment and obedience |
| JOS 1:8 | Study it, meditate on it |
| PS 12:6 | Perfect |
| PS 18:30 | Without error |
| PS 19:7-11 | Makes the simple wise |
| PS 33:4 | Remains true |
| PS 119:89 | Eternal, exists in heaven and on Earth |
| PR 4:20-22 | Life & health |
| PR 30:5-6 | Always proves to be true |
| ISA 34:16 | Read it |
| ISA 40:8 | Lasts forever (repeated in LK 21:33 and 1PE 1:23-25) |
| ISA 55:10-11 | Achieves the purpose for which it was sent |
| ISA 66:1-2 | God will bless those who listen & obey |
| JER 23:29 | Like a hammer that breaks rock in pieces |
| HOS 8:12 | God declares the word His Word but is well aware that we disregard it |
| MT 5:18 | Everything God says in His Word will happen |
| MT 22:43 | Holy Spirit spoke through the authors (repeated AC 1:16 and AC 4:24-25, compare MK 12:36) |
| MK 13:31 | More permanent than anything else we know |
| LK 6:47 | Meant to cause noticeable change, not just verbal accolades (esp MSG trans) |
| LK 16:17 | Can not be rescinded |
| JN 5:39-40 | Knowing our Bible is good, but don't study for the sake of knowledge, study to understand and relate better to God (compare RO 2:13) |
| JN 10:35 | What God says can't be avoided/altered/undone |
| JN 20:30-31 | Why the gospels were written |
| 1CO 1:17-18 | Power of God to believers, foolishness to everyone else |
| 1TH 2:13 | Paul was either an idiot or a prophet but not likely both |
| 2TI 3:14-16 | God breathed, useful, teaching... |
| JAM 1:21 | Can save our soul |
| HEB 4:12 | Sharper than any double edge sword |
| 2PE 1:19-21 | Prophecies were not written by the will of men |
| 2PE 3:15-16 | Divinely inspired, and don't alter it |
| 1JN 5:10 | If we do not believe then we are calling God a liar (see 1JN 5:9-12) |
| REV 1:3 | Blessed are those who read & hear (compare DT 8:3, MT 4:4 and LK 4:4) |
| REV 22:18-19 | Don't add or subtract or else we will die |
| ... | |
| ... | |
| 1CO 1:17-29 | Extra wisdom and eloquence not required to understand (listen) or explain (speak) |
| 1CO 9:7-10 | Example: the talk of oxen didn't need "historical context" to be understood correctly, or to understand the meaning more broadly than absolutley literally |
| 2CO 1:12-13 | Extra wisdom not required, nothing was written they wouldn't understand |
| 2CO 4:2-4 | No deception, no distortion, only plain truth, though admittedly veiled to unbelievers (they may need extra wisdom to get meaning) |
| PHP 3:15 | God makes Himself clear |
| COL 2:8 | Extra perspective can be hollow and deceptive philosophy, putting human tradition above God's opinion |
| 2TI 2:7 | God is faithful to those who honestly seek to understand His opinion |
| TIT 1:9 | The message as taught was sufficient, so much that those who oppose it should be refuted |
| HEB 2:1 | Even if we bring outside insight (eisegesis) we must prioritize the original text highest (exegesis) to avoid the temptation that we're smarter than God's word |
| HEB 3:14 | What we learn about Jesus (God) from the Bible is adequate |
| ... | |
| EX 32:32-33 | Moses may have known about it before the rest of us |
| PS 69:28 | David knew about it |
| MAL 3:16 | A scroll of remembrance? Similar to but different from Lambs Book of Life? |
| LK 10:19-20 | Jesus mentions a writing in Heaven |
| PHIL 4:3 | Paul spoke of it only in passing |
| REV 3:5 | John mentions it a few times, beginning here |
| REV 13:8 | Finally a description |
| REV 17:8 | Another supernatural connection to us |
| REV 20:12-15 | Why we should do whatever God says, and then some, to be sure we are listed in this book |
| REV 21:27 | Chapter 20 has the negative reason why we want to be listed, this is the positive reason |
| PS 2:12 | Angry to those who deny Him, compassionate on those who seek Him |
| PS 18:25-27 | Faithful, blameless and pure to the good, shrewd and humbling to the bad |
| PS 37:33-34 | Protection/success for the godly, thwarting/destruction for the wicked |
| PS 68:1-3 | Fear for those who hate God, rejoicing for the godly |
| PS 94:22-23 | Source of protection for some, destruction for others |
| PS 107:42 | Rejoicing for the godly, silence for the wicked |
| PR 3:34 | Opposition to the proud, grace to the humble (quoted JAM 4:6 and 1PE 5:5) |
| PR 10:29 | Stronghold to people with integrity, destruction to wicked people |
| PR 12:2 | Approval of people who are good, condemnation of people who even plan to be wicked |
| PR 14:2 | Righteous fear Him, the rest despise Him |
| PR 15:25 | Destroys proud, protects widows |
| PR 15:29 | Far from the wicked, listens to the righteous |
| PR 21:15 | Joy to the good, terrifying to the bad (this verse is talking about justice) |
| PR 29:27 | Good and bad do not like each other (this verse is talking about people) |
| 1SA 2:30b | Honor to the respectful, disdain to the arrogant |
| 2SA 22:26-28 | Attractive to righteous, hostile to wicked |
| MAL 4:1-2 | Arrogant will burn, reverent will frolic |
| JN 3:18-21 | Believers will escape a form of judgment but not those who do not believe |
| JN 8:47 | Believers listen to God, non believers do not (again talking about people) |
| 2CO 2:14-16 | Life to believers, death to non believers (again talking about people) |
| TIT 1:15 | Purity is real for the believer but unattainable for the non believer (again talking about people) |
| ... | |
| MT 21:28-32 | Jesus contrasts the false positive and the false negative |
| LK 12:35-48 | Jesus contrasts those who know but don't care and those who know and act accordingly |
| ... | |
| EX 13:17-21 | (perhaps not best vs?) they had pillars and mana as daily evidence of G but still wondered (see EX 14:12, NUM 11, NUM 14:3) |
| JOEL 2:13 | conform your will more important than your appearance |
| JN 3:26 | We're so tempted to believe "I'm right & best no matter what," even if my mentor tells me the savior of the world is right over there |
| JN 4:11-12 | (weak connection?) Cultures |
| ... | |
| GE 3 | He was the first and is still the master at the lie that's based on a lot of truth, we must be very careful |
| ZEC 3:1-2 | Don't try to rebuke/correct/criticise him directly, ask God to do so |
| JUDE 1:9 | Even the strongest angel didn't rebuke Satan directly but rather asked God to, and remember angels are stronger than people 2PE 2:11 |
| ... | |
| EX 19:5-6 | Obey God and be a treasure to Him |
| EX 23:20-31 | Worship God and prosper (most of this was for a specific time, but some of it can be generalized) |
| LEV 26 | Obey God and prosper |
| DT 28-30 | Choice of obedience or negligence, bringing prosperity or disaster (followup HOS 4:6) |
| 1KI 8:56 | All promises get fulfilled |
| PS 89:3-4,19-37 | David's decedents would be kings |
| JER 17:21-27 | Obey the Sabbath and endure |
| JER 22:4-5 | Obey God's commands for political prosperity |
| JER 29:11-13 | God has an amazing plan for us (compare to 1CO 2:7-9 and ISA 64:4) |
| JN 14:15-17 | Company of the Holy Spirit (see also JN 15:26 and JN 16:8,13) |
| JN 14:27 | Personal peace |
| ... | |
| RO 12:6-8 | Prophecy, service, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership and mercy |
| 1CO 12:4-11 | Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophesy, discernment, tongues and interpretations |
| 1CO 12:27-31 | Apostles, prophecy, teaching, miracles, healing, helps, leadership, tongues and interpretations |
| 1CO 14 | Tongues, interpretations and prophecy |
| EPH 4:11-12 | Apostles, prophecy, evangelism, pastoring and teaching |
| 1PE 4:10-11 | Speaking, helping others |
| ... | |
| GE 1:29-30 | Every green plant for food |
| GE 9:1-4 | Every living thing for food |
| LEV 3:17 | Do not eat fat or blood |
| LEV 7:22-27 | Reinforcement of 3:17 |
| LEV 11:1-47 | Distinguishing between animals that may be eaten and those that may not (for reasons of cleanliness, repeated in DT 14:1-21) |
| LEV 17:10-16 | More on not eating blood |
| LEV 19:23-25 | Timing of eating fruit from new trees |
| LEV 25:1-12 | Harvesting & jubilee |
| NUM 6:1-4 | Restricted foods for those especially separated for the Lord |
| EC 9:10 | God approves of us eating and drinking wine |
| DAN 1:3-16 | Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego eat only vegetables |
| MT 10:42 | Cold water |
| MK 7:14-23 | What comes out of us defiles us, not what we put in, so any food is officially spiritually acceptable (compare MT 15:15-20) |
| LK 10:8 | As the disciples were being sent out Jesus tells them to eat anything that is presented to them and not worry about the regulations of the law |
| AC 10:9-16 | Do not call anything impure that God has made clean |
| RO 14:1-4,14:14-15:3 | When exercising the right to eat anything, consider the consciences of others not just our own |
| 1CO 8 | More on being considerate of the conscience of others |
| 1CO 10:25-31 | Still more on the conscience of others |
| 1CO 15:39 | Various kinds of flesh |
| 1TI 4:1-5 | God created all food to be enjoyed with thanksgiving |
| HEB 13:8-9 | Strength comes from God, not rules |
| GE 1:20-25 | God's creation of all animals |
| GE 3:1-15 | The serpent in the Garden of Eden |
| GE 6:11-8:22 | Noah and the ark |
| GE 9:8-15 | Animals are included in God's covenant |
| NUM 22:21-35 | Balaam's talking donkey |
| 2KI 2:23-24 | Bears come at Elisha's command |
| PS 148:7-13 | Animals sing praises |
| EC 3:18-21 | When animals die |
| JOB 38:39-39:30 | God asks Job about many animals |
| ISA 11:6-9,65:25 | Lion and the Lamb |
| DAN 6 | Daniel and the lions' den |
| JHN 1:1-2:10 | Jonah and the great fish |
| MT 8:28-34 | Jesus sends demons into pigs (also in MK 5:1-17 and LK 8:26-39) |
| MT 21:1-11 | Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey |
| AC 28:1-6 | Paul shakes off a poisonous snake bite |
| GE 4:7 | Sin wants to have us, but we must overcome (compare to NUM 32:23, PR 5:22-23, RO 6:11-23 and RO 8:12-13, then JN 8:32) |
| JDG 17:6 | People did what seemed right in their own eyes (repeated JDG 21:25) |
| 1KI 20:35-36 | What God says we need to do (no matter how strange) |
| ISA 5:18-19 | This is aimed at unbelievers/scoffers, but a good reminder for those of us waiting on the second coming |
| PS 36:1-4 | The result of nonchalant sin |
| PS 127:1 | If we are going to act alone (pretending we don't need God) then don't bother (compare PR 16:25) |
| PR 4:14-15 | Don't even think about sinning |
| PR 13:3 | Be cautious of self destructive speech (compare JAM 3:1-12) |
| PR 17:5 | An alternate version of the golden rule |
| PR 24:17-18 | Be cautious venting happiness even at our enemy's stumbling |
| PR 25:15,18 | Sticks and stones can break our bones and names will scar for life |
| PR 26:24-26 | Looks are deceiving |
| PR 21:13 | Rude/stingy people do not get their prayers answered (compare PR 28:9, contrast JAM 5:16) |
| EC 9:11 | The key to success |
| ISA 44:6-20 | Do not make idols, that is stupidity |
| ISA 50:11 | Self sufficiency (supposed autonomy from God) |
| JER 7:9-11 | Don't kid ourselves that going to church on Sunday is going to save us if we sin like crazy the rest of the week |
| EZK 18:26 | Turn from righteousness and die |
| MIC 3:9-12 | Christians & Jews beware the temptation to get prideful in our faith |
| ZEC 7:13 | Listen to God or He will not listen to us (duh) |
| MAL 3:5 | God will put some people on trial and speak against them |
| MT 5:28 | We can commit adultery without laying a finger on someone |
| MT 5:47 | Don't just be nice to those who are nice to us first |
| MT 6:15 | Forgive or we won't be forgiven (compare MK 11:25-26) |
| MT 7:21 | Talk is cheap, back it up with actions |
| MT 8:11-12 | Do not fall into the trap of "civilized" religion (see also MT 7:6) |
| MT 10:32,33 | If we deny Jesus before men then he will deny us before God |
| MT 12:31-32 | The unforgivable sin (repeated MK 3:28-29 and LK 12:8-10, see also 1JN 5:16-17) |
| JN 16:9 | Short, to the point complaint of God for humanity |
| AC 7:51-8:1 | If speak the truth be prepared to be hated, persecuted and murdered (see also John 5:1-15, JN 9:32-34, AC 13:42-45, AC 14:1-7, and AC 14:18-20) |
| AC 10:15 | What God says goes |
| RO 2:1-4 | We are all sinners (compare to the more common verse in RO 3:21-24) |
| RO 14:20-21 | Be careful of others' weaknesses |
| RO 16:17-18 | Watch out for malicious teachers |
| 1CO 10:19-22 | False gods are actually demons |
| 1CO 11:26-30 | Do not take communion with a wrong heart (compare to EX 12:43-45) |
| 1CO 16:22 | Paul is pretty blunt |
| HEB 10:26-31 | Non-repentant sin |
| JAM 1:5-8 | Doubt is very bad (questioning without doubt is ok) |
| JAM 2:10 | It's like hanging on a chain, we fall just the same if one or all links break |
| JAM 2:19 | Simply acknowledging God exists does us no good for salvation |
| JAM 3:1 | God holds teachers to a higher standard of virtue |
| JAM 4:4 | We must choose between God and the world, do not kid ourselves that we can compromise and make both happy!!! |
| JAM 4:17 | If we know we should do good but don't, then that is one kind of sin |
| JAM 5:12 | Be true to our word rather than giving oaths |
| 1JN 2:15-16 | Do not love the world |
| 1JN 4:1-3 | Demons lie (and are really good at it!) so know how to test them or risk being deceived |
| 1JN 4:19-21 | Don't underestimate the importance of the second commandment, especially don't kid ourselves that we can neglect it in favor of the first |
| 1JN 5:10 | If we do not believe then we are calling God a liar (see 1JN 5:9-12) |
| 2JN 1:10-11 | Don't encourage theological inaccuracy |
| REV 14:9-11 | When Satan declares war he will use people as pawns and they will be eternally punished for believing the lie, so don't be deceived! |
| ... | |
| DT 5:32 | Our faith journey is like a road, not like a mountain (compare DT 17:11, DT 17:20, DT 28:14, JOS 1:7, JOS 23:6, 2KI 22:2, 2CH 34:2, PR 4:27, ISA 30:21, use non-NLT) |
| DT 8:2-5 | God gives bread the capacity to satisfy, it is not self present (quoted MT 4:1-4) |
| DT 8:10-20 | Do not get complacent in our prosperity |
| 1SA 8:4-9 | Israel requests a king (defiance/rejection of DT 33:5) |
| 2SA 22:21 | Always do right |
| 2KI 21:9 | How quickly we can degrade |
| 1CH 21:13 | David would rather fall into the hands of an upset God than of any man |
| JOB 14:4 | Don't think we can |
| PS 4:8 | [Little] comfort on a sleepless night |
| PS 11:3 | Ken Ham's (Answers in Genesis) mantra (followup JN 3:12, see also 1CH 12:32) |
| PS 23 | One of those super famous chapters (followup PS 27) |
| PS 37:16 | Perspective |
| PS 46:10 | Ultimate comfort (regardless of circumstance) |
| PS 79:12-13 | God has heard it before and He will hear it again, so don't blame Him if He doesn't seem to believe us (repeated PS 80:17-18) |
| PS 97:10 | Love God, hate evil |
| PS 106:3 | Do what is right because it is right |
| PS 121:2 | In need or especially in prosperity, remember who to look to |
| PS 131 | Don't be overly concerned with philosophy |
| PR 6:32 | Don't destroy ourselves |
| PR 10:12 | Love is the best argument or bandaid |
| PR 14:4 | Without other people we can organize our lives real well, but sooner or later we'll need other people |
| PR 16:2 | God looks at the heart |
| PR 16:18 | Another super famous verse |
| PR 19:3 | If we are going to get mad at God, do it because He gave us a free will and didn't make us puppets |
| PR 25:11 | There is such a thing as good criticism |
| PR 27:14 | You morning people!!! |
| PR 29:26 | True justice comes from God, not the king |
| EC 3:16 | It was a problem 3,100 years ago just like it is today (compare to HAB 1:4) |
| ISA 1:16-17 | A plea to sinners (compare to JAM 1:27) |
| ISA 44:6-22 | Idols are foolishness, they're made of the same stuff we use to cook with, how could they do anything for us, let alone save us? |
| ISA 51:7-8 | Cherish God's word, do not be afraid of [inevitable] scorn |
| ISA 59 | Why there is evil in the world if God exists |
| ISA 64:4-8 | We are the clay, He is the potter |
| ISA 66:1-4 | Heaven is His throne, earth is his footstool, what we sacrifice is not as important as our worship & obedience (reference PS 50:9-15) |
| JER 9:23-24 | What we may boast about (see also 1CO 1:31) |
| JER 29:11 | God has a plan for each of us |
| JER 31:27-34 | God's strategic plan (see also EX 9:16, EPH 1:9-10, EPH 3:9-11, COL 1:25-27, 2TI 1:9-10, HEB 8:7-13 and 1JN 2:27) |
| AMO 9:7-10 | God has been at work on behalf of others besides Israel |
| HAB 1:5 | Be amazed and die (repeated in AC 13:41) |
| MT 20:1-16 | God is gracious & merciful but not fair (compare LK 12:48) |
| LK 6:38 | When life is soo boring, we've forgotten or denied this (esp MSG trans) |
| LK 12:4-5 | Who to fear (compare PR 1:7 and 1JN 4:18) |
| LK 17:1-4 | Temptation |
| LK 17:7-10 | Do what is right because it is right, not for a reward |
| LK 19:23-26 | God is a capitalist |
| LK 24:21 | A wrong paradigm resulted in wrong understanding (also LK 19:21 and AC 7:57-8:1) |
| JN 9:32-34 | Great example of why the world hates us: sometimes we make too much sense but we contradict their paradigms (beware of MT 7:6 and compare to AC 7:51-8:1 mentioned above) |
| JN 15:18-25 | The world hated Jesus so expect them to hate us too/even more (also JN 16:1-4) |
| JN 17:20-26 | The Lord's real prayer (contrast to the Lord's model prayer in MT 9:6-13 and LK 11:2-4) |
| RO 1:20 | There is no excuse for not knowing God (compare PS 19:1-4, AC 14:15-17 and AC 17:22-31) |
| 1CO 2:1-5 | The spirit is all we need to witness about our faith (compare 1TH 2:3-6) |
| 1CO 4:7 | All we have is from God |
| 1CO 6:1-8 | Do not sue other believers |
| 1CO 10:13 | Reassurance of/from temptation |
| 1CO 13 | Love is a verb, not a noun |
| 2CO 7:8-11 | There are two kinds of sadness: godly and worldly, with two very different results |
| 2CO 12:8-9 | God's grace is sufficient for us, His grace shines in our weakness |
| GAL 6:3 | Do not get conceited/ complacent |
| GAL 6:7-9 | God is sovereign, not us |
| EPH 5:6-14 | We are supposed to be different |
| PHP 1:20-25 | Paul's live or die line |
| PHP 4:6-7 | Don't be anxious, have peace |
| COL 3:1-4 | Keep focused on the right things (see also 1TI 4:7-11) |
| 1TI 1:15-16 | A trustworthy saying & prime example |
| 1TI 2:1-7 | Prayer is good, peace is good, this is why Jesus came |
| 1TI 3:16 | Summary of the Christian faith |
| 1TI 5:24-25 | Obvious and subtle |
| 2TI 1:7 | What we have |
| 2TI 4:7-8 | The goal |
| HEB 3:6-14 | Don't be impatient with God |
| HEB 10:25 | Go to church and/or Bible study |
| HEB 13:7,17 | Remember and obey our pastor |
| JAM 4:10 | To excel, be humble (compare 1PE 5:6 and the Beatitudes) |
| JAM 4:13-16 | Don't boast of our own plans (see also gospel?) |
| JAM 4:17 | The moment we understand what God is saying to us, that is the moment we are supposed to act |
| 1PE 3:15-16 | Individual witness (followup to great commission) |
| 1PE 5:7 | The great Comforter |
| 1JN 3:16 | Reminder of true "true love" |
| 1JN 4:11 | Simple logic to live by |
| 1JN 5:3 | Obedience to God is not really that difficult |
| 1JN 5:21 | Avoid temptation |
| REV 19:10 | How angels should act when we get confused (compare REV 22:8-9) |
| ... | |
| JN 17:15 | We are not excused from suffering, we are expected to have peace about the outcome |
| PHP 1:28-30 | Another perspective on expecting suffering for Christ |
| 2TI 1:11-12 | Another perspective on suffering for Christ |
| 2TI 3:12 | Plan on it |
| JAM 1:2-4 | Perseverance has a perfect point |
| 1PE 3:13-17 | The bright side of suffering |
| 1PE 4:4-5 | We all answer to God for our actions |
| 1PE 4:12-16 | Why would we not want persecution |
| 1JN 3:13 | Expect it |
| REV 13:9-10,14:12-13 | It is part of God's plan, so it must happen |
| ... | |
Concerning suffering (the opposite of comfort, which requires health) it is critical to understand God's perspective that our spiritual wholeness and the health of our eternal soul is infinitely more important than the comfort of our earthly bodies. Remember that all healing, even done by Jesus, is only temporary. We all die, but more important than when or how is what happens next.
| RO 14:1-15:3 | Food |
| 1CO 8:8-13 | Food |
| 1CO 9:20-23 | Sensitive to culture |
| 1CO 10:23-33 | Put others ahead of ourselves |
| ... | |
| EX 14:10-31 | Crossing the Red Sea |
| JOS 6:20-21 | Conquering Jericho |
| JDG 7 | God & Gideon's army of 300 |
| 1SA 4:1-11 | The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, pt1 |
| 1SA 5-6 | The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, pt2 |
| 1SA 7:7-11 | The Lords voice thunders from heaven |
| 1SA 14:1-23 | Jonathan and his armor-bearer attack over 9,000 Philistines (see 1SA 13:1-7 for the setup) |
| 2SA 6:1-7 | The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, pt3 (compare 1CH 13) |
| 1KI 8:1-11 | The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, pt4 (compare 2CH 5, concluded REV 11:19) |
| 2KI 3:20-27 | God sends a miracle to create enemy confusion |
| 2KI 6:8-7:20 | God warns the people when and where they will be attacked (includes the innumerable chariots of fire protecting Elisha) |
| 2KI 19:35 | The angel of the Lord kills 185,000 invaders (complete story is 2KI 18:13-19:37 and also told in 2CH 32:9-22.) |
| 2CH 13:13-18 | Judah on the defensive from Israel |
| 2CH 14:8-15 | The Lord strikes down the Cushites |
| 2CH 20:1-30 | God causes the invading armies of Edom to kill themselves |
| PS 44:1-7 | Recap of what God did from a Jewish perspective |
| EZK 38:1-39:24 | War of Gog and Magog |
Do we believe God when He says all vengeance is His (DT 32:35) and that He will take care of doubters (DT 18:18-19)? David did even after God had promised him to be king and yet the incumbent king and every king around was trying to murder him (PS 35). This doesn't mean we are pacifists (see controversial topic above) but does mean there's a difference between purging evil and getting revenge (RO 12:19-21). If we don't know the difference then we need to read our Bible more and ask God for discernment.
Also, this is neither an absolute nor a promise. These verses are examples that He can if He wants and sometimes does, but we shouldn't use that as an excuse for laziness (EX 14:15).
Also, this is neither an absolute nor a promise. These verses are examples that He can if He wants and sometimes does, but we shouldn't use that as an excuse for laziness (EX 14:15).
| RO 2:24 | We have a tendency to dishonor God yet He doesn't immediately silence us (quoting ISA 52:5, EZE 36:20-22) |
| GE 1:1-2:4 | Creation |
| GE 41:45,54-55 | There was a famine on half the continent for seven years just to get Joseph's brothers to bow down to him and repent |
| EX 19:16-20 | God descends on Mount Sinai |
| EX 13:21-22 | Pillar of cloud by day, fire by night |
| 1KI 18 | Elijah's contest at Mount Carmel |
| 1KI 19:1-18 | Elijah at Sinai with God |
| 2KI 20:1-11 | The Sun goes backwards (also in ISA 38:1-8) |
| 2CH 7:3 | God christens his temple (commissioned by Solomon) |
| DAN 6 | Daniel and the lions' den |
| MT 8:23-27 | Jesus calms the storm |
| MT 9:1-8 | Jesus heals a paralyzed man |
| MT 9:32-33 | Jesus casts out a demon |
| MT 27:50-54 | Earthquake, temple curtain & reincarnations at time of Jesus' death (also MK 15:37-39 and LK 23:45) |
| MK 16:9 | Jesus rises from the dead |
| LK 24:50-52 | Jesus rises to Heaven |
| JN 9 | Jesus gives sight to a man born blind |
| JN 11:1-45 | Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead after 4 days |
Note: miracles are easy to dismiss (ignore) after they happen, but that doesn't mean they're insignificant.
| DT 4:5-8 | Nations are judged as wholes by outsiders |
| DT 17:14-20 | Instructions for the king |
| JOS 7 | One man's sin committed in secret almost ruined the entire nation, it certainly ruined those 3 dozen families (see background JOS 6:17-19,21,24) |
| 1SA 12:14,24-25 | Importance of national obedience |
| 2SA 23:3-4 | Positive reinforcement |
| 2CH 19:10 | Avoid God's wrath for yourself and your people |
| 2CH 26:3-5 | Obedience brings success |
| 2CH 34:23-28 | Delay of judgment because of repentance |
| PS 2 | God will laugh (at our futility), get angry and correct us if we choose our own path |
| PS 20:6-9 | God, not instruments of war, brings victory (this does not mean those instruments are not a part of what it means to be at war, but it means we need to remember perspective of what causes victory.) |
| PS 33:10-12 | Apart from God we can not succeed |
| PS 67:4-5 | God is a good (the best) ruler |
| PS 76:11-12 | He can and will "break" us, it is best to let Him do it sooner than later |
| PS 81:8-16 | Why God is frustrated |
| PS 96:7-10 | What it looks like |
| PS 124 | A recount of how glad the king was after the fact (consider that long term victory in Christ "feels" infinitely better than the temporary pleasure gained by committing any sin) |
| PR 11:14 | Knowledge (and even more so wisdom) is power |
| PR 14:34-35 | Fearing/following God makes a nation great |
| PR 28:2 | When society looses its morals, the government does too |
| PR 29:4,12 | Like a rudder steers a boat |
| ... | |
See also controversial topic on Government Submission above.
Women of the Bible
Note: while not described, Ezekiel (EZE 24:18) & Peter (MT 8:14) had wives, too. Paul probably did not (1CO 7:8, 1CO 9:5).
Cavemen of the Bible
Note: the term "troglodyte" means a person who lived in a cave.
Kinds of People God Uses
We should be like children, but not babies
Mind, Body & Spirit (this is just an initial idea so far)
Anthropomorphisms
How would history be different if...
Do we automatically go to hell if we do not know Jesus?
Note: abandoning or rejecting Christ is highly inadvisable: 2PE 2:20-21 and 1JN 2:22-23 (consider also Losing Our Salvation above)
The law, faith and deeds
Do not be lazy, act on our faith
The invisible, supernatural world all around us that is right in front of our faces
Unusual Life & Death Stories
More Unusual Stories
More one liners worth remembering
See also Summary highlights of how to be or not to be below.
Mission Statements
Prayer changes things (this is just an idea so far, here are my initial concept notes)
...
Good examples of voluntarily giving God glory in public
Anomalies (either just at first glance or really weird)
Foreign customs to 21st century "westerners"
Acknowledged blatant violations by the modern church (this section has barely been started, here are initial concept ideas)
-homosex
If Jesus didn't expect to convince everyone He met, why would I?
Judging (not judgment)
End Times (the Last Days)
Future Times (new Heaven, new Earth, new bodies, life after death, etc.)
| Abigail | (schrewd wife) | 1SA 25 |
| Anna | (temple prayer) | LK 2:36-38 |
| Bathsheba | (wife of Uriah, then David) | 2SA 11-12:25, 1KI 1:11-2:22 |
| Deborah | (judge over nation of Israel) | JDG 4-5 |
| Delilah | (girlfriend of Samson) | JDG 16:4-21 |
| Elizabeth | (mother of John the Baptist) | LK 1:5-66 |
| Esther | (Jewish queen of Persia) | EST |
| Eve | (the first woman) | GE 2:15-4:2 |
| Hagar | (Sarah's servant, mother of Ishmael) | GE 16:1-15, 21:8-21 |
| Hannah | (Samuel's mother) | 1SA 1:1-2:11, 2:18-21 |
| Jezebel | (wicked queen of Israel, by marriage only) | 1KI 16:21, 18:4, 18:13, 18:19, 19:1-2, 21:1-26, 2KI 9:6-10, 9:22, 9:30-37 |
| Leah | (wife of Jacob) | GE 29:16-30:21, 31:1-16, 33:1-7 |
| Lydia | (purple cloth merchant) | AC 16:13-15,40 |
| Mary | (mother of Jesus, wife of Joseph) | LK 8:19-21, JN 2:1-12, JN 19:25-27, AC 1:14 |
| Mary Magdalene | (follower of Jesus) | LK 8:1-3, LK 24:1-11, JN 19:25, JN 20:1-2, JN 20:11-18 |
| Naomi | (mother in law of Ruth) | RU |
| Priscila | (wife of Acquila) | AC 18:1-3,18,26, RO 16:3-5, 1CO 16:19 |
| Rachel | (wife of Jacob, mother of Joseph) | GE 29:1-30:26, 31:1-35, 33:1-7, 35:16-20 (see also RU 4:11, JER 31:15 and MT 2:18) |
| Rahab | (helped spies in Jericho) | JOS 2, 6:15-25, MT 1:5, HEB 11:31, JAM 2:25 |
| Rebekah | (wife of Isaac, mother of Jacob & Esau) | GE 22:23, 24, 25:19-26, 26:6-9, 26:34-27:46 |
| Ruth | (faithful daughter in law of Naomi) | RU |
| Sapphira | (wife of Ananias) | AC 5:1-11 |
| Sarah | (Sarai, wife of Abraham, mother of Isaac) | GE 11:29-13:2, 16:1-6, 17:15-21, 18:1-15, 21:1-13, 23:1-2 (also ISA 51:1-2, RO 9:6, HEB 11:11 and 1PE 3:5-6) |
| Tabitha | (girl resurrected by Peter) | AC 9:36-42 |
| Tamar | (neglected wife of Judah's sons) | GE 38:6-30 |
| Unnamed | (Moses's mom) | EX 2:1-10 |
| Unnamed | (Jephthah's daughter) | JDG 11:29-40 |
| Unnamed | (Job's wife) | JOB 2:9 |
| Unnamed | (woman at the well) | JN 4:1-30 |
| Unnamed | (demon possessed slave girl) | AC 16:16-18 |
| Zipporah | (Moses's wife) | EX 2:15-22, 4:19-26, 18:1-6 |
| GE 19:28-30 | Lot lives in a cave after Sodom and Gamora are destroyed |
| JOS 10:16-27 | Kings try to hide in a cave to escape the Israelites invasion of the promised land |
| JDG 15:6-11 | Samson lives in a cave for a time |
| 1SA 22:1 | David and soon his followers set up camp in a cave |
| 1SA 24 | David spares Saul's life in a cave (notice PS 57 and PS 142) |
| 1KI 19:7-13 | Elijah hides in a cave and God meets him there |
| EX 3:1-4:18 | Moses | Four times tries to talk his way out of serving |
| JDG 6:11-24,36-40 | Gideon | Least member of his family, least family in his tribe, least tribe in the nation |
| 1SA 16:4-13 | David | Youngest of his brothers, just a shepherd |
| EZR 1:1-2 | Cyrus | King of Persia, the largest nation on Earth at the time, whose country had just invaded, pillaged and exiled Israel less than a century earlier |
| JER 20:7-18 | Jeremiah | Ridiculed and mocked |
| JON 1:3,4:1-3 | Jonah | Prophet who disapproved of God's love |
| AC 6:1-10 | Stephen | Called by the apostles to bus tables |
| AC 7:55-8:3 | Paul | Severely persecuted Christians at first (initially known as Saul) |
| ... | ||
| MT 11:25 | God reveals certain truths/realities to children but leaves the self-righteous in the dark (compare LK 10:21) |
| MT 18:3 | The attitude of people who are advancing God's plan must be like children |
| MT 19:14 | God wants children to know and be familiar with Him (compare MK 10:14 and LK 18:16) |
| 1CO 13:11 | Act our age |
| 1CO 14:20 | Don't be childish in our understanding of spiritual matters but do be as innocent as babies of evil matters |
| EPH 4:14 | Children are immature, the rest of us should be better |
| HEB 5:12-14 | Babies only eat milk, mature people eat solid food |
| 1PE 2:2-3 | Crave spiritual guidance |
| 1JN 5:1 | Believers are children of God |
| ... | |
| MT 10:28 | Death of body versus soul |
| LK 12:5 | Jesus at least refers to physical death and spiritual destiny |
| 1CO 15:38-41 | Kinds of bodies/flesh |
| 1TH 5:23 | Paul mentions these concepts as distinct |
| ... | |
| EX 3:20 | God's hand(s), see also | EX 7:4-5, EX 9:15-16, DT 32:36-42, PS 89:19-21, ISA 1:24-25, ISA 5:12, ISA 43:10-13, ISA 51:15-17, ISA 66:1-2, JER 6:12, JER 18:6, JER 25:15-16, JER 51:25-26, EZE 6:14, EZE 13:9, EZE 14:9,13-14, EZE 16:27, EZE 20:22-24, EZE 25:7,13,16, EZE 35:3, EZE 37:19, AM 1:8, AM 9:2, ZEP 1:4-6, ZEC 2:8-9, ZEC 13:7, JN 10:28-30, ACT 7:49-50 |
| EX 15:26 | God's eyes (sight), see also | DT 4:25-26, DT 11:12, DT 12:28, DT 13:18, DT 17:2-5, DT 24:4, JDG 3:7, 1KI 11:33, 2KI 16:2, 2KI 19:16, 2CH 6:40, 2CH 14:2, 2CH 29:6, 2CH 36:5,12, NE 9:32, JOB 15:15-16, JOB 34:21, PS 52:1, PR 5:21, ISA 37:17, ISA 49:5, JER 16:17, JER 32:19, DAN 9:18, MAL 2:17, HEB 4:13, REV 2:18 |
| EX 33:18-23 | God's face, see also | DT 31:17-18, 2CH 30:9, JOB 33:26, PS 10:11, PS 24:6, PS 27:9, PS 67:1, PS 80:3,7,19, ISA 59:2, 2CO 4:6 |
| 1CO 12:12-31 | Jesus is the head, the church is the body | EPH 1:22-23, EPH 4:15-16, EPH 4:25 |
| ... | ||
| GE 3 | Either Adam or Eve had stood up to Satan? |
| GE 4 | Cain had listened to God and not allowed sin to have him? |
| GE 9:1, 11:1-4 | Noah's descendents voluntarily obeyed God and dispersed? (forced to obey in GE 11:8-9) |
| GE 16,21 | Abram had defied his wife and not slept with her servant, Hagar? (Ishmael's descendants became the Arabs & Issac's descendents the Jews) |
| GE 22:1-18 | Abraham had failed God's test? |
| GE 25,27,28 | Jacob had trusted God to cary out his plans his own way? |
| GE 37:2-11 | Joseph had not bragged about his dreams? |
| GE 37:17-32 | Joseph's brothers hadn't sold him into slavery? |
| EX 2:11-12 | Moses had not killed that Egyptian? |
| EX 32:9-14 | Moses had not interceded for Israel? (complete story is EX 32) |
| NU 13:16-33 | All 12 spies had the attitude (faith) of Caleb and Joshua? |
| LK 1:26-45 | Mary had doubted? |
| MT 27:11-26 | Pilot did not cave? (also in MK 15:1-15, LK 23:1-25, JN 18:28-19:16, contrast to Gallio, governor of Corinth in AC 18:12-17) |
| JN 19:25-27 | Joseph had been present at the crucifixion? (also MT 27:55-56 and MK 15:40-41) |
| MT 12:32 | I'm not going to try to reinterpret this, but it makes me lean towards no, see MSG version especially |
| LK 12:47-48 | Inconclusive and maybe inappropriate, but possibly related |
| LK 19:44 | Rare example of God actively punishing people for disobedience in NT (sounds like yes) |
| JN 3:18 | I'm not clear on the difference on being judged versus being condemned, but I wouldn't want to find out the hard way (leaning towards yes) |
| JN 5:22-23 | Could be yes (but be careful of the "I'm right" trap) |
| JN 15:5-15 | Holy Spirit will convict the world, not just believers (leaning towards yes) |
| AC 4:12 | There is only one path to salvation (sounds like yes) |
| AC 14:15-17 | Preemptive followup to the famous "no excuse" verse RO 1:20 (sounds like yes) |
| RO 1:20 | We have no excuse for not knowing God, and God will always lead us to His Son (sounds like yes) |
| RO 2:14-16 | Everyone, even gentiles, have God's presence in their hearts, this would be the strongest case for no I've seen yet (compare DT 29:29) (sounds like no) |
| RO 10:9-14 | Salvation comes from faith, which comes from belief, which comes from knowledge (sounds like yes) |
| 1CO 16:22 | Paul is pretty blunt (sounds like yes) |
| 1PE 4:17-18 | The only reason believers even make it to heaven is their faith, not their works, so no way for unbelievers |
| 1JN 5:12 | Considering we all exist in a conscious state forever (vs?) I would sure want life |
| ... | |
| LEV 20:24-26 | God wanted the Jews to be distinguished from everyone else, compare NUM 23:9 |
| HAB 2:4 | Righteous will live by faith (quoted ROM 1:17, GAL 3:11, HEB 10:38) |
| JN 6:29 | The one deed that can get you into Heaven |
| AC 13:38-41 | The law does not make tarnished people clean |
| RO 2:13,25-27 | Obedience is more important than awareness (though never forget awareness is necessary for accurate obedience) and obedience/faith is infinitely more important than ancestry or tradition |
| RO 3:19-22 | The law eliminates our excuses for not being aware of our own sin by showing us the minimum standard, but God allowed us a better alternative through faith in Christ |
| RO 3:28 | Faith is more important than obedience |
| RO 3:30-4:8 | Righteousness granted by faith is a gift, not earned |
| RO 4:13-16 | Anyone may have faith and be accepted by God (not just God's "chosen people") |
| RO 5:20-21 | The law was given to show us how evil we are (as opposed to given as a way to earn our salvation) |
| RO 7:7-14 | The law is what made us aware of our sin, but do not blame the law or God |
| RO 9:15-16 | No amount of good works will make us right with God, He never said the strategy of working for our salvation would succeed and in fact says the opposite in many ways |
| RO 9:30-10:4 | Faith is basically trust, trust God that He knows what is best |
| RO 10:9-13 | Salvation comes from trust, nothing else |
| 2CO 1:24 | There is no prescribably right way to act on our faith |
| 2CO 3:5-18 | The law was good, but the Spirit is better (compare 2CO 4:3-4) |
| 2CO 5:7 | A definition of faith |
| 2CO 5:10 | We will be judged on our deeds |
| GAL 2:16,21 | The law is not salvific, faith in Jesus is |
| GAL 3 | Miracles happen when faith is high, not when all the commandments are being obeyed |
| GAL 5:1-5 | The law brings slavery but Christ brings freedom |
| GAL 5:18 | The Spirit completely overrules the law |
| EPH 2:9 | Salvation is by faith alone specifically to put us in our place when we feel like bragging or being proud |
| EPH 6:8 | Deeds are still important |
| PHP 3:3-9 | Deeds are not enough |
| COL 2:16-23 | Rules are not as important as relationship, don't believe when people claim to have "new revelations" from God for they have been deceived (see 2CO 11:14-15 and MT 7:15) |
| 1TI 1:5-11 | What and who the law was for |
| JAM 1:22 | However, if we have faith but ignore the law then we are fools |
| TIT 2:13-14 | Faith and deeds are (supposed to be) inseparable |
| TIT 2:9 | Avoid arguing over details of the law |
| HEB 7:19 | The law alone is no good |
| REV 22:12 | Faith saves but we will be repaid by deeds |
| ... | |
Note: Was the law just for the Jews to keep them different, or did it explain the heart of God? Jesus says he completed the law, making us think it wasn't trivial, but God releases the early church from dietary restrictions, reinforcing that it had aspects of just differentiating them from their neighbors to make a name for God. This has serious implications for whether significant portions of scripture are simply historical reference or some form of instruction still important to follow. See my spinoff page, The Word of God Literally for more on this theme.
| MT 7:24-27 | Jesus' building/foundation parable |
| LK 11:27-28 | Put God's word into practice |
| JN 13:17 | We will be blessed for doing God's will |
| JN 14:15 | This is one way to prove we love someone |
| AC 26:20 | The proof of repentance |
| HEB 10:24 | Actively think of ways to do good deeds and motivate others to do the same |
| JAM 1:22 | Do not be a fool |
| JAM 1:22-26 | Without good deeds we are hypocrites, but deeds without explicit purpose do not count |
| JAM 2:14-26 | Faith without deeds is worthless |
| 1JN 3:17-18 | How to love our neighbor |
| NUM 22:21-35 | A talking donkey (referenced in 2PE 2:15-16) |
| 1CH 21:7-30 | God severely punishes Israel because of David's sin |
| 2KI 6:8-23 | The hills were covered with invisible horses & chariots of fire |
| MT 18:18 | Things in heaven are directly affected by things we do here |
| GE 2:7 | The creation of the first man, Adam. |
| GE 2:22 | The creation of the first woman, Eve. |
| GE 5:24 | The departure of Enoch. |
| GE 5:5 | Adam lived to be an old man! |
| GE 6:4 | We have no idea what this is referring to. Could this be where the Greeks got their legends? |
| NUM 3:4 | Nadab and Abihu, perhaps following in Cain's way of trying to worship God their own way rather than how God asked |
| NUM 16 | Israelites grumble against God (compare GE 4:7) |
| NUM 20:1-13 | Moses condemns himself |
| 1SA 10:1-16 | So often we hear God speak to us and tell us the future and we just say "ok", not expecting Him to change us along the way. We assume things have always been and always will be the same (2PE 3:4-7) but He does change us |
| 2SA 23:8 | God was with David and his soldiers as they purged the final enemies of God in the promised land (see also 2SA 21:20-22, repeated 1 CH 11:11 and 1 CH 20:7) |
| 1KI 13:11-32 | A prophet lies and causes another prophet to be cursed (see back story in verses 1-10) |
| 1KI 17:8-24 | A widow's son is restored |
| 1KI 20:35-36 | A man is killed for not hitting a prophet |
| 2KI 1:9-12 | Fire of God fell from heaven and killed them all |
| 2KI 2:7-15 | Swing low sweat chariot (the departure of Elijah) |
| 2KI 4:32-37 | Elisha brings a boy back to life |
| 2KI 9:30-37 | Prophesy about Jezebel comes true |
| 2KI 13:20-21 | Touching Elisha's bones |
| 2KI 17:24-28 | God sends lions |
| 1CH 13:6-10 | Uzzah tries to touch the ark without permission |
| 1CH 20:4-8 | Descendants of the giants of Gath |
| DAN 3 | Shadrach, Meshach and Abbendigo & the furnace |
| DAN 6 | Daniel and the lions' den |
| MT 27:50-53 | Mini resurrection |
| MT 28:11-15 | Guards bribed to say they fell asleep, even though this would be admission of a capitol crime (compare to AC 12:18-19) |
| LK 1:26-38 | A virgin conceives (before science allows) |
| JN 11:1-44 | Lazarus is resurrected |
| LK 16:19-31 | Parable of another Lazarus and a rich man experiencing eternity |
| AC 5:1-11 | Man & wife try to lie to the Holly Spirit |
| AC 7:54-8:1 | Stephen sees Jesus while being stoned |
| AC 9:32-43 | Peter brings Tabitha back to life |
| AC 12:20-23 | Herod is struck down |
| AC 13:6-12 | Paul strikes Elymas with temporary blindness |
| AC 20:7-12 | Tired boy falls out a window |
| RO 5:17 | Evolution is a total lie (see also 1CO 15:21-22) |
| 1CO 10:8-10 | Collection of unfortunate people |
| 1PE 4:6 | Preaching to those already dead (at the time, no indication this continues today) |
| REV 11:7-12 | The two witnesses |
| JDG 5:20 | Stars fought? |
| JOB 40:15-24 | Behemoth |
| JOB 41:1-34 | Leviathian (also mentioned JOB 3:8, PS 74:13-14, PS 104:26 and ISA 27:1) |
| PS 107:23-30 | Calming of the sea, compare to JNH 1:4-16, MT 8:23-27, MK 4:35-41 and LK 8:22-25 |
| 2KI 2:23-24 | Bears come at Elisha's command |
| 2KI 3:11-20 | Pools of water come from nowhere |
| 2KI 6:1-7 | Floating ax head |
| EZK 37:1-14 | Valley full of dry bones become an army of living soldiers |
| DA 4 | King Nebuchadnezzar's hiatus |
| DA 5 | The hand of God writes on the wall |
| MT 17:1-9 | The transfiguration of Jesus (also in LK 9:28-36) |
| JN 12:27-30 | God speaks to Jesus in front of a large crowd |
| AC 6:15 | Stephen's face shines bright as an angel |
| AC 8:39-40 | Phillip caught up |
| AC 19:11-12 | Paul's handkerchiefs |
| AC 28:1-6 | Shake off a poisonous snake bite |
| AC 13:6-12 | The sorcerer at Paphos |
| 1PE 3:18-20 | Spirits in prison since Moses' day |
| 2PE 2:10-11 | Celestial beings/glorious ones? |
| JUDE 1:6 | Another reference to angels in prison |
| JUDE 1:9 | Michael confronts Satan (followup to DT 34:5-6) |
| DT 10:12-13 | A plea of Moses |
| PS 19:12-14 | A prayer of David |
| 1CH 4:10 | The prayer of Jabez |
| JER 17:18 | The prayer of Jeremiah |
| JOEL 2:11-12 | God's plea through Joel |
| AM 5:4 | God's plea through Amos |
| MIC 7:7-8 | The prayer of Micah |
| ZEC 7:8-10 | God's plea through Zechariah (followup ZEC 8:16-17 and compare to EX 22:22-24, DT 10:17-19, PS 82:3-4, ISA 1:16-17, ISA 10:1-2, JER 7:5-7, JER 22:3, AM 5:14-15, ZEP 2:3, MIC 6:8, and JAM 1:27 and followup by Jesus in MT 23:23) [consider pulling this line out into it's own section: the dominant recurring theme of the prophets, and review the other books of the prophets for similar message] |
| MT 6:9-13 | The Lord's model prayer (also LK 11:2-4) but JN 17 is the Lord's real prayer |
| PHP 1:9-11 | The prayer of Paul |
| 1JN 1:5 | God is light |
| LEV 10:8-11 | Priests |
| DT 18:20-22 | Prophets, see also EZE 3:17-21, EZE 33:1-6, and JER 1:17-19 |
| 2CH 19:5-10 | Judges, followup PR 24:23-25 |
| PS 72 | Kings (sort of) compare PS 101 |
| MAL 2:7 | Priests |
| '? | (List examples where God was planning one thing until a man of God asked otherwise.) |
| '? | Hezakiah |
| '? | Genesis 8, sort of |
| GE 41:14-16 | Joseph & Pharoh (complete story of Joseph is GE 37, 39-50) |
| DA 3:13-19 | Shadrack, Meshack, Abendigo & Nebuchadnezzar (complete story is DA 3) |
| JN 11:41-42 | Jesus raises Lazarus (complete story is JN 11:1-45) |
| GE 6:3 | 120 years? Is this the time to the flood, a new lifespan limit, other? Anyone who tries can shoot these ideas down, so what does it mean? |
| GE 10:25 | Curious comment about the earth. It's not clear if this is a geological reference or political. The timing is about right for the separation of Pangea into the continents. |
| GE 14:17-20 | Melchizedek? (referenced PS 110:4, HEB 5-7) |
| GE 15:13-16 | 400 years but only 4 generations? |
| GE 32:22-32 | Jacob/Israel claims to have seen the face of God yet the text only says "man"? |
| EX 4:24-26 | God was going to kill Moses but Zipporah had a strange way of rescuing him |
| EX 19:23 | God repeats himself? |
| EX 24:9-11 | Moses and the elders see God (and more) but are not killed |
| 1KI 22:24-25 | A former prophet (at best) slaps a real prophet and gets condemned but we don't get the followup |
| 2KI 13:18-19 | A prophet having a bad day? This was probably intentional, even if it sounds strange after the fact |
| PS 139:15 | We are formed in depths of Earth? Clearly this is not a biological reference, perhaps it is something else we are unaware of? |
| PS 127:1 | A proverb of Solomon in Psalms? |
| EC 1:9 | Nothing new?? What about the dozen references to "new" between the books of Isaiah and John? (Especially ISA 43:19, JER 31:31, EZE 12:21-25, MK 1:27, JN 13:34.) And then there's HAB 1:5, the virgin birth, God becoming flesh, God dying & resurrecting, and 2PE 3:4-7. Solomon was extremely concerned about finding his own meaning in life, independent from external sources, and his conclusion that there is no meaning apart from God lead him to despair, which is where he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. |
| ISA 8:1-4 | Was Isaiah the prophet married? (Not that this would have been wrong, this passage just reads a little weird.) |
| MT 4:4 | We are not sustained by food but by words? (consider in light of DT 8:2-5, compare to JN 4:34) |
| MT 11:2-6 | Blessed is the man who does not fall away because Jesus? (repeated LK 7:18-23, then consider MT 11:11 and LK 7:28) |
| MK 8:22-26 | Jesus heals a man twice? (Most likely due to the man's half present faith, but if so then he is lucky to have been healed at all) |
| MK 9:29 | We might be tempted to think "well yeah, so how's this different" but we may be assuming the disciples were fully indoctrinated Christians by this time, like Paul. Jesus may have said this to them because they were simply trying to command the demon out by their own power, rather than asking God to cast it out. |
| LK 1:24-25 | Happy yet secluded? |
| LK 2:25-35 | A sword will pierce her soul? |
| LK 4:28-30 | Jesus nonchalantly slipped through a mob? (also JN 10:39, JN 12:36) |
| JN 1:21,25 | Who is "the" prophet? |
| JN 4:34 | Food/nourishment? (compare MT 4:4, LK 4:4, DT 8:3) |
| JN 4:54 | His second sign, what was the first? |
| JN 6:53-58 | He seems pretty serious about eating His flesh and drinking His blood |
| JN 8:59 | Jesus cloaked? |
| JN 20:22 | Jesus breaths on them? (compare to GE 2:7) |
| AC 16:6 | Paul kept by the Spirit from preaching? |
| RO 9:13 | God hated one of His earlier creations? Not really, we must backtrack what Paul is quoting (MAL 1:2-3). God was referring to the disobedient tribe, not the individual. Follow the story: GE 25:30, NU 20:14-21, NU 21:4 and OB 1:8-14 |
| 1CO 5:1-5 | Hand over a non repentant believer to Satan so his sinful nature will be destroyed? (see The Message translation: 1CO 5:3-5) |
| 1CO 9:5 | Did Paul have a wife? |
| 1CO 15:29 | What's up with that middle part, baptism for the dead? |
| JAM 1:23-25 | If this does not convict us then think about it again. It is saying we look in a mirror and we see ourselves, but our pride makes us think we look awesome when in reality we look like a mess. If we were taking our kids to a paid photo shoot and they had just eaten spaghetti really messily and their hair was blown all over and we said to them "go look in a mirror and clean yourself up" but when they looked at their reflection they just said "why" then any parent knows we would "educate" them in their error. Yet we do this every time we metaphorically look in a spiritual mirror. We can bet this annoys God. |
| JUDE 1:13 | Dark matter? |
| REV 21:13 | Why is it explained east, north, south, west? (Is there significance, maybe not?) |
| ... | |
| GE 18:1-5,19:1-2 | Abraham's and Lot's high respect for complete strangers visiting him |
| GE 27:28-40 | Isaac's blessing was literal and he didn't repeal or augment when given to the wrong person |
| EX 29:7 | Anointing with oil (also LEV 8:12, LEV 14:18,29, 1SA 10:1, PS 23:5, PS 133:1-2, PS 141:5, MT 6:17, LK 7:46) |
| PS 23:4 | Rod & staff? (also PR 13:24, PR 22:15, others) |
| MT 21:2-5 | Riding into town on a donkey? (also MK 11:2-7, LK 19:28-36, JN 12:14-16) |
| LK 1:24 | Pregnant = seclusion 5 mo? |
| JN 10:34-36 | Jewish declared gods? (reference to PS 82) |
| 1CO 11:4-16 | Head coverings for men and women |
| 1CO 14:34-35 | Women be silent in church |
| ... | |
| MT 7:6 | The dogs, pigs, and pearls comment |
| MT 8:34 | His methods just rub some people the wrong way (full context here is MT 8:28-34) |
| MT 9:12-13 | He came for the sinners, not the self righteous |
| MT 10:12-15 | He tells His disciples to shrug off unbelievers and move on to the next town |
| MT 11:20-24 | He didn't force conversion on everyone He met, some cities just didn't get it |
| MT 13 | Multiple accounts of Jesus differentiating wicked and righteous people (with no reference to converting the wicked) |
| MT 15:12-14 | He didn't waste time pressuring the leaders in hopes that getting them would cause a trickle down |
| MK 5:35-43 | When people laughed at Him about Jairus' daughter being asleep he didn't debate them. |
| LK 8:11-15 | Jesus explains the parable with the four kinds of soil |
| LK 10:6,10-11 | Jesus warns his disciples of the kinds of receptions they will experience |
| JN 12:47-48 | When He was here, he allowed people to make their own choices and He simply warned there would be consequences later |
| JN 18:37 | Everyone who cares, not everyone |
| 1CO 5:4-5 | Paul recommended throwing an unrepentant believer to Satan, again in 1TI 1:19-20 |
| ... | ... |
| PS 75:2-10 | God alone has the right |
| MT 7:1-5 | Do not be judgmental (compare RO 2:1-11) |
| MT 7:15-20 | Be discerning of false prophets |
| JN 1:14,17 | Jesus brought grace and truth, not just one of these |
| JN 3:16-18 | Jesus was sent 2,000 year ago to save the world, not bring judgment upon it (He will return and bring jugment, but not yet, compare JN 14:27) |
| JN 8:1-11 | Let he who is without sin cast the first stone |
| JN 12:47-48 | Christ does/will not judge us, even in our disobedience, until He returns again |
| RO 14:9-18 | Since Christ is lord [not us] why judge each other? |
| 1CO 4:3-5 | Judge nothing, wait for Christ to return |
| 1CO 5:9-13 | God will deal with non-believers, so do not judge them, but for believers be very critical of explicit hypocrisy |
| ... | |
Note 1: speaking of judgment, do we believe God when He says He is slow to anger & full of love (EX 34:6-7) and then later when He says why He came in the most famous verse in the Bible (JN 3:16-17). Consider the following examples where God withheld judgment (punishment) much longer than we likely would have:
Note 2: I have to remind my 5 year old 'you worry about you' all the time as she tattles on her sister who hasn't even done anything wrong. We think God has an obligation to explain everything to us, but He doesn't. Consider Jesus' response when
Note 3: Avoiding being judgmental means we don't condemn people, but we must always use discernment and good judgment (MT 7:17-20, MT 10:16, LK 11:34-36)
- Abraham, Sodom & Gamorah (GE 18:16-33)
- Israel's nation wide disobedience & how many generations it took for God to exile them (...)
- God restored his people after only two generations of exile (...)
- God sent his Son knowing how He would be treated (...)
- God has been holding back judgment just for our benefit (...)
Note 2: I have to remind my 5 year old 'you worry about you' all the time as she tattles on her sister who hasn't even done anything wrong. We think God has an obligation to explain everything to us, but He doesn't. Consider Jesus' response when
- People are likely asking Jesus about the fate of the people who had a tower fall on them (LK 13:1-5),
- Peter asks how John will die (JN 21:19-22),
Note 3: Avoiding being judgmental means we don't condemn people, but we must always use discernment and good judgment (MT 7:17-20, MT 10:16, LK 11:34-36)
| ISA 5:18-19 | This is aimed at unbelievers/scoffers, but a good reminder for all |
| JOB 19:25 | Jesus will reign over the planet |
| PS 21:8-12 | A prayer calling for it rather than explicit prophecy |
| PS 50:1-6 | God summons all humanity (really PS 50:1-23) |
| PS 102:25-26 | The world/universe we know will be replaced |
| ISA 2:2 | The mountain of the Lord's house |
| ISA 13:9-13 | The stars (including the Sun and then the Moon) will go dark |
| ISA 24:1-23 | The earth will be laid waste & devastated |
| ISA 26:19 | The earth will give birth to her dead |
| ISA 32:1-8 | No longer will the fool be called noble |
| ISA 34:1-4 | The sky [will be] rolled up like a scroll |
| ISA 51:5-6 | The sky will disappear and earth wear out like cloth |
| ISA 60 | Darkness will cover the earth, except Jerusalem. Ships like clouds? |
| ZEC 2:1-5 | Wall of fire around city |
| JER 49:34-39 | In the last days the fortunes of the city of Elam will be restored |
| EZK 36:1-15 | Refertilization of Israel |
| EZK 36:16-38 | Exiles return and get a new dose of Spirit |
| EZK 37:15-28 | Israel and Judah reunited with one leader |
| EZK 38-39 | Gog attacks Israel but is thwarted by God and backfires (also in REV 20:1-9) |
| EZK 40-48 | Vision of God's future temple |
| DAN 7 | Four beasts |
| DAN 9:20-27 | Seventy sevens |
| DAN 10-12 | Northern and southern kingdoms continuously fight |
| JOEL 1-3 | Locust plague, visions & dreams abound |
| JOEL 2:1-11,28-32 | Wonders on heaven and earth, including sun going dark (also in JOEL 3:15-16) |
| AM 5:18-20 | Don't wish it to happen sooner than later |
| MIC 4:1-7 | A few insights |
| ZEP 1:2-6 | God is mad, here is why |
| ZEC 14 | Quite a description, the part about no light yet continuous day is most interesting to me |
| MAL 4:1-3 | The wicked will be burned up and the righteous will tread upon them |
| MT 12:33-37 | We will be held accountable for our speech on "judgment day" |
| MT 13:36-43,47-50 | Good and evil people will have different fates |
| MT 16:27-28 | Jesus will judge us by our deeds (could this be a reference to the resurrection rather than last days?) |
| MT 24:23-44 | No one knows when Jesus will return except God the Father (also in AC 1:6-7 and 1TH 5:1-3) |
| MT 25:31-46 | How we treat others during our time on Earth is extremely important |
| MK 13 | Lots of stuff (compare LK 21:5-36) (though some of this refers to destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD) |
| LK 11:31-32 | Unexpected judges |
| LK 13:22-30 | It is important to know God personally and not enough to simply acknowledge His existence |
| LK 17:20-37 | Signs, false signs and timing |
| LK 19:11-27 | Investing (obedience) and consequences (disobedience) |
| AC 2:16-21 | Did Peter think JOEL 2:28-32 was being fulfilled that day? The rest of Joel 2 seems to be more about the end times? |
| 1CO 15:21-28 | The end of the end (or the end of the beginning) |
| 1CO 15:51-53 | One of the passages used to support the concept of the "rapture" (see also 1TH 4:16-17) |
| 1TH 4:13-5:11 | Paul writes a whole letter for reassurance that (but not when) Jesus will return |
| 2TH 1:7-10 | Jesus will return in a blazing fire |
| 1TI 4:1-5 | People will turn away from their faith and follow demons |
| 1TI 6:15 | At the perfect time |
| 2TI 3:1-9 | People will love only themselves, money, be boastful and proud, scoff at God, disobedient to their parents and ungrateful. |
| 2TI 4:3-4 | Selective learning |
| 1PE 4:7 | The end is near, pray hard |
| 2PE 3:3-13 | The heavens will be lit on fire and our world will be caught up in the destruction. Scoffers will mock truth, follow their own desires, deny God's role in creation |
| REV 20:11-15 | A second death and lake of fire |
| PS 84:10 | Better than anything we can imagine |
| ISA 32:1-8 | Jesus the honest king |
| ISA 65:17-25 | So wonderful we will not even think about the old world |
| ISA 66:22-24 | We will worship God and see in horror those who rebelled against Him |
| DAN 12:2-3 | Some go to heaven and some go to hell |
| MT 19:28-30 | Least will be greatest, greatest will be least |
| MK 12:25 | No marriage (also LK 20:34-36) |
| LK 16:19-31 | The rich man and Lazarus |
| RO 8:23 | New bodies |
| 1CO 13:8-13 | We will have unprecedented understanding of everything |
| 1CO 15:35-55 | Paul compares earthly and heavenly bodies to seeds that die and are raised to new life as something even greater |
| 2CO 5:1-10 | God will hand make new heavenly bodies for us |
| EPH 2:7 | There will be multiple future ages |
| PHP 3:21 | Another offhand matter of fact reference |
| 1TH 4:13-5:11 | Description of the resurrection of believers |
| 2PE 3:13 | Full of righteousness |
| 1JN 3:2 | He intentionally has not told us everything yet |
| REV 7:13-17 | Serve God day and night, never go hungry or thirsty or get scorched by the heat of the sun |
| REV 21:1-7 | The arrival of the new heaven and new earth |
| REV 21:22-22:5 | The New Jerusalem with the river and trees of life |
Summary highlights of how "to be or not to be"
See also more one liners worth remembering (above.)
Consider: How would we act if everyone mimicked us?
|
Do PS 37:3-7 1CO 13:4-7 1CO 16:13-14 2CO 13:11 GAL 5:22-23 EPH 4:2-3 COL 3:10-17 COL 4:5-6 1TI 6:11-12 TIT 2:12-13 HEB 10:32-34 HEB 12:12-15 JAM 3:17-18 JAM 4:7-10 1PE 2:1,16-17 1PE 3:8-12 1PE 4:7-9 2PE 1:5-7 ... |
The 10 EX 19-20:20 EX 31:18-34:35 DT 5 DT 9-10:5 |
Don't LEV 18-20 PS 10:2-4,7-11 PS 37:7-8 PS 50:16-22 PR 3:27-32 PR 22:22-28 AC 15:28-29 RO 1:28-32 2CO 12:20-22 GAL 5:16-21 EPH 4:17-5:14 COL 3:5-9 2TI 3:1-6 1PE 4:3 2PE 2:10-15 REV 9:20-21 REV 21:8 REV 22:15 ... |
Blended PS 15 EZE 18:5-18 RO 12:9-13:10 RO 13:12-14 2CO 4:2 2CO 4:8-9 EPH 5:15-21 PHP 2:1-16 PHP 4:6-9 1TH 5:12-22 1TI 4:11-16 1TI 5:21-23 2TI 2:3-19 2TI 2:22-25 TIT 3:1-2 HEB 13:1-9 1PE 4:14-16 JUDE 1:17-23 ... |
Consider: How would we act if everyone mimicked us?
To be or not to be content
|
Always content with what we have JOB 1:21 PR 12:12 PR 16:19,32 EC 6:9 HAB 3:17-18 LK 14:10-11 PHP 4:11-13 1TI 6:6-10 HEB 13:5 ... |
Never content with what we give/who we are PR 21:26 LK 6:38 1TI 6:18 ... |
Old Testament God versus New Testament God (This section is just an idea so far)
Some people claim the God of the Old Testament is wrathful and when we get to the New Testament it's like He's come in touch with his feminine side. Let's look into that:
| Love | Wrath | |
| Old |
DT 33:3 EX 34:5-7 PS 100:5 1CH 16:34 JOEL 2:13 ... |
ISA 30:27 ... |
| New |
... |
MT 22:7 RO 1:18 REV ... |
Notice that the Old Testament covers 98% of the timespan of the Bible. There are many centuries in Genesis and during the time of the Kings when God's people didn't invoke His anger. We just don't have the followup in the New Testament like we do in the Old. Most important though is not when God's wrath appears but why. It's always in response to our prideful rebellion and never because we simply failed to live up to His standards. (We sadden and/or disappoint Him when we don't live up to His standards, but it's willfull disobedience or disregard that brings wrath.)
God made a covenant with Abraham (GE 17:3-8) and then confirmed it with Moses (EX 6:2-5), and Joshua reminded the people of it (JOS 8:30-35 & JOS 24:1-28) but the people kept having a hard time following through ( JER 3:8, AM 2:11-12, AM 5:25-27 ). Don't forget the context of GE 4:7 and AM 3:2. And it's not like God didn't warn them/us (LEV 26:3-45).
God made a covenant with Abraham (GE 17:3-8) and then confirmed it with Moses (EX 6:2-5), and Joshua reminded the people of it (JOS 8:30-35 & JOS 24:1-28) but the people kept having a hard time following through ( JER 3:8, AM 2:11-12, AM 5:25-27 ). Don't forget the context of GE 4:7 and AM 3:2. And it's not like God didn't warn them/us (LEV 26:3-45).
Jesus: Lion and Lamb
|
Lion MT 10:34-39 MT 25:31-46 MK 8:38 JN 15:1-8 REV 5:5 REV 19:11-16 |
Lamb MT 11:28-30 MT 20:28 JN 1:29,36 1JN 2:2 REV |
Jesus Versus Others (This section is just a start)
| Detail | Jesus human manifestation | Prophets/Judges | Angels |
| Born of _ woman | Virgin | Barren or normal | N/A |
| Able to see the future | Yes | When shown | When shown |
| Sinless | Yes | No | No |
| Claim to be the same essence as God | Yes | No | No |
| Claim to be the only way to God | Yes | No | No |
| Heaven opened up and God publicly declared His Son | Yes | No | No |
| Murdered | Yes | Often | N/A |
| Ressurected from the dead | Yes | No | No |
The Bible specifically denies that Jesus was an angel in HEB 1:3-14.
Questioning versus Doubting God (this section is just an idea so far, here are my initial concept notes)
James...
Editor's note: Why is it that Jesus asked so many questions and Christians think it's their job to give so many answers?
Future possibilities:|
Questioning Gideon... Habakkuk... Mary... ZEC 1:19 ... |
Doubting Eve... King Saul... Job... Zechariah... Thomas... ... |
Editor's note: Why is it that Jesus asked so many questions and Christians think it's their job to give so many answers?
- Two kinds of life (?)
- Three kinds of Hebrew love (Agape, Phileus, Eros)
- Four kinds of flesh (1CO 15:39)
Ahead of Science
Origin of Traditions
| GE 2:24 | 2 people becoming 1 flesh (conception was not biologically understood until ?) |
| GE 6:14-16 | The design God gave to Noah to build the ark (6:1 length:width ratio) are still used in modern ship building today (worldwideflood.com.) By the way it had a cargo capacity of over 500 box cars. |
| LEV 13-14 | Dealing with diseases (germs were not discovered by the western world until the mid 16-17th centuries) |
| LEV 14:8 | Bathing suggestions are mentioned 22 times in Leviticus and Numbers |
| LEV 17:11-14 | God tells us that the blood is a major component of life but blood letting was common in the west until the 1600's and it wasn't until the 1900's that the circulatory system was understood (repeated DT 12:23) |
| JOB 28:25 | Weight of wind (esp AMP or KJV) discovered in 1643 barometer, 1648 Pascal altimeter, 1657 volume of air reduces with pressure, weight of air is about 14 pounds per square inch in all directions |
| JOB 37:15 | Existence of the Hydrologic (Water) Cycle (see wikipedia for definition) which wasn't documented by the West until around the 1500's and by the Far East as early as 500 BC. See also EC 1:7, PS 135:7, ISA 55:10 and JER 51:16) |
| JOB 38:24 | (esp AMP or KJV, light parted/divided) 1665 Isaac Newton 42 degrees angle of refraction |
| ISA 40:22 | The circle of the earth (heliocentrism was not given credit by the western world until the mid 17th century, consider also PS 103:12) |
7 day week: GE 1:1-2:3 (reinforced in EX 20:8-11, EX 23:12, EX 31:14-17, EX 34:21, EX 35:1-3, LEV 23:3 and DT 5:12-15)
Human supremacy: GE 1:26-28
Diet/nutrition: GE 1:29-30 (plants) GE 9:1-4 (meat) LEV 3:17 (no fat or blood)
Gardening: GE 2:15
Marriage: GE 2:24
Clothes: GE 3:6-14
Birth labor being a pain: GE 3:16
Work being a pain: GE 3:17-19
Various standards of morality: EX 20:1-17 (the 10 commandments) EX 21:1-23:13 (fairness, crime, justice) LEV 18-20 (perversion, holiness) LEV 24:17-22 (eye for an eye) LEV 25:1-12 (jubilee)
The Golden Rule: MT 7:12, LK 6:27-31, MT 5:38-41
Leaders in the Church
Deacons: 1TI 3 (also mentioned in PHP 1:1)
Elders: 1PE 5:1-9 (also mentioned over a hundred times elsewhere)
Human supremacy: GE 1:26-28
Diet/nutrition: GE 1:29-30 (plants) GE 9:1-4 (meat) LEV 3:17 (no fat or blood)
Gardening: GE 2:15
Marriage: GE 2:24
Clothes: GE 3:6-14
Birth labor being a pain: GE 3:16
Work being a pain: GE 3:17-19
Various standards of morality: EX 20:1-17 (the 10 commandments) EX 21:1-23:13 (fairness, crime, justice) LEV 18-20 (perversion, holiness) LEV 24:17-22 (eye for an eye) LEV 25:1-12 (jubilee)
Editors note: The 'law' was given at a time when the recipients had just been freed from hundreds of years of earthly bondage. It was not given to help them free themselves, they were already free! It was to inform them how to live to prolong their freedom. Not as arbitrary stipulations of a ritualistic God, but as insight into a form of "source code" of how people were designed to live (LEV 25:18-19), or in some cases just a way to differentiate God's people from the rest of the world (LEV 20:24-26, NUM 23:9). Even still its ultimate intent was actually far greater (see Law, Faith & Deeds above, especially RO 3:19-28).
Scapegoats: LEV 16:7-10The Golden Rule: MT 7:12, LK 6:27-31, MT 5:38-41
Leaders in the Church
Deacons: 1TI 3 (also mentioned in PHP 1:1)
Elders: 1PE 5:1-9 (also mentioned over a hundred times elsewhere)
The 10 Commandments (this section is just an idea so far, here are my initial concept notes)
See EX 19-20:20 &
DT 5
and related EX 31:18-34:35,
related DT 6,
DT 9-10:5.
| Commandment | Memory Key | Comments | See also verses |
| 1 | One | there can be only one | |
| 2 | Taboo | no idols | |
| 3 | Vanity | respect the name | |
| 4 | Church door | respect the Sabbath | EX 31:12-18, JER 17:21-27, MT 12:1-13 |
| 5 | Alive | respect your parents | MT 5:21-26 |
| 6 | 6 feed under | don't murder | |
| 7 | 7 year itch | don't lust | MT 5:27-30 |
| 8 | Go straight | don't thieve | |
| 9 | Malign | don't lie | |
| 10 | Perfect 10 | don't covet |
- First four are about our relationship with God, last six are about our relationship with others, 4 & 5 are specifically about you/me/us.
- What is the point? (Paul tells this informs us of sin, not makes us good)
- What can we do then? (GAL 5:22-23)
- Most important commandment? (MT 22:34-40 and MK 12:28-34, quoting DT 6:5 and LEV 19:18)
- Why did Jesus come, what was his core message that was worth brutal murder before His resurrection? (Besides JN 3:16.) We should love God and love people. However radical, this wasn't a new idea. He was summarizing the first 4 and last 6 of the 10 commandments. Those were hand delivered by the God of creation, who was the same God in the Old Testament, New Testament and today.
Special numbers to the Hebrews/Israelites/Jews (this section is just an idea so far, here are my initial concept notes)
| 1 | DT 6:4 |
| 3 | MT 28:19 |
| 7 | Completion |
| 12 | |
| 40 |
GE 7:4 (followup GE 7:12, GE 7:17, GE 8:6) The rains came down for 40 days and nights. EX 16:35 (followup DT 2:7, DT 8:2-4, DT 29:5, NEH 9:21, AM 2:10, AM 5:25, ACT 7:36-42, HEB 3:9) The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years after being freed from slavery. EX 24:18 (followup EX 34:28, DT 9:9-10:10) Moses talked with God for 40 days on Mt Sinai. NUM 13:25 (followup NUM 14:33-34, NUM 32:13, JOS 5:6, PS 95:10, ACT 13:18, HEB 3:17) They spy on Canaan 40 days then when they doubt God's ability to deliver it to them they are punished to wander the desert another 40 years. DT 25:3 (followup 2CO 11:24) Punishments for a fellow Israelite must not exceed 40 lashes. JOS 14:7-10 Joshua was 40 years old when he spied on Cannan in NUM 13 and 85 by the time they're done conquering it, that works out just right for both sets of 40 years to be literal. JDG 3:11 (also JDG 5:31, JDG 8:28, JDG 13:1, 1SA 4:18) There were a few period of 40 years of peace or oppression during the time of the judges. 1SA 13:1 (also 1KI 14:21, 1KI 15:10, 2KI 2:24, 2KI 10:14, 2KI 14:23, 2CH 12:13, 2CH 16:13, JN 2:20, REV 13:5) If the number 40 were essentially a euphamism then why would it not be applied correctly here? 1SA 17:16 Golliath taunted Isarel for 40 days. 2SA 2:10 (also 2SA 5:4, 1KI 2:11, 1KI 11:42, 2KI 12:1, 1CH 29:27, 2CH 9:30, 2CH 24:1, ACT 13:21) Some of the kings had 40 year reigns, including David and Solomon. 1KI 19:8 David travels 40 days and nights from Jerusalem to Mt Horeb. 2KI 8:9 Forty loads of loot are sent to the prophet Elisha. NEH 5:15 The remaining Israelites are taxed $40 plus food & wine after their comrads are exiled. EZE 29:11-13 Egypt will be punished 40 years. JNH 3:4 Jonah preached 40 days until destruction for the Ninevites. MT 4:2 (also MT 4:2, MK 1:13, LK 4:2) ACT 1:3 Jesus was with witnesses for 40 days after His ressurection. ACT 7:23-30 Moses was 40 before he dared to mingle with his own people and he spent his own 40 years in exile. |
| 70 |
Verse counts for each of the Apostles (this section is just an idea so far, here are my initial concept notes)
Apostles are defined in MT 10:2-4, MK 3:16-19, and LK 6:13-16.
(Perhaps split by gospels, acts, and other?)
| Peter | 178 | |
| John | 161 | |
| Simon | 73 | Note there was Simon Peter and Simon the Zealot |
| Philip | 42 | |
| Judas | 42 | |
| James | 38 | |
| Andrew | 13 | |
| Thomas | 11 | |
| Matthew | 6 | |
| Bartholomew | 4 | |
| Matthias | 3 | |
| Thaddaeus | 2 |
Breakdown of Proverbs (this section is just an idea so far, here are my initial concept notes)
4 Kinds of Proverbs
4 Kinds of People
| Synonymous | (two similar ideas) | PR 11:19 |
| Antithetical | (two opposite ideas) | PR 10:17 |
| Synthetic | (additive) | PR 29:5 |
| Comparative | (explain life) | PR 26:14 |
| Discerning | PR 1:5 |
| Foolish | PR 1:7 |
| Simple | PR 1:4 |
| Wise | PR 1:5-6 |
Precedence for the Trinity
The theological "trinity," or Godhead, is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, especially in context of the verses listed in the controversial topic on The Trinity (above). Is there any reason to believe such a triune entity could exist? Let's look at a few things He created:
| Mater | Space | Time |
| Solid | Length | Past |
| Liquid | Width | Present |
| Gas | Height | Future |
If we're so bad then why doesn't God just... (this section is just an idea so far, here are my initial concept notes)
- ...start over? He already did that once. Remember Noah?
- ...show himself to me? He already did and it doesn't help. Remember Jezebel and the demonstration she saw on Mt Carmel? Remember what the people of Jesus' day got to see? His appearance 2,000 year ago was adequate personal visitation once for all.
- ...correct me? He's trying but we're just not paying attention. Remember that God is obsessed with free will but that doesn't make it more important than holiness.
Seven Days of Creation
| Day 1 | GE 1:1-5 | God created the Earth as a formless, empty, dark, mass of water. In addition God created light, but also allowed darkness, thereby allowing night and day. | Note there are no stars and therefore no Sun yet, and the world was water first, not dust & gas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Day 2 | GE 1:6-8 | God separated water below from water above, thereby creating the sky. | Note, could this water have been dropped to Earth in the great flood? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Day 3 | GE 1:9-13 | God created dry land and formed the specific seas. Then he invented seed bearing plants, including trees. | Note there is still no Sun. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Day 4 | GE 1:14-19 | God created the stars, as well as two great lights (the Sun and Moon). | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Day 5 | GE 1:20-23 | God created water creatures and birds. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Day 6 | GE 1:24-2:1 | God created land creatures, then Adam and then Eve. | Note, God made male and female in one verse. It is not until three verses later that it says there was the sixth day, so they must have been made on the same day. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Day 7 | GE 2:2-3 | God rested. | Note, this is not an exhaustion rest, but a sit back and enjoy rest. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other passages that describe what happened at the dawn of time:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Read my 'Creation vs Evolution FAQ' spinoff page... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Male Headship
Many Americans are uncomfortable with the concept of male headship. Possibly because of all the media coverage (mostly from make-believe sitcoms and so-called "reality" TV) that make men look so stupid. But let's count the reasons this doctrine is true.
Since Eve was made from Adam (not the dust of the ground like all other animals) she has a special version of equality with Adam not shared by any other creature. Note the general theme with the curse that the buck stopped with Adam because he was in charge, and because he slipped up all of creation suffers. Now lets look at the new testament to get a picture of what headship means.
| GE 2:7 | (1) God makes Adam first |
| GE 2:18 | (2) God says Adam needs a helper |
| GE 2:19 | Reminder that every animal was made from the dust of the ground |
| GE 2:20 | Adam names all the animals, possibly to prove none of them are suitable helpers |
| GE 2:21 | (3) God creates Eve from Adam (not from dust) while Adam's asleep (otherwise Adam would have taken at least partial credit) |
| GE 2:22 | (4) God brings Eve to Adam (compare to how subjects and visitors are escorted to visit kings, not the other way around) |
| GE 2:23 | (5) Adam names the female gender (anyone who gets to name something is it's master) |
| GE 3:16 | (6) Eve cursed to be ruled by her husband |
| GE 3:17-19 | (7) Adam's curse applies to Eve but Eve's doesn't apply to Adam |
| GE 3:20 | (8) Adam names his wife Eve |
| GE 3:22-24 | (9) God only refers to Adam in this final and immediate portion of the curse, so it's understood that Eve is subordinate and therefore also affected |
Since Eve was made from Adam (not the dust of the ground like all other animals) she has a special version of equality with Adam not shared by any other creature. Note the general theme with the curse that the buck stopped with Adam because he was in charge, and because he slipped up all of creation suffers. Now lets look at the new testament to get a picture of what headship means.
| 1CO 11:3 | The hierarchy |
| 1CO 11:7-12 | Woman from (and for) man, man from woman |
| EPH 5:23 | Another hierarchy |
| 1TI 2:12-14 | Paul's comment about women teaching or having authority over men and why |
| ? | Some verse(s) about Jesus giving his life for the church (compare TIT 2:14) |
Genesis: the origin of...
| Obvious physical things |
Observable realities |
Moral standards |
Subtle |
|
·animals ·birds ·continents ·dinosaur (and most other) fossils ·fish ·hand tools ·light ·musical instruments ·people ·planets ·plants ·rainbows ·stars |
·death ·eating & diets ·labor is painful ·languages ·life ·life spans ·music ·people cover the globe ·races ·reproductive pattern (biogenesis) ·sacrifice ·suffering ·work is hard work |
·clothing ·human supremacy & responsibility ·marriage ·men relationship to women ·murder ·need for savior ·separation from God ·women relationship to men |
·human attraction to gardening/ care taking ·most animals fear (avoid attacking) humans ·Satanic influences |
24/6! ... 24/7 ~ Genesis 1-11!
My brief outline of Genesis
| GE 1:1-2:4 | Creation, general |
| GE 2:4-25 | Creation, emphasis on Adam |
| GE 3 | The fall of man |
| GE 4 | Cain & Abel |
| GE 5 | The early descendents of Adam & Eve |
| GE 6:1-8 | Briefing on current events |
| GE 6:9-9:17 | Noah and the global flood |
| GE 9:18-10:32 | The early descendents of Noah |
| GE 11:1-9 | The Tower of Babel |
| GE 11:10-11:32 | The early descendents of Shem (Noah's first son) |
| GE 12-23 | Abraham (Abram) & Sarah (Sarai) |
| GE 24-26 | Abraham's son, Isaac & Rebekah |
| GE 27-35 | Isaac's son, Jacob, Rachel & Leah |
| GE 36 | The early descendents of Isaac's son Esau |
| GE 37-50 | Jacobs's sons, especially Joseph (remember Judah is Jesus' ancestor, not Joseph) |
| REV 1:1-8 | Intro | |
| REV 1:9-20 | A vision of Christ | |
| Letters to the seven churches | ||
| REV 2:1-7 | Ephesus | |
| REV 2:8-11 | Smyrna | |
| REV 2:12-17 | Pergamum | |
| REV 2:18-29 | Thyatira | |
| REV 3:1-6 | Sardis | |
| REV 3:7-13 | Philadelphia | |
| REV 3:14-22 | Laodicia | |
| REV 4:1-11 | God worshiped on his throne by 4 animals and 24 elders (remember EZK 1:1-3:14) | |
| Beginning of the Great Tribulation with a scroll with seven seals | ||
| REV 5:1-14 | Who is worthy to open the scroll? Jesus the Lamb of God | |
| REV 6:1-8 | Breaking the 1st four seals brings the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse": (compare ZEC 1:8) · White: wins victories · Red: removes peace from Earth · Black: (not clear, some sort of judgment) · Pale green: brings death to ¼ the Earth | |
| REV 6:9-11 | Breaking the 5th seal brings martyrs asking for justice, but they are told to wait | |
| REV 6:12-17 | Breaking the 6th seal makes the heavens, mountains, and islands disappear, and the sky is rolled back and taken away, and all people try to hide from judgment | |
| REV 7:1-8 | Four angels hold back the four winds of the Earth, and God's people get His seal on their forehead | |
| REV 7:9-17 | Innumerable people robed in white worship God | |
| REV 8:1-2 | Breaking the 7th seal brings silence for ½ hour, then 7 angels are given 7 trumpets | |
| REV 8:3-5 | An angel offers incense to God | |
| Seven trumpets | ||
| REV 8:6-12 | The first 4 angels blow their trumpets | |
| REV 8:13-9:12 | The 5th angel blows the 5th trumpet, bringing the 1st terror: locusts with horse bodies, human heads and a scorpion's sting to torture people for 5 months | |
| REV 9:13-21 | The 6th angel blows the 6th trumpet, bringing the 2nd terror: 4 more angels on horses bring fire, smoke and burning sulfur | |
| REV 10:1-11 | An angel has a sweet and sour scroll and warns of the 3rd terror | |
| REV 11:1-4 | The 2 witnesses | |
| REV 11:5-19 | The 7th angel blows the 7th trumpet, lots of voices are heard in heaven and God's temple opens | |
| Dragon and the two beasts | ||
| REV 12:1-18 | The symbolic woman and the dragon, a metaphorical history lesson (followup REV 17:1-7) | |
| REV 13:1-10 | The 1st beast comes out of the sea and serves the dragon | |
| REV 13:11-18 | The 2nd beast comes out of the earth and serves the 1st (REV 14-15: the statue (see DAN 9:27, 11:31-32, 12:11-12, MT 24:15-25, MK 13:14-23) REV 16-18: the mark) | |
| End of the Great Tribulation | ||
| REV 14:1-5 | 144,000 worship God with a new song (compare DAN 7:10) | |
| REV 14:6-13 | 3 angels fly across the sky with proclamations and warnings | |
| REV 14:14-16 | The righteous are harvested from the Earth | |
| REV 14:17-20 | The unrighteous are harvested from the Earth | |
| REV 15:2-4 | The righteous praise God on a sea of glass & fire | |
| Seven bowls | ||
| REV 15:1,5-16:1 | 7 angels are introduced with the last 7 plagues | |
| REV 16:2 | 1st angel, 1st plague: sores appear on those carrying the mark of the beast | |
| REV 16:3 | 2nd angel, 2nd plague: the sea turns to blood and everything in it dies | |
| REV 16:4-7 | 3rd angel, 3rd plague: the rivers & springs turn to blood | |
| REV 16:8-9 | 4th angel, 4th plague: a sun burst burns everyone, they curse God but do not repent | |
| REV 16:10-11 | 5th angel, 5th plague: kingdom of the beast plunged into darkness, people again curse God and do not repent | |
| REV 16:12 | 6th angel, 6th plague: Euphrates dried up in prep for war | |
| REV 16:13-16 | 3 frogs (spirits) come from the mouth of the beast, preparations begin for war at Armageddon | |
| REV 16:17-21 | 7th angel, 7th plague: the worst earthquake the world has ever seen followed by 75 pound hailstorm followed by more grumbling against God | |
| End of time | ||
| REV 17:1-7 | John is shown a vision of a woman (prostitute) sitting on a dragon (remember REV 12) | |
| REV 17:8-18 | The vision is explained by an angel | |
| REV 18:1-24 | Angelic and divine description of the impending complete and final destruction of Babylon | |
| REV 19:1-10 | Heaven rejoices at the fall of Babylon | |
| REV 19:11-16 | The 2nd coming of Jesus Christ | |
| REV 19:17-21 | The 'battle' of Armageddon (pretty lopsided), the imprisonment of the beast and the false prophet | |
| REV 20:1-3 | Temporary imprisonment of Satan | |
| REV 20:4-6 | The 1,000 year reign of Christ and the resurrected martyrs of the beast | |
| REV 20:7-9 | Satan let free, gathers people to war against God, but God just sends fire from heaven and kills them all | |
| REV 20:10 | Satan imprisoned forever | |
| REV 20:11-15 | The 2nd (final) judgment and 2nd death (for those whose names are not written in the Book of Life) | |
| Beginning of eternity | ||
| REV 21:1-8 | Presentation of the new Heaven, new Earth & new Jerusalem (compare REV 21:1 to REV 20:11) | |
| REV 21:9-27 | Detailed description of the new Jerusalem city | |
| REV 22:1-5 | Description of the river and trees just outside the city | |
| REV 22:6-21 | Concluding remarks (especially do not add or subtract) | |
| Book | Abbrev. | Author | AC | Type | † | MFV | Summary |
| Genesis | GE | Moses | TA | History | 50 | GE 1:1 | Origin of the universe, all people and the Jewish nation |
| Exodus | EX | Moses | TA | History | 40 | EX 10:3 | Exit from Egypt, first exposure to the moral law |
| Leviticus | LEV | Moses | TA | History | 27 | Holy God explains how to worship Him with the ceremonial law for the Levites | |
| Numbers | NU | Moses | TA | History | 36 | Mix of statistics, ceremonial reminders, and events during the wandering | |
| Deuteronomy | DT | Moses | SE | Recap | 34 | DT 6:4 | Repetition of the law & national history (written just before they enter the promised land) |
| Joshua | JOS | Joshua | TA | History | 24 | JOS 1:7 | Taking the promised land |
| Judges | JDG | Samuel | P | History | 21 | JDG 17:6 | Early years as a sovereign nation |
| Ruth | RU | Samuel | P | History | 4 | RU 1:16 | Two womens' struggle for faith and survival |
| 1 Samuel | 1SA | Samuel | P | History | 31 | 1SA 8:7 | The prophet Samuel, king Saul, servant David |
| 2 Samuel | 2SA | Abiathar | P | History | 24 | 2SA 12:7 | King David's military victories and family struggles |
| 1 Kings | 1KI | Jeremiah | P | History | 22 | 1KI 18:24 | King Solomon, the kingdom divides, prophet Elijah (probably written during Babylonian captivity) |
| 2 Kings | 2KI | Jeremiah | P | History | 25 | The prophet Elisha, Israel conquered, then Judah | |
| 1 Chronicles | 1CH | Ezra | TA | Recap | 29 | Genealogy of Adam to Saul and reign of David (also probably written during Babylonian captivity, reassuring Jews they are God's chosen people) | |
| 2 Chronicles | 2CH | Ezra | TA | Recap | 36 | Reign of Solomon (compare 1 Kings) | |
| Ezra | EZR | Ezra | TA | History | 10 | Returning from Babylonian captivity to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, relearning God's will | |
| Nehemiah | NE | Ezra | TA | History | 13 | Rebuilding & dedication of the wall around Jerusalem | |
| Esther | EST | EZR or NE | P | History | 10 | EST 4:14 | The Jewish girl who became queen of Persia |
| Job | JOB | Unknown | U | Wisdom | 42 | JOB 1:21 | Job's faith is tested |
| Psalms | PS | Various | SI | Wisdom | 150 | PS 23:4 | Short songs and prayers |
| Proverbs | PR | Various | SI | Wisdom | 31 | PR 1:7 | Short nuggets of wisdom |
| Ecclesiastes | EC | Solomon | SP | Wisdom | 12 | ECC 3:1 | Monologue about meaning (and lack thereof) of life by a man who never had to work for anything |
| Song of Solomon | SS | Solomon | SP | Wisdom | 8 | Love letter between husband and wife | |
| Isaiah | ISA | Isaiah | SI | Prophet | 66 | Judah's disregard of God will be punished, prophecies of the Messiah | |
| Jeremiah | JER | Jeremiah | SI | Prophet | 52 | JER 1:17 | Judah's disregard of God will be punished (fulfilled in last chapter) |
| Lamentations | LA | Jeremiah | P | Prophet | 5 | Judah's disregard of God has been punished | |
| Ezekiel | EZE | Ezekiel | SI | Prophet | 48 | EZE 37:4 | Though in exile the Jews will return, visions |
| Daniel | DA | Daniel | P | Prophet | 12 | DAN 3:17 | Examples of faith on trial of four men living in a hostile land, visions |
| Hosea | HOS | Hosea | P | Prophet | 14 | HOS 1:2 | God has a prophet marry a prostitute to model God's relationship to the Jews |
| Joel | JOEL | Joel | SI | Prophet | 3 | JOEL 2:28 | A locust swarm devastates Israel but God warns is nothing compared to the looming invasion by the Babylonians that is authorized by God because of Israel's disregard for God's will |
| Amos | AM | Amos | SI | Prophet | 9 | AM 5:8 | A simple shepherd warns the nobles of Israel that legalism does not bring righteousness |
| Obadiah | OB | Obadiah | SI | Prophet | 1 | The nation of Edom will pay for their treatment of Israel when Babylon invaded | |
| Jonah | JNH | Unknown | U | Prophet | 4 | God sends a prophet to the Assyrian capital to inspire repentance but the prophet wants God to wipe them out so tries to avoid delivering the message | |
| Micah | MIC | Micah | SP | Prophet | 7 | MIC 6:8 | Israel and Judahs' disregard of God will be punished (false gods & cheating the poor) |
| Nahum | NA | Nahum | SP | Prophet | 3 | Only about 100 years after Jonah the Assyrians have digressed so God will punish them | |
| Habakkuk | HAB | Habakkuk | SI | Prophet | 3 | HAB 2:4 | God can use anyone to accomplish His will, even "evil" people |
| Zephaniah | ZEP | Zephaniah | SI | Prophet | 3 | Judah's idolatry will be punished | |
| Haggai | HAG | Haggai | SI | Prophet | 2 | Returned exiles should focus on God's temple before their own homes | |
| Zechariah | ZEC | Zechariah | SI | Prophet | 14 | ZEC 1:3 | Returned exiles should rebuild God's temple, prophecy of the end times |
| Malachi | MAL | Malachi | SI | Prophet | 4 | MAL 3:10 | Divine criticism of the Jews for being, at best, legalistic in their religion and having no relationship with God |
| Matthew | MT | Matthew | TA | Gospel | 28 | Emphasis on fulfilling prophecy (means He's Messiah), maternal lineage | |
| Mark | MK | John Mark | TA | Gospel | 16 | Emphasis on miracles (means He's divine), suffering servant | |
| Luke | LK | Luke | TA | Gospel | 24 | Emphasis on historical fact/accuracy, His compassion to non-jews & the unclean, paternal lineage | |
| John | JN | John | TA | Gospel | 21 | JN 3:16 | Emphasis on divinity, relationship to the Father, reason for His coming |
| Acts | AC | Luke | TA | History | 28 | Formation of the early Church, Paul's conversion and missionary journeys | |
| Romans | RO | Paul | SI | G.Letter | 16 | Introduction to Christianity for the Romans, whom Paul hoped to someday meet | |
| 1 Corinthians | 1CO | Paul | SI | G.Letter | 16 | Various sin issues have crept into this church since he left | |
| 2 Corinthians | 2CO | Paul | SI | G.Letter | 13 | Only some believed Paul's first letter, others questioned his authority | |
| Galatians | GAL | Paul | SI | G.Letter | 6 | GAL 5:22 | Encouraging good life, not law/legalism of Judaism |
| Ephesians | EPH | Paul | SI | G.Letter | 6 | An explain of the Church's relationship to Jesus | |
| Philippians | PHP | Paul | SI | G.Letter | 4 | Encouraging joy no matter the circumstances, written from prison | |
| Colossians | COL | Paul | SI | G.Letter | 4 | Combating false teaching: Christ is supreme and all we need, rituals don't make us righteous | |
| 1 Thessalonians | 1TH | Paul | SI | G.Letter | 5 | Reassurance that (but not when) Jesus will return | |
| 2 Thessalonians | 2TH | Paul | SI | G.Letter | 3 | Reassurance that Jesus has not yet returned but we should not sit back and wait for the day | |
| 1 Timothy | 1TI | Paul | SI | I.Letter | 6 | Reminder how to be a good a pastor | |
| 2 Timothy | 2TI | Paul | SI | I.Letter | 4 | Departing letter to friend and fellow pastor | |
| Titus | TIT | Paul | SI | I.Letter | 3 | Reminder to fellow pastor how to develop good church leaders | |
| Philemon | PHM | Paul | SI | I.Letter | 1 | Defense of a runaway slave turn believer returning to his master | |
| Hebrews | HEB | Unknown | U | G.Letter | 13 | Jesus is far better than Old Testament Judaism | |
| James | JAM | James | SI | G.Letter | 5 | JAM 2:19 | Exhortation that good works must be a natural result of genuine faith |
| 1 Peter | 1PE | Peter | SI | G.Letter | 5 | Assurance that Roman persecution (any suffering) for the sake of Christ is good | |
| 2 Peter | 2PE | Peter | SI | G.Letter | 3 | Beware of false teachers and teachings, especially from inside the church | |
| 1 John | 1JN | John | TA | I.Letter | 5 | Countering false teaching, clarifying that Jesus was God and man | |
| 2 John | 2JN | John | TA | I.Letter | 1 | Countering false teaching, clarifying that Jesus was here on Earth | |
| 3 John | 3JN | John | TA | I.Letter | 1 | Praise and correction for a couple early church leaders | |
| Jude | JUDE | Jude | SI | G.Letter | 1 | Beware of false teachers and teachings, especially from inside the church | |
| Revelation | REV | John | SI | Prophecy | 22 | Jesus is coming back | |
| 66 | 29+ | 6 | 6 | 1,189 | |||
AC (Authorship Certainty) = P: probably but not certain, SE: stated elsewhere in the Bible, SI: stated internally, SP: strong probability, TA: traditionally attributed, U: unknown
† = Chapters, MFV = Most Famous Verse, G.Letter = Group letter (usually to a church), I.Letter = Individual Letter
(See Answers in Genesis for a graphical depiction of the timeline of the Bible.)
| 4000 | Creation (GE 1-2) |
| 2400 | Global flood (GE 6-9) |
| 1500 | Israelites exodus from Egypt (EX 5-14) |
| 1100 | Kings David & Solomon |
| 600 | Exile to Babylon for 70 years (DA) |
| 0 BC | Jesus' birth (BC = Before Christ) (LK 1-2) |
| 33 AD | Jesus' death & resurrection (AD = Anno Domini, which is Latin for "in the year of the Lord") (MT 26-28, MK 14-16, LK 22-24, JN 18-20) |
| 300 | Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) (wikipedia.org, septuagint.net) |
| 313 | Emperor Constantine I begins the "Peace of the Church" (term from the Old Catholic Encyclopedia describing the Roman empire's move from persecution to toleration and eventual adoption of Christianity) (wikipedia.org, catholicity.com) |
| 325 | The Nicene Creed was agreed upon at the First Council of Nicea (wikipedia.org) |
| 380 | Emperor Theodosius I declares Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire and orders other religions to be called heretical (wikipedia.org) |
| 397 | Final cannon of the protestant New Testament decided at the third Synod (Council) of Carthage (ref 1, 2) |
| 476 | Western half of the Roman Empire disintegrates when the last emperor is deposed and not replaced (Eastern half remains as the Byzantine Empire until 1460) (wikipedia.org) |
| 590 | Vulgate published (Latin translation) (wikipedia.org) |
| 900 | Oldest surviving copy of Masoretic Text (Hebrew version of the Old Testament used as reference when translating some Bibles) (wikipedia.org) |
| 1054 | Catholic church splits (Roman/Latin and Eastern/Greek Orthodoxy) (wikipedia.org) |
| 1095 | The Crusades begin and last almost two centuries (wikipedia.org) |
| 1205 | Chapters added to original texts by Stephen Langton, a professor in Paris who later became Archbishop of Canterbury (Fuller Seminary) |
| 1382 | John Wycliffe is credited to the first English translation of the Bible, though many other partial translations preceded (wikipedia.org) |
| 1439 | Johannes Gutenberg makes his printing press. One of his first projects was a Bible. |
| 1448 | Verses added to Old Testament by Rabbi Isaac Nathan (bibleinfo.com, wikipedia.org) |
| 1517 | Martin Luther's letter on the door (the 95 theses) and "knock heard round the world," sparking the protestant reformation (wikipedia.org) |
| 1526 | William Tyndale's translation of the New Testament is first version to be mass produced by the printing press. (wikipedia.org) |
| 1551 | Verses added to New Testament by Robert Estienne, a Parisian book printer (Fuller Seminary, wikipedia.org) |
| 1560 | The Geneva Bible printed, the first "study bible," the first to use all the verse numbers, and the translation that was used by pilgrams a half century later (wikipedia.org) |
| 1611 | King James Version translation published (wikipedia.org) |
| 1620 | The European pilgrimage to the new world begins with the Plymouth Colony settlers (wikipedia.org) |
| 1947 | Dead Sea Scrolls found (1,800 year old copies of the books of GE, EX, LEV, DT, JDG, SA, EZR, PS, ISA and other non canonical books: wikipedia.org) |
| 1948 | Israel declares independence after the United Nations approves the recreation of the Jewish state (wikipedia.org) |
| 1978 | New International Version translation published (second edition published in 1984) (wikipedia.org, niv.org) |
| 1996 | New Living Translation published (second edition published in 2004) (wikipedia.org, newlivingtranslation.com) |
Translations
Certainly the original text is best, but how many of us can read Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic? Not many, so we are stuck with translations. Here is what I have found to be the high level difference between some of the more common translations we will find in a random Christian bookstore today. My favorite example passage to use when comparing translations is The Lord's Model Prayer, in MT 6:9-13. Here are links to a couple webpages that compare parallel translations side by side: Bible Gateway or Bible Hub.
| Abbreviation | Full Name | Publisher/Copyright | Translation Intent |
| NIV | New International Version | International Bible Society | Clarity, literary quality, readability in style and international in scope. Scholars from five English speaking countries contributed. |
| NLT | New Living Translation | Tyndale Charitable Trust | "Dynamic equivalence" (thought by thought basis, not necessarily word by word) Based on Kenneth Taylor's Living Bible, first published in 1971, also by Tyndale House. |
| KJV | King James Version | Public Domain | In 1604, King James I authorized a new translation of the Bible for official use by the Church of England. This avoids paraphrasing. |
| NKJV | New King James Version | Thomas Nelson, Inc. | Updates the language of its predecessor. |
| NASB | New American Standard Bible | The Lockman Foundation | "To adhere as closely as possible to the original languages of the Holy Scriptures, and to make the translation in a fluent and readable style according to current English usage." (From the forward.) |
| Revised Standard Version | National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA | Thirty scholars sought to express the meaning of the scriptures in language meant for use in worship, with emphasis on the style that gave "the KJV a supreme place in English literature." | |
| MSG | The Message | NavPress Publishing Group | A paraphrase by Eugene Peterson designed as a reading Bible that can give us a fresh perspective on a familiar phrase or passage. |
Terminology
| Apocrypha: | books of the Bible that are included in the Vulgate and Septuagint versions of the Catholic Bible, but not in the Protestant Bible or the Hebrew canon, technically referred to as "deuterocanon" (try an Internet search for "why does the Catholic Bible have" for some interesting reads) |
| Apostasy: | turning away from, typically with criticism, our former religion |
| Apologetics: | proving the truth of Christianity |
| Begotten: | (past tense of beget) to cause to exist/be born (in biological context this refers to the father, not mother) |
| Believe: | to act as if it is true |
| Bethany: | house of bread (especially interesting as birthplace of the "bread of life") |
| Blaspheme: | disrespecting God or sacred things |
| Boredom: | lack of purpose, not lack of activity |
| Canon: | the foundational, definitive and authentic scriptures of a religion |
| Catacomb: | an underground cemetery with passages, tunnels and rooms |
| Catechesis: | oral religious instruction given before baptism or confirmation |
| Courage: | absence of self, not absence of fear |
| Covenant: | a formal/legal agreement/contract |
| Culture: | the norms and traditions that characterize a group of people and are passed from generation to generation non-genetically |
| Decalogue: | the ten commandments |
| Deuteronomy: | Greek for "repetition of the law" |
| Dogma: | religious belief |
| Dogmatic: | prone to expressing strongly held beliefs and opinions |
| Dogmatist: | somebody who expresses strongly held opinions, sometimes new, expecting them to be accepted without question |
| Doxology: | a hymn of praise to God |
| Echelon: | a level in a hierarchy or a tiered formation |
| Eschatology: | a doctrine about death and the afterlife |
| Ethereal: | belonging to the heavens or the celestial sphere |
| Ethics: | application of morals in a business environment |
| Etymology: | the origin and historical development of a word, expression, or other linguistic element |
| Euphemism: | an non-offensive replacement for an offensive expression |
| Exegetics: | theological study & interpretation of scripture |
| Faith: | believing that what God says is true |
| Fornication: | consenting sex but not married |
| Hermeneutics: | a science/methodology/theology of interpreting and explaining texts, especially religious texts/concepts, especially the Bible |
| Holy: | set apart |
| Humility: | putting others before yourself |
| Hyperbole: | deliberate and obvious exaggeration used for effect |
| Indignant: | anger/annoyance at unfairness/unreasonableness |
| Interlude: | a relatively short period of time between two longer periods, during which something happens that is different from what happened before and what will follow |
| Love: | (when we love someone we care about what they care about, and it's always demonstrated by commitment) |
| Malachi: | Hebrew for "messenger" and is not necessarily (but still possibly) a name |
| Maturity: | the speed at which we're willing to do what we know we're supposed to do |
| Masochist: | tendency to invite and enjoy misery of any kind, especially in order to be pitied by others or admired for forbearance |
| Metaphor: | a figure of speech where a description is applied to something but is not literally applicable in order to highlight a comparison |
| Miracle: | an event that appears to be contradictory to the laws of nature, totally amazing and extraodinary |
| Moral: | what is good/just/right or wrong based on conscience |
| Ontology: | the study of being in general, or of what applies neutrally to everything that is real (the science of being) |
| Narcissist: | excessive self-admiration/self-centeredness and the need for the same from others |
| Proselyte: | gentile believer (convert to Judaism) |
| Proselytize: | to convert someone to our belief |
| Purgatory: | a spiritual holding ground before we get to heaven (assuming we aren't going to hell) |
| Sacred: | dedicated/devoted to God or a religious purpose and not to be disrespected |
| Sacrosanct: | extremely sacred, above & beyond criticism or change |
| Sin: | doing wrong (either knowingly or unknowingly) typically as informed by God (note by definition all sin is wrong regardless of current cultural norms) |
| Sovereign: | self-governing, having complete power |
| Sup: | to drink small amounts at one time |
| Superstition: | an improper connection between cause and effect |
| Syncretism: | combining different belief systems that are contradictory or even opposing each other |
| Tithe: | literally means "tenth" in Hebrew |
| Testament: | something that shows that another thing exists/is true, or a formal statement of beliefs |
| Theocracy: | a form of government where God (or a deity) is the supreme civil ruler |
| Unity: | ability to work together despite differences, not to be confused with uniformity |
| Visceral: | motivated by instinct rather than reasoned thinking |
| Witness: | to make Jesus real |
Trivia
- Adam is the name of the first man, who was formed out of the ground, and his name comes from the Hebrew word 'Adamah', which means 'ground'. In ancient times it was common for peoples' names to reflect the situation of their birth. (GE 2:7, GE 3:20, GE 25:25-26,27:36, GE 26:20-22, GE 29:32-30:24, GE 41:51-52, EX 2:10, EX 18:2-4)
- Marriage is not explicitly defined but divorce is. (Marriage is implied in GE 2:18-24.)
- The Tower of Babel is only mentioned in GE 11
- The label Hebrew means people from Hebron (GE 13:18,37:14)
- Jacob had 12 sons, but he also had 1 daughter (GE 30:21). The sons get the whole Bible and the daughter gets GE 34, and she's never mentioned again after GE 46:15.
- The tablets of the 10 commandments were written on front and back (EX 32:15)
- In the tabernacle, the lamp stand alone was made of 75 pounds of gold (EX 25:39)
- First & second Kings were originally one book but were split so they'd fit on two normal sized scrolls.
- There's a second Goliath in 2SA 21:19.
- The last 2 verses in 2 Chronicles are also first 3 verses in Ezra (2CH 36:22-EZ 1:3).
- MIC 4:1-3 is almost identical to ISA 2:2-4 but isn't exlicitly a quote.
- The word "hope" isn't found in NIV84 until the book of Ruth.
- Nehemiah is an excellent model leader, especially his dedication to prayer.
- The word "God" is not found in the books of Esther nor Song of Solomon.
- The term "Jew" is first found in the book of Esther, and starting here the term "Hebrew" is not used again except in Pauline letters or as a language (rather than a people).
- Job is found after Ester in the canon but likely takes place chronologically in the middle of Genesis.
- Joel does not name the sin he is appealing to the people to repent of.
- Nahum is Jonah part 2.
- Jonah, Nahum and Obadiah are prophets to the gentiles.
- Haggai is a contemporary (same time & place) as Ezra.
- Only 2 angels are identified by name in Scripture: Gabriel (DAN 8:16,9:21) and Michael (DAN 10:13,21, JUDE 9, REV 12:7)
- There is a 450 year gap between the last book of the Old Testament and the first book of the New. Keep in mind the USA wrote their Declaration of Independence less than 250 year ago.
- The Old Testament has 78% of the chapters (929 compared to 260 in the New).
- The Old Testament takes place over 98% of the timeline of the Bible (less than 70 years in the New and perhaps a little over 4,000 in the Old). Keep this in mind when comparing God's supposed personality differences between the two testaments (love vs wrath, etc.)
- There are 68 references to synagogues in the New Testament (NIV) but none in the Old.
- Jude mentions 2 events from Old Testament times not mentioned in the canonical Old Testament (JUDE 1:9, 1:14-15).
- The name Jesus is an English translation of the Greek name Joshua.
- There is disagreement over whether angels sing because of the interpretation of the original Greek in Luke 2:13. In all the angelic interactions, they're never described as walking, though presumably it happens in Acts 12:7-10.
- Matthew is the only gospel to use the word 'church' or phrase 'kingdom of heaven', the other 3 use 'kingdom of God'.
- (Humorous) Jesus's opinion on your favorite TV show: MK 13:37
- James & Jude (Judas) could be Jesus' brothers (MT 13:55, MK 6:3)
- The temple tax was only for men 20 or older (EX 38:26) but Jesus only tells Peter to get two people worth of tax money (MT 17:24-27) some disciples lived long after Jesus so perhaps most of them were only teenagers! This would allow MT 4:18-22 and MT 19:10 to make much more sense.
- Stephen is the first recorded martyr for the sake of Christ (AC 7:59-60)
- Antioch is the first recorded place to use the word "christian" (AC 11:26)
- The fourth commandment is the only one not explicitly repeated in the new testament?
- All Paul's letters are followup except Romans.
- All Paul's letters include an expression of gratitude in the introduction except Galatians.
- The order of how Paul's letters appear in the Canon was decided as by length (longest to shortest).
| Shortest verses: | JOB 3:2, LK 20:30, JN 11:35, 1TH 5:16, 1TH 5:17 (2 words each, NIV 2011) or MT 23:14, MK 9:46, LK 17:36 (0 words each in NIV) |
| Shortest chapter: | PS 117 (2 verses) |
| Shortest books: | 2JN (13 verses), 3JN (14/15 verses), OB (21 verses in OT) |
| Longest verses: | DA 5:23 (74 words, NIV), ES 8:9 (72 words, NIV) |
| Longest chapter: | PS 119 (176 verses), (runner up?) |
| Longest book: | PS |
| Chapters with over 99 verses: | ? |
Maps
(I am only listing the Biblical locations that still seem to be on the map today, thanks to Google. My friend's brother made biblemap.org and someone else did something similar with Google here and here. For actual ancient maps we could visit http://www.bible-history.com/maps/. Google links: reverse address finder & address to coordinate converter.)
External Links
Biblically Correct Tours - One man's recommendations on how to tour secular museums etc. and reinforce a Biblical Worldview.
Biblical Research Reports - Someone else's version of a Biblical Worldview webpage (theirs is a whole site though)
BreakPoint - A ministry of Prison Fellowship out of Washington DC.
Christian Answers - Providing biblical answers to contemporary questions for all ages and nationalities.
GotQuestions.org - The Bible has answers, they provide them for us
Project Biblical Worldview - A resource of Northwest Christian Academy in Miami, Florida.
Nehemiah Institute - PEERS (politics, economics, education, religion & social issues) worldview testing. This is basically the most popular form of Christian standardized test, not designed to see how much we know but what we believe.
Sonic Light - A free in-depth Bible commentary.
Summit Ministries - A Biblical worldview training organization (sample).
Timeline of the Bible
Worldview Academy - Two week camps around the country each summer
Biblical Research Reports - Someone else's version of a Biblical Worldview webpage (theirs is a whole site though)
BreakPoint - A ministry of Prison Fellowship out of Washington DC.
Christian Answers - Providing biblical answers to contemporary questions for all ages and nationalities.
GotQuestions.org - The Bible has answers, they provide them for us
Project Biblical Worldview - A resource of Northwest Christian Academy in Miami, Florida.
Nehemiah Institute - PEERS (politics, economics, education, religion & social issues) worldview testing. This is basically the most popular form of Christian standardized test, not designed to see how much we know but what we believe.
Sonic Light - A free in-depth Bible commentary.
Summit Ministries - A Biblical worldview training organization (sample).
Timeline of the Bible
Worldview Academy - Two week camps around the country each summer
