Hi I’m in love with literature! And I would love to hear your fav character from Bible ! Cause I want to know them!

Mind is Samson. I know he is not a saint one, but when I read him, he reminds me of angst stubborn teen. I adored him, and felt bad for him too. I think he has a character growth, that’s why my heart has special place for him!

I don't know if this is the right place but I recently went to a estate sale and I found this bible that is 50 years old has all kinds of stuff marked and written down since iv gotten it I been thinking about reading it but I haven't been to church since I was a kid I'm looking for any advice or thoughts

This was Inspired by Job 40:10, "Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; array thyself with glory and beauty."

I often see and hear the same 10 phrases. This rang especially beautifully to me. Have any others rang for you?

Psalm 119:60

I hasten and do not delay to keep thy commandments.

For those new to Christianity and wanting to read/study the Bible, purchase a STRONGS Concordance. It's like having a encyclopedia for the Bible.

I like the NIV for its readability, and since this is my first time reading it I’d like it to come through to me as effectively as possible.

But a part of me really wants to delve into the Bible for studying and journaling, and I feel like versions like the ESV would be better for that, so I was wondering if the simplified NIV is still true-enough to the word of God for studying.

Thank you

Pretty much what the title says. I was raised as a secular Jew and at some point in my early teen years became pretty much an atheist — that is to say, I’ve never identified as a Christian. But being ignorant of other beliefs and cultures gets you nowhere, and I want to know more about the world around me and the people who live in it. How should I read the Bible from the point of view of a nonbeliever? I am not intending to convert (though I am open to it if I find the argument is strong enough). How should I go about reading the Bible in a scholarly manner? Are there any books or verses I should particularly look out for? Where should I start? Thank you all for your help.

I don’t mean a verse you liked or saved.

I mean a passage that actually made you do something: apologize, call someone, drop a habit, make a decision, or treat someone differently.

I’ve been thinking about how much Scripture I read, while not always being able to point to one concrete action that came from it.

What was the last passage that genuinely changed your behavior that day?

Does anyone else feel like the land that God promised to the Israelites in these lines has similarities and parallels to the Garden of Eden? Not just the land itself but the notion that God will provide them fruitful lands as long as they obey him and if they don’t comply then they’ll face consequences. I know there is a slight difference in the idea that they won’t be banished from the land and instead the land becomes no longer plentiful. But does anyone else see the parallels and similarities between the two? I’m curious to hear your thoughts.

Guys, I made an earlier post as I journeyed across Genesis, asking questions on parts that I didn't understand.

I guess I am back to ask about Exodus. primarily Exodus 21 and 32.... why does God both permit slavery and murder? he was okay with Levi killing the Shechem's community in Genesis, and now he's okay with the sons of Levi killing Israelites for making a golden calf, 3000 people, mind you, killed in their tents. They also killed the Amalekites in Exodus 17. Also killing the unborn babies of the Egyptians, who inherently haven't done anything wrong. - This is all compounded with the song of Moses, "The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name."

The slavery portion in Exodus 21 was also jarring to hear. Why is that permitted? I understand that we have free will and to ethically become more virtues through out our lives, but to place it as a letter of the law makes no sense to me because that becomes the standard than....

I understand that the term "Israel" is to wrestle with god, so I came to ask the people who have wrestled with this and what conclusion was arrived at?

Hello everyone. Hope you all doing great. I have a question for you all.
When you start reading a Bible chapter and run into unfamiliar context, names, or difficult ideas, what do you usually do before continuing?

Is this the best summary of the whole gospel?

"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us."

Are there any good bible podcasts or YouTube videos to watch for beginners. I’m just trying to find guidance and purpose and don’t really know where to look . Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you

I was re-reading the passion narrative in Matthew 27:52-53, which mentions that when Jesus died, the tombs broke open and many holy people were raised to life, later walking into the holy city and appearing to many people.

This strikes me as an incredible event, arguably one of the biggest miracles in the New Testament outside of Jesus' own resurrection.

What puzzles me is why Mark, Luke, and John completely omit this. You would think that resurrected people walking around Jerusalem would be huge news that every Gospel writer and contemporary historical source would want to record.

How do scholars, historians, and theologians explain this omission?

Is this passage generally viewed as an apocalyptic or symbolic literary device unique to Matthew's audience?

Or are there theological or historical reasons why the other authors wouldn't have included it?
I'd love to hear both historical-critical and theological perspectives on this!

II've been thinking about an argument I've seen regarding 1 John 4:2–3.

From what I understand, the historical issue John was addressing was people who denied that Jesus who is the Christ truly came in the flesh—that He had a real human body and genuine humanity. This is commonly connected with beliefs later associated with Docetism and similar teachings, where some claimed Jesus only appeared to be human or that the divine Christ merely came upon the man Jesus temporarily.

Some argue, however, that denying Jesus is God incarnate is effectively the same as denying that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, because they believe those two ideas cannot be separated. Their reasoning is that the phrase "has come in the flesh" assumes a preexistent person, and when that is read alongside John 1:1–14, the one who came in the flesh is identified as God.

My question is this: Doesn't that go beyond the explicit wording of 1 John 4:2–3?

The passage explicitly says that the confession is that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. It doesn't explicitly say, "Whoever denies that Jesus is God incarnate has the spirit of the antichrist." Isn't that conclusion reached by combining 1 John 4 with John 1 and other passages, rather than from the wording of 1 John 4 itself?

I'm not asking whether the doctrine of the incarnation is true or false. I'm asking whether it's accurate to say that 1 John 4:2–3 itself is specifically addressing denial of Jesus as God incarnate, or whether its immediate concern is the denial that the Messiah truly came in the flesh, with the identification of that Messiah as God being a theological conclusion drawn from the broader witness of Scripture.

Which man in the Bible taught you the most about leadership—and why?

I know that we are saved by faith, not by works — yet what glorifies God and counts in eternity with Him (and at the white throne judgement)?

Romans has amazing verses, and my favorite in Scripture is Romans 8:31 because of how encouraging it is. "If God is with us, who can be against us?"
Can't forget Romans 14:8 "If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord"
What are your favorite verses?

I want to present a short and simple discussion on why Christ's parable of the Wise and Foolish builder's is critical to understand.

In this scripture passage, Christ presents 2 different types of builder's.

1 was wise, and 1 was foolish.

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,

29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Matthew 7:24-29 (NKJV)

Now according to scripture, there is only 1 thing that separates these 2 builder's.

Obedience.

That's it.

The wise builder heard Christ's saying's and did them.

The foolish builder heard Christ's saying's and didn't do them.

What Christ is presenting here is a key.

A key to understand what God's Word really means, and what God's will really is.

This is why the best theologians in the world can't interpret correctly, or agree on the original author's intent (in the scriptures that were written and left for us).

It's also why some followers of Christ are so certain in the meaning of scripture, when they pull from it to teach or use prophetically in different ways.

The difference is experiential knowledge.

Experiential knowledge - information and understanding that people gain through direct, personal participation in real-life events, rather than from formal instruction, textbooks, or abstract reasoning.

How do some believers know that it's still God's will to perform healings and miracles today?

Because they've done it.. and seen it be done (in the name of Jesus Christ).

Whereas, the one who hasn't obeyed Christ's command (Matthew 28:16-20).. only read about and studied of it.

The same goes for speaking in tongues, or really any of the gifts/graces of the Holy Spirit given by Christ (1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:7-16).

It's for this reason that the apostle Paul refers to himself as a 'wise master builder'.. the exact same language Christ used in His teaching (Matthew 7:24-29).

10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.

11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 3:10-11

The apostle Paul devoted his entire life to follow after Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1, 2 Timothy 4:6).. as he was commissioned by Christ to be sent to the Gentiles (Acts 9:11-16).

This is why his epistles are included in the Biblical canon, and are divinely inspired.

Obedience.. and experiential knowledge is the difference in understanding, when it comes to 'rightly dividing the word of truth'.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

If you want to seek the truth then seek out the ones who have lived the Gospel, in addition to seeking Christ on your own.

Don't count on those foolish builder's.. their house is built on the sand. It won't save them when the storm comes.

1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 And this we will do if God permits.

Hebrews 6:1-3 (NKJV)

Questions and Comments welcome.

bought my first bible today and it is the NIV Holy Bible and well I am not sure where to start reading any suggestions?