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Terah
[People]Terah was the father of Abraham. He led his family out of Ur of the Chaldees toward Canaan but settled in Haran, where he died (Genesis 11).
John 6:63
[Bible Verses]John 6:63 is the verse in which Jesus tells disciples who found his teaching on the bread of life hard to accept that "it is the spirit that quickeneth" and that his words "are spirit, and they are life." It is often cited in discussions of the power of the Word, and it was one of the key texts in the Eucharistic controversies of the Reformation.
Eleazar
[People]Eleazar was the third son of Aaron and the biblical figure who succeeded his father as Israel's second high priest. Together with Joshua, he oversaw the distribution of the land of Canaan.
Acts 1:4–5
[Bible Verses]In this passage the risen Jesus, before his ascension, tells the apostles not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father, saying that they will soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit. It is frequently cited as the starting point for the differing ways denominations understand "baptism in the Holy Spirit."
Ecclesiastes 11:9–10
[Bible Verses]A passage in which the Preacher urges a young man to enjoy his youth while remembering that God will bring every deed into judgment. Because it joins enjoyment and accountability in a single sentence and observes that youth passes quickly, it is frequently cited in sermons addressed to young people.
Galatians 1:15–16
[Bible Verses]In this passage, Paul reflects on his calling, saying that God set him apart before he was born and called him by grace to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. It is frequently cited in discussions of vocation, predestination, and Paul's conversion.
Ur of the Chaldees
[Bible]Ur of the Chaldees is the Mesopotamian city where Abraham lived with his family before he left in obedience to God's call. It appears in Genesis and Nehemiah, and scholars disagree about its exact location.
2 Timothy 2:13
[Bible Verses]A verse declaring that even when people are unfaithful, the Lord remains faithful and cannot act against his own nature. It is often quoted as a promise of comfort, and denominations differ in emphasis over how it bears on the assurance of salvation and on warnings against apostasy.
Romans 11:33–36
[Bible Verses]A doxology in which the apostle Paul, concluding his discussion in Romans 9–11 of the salvation of Israel and the Gentiles, praises the unsearchable wisdom and sovereignty of God. It is frequently cited in discussions of God-centered faith and in debates over predestination.
2 Corinthians 3:3-6
[Bible Verses]In this passage Paul calls the Corinthian believers "the epistle of Christ." He declares that his sufficiency for ministry comes from God and that the new covenant is established "not of the letter, but of the spirit." Interpreters differ over the meaning of the saying "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."
Job 13:15
[Bible Verses]In this verse Job declares that, even at the risk of death, he will defend his ways before God. Because of a variant reading in the Hebrew text, translations divide between "I have no hope" and "I will trust in him," and the verse is frequently discussed.
John 7:24
[Bible Verses]Spoken by Jesus during the Feast of Tabernacles to Jews who objected to his healing on the Sabbath, this verse calls on its hearers not to judge by outward appearance but by a righteous standard. It is frequently cited alongside the command "Judge not" in discussions of judgment and discernment.
Deuteronomy 24:1-4
[Bible Verses]A provision of the Mosaic Law forbidding a first husband to take back his divorced wife after she has married another man. Because Jesus referred to it when addressing divorce, it is frequently cited in discussions of divorce and remarriage.
Luke 11:5–13
[Bible Verses]A passage in which Jesus, after teaching the Lord's Prayer, instructs his disciples on prayer through the parable of the friend who comes at midnight to borrow bread and through the words "Ask, seek, knock." It is frequently cited in support of persistent prayer and concludes with the promise that God gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.
1 John 4:20–21
[Bible Verses]This passage declares that anyone who claims to love God while hating his brother is a liar, showing that love for God and love for one's brother cannot be separated. It is frequently cited as a key text for measuring the genuineness of faith by the practice of love.
Matthew 4:17
[Bible Verses]Matthew 4:17 records the first proclamation Jesus made when he began his public ministry in Galilee. The words "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" are regarded as a summary of Jesus' preaching and are frequently cited and discussed in debates over how to understand repentance and the kingdom of God.
Deuteronomy 31:6–8
[Bible Verses]Deuteronomy 31:6–8 records the words of encouragement Moses spoke shortly before his death to the people of Israel and to his successor Joshua, urging them to "be strong and of a good courage" and assuring them that God would not fail them nor forsake them. The passage is frequently cited at changes of leadership and at new beginnings.
Job 1:20–22
[Bible Verses]In this passage Job, having lost his possessions and his children all at once, grieves and yet falls down before God, confessing, "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away." The passage illustrates faith amid suffering and is frequently quoted at funerals and in settings of consolation.
John 10:11–15
[Bible Verses]In this passage Jesus presents himself as the "good shepherd" who lays down his life for the sheep, in contrast to the hireling who flees in the face of danger. It is frequently cited in discussions of the meaning of the crucifixion, the debate over the extent of the atonement, and the proper conduct of pastors.
Parable of the Unjust Steward
[Bible]A parable of Jesus recorded in Luke 16:1-13. A steward facing dismissal reduces the debts owed to his master in order to provide for his own future, and the master commends his shrewdness. The parable teaches about the right attitude toward wealth.