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Philippians 4:6–7
[Bible Verses]An exhortation not to be anxious about anything but to pray with thanksgiving, with the promise that the peace of God will guard the heart and mind. The passage is widely cherished as a source of comfort and is frequently cited in discussions of how faith relates to anxiety and mental health.
James 5:14–15
[Bible Verses]This passage instructs the sick to call for the elders of the church, who are to pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The Catholic sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, the divine healing ministry of Pentecostal churches, and Protestant pastoral visitation of the sick all appeal to this passage, though each understands its meaning differently.
Luke 23:34
[Bible Verses]Luke 23:34 records the prayer Jesus offered on the cross for those who were crucifying him: "Father, forgive them." It is traditionally counted as the first of the Seven Last Words from the Cross. The verse also raises a textual question, because the prayer is absent from some early manuscripts.
John 1:1
[Bible Verses]John 1:1, the opening verse of the Gospel of John, declares that the Word, who existed in the beginning, was with God and was God. As a principal text for the deity of Jesus, it has long been disputed between proponents of the doctrine of the Trinity and groups that reject that doctrine and translate the verse differently.
John 1:14
[Bible Verses]John 1:14 declares that the Word, who existed from the beginning, was made flesh and dwelt among humanity. It is the most concise statement of the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation and provides a basis for confessing both the divinity and the humanity of Jesus.
John 3:16
[Bible Verses]John 3:16 declares that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him should have everlasting life. Widely regarded as a summary of the gospel, it is the best-known verse in the Bible. Calvinism and Arminianism interpret the scope of "the world" and "whosoever believeth" differently.
Acts 1:8
[Bible Verses]Acts 1:8 records Jesus' words to the disciples just before his ascension: when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, they will receive power and be his witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The verse previews the narrative of the entire Book of Acts and serves as a leading watchword for missions. The nature of the experience of the Spirit implied by "receiving power" is debated.
Psalm 127:1
[Bible Verses]A declaration that unless the LORD builds the house, the labor of those who build it is in vain. It is one of the verses most often cited at the beginning of a church building project, a new household, or a business venture, and it is read as raising the question of how human effort relates to the sovereignty of God.
Proverbs 1:7
[Bible Verses]Proverbs 1:7 declares that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, stating the theme of the entire Book of Proverbs. Christian schools and educational institutions widely use it as a motto, and it is often cited in discussions of the relationship between faith and learning.
Proverbs 16:9
[Bible Verses]Proverbs 16:9 is a proverb teaching that although a person plans his way in his heart, it is the LORD who directs his steps. It is frequently cited in discussions of how human planning relates to divine providence, and how human freedom relates to God's sovereignty.
Proverbs 22:6
[Bible Verses]Proverbs 22:6 is the proverb that reads, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (KJV). It is widely used as a motto for Christian education, and interpreters disagree over whether it is a promise that will certainly be fulfilled or a general principle.
Joel 2:28-29
[Bible Verses]Joel 2:28-29 is God's promise that afterward he will pour out his Spirit upon all flesh, so that sons and daughters will prophesy, old men will dream dreams, and young men will see visions, and that he will pour out his Spirit even upon servants and handmaids. Peter quoted the passage in his Pentecost sermon, and it is a central text in interdenominational debates over the work of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and women's ministry.
Matthew 5:17–18
[Bible Verses]In this saying Jesus declares that he came not to destroy the law or the prophets but to fulfill them. The passage is a starting point from which different denominations reach different conclusions about the relationship between Christians and the Old Testament law.
Matthew 6:9-13
[Bible Verses]Matthew 6:9-13 contains the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, which the church recites together as the Lord's Prayer. Discussion of the passage addresses how its form differs from the version in Luke, the absence of the closing doxology from the oldest manuscripts, and the translation of several of its words.
Matthew 7:1
[Bible Verses]"Judge not, that ye be not judged" is a saying of Jesus that warns against the hypocrisy of condemning others. It is frequently noted, however, that the verse is often used to rule out all judgments of right and wrong.
Matthew 7:21
[Bible Verses]Jesus' warning, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." The verse figures prominently in discussions of faith and works and of the assurance of salvation.
Matthew 18:20
[Bible Verses]Matthew 18:20 records a promise of Jesus: "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." It is widely used to offer comfort that Christ is present even in small gatherings, although some interpreters note that its original context concerns the church's judgment and prayer.
Mark 1:15
[Bible Verses]Mark 1:15, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel," is Jesus' first proclamation in the Gospel of Mark. It is regarded as a summary of Jesus' entire teaching, and scholars have long debated whether the kingdom of God has already come or is yet to come.
Mark 11:24
[Bible Verses]Mark 11:24 is a saying of Jesus: "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." The verse encourages the prayer of faith, but it has become a focus of controversy because it is cited in support of so-called "positive confession" and prosperity theology.
Genesis 2:18
[Bible Verses]Genesis 2:18 records God's declaration, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him" (KJV). It is one of the passages most frequently read at weddings, and interpretations of "help meet" diverge on the roles of men and women.