Search the encyclopedia
1000 articles found for “the disciples”
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Genesis 3:15
[Bible Verses]Genesis 3:15 is God's declaration to the serpent that the seed of the woman "shall bruise thy head." The church has called this verse the Protoevangelium, the first announcement of Christ's victory, and interpreters differ over the identity of the seed.
Numbers 6:24–26
[Bible Verses]Numbers 6:24–26 is the Aaronic Blessing, the words God instructed Aaron and his sons to use in blessing the people of Israel. One of the oldest prayers in the Bible, it is widely used today as a benediction at the close of worship.
Psalm 23:1–6
[Bible Verses]A psalm of David that begins, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." Portraying God as a shepherd and as the host of a banquet, it confesses His lifelong care and is among the most widely known and beloved psalms in the Bible.
Aaron
[People]Aaron, a Levite who appears in the Old Testament books from Exodus through Deuteronomy, was the elder brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel. His descendants inherited Israel's priesthood.
Deborah
[People]Deborah was a prophetess and judge in the Old Testament Book of Judges, known for defeating the army of Jabin, king of Canaan, together with Barak, and for the Song of Deborah, which commemorates the victory.
Samson
[People]Samson was a judge of Israel in the Old Testament book of Judges. Born a Nazarite, he fought against the Philistines. Renowned for his great strength, he was captured after revealing the secret of his strength to Delilah, and he died when he brought down the temple of Dagon.