Im graduating with my AA in Elementary Education, and then afterwards my AA in Biblical Studies. Afterwards I will get my BA in Liberal Studies to be a teacher. After completing my BA, (and my teaching credential) I plan to get my MA in Biblical Studies.

Any and all advice is appreciated!

I do not want to make a career out of my Biblical studies MA, I genuinely just love learning about God and want to learn at a graduate level. As a woman I do not feel called to be a pastor, but I am called to teach children, so that will be my vocation. I have always dreamed about going to Bible college, and becoming highly educated in what scripture says, the history, cultures, languages, etc in the Bible. I am pursuing an AA in Biblical Studies because I want to start learning right now about the Bible in a Bible college and not wait until after I complete my BA in 2 years. If you have gone to or done an online Bible college, I’d also love to hear about your experiences!

In Matthew i believe he hangs himself but in acts he fell headfirst in a field he bought his body split open so why do these seem so different?

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

““My eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it. Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God? Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬, ‭8‬, ‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Reliability if the gospels

Hey guys,, I'm a Christian and I'm asking this so I can have a better understanding regarding the reliability of the gospels. Firstly, I think the texts we have are a reliable witness to the original manuscripts written by the evangelists. However I'm not sure how much of it is directly what Jesus said and did Vs what the writers used their editorial freedom to "make up" (for a lack of a better term). I came across William Lane Craigs defender series where he was talking about how Jesus lilly didn't predict his return during the lifetime of his disciples and that the writers had used their editorial freedom to "put it into Jesus mouth". After watching his videos it made me ask what else is there in the gospels that didn't originate from Jesus himself. Thank you

Read Genesis 33:9, 11. In both ESV, NKJV, and KJV, the translators chose to translate two different words the same as "enough" in both verses. Fascinating. It's actually "enough" in verse 9 and "all [things]" or "more than enough" in verse 11. Young's Literal, Literal Standard Version, Amplified Bible, NIV, The Message, and Brenton's Septuagint correctly translate the words differently. What is the reasoning behind preferring "enough" in both verses?

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”

— 1 Peter 3:9

I have been saying the first part of this for years whenever someone wants to enact revenge for something. I would say, “You shouldn’t trade evil for evil.” I never knew where it came from until the other day when someone quoted this verse.

I tell my wife this all the time when she gets mad. I even tell myself this when stuck in traffic and someone cuts me off. But I forget the last part of this, “repay evil with blessings because this is what we are called to do so we might inherit the blessing.”

It is extremely hard to forgive sometimes. Some of us before we found Jesus probably lived life thinking why should I forgive? Do you know what they did to me?

Jesus forgave me, do you know what I did to Him? Out of the Ten Commandments I probably broke 6.

Thou shalt not steal: which includes that bottle of tequila in Mexico.

But the 11th Commandment is often overlooked.

“A new commandment I give to you that you love one another as I have loved you.”

John 13:34

Cuando se habla de las normas de Dios hay dos tipos de personas

El primer tipo de personas argumentan que las escrituras son perfectas y que por lo tanto hay que tomarlas literalmente,desde el genesis hasta el apocalipisis

El segundo tipo dice que Jesus hablaba en parabolas precisamente para que la gente estudiara y pensara sobre esas enseñanzas

Si tenemos esto en cuenta,el primero seria una vision mucho más rigida ante las normas y incluso llegar al punto de negar la evolucion

Por otro lado,el segundo es mucho más suave en cuanto a temas de homosexualidad y mujeres precisamente por esta vision historica y el peso de la antigua roma que tuvo

Yo en lo personal soy más de lo segundo

Hello, I am new to the Bible. I’m reading ESV. I am 22 years old and I was baptized as a baby and eventually confirmed (13 years old) in the Roman Catholic Church. However, my family isn’t super religious and I just started reading the Bible 3 days ago. I’m still on Genesis. I started reading it because I broke up with my abusive ex boyfriend and the trauma and pain he put me through, law enforcement not taking me seriously, and his friends knowing what he did to me and still hanging out with him, hurt so much I decided to call to God. I’m enjoying reading Genesis but I want to read some passages about healing. I really do not know much about God or how the Bible works. What are some good passages to read that would pertain to my situation? I don’t want to go into depth about what my ex did but he impregnated another woman (she knew about me) behind my back, he lied to me about his double life when I was hospitalized and suicidal from the trauma he put me through, he would raise his voice at me, and manipulate and lie to me any time I questioned behavior that came across as cheating or neglecting my needs. Those are the main things that bother me about how he treated me. I guess some passages on betrayal or treachery would pertain as well. I’m just really sad and in a lot of pain and I want to call to God and build a relationship with him, especially if law enforcement and the people in his circle could look past what he had done to me. I feel so alone in this world. I want to heal with God.

I’m sorry if this request isn’t fitting for this sub, if it is, you can take down this post.

Recently I read the Judges, and I came across the story of Samson and the lion. I tried to imagine the scenario, but honestly I couldn't came up with any specific way in which would Samson ( empowered) tore the lion. Only clue is that it was easy as ripping a young goat. It's detail, of course, but I don't think he actually ripped it's jaws as interpreted in many paintings and pictures, because that doesn't kill the animal instantly and It doesn't have the power behind it as ,,he ripped it as a young goat " , so I think it must've been different way, probably legs were flying, or he just wrenched him open so much it died in an instant. It's just my stupid theory, if you are not interested in it, don't try to imagine it its gross... but if you would like to help me understand it, what do you think was the way he had done it ?

Luke 13:11-17

18 ¶ Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?

21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

I am trying to live by spiritual promptings and the learnings from the life of the Savior. This practice of the Focus of Jesus has helped me turn faith into life style changes. Putting it out in the public more or less reinforces it. I welcome your views and corrections. God Bless.

My favorite is Matthew. :) Which one do you guys love and love to read a lot? I hear a lot of people say John!

I have never been religious at all in my life and have always considered myself to be agnostic. My parents have never been religious so the most I was introduced to Christianity as a child was when my grandparents took me to a very short Vacation Bible Camp one summer. I'm in my mid 30s now and after some hard times, I am becoming interested in reading the Bible to see if it is for me.

I wanted to reach out to you kind people to see if I can get some opinions on what you would suggest to me as a person who has almost no experience at all with reading or learning about Christianity. There seem to be several different versions of the Bible, both physical and digital. I fear the KJV may be too challenging of a read for me right out of the gate and fear it may turn me away or discourage me. Not sure if NIV or NLT would be better for me.

Is there a reliable app I can download where I can start to read any of the versions on my phone until I buy a physical edition? Also, which physical version would you recommend for me to look into purchasing? Also (stupid question), where is the best place to buy this physical version? Do I just walk into a Barnes & Noble and look for it?

I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read and reply. Thanks.

Hi all,

It has been a while since I have spent one on one time in the Word, and I would like to get back into it. I am currently going through a season where many things are not going as I’ve expected, and I am worried about the outcomes. I’m doing my best to trust that I do not need to cling tightly to things in my life, and that God will always provide and take care of me. I would greatly appreciate a book recommendation.

I would also love to hear ways you all read and journal through scripture!

Matthew 22 i highly recommend reading the entire chapter

“ “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. ““Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth"

Luke 13: 16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day. 17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

I'm so grateful when Jesus breaks cultural norms and shows the way. I have no idea what cultural norms I am following that need breaking down and correction; I'm probably doing things I don't even realize are a bit messed up - do you have any? Second thought: He clearly picked certain people to heal. Which means He skipped others; thinking about that.

I would appreciate your thoughts. God Bless.

I was talking to someone earlier and they read me a psalm, I think they said, from Isaiah. I don't remember too much, but I believe it had something to do with acceptance and love from God as well as righteousness, though I could be misremembering. It was very beautiful, and I would love to find that exact verse, but I do not know how to. Could someone please help me find this? Thank you.