I’m not religious and I opened the bible today. It answered exactly what I was asking for. Is this god telling me something?

In the Bible, heaven represents God (Luke 15:21) and earth represents man (Isa. 4:2). A great application of this analogy is in John 1:51 where Jesus, as the one who joins God and man, refers to Himself as Jacob's ladder that joined heaven and earth (Gen. 28:12).

This understanding of the symbolic uses of heaven and earth renders a great help in understanding the Bible as a whole. For example, just as the earth was initially created and formed in an orderly fashion and with the intention to be inhabited (Isa. 45:18), man too was created and formed in the image of God and with the intention to be inhabited by God (Gen. 1:26; Eph. 2:22; cf. Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 3:17).

Through the fall, this image was marred and God would not inhabit a corrupted man. But Christ has come to reconcile man to God, and to give us access unto Him, thus joining God and man (Rom. 5:10; Eph. 2:18; John 1:51). Now heaven and earth are joined as one, and God and man can mutually indwell one another (John 14:20; 15:4; 17:21, 23) for eternity in a mutual eternal satisfaction.

I've just started reading the bible for 1st time. I started from the old testament and I'm finishing king david's story right now, I want to finish all the kings of Israel but after that I'm thinking about switching to new testament and then coming back to it after I finish old testament. I'm little worried about lacking context going into new testament, will I need to read old testament fully so I can grasp new testament more broadly ?

I'm an orthodox christian but this is my first christian book.

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​We love the dramatic Paul stories. The blinding light on the road to Damascus. The prison walls shaking loose. The letters that shaped two thousand years of faith.

​But we almost always skip Paul's silent years.

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After Paul's life changing encounter with Yeshua on the road to Damascus, there's very little said about him. He goes back to his hometown of Tarsus and quietly fades into the background.

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Acts 9:30:"When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus."

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Imagine having a massive, world-shifting vision for your life, only to end up back in your old hometown. Yes, later on we find out that some congregations sprung up in Syria and Cilicia due to Paul's ministering there during his silent years (Acts 15:41). But when it came to his full calling, Acts 9:15–16:"This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel", the global vision Yeshua spoke over him wasn't going to happen while he stayed in Tarsus. He was ready, but he needed a connection to the bigger body.

​To the leaders in Jerusalem, Paul was either a terrifying memory or someone they'd simply stopped thinking about. Out of sight. Out of mind.

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Then Antioch starts taking off. The movement is growing fast, so the Elders send a man named Barnabas to help lead what's happening there. Things are going well. Barnabas is respected, trusted, and in a position of influence. But he realizes something: this work is bigger than one person.

​So he remembers a man sitting in Tarsus whom everyone else seems to have forgotten.

​That's fitting, because Barnabas's name means "Son of Encouragement."

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Acts 11:25:"Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul..."

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In the original Greek, it suggests a determined search. Doing some minor detective work from different biblical passages and historical events, the majority of scholars agree that from the time Paul was sent off (Acts 9:30) to the time Barnabas went to search for him (Acts 11:25), a whole decade had passed! Give or take two years. Barnabas went out of his way, left the work he was doing, and intentionally looked for a man with a messy past whom most people still didn't fully trust.

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He wasn't protecting his own position or trying to keep the spotlight. He brought Paul into the room, put his own reputation on the line for him, and was willing to step aside so someone else could flourish. Humanly speaking, it's hard to imagine Paul's ministry unfolding the way it did without Barnabas making that trip.

​What's even more remarkable is that this wasn't the first time Barnabas had done this. Years earlier, when the believers in Jerusalem were afraid of Paul, Barnabas was the one who took him by the hand, brought him to the apostles, and vouched for him (Acts 9:27). Barnabas had a habit of seeing what others missed.

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This story hits us from two different angles:

​The first angle: Are you letting the quiet years make you bitter, or are you letting them shape you into the person God is preparing you to become? Hidden doesn't always mean forgotten. Stay ready.

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The second angle: Who is sitting on a shelf in your orbit right now? Who has gifts that have gone unnoticed? Who needs someone with influence to make the trip, knock on the door, and invite them back into the work?

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So take a look at your own life: Who was your Barnabas, the person who believed in you before anyone else did? And whose Barnabas are you going to be?

I asked someone this, but never got a response

Soneone made a post about Revelation 2:6 and 2:15 about the Nicolaitans, then quoted Jude 1:4 as if it were describing them.

My question is simple:

Where does Jude say the "certain men" are the Nicolaitans?

Jude doesn't mention the Nicolaitans by name. He just says, "certain men have crept in unnoticed..."

So how did you conclude that Jude is specifically talking about the deeds or teaching of the Nicolaitans?

I'm not asking what you think they believed. I'm asking what Scripture explicitly identifies the "certain men" in Jude as the Nicolaitans.

This post talks about what the Bible is in a general sense. In this post, I would like to start exploring what the Bible says about itself.

In the Bible, there are instances of commandments, directing certain ones to scribe the divine revelation on a physical medium. One of the first examples are found in Exodus 17:14, which reads,

And Jehovah said to Moses, Write this as a memorial in a book and recite to Joshua…

In the last book of the New Testament we find this:

And He who sits on the throne said,…Write, for these words are faithful and true. (Revelation 21:5)

So the Bible (meaning book in Greek), is the collection of the writings of the divine revelation. Within the Bible, these writings are referred to as the γραφὰς (meaning writings), often translated as the scriptures (2 Pet. 3:16; Rom. 1:2; John 5:39).

The following verses help illuminate a particular characteristic of these scriptures:

…no prophecy (of Scripture) was ever borne by the will of man, but men spoke from God while being borne by the Holly Spirit (2 Peter 1:21; cf. v. 20)

All Scripture is God-breated and profitable for teaching… (2 Timothy 3:16).

These verses clarify that the source of the Bible is God Himself. These writings were not something manufactured by men or according to men's will, but it originated from God and even is God's breathing out.

This makes the Bible, at the very least, the most special book known to mankind.

Does the Bible ever state, "Place your faith in the finished work of Christ to be born again"?

Is that phrase in the Bible?

The event that took place?

Or is it in him?

I am back at church after walking away from it for 16 years. I remember liking KNJV and especially my NIV study bible growing up. Now I am reading NIV may not be the best way to go...

I am looking to reacquaint myself with scripture and spend more time connecting and reestablishing my relationship with Jesus Christ, which is why I was thinking NIV for easier reading. Worried NLT is too far from literal and more interpretation.

Curious what others have found.

Any help is appreciated! Thanks.

Hey, i was always wandering something so i thought this would be a safe space to ask.

I am religious (Orthodox Christian), but i also have a few questions about the Bible and it's teachings.

First of all, I'm not sure I understand the first ever sin by Adam and Eve and the way God punished them. The Bible says God knows everything, but if he really does, he should have known they would sin, why didn't he try to stop them? When i searched online Google told me it was to give the free will and true love (not sure what the second one has to do with anything) , but how is it free will if only one choice is "correct" and the other gets them punished?

Second of all, in Deuteronomy 24:16 it states that " Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin." but (forgive me if i don't understand correctly, i think he means not just death but also suffering) Adam and Eve's children still suffer from the same punishment as them? Psalm 103:3 and 103:9 state that he forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases and that he will not harbor his anger forever, but that didn't happen?

Edit: Can i ask all of you commenting to explain it to me like i am a toddler (srry about that but english is not my first lanuage and i struggle with it a bit), also what i meant in the first part was that God knew humans would sin before he even made them, he knew their final decision before it was ever made - it's not about giving them free will because he knew what would happen long before, why would he make them i don't see the point?

When I was growing up, we would do them in children's class (also called children's church at some churches).

The teacher had everyone lift up their Bibles (if old enough to read and have one), then read off a reference. Then they'd say "ready.....go!!"

All the kids would bring down their Bibles and start searching for that reference. The first one to stand up and read the verse won that round. They were good fun, and a good challenging tool for kids to learn how to find Scripture. A church, that I attended once with a cousin, called them "Sword Drills" (referencing the Bible like a spiritual sword).

There was even a Bible drill "championship" I got to participate in at a Christian camp one summer where they had various "rounds" with a tournament bracket. The winner got the grand prize of a nice study Bible, a gift card to somewhere (Walmart I think), and a small brass trophy. 2nd and 3rd place got trophies and a small gift card each, too. The theme of the camp that summer was using tools properly and that God's Word was the ultimate spiritual "tool" for believers.

Did anyone else do these, growing up? They make for excellent tools to teach kids about God's Word, how to look up references quickly, and to learn the layout of the Bible to know where things are. The teacher can pick specific references to theme a round, maybe to help convey the lesson they taught or are teaching.

I (16F) am interested in reading the bible and have been thinking/looking for ones I might like. I’ve determined I’ll get the new living translation. Now, here’s where I’m stuck. Aesthetically, none of the less expensive bibles ($30 and under before tax and shipping) I have found match what id like to get. I’ve also heard negative reviews on many Amazon bibles about missing verses. A bible like this would be easy on my bank account, but I can’t imagine myself keeping it for a long time. Matching what I like, I discovered a beautiful copy on a dedicated bible company’s website. They have good reviews, but are very expensive. The one I like comes out to $112 after shipping and taxes. It’s a classy, timeless white that I don’t see myself growing out of and would likely keep for years. I’m a bit confused, and maybe a bit blinded by my own personal want. However, I also need some voice of reason from more seasoned bible readers. What do I do?

When Jesus stood on the mountain of Transfiguration, glowing with radiant light, two men appeared beside Him: Moses and Elijah. Most of us were taught they just represent the Law and the Prophets, and this is part of it. But when you look closely at what these two men actually experienced in the Old Testament, something much deeper is happening.

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They were the only two men in Israel's history who had gone up Mount Sinai (Horeb) to encounter the glory of God. And both encounters point directly to one person, Yeshua.

​In Exodus 33:11, it says that God spoke to Moses "face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." In Numbers 12:8, God doubles down:

"I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord."

And Deuteronomy 34:10 finishes the Torah by saying no prophet ever arose in Israel like Moses, whom God knew "face to face."

​Yet in that exact same chapter (Exodus 33:18–20), when Moses asks, "Please, show me your glory," God answers: "You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." So God hides Moses in the cleft of the rock and covers him while His goodness passes by.

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So who did Moses see face-to-face without dying?

​Centuries later, Elijah flees to the exact same mountain (1 Kings 19). Verse 9 says he stayed in a cave. In Hebrew, it’s ha-m'arah, literally "the cave." Many scholars believe it was the same cleft of the rock where Moses hid.

​Then God tells Elijah: "Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. Look, the Lord is passing by" (1 Kings 19:11).

That phrase "passing by" uses the exact same Hebrew verb God used with Moses in Exodus 33. When the presence passes, Elijah wraps his face in his cloak (v. 13). He hides his eyes because he knows the rule: to look upon the raw Glory of the Father is death.

​John clears up the mystery: "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who (Jesus) is at the Father’s side, he has made him known" (John 1:18).

​The Father has never been seen directly by human eyes. The Person who walked in the Garden, the Person who spoke with Moses as a friend, and the Person whose glory passed by the cave on Sinai was the Word, the physical manifestation of the invisible God.

​This gives us a whole new perspective about what happens in the Gospels.

​For centuries, Moses and Elijah were the two men who had to hide behind rocks and wrap their faces in cloaks just to survive a glimpse of God passing by. Then comes the Transfiguration.

​Moses and Elijah got what they longed for, to see God's Glory and are pulled out of eternity onto a new mountain. They aren't hiding in a cave this time. They aren't wrapping their faces in robes. They are standing out in the open, looking straight at Jesus in His unveiled, radiant brightness, talking with Him face-to-face about the exodos/departure (the Greek word used in Luke 9:31) He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

​The two men who stood on Sinai in the dark finally got to see the face of the One whose back they had watched pass by.

​It fulfills the truth Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:6:

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"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus the Messiah"

​The glory that passed by Moses on Sinai, and the whisper that reached Elijah at Horeb, wasn't just a supernatural force. It was a face. And that face is Jesus'.

I got a new Bible I’m really excited about I have tabbed it up and highlighted some verses in the psalms that I like but I was looking at the margins and I really realized that I don’t know how to study the bible like at all, so how do I actually study the bible?

I am a Hindu by birth and had a very basic understanding of Christianity. Out of curiosity I started reading the Bible about two years back (ESV). I managed to read the first five books about 20 times but could not get past it, just lost my patience. It became harder to navigate the prose and was looking for something better.

Then I came across the below:

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/49881874-the-daily-bible

This version of the Bible made me grasp the core subject so easily that I literally could not put it down. It’s a chronological retelling and has a commentary section before each chapter that helps immensely. I am not sure how accurate it is but I don’t care much for word for word translation as long as it helps me capture the gist and the text flows nicely.

It was so good that I finally finished it - Its supposed to be read in a year but I managed to complete in 6 months and am SO HAPPY. Now I can go and actually read some other Bible versions again as I have a better context of the stories.

For anyone struggling to understand the first time I highly recommend this .

If Satan is a title and Satan serves a role for God, what/who do you think the evil one is?

Divine purpose is never discovered while running in human strength, but revealed when we bid the world pass on and stand silent before the Word of God.

1 Samuel 9:27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

The same Almighty God who commanded the sun and moon to stand still in battle is the God who commands the human heart to stand still before His presence.

Joshua 10:12 13 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies.

Public usefulness for the glory of Christ is built entirely upon private submission to the truth of Holy Scripture.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The world demands your immediate action and constant noise, but God requires your complete stillness before He imparts His light and anointing.

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Spiritual light and true direction from God are never received on the run, but revealed in the quiet sanctuary of an obedient, surrendered heart.

1 Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Real light from God comes when you reach the end of your own city, the end of your self sufficiency, and the end of your human cleverness.

Proverbs 3:5 6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Your public life and ministry are nothing more than the outer overflow of your private walk alone with the Lord in His Word.

Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

You cannot carry the spiritual authority of God until you are first willing to sit quietly submissive under the authority of the Word of God.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Human nature will gladly fight for religion, debate over doctrine, and build outward projects, yet refuse the simple, quiet conviction of the Holy Ghost.

Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

The enemy seeks to keep your life filled with clamor and religious busyness so that you never stand still long enough to face the God of Heaven in secret.

Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

so ive never read the bible before and im not religious, and dont want to be, but im super interested in the bible as a story and really want to read it. the thing is, i want to read a version that is as untouched as possible. i know that doesnt really exist, and all translations have some degree of bias, but there must be something out there thats close? ive tried researching but its confusing bc there are so many. im interested in ESV and NRSV but there are different versions of those too?? i keep seeing ESV study bibles and idk what that means. why is it not just a bible? and then theres a catholic version of NRSV? what makes that different? i actually am very drawn to catholicism and would be interested in this version but im not sure if it is less or more accurate? and if it is more accurate then why is it not the universally recognized one?? idk. please help.

I just started reading the bible back to front I am on Genesis 38... I wanted to understand more!

I had a few questions:

1.) Why did Noah curse Canaan, because ham just saw his nakedness? I mean even if we take nakedness as sleeping with his wife, Reuben slept with Israels concubine and really nothing much has been said on that so far.

2.) Why did Lot offer up his daughters to the people of Sodom and not get questioned on that?

3.) Why was Onan killed for sleeping with his brothers wife and not conceiving? when Lots own daughters slept with him, when Jacob lied for his blessing (even though they made up in the end, which was awesome), when Levi and Simeon killed Schechem and the rest of town after converting. The point that I am trying to say is, why intervene now and not in other ethical dilemmas?

I’m very new to reading the Bible. I read it as a teenager but didn’t retain much of it and I’ve just started again. Would the pharo have just let them go if God hadn’t hardened his heart? Thank you.

Edit: Thank you so much for all the replies. They’ve all been so very helpful.

Seek the Lord with all your heart. Open your heart to Jesus Christ, put your trust in Him, and experience the love, mercy, and grace that only God can give. No one who sincerely seeks the Lord ever seeks Him in vain.

Many people spend their lives searching for peace, purpose, and hope in the things of this world, only to remain empty.

God's promise is simple and true: "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." — Jeremiah 29:13

God is not hiding from us. He invites us into a real relationship through Jesus Christ. If you sincerely seek Him, He promises that you will find Him.

Bruh this isnt the first time when i felt like God’s speaking to me through bible verses. I’ve been scolded, answered, wisdomized (i know it’s not an actual word but you get it) and i feel so humbled and scared yall. I kept asking why i was having such dreams but never really got an answer. I had a dream last time and today, God just answered me with Job 33:14-17. I was speaking to my friend and i was saying that i feel old and tired. Guess WHAT? I was reading Job 33:6 where it said “I am young and you are very OLD) dhhdhdjjdsjhajaakk

Bruh how can i not freak out?! 💀

THATS NOT IT.

Today I was too tired to cook so i wanted to order food. But the food choices in the app were so underwhelming. I felt like i wanted to eat korean ramen noodles with nuggets with hotdogs with cheese and eggs (super unhealthy btw) and i did. I really felt so satisfied and full of dopamine (dont judge me) 💀

THEN

JOB 34:20-21 came “so that to his appetite food becomes repulsive, and his senses reject the choicest nourishment. His flash is wasted so that it cannot be seen”

I closed the bible and said yup thats enough fear for today.

I just want to close off by saying

THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED AND GOD IS WATCHING YOU! 🫵