So imagine if you will a situation in which you and your loved ones have to leave immediately to go on a long journey, - a journey which might take you who knows where and you have very limited time in which to gather up a few essentials before you leave. Before you go you are allowed to copy a verse or two from the Bible which you consider is the most important to you on a slip of paper. Unfortunately you can't take your Bible with you.
What verse or verses would you copy out to take with you?
To start things off I would chose Mark 12: 30-31. " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
Hey, that question is almost mean, you know :(
I... wouldn't really know how to answer. Too many verses are important to me.
Matthew 7:1
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
I, and many people I know and encounter, need to bear that in mind.
Hebrews 12:15
See to it that no one misses the grace of God.
John 3:16, of course. My relationship with Jesus defines my faith. Jesus loves me and through him I shall have eternal life. Not only that, but it shows God's undying and everlasting love. Like Abraham offered his son to God, he offered his son to us. Difference is that Jesus is Lord, and Jesus actually died for us, whereas God was merciful to Abraham and Isaac. It shows just how powerful and wonderful God is.
Yes Kate as usual you've hit the nail completely on the head with John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." John's Gospel is a favourite of mine too and it was the influence of a Sister I used to know from the The Little Company of Mary that directed me towards studying this Gospel more closely.
And yes Bea it was a mean question for me to ask because there are so many favourite verses for any one of us to choose from.
Herekitten, your choice delighted me too, - Hebrews 12:15 "See to it that no one misses the grace of God." That makes me want to sit down this morning to read Hebrews again as it has been a little while since I last did.
Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Is especially relevant to the present times in which we live ainsley, but to my mind Jesus's teaching on love towards others covers that particular base.
My choice of Mark 12: 30-31 was for the simple reason that these particular verses have been speaking to me in my heart lately. Somehow amongst all the bitterness and hate towards trans-folk that is being flung about by some Christians at the moment the simple message of 'love' has been entirely forgotten.
I like to spend some of my study time reading about the early church and a comment written by a Roman official complaining about the Christians in his area stands out. In brief his complaint was that the Christians weren't just being charitable towards those of their own community, but their charity was also extended towards non-Christians who were in need as well. To the Roman official this was something he couldn't understand or come to terms with and it was making his job difficult.
I read this in an article on-line this morning and it really made me sigh and shake my head.......
Quote"Religion is central to sexual regulation in almost all societies," writes homosexualist scholar Dennis Altman. "Indeed, it may well be that the primary social function of religion is to control sexuality."
What???? I don't want to derail my own thread, but how on earth did such a poisonous idea get incorporated into the Christian faith?
QuoteYoung's Literal Translation John 11:25
Jesus said to her, 'I am the rising again, and the life; he who is believing in me, even if he may die, shall live;
ClaireIvene, let me say to you that the Bible is a theological minefield for many folk because as a document it has been translated and re-translated many times and not always well. Thanks to the digital age I have access to something like 200 or more different translations of the Bible along with numerous commentaries and historical documents of the early church. On top that, and here I'm speaking of the New Testament, there are noticeable differences in Pauline theology, Johnnian theology & etc which are very much shaped by the circumstances and existing socitial structures of the peoples for whom the written word was first intended.
So what to do? If in doubt go back to what Jesus himself actually said because as Christians that is the core of what we believe. And let me say that I don't profess to have all the answers and there are some things written in the Bible which I don't understand, but by the Grace of God I may come to understand in time. Which is why I very much believe in the basic simplicity of the message which Jesus assured us that even a child can understand.
In my study I tend to use translations and Biblical sources that I know to be the least messed with and that have no political or modernist theological taint. Believe me when I say that doing that reduces confusions about meaning considerably. So my advice is to listen to the words spoken by Jesus as if you are a child and then the true message will become clear to you.
Blessings always,
Anne.
Mark 13:14 King James Version (KJV)
14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
Isaiah 41:10 King James Version (KJV)
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
QuoteIsaiah 41:10 King James Version (KJV)
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
I love that verse.
Romans 8
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
I must confess that I have some difficulty with Pauline Theology. That most probably means that I should give it further study and pray on it some more.
Paul is not the easiest to understand. A lot of people try to take a lot of what Paul says OUT OF CONTEXT. (Let's pull one or two verses out of the context and try to prove a point) Paul uses a Greek style of argument,and it needs to be studied in MUCH larger sections.
Romans 1 is a good example. Most of us here know how that passage is used BUT Paul is setting this up which is the continuation of his thought
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God "will repay each person according to what they have done."[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
Houston we have a problem. Paul's whole point is about NOT JUDGING. Paul is expanding on what Jesus said here
Matthew 7
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
See the thing is when Paul wrote his letters THERE are NO chapter breaks and when they did they MESSED it up royally. Paul is pointing out the fact they are BEING HYPOCRITES.
Yes Paul's letters to the churches he helped to found are carefully and thoughtfully written and very much need to be taken as a whole and not picked at to pull isolated verses out of. The original letters didn't have chapter breaks as you say which becomes very apparent on seeing scans of early codexes written on papyrus. For too long perhaps I've favoured Johannine Theology and ignored the intense itinerant Jewish tent maker who had such a profound influence on the early Christian church.
And Paul is the one who wrote this
1 Corinthians 13
13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Now that is beautiful. Thank you so much Sarah for drawing my attention back to Paul again.
Mathew 16
16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Paul, for all the beautiful, yet crazy things he wrote - was a poet at heart... (or, so I've experienced)
2 Corinthians 1 for example - just Paul's use of repetition... Makes this poet's heart flutter just reading it...
(from the NRSV - )
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, 4 who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. 6 If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.
Especially in the Greek... uffda.
An intriguing thought from Paul in our current modus operandi - if read through a certain lens -
1 Corinthians 3 (NRSV)
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
Uffda.
But, to answer the OP - I'd have to go with Matthew 6:34 - a verse seemingly more profound than I'd found it before - "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today." (NRSV)