Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels [i.e., in heaven ?] over one sinful person who repents." Verse ConceptsGoalsAngels RejoicingAngels, DescriptionRepentance And ForgivenessRejoicing When Someone Is SavedJoy And HappinessCelebrationThe Presence Of Godcelebrating


who appeared in splendor, and were speaking of Jesus' [coming] departure [i.e., His imminent death], which He was soon to experience at Jerusalem. Verse ConceptsGlorified SaintsExodus

I tell you that, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinful person who repents [i.e., changes his heart and life], than over ninety-nine persons who do not need to repent. Verse ConceptsGod, Joy OfGoalsAngels RejoicingCelebrationsHeaven,  Redeemed CommunityReceptivenessThe Soul Winners JoyThe Number NinetyNinetiesNumbers Of Righteous PeopleAngels Activities Among UnbelieversMinistering To The UnsavedRejoicing When Someone Is Savedrebirthhomecoming

I solemnly urge you, in the presence of God, and Christ Jesus and the elect [i.e, chosen] angels, that you obey these instructions without showing prejudice [toward anyone], or doing anything out of partiality. Verse ConceptsFavouritismethics, socialequalityElection, Description OfSolemn ChargesMinisters, Should BeAngels, DescriptionPartialityMen's Orders

It was revealed to these prophets that you people, not they, were the ones being ministered to in the matters now being announced to you by those who preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven. [This message contained] things which angels would like to look into. Verse Conceptsdiscipleship, nature ofLearning From The Holy SpiritGod, Revelation OfGrace, And Holy SpiritKnowing God, Nature OfMinistry, Nature OfAngels, DescriptionCuriosityThe Divinity Of The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit, And PreachingThe Gospel PreachedAngelsServing GroupsProphecies concerningEvangelismRelationships And Datingevangelizingministering

It was revealed to these prophets that you people, not they, were the ones being ministered to in the matters now being announced to you by those who preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven. [This message contained] things which angels would like to look into. Verse Conceptsdiscipleship, nature ofLearning From The Holy SpiritGod, Revelation OfGrace, And Holy SpiritKnowing God, Nature OfMinistry, Nature OfAngels, DescriptionCuriosityThe Divinity Of The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit, And PreachingThe Gospel PreachedAngelsServing GroupsProphecies concerningEvangelismRelationships And Datingevangelizingministering

[I was given the responsibility] to enlighten all people regarding the working out of God's secret plan, which has been kept hidden for ages in [the heart of] God, who created everything. This was done so that now God's many-sided wisdom could be made known through the church, to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms [Note: "Heavenly realms" here refers to the world around us, where these angelic beings (good or bad) view the unfolding of God's wonderful plan],

And without question the revealed secret of godly living is great. [It is this]: He [i.e., Christ, or God], who appeared in a fleshly body [was] vindicated [of false charges] by the Holy Spirit; [He was] seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed in throughout the world [and finally] was taken up into glory [i.e., heaven]. Verse ConceptsFaith, As A Body Of BeliefsDoctrine, CommunicatedBody Of Christ, Physical BodyGospel, Historical Foundation OfHeraldIncarnationDivinity Of ChristMysteryOrthodoxy, In NtUnion With Christ, Nature OfAngels, Ministry To ChristManifesting (making Something Clear)The Mystery Of ChristChrist's NatureGod VindicatesQuestioning GodGodheadepiphanyvindicationpiety

Although you have not seen Jesus, you [still] love Him and believe in Him, and this causes you to have an indescribable, glorious joy. Your faith will [finally] bring about the salvation of your souls. The prophets [of old], who spoke of this salvation, asked about and searched diligently concerning the unearned favor [God provided] for you people. read more.
They studied [their own prophecies] to learn what, or which, [person or] time the Holy Spirit in them pointed to, in predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories yet to come. It was revealed to these prophets that you people, not they, were the ones being ministered to in the matters now being announced to you by those who preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven. [This message contained] things which angels would like to look into.

It was revealed to these prophets that you people, not they, were the ones being ministered to in the matters now being announced to you by those who preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven. [This message contained] things which angels would like to look into. Verse Conceptsdiscipleship, nature ofLearning From The Holy SpiritGod, Revelation OfGrace, And Holy SpiritKnowing God, Nature OfMinistry, Nature OfAngels, DescriptionCuriosityThe Divinity Of The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit, And PreachingThe Gospel PreachedAngelsServing GroupsProphecies concerningEvangelismRelationships And Datingevangelizingministering

[He said], "Brothers, it was necessary that the Scriptures be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke through King David about Judas, who guided the soldiers who came to arrest Jesus. Verse ConceptsPeter, Preacher And TeacherInspiration Of The Holy Spirit, Purpose OfThe Holy Spirit, And ScripturePredicting The FutureArresting ChristScriptures FulfilledInspirationfulfillment


They studied [their own prophecies] to learn what, or which, [person or] time the Holy Spirit in them pointed to, in predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories yet to come. It was revealed to these prophets that you people, not they, were the ones being ministered to in the matters now being announced to you by those who preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven. [This message contained] things which angels would like to look into.

It was revealed to these prophets that you people, not they, were the ones being ministered to in the matters now being announced to you by those who preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven. [This message contained] things which angels would like to look into. Verse Conceptsdiscipleship, nature ofLearning From The Holy SpiritGod, Revelation OfGrace, And Holy SpiritKnowing God, Nature OfMinistry, Nature OfAngels, DescriptionCuriosityThe Divinity Of The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit, And PreachingThe Gospel PreachedAngelsServing GroupsProphecies concerningEvangelismRelationships And Datingevangelizingministering

Then Jesus said to the apostles, "These are the words that I told you while I was still with you, [when I said] that everything written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms about me needed to be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds [miraculously ?] so they would understand the Scriptures. And He said to them, "This is what was written: The Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one] will suffer, and [then] rise again from the dead on the third day. read more.
And [the need for] a change of heart and life in order to receive the forgiveness of sins [from God] will be preached in Jesus' name [i.e., by His authority] to people of all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You apostles are [to be] witnesses of these things [i.e., they were to give their testimony of these truths. See Acts 1:8]. And look, I [am going to] send upon you apostles what my Father promised [i.e., the Holy Spirit. See John 14:26]; but you should wait in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed with power from above." [Note: This promise was fulfilled when the apostles were immersed in the Holy Spirit. See Acts 1:4 - 2:4].

And because you are [His] children, God sent the Holy Spirit of His Son into our hearts, to call out, "Abba," [which means] "Father." So [now], you are no longer a slave but a child, and since you are a child, you also will receive an inheritance through [the blessings of] God.


Jesus answered him, "If a person loves me, he will obey my teaching, and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him [i.e., in the person of the indwelling Holy Spirit]. The person who does not love me will not obey my teaching. And the message you are hearing is not mine, but belongs to the Father, who sent me. "I have told you these things while I am still with you. read more.
But the Helper, that is, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name [i.e., by my authority] will teach you everything. And He will remind you of everything that I [have] said to you.

"But the Helper will come, that is, the Holy Spirit of truth [i.e., who reveals truth]. He comes from the Father and I will send Him to you from the Father. [When He comes] He will give testimony about me. And you will give testimony about me [also], because you men have been with me from the beginning [of my ministry]."

[Jesus continued], "I have told you these things so that you men would not fall away [i.e., from the faith]. The Jewish authorities will expel you from their synagogues. In fact, the time will come when whoever kills you will think he is doing a service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known [either] the Father or me. read more.
But I have told you these things so that, when the time comes [for people to do such things], you will remember that I had warned you. I did not tell you them at the beginning [of my ministry] because I was with you [i.e., to protect you from persecution]. "But now I am going to Him who sent me; yet none of you is asking me, 'Where are you going?' And now that I have told you these things, your hearts are full of grief. Yet I am telling you the truth: It will be helpful to you for me to go away. For unless I go, the Helper [i.e., the Holy Spirit] will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.

It was revealed to these prophets that you people, not they, were the ones being ministered to in the matters now being announced to you by those who preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven. [This message contained] things which angels would like to look into. Verse Conceptsdiscipleship, nature ofLearning From The Holy SpiritGod, Revelation OfGrace, And Holy SpiritKnowing God, Nature OfMinistry, Nature OfAngels, DescriptionCuriosityThe Divinity Of The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit, And PreachingThe Gospel PreachedAngelsServing GroupsProphecies concerningEvangelismRelationships And Datingevangelizingministering


Now may there be glory for ever, through Jesus Christ, to the only wise God, who is able to make you stand firm [in the faith], according to the good news and proclamation of Jesus Christ. This message is the secret which was [eventually] revealed, after having been kept quiet about for long ages. It is now being made known through the writings of the prophets, as commanded by the eternal God, to [people of] all the nations, in order to bring about their obedience to the faith

This is the reason that I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles, [pray for you. See 3:14-19]. [Note: Paul here digresses from his prayer, begun in 1:15-16, to explain the circumstances of his being a prisoner on behalf of these Gentiles]. [I assume] you have heard about my commission [to minister] to you, which was given to me by God's unearned favor. [It is] that God's secret plan [i.e., revealed in the Gospel preached to Gentiles. See verse 6] was made known to me by way of a revelation. [See Acts 9:15; 22:21]. I have already written to you [about this] briefly [i.e., probably a reference to 1:9ff]. read more.
So, when you read this you will be able to understand my insight into the secret plan of Christ, which was not told to people of previous generations as it has now been revealed to His [i.e., Christ's] holy apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit. This secret plan is that the Gentiles [now] share in the inheritance along with us [Jews], and are fellow-members of the body [i.e., the church], and that they share, along with us [Jews], in the promise of the Gospel, in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus. I was made a minister [of the Gospel] according to the gift of God's unearned favor, which was given to me according to the working of His power. This favor of preaching the unfathomable riches of Christ to the Gentiles was given to me [even though] I am the least significant of all saints [i.e., God's holy people]. [I was given the responsibility] to enlighten all people regarding the working out of God's secret plan, which has been kept hidden for ages in [the heart of] God, who created everything.

The prophets [of old], who spoke of this salvation, asked about and searched diligently concerning the unearned favor [God provided] for you people. They studied [their own prophecies] to learn what, or which, [person or] time the Holy Spirit in them pointed to, in predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories yet to come. It was revealed to these prophets that you people, not they, were the ones being ministered to in the matters now being announced to you by those who preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven. [This message contained] things which angels would like to look into.

It was revealed to these prophets that you people, not they, were the ones being ministered to in the matters now being announced to you by those who preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven. [This message contained] things which angels would like to look into. Verse Conceptsdiscipleship, nature ofLearning From The Holy SpiritGod, Revelation OfGrace, And Holy SpiritKnowing God, Nature OfMinistry, Nature OfAngels, DescriptionCuriosityThe Divinity Of The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit, And PreachingThe Gospel PreachedAngelsServing GroupsProphecies concerningEvangelismRelationships And Datingevangelizingministering

Then Jesus said to the apostles, "These are the words that I told you while I was still with you, [when I said] that everything written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms about me needed to be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds [miraculously ?] so they would understand the Scriptures. And He said to them, "This is what was written: The Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one] will suffer, and [then] rise again from the dead on the third day. read more.
And [the need for] a change of heart and life in order to receive the forgiveness of sins [from God] will be preached in Jesus' name [i.e., by His authority] to people of all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You apostles are [to be] witnesses of these things [i.e., they were to give their testimony of these truths. See Acts 1:8]. And look, I [am going to] send upon you apostles what my Father promised [i.e., the Holy Spirit. See John 14:26]; but you should wait in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed with power from above." [Note: This promise was fulfilled when the apostles were immersed in the Holy Spirit. See Acts 1:4 - 2:4].

And because you are [His] children, God sent the Holy Spirit of His Son into our hearts, to call out, "Abba," [which means] "Father." So [now], you are no longer a slave but a child, and since you are a child, you also will receive an inheritance through [the blessings of] God.


Jesus answered him, "If a person loves me, he will obey my teaching, and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him [i.e., in the person of the indwelling Holy Spirit]. The person who does not love me will not obey my teaching. And the message you are hearing is not mine, but belongs to the Father, who sent me. "I have told you these things while I am still with you. read more.
But the Helper, that is, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name [i.e., by my authority] will teach you everything. And He will remind you of everything that I [have] said to you.

"But the Helper will come, that is, the Holy Spirit of truth [i.e., who reveals truth]. He comes from the Father and I will send Him to you from the Father. [When He comes] He will give testimony about me. And you will give testimony about me [also], because you men have been with me from the beginning [of my ministry]."

[Jesus continued], "I have told you these things so that you men would not fall away [i.e., from the faith]. The Jewish authorities will expel you from their synagogues. In fact, the time will come when whoever kills you will think he is doing a service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known [either] the Father or me. read more.
But I have told you these things so that, when the time comes [for people to do such things], you will remember that I had warned you. I did not tell you them at the beginning [of my ministry] because I was with you [i.e., to protect you from persecution]. "But now I am going to Him who sent me; yet none of you is asking me, 'Where are you going?' And now that I have told you these things, your hearts are full of grief. Yet I am telling you the truth: It will be helpful to you for me to go away. For unless I go, the Helper [i.e., the Holy Spirit] will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.