Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible








In all things show yourself a pattern of virtue: in teaching shewing uncorruptness, gravity; let your doctrine be sound and inoffensive, that your opponents may be ashamed, and have nothing that is ill to say of us.



and you imitated us, and were imitators of the Lord, having receiv'd the word, notwithstanding all your afflictions, with that alacrity, which the holy spirit inspires. so that you became examples to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. for the gospel has made so favourable a progress not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every other place, where the reputation of your divine faith has spread, that 'tis needless to mention any thing of it; since they all relate of us,

let the prophets, my brethren, who were commission'd by the Lord, be your examples; suffer persecution with constancy like them. we pronounce those happy, who have so endur'd. you have heard of the constancy of Job, you know with what success he was crown'd by the Lord, who is all mercy and compassion.

but at present have obtain'd it. I exhort you, my dear brethren, as strangers and travellers to avoid all sensual passions, as destructive to your souls. Let your behaviour among the Gentiles be virtuous, that instead of inveighing against you as vicious, they may observe your honest behaviour, and glorify God in the times of distress. be subject therefore, for the Lord's sake to every human establishment: whether it be to the king, read more.
as supreme; or to governors, as being deputed by him to punish those who do ill, and to encourage those who do well. for such is the divine pleasure, that by your good conduct you obviate the cavils of inconsiderate men. You are free, don't let your liberty serve as a pretext for vice: but act as the servants of God. Be respectful to all, love your brethren, fear God, and honour the king. You that are servants, be subject to your masters with all reverence: not only to such as are kind and gentle, but even to the morose. for it is a recommendation to the divine favour, to suffer unjust persecution from a principle of conscience. what glory is there in suffering corporal punishment for real offences? but if you meet with ill usage for doing your duty, and bear it with constancy, this will conciliate the divine favour. and this is the condition of your vocation, since Christ himself has suffer'd for us, leaving an example for your exact imitation, he who never offended, and from whose lips no fallacy was ever utter'd, who, when he was reviled, did not revile again: when he was in his sufferings, he did not threat, but referr'd his cause to the righteous judge. he himself cancel'd our sins by the crucifixion of his body, that we being set free from sin, might live in the service of virtue. it is by his bruises that you were healed: for you were as sheep going astray, but now you are brought back to the pastor and overseer of your souls.

the holy religious women of former times were thus adorned, and were submissive to their husbands. such was Sarah, who show'd her obeysance to Abraham, by stiling him her Lord: and you will be stiled her children, if you imitate her conduct, and are not to be terrified out of your virtue.

















but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Verse ConceptsSheep, FigurativeMore ThanIsrael HardenedLost People



If a man has an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray, do you think he would not leave the ninety and nine in the mountains, and go in search for that which was gone astray? Verse ConceptsHillsSheepShepherds, As OccupationsWatchfulness, DivineLost SheepThe Number NinetyOne HundredThinking ArightGod Searching For PeopleAbandoning ThingsNinetiesMissing SomeoneBeing LostLosing Someone
















but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Verse ConceptsSheep, FigurativeMore ThanIsrael HardenedLost People



If a man has an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray, do you think he would not leave the ninety and nine in the mountains, and go in search for that which was gone astray? Verse ConceptsHillsSheepShepherds, As OccupationsWatchfulness, DivineLost SheepThe Number NinetyOne HundredThinking ArightGod Searching For PeopleAbandoning ThingsNinetiesMissing SomeoneBeing LostLosing Someone




then said Jesus to them, I shall be the occasion of your revolting all from me this night: for it is written, "I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered." Verse ConceptsSheepUnfaithfulness, To PeopleInadequate ShepherdingProphecies Concerning ChristThe Smiting Of JesusScattered Like SheepGod Beating PeoplePeople StumblingDuring One NightChrist Would Be KilledHurt And Betrayal

I assure you, he that entreth not by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, is a thief and a robber. but he that enters in by the door, is the pastor of the sheep. the porter lets him in, and the sheep know his voice: he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out to pasture. read more.
when he lets out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: because they know his voice. a stranger they will not follow, but flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. Jesus talk'd to them in this figurative way: but they did not understand the meaning of his discourse. Jesus therefore subjoin'd, I declare unto you, I am the door of the sheep-fold. they who have personated me, are all thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not follow them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved; he shall go in and out, and find pasture. the thief comes only to steal, to kill, and destroy: but I am come that they might have life, and have it with all its advantages. I am the true pastor: the true pastor exposes his life for the sheep. but the hireling, who is not the pastor, nor has the property of the sheep, seeing the wolf come, leaves the sheep, and flies away: so the wolf seizes some, and disperses the flock. the hireling flies, because he is an hireling, and is under no concern for the sheep. I am the true pastor, I know my sheep, and my sheep know me, (as the father and I are known to one another:) and I lay down my life for them. other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring; they will hear my voice; and so there shall be but one fold, and one pastor.



and Jesus said to them, this night you will all be staggered upon my account: for it is written, "I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered." Verse ConceptsSheep, FigurativeUnfaithfulness, To PeopleInadequate ShepherdingThe Smiting Of JesusScattered Like SheepChrist Would Be KilledJesus Foretelling His Resurrection





for the lamb who is in the midst before the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Verse ConceptsEyes, Used In PropheciesdiseasesBereavement, God's Comfort inFountainsGuidance, God's Promises OfKnowing God, Effects OfRest, EternalWellsTearsWhat Heaven Will Be LikeFountains Of LifeMetaphorical SpringsGod Will ComfortWells, Figurative Use






I assure you, he that entreth not by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, is a thief and a robber. but he that enters in by the door, is the pastor of the sheep. the porter lets him in, and the sheep know his voice: he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out to pasture. read more.
when he lets out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: because they know his voice. a stranger they will not follow, but flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. Jesus talk'd to them in this figurative way: but they did not understand the meaning of his discourse. Jesus therefore subjoin'd, I declare unto you, I am the door of the sheep-fold. they who have personated me, are all thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not follow them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved; he shall go in and out, and find pasture. the thief comes only to steal, to kill, and destroy: but I am come that they might have life, and have it with all its advantages. I am the true pastor: the true pastor exposes his life for the sheep. but the hireling, who is not the pastor, nor has the property of the sheep, seeing the wolf come, leaves the sheep, and flies away: so the wolf seizes some, and disperses the flock. the hireling flies, because he is an hireling, and is under no concern for the sheep. I am the true pastor, I know my sheep, and my sheep know me, (as the father and I are known to one another:) and I lay down my life for them. other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring; they will hear my voice; and so there shall be but one fold, and one pastor. therefore doth my father love me, because I lay down my life, but I shall reassume it. no man can take it from me, but I voluntarily lay it down: I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. this is the order I have received from my father.

this will conciliate the divine favour. and this is the condition of your vocation, since Christ himself has suffer'd for us, leaving an example for your exact imitation, he who never offended, and from whose lips no fallacy was ever utter'd, who, when he was reviled, did not revile again: when he was in his sufferings, he did not threat, but referr'd his cause to the righteous judge. read more.
he himself cancel'd our sins by the crucifixion of his body, that we being set free from sin, might live in the service of virtue. it is by his bruises that you were healed: for you were as sheep going astray, but now you are brought back to the pastor and overseer of your souls.