Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible





But I work out and get my body in shape [i.e., spiritually], so that after preaching to other people, I myself do not become disqualified [i.e., for winning the prize from God. See verse 24]. Verse ConceptsLicentiousnessCastawaysBodyAsceticism, TypesLustMortificationSelf DisciplineConduct, ProperDietsMinisters, Should BeBeating OneselfMaking SlavesslaveryRacetrainingmyself





But I work out and get my body in shape [i.e., spiritually], so that after preaching to other people, I myself do not become disqualified [i.e., for winning the prize from God. See verse 24]. Verse ConceptsLicentiousnessCastawaysBodyAsceticism, TypesLustMortificationSelf DisciplineConduct, ProperDietsMinisters, Should BeBeating OneselfMaking SlavesslaveryRacetrainingmyself




I now want to reply to the matters you people wrote me about. It is [a] good [idea] for a man not to get married. [Note: The words "to get married" here are "to touch" in the Greek and probably refer to sexual relations within marriage. This advice, not a prohibition, is further explained in verses 26-35]. But, because of so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his [marital] duty to his wife, and the wife should do the same thing for her husband. read more.
The wife does not have [sole] authority over her own [physical] body, but the husband [also has his right to it]. And in the same way, the husband also does not have [sole] authority over his own [physical] body, but the wife [i.e., has her right to it, as well]. Do not deprive each other [of these marital rights], except by mutual agreement, so that you can spend the time in prayer. Then resume [normal sexual] relations again, so Satan is not able to tempt you [i.e., to have an affair] because of your lack of self-control.

For it is God's will that you should be dedicated to Him, [that is], you should avoid sexual immorality. Each of you should know how to control his own body in a dedicated and honorable way, not in passionate lust, as the [unconverted] Gentiles, who do not know God, do. read more.
And none of you should violate and exploit his brother [or sister] in such a matter. For the Lord will punish people for all these things, just as we told you before and warned you.

Now after these things [happened] the Lord appointed seventy-two other disciples [Note: Some ancient manuscripts say "seventy." This group would have been in addition to the twelve. See Luke 9:1], and sent them two by two on ahead of Him into every town and locality that He planned to visit. And He said to them, "There is certainly plenty to harvest, but there are [too] few people to do the work. You should pray to the Lord of the harvest to send [more] workers out into the field to gather His crop. [So], go on; See, I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. read more.
Do not carry a money belt, or a traveling bag [for personal belongings] or shoes; and do not extend [elaborate] greetings to anyone along the way. And whatever house you enter, first say, 'Let peace be upon this household.' And if a son of peace is there [i.e., a peace-loving person], your [request for] peace will rest upon him. But if he is not [a peace-loving person], your [blessing of] peace will return to [rest on] you. And you should remain in that same house [i.e., the peace-loving one], eating and drinking whatever they serve you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move from house to house [i.e., wasting time]. And into whatever town you enter and are welcomed, eat whatever is placed in front of you, and heal the sick people who live there. Say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whatever town you enter that does not welcome you, go out into its streets and say [to them], We are wiping off even the dust of your city that has stuck to our feet [in protest] against you. Yet you should know this, that the kingdom of God has come near [to you].' I tell you, the people of Sodom will be shown more leniency on that day [i.e., the day of judgment] than that town will receive. "It is too bad for you, Chorazin! It is too bad for you, Bethsaida! For if the powerful miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which were performed in your presence, they would have repented long ago by sitting in ashes and wearing sackcloth. [Note: This sackcloth was a coarse cloth made of goat hair and indicated deep remorse or mourning]. But Tyre and Sidon will be shown more leniency in the judgment [day] than you will. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up [as high] as heaven? [Certainly not], you will be brought down to the unseen place of departed spirits [i.e., you will become obscure or obliterated as a city]. The person who listens to you, [actually] listens to me. And the person who rejects you, [actually] rejects me. And the person who rejects me, [actually] rejects Him who sent me [i.e., God]."


For you know [i.e., are aware of] the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For it is God's will that you should be dedicated to Him, [that is], you should avoid sexual immorality. Each of you should know how to control his own body in a dedicated and honorable way, read more.
not in passionate lust, as the [unconverted] Gentiles, who do not know God, do. And none of you should violate and exploit his brother [or sister] in such a matter. For the Lord will punish people for all these things, just as we told you before and warned you. For God did not call us to be morally impure, but to be dedicated to Him. So, the person who rejects [this exhortation] is not [merely] rejecting what man says but God [Himself], who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

For you know [i.e., are aware of] the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For it is God's will that you should be dedicated to Him, [that is], you should avoid sexual immorality. Each of you should know how to control his own body in a dedicated and honorable way, read more.
not in passionate lust, as the [unconverted] Gentiles, who do not know God, do. And none of you should violate and exploit his brother [or sister] in such a matter. For the Lord will punish people for all these things, just as we told you before and warned you. For God did not call us to be morally impure, but to be dedicated to Him. So, the person who rejects [this exhortation] is not [merely] rejecting what man says but God [Himself], who gives His Holy Spirit to you.




For this reason God allowed [or, abandoned] them to [practice] degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function [i.e., of sex] for what is against nature [i.e., lesbianism]. Verse ConceptsdesiresSodomySexual PerversionEvil PassionsGod Handing OverWomen Doing WrongExchanging Good For BadAffectionsexLove And RelationshipsWomen's RolesPassionChange And GrowthSame Sex Marriage

For when we were in the flesh [i.e., before conversion], our sinful desires, aroused by [the restrictions of] the law of Moses, worked in our bodies to produce activity that led to [spiritual] death. Verse ConceptsFlesh As The Sinful NatureLustParticipation, In SinSin, Causes OfFruits Of SinEvil PassionsSins Of The FleshSin Producing DeathEvil DesiresEffect Of The LawSin Produces DeathSelf CenterednessGoing Through the MotionsPassionEmotions














Neither should we commit sexual immorality as some of them did, [with] 23,000 people falling dead in one day. [Note: Num. 25:9 mentions 24,000 people slain, but that number could have included the additional people slain by the judges. See Num. 25:5]. Verse ConceptsChastityLove, In RelationshipsSexual AberrationsSelf IndulgenceSexual Sin, Nature OfTwenty Thousand And UpOne DayAvoid ImmoralitySexual Immorality

For it is God's will that you should be dedicated to Him, [that is], you should avoid sexual immorality. Each of you should know how to control his own body in a dedicated and honorable way, not in passionate lust, as the [unconverted] Gentiles, who do not know God, do.


For you know [i.e., are aware of] the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For it is God's will that you should be dedicated to Him, [that is], you should avoid sexual immorality. Each of you should know how to control his own body in a dedicated and honorable way, read more.
not in passionate lust, as the [unconverted] Gentiles, who do not know God, do. And none of you should violate and exploit his brother [or sister] in such a matter. For the Lord will punish people for all these things, just as we told you before and warned you. For God did not call us to be morally impure, but to be dedicated to Him. So, the person who rejects [this exhortation] is not [merely] rejecting what man says but God [Himself], who gives His Holy Spirit to you. Now you people do not need anyone to write to you about loving [your] brothers, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

So also, in a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah, and their surrounding towns, which had abandoned themselves to sexual immorality and [sexually] perverted behavior, serve as an example [of people] who [will] suffer the punishment of never ending fire. Verse ConceptsDeath, Of UnbelieversBestialityCivilizationHomosexualityEternal JudgementTwo CitiesSexual Immorality Brings PunishmentgayssexSexual ImmoralityBeing Gay

For it is God's will that you should be dedicated to Him, [that is], you should avoid sexual immorality. Each of you should know how to control his own body in a dedicated and honorable way, not in passionate lust, as the [unconverted] Gentiles, who do not know God, do. read more.
And none of you should violate and exploit his brother [or sister] in such a matter. For the Lord will punish people for all these things, just as we told you before and warned you.


and to provide [future] rest for you, along with us, who are afflicted. [This will occur] when Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire [i.e., at His second coming], accompanied by His mighty angels. He will inflict punishment on those people who do not know God [as Savior], and on those who do not obey the Gospel message of our Lord Jesus. They will pay the penalty of never ending destruction, being banished from the presence of the Lord and from His mighty splendor.


After these things I heard what sounded like the loud voices of a huge crowd in heaven, shouting, "Hallelujah [which means, "Praise God"]! Salvation and splendor and power belong to our God. For His judgments are true and just; He has judged [i.e., condemned] the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and He has punished her for [shedding] the blood of His servants."



Jesus replied, "I am the bread who gives [spiritual] life; the person who comes to me will never get hungry [again], and the one who believes in me will never get thirsty [again]. But I have told you this: You have seen me and yet do not believe [in me]. Every person [Note: The Greek says, "every thing"] whom the Father gives me will [eventually] come to me [i.e., for salvation]; and I will never turn away that person who comes to me. read more.
For I have come down from heaven to do what God, who sent me, wants me to do, not what I want to do. And this is what God, who sent me, wants: That I should not lose any of those persons whom He has given me, but should raise them up [from the dead] on the last day [i.e., the judgment day]. And this is what [else] my Father wants: That every person who sees the Son [i.e., with the eye of faith] and believes in Him should have never ending life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day."

Submit yourselves to every authority set up by people for the Lord's sake. [Submit to] a king as the [highest] authority, or to governors who are appointed by him to punish wrongdoers, and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that, by doing good, you should put to silence the ignorant [talk and actions] of foolish people.

For you know [i.e., are aware of] the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For it is God's will that you should be dedicated to Him, [that is], you should avoid sexual immorality. Each of you should know how to control his own body in a dedicated and honorable way, read more.
not in passionate lust, as the [unconverted] Gentiles, who do not know God, do. And none of you should violate and exploit his brother [or sister] in such a matter. For the Lord will punish people for all these things, just as we told you before and warned you. For God did not call us to be morally impure, but to be dedicated to Him.

And we urge you, brothers, to warn those who are idle [Note: The word "idle" originally meant, "insubordinate, or unruly." See II Thess. 3:6-7, 11], encourage those who are timid, help the [spiritually] weak and be patient with everyone. Make sure that no one does anything wrong to someone who wrongs him, but always look for something good you can do for one another and for everyone. You should be joyful at all times. read more.
Never stop praying. Thank [God] for everything, for this is what God wants for you in [the fellowship of] Christ Jesus.