Thematic Bible: Causes of


Thematic Bible






Just then a Canaanite woman came out of that area [Note: Mark 7:26 calls her a Syrophoenician Gentile], crying, "O Lord, son of David, have pity on me. My daughter is seriously troubled by an evil spirit." Verse ConceptsDemon PossessionMaternal LoveBeggarsMercy, Of Jesus ChristSonsSpiritsJesus As Son Of DavidDemons Harming IndividualsBe Merciful!Those DemonisedDemons Causing TormentBeing A Woman Of GodharassmentDemonic Influence

"Sir, my slave-boy is at home sick in bed with a paralyzing disease and in serious pain." Verse ConceptsdiseasesSuffering, Causes OfSuffering, Nature OfParalyticsPhysical PainPleasurableness

And Jesus said to His disciples, "Suppose one of you who has a friend would go to him at midnight and say to him, ' [Please] lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has come to [visit] me while on a trip and I do not have anything to feed him?'

But Martha was preoccupied with all the preparations [i.e., for entertaining her beloved guest] and came up to Jesus and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Ask her to help me." Verse ConceptsBusynessCriticism, against believersImpatienceDiscourtesyActing AloneServing ChristComplaintsServingSiblingsWorryingServing GodDoing The Right ThingServing The Churchluckdistractionscookinghelping


Then another person said [to Jesus], "Lord, I will become your follower, but first let me say goodbye to my family." [Note: There was the likelihood that family members might try to dissuade him from his commitment to follow the Lord]. Verse ConceptsCommitment, to Jesus ChristFarewellsFirst ActionsDiscipleshipFamily And FriendsFamily FirstLeaving Parents For Spousegoodbyesfollowing


And as he discussed the matters of doing right, and [maintaining] self control and the coming judgment, Felix became terrified and answered, "Go on away for now; I will call you back when it is convenient for me." Verse ConceptsConviction, Not Leading To RepentanceGiving, Of TimeBribery, Examples OfIndecisionSelf ControlEternal JudgmentConviction Of SinJudgement To ComeThe Final JudgementGod Doing RightDoing RightNowRight Time For PeopleThose Frightened Of GodOpportunityJudgement DayEthics

Now when the people heard about the resurrection from the dead, some of them made fun of it, but others said, "We would like to hear [more] from you about this again." Verse ConceptsAbuse, To God's PeopleGospel, Responses ToInsultsMockeryNosesPreaching, Effects OfSaying RepeatedlyAre The Dead Raised?Mocking Christflexibility

[the quality of] each person's work will become evident [i.e., for what is it made of]. For the [judgment] day will expose his workmanship. And it will be revealed by the fire [of judgment], which will test the quality of a person's workmanship [i.e., the faithfulness of his converts]. Verse ConceptsAbility, Of The ChristianFireCharacterVeilsThe Day Of JudgementFire Of JudgementGod Testing PeopleThings RevealedOne's DeedsJudgement DayTestsPurgatoryworkingexamsstructuremotiveswilltrying

But if anyone's work is burned up [i.e., does not survive the judgment], he will experience loss [i.e., of his converts], but he himself will [still] be saved, like a person escaping from the fire [i.e., of a burning building, which consumes his efforts]. Verse ConceptsSpiritual FailureFire Of JudgementBemalosing a loved oneLosing SomeonePurgatorysmoking

you should have therefore deposited my money in the bank [so] when I returned, [at least] I would have received my own money back, with interest. Take the one talent away from him, therefore, and give it to the servant who had the ten talents.

For to every person who has [something], more will be given, so he will have plenty. But from the person who has [virtually] nothing, even that [little bit] he has will be taken away [from him]. Verse ConceptsTalentsAbundance, SpiritualPossessingAdding BlessingThose To Whom God GivesTaking God's ThingsGifts And TalentsAbundance

And a few days later, this younger son gathered everything together and traveled to a distant country where he squandered his possessions in wild living. Verse ConceptsGluttonyExtravaganceExcessBad Decision Making ExamplesBuying and sellingLeisure, Nature And Purpose OfLossThriftWantonnessDeparturesA Short TimeFar From HereShort Time Till The EndThey Committed Immorality

But the person who hears [my words] and does not obey them is like a man who built a house on the ground, without a foundation. [When] the river pounded against it, immediately it collapsed and the destruction of that house was complete." Verse ConceptsFools, In Teaching Of Jesus ChristCarelessnessLossShallownessHearing ChristThings Falling



Then another person said [to Jesus], "Lord, I will become your follower, but first let me say goodbye to my family." [Note: There was the likelihood that family members might try to dissuade him from his commitment to follow the Lord]. Verse ConceptsCommitment, to Jesus ChristFarewellsFirst ActionsDiscipleshipFamily And FriendsFamily FirstLeaving Parents For Spousegoodbyesfollowing


And as he discussed the matters of doing right, and [maintaining] self control and the coming judgment, Felix became terrified and answered, "Go on away for now; I will call you back when it is convenient for me." Verse ConceptsConviction, Not Leading To RepentanceGiving, Of TimeBribery, Examples OfIndecisionSelf ControlEternal JudgmentConviction Of SinJudgement To ComeThe Final JudgementGod Doing RightDoing RightNowRight Time For PeopleThose Frightened Of GodOpportunityJudgement DayEthics

Now when the people heard about the resurrection from the dead, some of them made fun of it, but others said, "We would like to hear [more] from you about this again." Verse ConceptsAbuse, To God's PeopleGospel, Responses ToInsultsMockeryNosesPreaching, Effects OfSaying RepeatedlyAre The Dead Raised?Mocking Christflexibility








But if you people have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, do not be arrogant [over it] and deny the truth. Verse ConceptsBeing BitterBraggingLyingDo Not Be ProudBitternessEthicslieing


Remind them [Note: This probably refers to the "trustworthy men" there at Ephesus. See 2:2] of these things [i.e., the truths just mentioned. Verses 8-13], solemnly urging them, in the presence of the Lord, not to argue over words, [for] it is useless and brings [only] ruin to those who listen to it. Verse ConceptsFutilityDiscorddisagreementsInfluenceUseless ThingsArguingQuarrelsDestruction Of The WickedReminders Of The GospelUseless WordsAvoid QuarrelsUseless Words And ThinkingErrorPositive Thinkingdistractionsremembrancestrivingdoctrine

For I am afraid that somehow, when I come [to you], I might not find you the way I want you to be, and you might not find me the way you want me to be. I am afraid there might be quarrelling, jealousy, angry outbursts, factious spirits, slander, gossip, arrogance and [other] disturbances [there]. Verse ConceptsBackbitingArguingBitingTumultdisagreementsJealousyPride, Evil OfSectsArgumentsStrifeAbsenceSlanderArrogance, In The ChurchQuarrelsWhispering Of EvilDislikingDisorder In The ChurchAvoiding JealousyProud PeopleCompetitiongossiping

For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by some of Chloe's family, that there is quarreling [going on] among you. Verse ConceptsArguingTelling Of People's Situations

for you are still worldly [minded]. And since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, is that not evidence that you are [still] worldly and living like [unspiritual] people? Verse ConceptsArguingDiscordJealousyDramaWarfare, Nature OfCarnalitySin, Consequences OfFruits Of SinDivision Among ChristiansSpiritual ImmaturityQuarrelsWeakness In DivisionDislikingSins Of The FleshLike People By NatureAvoiding JealousyFighting One Another

But [instead], a brother goes to court against his brother, and that in front of an unbelieving [judge]! Verse ConceptsNot Believing The Gospel











A loud commotion developed [in the Council meeting]. Some of the teachers of the law of Moses who belonged to the Pharisee party stood up and argued, saying, "We can find nothing wrong with this man. What if an angel or spirit did speak to him?" Verse ConceptsTeachers Of The LawSpirit BeingsSound




And when you hear of wars [going on] and rumors of [other] wars [pending], do not worry, for such things must necessarily happen. But the end has not yet come. [Note: By "end" here Jesus probably alludes to the downfall of Jerusalem in AD 70, with its attending destruction of the Temple buildings]. Verse ConceptsTrouble, Causes OfCivil StrifeRumoursWarsEnd Of The WorldPrinciples Of WarSigns Of The TimesWarrumors

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Nations will wage war against one another and kingdoms will attack one another. And great earthquakes will happen, and at various places there will be famines and disease epidemics. And there will be fearful events and great [supernatural] signs from heaven.

that person is conceited. He does not understand anything, but has an unhealthy concern for controversy and arguments over words, which produce envy, dissension, abusive language, evil suspicions, Verse ConceptsFoolish QuestionsFools, Characteristics OfBackbitingEnvyThe ProudUncharitablenessNot Believing PeopleAvoid QuarrelsMind Battlesrumors

For when jealousy and rivalry exist, there is [also] disorder and every [kind of] evil practice. Verse ConceptsConfusion, Nature OfdisagreementsPersecution, Forms OfDisorder In The ChurchSelfishnessSelf CenterednessGreedCompetitionwitchesego