Thematic Bible: Encouraged


Thematic Bible








whom God in His power is guarding through faith for a salvation that even now stands ready for unveiling at the End of the Age. Rejoice triumphantly in the prospect of this, even if now, for a short time, you are compelled to sorrow amid various trials.
















And you masters, act towards your slaves on the same principles, and refrain from threats. For you know that in Heaven there is One who is your Master as well as theirs, and that merely earthly distinctions there are none with Him. Verse ConceptsequalityBeing FairAbuse Of Authority, Warnings AgainstGod, Justice OfGod, Impartiality OfMastersPrejudiceServants, Working Conditions OfSlavery, In NtThreatsMasters Duties Towards ServantsEmployersChrist And HeavenChrist Is My LordslaveryRespectTreating OthersNever Giving Up















See to it that no one ever repays another with evil for evil; but always seek opportunities of doing good both to one another and to all the world. Verse Conceptsevil, believers' responses toAttackingGrudgesKindnessOpposition, To Sin And EvilRevenge, And RetaliationSpiteCourtesyDo Good!Repaying Evil For EvilTurning The Other Cheek



"But to you who are listening to me I say, Love your enemies; seek the welfare of those who hate you; Verse Conceptsevil, believers' responses toDuties To EnemiesHearing ChristDo Good!Love Your Neighbour!EnemiesForgiving Others Who Hurt You


and indeed you do love all the brethren throughout Macedonia. And we exhort you to do so more and more, Verse Conceptsencouragement, examples ofGrowthSpiritual GrowthGrowth In Grace

Concerning Him we have much to say, and much that it would be difficult to make clear to you, since you have become so dull of apprehension. For although, considering the long time you have been believers, you ought now to be teachers of others, you really need some one to teach you over again the very rudiments of the truths of God, and you have come to require milk instead of solid food. By people who live on milk I mean those who are imperfectly acquainted with the teaching concerning righteousness. read more.
Such persons are mere babes. But solid food is for adults--that is, for those who through constant practice have their spiritual faculties carefully trained to distinguish good from evil.

Therefore leaving elementary instruction about the Christ, let us advance to mature manhood and not be continually re-laying a foundation of repentance from lifeless works and of faith in God, or of teaching about ceremonial washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and the last judgement. And advance we will, if God permits us to do so. read more.
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once for all been enlightened, and have tasted the sweetness of the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have realized how good the word of God is and how mighty are the powers of the coming Age, and then fell away-- it is impossible, I say, to keep bringing them back to a new repentance, for, to their own undoing, they are repeatedly crucifying the Son of God afresh and exposing Him to open shame. For land which has drunk in the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sakes, indeed, it is tilled, has a share in God's blessing. But if it only yields a mass of thorns and briers, it is considered worthless, and is in danger of being cursed, and in the end will be destroyed by fire. But we, even while we speak in this tone, have a happier conviction concerning you, my dearly-loved friends--a conviction of things which point towards salvation. For God is not unjust so that He is unmindful of your labour and of the love which you have manifested towards Himself in having rendered services to His people and in still rendering them. But we long for each of you to continue to manifest the same earnestness, with a view to your enjoying fulness of hope to the very End; so that you may not become half-hearted, but be imitators of those who through faith and patient endurance are now heirs to the promises. For when God gave the promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, saying, "Assuredly I will bless you and bless you, I will increase you and increase you." And so, as the result of patient waiting, our forefather obtained what God had promised. For men swear by what is greater than themselves; and with them an oath in confirmation of a statement always puts an end to a dispute.



And God who continually supplies seed for the sower and bread for eating, will supply you with seed and multiply it, and will cause your almsgiving to yield a plentiful harvest. Verse ConceptsAgriculture, Growth From GodBread, As FoodDevelopmentGrowthHarvestProvisionsFruits Of RighteousnessSpiritual GrowthSowing GoodReapingA Righteous PeopleGod Feeds All The EarthBreadReaping What You SowPlanting SeedsFarmingSeedsSowing Seedsprovidingsowing

But for this very reason--adding, on your part, all earnestness-- along with your faith, manifest also a noble character: along with a noble character, knowledge; along with knowledge, self-control; along with self-control, power of endurance;











On the contrary, when you are invited go and take the lowest place, that when your host comes round he may say to you, 'My friend, come up higher.' This will be doing you honour in the presence of all the other guests. Verse ConceptsPresumptionSeatsMoving UpwardsReclining To EatBe Humble!Guest RoomsBeing HumbleMoving OnMoving To A New PlaceWaiting Till Marriageovereating

















Pay promptly to all men what is due to them: taxes to those to whom taxes are due, toll to those to whom toll is due, respect to those to whom respect is due, honour to those to whom honour is due. Verse ConceptsBeing In DebtAuthority, of human institutionsHuman Authority, Christian ResponseTaxationTributesCitizenshipHonour The HonourableTax To Be PaidRespectRespecting ParentsRespecting Authoritytaxes






whom God in His power is guarding through faith for a salvation that even now stands ready for unveiling at the End of the Age. Rejoice triumphantly in the prospect of this, even if now, for a short time, you are compelled to sorrow amid various trials.


What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what is whispered into your ear, proclaim upon the roofs of the houses. Verse ConceptsRooftopBeelzebubHousetopsGo And PreachFaintnessFrom Darkness To LightOvertaken By DarknessSpreading StoriesDisclosuresUnder One's BreathDarknessAnxiety And Stress



"Leave the dead," Jesus rejoined, "to bury their own dead; but you must go and announce far and wide the coming of the Kingdom of God." Verse ConceptsMinisters, Should Not BeGo And PreachSpiritually Deadgoodbyes


"Go and stand in the Temple, and go on proclaiming to the people all this Message of Life." Verse ConceptsNewnessMinisters, Way They Should TeachGo And PreachLife By God's WordDisciples In The TempleSpeaking As From God









See to it that no one ever repays another with evil for evil; but always seek opportunities of doing good both to one another and to all the world. Verse Conceptsevil, believers' responses toAttackingGrudgesKindnessOpposition, To Sin And EvilRevenge, And RetaliationSpiteCourtesyDo Good!Repaying Evil For EvilTurning The Other Cheek



"But to you who are listening to me I say, Love your enemies; seek the welfare of those who hate you; Verse Conceptsevil, believers' responses toDuties To EnemiesHearing ChristDo Good!Love Your Neighbour!EnemiesForgiving Others Who Hurt You













On the contrary, therefore, if your enemy is hungry, give him food; if he is thirsty, quench his thirst. For by doing this you will be heaping burning coals upon his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome the evil with goodness.


What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what is whispered into your ear, proclaim upon the roofs of the houses. Verse ConceptsRooftopBeelzebubHousetopsGo And PreachFaintnessFrom Darkness To LightOvertaken By DarknessSpreading StoriesDisclosuresUnder One's BreathDarknessAnxiety And Stress



"Leave the dead," Jesus rejoined, "to bury their own dead; but you must go and announce far and wide the coming of the Kingdom of God." Verse ConceptsMinisters, Should Not BeGo And PreachSpiritually Deadgoodbyes


"Go and stand in the Temple, and go on proclaiming to the people all this Message of Life." Verse ConceptsNewnessMinisters, Way They Should TeachGo And PreachLife By God's WordDisciples In The TempleSpeaking As From God











And immediately there was with the angel a multitude of the army of Heaven praising God and saying, "Glory be to God in the highest Heavens, And on earth peace among men who please Him!"


And they were singing what seemed to be a new song, in front of the throne and in the presence of the four living creatures and the Elders; and no one was able to learn that song except the 144,000 people who had been redeemed out of the world. Verse ConceptsCreatureselders, in the churchMarketsSongsThroneAbundance, SpiritualHeaven, Worshiping GodBeastsFour CreaturesOne Hundred Thousand And MoreCosmic CreaturesA New SongFruitless LearningElders In Heaven144,000elders

saying, "We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Ruler of all, Who art and wast, because Thou hast exerted Thy power, Thy great power, and hast become King. Verse ConceptsGod, Power OfGod, The EternalThanksgivingThanksgiving, OfferedThe AlmightyThe Existence Of GodGod Showed His PowerWe Thank GodThank YouBeing Grateful

And each of the four living creatures had six wings, and in every direction, and within, are full of eyes; and day after day, and night after night, they never cease saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Ruler of all, who wast and art and evermore shalt be." Verse ConceptsGod, Holiness OfdoxologyNightSeraphimWingsWorship, Reasons ForGod, TrinityPraise, Should Be Offered ByThe AlmightyUnceasing PraiseThe Existence Of GodFour CreaturesSix ThingsUnceasingAlways PraisingInside And OutEyes In ProphecyFeet Of CreaturesThe Fact Of His ComingEyesCherubimPurgatoryrejuvenationAngelic Beings Praising God

And I looked, and heard what seemed to be the voices of countless angels on every side of the throne, and of the living creatures and the Elders. Their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, and in loud voices they were singing, "It is fitting that the Lamb which has been offered in sacrifice should receive all power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."

All the angels were standing in a circle round the throne and round the Elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces in front of the throne and worshipped God. "Even so!" they cried: "The blessing and the glory and the wisdom and the thanks and the honor and the power and the might are to be ascribed to our God, until the Ages of the Ages! Even so!"

And from the throne there came a voice which said, "Praise our God, all you His bondservants--you who fear Him, both the small and the great." Verse ConceptsBabylonPraise, Reasons ForSmallnessReverence To GodGod's VoiceGreat And SmallPraise The Lord!Slaves Of GodGay Marriage


















If therefore a man keeps himself clear of these latter, he himself will be for specially honourable use, consecrated, fit for the Master's service, and fully equipped for every good work. Verse ConceptsFutilityGood WorksReadinessSelf DenialChristians, Names OfHoly VesselsPurgingPeople Have HonourUseful PeoplePreparationSanctificationChanging Yourselfcleansinginstrumentsmasterpiece




Get rid of the old yeast so that you may be dough of a new kind; for in fact you *are* free from corruption. For our Passover Lamb has already been offered in sacrifice--even Christ. Verse ConceptsAtonement, in NTAtonement, Types OfLambsMalicePassoverPassover lambSacramentsSin, God's Remedy ForTypesChrist, Types OfShowbreadPurgingAnimal Sacrifices, As A Type Of ChristOld NatureFreshIdentity






To persons of that sort our injunction--and our command by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ--is that they are to work quietly and eat their own honestly-earned bread. Verse ConceptsMoney, Stewardship OfQuietnessPhysical LabourDoing One's WorkMen's OrdersMen Working


What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what is whispered into your ear, proclaim upon the roofs of the houses. Verse ConceptsRooftopBeelzebubHousetopsGo And PreachFaintnessFrom Darkness To LightOvertaken By DarknessSpreading StoriesDisclosuresUnder One's BreathDarknessAnxiety And Stress



"Leave the dead," Jesus rejoined, "to bury their own dead; but you must go and announce far and wide the coming of the Kingdom of God." Verse ConceptsMinisters, Should Not BeGo And PreachSpiritually Deadgoodbyes


"Go and stand in the Temple, and go on proclaiming to the people all this Message of Life." Verse ConceptsNewnessMinisters, Way They Should TeachGo And PreachLife By God's WordDisciples In The TempleSpeaking As From God








But when he dealt with the subjects of justice, self-control, and the judgement which was soon to come, Felix became alarmed and said, "For the present leave me, and when I can find a convenient opportunity I will send for you." 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



Wake from this drunken fit; live righteous lives, and cease to sin; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak thus in order to move you to shame. Verse ConceptsConversion, God's demands forSin, Avoidance OfWakefulnessRighteousnessIgnorance of GodMoving OnKnowing Godignoranceawakeningshunning










Test yourselves to discover whether you are true believers: put your own selves under examination. Or do you not know that Jesus Christ is within you, unless you are insincere? Verse ConceptsAcademicsFellowship With ChristComplacencyProving, Through TestingTestingUnion With Christ, Significance OfCharacter Of WickedSelf ExaminationExamining YourselfJudging OurselvesThe FaithBelieving In YourselfTestsexams














and indeed you do love all the brethren throughout Macedonia. And we exhort you to do so more and more, Verse Conceptsencouragement, examples ofGrowthSpiritual GrowthGrowth In Grace



And God who continually supplies seed for the sower and bread for eating, will supply you with seed and multiply it, and will cause your almsgiving to yield a plentiful harvest. Verse ConceptsAgriculture, Growth From GodBread, As FoodDevelopmentGrowthHarvestProvisionsFruits Of RighteousnessSpiritual GrowthSowing GoodReapingA Righteous PeopleGod Feeds All The EarthBreadReaping What You SowPlanting SeedsFarmingSeedsSowing Seedsprovidingsowing

But for this very reason--adding, on your part, all earnestness-- along with your faith, manifest also a noble character: along with a noble character, knowledge; along with knowledge, self-control; along with self-control, power of endurance;























"Go and stand in the Temple, and go on proclaiming to the people all this Message of Life." Having received that command they went into the Temple, just before daybreak, and began to teach: So when the High Priest and his party came, and had called together the Sanhedrin as well as all the Elders of the descendants of Israel, they sent to the jail to fetch the Apostles.

And, in a vision by night, the Lord said to Paul, "Dismiss your fears: go on speaking, and do not give up. I am with you, and no one shall attack you to injure you; for I have very many people in this city."

Then he said, 'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the righteous One and hear Him speak. For you shall be a witness for Him, to all men, of what you have seen and heard.

For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is God's gift, and is not on the ground of merit-- so that it may be impossible for any one to boast.


And why? Because they were pursuing a righteousness which should arise not from faith, but from what they regarded as merit. They stuck their foot against the stone which lay in their way; Verse ConceptsProphecies Concerning ChristTrusting In WorksSaved By FaithWorks Of The LawConversion Of Israel

know that it is not through obedience to Law that a man can be declared free from guilt, but only through faith in Jesus Christ. We have therefore believed in Christ Jesus, for the purpose of being declared free from guilt, through faith in Christ and not through obedience to Law. For through obedience to Law no human being shall be declared free from guilt. Verse ConceptsAccepting ChristdecisionsLaw, Purpose OfLegalismSalvation, Necessity And Basis OfSelf Righteousness, And The GospelSin, Deliverance From GodUnion With Christ, Nature OfJustification Under The GospelJustification By FaithSalvation Not By WorksBenefits Of Faith In ChristJustified By WorksRighteous By FaithWorks Of The LawFree WillKeeping FaithBeing SavedJustificationBeing PositiveMoralityNot Being AlonelaweffortJustification Is Not By The LawJustification Is Not By Works

Many will say to me on that day, "'Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name expelled demons, and in Thy name performed many mighty works?' "And then I will tell them plainly, "'I never knew you: begone from me, you doers of wickedness.'


But if it is in His grace that He has selected them, then His choice is no longer determined by human actions. Otherwise grace would be grace no longer. Verse ConceptsJustification Under The GospelSalvation Not By WorksSaving GraceSalvation, Boasting ImpossibleJustified By GraceWorks Of The LawGrace Verse LawGod's GraceDebt

But when the goodness of God our Saviour, and His love to man, dawned upon us, not in consequence of things which we, as righteous men, had done, but as the result of His own mercy He saved us by means of the bath of regeneration and the renewal of our natures by the Holy Spirit,

I know your doings and your toil and patient suffering. And I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, but have put to the test those who say that they themselves are Apostles but are not, and you have found them to be liars. Verse ConceptsClaimsLiesToleranceChurch DisciplineFalse Teachers, Examples OfChrist's Knowledge Of BelieversBad CompanyEvil AssociationsChrist Knowing About PeopleFalse WaysFalse ApostlesThe Fact Of ToilOne's DeedsFalse Apostles, Prophets And TeachersEnduranceHard Work And Perseverance

Among the disciples at Jaffa was a woman called Tabitha, or, as the name may be translated, 'Dorcas.' Her life was wholly devoted to the good and charitable actions which she was constantly doing. Verse ConceptsActs of KindnessExploitationsAttitudes, to other peopleGood WorksPoverty, Attitudes TowardsPoverty, Remedies ForAlmsgivingAltruismCharityMeaningDeer Etc.Helping OthersHelping The PoorDeerHelping Others In Needmakeup

For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was homeless, you gave me a welcome; when I was ill-clad, you clothed me; when I was sick, you visited me; when I was in prison, you came to see me.'



a woman came to Him with a jar of very costly, sweet-scented ointment, which she poured over His head as He reclined at table. "Why such waste?" indignantly exclaimed the disciples;

But Jesus heard it, and said to them, "Why are you vexing her? For she has done a most gracious act towards me. Verse ConceptsCommendationChrist Knowing About PeopleDo Not HinderWomen's Beauty


This is a faithful saying, and on these various points I would have you insist strenuously, in order that those who have their faith fixed on God may be careful to set an example of good actions. For these are not only good in themselves, but are also useful to mankind. Verse ConceptseagernessProfitsWork, And RedemptionProfitable ThingsFaithful SayingsBelief In GodDo Good!Useful ThingsWorks Of FaithAnxiety And StressWork Ethic





So also faith, if it is unaccompanied by obedience, has no life in it--so long as it stands alone. Nay, some one will say, "You have faith, I have actions: prove to me your faith apart from corresponding actions and I will prove mine to you by my actions.



It is always an honourable thing to be courted in an honourable cause; always, and not only when I am with you, my children-- Verse ConceptsEnthusiasmFervourZealIn Men's PresenceDoing The Right Thing






But I think it right, so long as I remain in the body, my present dwelling-place, to arouse you by such reminders. Verse ConceptsFervourZealMemoriesReminders Of The Gospelremembrance