Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible




But if so, what can we say about Abraham, our forefather by natural descent? This, that if 'Abraham was justified on the score of what he did,' he has something to be proud of. But not to be proud of before God. For what does scripture say? Abraham believed God and this was counted to him as righteousness. read more.
Now a worker has his wage counted to him as a due, not as a favour; but a man who instead of 'working' believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, has his faith counted as righteousness. Just as David himself describes the bliss of the man who has righteousness counted to him by God apart from what he does ??7 Blessed are they whose breaches of the Law are forgiven, whose sins are covered! Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not count to him. Now is that description of bliss meant for the circumcised, or for the uncircumcised as well? Abraham's faith, I repeat, was counted to him as righteousness. In what way? When he was a circumcised man or an uncircumcised man? Not when he was circumcised, but when he was uncircumcised. He only got circumcision as a sign or seal of the righteousness which belonged to his faith as an uncircumcised man. The object of this was to make him the father of all who believe as uncircumcised persons and thus have righteousness counted to them, as well as a father of those circumcised persons who not only share circumcision but walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had as an uncircumcised man. The promise made to Abraham and his offspring that he should inherit the world, did not reach him through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is adherents of the Law who are heirs, then faith is empty of all meaning and the promise is void. (What the Law produces is the Wrath, not the promise of God; where there is no law, there is no transgression either.) That is why all turns upon faith; it is to make the promise a matter of favour, to make it secure for all the offspring, not simply for those who are adherents of the Law but also for those who share the faith of Abraham ??of Abraham who is the father of us all (as it is written, I have made you a father of many nations). Such a faith implies the presence of the God in whom he believed, a God who makes the dead live and calls into being what does not exist. For Abraham, when hope was gone, hoped on in faith, and thus became the father of many nations ??even as he was told, So numberless shall your offspring be. His faith never quailed, even when he noted the utter impotence of his own body (for he was about a hundred years old) or the impotence of Sara's womb; no unbelief made him waver about God's promise; his faith won strength as he gave glory to God and felt convinced that He was able to do what He had promised. Hence his faith was counted to him as righteousness.

Why, it is as with Abraham, he had faith in God and that was counted to him as righteousness. Well then, you see that the real sons of Abraham are those who rely on faith. Besides, Scripture anticipated God's justification of the Gentiles by faith when it announced the gospel beforehand to Abraham in these terms: All nations shall be blessed in thee. read more.
So that those who rely on faith are blessed along with believing Abraham.

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed his call to go forth to a place which he would receive as an inheritance; he went forth, although he did not know where he was to go. It was by faith that he sojourned in the promised land, as in a foreign country, residing in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob who were co-heirs with him of the same promise; he was waiting for the City with its fixed foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

It was by faith, when Abraham was put to the test, that he sacrificed Isaac, he was ready to sacrifice his only son, although he had received the promises and had been told that it is through Isaac that your offspring shall be reckoned ??19 for he considered that God was able even to raise men from the dead. Hence he did get him back, by what was a parable of the resurrection.

When our father Abraham offered his son Isaac on the altar, was he not justified by what he did? In his case, you see, faith co-operated with deeds, faith was completed by deeds, and the scripture was fulfilled: Abraham believed God, and this was counted to him as righteousness ??he was called God's friend. read more.
You observe it is by what he does that a man is justified, not simply by what he believes.



When our father Abraham offered his son Isaac on the altar, was he not justified by what he did? Verse ConceptsAncestorsAbraham, New Testament ReferencesJustified By WorksWorks Of Faith


It was by faith that Abel offered God a richer sacrifice than Cain did, and thus won from God the record of being 'just,' on the score of what he gave; he died, but by his faith he is speaking to us still. Verse ConceptsAbelAbel and CainFaith, As Basis Of SalvationCommendationExamples Of FaithAtonement, Types OfRighteousness, As FaithWorship, Acceptable AttitudesThe Witness Of GodRighteous By ObedienceSacrificeExcellence





It was by faith, when Abraham was put to the test, that he sacrificed Isaac, he was ready to sacrifice his only son, although he had received the promises and had been told that it is through Isaac that your offspring shall be reckoned ??19 for he considered that God was able even to raise men from the dead. Hence he did get him back, by what was a parable of the resurrection.

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed his call to go forth to a place which he would receive as an inheritance; he went forth, although he did not know where he was to go. Verse ConceptsAbrahamFaith, Nature OfExamples Of FaithCommitment, to GodReceiving An InheritanceHistoryAbraham, New Testament ReferencesAbraham, Calling And LifeCalling, Of IndividualsDestinationsExploits Of FaithNot Knowing Where

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed his call to go forth to a place which he would receive as an inheritance; he went forth, although he did not know where he was to go. Verse ConceptsAbrahamFaith, Nature OfExamples Of FaithCommitment, to GodReceiving An InheritanceHistoryAbraham, New Testament ReferencesAbraham, Calling And LifeCalling, Of IndividualsDestinationsExploits Of FaithNot Knowing Where




When he went indoors the blind men came up to him, and Jesus asked them, "Do you believe I can do this?" They said, "Yes, sir." Verse ConceptsAbility, Of ChristDrawing Near To ChristEntering HousesAssentingBlindness

He said to her, "Let the children be satisfied first of all; it is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." Verse ConceptsBeing FirstPeople Providing FoodSalvation For IsraelGood ChildrenFamily FirstKidsPetsFeeding The Poor

others, again, had to experience scoffs and scourging, aye chains and imprisonment ??37 they were stoned, sawn in two, and cut to pieces; they had to roam about in sheepskins and goatskins, forlorn, oppressed, ill-treated Verse ConceptsFloggingChainsPrisonersPunishment, Legal Aspects OfRidicule, Objects OfIron ChainsBeating Believerstrails


For Abraham, when hope was gone, hoped on in faith, and thus became the father of many nations ??even as he was told, So numberless shall your offspring be. His faith never quailed, even when he noted the utter impotence of his own body (for he was about a hundred years old) or the impotence of Sara's womb; no unbelief made him waver about God's promise; his faith won strength as he gave glory to God read more.
and felt convinced that He was able to do what He had promised.

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed his call to go forth to a place which he would receive as an inheritance; he went forth, although he did not know where he was to go. It was by faith that he sojourned in the promised land, as in a foreign country, residing in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob who were co-heirs with him of the same promise; he was waiting for the City with its fixed foundations, whose builder and maker is God. read more.
It was by faith that even Sara got strength to conceive, bearing a son when she was past the age for it ??because she considered she could rely on Him who gave the promise. Thus a single man, though he was physically impotent, had issue in number like the stars in heaven, countless as the sand on the seashore. (These all died in faith without obtaining the promises; they only saw them far away and hailed them, owning they were 'strangers and exiles upon earth.' Now people who speak in this way plainly show they are in search of a fatherland. If they thought of the land they have left behind, they would have time to go back, but they really aspire to the better land in heaven. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God; he has prepared a City for them.) It was by faith, when Abraham was put to the test, that he sacrificed Isaac, he was ready to sacrifice his only son, although he had received the promises and had been told that it is through Isaac that your offspring shall be reckoned ??19 for he considered that God was able even to raise men from the dead. Hence he did get him back, by what was a parable of the resurrection.

It was by faith, when Abraham was put to the test, that he sacrificed Isaac, he was ready to sacrifice his only son, although he had received the promises and had been told that it is through Isaac that your offspring shall be reckoned ??19 for he considered that God was able even to raise men from the dead. Hence he did get him back, by what was a parable of the resurrection.






I know your doings, your hard work and your patient endurance; I know that you cannot bear wicked men, and that you have tested those who style themselves apostles (no apostles they!) and detected 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






It was by faith that Abraham obeyed his call to go forth to a place which he would receive as an inheritance; he went forth, although he did not know where he was to go. Verse ConceptsAbrahamFaith, Nature OfExamples Of FaithCommitment, to GodReceiving An InheritanceHistoryAbraham, New Testament ReferencesAbraham, Calling And LifeCalling, Of IndividualsDestinationsExploits Of FaithNot Knowing Where




When he went indoors the blind men came up to him, and Jesus asked them, "Do you believe I can do this?" They said, "Yes, sir." Verse ConceptsAbility, Of ChristDrawing Near To ChristEntering HousesAssentingBlindness

He said to her, "Let the children be satisfied first of all; it is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." Verse ConceptsBeing FirstPeople Providing FoodSalvation For IsraelGood ChildrenFamily FirstKidsPetsFeeding The Poor

others, again, had to experience scoffs and scourging, aye chains and imprisonment ??37 they were stoned, sawn in two, and cut to pieces; they had to roam about in sheepskins and goatskins, forlorn, oppressed, ill-treated Verse ConceptsFloggingChainsPrisonersPunishment, Legal Aspects OfRidicule, Objects OfIron ChainsBeating Believerstrails



When our father Abraham offered his son Isaac on the altar, was he not justified by what he did? Verse ConceptsAncestorsAbraham, New Testament ReferencesJustified By WorksWorks Of Faith

When our father Abraham offered his son Isaac on the altar, was he not justified by what he did? Verse ConceptsAncestorsAbraham, New Testament ReferencesJustified By WorksWorks Of Faith






and said to him, 'Leave your land and your countrymen and come to whatever land I show you.' Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and stayed in Haran. From Haran God shifted him, after his father's death, to this land which you now inhabit. But he did not give him any inheritance in it, not even a foot of the land. All be did was to promise that he would give it as a possession to him and to his offspring after him (he at the time being childless). read more.
What God said was this: 'His offspring will sojourn in a foreign land, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. But,' said God, 'I will pass sentence on the nation that has made them slaves, and then they will get away to worship me in this Place.' God also gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, whom he circumcised on the eighth day, Isaac was the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed his call to go forth to a place which he would receive as an inheritance; he went forth, although he did not know where he was to go. It was by faith that he sojourned in the promised land, as in a foreign country, residing in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob who were co-heirs with him of the same promise; he was waiting for the City with its fixed foundations, whose builder and maker is God. read more.
It was by faith that even Sara got strength to conceive, bearing a son when she was past the age for it ??because she considered she could rely on Him who gave the promise. Thus a single man, though he was physically impotent, had issue in number like the stars in heaven, countless as the sand on the seashore. (These all died in faith without obtaining the promises; they only saw them far away and hailed them, owning they were 'strangers and exiles upon earth.' Now people who speak in this way plainly show they are in search of a fatherland. If they thought of the land they have left behind, they would have time to go back, but they really aspire to the better land in heaven. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God; he has prepared a City for them.) It was by faith, when Abraham was put to the test, that he sacrificed Isaac, he was ready to sacrifice his only son, although he had received the promises

It was by faith, when Abraham was put to the test, that he sacrificed Isaac, he was ready to sacrifice his only son, although he had received the promises and had been told that it is through Isaac that your offspring shall be reckoned ??19 for he considered that God was able even to raise men from the dead. Hence he did get him back, by what was a parable of the resurrection.


Everyone has heard of your loyalty to the gospel; it makes me rejoice over you. Still, I want you to be experts in good and innocents in evil. Verse ConceptsGenuinenessInnocence, Teaching OnJoy, Of The ChurchWisdom, Human ImportanceCharacter Of SaintsHarmlessnessGuileBe Wise!Obeying The GospelYou Will Rejoice In Salvation

It was for this that the men of old won their record. Verse ConceptsApprovalPeople Commended By God


He had a good reputation among the brothers at Lystra and Iconium; Verse ConceptsChristians Being Called Brothers

It was by faith that Abel offered God a richer sacrifice than Cain did, and thus won from God the record of being 'just,' on the score of what he gave; he died, but by his faith he is speaking to us still. It was by faith that Enoch was taken to heaven, so that he never died (he was not overtaken by death, for God had taken him away). For before he was taken to heaven, his record was that he had satisfied God; and apart from faith it is impossible to satisfy him, for the man who draws near to God must believe that he exists and that he does reward those who seek him. read more.
It was by faith that Noah, after being told by God what was still unseen, reverently constructed an ark to save his household; thus he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that follows faith. It was by faith that Abraham obeyed his call to go forth to a place which he would receive as an inheritance; he went forth, although he did not know where he was to go. It was by faith that he sojourned in the promised land, as in a foreign country, residing in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob who were co-heirs with him of the same promise; he was waiting for the City with its fixed foundations, whose builder and maker is God. It was by faith that even Sara got strength to conceive, bearing a son when she was past the age for it ??because she considered she could rely on Him who gave the promise. Thus a single man, though he was physically impotent, had issue in number like the stars in heaven, countless as the sand on the seashore. (These all died in faith without obtaining the promises; they only saw them far away and hailed them, owning they were 'strangers and exiles upon earth.' Now people who speak in this way plainly show they are in search of a fatherland. If they thought of the land they have left behind, they would have time to go back, but they really aspire to the better land in heaven. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God; he has prepared a City for them.) It was by faith, when Abraham was put to the test, that he sacrificed Isaac, he was ready to sacrifice his only son, although he had received the promises and had been told that it is through Isaac that your offspring shall be reckoned ??19 for he considered that God was able even to raise men from the dead. Hence he did get him back, by what was a parable of the resurrection. It was by faith that Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in connexion with the future. It was by faith that, when Jacob was dying, he blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bending in prayer over the head of his staff. It was by faith that Joseph at his end thought about the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders about his own bones. It was by faith that Moses was hidden for three months after birth by his parents, because they saw the child was beautiful, and had no fear of the royal decree. It was by faith that Moses refused, when he had grown up, to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; ill-treatment with God's people he preferred to the passing pleasures of sin, considering obloquy with the messiah to be richer wealth than all Egypt's treasures ??for he had an eye to the Reward. It was by faith that he left Egypt, not from any fear of the king's wrath; like one who saw the King Invisible, he never flinched. It was by faith that he celebrated the passover and performed the sprinkling by blood, so that the destroying angel might not touch Israel's first-born. It was by faith that they crossed the Red Sea like dry land ??and when the Egyptians attempted it they were drowned. It was by faith that the walls of Jericho collapsed, after being surrounded for only seven days. It was by faith that Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, as she had welcomed the scouts peaceably. And what more shall I say? Time would fail me to tell of Gideon, of Barak and Samson and Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets ??33 men who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouth of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness won to strength, proved valiant in warfare, and routed hosts of foreigners. Some were given back to their womankind, raised from the very dead; others were broken on the wheel, refusing to accept release, that they might obtain a better resurrection; others, again, had to experience scoffs and scourging, aye chains and imprisonment ??37 they were stoned, sawn in two, and cut to pieces; they had to roam about in sheepskins and goatskins, forlorn, oppressed, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wanderers in the desert and among the hills, in caves and gullies. They all won their record for faith, but the Promise they did not obtain.

It was by faith that Abel offered God a richer sacrifice than Cain did, and thus won from God the record of being 'just,' on the score of what he gave; he died, but by his faith he is speaking to us still. Verse ConceptsAbelAbel and CainFaith, As Basis Of SalvationCommendationExamples Of FaithAtonement, Types OfRighteousness, As FaithWorship, Acceptable AttitudesThe Witness Of GodRighteous By ObedienceSacrificeExcellence


It was by faith that he celebrated the passover and performed the sprinkling by blood, so that the destroying angel might not touch Israel's first-born. Verse ConceptsFirstbornMoses, Significance OfSprinklingTouchSprinkling BloodDeath Of The FirstbornThe DestroyerExploits Of Faith

Everyone has heard of your loyalty to the gospel; it makes me rejoice over you. Still, I want you to be experts in good and innocents in evil. Verse ConceptsGenuinenessInnocence, Teaching OnJoy, Of The ChurchWisdom, Human ImportanceCharacter Of SaintsHarmlessnessGuileBe Wise!Obeying The GospelYou Will Rejoice In Salvation

It was for this that the men of old won their record. Verse ConceptsApprovalPeople Commended By God


He had a good reputation among the brothers at Lystra and Iconium; Verse ConceptsChristians Being Called Brothers

It was by faith that Abel offered God a richer sacrifice than Cain did, and thus won from God the record of being 'just,' on the score of what he gave; he died, but by his faith he is speaking to us still. It was by faith that Enoch was taken to heaven, so that he never died (he was not overtaken by death, for God had taken him away). For before he was taken to heaven, his record was that he had satisfied God; and apart from faith it is impossible to satisfy him, for the man who draws near to God must believe that he exists and that he does reward those who seek him. read more.
It was by faith that Noah, after being told by God what was still unseen, reverently constructed an ark to save his household; thus he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that follows faith. It was by faith that Abraham obeyed his call to go forth to a place which he would receive as an inheritance; he went forth, although he did not know where he was to go. It was by faith that he sojourned in the promised land, as in a foreign country, residing in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob who were co-heirs with him of the same promise; he was waiting for the City with its fixed foundations, whose builder and maker is God. It was by faith that even Sara got strength to conceive, bearing a son when she was past the age for it ??because she considered she could rely on Him who gave the promise. Thus a single man, though he was physically impotent, had issue in number like the stars in heaven, countless as the sand on the seashore. (These all died in faith without obtaining the promises; they only saw them far away and hailed them, owning they were 'strangers and exiles upon earth.' Now people who speak in this way plainly show they are in search of a fatherland. If they thought of the land they have left behind, they would have time to go back, but they really aspire to the better land in heaven. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God; he has prepared a City for them.) It was by faith, when Abraham was put to the test, that he sacrificed Isaac, he was ready to sacrifice his only son, although he had received the promises and had been told that it is through Isaac that your offspring shall be reckoned ??19 for he considered that God was able even to raise men from the dead. Hence he did get him back, by what was a parable of the resurrection. It was by faith that Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in connexion with the future. It was by faith that, when Jacob was dying, he blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bending in prayer over the head of his staff. It was by faith that Joseph at his end thought about the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders about his own bones. It was by faith that Moses was hidden for three months after birth by his parents, because they saw the child was beautiful, and had no fear of the royal decree. It was by faith that Moses refused, when he had grown up, to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; ill-treatment with God's people he preferred to the passing pleasures of sin, considering obloquy with the messiah to be richer wealth than all Egypt's treasures ??for he had an eye to the Reward. It was by faith that he left Egypt, not from any fear of the king's wrath; like one who saw the King Invisible, he never flinched. It was by faith that he celebrated the passover and performed the sprinkling by blood, so that the destroying angel might not touch Israel's first-born. It was by faith that they crossed the Red Sea like dry land ??and when the Egyptians attempted it they were drowned. It was by faith that the walls of Jericho collapsed, after being surrounded for only seven days. It was by faith that Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, as she had welcomed the scouts peaceably. And what more shall I say? Time would fail me to tell of Gideon, of Barak and Samson and Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets ??33 men who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouth of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness won to strength, proved valiant in warfare, and routed hosts of foreigners. Some were given back to their womankind, raised from the very dead; others were broken on the wheel, refusing to accept release, that they might obtain a better resurrection; others, again, had to experience scoffs and scourging, aye chains and imprisonment ??37 they were stoned, sawn in two, and cut to pieces; they had to roam about in sheepskins and goatskins, forlorn, oppressed, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wanderers in the desert and among the hills, in caves and gullies. They all won their record for faith, but the Promise they did not obtain.









You will rejoice then, though for the passing moment you may need to suffer various trials; that is only to prove your faith is sterling (far more precious than gold which is perishable and yet is tested by fire), and it redounds to your praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Greet it as pure joy, my brothers, when you come across any sort of trial, sure that the sterling temper of your faith produces endurance;

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed his call to go forth to a place which he would receive as an inheritance; he went forth, although he did not know where he was to go. Verse ConceptsAbrahamFaith, Nature OfExamples Of FaithCommitment, to GodReceiving An InheritanceHistoryAbraham, New Testament ReferencesAbraham, Calling And LifeCalling, Of IndividualsDestinationsExploits Of FaithNot Knowing Where




When he went indoors the blind men came up to him, and Jesus asked them, "Do you believe I can do this?" They said, "Yes, sir." Verse ConceptsAbility, Of ChristDrawing Near To ChristEntering HousesAssentingBlindness

He said to her, "Let the children be satisfied first of all; it is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." Verse ConceptsBeing FirstPeople Providing FoodSalvation For IsraelGood ChildrenFamily FirstKidsPetsFeeding The Poor

others, again, had to experience scoffs and scourging, aye chains and imprisonment ??37 they were stoned, sawn in two, and cut to pieces; they had to roam about in sheepskins and goatskins, forlorn, oppressed, ill-treated Verse ConceptsFloggingChainsPrisonersPunishment, Legal Aspects OfRidicule, Objects OfIron ChainsBeating Believerstrails