Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



Therefore, dearly loved ones, since you know about these things ahead of time, be on your guard so that you are not led astray by the error of lawless people, and [thus] fall from your own stability [i.e., your safe or secure position in Christ]. Verse ConceptsBalance In LifeFailureExamples, Badevil, warnings againstWarnings Against ApostasyFalse Doctrine, Dangers OfGuardsHeresiesSatan, Resistance ToTemptation, ResistingWarningBeing BewareSteadfastnessErrorLosing A FriendLosing FriendssteadfastFalling Away From God


Actively seek to live in peace with all people. And be dedicated to God, because no one will see God without this. Look carefully [at how you are living] so that no one falls away from God's unearned favor, and that no "poisonous plant sprouts up" to cause trouble and corrupt many people [Note: This is an analogy from Deut. 29:16-18 being used as a warning against the evil influence of wicked people],




And, according to the law of Moses, almost everything is [ceremonially] cleansed by blood, for there is no forgiveness [of sins] apart from the shedding of blood. Verse ConceptsAtonementAccepting ChristForgiveness, DivineExpiationBlood Of SacrificesAtonement, Types OfRemission Of SinAtonement, in OTAnimal LifeSheddingPurgingClean ObjectsUnder The LawBloodThe Blood Of Jesuscleansing



So, Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the physical body of the Son of man and drink His blood, you do not have [spiritual] life in yourselves [Note: The references to "body" and "blood" throughout this section allude to taking Jesus' life and teaching into one's heart. See verse 56]. Verse ConceptsFellowship With ChristBeverages, FigurativeJesus As Son Of ManBeing Dead In SinPeople Consuming BloodNot Maintaining LifeChrist Telling The TruthTruly TrulyJesus As FoodThe Blood Of Jesuscommunionmuscles



Therefore I said to you that you will die [condemned] in your sins. For unless you believe that I am [the Messiah, who came from above. See verse 23], you will die [condemned] in your sins." Verse ConceptsDeath, Of UnbelieversFaithlessness, As DisobedienceFaith, As Basis Of SalvationUrgencyUnbelief, Nature And Effects OfUnbelieversUnbelief, Results Of Being GuiltyNew Birth, Necessity OfThe Existence Of ChristSaved By FaithRepent Lest You DieDeath Of A Loved Oneego


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. Verse Conceptsevil, believers' responses toAttackingGrudgesKindnessOpposition, To Sin And EvilRevenge, And RetaliationSpiteCourtesyDo Good!Repaying Evil For EvilTurning The Other Cheek





Dear [friend], do not imitate what is evil, but [only] what is good. The person who does what is good is [a child] of God; the one who does evil has not seen God [spiritually]. Verse ConceptsImitating OthersOther People Of GodPeople Possibly Doing EvilImitatingBeing PositiveEthicsMoralityGod Turning Bad Things Into Goodbehaviorfollowing


As obedient children, do not pattern your lives after the evil desires you formerly had when you were ignorant, but according to the Holy One, who called you [i.e., God], you people also should become holy [i.e., separated for God's service] in all your conduct, because it is written [Lev. 11:44f], "You shall be holy [i.e., separated from sin] even as I am holy."





But the [true] wisdom, which is from [God] above, is first of all pure, then peace-loving, patient and easily persuaded. [It is] full of mercy and produces a crop of good deeds; [it is] impartial [or, unwavering] and sincere. Verse ConceptsGentlenessFruitfulness, SpiritualFruit, SpiritualPeacemakersTemperWisdom, Source Of HumanGod, Impartiality OfPeace, Effects OfPeaceablenessThe Source Of FruitGod's GentlenessBenefits Of WisdomGod Is PureSeek PeaceShowing HypocrisyThe Need For MercyPurityHypocrisyuncertaintyNot A God Of Confusion

[An elder must] not be guilty of just blame, [he must be] the husband of one wife, whose children are believers [Note: The word for "believers" may also be translated "faithful ones" or "trustworthy ones"], who have a reputation for not being wild or disobedient. Verse ConceptsFaultsevangelists, identity ofHeads Of The FamilyLove, In RelationshipsMonogamyOrder In The HomePeacemakersBishops, QualificationsDissipationPeaceablenessBishops, DutiesMarriage ControlledThose Who Had FaithHusband And WifeThe ElderlyA Good HusbandLeadership Qualitieseldersbehavioraccusations






"Salt is good, but if it loses its salty flavor, what will you use to restore it? [i.e., it is difficult to restore the "salt" of sacrificial commitment to God once it is lost]. You should have salt in yourselves [i.e., develop the qualities of preserving, purifying commitment to God], and live peacefully with one another [i.e., instead of in rivalry. See 9:33-34]. Verse ConceptsGoalsSaltPeace, In Christian LivingPersonal ContactTastelessnessSeek PeaceTastelessSournessChemicalsLosing FriendsGood Qualities






"Salt is good, but if it loses its salty flavor, what will you use to restore it? [i.e., it is difficult to restore the "salt" of sacrificial commitment to God once it is lost]. You should have salt in yourselves [i.e., develop the qualities of preserving, purifying commitment to God], and live peacefully with one another [i.e., instead of in rivalry. See 9:33-34]. Verse ConceptsGoalsSaltPeace, In Christian LivingPersonal ContactTastelessnessSeek PeaceTastelessSournessChemicalsLosing FriendsGood Qualities





But the [true] wisdom, which is from [God] above, is first of all pure, then peace-loving, patient and easily persuaded. [It is] full of mercy and produces a crop of good deeds; [it is] impartial [or, unwavering] and sincere. Verse ConceptsGentlenessFruitfulness, SpiritualFruit, SpiritualPeacemakersTemperWisdom, Source Of HumanGod, Impartiality OfPeace, Effects OfPeaceablenessThe Source Of FruitGod's GentlenessBenefits Of WisdomGod Is PureSeek PeaceShowing HypocrisyThe Need For MercyPurityHypocrisyuncertaintyNot A God Of Confusion

[An elder must] not be guilty of just blame, [he must be] the husband of one wife, whose children are believers [Note: The word for "believers" may also be translated "faithful ones" or "trustworthy ones"], who have a reputation for not being wild or disobedient. Verse ConceptsFaultsevangelists, identity ofHeads Of The FamilyLove, In RelationshipsMonogamyOrder In The HomePeacemakersBishops, QualificationsDissipationPeaceablenessBishops, DutiesMarriage ControlledThose Who Had FaithHusband And WifeThe ElderlyA Good HusbandLeadership Qualitieseldersbehavioraccusations





But the [true] wisdom, which is from [God] above, is first of all pure, then peace-loving, patient and easily persuaded. [It is] full of mercy and produces a crop of good deeds; [it is] impartial [or, unwavering] and sincere. Verse ConceptsGentlenessFruitfulness, SpiritualFruit, SpiritualPeacemakersTemperWisdom, Source Of HumanGod, Impartiality OfPeace, Effects OfPeaceablenessThe Source Of FruitGod's GentlenessBenefits Of WisdomGod Is PureSeek PeaceShowing HypocrisyThe Need For MercyPurityHypocrisyuncertaintyNot A God Of Confusion

[An elder must] not be guilty of just blame, [he must be] the husband of one wife, whose children are believers [Note: The word for "believers" may also be translated "faithful ones" or "trustworthy ones"], who have a reputation for not being wild or disobedient. Verse ConceptsFaultsevangelists, identity ofHeads Of The FamilyLove, In RelationshipsMonogamyOrder In The HomePeacemakersBishops, QualificationsDissipationPeaceablenessBishops, DutiesMarriage ControlledThose Who Had FaithHusband And WifeThe ElderlyA Good HusbandLeadership Qualitieseldersbehavioraccusations




And, according to the law of Moses, almost everything is [ceremonially] cleansed by blood, for there is no forgiveness [of sins] apart from the shedding of blood. Verse ConceptsAtonementAccepting ChristForgiveness, DivineExpiationBlood Of SacrificesAtonement, Types OfRemission Of SinAtonement, in OTAnimal LifeSheddingPurgingClean ObjectsUnder The LawBloodThe Blood Of Jesuscleansing



So, Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the physical body of the Son of man and drink His blood, you do not have [spiritual] life in yourselves [Note: The references to "body" and "blood" throughout this section allude to taking Jesus' life and teaching into one's heart. See verse 56]. Verse ConceptsFellowship With ChristBeverages, FigurativeJesus As Son Of ManBeing Dead In SinPeople Consuming BloodNot Maintaining LifeChrist Telling The TruthTruly TrulyJesus As FoodThe Blood Of Jesuscommunionmuscles



Therefore I said to you that you will die [condemned] in your sins. For unless you believe that I am [the Messiah, who came from above. See verse 23], you will die [condemned] in your sins." Verse ConceptsDeath, Of UnbelieversFaithlessness, As DisobedienceFaith, As Basis Of SalvationUrgencyUnbelief, Nature And Effects OfUnbelieversUnbelief, Results Of Being GuiltyNew Birth, Necessity OfThe Existence Of ChristSaved By FaithRepent Lest You DieDeath Of A Loved Oneego