Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible









"I came to build a fire upon the earth; what is my desire?


And if any one hears my words and does not keep them, it is not I who judge him; for I am not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

"You are a king, then? You!" said Pilate. "You say truly that I am a king." answered Jesus, "for this purpose I was born, and to this end came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every man who is of the truth listens to my voice."


When he had spoken these words, one of the police standing by gave him a blow with his hand, saying as he did so, "Is that the way you answer the high priest?" Jesus replied "If I have said anything wrong, give evidence concerning the wrong; but if I said what was true, why do you strike me?"

When he had thus spoken, Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: "Father, the hour is come. Glorify the Son, that thy Son may glorify thee; since thou hast given him authority over all mankind, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him. And this is eternal life, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. read more.
I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with own self, with the glory I had with thee before the world began. "I have made known thy name to the men whom thou gavest me out of the world. Thine they were, and thou gavest them to me, and they have kept thy word. They know now that whatever thou hast given me was from thee; for I have given them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and they have believed that thou didst send me. "I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; for they are thine, and all thine are mine, and mine are thine; and I am glorified in them. I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own Name these whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them I kept them by the power of thy name which thou hast given me. I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. "But now I am coming to thee, and I am speaking these things while I am in the world, so that they may have my joy in all its fulness in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.


For he whom God sent utters the words of God; for God does not give the Spirit sparingly. the Father loves the Son and has committed everything into his hands.

"Who are you?" then they asked him. "What I am telling you from the beginning," Jesus answered. "I have many things to say and to judge concerning you. But he who sent me is true, and I speak to the world only those things which I have heard from him." They did not understand that he meant the Father, read more.
so Jesus added. "When you lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am He; and that I do nothing on my own authority, but that I speak just as the Father has taught me, "and he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I do always the things that please him."

Now Jesus, speaking in a loud voice, had said: "He who believes in me believes not in me, but in Him who sent me; and he who sees me sees him who sent me. Like light am I come into the world, so that no one who believes in me may remain in darkness. read more.
And if any one hears my words and does not keep them, it is not I who judge him; for I am not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has indeed a judge. The message which I have spoken, that shall judge him in the Last Day, because I have never spoken on my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me gave me commandment what to say and what words to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So whatever I speak, I speak as the Father has told me."

"I am the vine, and my Father the vine-grower. "He cuts back any of my branches that bear no fruit, and prunes every fruit-bearing branch, that it may bear more. "Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you. read more.
"Abide in me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can you, unless you abide in me. "I am the Vine you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him, bears abundant fruit; because apart from me you can do nothing. "If any one does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers. Such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire and burned. "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever your will is, and it shall be yours. "By this is my Father glorified, by your bearing abundant fruit, and so being my disciples. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. "If you obey my commands you will abide in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and abide in his love. "I have told you these things that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. "This is my command, Love one another as I have loved you. "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. "You are my friends if you do what I command you. "I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have learned from my Father.

"Ah," said the disciples, "now you are speaking plain language, and not using figures. Now we are sure that you know all things, and have no need for any one to question you; by this we believe that you came forth from God." "Do you now believe?" said Jesus; read more.
"behold the hour approaches and is already come when you will be scattered, each man to his home, and will leave me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have said all this to you that in me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be courageous; I have overcome the world."

My first account, O Theophilus, dealt with all that Jesus began doing and teaching from the beginning down to the day when, after giving instructions through the Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up to heaven. After his sufferings he had also shown himself alive to them in many convincing manifestations, revealing himself to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God.


"The spirit is what gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words which I have been speaking to you, are spirit and are life. "Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who should betray him.

"I am the vine, and my Father the vine-grower. "He cuts back any of my branches that bear no fruit, and prunes every fruit-bearing branch, that it may bear more. "Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you.

"I know you are Abraham's descendants; but you are seeking to kill me, Because my teaching has no place in you. "I am declaring what I have seen with the Father, and you are acting as you have learned from your father." "Abraham is our father," they answered. "If you are indeed Abraham's children," said Jesus "do the deeds of Abraham. read more.
"But now you are seeking to kill me?? man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do that. "You are doing the deeds of your father." "We were not born of adultery," they said; "we have one Father, God." Jesus said to them. "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded forth and am now come from God. I did not come on my own authority, but God himself sent me. "How is it that you do not understand what I say? It is because you cannot listen to my message. "You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do what your father desires. He was a man-slayer from the very beginning; and he has no standing place in the truth, because truth is not in him. Whenever he utters a lie, he speaks from his nature, for he is a liar and the father of lying. "But as for me, it is because I speak the truth to you that you do not believe me. "Which one of you convicts me of sin? Why then, if I am speaking the truth, do you not believe me? "He who is from God listens to God's words. For this reason you do not listen, because you are not from God."

Now Jesus, speaking in a loud voice, had said: "He who believes in me believes not in me, but in Him who sent me; and he who sees me sees him who sent me. Like light am I come into the world, so that no one who believes in me may remain in darkness. read more.
And if any one hears my words and does not keep them, it is not I who judge him; for I am not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has indeed a judge. The message which I have spoken, that shall judge him in the Last Day,

Jesus answered him. "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man ever comes to the Father but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father too; from now on you know him and have seen him." "Lord," said Philip, "cause us to see the Father, and we shall be satisfied." read more.
"Have I been so long among you, and yet you, Philip, have you not recognized me? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Cause us to see the Father'? "Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you I speak not of myself; but the Father, who ever dwells in me, is doing his own work. "Believe me, all of you, that I am in the Father and the Father in me, or else believe me for the very words' sake.


With these words Jesus went away and hid himself from them. But although he had wrought such signs in their presence, still they did not believe in him. So the words spoken by Isaiah, the prophet, were fulfilled. Lord, who hath believed our message, And to whom hath the Arm of the Lord been revealed? This was why they could not believe, because Isaiah said again. read more.
He hath blinded their eyes and make their hearts hard, Lest they should see with their eyes, perceive with their minds, And should turn, and I should heal them. Isaiah uttered these words because he saw his glory, and he spoke of him. Nevertheless, even among the rulers many believed on him, but did not confess in on account of the Pharisees, for fear lest they be put out of the Synagogue. For they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. Now Jesus, speaking in a loud voice, had said: "He who believes in me believes not in me, but in Him who sent me; and he who sees me sees him who sent me. Like light am I come into the world, so that no one who believes in me may remain in darkness. And if any one hears my words and does not keep them, it is not I who judge him; for I am not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has indeed a judge. The message which I have spoken, that shall judge him in the Last Day, because I have never spoken on my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me gave me commandment what to say and what words to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So whatever I speak, I speak as the Father has told me."








"I came to build a fire upon the earth; what is my desire?


And if any one hears my words and does not keep them, it is not I who judge him; for I am not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

"You are a king, then? You!" said Pilate. "You say truly that I am a king." answered Jesus, "for this purpose I was born, and to this end came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every man who is of the truth listens to my voice."


Now Jesus, speaking in a loud voice, had said: "He who believes in me believes not in me, but in Him who sent me; and he who sees me sees him who sent me. Like light am I come into the world, so that no one who believes in me may remain in darkness. read more.
And if any one hears my words and does not keep them, it is not I who judge him; for I am not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has indeed a judge. The message which I have spoken, that shall judge him in the Last Day, because I have never spoken on my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me gave me commandment what to say and what words to speak.


Now Jesus, speaking in a loud voice, had said: "He who believes in me believes not in me, but in Him who sent me; and he who sees me sees him who sent me. Like light am I come into the world, so that no one who believes in me may remain in darkness. read more.
And if any one hears my words and does not keep them, it is not I who judge him; for I am not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has indeed a judge. The message which I have spoken, that shall judge him in the Last Day, because I have never spoken on my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me gave me commandment what to say and what words to speak.


And while he was having this in mind, behold! an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying. "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife home, for what is begotten in her is by the Holy Spirit; and she will bear a son, and you are to call him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."


And when his disciples, James and John, saw this they said, "Lord, are you willing for us to bid fire come down from heaven and destroy them?" As Elijah did. But he turned and rebuked them and said, "You know not what kind of spirit you share, for the Son of man came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them." And they went to another village.

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. "How does it seem to you, when a man has a hundred sheep and loses one of them? Will he not leave the ninety and nine on the hills, to go and search for the one that has strayed? "And if he succeeds in finding it, I tell you solemnly that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety and nine that never strayed away. read more.
"Just so it is not the will of my Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

And he told them a parable. "Which one of you men, if he has a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? "And after he has found it, he lays it on his shoulder, rejoicing. read more.
"When he gets home he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' "I say to you that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance. "Or, again, suppose a woman has ten coins. If she loses one, does she not light a lamp and sweep the house, and search anxiously until she finds it? "And when she has found it, she calls together her woman friends and neighbors and say, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.' "Even so I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels for God over one sinner who repents." And he said: "There was a man who had two sons. "The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your property which is coming to me.' So he divided his means among them. "Not many days after that the younger son gathered everything together and took his journey into a distant country; and there he wasted his money on living unsavingly. "After he had spent everything there came a terrible famine in the land, and he began to be in want. "So he went and hired to one of the citizens of that land, who sent him out into the fields to feed swine. "And he was longing to be filled with the husks which the swine were eating, but no one gave him any. "When he came to himself he said: "'How many of my father's hired men have bread enough and to spare, while I am perishing of hunger! "'I will rise and go to my father, and say to him. "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in your sight, "'"I am no more worthy to be called your son; only make me like one of your hired men."' "So he arose and went to his father; but while he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and am no more worthy to be called your son.' "'Fetch the best robe, quick,' said the father to his slaves, 'and put it on him, and give him a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet. "'Bring that fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry, "'for this son of mine was dead and is alive again??e was lost and is found.' "So they began to make merry. But his elder son was in the field, and as he drew near to the house he heard music and dancing, "and he summoned one of the slaves, and began to inquire of him what all this meant. "'Your brother is come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has him safe and sound.' "But he was angry and would not go in; so his father came out, and attempted to plead with him; but he said to his father. "'All these years I have been slaving for you and never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you never gave me even a kid so that I might make merry with my friends. "'But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with harlots, you have killed him the fatted calf.' "'My dear son,' answered his father, 'you are always with me and all that is mine is yours. "'But it was fitting that we should make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive; he was lost and is found.'"

"Today is salvation come to this house," said Jesus "since Zaccheus here is a son of Abraham. "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save the lost."

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever trusts in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.

Now Jesus, speaking in a loud voice, had said: "He who believes in me believes not in me, but in Him who sent me; and he who sees me sees him who sent me. Like light am I come into the world, so that no one who believes in me may remain in darkness. read more.
And if any one hears my words and does not keep them, it is not I who judge him; for I am not come to judge the world, but to save the world.


And if any one hears my words and does not keep them, it is not I who judge him; for I am not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has indeed a judge. The message which I have spoken, that shall judge him in the Last Day,