Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



The first man [i.e., Adam] came from the dust of the ground [See Gen. 2:7]; the second man [i.e., Christ] came from heaven. Verse ConceptsAdam and Jesus ChristDust, Literal UseThanksgiving, OfferedCreatures From DustFirst OnesSecond BeingChrist And HeavenThe EarthGoing To HeavenGodly Mandustman

The One who comes from above [i.e., Jesus] ranks over all [others]; but the one who is out of the earth [i.e., of human origin] is [merely] an earthly [being] and he speaks in earthly [ways]. [But] the One who comes from heaven [i.e., Jesus] ranks over all [others]. Verse ConceptsPreeminence Of ChristChrist And HeavenAll Authority Has Been Given To JesusHeaven Better Than EarthSchoolThe EarthGoing To HeavenThe WorldPerspective


Jesus replied, "If God were [truly] your Father you would love me, because I came from God to be here. For I did not come on my own authority, but God sent me. Verse ConceptsMission, Of Jesus ChristLove Towards Christ, Shown ByChrist's Relationship To GodLove For GodDivine MessengerPeople BeginningNot AloneGod Sending OthersNot Loving GodLove And RelationshipsFathers Love

Now we realize that you know everything and do not need anyone to ask you [questions]. This makes us believe that you came from God." Verse ConceptsKnowing God, Nature OfJesus Christ, Omniscience OfNot Asking OthersChrist Knowing All ThingsChrist's OriginThose Who Believed In Christ

Jesus replied, "You people are from below [i.e., from the earthly realm]; I am from above [i.e., from the heavenly realm]. You belong to this world; I do not belong to this world. Verse ConceptsWorldlinessThe I Am's Of ChristThings UnderChrist And HeavenPerspective

The first man [i.e., Adam] came from the dust of the ground [See Gen. 2:7]; the second man [i.e., Christ] came from heaven. Verse ConceptsAdam and Jesus ChristDust, Literal UseThanksgiving, OfferedCreatures From DustFirst OnesSecond BeingChrist And HeavenThe EarthGoing To HeavenGodly Mandustman

The One who comes from above [i.e., Jesus] ranks over all [others]; but the one who is out of the earth [i.e., of human origin] is [merely] an earthly [being] and he speaks in earthly [ways]. [But] the One who comes from heaven [i.e., Jesus] ranks over all [others]. Verse ConceptsPreeminence Of ChristChrist And HeavenAll Authority Has Been Given To JesusHeaven Better Than EarthSchoolThe EarthGoing To HeavenThe WorldPerspective


Jesus replied, "If God were [truly] your Father you would love me, because I came from God to be here. For I did not come on my own authority, but God sent me. Verse ConceptsMission, Of Jesus ChristLove Towards Christ, Shown ByChrist's Relationship To GodLove For GodDivine MessengerPeople BeginningNot AloneGod Sending OthersNot Loving GodLove And RelationshipsFathers Love

Now we realize that you know everything and do not need anyone to ask you [questions]. This makes us believe that you came from God." Verse ConceptsKnowing God, Nature OfJesus Christ, Omniscience OfNot Asking OthersChrist Knowing All ThingsChrist's OriginThose Who Believed In Christ

Jesus replied, "You people are from below [i.e., from the earthly realm]; I am from above [i.e., from the heavenly realm]. You belong to this world; I do not belong to this world. Verse ConceptsWorldlinessThe I Am's Of ChristThings UnderChrist And HeavenPerspective

Jesus replied, "You people are from below [i.e., from the earthly realm]; I am from above [i.e., from the heavenly realm]. You belong to this world; I do not belong to this world. Verse ConceptsWorldlinessThe I Am's Of ChristThings UnderChrist And HeavenPerspective

and said, "Truly I tell you, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven unless you turn [your life around] and become like little children [i.e., having child-like humility]. Therefore, the person who will humble himself, as this little child, is the most important person in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus replied, "You people are from below [i.e., from the earthly realm]; I am from above [i.e., from the heavenly realm]. You belong to this world; I do not belong to this world. Verse ConceptsWorldlinessThe I Am's Of ChristThings UnderChrist And HeavenPerspective

[Then] Jesus told them another parable, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is similar to a person who sowed seed in his field, but while his workers were asleep his enemy came and scattered weed seeds throughout his wheat field and then left. But when the [green] shoots sprouted up and produced grain, weeds appeared also. read more.
The farmer's hired hands came and asked him, 'Did you not plant [only] good seed in your field? Where did the weeds come from [then]?' And he said to them, 'An enemy [of mine] has done this [to me].' The hired hands replied, 'Do you want us then to go and gather up the weeds?' But the farmer said, 'No, for while you are gathering up the weeds, you might root up [some of] the wheat with them. Let both of them grow together until it is time for the harvest; then at that time, I will tell the harvesters, "Gather up the weeds first, and bind them up into bundles to burn. But gather the wheat into my barn."'" Jesus told them another parable, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is similar to a seed from the mustard tree which a man took and planted in his field. This seed is indeed [one of] the smallest of all seeds, but when it is [fully] grown, it is larger than [other] plants, and [even] becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and roost on its branches." Then He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is similar to yeast, which a woman worked into a batch of dough [i.e., the amount was over half a bushel], until [the dough] was completely leavened [by it]." Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds with parables. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. [This was] so that what was spoken by the prophet would be fulfilled, when he said [Psa. 78:2], "I will open my mouth [to speak] with parables. I will say things that have been hidden from the beginning of time." He then left the crowds and went into the house. [While there] His disciples came to Him, and said, "Explain to us [the meaning of] the parable of the weeds in the field." And He answered them, "The person who planted the good seed is the Son of man, and the field [represents] the world. The good seed [represents] the children who belong to the kingdom, and the weeds [represent] the children who belong to the evil one [i.e., the devil]. The enemy who scattered the weed seeds is the devil; the harvest time is the end of the world; and the harvesters are angels. Just like the weeds were gathered up and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of man will send out His angels and they will gather out of His kingdom all those people who cause others to fall away [from God] and those who [continue to] sin. He will throw these people into the fiery furnace where there will be crying and excruciating pain. Then the people who did what was right will shine out like the sun in their Father's kingdom. The person who has ears [to hear with] ought to listen [to this] carefully. "The kingdom of heaven is similar to a person finding a treasure hidden in a field. After finding it, he was so happy he hid it [again], then went out and sold everything he owned so he could buy that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is similar to a [retail] merchant searching to buy some fine pearls. When he found an extremely valuable one he went and sold all that he owned and bought it. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is similar to a drag-net [for fishing] that was cast into the lake and gathered all kinds [of fish]. When it became full, the fishermen dragged it up onto the shore. Then they sat down and, [sorting their catch], placed the good [i.e., edible fish] into containers, but threw out the bad [i.e., inedible ones]. At the end of the world it will be that same way. The angels will come and divide the sinful people from the ones who did what was right, and throw the sinful ones into the fiery furnace where there will be crying and excruciating pain." "Have you understood all these things?" [Jesus asked]. "Yes," they said to Him.

People will not be saying, 'Look, here [it is]!' or 'There [it is]!' For in fact, the kingdom of God is [now] among you [i.e., as represented by the presence and ministry of Jesus]." Verse ConceptsOutside The KingdomGod Is Among You

Jesus answered him, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did, then my servants [i.e., disciples] would fight to keep me from being turned over to the Jews. But now my kingdom does not belong here." [i.e., Jesus' kingdom was not based on physical, but spiritual principles]. So, Pilate said to Him, "Are you a king, then?" Jesus answered, "You are [correct in] calling me a 'king.' This was the [very] purpose for which I was born and came into the world, that I should testify about the truth. Every person who wants [to know and obey] the truth listens to me."

So, from now on we will not regard any person by worldly standards, even though we [once] regarded Christ that way. But we will not regard Him [that way] anymore. [Note: Paul seems to be saying that before his conversion he viewed Christ on the basis of His family, His education, His position, etc., but since his conversion he does not view Him that way anymore]. Therefore, if any person is in [fellowship with] Christ, he is a new person. His old ways have passed away; now his ways have become new.

For although we live in the world [i.e., in a human body], we do not wage war [i.e., for God and against evil] on a worldly level [i.e., by using the tactics of unsaved people]. For the weapons of our warfare are not like the world's [i.e., which rely on human ingenuity and unspiritual principles], but they are empowered by God to overthrow [Satanic] fortifications. We overthrow [vain] reasonings and every lofty idea raised against the knowledge of God [i.e., as revealed through the Gospel], and take captive [our] every thought to [make it] obey Christ.

Jesus replied, "I am the bread who gives [spiritual] life; the person who comes to me will never get hungry [again], and the one who believes in me will never get thirsty [again]. But I have told you this: You have seen me and yet do not believe [in me]. Every person [Note: The Greek says, "every thing"] whom the Father gives me will [eventually] come to me [i.e., for salvation]; and I will never turn away that person who comes to me. read more.
For I have come down from heaven to do what God, who sent me, wants me to do, not what I want to do.

And no one has gone up to heaven except the One who has come down from heaven, [even] the Son of man. {{Most translations do not contain the added words "who is in heaven"}}. And [just] like Moses lifted up the snake [on the pole] in the wilderness [Num. 21:9], so the Son of man must be lifted up [on the cross]

But [God's] unearned favor was given to each one of us, according to the gift allotted [to us] by Christ. Therefore, it says [Psa. 68:18], "When He ascended on high [i.e., to heaven], He led a procession of captured prisoners [behind Him] [Note: This originally referred to God leading His people in triumph over Israel's enemies, but here is applied to Christ], and gave gifts to [various] people." (But what does "He ascended" mean if not that He also [first] descended to the lower parts of the earth [i.e., to the earth below]? [Note: Of the three principal interpretations given to this verse: a) Christ descended to earth, b) Christ descended to the grave, c) Christ descended to Mary's womb. The first is to be preferred. See John 3:13; 6:38, 62]. read more.
The One who descended [i.e., from heaven to earth] is the same One [i.e., Christ] who also ascended high above the all the heavens, so that He could fill the entire universe [with His presence]).

Jesus again said to them, "I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die [condemned] in your sins. You cannot go where I am going." So, the Jews asked [one another], "Will he kill himself, because he said, 'You cannot go where I am going'?" Jesus replied, "You people are from below [i.e., from the earthly realm]; I am from above [i.e., from the heavenly realm]. You belong to this world; I do not belong to this world.

Jesus, who knew that the Father had given Him complete authority, [also] knew that He had come from God and was [about] to return to God. Verse ConceptsChristmasCertaintyUniverseChrist Knowing About HimselfChrist's OriginGod Giving To The SonInteraction Of Father And SonThe Father's Activity Regarding ChristFathers Love