Thematic Bible: Spiritual Development


Thematic Bible




for indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to progress even more,





Concerning this {we have much to say and it is difficult to explain}, since you have become sluggish in hearing. For indeed, [although you] ought to be teachers {by this time}, you have need of someone to teach you again the beginning elements of the oracles of God, and {you have need of} milk, not solid food. For everyone who partakes of milk [is] unacquainted with the message of righteousness, because he is an infant. read more.
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have trained their faculties for the distinguishing of both good and evil.

Therefore, leaving behind the elementary message about Christ, let us move on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God, teaching about baptisms and laying on of hands, and resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. read more.
For [it is] impossible [concerning] those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become sharers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the coming age, and having fallen away, to renew [them] again to repentance, [because they] have crucified again for themselves the Son of God and held him up to contempt. For ground that drinks the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth vegetation usable to those [people] {for whose sake} [it is] also cultivated, shares a blessing from God. But [if it] produces thorns and thistles, [it is] worthless and near to a curse, whose end [is] for burning. But even if we are speaking in this way, dear friends, we are convinced of better [things] concerning you, and belonging to salvation. For God [is] not unjust, [so as] to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for his name [by] having served the saints, and continuing to serve [them]. And we desire each one of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of [your] hope until the end, in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patience. For [when] God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "Surely {I will greatly bless} you, and {I will greatly multiply} you." And so, [by] persevering, he obtained the promise. For people swear by what is greater [than themselves], and the oath for confirmation [is the] end of all dispute for them.









and [for] this same [reason], and [by] applying all diligence, supply with your faith excellence of character, and with excellence of character, knowledge, and with knowledge, self-control, and with self-control, patient endurance, and with patient endurance, godliness,












But Saul was increasing in strength even more, and was confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus [by] proving that this one is the Christ.