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22 Bible Verses on Rest and Relaxation

Bible Gateway
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22 Bible Verses on Rest and Relaxation

It’s easy to forget sometimes, but rest and relaxation in the Bible are neither luxuries nor hard-won breaks from labor. Rest is baked into creation from the very beginning. On the seventh day, after having created the universe and everything in it, God rested. Because of this, God gave the commandment to observe the sabbath — which literally means “to stop” or “to rest” — as one of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Sabbath isn’t just about lazing around all day, though. Throughout the Old Testament, physical rest is tied to trust in God’s provision. Rest was meant to interrupt the grind of daily life and reorient the heart toward gratitude, renewal, and worship.

Yet the Bible also points to a deeper kind of rest — rest for the soul. The prophets, psalms, and wisdom books all speak to the soul’s longing for peace, stability, and security that can only be found in God. The New Testament expands this picture, revealing that ultimate rest is found not just in pauses from labor, but in abiding in Christ.

Ultimately, rest in this world — whether physical or spiritual — points beyond the present moment to a future promise: eternal peace with God. When we rest, we practice trust, and remember that God is enough.

The Bible verses below are presented in a variety of different Bible translations. You can click on each verse reference to read it in your own favorite version.

Bible Verses on Rest for the Body

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
— Genesis 2:2–3 (NIV)

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
— Exodus 20:8–11 (KJV)

But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.
— Leviticus 25:4 (ESV)

Then he lay down and fell asleep under a broom tree; but behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, “Arise, eat!” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a round loaf of bread baked on hot coals, and a pitcher of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. But the angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him, and said, “Arise, eat; because the journey is too long for you.” So he arose and ate and drank, and he journeyed in the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.
— 1 Kings 19:5–8 (NASB)

If you set your heart on God
    and reach out to him…
Your world will be washed in sunshine,
    every shadow dispersed by dawn.
Full of hope, you’ll relax, confident again;
    you’ll look around, sit back, and take it easy.
— Job 11:13,17-18 (MSG)

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
— Psalm 4:8 (KJV)

When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
— Proverbs 3:24 (NKJV)

But better is resting with one handful
        than working hard for two fistfuls and chasing after wind.
— Ecclesiastes 4:6 (CEB)

Workers may or may not have enough to eat, but at least they can get a good night’s sleep. The rich, however, have so much that they stay awake worrying.
— Ecclesiastes 5:12 (GNT)

He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
— Mark 6:31 (CSB)

Yet Jesus himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.
— Luke 5:16 (NET)

Bible Verses on Rest for the Soul

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
    he restores my soul.
— Psalm 23:1–3 (NRSVue)

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
— Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

I wait quietly before God,
for my victory comes from him.
— Psalm 62:1 (NLT)

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
— Psalm 91:1 (NKJV)

You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.
— Isaiah 26:3 (CSB)

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: By waiting and by calm you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust shall be your strength.
— Isaiah 30:15 (NABRE)

The Lord proclaims:
Stop at the crossroads and look around;
ask for the ancient paths.
Where is the good way?
Then walk in it
and find a resting place for yourselves.
— Jeremiah 6:16 (CEB)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
— Matthew 11:28–29 (KJV)

“Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.”
— John 14:27 (GNT)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
— Philippians 4:6–7 (NRSVue)

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.
— Hebrews 4:9–10 (NIV)

Dig deeper into all these verses and more with Bible Gateway Plus. Bible Gateway Plus has dozens of resources — from Study Bibles and commentaries to encyclopedias, dictionaries, and more — all for less than $5/month. Try it free today!

Look at the Book: Philemon [Infographic]

Chris Fann
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Look at the Book: Philemon [Infographic]

“Look at the Book” is Bible Gateway’s series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. In this short but powerful letter Paul directs a wealthy slave owner, Philemon, to not only forgive his escaped slave Onesimus but to welcome him as an equal in Christ.

Scroll to the bottom if you’d prefer to see (and save) this article as an infographic. You’ll also find a handy 30-day reading guide. Or, for a challenge, you can do it in one week using the 7-day reading guide below.

Summary

Philemon was a slave owner, and his slave Onesimus had stolen from him, escaped, and then become a Christian. This was an offense deserving of death under Roman law, but in this letter Paul appeals to Philemon to accept Onesimus as a Christian brother.

  • Category: Epistle
  • Theme: Reconciliation
  • Timeline: Written around AD 60

Key Verse

“Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever.” — Philemon 15 (NIV)

One in Christ

The gospel radically affects a person’s relationship with God and all people, since they have been created in his image. Paul invites his brother in Christ to demonstrate a love, mercy, and grace that could only be possible because of the work of Jesus.

Only in Christ can masters and slaves be brothers. God’s people, reborn into his family, can follow Paul’s encouragement and demonstrate the unity that comes to all people regardless of gender, race, class, or life history.

7 Day Reading Guide

(See 30-day guide below.)

An Open Letter

Philemon was a prominent member of the church at Colossae, which met in his house. The letter was for him, his family, and the church.

Access the rest of the series. Browse Bible studies for each book of the Bible. Or right-click on the infographic below to download and save the image for your reference. 

Infographic depicting major themes and content from Philemon

Holy Mending: How God Weaves Us Into His Covenantal Tapestry

Tara Beth Leach
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Holy Mending: How God Weaves Us Into His Covenantal Tapestry

I’ve always been drawn to the beauty of a well-crafted tapestry — the way each thread matters, each color intentional, each pattern telling a story that’s bigger than any single strand. There’s something about the intricacy, the purposefulness, the way thousands of individual threads come together to create something breathtaking.

But I’ve also seen what happens to tapestries over time. The ones hanging in my grandmother’s house, the antique ones in museums, even the newer ones we treasure — they all tell the same story eventually. Threads begin to loosen. Colors fade. What was once vibrant starts to fray at the edges. Time and wear leave their mark on even the most beautiful creations.

This feels so achingly familiar when I think about our lives, doesn’t it?

We begin as God’s masterpiece, intricately woven into creation with threads of wonder, hope, and divine image-bearing. But then the wear of living begins to show. Betrayal unravels trust. Loss pulls at the corners of our faith. Shame cuts through our sense of worth like a blade through silk. The beautiful tapestry God intended becomes a tangled mess of broken promises and shattered dreams.

I used to think that when things fell apart, they stayed apart. That frayed edges were the end of the story.

But Scripture tells a different truth — one that has undone me and remade me: God is a God of holy mending.

From Genesis to Revelation, we don’t see a God who discards damaged goods. We see a Weaver who gathers up every broken thread, every torn piece, every frayed edge, and patiently, relentlessly, tenderly weaves them back into something even more beautiful than before. He does this through His covenants — sacred promises that reveal the depths of His commitment to restore what was broken and redeem what was lost.

These covenants aren’t just ancient history. They’re living threads running through the fabric of all existence, each one revealing another facet of God’s heart, each one pulling us deeper into His redemptive story.

The Covenant With Noah: Grace After the Storm

Humanity had spiraled into such darkness that God’s heart was grieved. The flood came — judgment, yes, but also cleansing. And when the waters receded, God painted the sky with His promise:

“Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood… This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” — Genesis 9:11-13 (NIV)

That rainbow isn’t just pretty decoration. It’s God’s declaration that grace wins. That preservation trumps destruction. That even when humanity is at its absolute worst, God chooses hope over despair, mercy over judgment.

This covenant thread shimmers with unconditional love. It doesn’t depend on our goodness — thank God — but on His character. Every time storm clouds gather, and we wonder if God has had enough of our mess, the rainbow reminds us: He hasn’t given up. He won’t give up. His commitment to creation runs deeper than our capacity to disappoint Him.

The next time you see a rainbow, don’t just think of leprechauns and pots of gold. Think of a God who looks at a broken world and says, “I’m not done with you yet.”

The Covenant With Abraham: A Blessing That Reaches Everyone

God found Abraham in the middle of nowhere — Ur of the Chaldeans — and whispered a promise that would echo through eternity:

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” — Genesis 12:2-3 (NIV)

This wasn’t just about Abraham. This was about everyone — every tribe, every nation, every person who would ever draw breath. God was weaving a thread of blessing that would reach into every corner of creation.

But here’s what undoes me: this covenant was unconditional. When Abraham doubted, God didn’t revoke His promise. When Abraham lied about Sarah being his sister, God didn’t tear up the contract. Instead, in Genesis 15, God did something extraordinary. He walked between the sacrificial pieces Himself — essentially saying, “May I be torn apart if I break this promise to you.”

The sign of circumcision cut this promise into Abraham’s very flesh, a permanent reminder that he belonged to the God who keeps His word. But it wasn’t about earning God’s favor — it was about trusting in God’s character.

This covenant thread weaves together every nation, every people group, every person who feels like an outsider. It says you belong. You’re included. The blessing isn’t just for the special ones — it’s for everyone, everywhere, always.

The Covenant With Moses: Identity Through His Holiness

At Mount Sinai, with thunder rolling and lightning flashing, God gave Moses and the Israelites something precious: His law, carved in stone by His own finger.

“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” — Exodus 19:5-6 (NIV)

This covenant was different. Conditional. It revealed God’s holiness in blazing detail and showed humanity exactly how far we’d fallen from His original design. The law wasn’t given to make life harder — it was given to show us who God is and what it means to be His people.

Every sacrifice, every ritual, every command wove identity into God’s people. They weren’t just wandering nomads anymore — they were His treasured possession, set apart for something sacred. The tabernacle became the meeting place where heaven touched earth, where the holy God came near to His people despite their brokenness.

But here’s the beautiful paradox: the more clearly they could see God’s holiness, the more clearly they could see their own need for grace. Every sacrifice pointed forward to something greater, someone who would perfectly fulfill the law’s demands and bridge the gap between divine holiness and human brokenness.

This covenant thread teaches us that God’s character doesn’t change to accommodate our sin — instead, He provides a way for us to be transformed to reflect His character.

The Covenant With David: Promise of an Eternal Kingdom

David was just a shepherd boy with a slingshot when God chose him. But God saw something in David’s heart — a passion for God’s presence, a hunger for God’s purposes. And to this unlikely king, God made an astonishing promise:

“Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” — 2 Samuel 7:16 (NIV)

This wasn’t just about political power. This was about God’s commitment to establish a kingdom that would never end, ruled by a king whose reign would bring justice, mercy, and peace to all creation.

Even when David’s own sons rebelled, even when the kingdom split and was eventually destroyed, God’s promise remained. This covenant thread gleamed with eternal hope — reminding everyone who felt powerless, everyone who wondered if evil would have the final word, that God’s kingdom cannot be shaken.

The temple David dreamed of and Solomon built became the symbol of God’s presence dwelling among His people. But even that magnificent structure pointed beyond itself to something greater — a kingdom not built with human hands, a king whose rule would extend to every corner of creation.

This covenant tells us that no matter how chaotic this world becomes, no matter how many earthly kingdoms rise and fall, God’s kingdom is coming. His rule and reign will mend everything broken and restore everything lost.

All Covenants Fulfilled in Christ: The Master Weaver’s Masterpiece

Every promise God ever made finds its glorious “Yes!” in Jesus Christ.

He is the rainbow after every storm, the ultimate display of God’s grace choosing mercy over judgment. He is the blessing that reaches all nations, making outsiders into family and enemies into friends. He is the perfect fulfillment of the law, living the sinless life we couldn’t live and offering the perfect sacrifice we couldn’t make. He is the eternal King whose kingdom will never end, ruling with the perfect balance of justice and mercy.

Paul captures this beautifully: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” — 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV)

In Jesus, every frayed thread of our story finds restoration. Every broken promise meets the Promise-Keeper. Every unraveling encounters the Master Weaver who transforms our mess into His masterpiece.

Through His death, He absorbed every consequence of our covenant-breaking. Through His resurrection, He demonstrated that God’s promises are stronger than death itself. Through His Spirit, He draws us into the very life of God, making us participants in the divine nature.

This is holy mending at its finest — not just patching up what was broken, but creating something more beautiful than we ever dared imagine.

Our Invitation: Threads in God’s Eternal Tapestry

Here’s the wonder that takes my breath away: God doesn’t weave alone. He invites us — yes, you and me, with all our frayed edges and tangled messes — to join Him in this sacred work.

You are not a mistake. You are not damaged goods. You are not too broken to be useful. You are a thread that God has chosen, a story He is writing, a note in the symphony of redemption that only you can sing.

When you extend grace to someone who doesn’t deserve it, you’re weaving Noah’s rainbow into their storm. When you bless others instead of cursing them, you’re extending Abraham’s covenant to your generation. When you pursue holiness not to earn God’s love but to reflect His character, you’re living out Moses’ covenant. When you work for justice and mercy in your community, you’re participating in David’s eternal kingdom.

This sacred truth compelled me to write Threaded: Unraveling God’s Covenants Through Scripture. In this study, we journey together through these covenant promises, discovering how they reveal God’s character and our calling. We explore how every thread of our story — even the dark ones, especially the broken ones — can be woven into God’s magnificent tapestry of redemption.

My prayer is that you would see your story reflected in God’s beautiful, ever-evolving masterpiece. That you’d feel the gentle, persistent hands of the Master Weaver, lovingly mending every frayed edge and broken thread in your life.

Friend, you are not discarded. Your life, with all its joy and sorrow, triumph and failure, is a vital thread in the tapestry of God’s redemption story. The Weaver isn’t finished with you yet. In fact, He’s just getting started.

Cover of "Threaded" by Tara Beth Leach

Join me on this journey through Threaded, as we uncover the incredible beauty of being woven into God’s holy, healing work. Let’s celebrate together the breathtaking tapestry of God’s covenant love, seeing clearly how every unraveling is met with the gentle, restoring grace of our faithful Weaver.

The tapestry is still being woven. And you — beautiful, broken, beloved you — are part of the masterpiece.

A Guide to Every Resource Available on Bible Gateway Plus

Bible Gateway
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A Guide to Every Resource Available on Bible Gateway Plus

Bible Gateway Plus is a premium subscription that gives you access to a digital library of dozens of Bible study tools and resources, directly tied to each verse of the Bible, anywhere you go — all for less than the cost of a pack of highlighters. Think of it as your “more than 60 in one” personal study Bible.

It’s an amazing tool, whether for research, sermon prep, or devotional reading — but the sheer number of resources can be overwhelming when you first sign up.

So if you’re a new Bible Gateway Plus subscriber — or if you’re thinking of taking the plunge and want to know what’s in it for you (remember, you can try it for free!) — here’s a quick guide to every resource you now have available to you. Or you can just check out the latest additions.

Tap or click on each bold title below to expand a full description of the resource and recommendations for its use.

How Bible Gateway Plus Works

To access your Bible Gateway Plus resources, simply log in and open any Bible passage.

  • On desktop browsers, you’ll see a sidebar on the right with all the available resources.
  • On mobile, you’ll find the “Resources” button between the search bars (above) and your selected passage (below).

From there, you can browse, filter, and pin your favorite resources for easier access.

Banner reading "Bible Gateway Plus, Less Than $5.00 per month, Free Trial"

One important note that people don’t always realize is that you can use any resource with any Bible translation, as long as it has a note for the passage you’re reading. For instance, even though the NIV Application Bible was created specifically for the NIV (and is only available in hardcopy for that translation), on Bible Gateway Plus you can still browse its notes whether you’re reading the NIV, ESV, KJV, or any other!

Latest Additions

Just want to see what’s new on Bible Gateway Plus? Here are the most recent additions as of this writing.

NIV Application Bible

  • Type: Study Bible
  • Date: 2025
  • Description: Features study notes drawn from the extensive, bestselling NIV Application Commentary series published over the past three decades, bridging the world of the Bible and contemporary times by helping you connect what you’ve learned directly with the modern world.
  • Recommendation: Individual readers of all familiarity levels looking to learn more about the world of the Bible, as well as bringing its teachings into their experiences today.

Story of God Bible Commentary (Selected Books)

  • Type: Commentary
  • Date: 2013–present
  • Description: A narrative-focused commentary series edited by Tremper Longman III and Scot McKnight. Each volume emphasizes how the biblical text fits into the grand redemptive story of Scripture, blending scholarly insight with pastoral tone.
  • Recommendation: Pastors and teachers seeking to preach or teach Scripture as part of God’s overarching narrative. Also well-suited for thoughtful devotional study with a narrative theology emphasis.

All the Genealogies of the Bible

  • Type: Encyclopedia
  • Date: 2023
  • Description: Organizes every biblical genealogy into visual charts and explanatory text, including family trees, timelines, and theological reflections on lineages. Enhances understanding of Scripture’s continuity and God’s covenantal faithfulness across generations.
  • Recommendation: Bible teachers, genealogical researchers, or anyone tracing biblical timelines and personal connections.

Study Bibles

Study Bibles help readers understand and explore Scripture in greater depth using tons of additional materials beyond the standard biblical text — from book introductions and thematic articles to thousands of study notes connected to specific Bible verses.

CSB Tony Evans Study Bible
  • Year: 2017
  • Description: Features notes and insights on kingdom living collected from the sermons, teachings, and writings of Dr. Tony Evans, founder and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas from 1976 to 2024, and founder and president of The Urban Alternative.
  • Recommendation: Individual study, preaching preparation, or group study, especially in urban or multicultural contexts.
ESV Global Study Bible
  • Year: 2012
  • Description: This unique study Bible’s reference notes call attention to global themes found in each book of Scripture, highlighting cross-cultural ministry and providing a greater understanding of global Christianity.
  • Recommendation: Missions, church planting, cross-cultural Christian living, and global discipleship efforts.
King James Study Bible, 2nd ed.
  • Date: 2013
  • Description: A study Bible with doctrinally conservative notes, timelines, articles, and maps. Specifically tailored to readers of the King James Version, it provides insight into traditional evangelical theology.
  • Recommendation: Any church or individual who prefers the KJV will find these notes a clarifying accompaniment to scriptural text.
NASB/NKJV Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible
  • Date: 2009
  • Description: Delivers Dr. Charles Stanley’s 30 Life Principles in a homily-style coloration to biblical text.
  • Recommendation: Personal and small group studies to glean broad biblical understanding and lessons for practical application.
NIV Application Bible
  • Date: 2025
  • Description: Features study notes drawn from the extensive, bestselling NIV Application Commentary series published over the past three decades, bridging the world of the Bible and contemporary times by helping you connect what you’ve learned directly with the modern world.
  • Recommendation: Individual readers of all familiarity levels looking to learn more about the world of the Bible, as well as bringing its teachings into their experiences today.
NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible
  • Date: 2019
  • Description: Edited by D.A. Carson, this Bible includes book introductions, sectional introductions, and 20,000 study notes written by a team of over 60 trusted theologians and Bible scholars. It emphasizes how each passage fits into the overarching biblical-theological storyline.
  • Recommendation: Seminary students, Bible teachers, and readers seeking a deeper theological lens into how the individual parts of Scripture join to create a cohesive whole.
NIV Case for Christ Study Bible
  • Date: 2009
  • Description: Integrates apologetic insights from Lee Strobel’s Case for Christ and related works. Includes articles, Q&A sections, and notes addressing key evidences for the Christian faith.
  • Recommendation: Skeptics, seekers, or believers interested in apologetics and evangelism. Pairs well with the NIV Quest Study Bible, especially for students and young adults engaging with questions about faith.
NIV/NRSV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible
  • Date: 2016 (NIV), 2019 (NRSV)
  • Description: Edited by John H. Walton and Craig S. Keener, this study Bible focuses on the historical, cultural, and social world behind the text. Includes extensive background notes, images, and sidebars.
  • Recommendation: Teachers, small group leaders, armchair historians, or anyone wanting to understand how ancient context shapes biblical meaning. Especially effective for studying entire books or looking for historical hints within difficult-to-understand passages.
NIV First-Century Study Bible
  • Date: 2014
  • Description: Led by scholar Kent Dobson, this Bible explores Jewish traditions, ancient culture, and first-century perspectives on Scripture. Features word studies, historical notes, and cultural context.
  • Recommendation: Small groups or individuals exploring Jesus’ world and the NT church, or wanting to connect more deeply with the Jewish roots of Christianity. Pairs well with the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible.
NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible
  • Date: 2021
  • Description: General editor Dr. Al Mohler presents study notes grounded in theological clarity and gospel-centered teaching. The tone is conservative and pastoral, aiming to combine truth with grace.
  • Recommendation: Pastors and disciples of conservative evangelical churches who are seeking doctrinally rich but accessible commentary and trustworthy guidance.
NIV Jesus Bible
  • Date: 2016
  • Description: Designed to help readers see Jesus throughout the entire Bible, the Jesus Bible includes contributions from Louie Giglio, Max Lucado, John Piper, and others focusing on Christocentric interpretation and exegesis.
  • Recommendation: Great as a devotional or sermon-preparation Bible in both adult and youth or young-adult ministries. Its thematic focus makes this resource’s uses more specific.
NIV Quest Study Bible
  • Date: 2011
  • Description: Designed to answer common questions about the Bible, this resource features over 7,000 Q&A-style notes alongside articles, charts, and sidebars for curious readers.
  • Recommendation: New believers, youth, or seekers who are constantly asking “why” or “how.” An effective discussion-starter for Bible studies and small groups.
NIV Storyline Bible
  • Date: 2019
  • Description: Highlights how each book of the Bible contributes to the grand narrative of redemption. Includes visual timelines, infographics, and theme summaries to trace Scripture’s cohesive storyline.
  • Recommendation: One of the most image-heavy resources on Bible Gateway Plus, this Study Bible is perfect for visual learners, or as a starting point for thematic studies and understanding biblical theology.
NIV Student Bible
  • Date: 2011
  • Description: Co-authored by Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford, this Study Bible provides engaging notes, reading plans, and introductions aimed at high school and college students. Encourages honest questions and exploration.
  • Recommendation: Youth and young adults navigating faith during transition years. Especially useful in youth ministry, campus groups, or personal devotions for teens.
NIV Study Bible, Fully Revised Edition
  • Date: 2011
  • Description: Over 20,000 evangelical scholarly and succinct notes and annotations offer award-winning insight in the areas of character study, archaeology, and personal application.
  • Recommendation: Suitable for all experience levels from pastors and teachers to lay readers looking for scholarly depth in a user-friendly format.
NIV Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible
  • Date: 2022
  • Description: First published in 1908, this classic resource links verses thematically across the entire Bible. It now contains more than 100,000 references, covering over 8,000 topics, making the chain-reference system an ideal tool for comprehensive topical study.
  • Recommendation: Pastors, teachers, and long-time Bible students conducting topical studies or exploring interconnected themes for sermon prep.
NIV/NKJV Woman’s Study Bible
  • Date: 2017 (NKJV), 2018 (NIV)
  • Description: Tailored to Christian women, it includes study notes, essays, devotionals, and character profiles from a female perspective. Covers topics relevant to women’s spiritual growth and life application.
  • Recommendation: Personal devotions, women’s Bible studies, and discipleship in conservative evangelical churches.
NKJV Abide Bible
  • Date: 2020
  • Description: Focuses on spiritual formation and contemplative reading, this resource’s notes are centered on practical Scripture engagement prompts based on five ways of engaging deeply with the Bible.
  • Recommendation: Journaling, prayer, meditation, and other devotional Bible reading practices seeking deeper intimacy with God through Scriptural engagement.
NKJV Chronological Study Bible
  • Date: 2008
  • Description: This resource encourages studying the Bible in the order in which biblical events actually happened, providing notes explaining biblical history and culture.
  • Recommendation: Best used in tandem with Bible Gateway’s chronological Bible reading plan (or its simplified version) to fully understand the historical flow of the events of the Bible.
NKJV Evangelical Study Bible
  • Date: 2023
  • Description: Emphasizes conservative evangelical theology, with contributions from respected scholars. Includes verse-by-verse commentary, application notes, and doctrinal sidebars.
  • Recommendation: Pastors, Bible teachers, students, and lay readers in evangelical churches who want trustworthy, conservative commentary.
NKJV Lucado Encouraging Word Bible
  • Date: 2020
  • Description: Features devotions, study notes, and reflections in Max Lucado’s signature warm, pastoral style focused on hope, encouragement, and God’s promises.
  • Recommendation: Devotional reading, especially for longtime Lucado readers or anyone experiencing a season of discouragement or difficulty.
NKJV MacArthur Study Bible (2nd ed.)
  • Date: 2019
  • Description: Features in-depth commentary from John MacArthur rooted in Reformed and dispensational theology. Includes cross-references, doctrinal outlines, and word studies with a strong focus on exegesis.
  • Recommendation: Pastors, expositors, or readers desiring verse-by-verse theological analysis within John MacArthur’s conservative doctrinal framework.
NKJV Maxwell Leadership Bible
  • Date: 2018
  • Description: Integrates leadership principles from John C. Maxwell with the biblical text, highlighting lessons in character, influence, and servant leadership. Includes leadership profiles and mentoring content.
  • Recommendation: Christian leaders, pastors, or business professionals seeking leadership training, coaching, or developing biblical character in life and ministry.
NKJV New Spirit-Filled Life Bible
  • Date: 2002
  • Description: Edited by Jack Hayford, this study Bible emphasizes Spirit-led living, featuring notes on kingdom dynamics, word wealth, and gifts of the Spirit.
  • Recommendation: Devotional and small group use in charismatic or Pentecostal churches, or anyone studying Scripture with a focus on the Holy Spirit’s work.
NKJV Study Bible
  • Date: 2007
  • Description: Dependable notes and annotations that clearly present a conservative biblical doctrine, this reference pairs verse-by-verse notes with key articles on thematic discourse.
  • Recommendation: Everyday reading, group study, or as a foundational study resource, especially for those whose preferred Bible translation is the NKJV.
NKJV Wiersbe Study Bible
  • Date: 2021
  • Description: Long time radio Bible teacher and bestselling author, Dr. Warren Wiersbe, offers in-depth reflections on scriptural themes organized around “Be” themes such as Be Joyful, Be Strong, and Be Transformed.
  • Recommendation: Devotional study and preparation for preachers, teachers, or anyone seeking both application and inspiration.
Orthodox Study Bible
  • Date: 2008
  • Description: Offers commentary and liturgical context from an Eastern Orthodox perspective, with emphasis on commentary from Christian teachers of the first millennium.
  • Recommendation: Recent Orthodox converts or those discerning membership in an Orthodox setting. Ideal for Orthodox Christians or those exploring Eastern Christianity. Useful for liturgical study, church tradition understanding, and reading Scripture with patristic commentary.
Vines Expository Bible
  • Date: 2020
  • Description: Sermon outlines, practical application notes, and insights from the late Dr. Jerry Vines, focusing on expository preaching and personal transformation.
  • Recommendation: Pastors and preachers seeking help with expository sermons. Also suitable for lay leaders and students seeking sermon-style exposition on Bible passages.

Encyclopedias

Encyclopedias are comprehensive reference works that provide detailed background on biblical topics, people, places, and themes.

All the Genealogies of the Bible
  • Date: 2023
  • Description: Organizes every biblical genealogy into visual charts and explanatory text, including family trees, timelines, and theological reflections on lineages. Enhances understanding of Scripture’s continuity and God’s covenantal faithfulness across generations.
  • Recommendation: Bible teachers, genealogical researchers, or anyone tracing biblical timelines and personal connections.
New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters
  • Date: 2001
  • Description: A comprehensive guide to more than 3,000 biblical characters, both major and minor. Provides background, historical context, and theological insight into each person’s role in Scripture.
  • Recommendation: Character-focused studies, sermon illustrations, or teaching series on biblical figures. Equips readers to explore both well-known and obscure individuals in meaningful ways.
New International Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties
  • Date: 1982
  • Description: This apologetic reference addresses alleged contradictions and hard-to-understand passages in the Bible. It affirms the reliability and inerrancy of Scripture with detailed explanations.
  • Recommendation: Skeptics — or those engaging skeptics — who are seeking clear responses to common Bible objections or navigating challenging texts. A useful resource for apologetics and evangelism.

Commentaries

Bible commentaries are books or series that explain and interpret the biblical text in close detail, verse by verse or passage by passage. They are often written by a single scholar or theologian doing a deep dive into a particular book of the Bible.

Africa Bible Commentary
  • Date: 2022
  • Description: A one-volume commentary written entirely by African scholars, offering culturally contextual insights into Scripture. It provides theological depth while addressing African social and cultural realities from a biblical worldview.
  • Recommendation: African pastors, seminary students, and lay leaders. A critical resource for missionaries, it’s also useful globally to gain insight into African Christianity and learn how Scripture speaks to unique cultural challenges and issues.
Believer’s Bible Commentary
  • Date: 2016
  • Description: Written by William MacDonald, this single-volume commentary offers clear, concise explanations of Scripture from a conservative evangelical perspective. Emphasizes personal application and doctrinal clarity.
  • Recommendation: New believers or laypeople wanting accessible commentary that balances devotional reading with solid exegesis. Leads well into heavier commentaries, such as the Expositor’s Bible Commentary or the Zondervan Bible Commentary.
Essential Bible Companion
  • Date: 2006
  • Description: A single-note system for each book of the Bible annotated with image-heavy notes and orientating data, including timelines, charts, and maps.
  • Recommendation: Beginners or small group leaders who need quick, reliable information for context. It pairs well with daily reading plans or introductory Bible studies.
Essential Bible Companion to the Psalms
  • Date: 2010
  • Description: Useful for understanding the meaning, background, context, and practical application of all 150 Psalms.
  • Recommendation: Devotional use, sermon prep, pastoral care, or anyone wanting deeper understanding of the Psalms’ poetic structure and themes.
Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament/New Testament
  • Date: 2004
  • Description: This two-volume abridged set distills the massive 12-volume Expositor’s Bible Commentary into a more accessible format. Includes scholarly yet readable commentary from 52 trusted evangelical scholars, covering every book of the Bible.
  • Recommendation: With notes on practically every verse, this Bible reference is versatile and as useful for personal studies as for scholarly research.
Halley’s Bible Handbook
  • Date: 2000
  • Description: A classic resource by Henry H. Halley offering concise historical background, archaeological insights, and devotional commentary. Known for being compact and readable while packed with factual content.
  • Recommendation: Laypeople, Sunday school teachers, or anyone wanting an overview of biblical history and context alongside Scripture reading. A time-tested go-to companion.
How to Read the Bible Book by Book
  • Date: 2002
  • Description: This handy resource provides guided tours of Bible books and key insights on how each book fits into the grand narrative of the Bible.
  • Recommendation: Systematic book overviews and specific advice for reading books of the Bible make this a good starting point for any level of biblical study.
How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens
  • Date: 2012
  • Description: Michael Williams explores how each book of the Bible points to Christ, offering gospel-centered summaries and application. Each chapter includes key themes, memory verses, and a “Jesus Lens” perspective.
  • Recommendation: Readers focused on a Christ-centered interpretation or teaching others to see Jesus throughout Scripture. It’s also a practical place to start learning how to use Bible Gateway Plus because of its single-note-per-book simplicity and its questions for further consideration. Pairs well with the NIV Jesus Bible and commentary notes from How to Read the Bible Book by Book.
New Bible Commentary
  • Date: 1994
  • Description: The concise, evangelical annotations in this popular reference are collected from many established scholars to meet the needs of students, teachers, and Bible readers.
  • Recommendation: Whether for pastors or laypeople, this is an easily accessible resource for any degree of biblical analysis.
NIV Application Commentary (selected books)
  • Date: 1994-2024
  • Description: This series bridges the gap between ancient text and modern life. Each volume includes original meaning, bridging context, and contemporary application, written by respected evangelical scholars.
  • Recommendation: Preachers, teachers, and laypeople seeking both exegesis and practical advice. Pairs well with the NIV Application Bible.
Olive Tree Bible Overview
  • Date: Various
  • Description: A digital Bible handbook offering concise overviews of each book, including background, structure, themes, and key passages.
  • Recommendation: Quick reference tool for the major messages and context of each book of the Bible.
Story of God Bible Commentary (selected books)
  • Date: 2013–present
  • Description: A narrative-focused commentary series edited by Tremper Longman III and Scot McKnight. Each volume emphasizes how the biblical text fits into the grand redemptive story of Scripture, blending scholarly insight with pastoral tone.
  • Recommendation: Pastors and teachers seeking to preach or teach Scripture as part of God’s overarching narrative. Also well-suited for thoughtful devotional study with a narrative theology emphasis.
Thru the Bible
  • Date: 1967–1988
  • Description: Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s 60-volume exposition of every chapter of every book of the Bible in his simple, straightforward language, folksy manner, distinctive accent, and clear understanding of Scripture.
  • Recommendation: Daily devotional reading, especially for those who appreciate a simple, engaging teaching style or the KJV Bible.
Zondervan Bible Commentary: One-Volume Illustrated Edition
  • Date: 2008
  • Description: Featuring insights from 43 world-class scholars, this information-packed volume unlocks the meaning and message of every book of the Bible to help readers gain a deeper, life-changing understanding of the Scriptures.
  • Recommendation: Visual learners or those looking for a comprehensive but readable reference. Also helpful for home study or small group leaders wanting visual aids with biblical content.
Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old and New Testament)
  • Date: 2002
  • Description: Edited by John H. Walton (OT) and Clinton Arnold (NT), this multi-volume set provides in-depth historical, cultural, and archaeological background for each biblical book, enriched with full-color illustrations, maps, and artifacts.
  • Recommendation: Indispensable for preachers, teachers, and serious Bible students who want to understand the ancient world behind the text. A great visual and scholarly supplement for sermon prep or Bible classes.
Zondervan KJV Commentary
  • Date: 2010
  • Description: Comprehensive in scope, reliable in scholarship, and easy to read, this verse-by-verse commentary is perfect for evangelical lovers of the King James Version.
  • Recommendation: Readers and teachers who prefer the KJV. A solid study aid for conservative churches or traditional KJV study groups.

Dictionaries

Just like normal dictionaries, these define and explain biblical terms, names, places, and concepts, typically in short, simple entries that focus on concise definitions and summaries.

Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy and End Times
  • Date: 2007
  • Description: An A-to-Z resource edited by Mal Couch, covering prophetic passages, key end-times figures, theological terms, and eschatological viewpoints from a premillennial evangelical perspective.
  • Recommendation: Especially valuable for students of prophecy or pastors teaching eschatology. Also helpful for navigating complex or confusing end-times passages and theological differences with clarity and depth.
Essential Bible Dictionary
  • Date: 2011
  • Description: A concise and user-friendly Bible dictionary designed for laypeople, covering over 1,000 entries on people, places, events, and theological terms with full-color illustrations and maps.
  • Recommendation: Everyday Bible readers looking for quick, trustworthy definitions alongside images, illustrations, and maps.
Lockyer’s All the Men / Women of the Bible
  • Date: 1988
  • Description: Herbert Lockyer’s classic works explore the lives, roles, and significance of every named man and woman in the Bible. They combine historical insights with spiritual application in a devotional tone.
  • Recommendation: Character studies, sermon illustrations, or Bible classes focused on biblical figures. Devotional in nature, making it well-suited for both personal reflection and group discussion.
Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
  • Date: 2006
  • Description: The ability for Bible readers at any level to pry into the etymological and contextual meaning of specific Hebrew and Greek words makes this resource essential for a holistic approach to Bible study.
  • Recommendation: Teachers, small group leaders, and serious laypeople wanting to explore biblical words and concepts more deeply without needing to know Greek or Hebrew. Pairs well with the Reverse Interlinear tool.
New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (Abridged)
  • Date: 2000
  • Description: A condensed version of the renowned multi-volume theological dictionary, offering in-depth discussions of key Greek words and theological concepts in the New Testament.
  • Recommendation: Seminary students, pastors, or Bible teachers wanting solid theological word studies in a more manageable format for serious study or sermon preparation.
NKJV Open Bible
  • Date: 2018
  • Description: This dictionary features an easy-to-use topical index of over 8,000 names, places, concepts, events and doctrines.
  • Recommendation: An extensive cross-reference guide for any particular biblical word.
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary
  • Date: 1996
  • Description: W.E. Vine’s classic word study tool, reorganized for modern readers. Explains key Greek and Hebrew terms used in Scripture and their doctrinal significance, especially valuable to those using Strong’s numbers.
  • Recommendation: Pastors, teachers, and serious Bible students studying word meanings in original languages. A staple resource for sermon prep or teaching deeper textual understanding.
Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary
  • Date: 2011
  • Description: An exhaustive, richly illustrated dictionary covering over 7,000 entries related to the Bible’s people, places, customs, and theology. Includes maps, charts, and photos from archaeology and biblical geography.
  • Recommendation: Visual learners or those wanting an all-in-one reference tool. Great for home study, church libraries, or teaching environments where visuals aid understanding.

Maps

Bible maps are visual aids that display the geographical context of biblical events and locations. They help readers understand where events took place and how geography influenced the narrative.

Bible Gateway Atlas
  • Date: Various
  • Description: The Bible Gateway Plus Atlas features scrollable, zoomable, interactive satellite maps that help you orient your understanding of the location of places mentioned in the Bible as you’re reading Scripture.
  • Recommendation: Quickly gain your biblical geographical bearings when reading Bible passages. (Learn how to use the atlas maps here.)
Olive Tree Bible Maps
Zondervan Academic Maps
  • Date: Various
  • Description: High-quality, full-color maps used across Zondervan’s academic resources (e.g., study Bibles, commentaries), these show biblical events, kingdoms, tribal divisions, and missionary journeys with scholarly precision.
  • Recommendation: Quickly gain your biblical geographical bearings when reading Bible passages. (Here’s a complete list of verse references where these maps are found.)

Reverse Interlinear

The NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible is a study tool that aligns the English NIV with the original Hebrew and Greek texts, word for word. It shows the original language transliterated beneath the English text, along with definitions, cross-references, and other word study tools.

To activate this functionality, click or tap “Hebrew/Greek” next to “Resources,” then click “Continue.” Then you can activate the slider to turn “Visibility On/Off.” (Note that clicking “Continue” will automatically switch your Bible version to the NIV, but you can add a parallel column if you prefer another translation.) The transliterated Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) words will appear below the text of the NIV Bible translation.

Now, whenever you click or tap any of the original language words, a box will pop up in the Hebrew/Greek tab with the definition of that word, how it’s translated in the New International Version, and how frequently each translation appears throughout the Bible, pulled from the NIV Exhaustive Concordance.

Devotionals

Found in the Devotionals section of Bible Gateway rather than tied to specific Bible passages, these are spiritual reflections designed to encourage personal growth and connection with God. They’re often used daily and are more inspirational than academic.

While the vast majority of Bible Gateway’s devotionals are free, there are a few premium resources only available with Bible Gateway Plus:

  • Grace for the Moment: A year-long exclusive devotional from Max Lucado, this draws on biblical notes to collect wisdom-filled reflections for daily quiet time.
  • NIV Discover God’s Heart Devotional Bible: This 21-day devotional explores Bible verses that give insight into God’s Spirit and how his love can transform your life.
  • Olive Tree One Year Daily Devotional: Encourage and challenge your faith with a year of daily devotions from classic Christian authors.
  • Words of Cheer for Daily Life: Daily inspiration and encouragement from the great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon.
  • Words of Wisdom for Daily Life: Embrace the challenges and opportunities of each day with these daily readings drawn from the wisdom of the famous preacher Charles Spurgeon.

Conclusion: Blessings on Your Bible Study!

Whether you’re a Bible beginner, seasoned teacher, or busy pastor frantically sermon prepping on Saturday night, hopefully this guide will help you navigate, prioritize, and select from the wealth of resources Bible Gateway Plus puts at your disposal. If you find yourself returning to a few top resources again and again, don’t forget to pin them for easier access — and while you’re at it, bookmark this article! And keep your eye out for new resources, both right here and on the Bible Gateway Plus sidebar.

Still on the fence? Try Bible Gateway Plus risk-free with a free trial and get instant access to every resource in this guide — all for less than the pack of a highlighters.

Look at the Book: Titus [Infographic]

Chris Fann
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Look at the Book: Titus [Infographic]

“Look at the Book” is Bible Gateway’s series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. As in many of his letters, Paul writes to Titus to help him build up the church on Crete and repel false teachings there.

Scroll to the bottom if you’d prefer to see (and save) this article as an infographic. You’ll also find a handy 30-day reading guide. Or, for a challenge, you can do it in one week using the 7-day reading guide below.

Summary

Titus was a Gentile convert who was Paul’s trusted partner in ministry. In this letter, he gives Titus guidance on how to meet opposition, instruct the community in faith and conduct, and combat false teachings.

  • Category: Epistle
  • Theme: Teaching
  • Timeline: Written around AD 63

Key Verse

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.” — Titus 2:11 (NIV)

Bold Proclamation

As in the letters to Timothy, Paul exhorted Titus to proclaim the Word of God with boldness and confidence because it was the God-ordained means of bringing transformation to God’s people.

God’s grace compels leaders to invest their lives in God’s church. Because of Jesus, all people should live godly, honorable lives as they await his second coming. They can shun immorality and idolatry, knowing that the worship of Jesus far surpasses anything this world has to offer.

7 Day Reading Guide

(See 30-day guide below.)

Corinthian Connections

Because of his involvement with the church at Corinth during Paul’s third missionary journey, Titus is mentioned 9 times in 2 Corinthians, where Paul refers to him as “my brother” and “my partner and fellow worker.”

Access the rest of the series. Browse Bible studies for each book of the Bible. Or right-click on the infographic below to download and save the image for your reference. 

Infographic depicting major themes and content from Titus

God’s Grace Will Take You Beyond Your Natural Ability

John Bevere
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God’s Grace Will Take You Beyond Your Natural Ability

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. (Romans 12:6 NKJV)

I have a friend named Jim who coached a high school girls’ basketball team for eighteen years. In all that time, they weren’t able to win the state championship. Year after year, the team was either beaten in the regional finals or eliminated in the state tournament before the final round. 

Jim shared with me, “I was frustrated and ready to quit, but around that time period, I discovered the power of God’s grace.” 

Jim made a firm decision. He would no longer coach in his own strength as he’d done for eighteen years but would completely rely on the grace of God. He asked the Lord what to do, and God’s response was, Restructure your practices. Instead of ninety minutes on the floor, spend forty-five minutes in the locker room reading the Bible, sharing, and praying, then spend the last forty-five minutes on the floor. 

Jim told me, “John, this seemed counterproductive. We needed to work on skills and run plays; I needed every bit of the ninety minutes for practice. But I knew I’d heard from God.” 

He explained the new strategy to the girls. “They thought it was a bit religious and seemed like a silly idea,” Jim said. “Some were even frustrated when they first heard it, but after further sharing my heart, they bought in.” 

With a smile on his face, he continued his story. “That year we won the state basketball championship for the first time. If that wasn’t enough, the next year we won it again.” And that second state championship “was mind-blowing,” he said. “We missed every layup in the final game. We should never have won with all those missed shots. However, after reviewing the stats, we realized we set a record in that game for three-point baskets. The three-pointers compensated for all the missed layups and gave us the score we needed to win.”

Empowered by Grace 

Jim tapped into divine wisdom; in fact, it was the same insight the apostle Paul discovered — one that statistically eludes over 90 percent of the twenty-first-century church. That insight is this: Biblical grace is not only God’s gift of salvation, but also His empowerment for our lives. Examine the following words that Paul wrote, quoting exactly from the mouth of the Lord: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak” (2 Corinthians 12:9 GNT). 

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There’s no question or gray area here. God directly refers to His grace as being His empowerment. The word weak in the above verse means “inability.” The Lord declares to Paul — and also to you and to me: “My empowerment — My grace — is optimized in situations that are beyond your natural ability.” 

Consider again carefully those words from the Lord: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.”

Questions to Ponder

What kinds of inherent weakness on your part have you recognized in areas where you most want to serve God and others? And what kinds of empowerment do you most long for in these areas? 

In your life, what would it look like to fully trust God for this kind of empowerment? 

How can you personally access God’s empowering grace, which is available to you in abundance? 

Boasting of God’s Empowerment

For my friend Jim — trying on his own, with all he had, to lead his girls into a championship — what did eighteen years of hard work yield? Nothing but years of falling short. But it was well worth the agony and multiple disappointments for the wisdom Jim would finally discover: God’s grace empowers us to go beyond our natural ability. 

In a different letter, Paul makes a rather bold statement: “I have worked harder than any of the other apostles.” Wow, did he really write this? Think of who’s included in this list: Peter, James, John, Barnabas, Apollos, and a slew of other great ones. Sounds a little arrogant, but if you read the rest of his statement, you realize it isn’t: 

I have worked harder than any of the other apostles, although it was not really my own doing, but God’s grace working with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10 GNT)

Paul is boasting of God’s empowerment, not his own ability, so there’s no personal bragging involved. He relied on grace to accomplish his divine mission. 

After years of frustration and eventual enlightenment as a coach, Jim now depends on God’s empowerment (grace) to go further than his own ability. He’s carried this wisdom into all aspects of his life; his ax (see Ecclesiastes 10:10) has been sharpened! 

Your Destiny Is Beyond Your Ability

With this in mind, let’s return to our individual mission. Again, God’s Word declares, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV). God Himself prepared your assignment, even before your birth. This crafted calling is what will bring you true fulfillment; no other work or play will. Your purpose is remarkable in magnitude. In fact, in regard to accomplishing it, here’s a critical truth: 

Your destiny, which God prepared for you, is beyond your natural ability. 

Let me make this abundantly clear. It’s utterly impossible for us to fulfill our divine assignment in our own ability. How do I know this to be true? Because God firmly declares that He will share His glory with no one (Isaiah 48:11). If any of us were to accomplish our divine destiny in our own ability, then God would have to share His glory with us, which He will not do! God intentionally made your calling beyond your natural ability so you would have to depend on His grace to fulfill it. 

Questions to Ponder

How convinced are you that the destiny God has prepared for you is beyond your natural ability? 

To fully attain this God-prepared destiny, which of your natural strengths and abilities do you think He will want you to move beyond, as you trust in His empowering grace? 

Cover of "You Are Called" by John Bevere

Adapted from You Are Called: Discover Your God-Given Gifts to Fulfill Your Purpose by John Bevere.

Do you feel like you’re on the sidelines in God’s grand design? Like there’s a role waiting for you, but you just can’t quite grasp it? Many of us long to make a meaningful impact with our lives. You Are Called shares how.

Don’t forget to download your FREE 5-DAY DEVOTIONAL!

The Battle for Your Mind: Why Every Thought Matters More Than You Think

Kyle Idleman
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The Battle for Your Mind: Why Every Thought Matters More Than You Think

What if I told you the most important battle you’ll fight today isn’t against your circumstances, your schedule, or even your biggest challenges, but against your own thoughts?

The average person has over 30,000 thoughts per day, and approximately 90% of those thoughts are repetitive. You’re likely to think today what you thought yesterday, and tomorrow what you think today. Most of us cycle through these thoughts without even thinking about them.

But here’s what we often miss: these thoughts aren’t just fleeting mental activity, they’re actively molding who you’re becoming, whether you realize it or not.

The Apostle Paul understood this reality when he wrote, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2 NIV). The Greek word for “conform” is suschematizo — which literally means to be molded by something external. We’ve all experienced this: you set a goal, make a resolution, really mean it this time… but then fall back into the same patterns.

Why?

Because you focused on changing your behavior without changing your thinking.

How Molds Work — and Break

It’s like when I almost became the pastor who handed out marijuana-shaped Christmas cookies to nursing home residents. My wife had received cookie molds as a gift from someone in church. She innocently used them to bake treats for our neighbors and to pass out at the local nursing home. It wasn’t until I saw the cookies that I realized those weren’t festive holiday leaves, they were perfectly shaped marijuana leaves!

Our defense would have been true: “We didn’t know! It wasn’t intentional!” But regardless of our intentions, the cookies came out exactly as they were molded. That’s how molds work, and that’s exactly how our minds work too.

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What amazes me is how modern neuroscience confirms what Scripture has always taught. The discovery of neuroplasticity reveals that our brains can reorganize themselves by forming new neural connections throughout life. Those persistent negative thoughts that feel so automatic and powerful? They’re simply well-worn neural pathways created through repetition — mental ruts we’ve carved deeper through practice.

But here’s the truth that completely changed my perspective: just as these pathways were formed through repetition, they can be captured, weakened, and replaced through the intentional practice of what the Bible calls “taking every thought captive” (2 Cor. 10:5).

How Your Thoughts Shape Everything

Your thoughts are actively molding four crucial areas of your life:

  • Your Emotions: When you reframe negative situations through intentional thinking, you literally reduce negative emotions and increase positive ones. God designed your brain so that your prefrontal cortex can modulate your limbic system’s emotional responses.
  • Your Decisions: Psychologist Jonathan Haidt describes this like a rider on an elephant — your conscious mind thinks it’s in control, but your subconscious patterns (the elephant) have the real power. Your established thought patterns train that elephant.
  • Your Relationships: In every relationship, there are gaps you have to fill — information gaps, context gaps, connection gaps. Your thoughts determine whether you fill those gaps with generous assumptions or cynical interpretations.
  • Your Goals: When you think about desired outcomes, it triggers dopamine release, motivating you toward action. Your thoughts about what’s possible determine the goals you set and pursue.

The Choice That Changes Everything

Paul presents a clear choice: conform or be transformed. There’s no option C. The word “transformed” comes from the Greek metamorphoo — think caterpillar becoming butterfly. That’s God’s intention for your life, and after witnessing this transformation in my own life and others’, I’m convinced it’s possible for anyone.

But transformation doesn’t happen automatically. It’s a battle against old patterns, worldly influence, and spiritual opposition. If you don’t choose transformation, you won’t remain neutral, you’ll be squeezed toward conformity.

Either you take your thoughts captive, or they will take you captive.

This isn’t merely possible, it’s essential for your spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional well-being. When we learn to do this, we gradually transform into the person God desires us to be, and the person we long to become.

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Start Shaping Your Thoughts Now

Ready to dive deeper? Join our Every Thought Captive Book Club launching with a live event on June 8th (streamed online), where Jamie Snyder and Hannah Brencher will interview me about the book’s core concepts. They’ll then guide you through each section in sessions on June 18th, 25th, and July 2nd.

The battle for your mind is real, but so is the hope for transformation. Your thoughts have been shaping you. Now it’s time to shape them.

Get your copy of the book today!

Recreating Pentecost: A Close Look at the Language of Acts 2:2-4

Jost Zetzsche
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Recreating Pentecost: A Close Look at the Language of Acts 2:2-4

I would like to take you on a little multilingual stroll through a well-known text of Scripture that marks the beginning of one of the most important days in the history of the Christian church: the story of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2.

Let’s begin with verse 2:1 in the scholarly and masterful 1999 German translation by renowned New Testament scholar Klaus Berger and leading translation scholar Christiane Nord (back-translated from German into English):

On the fiftieth day after Passover, on the Jewish Pentecost festival, all the apostles and the female disciples were sitting together with Mary and the male relatives of Jesus.

English Bible readers are likely more familiar with this translation from the NIV — “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place” — but they are both translations of the same text.

How is this possible?

The German translators saw the need — especially with this verse’s location at the beginning of a new chapter where a reader might begin reading the text out of context — to remind readers of who was meeting (taking some of the information of the previous chapter into account) and why they were meeting: to celebrate the festival of Shavuot, the Jewish holiday that commemorates the giving of the Torah (the first five books in the Hebrew Bible). Shavuot is one of the three major festivals that Jewish males were required to observe at the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and it was then (and now) held on the fiftieth (Greek: pentēkostē) day after the second day of Passover.

It reminds us that our Christian commemoration of Pentecost was actually preceded and made possible by a communal gathering for the Jewish feast that was celebrated by “the apostles and the female disciples … sitting together with Mary and the male relatives of Jesus.”

The following few verses then tell of the events that took place about 2,000 years ago, recounted in a masterful display of sophisticated storytelling and language use that is among the world’s best literary achievements.

Speaking — and Hearing — in Many Tongues

Richmond Lattimore was a celebrated Greek scholar, poet, and agnostic who also translated the New Testament into English in the 1970s and ‘80s. When asked why he converted to Christianity during that project, he famously said that it happened “somewhere in Saint Luke.”

Here is his version of Luke’s words in Acts 2:2-8:

And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like the blowing of a great wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And they saw what was like separate tongues of fire, and one settled on each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in different languages according as the Spirit gave each one the gift of speaking them.

Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem who were devout men from every nation under heaven; and at the sound of these voices the crowd came together, and they were confused, because each one heard them speaking in his own language; and they were full of astonishment and wonder, and said: See, are not all these speakers Galileans? And how is it that each of us hears them speaking in the language he was born to?

As learned as this literary translation of our passage is, it still doesn’t do justice to Luke’s original achievement — not because Lattimore wasn’t up to the task, but because he didn’t have access to what we have: the chance to look at this event from the viewpoint of many languages.

Layers of Meaning

As readers of English, we can only guess at the layered meanings in the text, maybe from an earlier study of John 3:8 where Jesus uses the same Greek word for “Spirit” and “wind.” But Acts 2 also contains a word play on the “wind” that “fills” the house, very much like the “Holy Spirit” that “fills” the inhabitants of that house. The Greek terms used for “wind” and “Spirit” is not actually the identical word in these verses, as they are in John, but it’s a closely related word and likely recognizable as such to Greek readers.

As it happens, the Bible has been translated into a number of languages whose readers can see that connection much more easily than we, even without any previous knowledge of John 3 or the Greek text. Yoloxóchitl Mixtec, a language of about 10,000 in Guerrero state in Mexico, and Sinte Romani, one of the languages of the cross-border Romani people in Europe, use Tàtyí (Yoloxochitl Mixtec) and Ducho (Sinte Romani) for both wind and Spirit. The more common Latin uses spiritus and Modern Hebrew uses ruach, also covering both meanings. Each of these languages’ unique vocabulary creates a closer link between verses two and four of Acts 2 than even the original Greek.

The English word “tongue” (Greek: glossa) in verse 2 used to carry the widespread meaning of verse 4’s “language” (also glossa) and is still apparent in terms like “mother tongue.” Modern English speakers don’t often use “tongue” for “language,” though, which can make it difficult to capture the brilliant parallelism in this passage without sounding archaic.

That’s an English problem, though. Many of the world’s languages, including Hungarian, Russian, Polish, Turkish, a number of Romance languages (such as Romanian, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Catalan), and — as in the previous case — Latin and Modern Hebrew use the same word for tongue and language, making the last two the only languages that I’m aware of which mirror the match between both of these word pairs.

The Art and Inspiration of Acts 2

With all of this in mind, let’s look at Acts 2:2-4 again in this rough paraphrase:

“The house was filled with wind that made a sound, and tongues of fire settled on each of them. Then they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages.”

In just these three verses, we can see a foreshadowing in the physical world (“filled,” “wind,” “sound,” “tongues”) that is then personally experienced by Jesus’ followers in complete parallel (“filled,” “Spirit” [“wind”], “speak” [“sound”], “languages” [“tongues”]).

This is well-crafted literary art, and it is no wonder that our secular translator Lattimore finds his personal “Pentecost experience” and his Christian conversion during his translation of the texts of Luke, the author of both the gospel bearing his name and the book of Acts.

God Reveals Himself Through Language

Why is all this so important?

To me these multilingual connections constitute a modern-day mini-Pentecost. It is already impressive to read the story as the recording of a historic event celebrated by the Church ever since. But on top of that, when we can appreciate the beautifully constructed re-telling of the event and arrive at that beauty specifically by looking at its translation into many languages, it reads like an exclamation mark, an asterisk with a footnote saying: “This is Pentecost for you as well. Today.”

Language is such a crucial aspect of how God reveals himself to us. According to the creation story, God uses language to speak the world into existence. In the Gospel of John, we are told that it is the Logos — Jesus — who is that Word who creates.

Language is also the tool God gives humans to organize and categorize the world around them and name the other “living creatures.”

And while God blesses humanity through the existence of language, it’s also a means of punishment: the emergence of different languages comes as a response to the Tower of Babel, to “defeat [the builders] by causing their languages to conflict,” according to the translation into Newari, a large language in Nepal.

In the Acts story of Pentecost, however, God lifts this Old Testament barrier, symbolically and practically, when the apostles start to speak in “their own language” to the Jewish diaspora visitors who had come to the Shavuot festival to Jerusalem and who were “zealously doing what they think was God’s word” (the translation in Tzotzil of the Mexican state of Chiapas for what is translated as “devout” in English). Doubly shocking — and emphasizing the miraculous nature of this occurrence in the visitors’ minds — these languages came from the mouths of heavily accented and, in their eyes, less sophisticated “Galileans.”

Language Is More Than Communication

Pentecost underscores that language is much more than communication. Language, especially as revealed by the Holy Spirit, speaks to the mind and the heart. Hearing about Jesus in their “mother tongues” surprises and amazes (fittingly making “their breath escape” according to Mairasi of Papua New Guinea) the listeners in Jerusalem and viscerally reinforces the personal nature of Jesus’ mission.  

This ongoing legacy of Pentecost continues to enable the work on United Bible Societies’ Translation Insights & Perspectives (TIPs) tool, from which many of the insights in this article were gleaned. Started a little less than 10 years ago, it’s based on the audacious goal of creating a unique resource that documents the multilingual nature of the Church and makes it possible for this multilingual communication with God to teach us all more fully. Although this tool can never fully complete its mission, the journey toward that goal is exciting — and is already bearing abundant fruit.

May you have a Pentecost that reminds you of the first Pentecost miracle 2,000 years ago, as well as the ongoing miracle of God’s message revealed, multilingually, to ever more people around the world.

Explore Acts 2 and every other passage of the Bible in dozens of English translations with Bible Gateway, hundreds of other languages through United Bible Societies’ TIPs tool, and with loads of insights, commentary, and devotional reflections from Bible experts through Bible Gateway Plus.

Look at the Book: 2 Timothy [Infographic]

Chris Fann
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Look at the Book: 2 Timothy [Infographic]

“Look at the Book” is Bible Gateway’s series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. In Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy, the apostle provides final instruction and exhortation as he nears the end of his life.

Scroll to the bottom if you’d prefer to see (and save) this article as an infographic. You’ll also find a handy 30-day reading guide. Or, for a challenge, you can do it in one week using the 7-day reading guide below.

Summary

Paul knew his life was nearing an end, so he wrote this final letter to charge Timothy to guard the gospel, persevere in the face of the mounting persecution, and keep on spreading the good news of Christ.

  • Category: Epistle
  • Theme: Mission
  • Timeline: Written around AD 62

Key Verse

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)

Paul’s Goodbye

Paul passed the non-apostolic mantle of ministry to Timothy and exhorted him to continue faithful in his duties, hold on to sound doctrine, avoid error, accept persecution for the gospel, put his confidence in the Scripture, and preach it relentlessly.

Timothy must not lose heart, though the world is broken, marred by sin, and his mentor would soon be gone. Jesus was a sufficient source of strength to faithfully fulfill the ministry with which Timothy was entrusted.

7 Day Reading Guide

(See 30-day guide below.)

Prison Ministry

After Paul’s release from prison in Rome in AD 62, he was again imprisoned in AD 66. This time he was placed in a dungeon and put in chains like a common criminal.

Access the rest of the series. Browse Bible studies for each book of the Bible. Or right-click on the infographic below to download and save the image for your reference. 

Infographic depicting major themes and content from 2 Timothy
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