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September 2025 Bible News Roundup

Bible Gateway
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September 2025 Bible News Roundup

Here it is, your source for all the latest Bible-related and Bible-adjacent news from the month of September 2025 — from archaeological discoveries and academic research to cultural events and conversations, developments in the global church, and more.

Updated throughout the month.

Week of September 21

  • September 26 — A YouGov poll reveals Americans are divided on religion in public schools: 34% say it plays too small a role, 26% think it’s just right, and 26% believe it’s too much. While most support free religious expression, fewer back teacher-led prayer or religious displays like the Ten Commandments. Though 71% find the Ten Commandments relevant today, only 30% (and only 41% of Christians) support requiring classrooms to display them. (Lifeway Research)
  • September 26 — Ever wonder why Jewish holidays move around from year to year? The Jewish calendar, formalized by Rabbi Hillel II in 358-9 AD, is a lunisolar system combining lunar months with solar years. It features 12 months of 29-30 days, with an intercalary month (or “leap month”) added periodically to align with the solar cycle. Days begin at sundown, and years are counted from the biblical creation date (3761 BC) as calculated by the 2nd-century Rabbi Yose Ben Halafta. (Biblical Archaeology Society)
  • September 26 — New research by Dr. Victoria Whitworth suggests the Book of Kells, an intricately illuminated account of the four Gospels that has traditionally been linked to the monasteries of Iona and Kells, may have instead originated in Pictish eastern Scotland. Archaeological evidence, including vellum production and intricate carvings resembling the manuscript’s style, supports this theory. Whitworth will detail her findings in her upcoming book, The Book of Kells: Unlocking the Enigma. (The Guardian)
  • September 25 — Once considered an academic niche, textual criticism (the study of ancient manuscripts to reconstruct original texts) now bolsters Christian apologetics by demonstrating the New Testament’s reliability. Sparked by Bart Ehrman’s Misquoting Jesus (2005) and digital tools like the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts, interest has surged. The preservation of over 5,700 Greek NT manuscripts, some from the 2nd century, can be used to demonstrate its historical integrity. (The Gospel Coalition)
  • September 25 — Prime Video released the first trailer for The Chosen Adventures, an animated spinoff of The Chosen, premiering October 17. The 14-episode series (11 minutes each) follows kids Abby and Joshua in first-century Capernaum as they meet Jesus, voiced by Jonathan Roumie. Featuring Paul Walter Hauser, Yvonne Orji, and Jordin Sparks, the show blends humor and heart to engage both kids and adults, presenting biblical stories through a child’s perspective. (RELEVANT)
  • September 24 — Archaeological excavations at the Ophel (an important access point to the Temple) in Jerusalem provide insights into Jewish pilgrimage during the Second Temple period. Thousands of pilgrims traveled to Jerusalem annually for the festivals of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot (see Deut. 16:16). Discoveries include ritual baths for purification, coins for commerce, a water management system of tunnels and cisterns, and markets for sacrificial animals (see Matt. 21:12). (Biblical Archaeology Society)
  • September 24 — The documentary Oracles of God: The Story of the New Testament will have a limited U.S. theatrical release in November. Produced by CBN Films in partnership with Fathom Entertainment, the 95-minute film explores the origins, preservation, and transmission of the New Testament. It features historical reenactments, archaeological evidence, and expert interviews. Directed by Emmy nominee Erin Zimmerman, the project highlights the care taken by early Christians in compiling the texts. (Christian Daily)
  • September 24 — Sociologist Ryan Burge is ready to “say the one true thing”: religious people self-identify as happier than non-religious people. In to a recent Pew survey, the percentage of people who described themselves as “very happy” with their lives increased with higher levels of in-person religious attendance. Among those who never attend services, only 22% feel “very happy,” while 19% feel “not too happy.” Among weekly attenders, 35% feel “very happy” and only 10% are “not too happy.” (Religion Unplugged)
  • September 24 — On September 18, Dominican President Luis Abinader hosted a worship service at the National Palace to honor the country’s National Bible Day. The event included Bible readings, hymns, and reflections on the Scriptures’ role in guiding the nation. Pastor Victor Tiburcio emphasized the Bible as a source of certainty against fears like depression, stress, and anxiety. (Christianity Daily)
  • September 23 — Orthodox and Catholic theologians have made progress in discussions on papal infallibility, a key issue in their dialogue. Meeting in Crete from September 8–12, the theological committee reviewed draft texts on infallibility and the filioque, a Latin phrase added to the Nicene Creed in the late 6th century meaning that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father “and the Son” rather than only the Father. The dialogue is an important step in healing divisions between the Eastern and Western churches. (Aleteia)
  • September 22 — South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela went viral on TikTok after claiming the rapture would occur on September 23–24, coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. Some users have taken drastic actions, such as quitting their jobs, selling possessions, and preparing “post-rapture kits” for neighbors, while others have responded with humor and satirical content. While some believers express readiness, others remain skeptical, referencing Matthew 24:36 and past failed predictions. (RELEVANT)
  • September 22 — The 2025 State of Theology study finds stable (but also contradictory) theology among Americans. For example, 71% affirm the Trinity, yet 57% view the Holy Spirit as a force, not a personal being, and 49% believe Jesus was a great teacher but not God. Regarding the Bible, Americans are roughly divided on whether it is 100% accurate or “contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but is not literally true,” though only 36% believe it is disproved by science. (Lifeway Research)
  • September 21 — A memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Glendale, Arizona drew tens of thousands, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other prominent conservatives. Citing Luke 23:34, Kirk’s widow, Erika, expressed forgiveness for the man charged with his death and vowed to continue his work as the new leader of Turning Point. “I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and is what Charlie would do,” she said. (AP News and Christian Daily)
  • September 21 — The All India Congress on Church in Mission (AICOCIM) concluded in Nagpur with a call to action, emphasizing that the gathering marks the beginning of ongoing work. The event launched new commissions under the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), such as those on Discipleship, Justice, and Digital and AI, alongside task forces focusing on evangelism, mental health, and leadership development. A draft Nagpur Declaration was introduced as a covenant for future commitment. (Christian Daily)
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Week of September 14

  • September 20 — Contrary to common assumptions, higher education correlates with greater religious affiliation and attendance for most racial groups. Among African Americans, religiosity significantly increases with education, with graduate degree holders being the least likely to identify as non-religious. White, Hispanic, and Asian respondents show similar trends, though Asians exhibit a flatter relationship between education and religiosity. (Religion Unplugged)
  • September 19 — The Tel Dan Stele, a 9th-century BC basalt stone bearing the earliest extrabiblical reference to the “House of David,” is on display at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., through November 3, on loan from the Israel Antiquities Authority. Discovered in 1993, the stele includes an Aramean king’s inscription boasting of victories over Israel and Judah, paralleling 2 Kings 9 and affirming the historical existence of King David and his dynasty. (Baptist Press)
  • September 19 — China has introduced strict regulations controlling clergy’s online activities, further tightening its grip on religious expression. The new code of conduct bans livestreaming, online sermons, use if AI, and religious education for minors, requiring all activities to align with state-approved platforms. The rules, part of China’s “sinicization” policy, aim to assimilate religion into Communist Party ideology, suppressing external influences and independent religious practices. (Religion Unplugged)
  • September 18 — Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a computer tool to analyze the Dead Sea Scrolls, combining multispectral imaging and computer vision. This technology identifies handwriting and parchment details invisible to the naked eye. It has been successfully tested on roughly 20 fragments so far. The approximately 950 manuscripts, discovered in 1947 and dating back over 2,000 years, are considered one of history’s most significant archaeological finds for the study of the Bible. (Christianity Daily)
  • September 18 — A hoard of 22 copper coins from the mid-4th century AD was discovered in Hukok, an ancient Jewish settlement near the Sea of Galilee. Found in a hidden underground complex originally carved during earlier Jewish revolts, the coins date to the Gallus Revolt, the last Jewish rebellion under Roman rule. Researchers believe the coins were hidden with the hope of retrieving them later. The site is being developed for archaeological tourism, and the findings will be presented at an academic conference. (Jerusalem Post)
  • September 17 — Research reveals a divide between parents and church leaders on discipling children. While 95% of children’s ministry leaders believe discipleship starts at home, 51% of parents expect the church to lead. Many parents feel underequipped, with 86% saying their children learn spiritual lessons at church they cannot teach. Researchers recommend a partnership between home, church, and mentors, emphasizing the power of intergenerational connections and Bible engagement. (Barna)
  • September 17 — The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) launched its 75th-anniversary celebrations at the All India Congress on Church in Mission (AICOCIM). Founded in 1951, EFI has united churches and launched ministries like the Union Biblical Seminary in Pune. Events include a 75-week prayer initiative, regional thanksgiving services, and “EFI Sundays” to strengthen evangelical identity, plus a historical book, digital archives, and time capsule for EFI’s centenary in 2051. (Christian Daily)
  • September 17 — A social media ad by the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board (IMB) led to Bible studies and baptisms among Arabic-speaking, Muslim-background refugees living in Germany, inviting them to learn about Jesus. Respondents engaged with trained digital responders, joining Zoom Bible studies and connecting with local Christians. The initiative highlights digital engagement’s power to overcome barriers, fostering gospel conversations and connecting seekers to local churches. (Baptist Press)
  • September 16 — Penal substitutionary atonement remains divisive among Christians. Supporters, often Reformed evangelicals, view it as central to the gospel, integrating biblical themes of justice, wrath, grace, and God’s love in providing himself as the solution to sin. Critics such as non-Reformed evangelicals, mainline Protestants, and Catholics argue it is a theological innovation that portrays God as wrathful and punitive. Believers must strive for respectful debate as we seek to understand Christ’s sacrifice. (Christianity Today)
  • September 15 — Everyone continues to be obsessed (for good reason) with Gen Z’s turn toward faith in places like the U.S. and UK. Two recent film projects explore the trend from different perspectives. First, Shine Films’ short series HOPE engages young people with life’s big questions, presenting Jesus as the source of lasting hope. Meanwhile, the documentary The Revival Generation showcases UniteUS-led campus revivals, where thousands of students have embraced Christianity. (Christian Today and RNS)
  • September 14 — Millions are now seeking faith advice from AI chatbots, asking everything from “Jesus’ favorite football team” to questions about sin, depression, and death. Trained on religious texts, these apps often act like priests or pastors, while others claim to channel God himself. While some faith leaders hope they’ll provide comfort and complement faith communities, others express concern over data privacy and the way AI bots prioritize validation over challenging users spiritually. (The New York Times)

Week of September 7

  • September 12 — Over 100 Christians were massacred by Islamist militants in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province. Survivors described scenes of devastation, with homes burned and residents abducted. This marks the third wave of mass killings in the region in recent weeks, with thousands fleeing to larger towns for safety. Human rights groups and church leaders condemned the violence, calling for international action to protect civilians and end the ongoing atrocities. (Christian Today)
  • September 12 — The Center for Christianity and Public Life (CCPL) has appointed Alex Arnold as its first Director of Research. Arnold will lead research efforts, develop partnerships, and inform public discourse on integrating Christian thought into civic life. CCPL President Michael Wear praised Arnold’s intellectual rigor and commitment to advancing Christian civic leadership. (Christian Daily)
  • September 12 — Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, vowed to continue his mission with Turning Point USA, emphasizing faith, patriotism, and family values. Urging Americans to join Bible-believing churches and engage in spiritual and societal renewal, she expressed faith that God would bring good from this tragedy, calling on supporters to honor Charlie’s legacy by advancing his vision of a nation rooted in faith, family, and love for God. (Christian Post)
  • September 11 — Faith leaders across the denominational and political spectrum spoke out in prayer and heartbreak over the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah yesterday. Many expressed grief for his widow and two young children, while others — even those who disagreed with his viewpoints — condemned the evil of political violence. Kirk, though a divisive figure in American politics and culture, was praised for his deep faith and his ability to engage Gen Z in impassioned debate over critical issues. (Various sources)
  • September 10 — After 800 years of silence, the world’s oldest Christian pipe organ, dating back to the 11th century, was played again in Jerusalem’s Saint Saviour’s Monastery. Originally brought to Bethlehem by Crusaders, the organ was buried to protect it from invading armies and rediscovered in 1906. A team of researchers, led by David Catalunya, restored the instrument using original pipes and replicas crafted with ancient techniques. (RNS)
  • September 10 — A Pew Research Center report found that 71% of white evangelicals believe Donald Trump’s 2024 presidency was part of God’s plan — as was Joe Biden’s 2020 presidency. Yet only a small fraction attribute these outcomes to divine approval of the candidates’ policies. Meanwhile, despite public perception of ideological division, 80% of American Christians say “‘good Christians’ can disagree about Trump.” (RNS)
  • September 10 — The Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) has launched its largest initiative in 72 years, aiming to reach the 42% of the global population still unreached by the gospel. Announced at the 2025 General Council, the plan focuses on 2,085 unengaged people groups with no access to churches or missionaries — including an estimated 500 million people in Europe alone. (Christian Daily)
  • September 10 — The Rev. Tracey L. Brown made history as the first woman to preach at the National Baptist Convention (NBC) USA’s annual session. The NBC is a 145-year-old historically Black denomination and the second-largest Protestant denomination in America after the Southern Baptist Convention. Her sermon, delivered in Kansas City, Missouri, highlighted the church’s post-pandemic adaptations and expressed hope for the future. (RNS)
  • September 9 — The AI Bible is a new project retelling Bible stories using AI-generated cinematic videos. It has proved popular among younger audiences and non-Christians. While pastors and theologians review scripts for biblical accuracy, critics have raised concerns that oversimplified theology, sexualized character designs, and an action-heavy focus may overshadow deeper biblical messages. The creators hope the project will spark interest in Scripture among those who might not otherwise pick up a Bible. (Christianity Today)
  • September 9 — The Israel Antiquities Authority has launched the Israel National Archaeological Database, a groundbreaking digital archive with nearly four million records, including artifacts, images, 3D models, and excavation reports. This platform provides global access to Israel’s rich archaeological heritage, enabling researchers and the public to explore items like the Dead Sea Scrolls and ancient tools. Users can search by site, artifact type, or location via an interactive map. (Jerusalem Post)
  • September 8 — The Bible is clear that “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23). But according to a report from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, as many as a third of American Christians believe everyone sins — except themselves.  Experts blame this discrepancy on a lack of church teaching, with only 3% of sermons addressing sin, leading to confusion about its significance and our need for salvation through Christ. (Christian Today)
  • September 7 — Pope Leo XIV canonized Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati as saints during a ceremony in St. Peter’s Square, attended by 70,000 people. Both are now patrons of young people, with Acutis becoming the first Millennial to receive canonization. Citing the apocryphal book Wisdom of Solomon 9:17, the Pope highlighted their devotion to Jesus, their commitment to daily Mass, prayer, and Eucharistic adoration, and their ordinary yet profound acts of faith. (Catholic News Agency)

Week of August 31

  • September 6 — Researchers at the World Evangelical Alliance highlighted the complexity of defining and quantifying evangelicalism, a movement increasingly centered in the Global South. Depending on the definition and model, estimates of evangelicals range from 393 million to 937 million globally. The majority now reside in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with China hosting the largest evangelical population. (Christian Daily)
  • September 5 — In the ongoing “golden age of Christian media,” the animated film Light of the World is garnering glowing reviews. Produced by the Salvation Poem Project and now playing in theaters, the family-friendly movie tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of a teenage apostle John, blending vibrant animation with a Gospel-centered narrative. One reviewer said that while some moments feel overly didactic, the film excels in emotional storytelling, creative visuals, and relatable character development. (Religion Unplugged)
  • September 4 — The latest “State of the Bible” chapter reveals that regular Bible readers have a stronger sense of self-identity. Among daily readers, 69% reported confidence in knowing who they are, compared to just 38% of those who never read it. Interestingly, occasional readers (once a month) reported even weaker self-identity (33%), possibly due to a sense of inconsistency. Researchers attribute this confidence boost to biblical themes like being created in God’s image and becoming a new creation in Christ. (RELEVANT)
  • September 4 — Archaeologists in Israel uncovered a 1,600-year-old Samaritan estate believed to be the birthplace of Menander, who the church historian Eusebius named as a follower of Simon Magus, the magician mentioned in Acts 8. The site features grand rooms, intricate mosaics, and agricultural installations, including an olive press near a ritual bath, along with a Greek inscription wishing “Good luck!” (Christianity Daily)
  • September 3 — For the first time, digital Bible distribution has surpassed print, with 25.9 million digital copies shared in 2024 compared to 22.5 million printed copies. United Bible Societies reported a rise in digital engagement, including 28.3 billion chapter views on Bible apps such as Bible Gateway. Spanish, Portuguese, and English accounted for half of all printed Bibles, with Brazil leading in distribution by a wide margin (4.2 million), followed by India (1.8m) and China (1.6m). (Christian Today)
  • September 3 — Recent Barna research corroborates earlier reports of a shift in U.S. church attendance trends, with men (45%) attending church more frequently than women (36%) for the first time. Indeed, women’s weekly attendance has been declining for 15 years, though it is now slightly rebounding. Younger generations like Gen Z and Millennials are attending church more often, while Boomers are stepping back. (Barna)
  • September 2 — Good news for “House of David” fans: Season 2 of the biblical drama, based on the story of Saul and David from 1 Samuel, will premiere on October 5, only 6 months after the Season 1 finale. It will first appear exclusively on the Wonder Project platform before becoming available on Amazon Prime Video. A new family-friendly subscription service, Wonder Project will launch with over 125 titles and 1,000 hours of programming — both new releases and old favorites — for $8.99 per month. (Christianity Daily)
  • September 1 — Iran accused 53 Christians of espionage and Bible smuggling as part of a “foreign intelligence-backed Evangelical network.” Many of them were arrested after attending Christian events abroad, as Iran lacks legal places of worship for its estimated 800,000 Christians. A few have been released on bail, but over 40 remain in custody. Religious liberty group Article18 condemned the accusations as baseless and discriminatory toward the Evangelical Christian community. (Christianity Daily)
  • August 31 — Brazil led global Bible distribution in 2024, delivering 4.2 million printed copies and recording over 16 million digital downloads. Globally, 99% of the population has at least part of the Bible available in their native language, with active projects in 3,526 languages across 173 countries, though efforts remain underway to ensure people are aware of their availability. The remarkable progress in Bible translation is part of Vision 2025, aiming to ultimately provide Scripture access to every language. (Christian Daily)
  • August 31 — An “illuminating” discovery: Archaeologists in Yehud, Israel, have found 4,000-year-old lamp wicks, among the oldest ever discovered. Found in clay lamps from the Intermediate Bronze Age (ca. 2000-2500 BC), the wicks were preserved due to rare fossilization, despite the region’s moist climate. Made from recycled linen, they highlight ancient recycling practices and were likely used in burial rituals, symbolizing the soul. (Jerusalem Post)
  • August 31 — The 500th anniversary of the first English New Testament. A “quiet revival” in China through a wildly popular Bible copying initiative. The U.S. leads the “secular west” in Bible engagement — but not necessarily church attendance. Colleges received grants for Bible-tech projects targeting Gen Z. Oh, and a veritable hoard of Bible-related archaeological discoveries — it’s all the biggest, strangest, and most inspiring Bible and church news stories of August!

View news archives here.

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We Are Doing the Spiritual Disciplines All Wrong

David Bowden
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We Are Doing the Spiritual Disciplines All Wrong

What’s the purpose of praying, fasting, solitude, giving, and all manner of what we might call good Christian practices? 

My friend, Mart Green, and I set out to write a book on these practices called Learning to Be Loved. On that journey, we realized that many Christians view these practices as things God expects of us. He commands us to pray, fast, and give, expecting us to hit the mark. Failing to do these things, then, feels like we are letting God down.  

But there’s a story from Jesus’s life that proves this view to be exactly backwards. 

Sabbath for Man. Not Man for Sabbath.

In Mark 2:23–28, Jesus and his disciples are gleaning grain from a local farm on the Sabbath, as the law allowed (Deuteronomy 23:25). But when the Pharisees saw him do this, they accused him of breaking this core practice of Sabbath keeping. 

The Pharisees had added additional provisions and instructions around Sabbath law, to ensure the faithful observe it properly. They had great regard for the practice of Sabbath and went to admirably pious lengths to make sure they did nothing to break it.  

For the Pharisees, the Sabbath was God’s standard and needed to be kept.  

But Jesus turns their perception of this practice on its head when he tells them a truth we all need to hear. 

Jesus says, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27, ESV).  

Jesus is saying that the practice of the Sabbath is not a law to be kept simply for the sake of keeping it. The Sabbath is not a practice given to man to test whether they observe it properly in order to please God. 

Jesus is saying the Sabbath is a gift for humans. The Sabbath means rest, play, peace, and trust. Taking a day to stop all our working and toiling heals us and leads us into deeper rest in God.  

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The Sabbath was given for our good. In keeping the Sabbath, we are given the opportunity to receive a gift that God has for us, not to give a gift to God.  

God did not make humanity to keep the Sabbath. He made the Sabbath to keep humanity. God does not need you to observe the Sabbath to show him how good you are. You need to observe the Sabbath to see how good God is. 

Prayer for Christians. Not Christians for Prayer.

Consider how this truth applies to other spiritual practices.  

For years, I viewed prayer like the Pharisees viewed the Sabbath. A thriving “prayer life” was something God expected of me, which I constantly fell short of. The more I tried to meet these assumed expectations, the more guilty and ashamed I felt that I wasn’t doing enough.  

Like the Pharisees, I tried to put all kinds of additional provisions and instructions around prayer to help me keep it. I decided that good Christians pray for at least a half hour every morning. And made it a law. I decided good prayers always had to have deep confessions of sins, heartfelt intercession for others, and rapturous awe and wonder at the glory of God. So I made that a law too.  

I thought I was made for prayer, and tried to serve that purpose rigorously. But like the Pharisees, I was missing the point.  

Prayer was made for me. Like Sabbath, prayer is a gift God is trying to give me. It’s a gift of communion with my Creator, help from the Almighty, friendship with the All-Loving, and counsel from the Great Counselor.  

God did not need me to pray to show him how good I am. He needed me to pray to see how good he is.  

Seeing the Disciplines as Gateways to Intimacy

Mart Green, who co-authored Learning to Be Loved with me, has documented dozens of spiritual practices like prayer that he calls “Gateways to Intimacy.” This phrase neatly captures the goal of Sabbath, prayer, and all manner of spiritual practices. The goal is intimacy with God. The gateways are the practices.  

But as we’ve seen, these gateways are not there for us to walk through to get to God. We must not think that if we pray enough or keep the Sabbath well enough, the doors of intimacy will fling open and grant us an intimacy shut to those less obedient.  

God is the one who walks through the gateways to intimacy (Revelation 3:20). When we pray, God walks in. When we rest on Sabbath, God meets us. And he gives us himself. He is the gift. Being with him, knowing him, and feeling treasured by him is what these gateways are meant to give us. In word, they are gateways to intimacy.  

While the 20 gateways we cover in the book may be the most familiar, I’m convinced that every spiritual practice fits the pattern Jesus showed the Pharisees on that Sabbath long ago.  

To see a spiritual discipline rightly, we must first and foremost see it as a gift given to us. Each discipline, be it giving, worship, or fasting, is a doorway through which God is trying to give us the gift of himself.  

The Hardest Discipline? Learning to Be Loved.

But there is one more problem. Our skewed view of the disciplines is rooted in our skewed view of God’s love. We see spiritual practices as ways to get to God because we don’t believe God truly loves us without them.  

The irony is that the very practices through which we are trying to earn God’s love, are the very practices through which we can learn God’s love. Each gateway, each practice, is a way for us to receive God’s love for us.  

While basically every Christian I’ve ever met “believes” God loves them, many of us (myself included) struggle to actually feel and receive that love. It’s far easier to assent to the fact that God is love than to internalize the truth that the God of the universe deeply and personally cherishes you.  

This is why God gave us the disciplines. He gave them for our good. You were not made to hit a prayer quota, fast for 40 days, and abstain from grabbing a snack on Saturdays. You were made to receive God’s love for you through communing with him in prayer, being satisfied in his provision, and resting in his sovereignty.  

You were made to know the heights, depths, lengths, and breadths of God’s great love for you (Ephesians 3:18). I pray that you would receive the gift of the spiritual practices, and let God show you his love through these beautiful gateways to intimacy.  

Cover of "Learning to Be Loved" by David Bowden and Mart Green

Are you feeling spiritually stuck? Release that frustration and discover a more natural way to relate to God in Learning to Be Loved: The Everyday Believer’s Guide to a Rich Relationship with God, a biblically grounded, transformative book about how our passionate and creative God offers us gateways — that are already in our lives — to draw us closer to him.

September 2025 Bible Verse Calendar: Promises of God

Bible Gateway
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September 2025 Bible Verse Calendar: Promises of God

September is “Promises of God” Month at Bible Gateway! Here’s a daily promise from God with corresponding Bible verse. Click each link below to read the verse in your preferred translation — or download the image (or PDF) of all verse references.

God’s Promises This September

Get the most out of your Bible reading — including each of the above verses — with a free trial of Bible Gateway Plus. Access dozens of Study Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, and other resources to go deeper into every aspect of God’s Word. Try it today!

Calendar of Bible verses with promises of God for September 2025

If You Want to Know Jesus, Read Revelation

Anne Graham Lotz
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If You Want to Know Jesus, Read Revelation

The book of Revelation was originally written to give hope to the early church when Christians were being fed to lions, nailed to crosses, burned at the stake, and boiled in tar. It was written by a Christian who himself was suffering “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9 NIV). It was written specifically to a generation of Christians yet to come who will experience what Jesus described as “great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now — and never to be equaled again” (Matthew 24:21 NIV).

Many readers have missed the blessing awaiting them in the book of Revelation because they have been intimidated by its numerical symbolism or overwhelmed by its awesome imagery. They read of mysterious lampstands and sacred seals, worldwide earthquakes and trumpeting angels, monstrous beasts and miracle-working dragons — and quickly turn instead to the soothing poetry of the Psalms or the simple promises of the Beatitudes.

I hope you’ll resist that urge and stay with me for what I believe is one of the most thrilling and fascinating books in all of Scripture. Revelation is, above all, a book of hope, and the blessing to be found in its magnificent imagery has been, for me, a continuous, awesome experience of worship as it has led me to a fresh, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. My book, The Vision of His Glory, is my humble attempt to share with you how this richness of worship, this wealth of hope, this vision of His glory, is intended for all of us.

The book of Revelation begins by clearly stating its theme. “The revelation of Jesus Christ . . .” The theme of Revelation is not primarily prophecy, or future events, as many suppose; it is Jesus!

Prophecy Was Received From God

The word revelation literally means “to unveil.” In the book of Revelation, God uses prophecy to “unveil” Jesus, enabling us to see Him in a unique way. And when we see Him clearly, we see a vision of His glory that transcends our smallness.

When Jesus was alive on earth, He was so “veiled” that His own mother, His stepbrothers and stepsisters, even His own disciples did not fully understand who He was. But we have a clearer view of Him. Through prophecy, God lifts the veil, enabling us to see Jesus in a way that those who walked and lived with Him on earth could not.

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Through prophecy, God lifted the veil in the Old Testament so believers could worship Jesus Christ. For example:

  • Adam and Eve could worship Jesus Christ, through prophecy, as the Seed of the woman who, in essence, would take away the sin of mankind and bring man back into a right relationship with the Creator (Genesis 3:15).
  • Abraham could worship Jesus Christ through prophecy as the One through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3).
  • Moses could worship Jesus Christ through prophecy as the Prophet like himself who would deliver people, not from bondage in Egypt, but from bondage to sin and Satan (Deuteronomy 18:17-18).
  • Isaiah worshiped Jesus Christ through prophecy as the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV), and also as the Lamb by whose wounds we would be healed (Isaiah 53:5).
  • Micah worshiped Jesus through prophecy as the Baby who would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
  • Zechariah worshiped Him through prophecy as the King of kings and Lord of lords who would one day rule the entire world (Zechariah 14:9)!

Although these Old Testament believers and those who listened to them did not fully understand who Jesus is, through prophecy they were able to “see” Jesus in a way they could not otherwise have seen Him. Because through prophecy, God “unveils” Jesus Christ.

Prophecy Was Recorded by John

God not only unveiled Jesus Christ through prophecy in the past, but through the book of Revelation, He uniquely unveils Jesus as our hope for the future! This “revelation of Jesus Christ” was recorded by the prophet John, but, as Peter explained, “No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20–21 NIV).

What God gave and the Holy Spirit inspired, John faithfully recorded: “[God] made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw — that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:1b–2 NIV).

Revelation is so thrilling because it is not just a prediction — a weather forecast — of what is to come. It is the prophet John’s eyewitness account of the future! In this stirring account, he says he personally testifies to everything he saw! For you and me, the book of Revelation describes the future. For the apostle John, it was history! Nearly fifty times, John says, “I saw.” Almost thirty times he says, “I heard.” What a personal testimony the apostle John had!

God uniquely revealed Jesus to John — and, through prophecy, He has revealed Him to us so that we might read and reflect on the vision of His glory and find hope for the future.

Prophecy Is to Be Read by You

What is your attitude toward prophecy? One attitude is to avoid it because it seems too difficult to understand, too controversial to discuss, too meaningless to be personally relevant. People with this attitude tend to feel more comfortable in the Psalms, the Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles. They leave prophecy to the theological heavyweights such as the seminary professors or preachers or professional Bible scholars.

Others are so fascinated with prophecy they spend hours trying to interpret the symbols, count the numbers, and even make predictions based on their calculations. They tend to forget about personal holiness, obedience, and winning the lost.

Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that prophecy was given to ordinary people like you and me to give us hope for our future: “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near” (Revelation 1:3 NIV). Blessed! Blessed! Blessed are those who do not give just a superficial reading to the book of Revelation but who continually read, study, apply, and live by it!

And what is this special blessing? It is the blessing of seeing Jesus! It is the vision of His glory that gives hope! 

When was the last time you read prophecy? Make the time to reflect on what God says through prophecy so you can refocus on who Jesus Christ really is.

During your time alone with God this week, make time each day reflecting on what He has said through prophecy. Reread the Scripture passages highlighted here, identifying His attributes so you can live your life in praise of who He really is.

Cover of "The Vision of His Glory" by Anne Graham Lotz

With a focus on Jesus Christ, Anne Graham Lotz brings clarity and understanding to the book of Revelation in The Vision of His Glory: Finding Hope Through the Revelation of Jesus Christ — now fully revised and updated!

With heartfelt passion and deep scriptural understanding, Lotz walks readers step-by-step through the Revelation narrative, uncovering profound truths about God’s sovereign plan. Discover strength, encouragement, and the enduring hope that comes from trusting in God’s promises.

Best Bible Gateway Plus Resources for Pastors and Bible Teachers

Bible Gateway
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Best Bible Gateway Plus Resources for Pastors and Bible Teachers

Bible Gateway Plus has dozens of resources for all kinds of Bible readers from beginners to experts. One group it’s especially designed around is helping pastors and Bible teachers prepare for sermons, classes, Bible studies, and other events.

Bible Gateway Plus makes it easy for you to quickly compare multiple resources for any passage you’re working, teaching, or preaching through. You can even prep your lesson on the go: if you can read this, you can access an entire library of Bible study materials with just a few taps — no need to carry around all your commentaries and study Bibles.

If you’re just getting started with Bible Gateway Plus — or have been using it for the same two or three resources for a long time and want to expand your repertoire — here are some of our top picks for pastors and Bible teachers to gain and share both quick insights and deeper understanding of Scripture.

First, two quick points to remember:  

  1. Once you find your favorite resources, you can pin them for easier access. 
  2. You can use any resource with any Bible translation. So if you want to use the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible notes with the NASB, ESV, or NKJV, you are free to do so! 
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Now, let’s look at the resources.

Top Resources for Historical Background

When you want to bring your listeners into “Bible world” and plant their feet in the context of the place, time, and culture where the books were written, these resources will give you the quick facts you need to get them there.

NIV/NRSV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

This study Bible brings the ancient world into focus with notes, articles, charts, and more from John H. Walton and Craig S. Keener. It highlights cultural, historical, and religious practices that shaped how the original audience would have understood Scripture.

How to use it: This tool will help you avoid reading modern assumptions into the text, move beyond vague, “at the time” generalities, and equip you to explain passages in their original world so your people hear them as the first hearers would.

NIV First-Century Study Bible

Edited by Kent Dobson, this Bible emphasizes Jewish traditions, customs, and first-century context. It’s designed to help you hear the words of Jesus and the apostles as their earliest listeners would have.

How to use it: When you’re working on a sermon in the Gospels or Paul’s letters, check this resource to highlight the Jewish roots that you and your congregation might otherwise miss. It will also enrich their understanding of how the New Testament fulfills the Old.

Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old and New Testament)

This multivolume set combines archaeological data, cultural studies, maps, and images to explain the background of each verse. The full-color visuals and commentary bring texture to the biblical world, whether you bring them to your Bible study or use them for your own research.

How to use it: Your congregation may never visit Israel or study archaeology, but you can bring those worlds to them. This series — more robust and thorough than study Bible notes — helps you preach and teach with rich detail that captures the imagination.

Top Resources for Theological Exegesis

As a pastor, you’re called not just to explain words but to proclaim God’s truth. These resources help you trace theological themes, connect passages across the canon, and you translate complex themes into digestible concepts.

NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible

Edited by D.A. Carson and featuring contributions from over 60 trusted commentators, this study Bible highlights theological themes that run across the storyline of Scripture. It helps you see and articulate how every part of the Bible connects to God’s larger plan.

How to use it: Use this when preparing to show your people how a text points to Christ or fits into the gospel story. It’s especially helpful for tying together Old and New Testament passages.

NIV Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible

This indispensable, classic tool organizes more than 100,000 biblical references into topical chains, allowing you to trace ideas like faith, love, or holiness across the entire Bible. It should be in every pastor and Bible teacher’s repertoire.

How to use it: If you’re planning a sermon series on prayer or want to study a theme in depth, simply follow the chains. It gives you a ready-made structure for tracing God’s truth through Scripture.

NKJV Evangelical Study Bible

This study Bible combines detailed notes, theological articles, and word studies from a clear, conservative evangelical perspective. It’s designed to help you stay Christ-centered and doctrinally grounded.

How to use it: When you need a reliable companion to keep your exegesis faithful to evangelical convictions, use this to steady your study. It provides a trustworthy lens for weekly sermon prep.

New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (Abridged)

Is your Greek a little on the rusty side? A condensed version of the classic multivolume work, this dictionary offers accessible studies on Greek words and New Testament themes. It brings scholarly insight within reach of everyday use.

How to use it: When you’re preparing a sermon and want to go deeper with a key word — without getting lost in technical detail — this gives you a balance of accuracy and usability.

Top Resources for Pastoral Insights and Exposition

Your people don’t just need information; they need transformation. These resources help you bridge the gap between exegesis and exposition, equipping you to deliver sermons that are faithful, practical, and Spirit-filled.

Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament/New Testament

This perennially popular, two-volume abridgment of the classic set gives verse-by-verse exposition from trusted evangelical scholars in a concise, accessible format.

How to use it: Keep this one handy for quick reference when preparing a sermon. It’s a dependable commentary that saves time while giving you sound insight — the ideal balance between the snippet-sized notes of a study Bible and the depth and detail of a complete commentary.

NIV Application Commentary (selected books)

Intended both for personal study and for teaching preparation, this comprehensive commentary and background provides insights into the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context — while also providing a bridge from the world of the Bible to our lives today.

How to use it: Pull this one up for a quick and easy one-two punch that will provide contextual background to a passage while also providing some ideas for how you can encourage your people to bring its lessons into their everyday life.

Story of God Bible Commentary (selected books)

Edited by two prolific evangelical scholars, Tremper Longman III and Scot McKnight, this commentary emphasizes the grand narrative of Scripture, interpreting each passage as part of God’s unfolding story of redemption.

How to use it: You’ll want to preach or teach from this when you want your congregation or Bible students to see how their own lives fit within God’s bigger story. It helps you frame each text within the gospel narrative.

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary

A trusted tool for decades, Vine’s dictionary explains key Greek and Hebrew terms in clear, accessible language.

How to use it: Use this for word studies when you want to clarify meaning in a sermon without boring your listeners by diving into technical lexicons. (Don’t worry, we know it’s interesting!) It will add depth to your preaching without overwhelming you or your audience with detail.

Additional Inspiration From Favorite Pastors

When you’re stuck, sometimes the best help is listening to another pastor. These study Bibles let you sit with faithful preachers who have been in the trenches, learning from their insights and borrowing from their wisdom.

CSB Tony Evans Study Bible

Tony Evans, longtime pastor and founder of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, preaches with a strong focus on “kingdom living.” His style is energetic, practical, and often filled with memorable illustrations.

How to use it: Lean on Evans when you want to connect deep biblical truth to everyday issues like family, justice, or perseverance. He’ll help you make your sermons vivid and actionable.

NASB/NKJV Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible

Charles Stanley, a Southern Baptist pastor best known for his decades at First Baptist Atlanta and his “In Touch” ministry, emphasized steady discipleship and personal holiness. His style is calm, clear, and relentlessly focused on God’s faithfulness.

How to use it: Look to Stanley when you’re preaching on spiritual growth, faith in trials, or the basics of walking with God. He’ll remind you how to feed your flock with simple, timeless truths.

NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible (Albert Mohler)

R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is a Reformed Baptist theologian and cultural commentator. His style is intellectually rigorous, doctrinally precise, yet pastoral in tone.

How to use it: Draw from Mohler when you’re preaching texts that require careful theological framing. He’ll help you ground your sermons in solid doctrine while holding grace and truth together.

NKJV Lucado Encouraging Word Bible

Max Lucado, nondenominational minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, is one of the most widely read inspirational writers today. His preaching and writing style is warm, story-driven, and full of gentle encouragement.

How to use it: Use Lucado’s insights when you want to speak comfort to hurting people. His gift for telling simple stories will remind you how to communicate hope without unnecessary complexity.

NKJV MacArthur Study Bible (2nd ed.)

John MacArthur, former pastor of Grace Community Church in California and leader within the conservative Reformed Baptist movement, was (and remains) known for his detailed expository preaching and firm theological convictions. His style is thorough, uncompromising, and verse-by-verse.

How to use it: Look to MacArthur when you want to drill deep into a passage and guard your preaching against shallow interpretations. His approach will push you to be precise and bold.

NKJV Wiersbe Study Bible

Warren Wiersbe, a Baptist pastor, radio teacher, and author of the “Be” commentary series, was beloved for his ability to make Scripture clear and practical. His style was devotional, pastoral, and always focused on life application.

How to use it: Turn to Wiersbe when you need help simplifying a complex passage. He’ll remind you to keep application front and center so that your sermons meet people right where they live.

Conclusion: ‘Feed My Sheep’

As pastors and Bible teachers, you are doing some of the most important work in the world — and we know it can be taxing. Bible Gateway is here to support you as you labor to spread the gospel throughout the world. We pray these resources will provide a solid theological library for your sermon prep, lesson planning, and many other responsibilities as you fulfill Jesus’ commandment to Peter: “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-19).

Not a Bible Gateway Plus subscriber yet? What are you waiting for? Sign up today for a free trial to start exploring these and dozens more Bible study tools and resources.

The Speed of the Internet Is Not the Speed of Peace 

Carlos Whittaker
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The Speed of the Internet Is Not the Speed of Peace 

Every morning, we wake up and — BAM! — before we even brush our teeth, our phone lights up with chaos. Another crisis. Another take. Another headline we can’t unsee. And before we’ve even brushed our teeth, we’ve already downloaded more emotional noise than our great-grandparents consumed in a decade.

Here’s the lie we’re living under: that more access equals more awareness, and that more awareness equals more peace.

But it doesn’t. Because peace doesn’t move at Wi-Fi speed. Peace moves at human speed.

It’s Not That the World Is Crazier. It’s That You’re Carrying More of It.

Let me be clear: the world has always been crazy. Wars, injustice, heartbreak, greed. It’s not new.

What’s new is this: now we know about all of it. Instantly. In high def. With analysis. And commentary. And 50 comment sections telling us how to feel.

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Our brains weren’t built for this. Our hearts weren’t built for this. We were not meant to carry the grief of a bombing in one country, a scandal in another, and our own personal family drama, all before our first cup of coffee. We are emotionally over-caffeinated. Spiritually undernourished. And drowning in a flood of “awareness” that’s crushing our peace. 

The Internet Is Fast. Peace Is Not.

Do you ever feel like your soul can’t catch up to your screen? One minute you see a headline that peace talks are working. Twelve hours later, nope, back to violence. Then someone you trust posts a take that gives you hope … then you scroll again and boom, back to despair.

This is not how humans are supposed to live. This is emotional whiplash dressed up as staying informed.

The algorithm doesn’t care about your peace. It cares about your attention. It wants your outrage. Your panic. Your clicks. And we’ve handed it the keys to our nervous system. 

Your Peace Has a Gatekeeper … And It’s Not CNN or Instagram

Let’s get real. When we grab our phones before we grab our breath, we’re asking the internet to be our compass. We’re saying, “Tell me how to feel today.”

And here’s the problem with that: The internet is built on chaos. It doesn’t know your story. It doesn’t know your limits. And it sure as heck doesn’t know your purpose.

We’ve made the unstable our anchor. No wonder we feel like we’re drifting. 

You Don’t Have to Know Everything

I know it feels like you should have an opinion on everything. Like you should know the full geopolitical history of every conflict. Like if you don’t say something, post something, signal something … you’re failing.

But listen … you’re allowed to feel something deeply and not post about it. You’re allowed to be informed and still protect your peace. You’re allowed to care without constantly carrying.

You weren’t built to be a 24/7 crisis processor. You were built to be a human … with a heart, and a soul, and limitations that are not flaws but intentional design features. 

Where My Peace Actually Comes From

I’m not here to preach at you, but I gotta tell you the truth: If I relied on the internet for peace, I’d be in a permanent fetal position. The only thing that’s held me steady is the God who never changes.

When I open the Bible, I’m not looking for headlines, I’m looking for hope. For truth that doesn’t shift. For peace that doesn’t disappear when I refresh the page.

Jesus never promised the world wouldn’t be chaotic. But He did say, 

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV)

He didn’t say, “Ignore the trouble.” He said: Don’t let it have the last word.

So What Do We Do With the Weight?

We breathe.

We pause.

We remember we’re not God.

And then we ask Him to remind us what’s ours to carry … and what’s His.

Friend, you are not a machine. You are not a crisis hotline. You are not the savior of the internet. You are a human. And humans need a landing place. A place where peace isn’t an algorithm. A place where hope isn’t trending. A place where love isn’t earned and safety isn’t situational.

That place? It’s real. And it’s not in your feed. 

Final Thought: You Don’t Have to Carry It All

If you’ve felt the buzz in your chest lately … the heaviness. The ache. The soul-tired, heart-numb, constantly-on-edge feeling … I see you.

You’re not weak. You’re just overloaded.

So today, as the world keeps spinning, and the headlines keep coming … let yourself be human. Let God be God. Let peace be slow, and sacred.

And remember: You don’t have to carry it all. You don’t have to fix it all. You just have to trust the One who already holds it all.

It’s time to take back control of your life from technology and recover the lost art of being human. Carlos Whittaker’s Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human will inspire and equip you to reset your life in a tech-saturated world. You were made for more. This is how you start living again.

This season, step away from the pace of the world and into the peace of the Word. With Bible Gateway Plus, you have access to dozens of trusted Bible study resources to draw you closer to God through his Word. Get started with a free trial today.

God’s Story and You: Why Creation Is About More Than the Beginning

Jonathan Murphy
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God’s Story and You: Why Creation Is About More Than the Beginning

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” — Genesis 1:1

This iconic opening verse lays the foundation for the greatest story of all time. But is creation just about “the beginning”? A starting chapter in God’s narrative?

Yes, but also, profoundly, no.

Creation is not merely a run-up to God’s work in the world; it is the context for His plans and purposes. When we dig into God’s creation story, we find that it isn’t only about beginnings. It’s about presence, purpose, and participation.

Creation as Presence

Take a moment to think about the intricacy of creation. Galaxies bursting into existence from God’s Word. Sunsets painting the horizon with kaleidoscopic colors. A fragile butterfly bursting to life in its cocoon. We tend to think of creation as something God did millennia ago — but Genesis 1 shows us creation is God’s home, His chosen place of presence with us.  

Creation wasn’t just made by God; it was framed as His temple. Ancient readers of Genesis would have recognized the seven-day account as more than a chronology; they would’ve seen it as an inauguration ceremony for a sacred temple.

And the climactic act of this ceremony?

Rest.

God resting on the seventh day wasn’t about taking a nap; it was His declaration that creation was His dwelling place where He would rule and reign.  

When we read the story this way, we can’t help but marvel at its implication. The God of galaxies chose to be present with us — not distant or disengaged but involved, relational, and near.  

Creation as Purpose

“In His image, after His likeness” (Genesis 1:26).

God’s creating of humanity takes center stage. Whereas other creatures are called forth to fill and swarm the earth, humans are uniquely described with the imago Dei, the image of God Himself. This detail is no accident. By creating us as His image-bearers, God signals our unique purpose in this world.  

We were not merely made to observe creation but to partner in its flourishing. Much like ancient kings would commission statues in their likeness to mark their rule over distant lands, God created humans to represent His rule. We mediate God’s presence and reflect His character to the world. To bear His image means to glorify Him in all we do — from the way we steward the earth’s resources to the way we extend kindness to our neighbors.  

Genesis challenges us to ask, how often do I live in light of my divine purpose? Creation not only defines who we are but also why we are here. We were designed by Him and for Him, to glorify God and bring order and beauty out of chaos, just as He did.  

Creation as Participation

Creation reaches out with an invitation — not an invitation to observe passively but to engage actively. From its very start, God’s story calls us to be co-creators in His master plan. Look at Adam’s task in Genesis 2 to name the animals. Can you picture it? A parade of creatures before Adam, from lumbering elephants to fluttering sparrows. God could have named them all Himself, but He didn’t. Instead, He invited Adam to participate in shaping creation.  

The same is true for us. Whether it’s crafting art, cultivating relationships, teaching children, or pursuing justice, every act of creativity and stewardship reflects our role in God’s story. We aren’t supposed to pass through creation as tenants, but to live as kingdom-builders. This isn’t merely a calling for spiritual professionals or environmentalists; it’s for all of us. Creation is an every-person project.  

Creation and Christ

The creation story doesn’t end in Genesis; it blooms into full clarity in the New Testament, where Jesus is portrayed as the Creator in action.

John 1:1-3 show us that Christ was present in the beginning, that “through him all things were made” (NIV). Colossians 1:17 tells us that “all things hold together” in Him, grounding creation not just in the past but in the ongoing work of God through Christ.

Jesus redeems creation, restoring its broken image and stitching our stories back into God’s greater narrative. His work on the cross ensures that one day, God’s dwelling will again be with His people (Revelation 21).  

Applying Creation to Your Story

God’s creation story wasn’t just about then; it’s about now. Creation tells us who God is, who we are, and how we’re meant to live. But how do we apply this to our daily lives?  

  1. Recognize God’s Presence

When you marvel at a morning sunrise or the details of a blooming flower, don’t stop at awe. Remember that creation reflects God’s nearness. Take your gratitude into prayer.

  1. Live With Purpose

Your work, relationships, and choices all contribute to the kingdom of God. Whether you’re parenting, designing, studying, or helping a neighbor in need, orient all you do toward glorifying Him.

  1. Step Into Participation

Are there ways you can steward what God has given you? Cultivate beauty, create solutions, or protect the vulnerable? Whatever your gifts are, use them for His glory.

More Than the Beginning

The creation account in Genesis shows us far more than how the world began. It’s an invitation into God’s presence, a calling to live out His purpose, and a challenge to actively participate in His plans. And here lies the beauty of it all: Just as God spoke galaxies into existence, so He speaks into your life, weaving your story into His.  

The question is, will you step into it? Will you take up your role in His kingdom and reflect His image to the world around you?  

Remember this as you go about your day. Creation wasn’t simply at the beginning. It’s happening here and now — in you and through you.

The Story of God and Us

Cover of "The Story of God and Us" by Jonathan Murphy

Good stories make you laugh, cry, fear, dream, hope. They engage our hearts, entertain our minds, and enlighten our souls. God wrote a story — the best story ever! — full of drama, adventure, love, sacrifice, redemption, and an ending that seems too good to be true. And the greatest thing about God’s story is that we are all part of it. His story provides the meaning of life that brings fulfillment of our desires and purpose for our existence.  

The Story of God and Us shows not only what God is doing from creation to eternity, but how everything makes sense as you read the Bible from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation.

Look at the Book: Revelation [Infographic]

Chris Fann
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Look at the Book: Revelation [Infographic]

“Look at the Book” is Bible Gateway’s series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. One of the most complex, confusing, and controversial books in the Bible, Revelation is nevertheless critical for understanding the world to come.

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

Revelation looks forward to the triumph to come at the return of Christ, when he will deliver the righteous who are suffering and judge the wicked for their deeds.

  • Category: Apocalypse
  • Theme: Unveiling
  • Timeline: Written around AD 95

Key Verse

“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’” — Revelation 1:8 (NIV)

God Wins

Revelation was written for churches under the shadow of imperial persecution. They needed encouragement to keep from despair and not abandon faith, and warning to be alert to the dangers of external attack and internal apostasy.

Though many questions remain about the exact nature of John’s prophecy concerning the second coming, one thing is sure: God wins and Jesus reigns.

7 Day Reading Guide

Here’s a handy 7-day guide to reading Revelation. (See 30-day reading guide below.)

Becoming Visible

In the NT, revelation describes an unveiling. In all its uses, “revelation” refers to something or someone, once hidden, becoming visible. What this book reveals or unveils is Jesus Christ in glory.

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 Revelation

What’s the Difference Between the Old Testament and the New Testament?

Jacob Edson
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What’s the Difference Between the Old Testament and the New Testament?

If you’ve ever cracked open a Bible, you’ve probably noticed that it’s split into two parts, or “testaments.” Here’s a super-quick summary of each of them:

  • The Old Testament is the story of God’s relationship with the Israelite people, often called the “Old Covenant.” It begins with the creation of the universe, moves through a vast amount of history, and ends with the building of the Second Temple in Jerusalem about 400 years before Jesus.
  • The New Testament is the story of the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, God in human form. It covers a much smaller period — less than a hundred years — including Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and the first few decades of the church. And it ends with a vision of the new creation to come.

The word “testament” is often said to come from a Greek word meaning “covenant.” That’s not exactly true, but the two terms are related. It actually comes from a Latin word (testamentum) referring to a personal legal document, specifically a will.1 It’s related to the word “testify” — what a witness does in court.

So you can think of each testament as a “witness” or official account of God’s relationship with his people. But you will also see that each testament is closely related to a covenant.

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But why do we have two separate testaments, anyway? How are they related? Does the Old Testament still matter for Christians?

To answer these questions, let’s take a closer look at the two testaments, how they connect to each other, and — yes — why the Old Testament still matters very much to Christians.

Old Testament vs. New Testament at a Glance

Chart comparing the Old and New Testaments

What Is the Old Testament?

The Old Testament — often also called the Hebrew Bible — is the account of God creating the world and forming a special covenant (or series of covenants) with the Israelite people. Even setting aside the creation story, it covers thousands of years from God’s first covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through giving the Law to Moses, through blessing David’s kingship, through the division and fall of his kingdom, Israel’s exile in Babylon, and their eventual return.

Because of the amount of time and material it covers, the Old Testament makes up about three-quarters of the entire Bible.

Language, Dates, and Authors of the Old Testament

  • Language: The Old Testament is written almost entirely in Hebrew, except for a few short passages in Daniel and Ezra that are written in Aramaic, a later descendant of Hebrew and the language spoken by Jesus and his disciples.
  • Dates: The Old Testament begins at the very beginning of time. Though it doesn’t provide dates (there was no unified calendar back then to do so!), scholars have calculated that Abraham lived approximately 2,000 years before Christ, and Moses about 1500 BC. We have better dates for David (roughly 1010-970 BC) and the Exile (586-538 BC).
  • Authors: The Old Testament was written by dozens of different people, though scholars disagree widely on how many and how the composition took place. Traditionally, Moses is considered the author of the first five books (known as the Torah or Pentateuch), and most other books are ascribed to the person bearing their name — although aside from the Psalms and most of the prophets, few of the books actually name their author.

Books and Categories of the Old Testament

The Old Testament contains 39 books. In Christian Bibles, they are typically divided into four categories: the Torah/Pentateuch, Narrative or Historical books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets. The Prophets are further divided into the Major and Minor prophets (that’s not a judgment of importance, it’s just based on how long their books are.)

Although the Torah and Narrative books are mostly chronological, the remaining books are sorted thematically, with the prophets more or less from longest to shortest.

Jewish Bibles are organized somewhat differently: they’re divided into Torah (Law), Nevi’im (Prophets, which include many of the narrative books), and Ketuvim (Writings, which include the wisdom books, Ruth, and the post-exilic books).

BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
PentateuchNarrativeWisdomMajor ProphetsMinor Prophets
GenesisJoshuaJobIsaiahHosea
ExodusJudgesPsalmsJeremiahJoel
LeviticusRuthProverbsLamentationsAmos
Numbers1 & 2 SamuelEcclesiastesEzekielObadiah
Deuteronomy1 & 2 KingsSong of SongsDanielJonah
 1 & 2 Chronicles  Micah
 Ezra  Nahum
 Nehemiah  Habakkuk
 Esther  Zephaniah
    Haggai
    Zechariah
    Malachi

Plot Summary and Themes of the Old Testament

As mentioned, the Old Testament takes us through an incredible journey comprising many important events. Here is a very quick overview:

  1. Creation and Fall: God creates the world, then humanity. But Adam and Eve disobey God and are exiled from Eden, introducing sin and death into the world. (Genesis 1-3)
  2. First Covenant: God forms a close relationship with Abraham, his son Isaac, and his grandson Jacob. (Genesis 12, etc.)
  3. Second Covenant, Exodus, and the Promised Land: God forms a second covenant with Moses through the Law and leads his people out of slavery in Egypt, ultimately reclaiming the land he promised them in Canaan. (Exodus through Joshua)
  4. Third Covenant, Davidic Kingdom, and Temple: Following a period of increasing descent into sin and chaos, God blesses David to unite and rule over the Israelite people to help them uphold the Law. David’s son Solomon builds an elaborate temple to worship God in Jerusalem. (1 Samuel 16 through 1 Kings 11)
  5. Divided Kingdom and Exile: When David dies, his kingdom soon breaks apart and again spirals into ever greater sin and chaos, repeatedly failing to maintain the Law. Finally, God allows Assyria and Babylon to conquer both kingdoms, destroy the temple, and carry the people off into exile. (1 Kings 12 through 2 Kings)
  6. Return and Rebuilding the Temple: After 70 years, the king of Persia (who had conquered Babylon) allows the Israelites to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. (Ezra/Nehemiah)

Most of the wisdom writings come from the time of David and Solomon, when the kingdom was flourishing.

Most of the prophets, however, come from the divided kingdom (and a few from during and after the exile). They constantly warn the Israelites to put aside sinful practices such as child sacrifice and oppression of the poor, but aside from a few great kings (such as Hezekiah and Josiah) who try to right their fathers’ wrongs, the prophets warnings to unheeded.

A few of the prophets (e.g., Ezekiel, Daniel) also engage in a genre known as “apocalyptic” or visionary literature. Finally, other prophets (e.g., Isaiah, Malachi) tell the people that someday, a savior (Messiah, “anointed one”) will come to deliver Israel and institute an everlasting reign of peace and justice.

What Is the New Testament?

The New Testament is the story (four versions of the story, in fact) of Jesus Christ, God incarnate as a man, from his birth to his death and resurrection, as well as the first few decades of the church after his ascension to the “right hand of God,” including the early apostles’ explanations of Jesus’ teachings and what he accomplished through the Cross.

Unlike the thousands of years covered by the Old Testament, the New Testament deals with a period of less than 100 years, and makes up only about a quarter of the Bible.

Language, Dates, and Authors of the New Testament

  • Language: The New Testament is written entirely in Greek.
  • Dates: Scholars now believe that Jesus was born a few years before 0, probably around 4 BC. He was crucified about 30 AD. The book of Acts begins with his ascension (30 AD) and ends with Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, probably around 62 AD. Some of the other books were written later, toward the end of the first century.
  • Authors: The New Testament was written by about 12 authors, with the authorship of a few of the books having been disputed among scholars all the way back to the second century AD. The Gospels were presumably each written by the person bearing their name, and Acts was written by Luke. Paul wrote most of the rest of the books, with the exception of those bearing other apostles’ names, and Hebrews, which is anonymous.

Books and Categories of the New Testament

There are 27 books in the New Testament. Four of them are gospels. Acts, as the sequel to Luke, is the only narrative book in the New Testament that is not a gospel. The remaining books are all letters, with Revelation being an epistolary (“epistle” = letter) account of John’s visions “revealed” by God (or an angel of God).

The letters are often divided into those written by Paul and the “general” epistles by everyone else. As with the Old Testament prophets, they aren’t organized chronologically, but more or less by length, longest to shortest.

BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
Gospels & ActsPaul’s LettersGeneral Epistles & Revelation
MatthewRomansHebrews
Mark1 & 2 CorinthiansJames
LukeGalatians1 & 2 Peter
JohnEphesians1, 2, & 3 John
ActsPhilippiansJude
 ColossiansRevelation
 1 & 2 Thessalonians 
 1 & 2 Timothy* 
 Titus* 
 Philemon 
*Some scholars question whether these books were written by Paul.

Plot Summary and Themes of the New Testament

As mentioned above, the New Testament mostly follows Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection, and the acts of his apostles in the following few decades. Here are some of the top events and teachings:

  1. Jesus’ Birth, Baptism, and Temptation in the Wilderness: The eternal Word is born to a poor migrant family in Roman-occupied Israel. Much of Jesus’ childhood is left out, leaving us to speculate and wonder. When he comes of age and is ready to begin his ministry, he first is baptized by his cousin John in the Jordan River, and then spends 40 days praying alone in the desert. (Matthew 1-4, Luke 1-4, Mark 1, John 1)
  2. Sermon on the Mount: Often considered Jesus’ most important ethical lesson, it includes teachings on how to interpret the Law, how to pray, and the danger of hypocrisy as people of faith. (Matthew 5-7, Luke 6)
  3. Jesus Feeds the 5,000: Jesus performs many miracles scattered throughout the four gospels, but this is the only one that occurs in all of them: though he has only five loaves of bread and two fish, he feeds a crowd of thousands of people until they are full. (Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, John 6)
  4. Parables of Jesus: Jesus’ favorite method of teaching was using parables: short, symbolic stories with an important but often subtle moral lesson. (Luke 12-16, Matthew 13, Mark 4, and scattered throughout)
  5. Christ’s Passion and Resurrection: Beginning with the Last Supper, through Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion, and ultimate resurrection, these are the final days of Jesus’ physical presence on Earth and the culmination not only of his own life but of God’s eternal plan for the redemption of humankind. (John 13-20, Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24)
  6. Ascension, Pentecost, and the Conversion of Saul: Following his resurrection, Jesus appears to his disciples a final few times to provide comfort and instruction before ascending to heaven. Then he sends the Holy Spirit upon them to consecrate their apostolic missions throughout the world. Later, Jesus appears to a Roman Jew named Saul/Paul, who was persecuting his followers but would go on to become his most important apostle. (Acts 1-2, 9)

The book of Acts follows the disciples, especially Peter and Paul, as they spread the Good News (gospel) of Jesus Christ throughout the Roman empire and beyond.

As the message spread and the church grew, they had to deal with many questions of interpretation. Should Jewish followers of Jesus continue to practice the Law? What about non-Jewish converts — should they follow it? Who is welcome in God’s kingdom? What exactly did the Cross accomplish?

The remainder of the New Testament is almost entirely letters sent from Paul and other apostles to churches or occasionally individual recipients to address these sorts of questions. They provide admonishment, exhortation, encouragement, and above all doctrinal clarity to the nascent church.

Finally, in Revelation, John of Patmos (who may or may not be the same apostle John who wrote the gospel and letters) received some astonishing — and quite controversial — visions of Christ’s eventual Second Coming, judgment, and restoration of the world.

How Are the Old and New Testaments Connected?

There are several important ways that the New Testament is connected to the Old Testament, making the Old Testament indispensable reading for Christians wanting to understand Jesus.

  • The Old Testament Was Jesus’ Bible: Jesus himself was a Bible teacher who taught constantly from the Scriptures. And remember — in his day the New Testament hadn’t been written yet! The Old Testament was the Bible for Jesus and his disciples, full stop. The New Testament didn’t get added until over a hundred years later.
  • Jesus’ Ancestors: Those long genealogies such as the one opening Matthew’s gospel aren’t there just to bore you. They show that Jesus was directly linked to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and other important Old Testament figures.
  • Old Testament Quotes and References: To illustrate the previous point, the New Testament directly quotes the Old Testament over 300 times, and indirectly alludes to it another 500-600 times on top of that. The writers of the New Testament lived and breathed the Old.
  • Jesus Fulfilled Old Testament Prophecies and Symbols: Jesus fulfilled hundreds of prophecies from the Old Testament (the exact number varies depending on interpretation). Even aside from those, the Old Testament is positively stuffed with symbols that prefigure and point to Jesus.
  • Continuity of God’s Covenantal Plan: Just as God’s covenant through David didn’t supplant his covenant with Moses, the arrival of Jesus didn’t wipe away God’s earlier covenants. The Lord is faithful. Jesus said he came to fulfill rather than abolish the Law. In other words, the New Covenant through Jesus expands and enriches — but doesn’t replace or remove — the Old Covenant.

Should Christians Read the Old Testament?

Yes, absolutely. Just as careful readers will find Jesus showing up everywhere in the Old Testament, every page of the New is chock-full of prophecies, quotes, references, allusions, and stylistic callbacks to the Old Testament.

In short, if you want to know Jesus, you need to read the Old Testament.

FAQ: Settling Common Misconceptions

Q: Did Jesus Abolish the Old Testament Law?

A: No. Jesus came to fulfill, not to abolish the Law. “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:18-19 NIV).

Paul and other New Testament authors write extensively about whether and how Christians should interpret and apply the Law in their lives. But one thing is clear: we can’t afford to be ignorant of it.

Q: Is God different in the Old Testament and New Testament?

A: No, the Lord is one (Deut. 6:4). He is faithful, constant, and unchanging. Some have misinterpreted God in the Old Testament to be a different, lesser god than in the New Testament — a belief known as Marcionism after the teacher who propagated it — but this belief was universally condemned as heresy by the early church.

Q: What Old Testament prophecies did Jesus fulfill?

A: Jesus fulfilled hundreds of Old Testament prophecies. Though the exact number varies depending on your interpretation, the number is typically over 300. The NIV Application Bible boils them down to 38 core prophecies. Here are a few examples:

MESSIANIC PROPHECIES AND THEIR FULFILLMENT
SummaryOld Testament ProphecyNew Testament Fulfillment
Will Descend From the Tribe of JudahGenesis 49:10Luke 3:23, 33
Place of BirthMicah 5:2Matthew 2:1
His Triumphal EntryZechariah 9:9John 12:13-14
Suffered VicariouslyIsaiah 53:4-5Matthew 8:16-17
Hands and Feet PiercedPsalm 22:16John 20:27
Source: NIV Application Bible, Zondervan, 2025.

Conclusion: Two Testaments, One Story

Ultimately, the reason the Bible is split into two testaments is more about context than content. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew hundreds of years before Christ, while the New Testament was written in Greek in the decades after his coming. But they are both part of the same larger story.

Like your favorite series, this story can be broken into different parts. But each part can only be truly understood if you know the whole thing.

Unlike your favorite series, though, the Bible is a living story. And every time you open it, you participate in the story God is telling, the “greatest story ever told” — the story of God’s relationship with his people.

Go deeper into the living story of the Bible with Bible Gateway Plus. You’ll get instant access to dozens of trusted study tools and commentaries that can help you explore genre, context, and meaning with greater depth and clarity. (Indeed — it’s where I did most of my research for this article.) Get started with a free trial today!

  1. The Latin testamentum was used to translate the Greek word διαθήκη (diatheke), which had more of the meaning we now think of as “covenant.” ↩︎
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