back to top
Search
Home Blog Page 22

How Christian Board Games Can Reignite Your Bible Study

Andrew Lowen
-
0
How Christian Board Games Can Reignite Your Bible Study

The first thing God commanded Adam to do was to name all the land animals. I define play as “work with no toil,” so I believe this was, among other things, God giving Adam a fun game to play!  

Notice the language used in scripture — God brought these animals to Adam: 

“Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.” — Genesis 2:19 (NKJV)

My name is Andrew Lowen. I am a former professional gamer and founder of Lowen Games, LLC. My Christian board game Deliverance has become the highest-rated religious board game of all time on BoardGameGeek (that’s the biggest website for board games on the internet) and is now returning with a new expansion on Kickstarter. 

I also run a board game marketing agency called Crowdfunding Nerds, which has helped hundreds of game designers and companies turn their projects into reality by raising millions of dollars for our clients through crowdfunding. We have worked with large intellectual properties such as Fallout, Dune, Redwall, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Star Trek, Conan, The Elder Scrolls, and many more. 

But board games aren’t just my job, and they aren’t just my hobby. Here’s why I believe everyone — especially every Christian — should play Christian board games. 

The Theology of Play 

C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien saw the “myth” or “fairy tale” not as an escape from reality, but a parable that gives us greater insight and another perspective into something transcendent, something theological. 

Rest and leisure are communicated to us through the Sabbath, which Jesus makes clear was intended for man’s benefit (Mark 2:27). We were given the gifts of rest and leisure for a reason: they remind us of a coming future restoration of all things and a renewed Garden of Eden on earth. 

“‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’” — Revelation 21:4-5 (NKJV) 

Every time we play a game (without neglecting our responsibilities), we express God’s gift of leisure. When we engage in leisurely play, we are reminded of Christ’s promise to one day make all things new. 

I’m a proud father of seven children. I’ve never had to teach any of them how to play. God has given them this desire, because He made them in His image. I enjoy watching them explore the world God created and learn how He designed things, and I look forward to the day when I can be like a child, playing without worry! 

4 Reasons to Play Christian Board Games 

We were literally made to play. But with so many kinds of play — especially in today’s world — why should we play board games? 

There are four reasons why board games are among the best kind of play for Christians both young and old: 

  1. Put Down Screens 
  2. Bible Study Supplement 
  3. Evangelism 
  4. Skill Development 

1. Put Down Screens 

Board games have the fantastic quality of being physical, which means in order to enjoy them, you have to be seated at a table and face-to-face with others. Because the combination of fellowship and gameplay requires constant attention, players are incentivized to put down all digital devices for the duration of the gaming session.  

A respite from the allure of screens is something our social media-addicted society could use. Board games are a great excuse to get in some quality face-to-face family time, which we all need more of in this digital age. 

2. Bible Study Supplement  

Doing a study on Daniel 9, Jude, Ephesians 6, or Revelation 12? Why not end the night playfully reinforcing ideas of spiritual battles in the heavenlies with a game of Deliverance? 

Board games are often used to deepen relationships between members in small Bible study groups, or to break the ice and introduce Biblical themes which you will be exploring later in greater detail. 

Deliverance: Council of the Fallen game components set up on table

Christian board games — even ones you have a slight theological difference with — let you cut to the chase, open your Bibles with your study group, and test everything directly against the scriptures. 

3. Evangelism  

I once played a game of Deliverance with an atheist who later told me he read more of the Bible playing my game in an hour than he had in the last 20 years combined.  

This is just the tip of the iceberg of incredible experiences I have had with non-Christians. Crafting Deliverance has given me an opportunity to connect with people who otherwise would not give me the time of day. 

Tabletop gaming has a powerful ability to break down barriers and have folks from all backgrounds and beliefs connect as humans, which can lead to deeper theological discussions.  

Board games are a great way to reach an unreached demographic of geek and convention subcultures. This year there were over 150,000 attendees at San Diego Comic-Con and 71,000 at GenCon 2024.  

Paul reasoned with Jews in the synagogue and gentiles in the marketplace (Acts 17:17) because those demographics of people naturally congregate in those places. How can Christians be salt and light to these people if we don’t meet them in places they gather? 

4. Skill Development 

Since there is no hand-holding with digital prompts, board games force us to sit down, read, and comprehend a rulebook of how to play. This skill of comprehension is worth exercising and teaching children, especially with our instant-gratification, dopamine-driven society! 

Board games are one of the best mediums for sharpening your mind in a fun way. I have personally taught my children how to count, add, subtract and read using interactive play through various tabletop games.  

The Problem With “Christian” Games 

With so many great reasons to play Christian games, why aren’t we all playing them already? 

If I’m honest… most Christian games are not very good. 

As a person with a lot of experience marketing Christian games, I often get pushback that generally boils down to a combination of, “Christian games aren’t as good as secular games” and “there’s no way this game could actually be good.” 

Why? 

In my experience, there are two major reasons: 

  1. A Lack of Innovation 
  2. Targeting the Wrong People 

Lack of Innovation 

Christians were once at the forefront of innovation. The beautiful art of the Renaissance was pioneered by Christians like Michaelangelo and Raphael. Advances in science were once dominated by Christians like Galileo, Isaac Newton, and Georges Lemaitre. Even today, there is some incredible Christian media, such as The Chosen by Dallas Jenkins or VeggieTales by Larry Vischer (my childhood favorite). 

Christian games, however, are not known for their originality. Oftentimes, they piggyback upon other popular products. For example, Settlers of Canaan essentially parrots the mechanics of the popular game Settlers of Catan. Many Christian clones of “Apples to Apples” exist out there as well. 

There is nothing wrong with making something deliberately to avoid compromising one’s faith, but how is Settlers of Catan compromising to the Christian? 

Here’s why I suspect many companies make these games: They think Christians are gullible, and they want your money. But they don’t care to earn it by making a compelling product. 

As a Christian, the lack of innovation in games was frustrating to me. I wanted an epic experience that also upheld the Word of God and Biblical accuracy. I felt God calling me to pick up the mantle and develop a game myself. 

The journey has not been easy. Companies wouldn’t touch it due to its Christian theme. Investors rejected it, because they believed that it wouldn’t sell. The only option was for me to do it myself, which meant I had to crowdfund this idea to make it a reality. 

We had to raise money using a crowdfunding website called Kickstarter, and by the grace of God, 2,717 people pledged $314,375 to bring Deliverance to life. We developed an excited fan base through word of mouth, and now we’re coming back to Kickstarter with a brand new Deliverance campaign because our fans want more! 

Targeting the Wrong People 

Many consultations that I have about Christian games in our marketing company include a discussion about the product’s “target market,” which refers to the sort of customer that would love the product and champion it. 

Well-meaning Christian creators often fail here, because they make a product that is intended to save souls, and they market it to Christians. 

I want to see people repent and believe in Jesus! But in a game, when the focus is exclusively on repentance and salvation, you’re accidentally telling both Christians and non-Christians that the game isn’t made for them. 

How?  

Let me explain: 

Christians, by definition, are already “saved.” By targeting people for salvation, you’re telling Christians that this game is not made for them.  

At the same time, non-Christians don’t choose to play games about salvation and repentance. In fact, they run from them. By targeting people for salvation, you’re telling non-Christians this game is not made for them, either. 

The only group that buys games like this are parents that want their kids to play them. But if you force the parents to play a game like this more than twice, I suspect they would express the same frustration that I did before the Lord called me to make Deliverance. 

A Game That Christians and Non-Christians Want to Play 

If a Christian game is to be attractive to other Christians and non-Christians, it must be thematically and mechanically innovative. 

In other words, it has to be fun. 

Deliverance: Council of the Fallen box and game set up on table

The mistake many Christian creators make is to assume other Christians will love their product or service simply because it promotes Christianity. But this is only true if the product or service is innovative enough to also stand on its own in the open market. 

In fact, this sentiment was expressed 500 years ago by the Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther: 

“The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.” 

A Golden Age of Christian Gaming? 

Quality Christian board games used to be a dream. But now, many publishers have begun to release innovative Christian products that satisfy the itch of the true gamer. Deliverance is being joined by other excellent games like Ezra & Nehemiah and Animo: Bible Verse Trading Card Game. 

My desire is to see games like this continue to pour forth from worthy publishers. But the only way that can happen is if Christians stand behind us.  

Deliverance will be undergoing a reprint with a brand new expansion on Kickstarter called The Council of The Fallen, and we will once again see how the market values our game. I am thankful that many Christians will stand with us, and I hope you are counted among them! 

Deliverance can be played right now for free digitally on Board Game Arena (join our Discord for access) or Tabletop Simulator. There are also plenty of resources and people in our Facebook Group willing to help you learn to play! 

Finally, I’d like to personally thank you for reading this article. This is a topic I’m very passionate about and believe can greatly glorify God and further His Kingdom in these dark days! 

Look at the Book: Psalms [Infographic]

Chris Fann
-
0
Look at the Book: Psalms [Infographic]

Welcome back to Bible Gateway’s weekly Look at the Book series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. The book of Psalms is the longest book in the Bible and its content traverses probably the longest time frame. 

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 

A collection of songs that were written across several centuries, with the earliest written about the time of Moses and the latest following the Babylonian exile. Organized into five separate books: (1) Psalms 1-41, (2) Psalms 42-72, (3) Psalms 73-89, (4) Psalms 90-106, and (5) Psalms 107-150. 

  • Category: Wisdom 
  • Theme: Worship 
  • Timeline: The time range of the Psalms extends from Moses (Ps 90) to the Post-Exilic period (Ps 126), spanning 900 years of Jewish history. 
  • Written: Many authors, including David, Asaph, Solomon, the sons of Korah, and more. 

Key Verse 

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.” — Psalm 103:1 (NIV) 

Two Places at Once 

The basic theme of the Psalms is living real life in the real world, where two dimensions operate simultaneously: 1) our day-to-day temporal reality, and 2) our spiritual, transcendent reality. 

The Psalms are Israel’s ancient, God-breathed “hymnbook,” defining the proper spirit and content of worship. 

7 Day Reading Guide 

Note: more than any other book of the Bible, the Psalms benefit from slower reading. Most Bible reading plans suggest 1-2 Psalms per day. Still, if you’re on a speed-reading mission, here’s the best cadence to power through them in a week. 

(See 30-day guide below.) 

Praise Him 

The entire collection of Psalms is entitled “Praises” in the Hebrew text. Later, rabbis often designated it “The Book of Praises.” 

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 the Psalms

4 Ways to Prepare for Prayer Like Daniel

Anne Graham Lotz
-
0
4 Ways to Prepare for Prayer Like Daniel

Our world is in a mess. Our nation is imploding. But what difference can you and I make? What difference can one person make?

You know what we can do? We can pray. Pray in such a way that heaven is moved, and our nation is changed.

But if you are like me, you feel like you can’t even do that because your prayers seem hollow and anemic.

How to Pray Like Daniel  

The Daniel prayer is a no-holds-barred, go-for-broke, nothing-held-back way of praying until heaven is moved and whatever it is you are praying about is changed or until God answers. It is not a prayer that you necessarily pray every day. It is a prayer that is born out of desperation, just a heart’s longing, a heart’s cry. 

The Daniel prayer overcomes obstacles. It is one that pushes through until the prayer is answered. And that kind of prayer requires preparation. It would be like an athlete who wants to win a race or a game — and to do so he doesn’t just show up for the race or game thinking he can win. He has spent days, weeks, months, even years in preparation for that moment. The Daniel prayer is one that is unique and requires commitment. And that requires preparation.  

A good example, of course, is Daniel himself. He prayed that prayer when he was an older man. But he was set up for it by the way he had established a habit of prayer and his commitment to pray that began when he was a young man.  

When Daniel’s Life Changed — His Devotion Didn’t

Let me tell you about Daniel, because Daniel I am assuming was maybe fourteen or fifteen years of age, living in the city of Jerusalem, when his nation, Judah, came under God’s judgment. God sent in the Babylonians to attack Jerusalem and in that first attack, Daniel was captured, taken into captivity with about 200 other young men.

They were marched 800 miles east and placed in slavery. They were enslaved to King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel’s whole life was radically changed. Everything about his life changed: his culture, his customs, his language, his clothes. Everything changed except one thing — and it was Daniel’s devotion to God. And that devotion we can clearly see in the priorities that he set that affected his decisions and, you know, all the things that he did.  

Prayer: The Core of Daniel’s Life

But also we can see it in his prayer life. Prayer was the core of Daniel’s life. It was the center of his life. And Daniel established a strong prayer life. We get a glimpse of it in Daniel 6:10. Daniel is serving under his third emperor. (First it was then Babylonian emperor, then the Medo-Persian, then the Persian.) He’s serving under him as prime minister. His enemies hate him. They are very jealous. They want to depose him. And so they come up with a plan that they would have anyone who would pray to any God other than the emperor executed, thrown into the lion’s den.

Daniel knew all this was going on. In Daniel 6:10, it says, “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published,” so he knew if he prayed to his God his life was threatened, “he went home to his upstairs room with the windows open towards Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God just as he had done before.”

Notice the phrase “just as he had done before.” This was a habit in Daniel’s life. And there are four characteristics of this habit, four characteristics of his preparation to pray through until God answered that I want you and I to pick up on. 

Four Characteristics of Daniel’s Prayer Preparation 

These are the four characteristics of Daniel’s prayer preparation: Place, Time, Atmosphere, and Attitude.

1. Place

The first is that Daniel had a prepared place to pray. He went to his upstairs room.

Do you have a place that you meet God in prayer? In my place where I meet the Lord I have my materials. I have a Bible that I don’t travel with. I don’t use it for other purposes like going to church. I just have it right there in my prepared place. I have a pen or pencil. I have a notebook where I can write down the results of my Bible reading. And all my materials are right there so when I go to meet the Lord for prayer they are right there.  

2. Time

Daniel also prepared the time. It said he went to that upstairs room three times a day.

And you can imagine, if he is prime minister, he has a very important position in a world empire — and yet he still made the time to draw aside three times a day. I’ll confess, I don’t do that. I can’t do that, not in that kind of serious, set-aside prayer. But I do try to meet the Lord at least once a day in set-aside time for prayer.

Can you do that once a day? What would be the best time of day for you to set aside?  

I decided I wanted to give the Lord an early morning time. But my problem was that I am not an early morning person. So I bought an alarm clock that was so loud, when it went off it would just scare me to death and my heart would beat out of my chest, so there wasn’t a chance that I would go back to sleep.  

An early morning time is not the only time. I don’t want to put a guilt trip on you. You can meet with the Lord whatever the best time of day is for you. It could be at noon over your lunch hour, or in the afternoon when your children go down for a nap, or maybe the evening is your best time.

The important thing is that you set aside not only a place, but you set aside time where you meet with the Lord every day. It is a habit, meeting him in that place, meeting him at that time, every single day.

3. Atmosphere

Daniel not only prepared a place and time, but he prepared the atmosphere. He threw open the windows towards Jerusalem.

Jerusalem was 800 miles away. What that tells me about Daniel is that he had a longing in his heart for home. He never stopped missing home, wanting to go home, wishing he could go home. But I think it also meant that he was focusing on the Lord God of his fathers, the living God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the midst of a pagan culture with everybody saying they had their own gods. Daniel was focused in prayer on the one, true, living God.  

But Daniel created that atmosphere when he threw open his windows towards Jerusalem, reminding himself of the person to whom he was praying and his longing for home, that one day he would go to his heavenly home.  

We throw open the windows of our heart towards home, to try to have a heavenly perspective. This life is not all there is. I want to try to see things from God’s perspective and from an eternal viewpoint because it changes very often, the way we look at our day when we throw open the windows of our heart towards home and look towards heaven knowing that we are going home one day. We are just pilgrims passing through.  

For you and me — for myself — I want to throw open the windows of my heart towards home too, and when I pray, to know that this life is not all there is. I am going home.

I want my life to be in step with what eternal values would dictate. I want to remember that I am just a pilgrim passing through. At the same time, I want to focus on who God is, that he is the Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

4. Attitude

Daniel prepared a place, a time, an atmosphere, and lastly he prepared his attitude. Daniel got down on his knees.

When was the last time you prayed on your knees? Have you ever prayed on your knees? Try it. You will see the difference it makes in your attitude. There is something about praying on your knees. It is not just bowing your knee. It is bowing your heart before God. And it may be hard to do.

As I have gotten older it has gotten harder for me because I have a torn meniscus in one knee, I have arthritis in the other, so I can’t stay on my knees for long. But I want to bow the knee before God — because God is God and we are we. We need to remember the difference. We bow our knee out of worship, and respect, and reverence, and submission to his authority.  

So if you say not just that you can’t bow the knee for some physical difficulty but you won’t bow the knee, then you need an attitude check. When we come before God, if we are going to pray the Daniel prayer, we need to prepare our attitude and it needs to be one of worship and submission to the authority of his lordship.

So next time you meet the Lord in prayer, just get down on your knees and see the difference it makes in your attitude.  

Commit to the Daniel Prayer

So would you prepare an attitude, an attitude of thanksgiving, an attitude of worship? Would you make the time to prepare for the Daniel prayer, a commitment to pray until heaven is moved, and nations are changed?

To make that commitment, you must be prepared. So right now, this day, would you prepare a place, and prepare a time, and prepare the atmosphere, and prepare your attitude? Would you choose to pray as Daniel prayed?

Want more from Anne Graham Lotz? Check out her full Bible study on Daniel and prayer, and watch a full session of the study on YouTube. 

Gather25: The Global Church Is Gathering

Jennie Allen
-
0
Gather25: The Global Church Is Gathering

What if every Jesus follower on Earth gathered at one time?

I want to personally invite you to something unprecedented — Gather25, happening on March 1, 2025. Imagine 2.5 billion believers coming together in prayer, worship, and repentance, all being commissioned to reach the world with the Gospel. For 25 continuous hours!

We’ll be meeting in churches, homes, campuses, and arenas — wherever God’s people gather. This event is truly for everyone, everywhere, across every denomination and time zone. And the best part? It’s completely free.

Why Gather25?

We believe discipleship is the way Jesus intended to change the world — life-on-life, in living rooms, local churches, and communities. Over the past decade, we’ve seen God move through our global discipleship organization IF:Gathering, reaching over one million people annually across 179 countries.

But in 2022, something shifted. I found myself asking, “What if Jesus came back in 10 years?” The urgency of that question gripped me. There are 5.5 billion people on Earth who don’t yet know Him. If we believe Jesus is coming soon, how should we respond? What can we do to mobilize the 2.5 billion Christians to reach the world?

That’s when the idea for Gather25 was born.

A Vision for the Global Church

I started dreaming with a team. We began to wonder, what if we had a really large church meeting — like, the whole Church — every follower of Jesus together at the same time? It wasn’t just my vision; I quickly realized this was a God-given dream shared by so many other leaders across the globe.

With today’s technology, this dream can become reality. For the first time in history, the entire global Church — every man, woman, and child who follows Jesus — can gather together across every language, denomination, generation, and continent. We’re not just talking about an event; we’re talking about a global movement.

How the World Will Gather on March 1, 2025

Gather25 will take place over 25 hours, on March 1, 2025. Thanks to live-streaming technology, we’ll bring believers from every corner of the globe together for prayer, worship, repentance, and commissioning. 

Each of the seven core sessions will be hosted by different countries and feature teaching, stories, and worship. We’ll hear from the underground church, celebrate stories of revival in the local church we’ve never heard before, and at the end, we’ll send out workers for the Great Commission.

How to Participate in Gather25

Here are three primary ways you can be part of this moment:

  1. Gather Groups: Host a local gathering in your home, church, or community space.
  2. Gather Live Broadcast Sites: Attend a major gathering at one of the host locations on each continent.
  3. Gather Livestream: Watch the event via TV, radio, or online, free of charge, wherever you are in the world.

We’ll gather in dorm rooms, stadiums, living rooms, and churches. 

Mobilizing the Global Church: Partners and Vision

From the beginning, we knew we couldn’t do this alone. That’s why God brought together countless partners like YouVersion, The Bible Project, illumiNations, RightNow Media, and the World Evangelical Alliance. We’ve also connected with ministries worldwide, including Africa New Life, 24-7 Prayer, Jesus Film, Convoy of Hope, Revive Europe, Barna, Luis Palau Association and Arise Asia. We’ve only just begun.

We chose the date — March 1, 2025 — with prayer and intentionality. Our team is also working hard to make resources available in 14 major languages, including Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, Russian, and many more, ensuring that everyone can gather.

So far, over 40,000 people from over 150 countries have expressed interest in hosting a Gather Group. These local gatherings are going to be the heartbeat of Gather25, allowing people to experience this moment in person within their own communities.

You’re Invited to Be Part of History

In Matthew 28, Jesus gave us the command to “go and make disciples of all nations.” For the first time ever, technology has made it possible to gather the entire Global Church for the sake of the Gospel and the Great Commission.

During Gather25, we’ll be hearing from international leaders and witnessing what God is doing on each continent. My prayer is that every person who participates will leave with a renewed sense of urgency to take the Gospel to their families, schools, workplaces, and communities.

What’s Next?

The world needs to hear the Good News of Jesus. Our goal is to mobilize the 2.5 billion Christians to reach the 5.5 billion who do not yet know Jesus as their Savior. You’re invited to be part of this moment for the Global Church.

Here’s how you can join:

  • Plan: Mark March 1, 2025 on your calendar.
  • Join: Visit Gather25.com and sign up for updates.
  • Pray: Commit to praying for Gather25 and the global Church daily.
  • Share: Spread the word to your friends, family, pastors, and ministry leaders.

I believe God is going to do amazing things through YOU and His Church. We can’t wait to see how God moves.

About Gather25

Gather25 is a worldwide event, inviting every Christian to join 25 hours of prayer, worship, repentance, and commissioning on March 1, 2025. The mission is to mobilize 2.5 billion Christians to share the Gospel with the 5.5 billion people who don’t know Jesus.

Learn more about Gather25 at gather25.com.
Facebook: Gather25 
Instagram: @gather25 
YouTube: @gather25 
TikTok: @gather_25 

Please find further information and frequently asked questions here: gather25.com/faqs

Hear Gather25’s mission here:

Look at the Book: Job [Infographic]

Chris Fann
-
0
Look at the Book: Job [Infographic]

Welcome back to Bible Gateway’s weekly Look at the Book series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. Job is arguably among the oldest books in the Bible and presents a distinct literary vision of God’s sovereignty. 

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 

Job is the first book in what is known as the “books of poetry.” The books vary in literary form and cover a wide range of functions, from wisdom literature to personal prayers and hymns of worship. 

  • Category: Wisdom 
  • Theme: Suffering 
  • Timeline: Unknown — sometime in Genesis, around the time of Abraham 
  • Written: Date and author unknown 

Key Verse 

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. — Job 42:2 (NIV) 

Job’s Theodicy 

Job tackles massive questions that have loomed in the minds of sufferers throughout all time. How can a good God allow righteous people to suffer? 

We can take heart that while we will surely suffer, God is at work and can be trusted. 

Reflect on the insights into the nature of suffering and faith, who God is and how deeply he values righteousness, and the unseen spiritual conflicts between God’s kingdom and Satan’s kingdom. 

7 Day Reading Guide 

(See 30-day guide below.) 

Reflect 

As you read Job, pay close attention to the scenario set up in this book, which probably took place during the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

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 Job

When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?

Jacob Edson
-
0
When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?

The books of the Bible were written over a period of over a millennium and a half, with the oldest parts composed around 1500-1400 BC and the most recent books from the late first century AD. These books cover the entire span of time from the creation of the universe to its final consummation — but most focus on roughly the period of their composition. 

This article will provide the best approximation for when each book of the Bible was written, based on both traditional accounts and the latest scholarship. 

But first, it’s important to understand that the process of dating books of the Bible always involves a bit (or a lot) of guesswork. 

Challenges With Establishing Dates in the Bible 

There are several reasons why it’s difficult to establish precise dates for when the Bible was written — including the lack of a consistent calendar, different understandings of history, and the common practice of oral transmission in the ancient world.  

These problems diminish the closer you get to the modern age, but even in the New Testament era it can be difficult to lock down precise dating. 

No Consistent Calendar 

Before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, there was no uniform dating system worldwide. Various cultures had different systems — some solar, some lunar, some based on rulers’ reigns. Aligning these systems becomes increasingly challenging the further back you look. 

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

To get past this challenge, historians meticulously reconstruct dates by cross-referencing rulers’ reigns, celestial positions, other information given by ancient writers, and, more recently, carbon dating.  

Still, dating precision varies, and can sometimes only be given in ranges of decades or even centuries. 

Different Understanding of History 

Another problem with dating ancient events is that the Bible’s authors had a different purpose for recording history than modern historians. While today we focus on establishing timelines and causality, ancient writers were more concerned with the events’ meanings rather than their chronological order.  

You can see this especially in the books of the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy). Few of those stories provide any attempt at dating whatsoever. What matters is the way God appears in and uses history to accomplish his plan for his people. 

Oral Transmission 

For many of us today, it’s hard to imagine memorizing our email passwords, never mind the entire Bible. But in the ancient world, it was relatively common. 

Paper in the ancient world — typically made painstakingly from cured animal skins — was very hard to come by, and literacy was rare. As a result, many works were transmitted orally for years, decades, or even centuries before they were written down.  

This was especially true for popular stories, prophecies, Psalms and Proverbs, eyewitness accounts like the Gospels, and other genres that people might have shared widely before a scribe was able to commit them to paper. 

New Discoveries 

Sometimes new academic or archaeological discoveries — ancient manuscripts, buried buildings, language evolution over time — reveal clues about when a Biblical work was composed. This can help determine more precise dating.  

Today, scholars can date the reigns and activities of the kings of the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles with confidence thanks to the wealth of documents and material culture from that period. Even if that doesn’t tell us exactly when the books about those kings were written, it can help give us an idea of the time frame.  

Many of the prophets can be dated during that time as well, though others remain mysterious (Joel is the most notoriously difficult). 

Dates of the Old Testament Books 

With those caveats out of the way, here are our best guesses for when each book of the Bible was written, starting with the Old Testament. 

Pentateuch (Torah) 

  • Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy: 1446-1406 BC; may have been mostly oral tradition until much later 

Historical Books 

  • Joshua: 1400-1370 BC; possibly oral tradition recorded during the reign of Josiah (late 600s BC) 
  • Judges: 1045-1000 BC; possibly oral tradition recorded during the reign of Josiah (late 600s BC) 
  • Ruth: 1011-931 BC (likely during reign of David) 
  • 1 & 2 Samuel: 930-722 BC; may have been mostly oral tradition compiled during the reign of Josiah (late 600s BC) 
  • 1 & 2 Kings: 560-540 BC 
  • 1 & 2 Chronicles: 450-425 BC 
  • Ezra: 440-430 BC 
  • Nehemiah: 430-400 BC 
  • Esther: Probably around 400 BC 

Wisdom Literature 

  • Job: Disputed; dates range from second millennium to fifth century BC 
  • Psalms: Various times from 1400-500 BC 
  • Proverbs: 950-700 BC 
  • Ecclesiastes: Around 935 BC 
  • Song of Solomon: 960-931 BC 

Prophets 

  • Isaiah: 700-681 BC; oral traditions may have been compiled much later, with additional content as late as early 500s BC 
  • Jeremiah: 626-585 BC 
  • Lamentations: ca. 586 BC 
  • Ezekiel: 593-571 BC 
  • Daniel: Beginning 530 BC; some parts may be much later 
  • Hosea: 750-715 BC 
  • Joel: Disputed; likely either 835-796 BC or 500-450 BC 
  • Amos: 760-750 BC 
  • Obadiah: Disputed; 850-450 BC, though most likely the early exilic period (580-560 BC) 
  • Jonah: Probably 500s BC, though it takes place much earlier (790-760 BC) 
  • Micah: 735-700 BC 
  • Nahum: 663-612 BC 
  • Habakkuk: 612-589 BC 
  • Zephaniah: 640-609 BC 
  • Haggai: Around 520 BC 
  • Zechariah: 520-480 BC 
  • Malachi: 440-430 BC 

Dates of the Apocrypha 

In general, the Deuterocanonical or Apocryphal books were written in Greek rather than Hebrew and date from the Intertestamental Period — roughly 300-100 BC or a little later. 

Dates of the New Testament Books 

The books of the New Testament are much easier to date than the Old Testament. They were obviously all written after the death and resurrection of Jesus in 33 AD, and were mostly in their completed forms by 100 AD, when Christian writers began referencing and quoting from them.  

Still, some of the same problems persist from the Old Testament period, and there is dispute about the exact dating of the Gospels (most of which were oral testimony written down after the fact) and most of the epistles. Unlike the Old Testament, though, they are disputes of a few years or, at the most, decades — rather than centuries. 

Gospels & Acts 

  • Matthew: After 70 AD, preserving oral accounts from the previous generation 
  • Mark: 64-70 AD, preserving oral accounts from the previous generation 
  • Luke: Debated; could be any time between 62-90 AD, preserving earlier oral accounts 
  • John: 90-110 AD, preserving earlier oral accounts 
  • Acts: 62-90 AD (by Luke) 

Pauline Epistles 

  • Romans: 56-57 AD 
  • 1 Corinthians: 53-54 AD 
  • 2 Corinthians: 55-56 AD 
  • Galatians: 50-56 AD 
  • Ephesians: 60-62 AD 
  • Philippians: 54-62 AD, depending on whether it was sent from Ephesus, Caesarea, or Rome 
  • Colossians: 57-62 AD, depending on whether it was sent from Caesarea or Rome 
  • 1 Thessalonians: 50-51 AD 
  • 2 Thessalonians: 51-52 AD 
  • 1 Timothy: 62-64 AD (or 90-110 AD if pseudonymous) 
  • 2 Timothy: 64-67 AD (or 90-110 AD if pseudonymous) 
  • Titus: 62-64 AD (or 90-110 AD if pseudonymous) 
  • Philemon: 54-62 AD, depending on whether it was sent from Ephesus, Caesarea, or Rome 

General Epistles & Revelation 

  • Hebrews: 60-95 AD, but probably late 60s 
  • James: 45-62 AD 
  • 1 Peter: 60-65 AD (or 85-90 AD if pseudonymous) 
  • 2 Peter: 65-68 AD (or 80-90 AD if pseudonymous) 
  • 1 John: 85-100 AD 
  • 2 John: 85-100 AD 
  • 3 John: 85-100 AD 
  • Jude: 65-80 AD 
  • Revelation: Either 64-65 AD (during persecutions by Nero) or 95-96 AD (during persecutions by Domitian) 

Conclusion: When Did Each Book Take Place? 

Understanding even roughly when the books of the Bible were written helps to contextualize not only their relationships to each other, but also to the wider cultures of Israel, the Levant, and the Middle East at the time of their composition. 

You also might notice that they weren’t always written (or at least not written down) exactly when they took place — especially with books like Jonah and Esther that take place decades or even centuries before they were finalized. 

If you’d like to read the books in the order they take place, look no further than our chronological ordering of the Bible — and learn more about the circumstances of their composition by digging into who wrote each book. 

Want to get better context behind each of the dates in this article? Try Bible Gateway Plus free and get access to some of the same resources I used to research this very article! 

What the Book of Acts Says About Christian Community

Ajith Fernando and Christopher A. Beetham
-
0
What the Book of Acts Says About Christian Community

This excerpt from The NIV Application Commentary on the Bible explains the original meaning of Acts 4:32-35, describing what Luke meant when he talked about believers being one in heart and mind. Then, it provides ways to apply the passage to your life today.

We start with words from Luke: 

Acts 4:32-35 (NIV)

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. 

Original Meaning

For a second time Luke describes the quality of the radical sharing that the first Christian community practiced (see 2:44–45). This time he describes it in greater detail. The fact that he mentions this issue twice suggests we should regard it with some importance.  

Luke first presents what was at the heart of the practice of sharing — a deep unity (v. 32a). In the Gospels the disciples often quarreled among each other and had to be corrected by Jesus (Luke 9:46–47; 22:24–27), but in Acts the Twelve are a unified group (2:14; 5:29; 6:2–4), and this unity now spreads to the entire church. This is often the case that when the leaders are united; it helps the members to be united too.

Spiritual Unity

“One in heart and mind” (kardia kai psychē mia) describes a comprehensive unity (v. 32). What joined them was not simply a common affiliation to the church. There was a spiritual unity and a unity of passionate commitment to a mission. Therefore, right in the middle of this description of unity we find the witness of the apostles (v. 33). Community life is never an end in itself; a vibrant community is a community in mission.

Included in this unity was the sharing of possessions among the believers. They did not consider their possessions as their own (v. 32b). This sharing extended to material possessions. As a result, “there were no needy persons among them” (v. 34a). But for that to happen, some costly sacrifices had to be made by some believers who sold their lands and houses (vv. 34b–35).

Christian Communism?

This practice of selling land and giving it to the church has been called Christian communism. But it is different to communism in two ways. First, it was an entirely voluntary renunciation of wealth. Unlike communism and the Qumran community of the first century, the sharing of property was not legislated.

Second, private ownership continued in the church. Acts 12:12 mentions the house of Mary the mother of John Mark. Earlier we were told that people met in each other’s homes for meals (2:46). Thus, what is mentioned here is not a renunciation of all private property by everyone in the church.

There are five verbs in the imperfect tense in 4:34–35. The imperfect describes continuous action in the past. In other words, this selling of land is something that took place regularly. The NIV rendering (“from time to time”) attempts to express this idea (v. 34). In other words, whenever there was a need, those who owned land asked themselves whether the Lord wanted them to sell this land. Some did and then gave the proceeds to the leaders to distribute wherever there was a need. 

These were probably not easy decisions to make. But some did make them, and the result was the elimination of poverty in the church.  

Application

While being one in heart and mind is considered the usual model for Christian community life, it is not easy to maintain in today’s individualistic society. We do not like having anyone pry into our personal lives, which would be necessary if the model shown in Acts were to be followed.

For this reason, many have lowered their standards and settled for a functional unity that comes more from secular management studies than from God’s word. People agree to work according to a plan, even though they may not be “one in heart and mind” with it.

But can we jettison this biblical model so easily? Given the fact that there are so many commands to this model of unity, we should not be satisfied by lowering our standards.

Acts Demands a Countercultural Church

This is an area where the church needs to be countercultural. In a society where people deny the community orientation that is part of human nature in order to protect their privacy, close Christian community life may be one of the most important prophetic messages we can give the world.

No one can deny one’s essential humanity without sooner or later feeling a void inside. The church must present itself as the group that can adequately fill this thirst for community in the heart of the human being.

The NIV Application Commentary

Cover of The NIV Application Commentary of the Bible, One-Volume Edition

The NIV Application Commentary on the Bible is a masterful blend of content written by today’s top academics in a way that is compelling and easy to understand for anyone — no formal training or seminary degree required. This one-volume commentary is intended both for personal study and for teaching preparation.

Concise commentary and background help the reader understand the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context. Clear explanations make it easy to understand matters related to grammar and the meaning of biblical words.

While most commentaries stop there, the unique format of The NIV Application Commentary on the Bible provides a bridge from the world of the Bible to our lives today, guiding the reader to powerfully apply the biblical message to contemporary situations, problems, and questions. 

The NIV Application Commentary on the Bible is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.

Look at the Book: Esther [Infographic]

Chris Fann
-
0
Look at the Book: Esther [Infographic]

Welcome back to Bible Gateway’s weekly Look at the Book series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. The book of Esther caps off the History section of the Bible. 

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 

In Esther, all of God’s unconditional covenant promises to Abraham and David were jeopardized. However, God’s love for Israel is nowhere more apparent than in this dramatic rescue of his people from pending elimination. 

  • Category: History 
  • Theme: Preservation 
  • Timeline: Around 473 BC 
  • Written: Around 460 BC by an unknown author 

Key Verse 

“…and who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” — Esther 4:14 (NIV) 

Ancient Enemies 

Why were Mordecai the Benjaminite and Haman the Agagite enemies? 

The Jews exited from Egypt and were attacked by the Amalekites (Ex. 17:8-16). God pronounced his curse on the Amalekites, which resulted in their total elimination (Ex. 17:14). King Saul (a Benjaminite) received orders to kill all the Amalekites, including their king Agag, but he disobeyed (1Sa. 15:7-9) and incurred God’s displeasure. Because of his lineage from Agag, Haman carried deep hostility toward the Jews, wanted Mordecai to bow to him, and that’s why Mordecai refused. 

7 Day Reading Guide 

(See 30-day guide below.) 

Canonicity of Esther 

All 167 verses of Esther have ultimately been accepted as canonical, although the absence of God’s name anywhere has caused some to unnecessarily doubt its authenticity. 

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 Esther

What Are the 10 Commandments? Where to Find Them in the Bible

Jacob Edson
-
0
What Are the 10 Commandments? Where to Find Them in the Bible

At first glance, the Ten Commandments are exactly what they sound like — a list of ten basic rules God gives his people for how to live morally upright lives. The Ten Commandments have been a bedrock of western morality, law, and culture for millennia.  

Under the surface, however, the Ten Commandments are a lot less simple than they first appear. 

There are a lot of factors that complicate the Ten Commandments: 

  • First, they appear twice in the Bible — first in Exodus 20:1-17 and then in Deuteronomy 5:4-21 — in slightly different language and format. 
  • Though all Christian and Jewish readers agree there are ten commandments in those passages, they sometimes disagree on exactly how to divide them up. 
  • Believers of different denominations have often disagreed quite radically on how to interpret some of the commandments, such as what constitutes idolatry and even the distinction between “murder” and “kill.” 
  • Since there are a lot more than ten commandments in the Old Testament alone (613 is the traditional number for Orthodox Jews) — and since Jesus summarizes all of them in just two commandments — there is dispute about how best to contextualize and prioritize them. 

Oh, and sometimes people make mistakes, and get the commandments very wrong. 

To help you understand the hubbub, this post will explore the different versions, orders, and interpretations of the Ten Commandments as they are found in the Bible. 

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

The Ten Commandments in the Book of Exodus 

The Ten Commandments first appear in the book of Exodus, when Moses receives them from God on Mount Sinai and subsequently delivers them in a speech to the Israelites. 

Here are the Ten Commandments as they appear in Exodus 20, in the KJV and NIV. (You can review other versions at Bible Gateway.) 

Verse KJV NIV 
2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. You shall have no other gods before me. 
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 
10 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: but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 
11 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. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 
13 Thou shalt not kill. You shall not murder. 
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. You shall not commit adultery. 
15 Thou shalt not steal. You shall not steal. 
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. 

Differences in Deuteronomy 

And here, in the NIV, are the verses where Deuteronomy is different from Exodus: 

Exodus 20:8-11 Deuteronomy 5:12-15 
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. 
Exodus 20:12 Deuteronomy 5:16 
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 
Exodus 20:17 Deuteronomy 5:21 
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. 

Ordering the Ten Commandments in Different Traditions 

Now, here is a table showing how different denominations have divided and ordered the Ten Commandments: 

Ex. 20 Deut. 5 Commandment Reformed Lutheran Catholic Jewish 
2 6 I am the Lord 1 1 1 1 
3 7 No other gods 2 
4-6 8-10 No graven image 2 
7 11 No name in vain 3 2 2 3 
8-11 12-15 Remember/ observe the Sabbath 4 3 3 4 
12 16 Honor parents 5 4 4 5 
13 17 No killing 6 5 5 6 
14 18 No adultery 7 6 6 7 
15 19 No stealing 8 7 7 8 
16 20 No false witness 9 8 8 9 
17a 21b No coveting neighbor’s house… 10 9 10 10 
17b 21a …wife… 10 9 
17c 21c …or property 10 

Interpreting the Ten Commandments: Historical and Denominational Disputes 

As you can see from the previous tables, everyone basically agrees on the content of the Ten Commandments, even if they disagree on exactly how to phrase or divide them. 

However, even very minor changes in phrasing or positioning can have far-reaching consequences for how believers understand some of these commandments — especially when it comes to whether they should be interpreted literally.  

Here are a few examples of different ways some of them are interpreted. 

No Graven Images  

What does it mean when the Bible says not to make any “graven” (an old-fashioned way of saying “engraved”) images, and then says not to bow down to or worship them?  

For some Christians, and especially for some Jews, this has meant not to make any art at all representing either God or people or animals. 

Others have interpreted it much more loosely, saying that it’s okay to make art and images, as long as you don’t worship them (that is, turn them into “idols”). Today, this is by far the most popular approach — just consider how often you see pictures of Jesus or of doves representing the Holy Spirit — but many Christians are still reluctant to make images of God the Father and risk constraining him to a “bearded man in the sky” archetype. 

No Other Gods 

Similarly, the obvious meaning of “I am the Lord” and “have no other gods before me” is that Yahweh, the God of the Bible, is the one true God, and pagan gods like Baal or Asherah who are mentioned throughout the Old Testament are false gods. 

However, many Christians (and Jews) have also understood this commandment to prohibit turning other things — such as money, power, or political allegiances — into “gods” or “idols” by giving them an equal or higher status than God in our lives. 

Remember/Observe the Sabbath  

This one comes down to the distinction between “remembering” the Sabbath (in Exodus) and “observing” it (in Deuteronomy) — as well as what it means to “keep it holy.” 

For most believers, this day is set aside for worship and perhaps also to rest and spend time with family. In general, most Christians tend to lean on the importance of “remembering” the Sabbath (typically on Sundays) as a holy day to celebrate God and his work in creation. Orthodox Jews take a hard line of “observing” the Sabbath (on Saturdays), setting the day apart by doing absolutely nothing that could be construed as work — including cooking or cleaning. 

Murder or Kill 

This one should be pretty simple, right? In fact, the distinction between “killing” and “murdering” — and, again, how seriously the prohibition should be taken — can make a huge difference.

A blanket injunction against all killing has led many Christians to oppose the death penalty and even embrace a strict pacifism. But if it’s only against murder, some argue that capital punishment and war are appropriate or even morally necessary in certain instances. 

The Greatest Commandments 

As I mentioned above, there are believed to be 613 commandments given by God throughout the Torah/Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). Even if (as is often the case) the Ten Commandments are given primacy over the rest, how do we know how to prioritize their importance, or how stridently to apply them? 

This is essentially the question the Pharisees ask Jesus in Matthew 22, Mark 12, and Luke 10.  

The answer Jesus gives is: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ [Deut. 6:5]. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ [Lev. 19:18]. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22:37-40 NIV) 

In other words, the Ten Commandments are about love: loving God and loving others. (And, as Savannah Guthrie has pointed out, a “bonus commandment” to love yourself.) 

For most Christians, interpreting the Ten Commandments (and the other 603 in the OT) therefore comes down to filtering them through Jesus’ words: that is, the commandments are always in service to loving God and neighbor, and not the other way around.

The ‘Wicked Bible’ — or, Why Editors Matter 

The “Wicked Bible” was a version of the King James Bible published in 1631 (20 years after the original) that featured a typographical error in the Ten Commandments. It omitted the “not” in Exodus 20:14, so that it read “Thou shalt commit adultery.” 

Oops! 

In the aftermath, most versions of the Wicked Bible were destroyed (though over a dozen remain even today) and the printers responsible received a hefty fine and lost their printing license. 

But beyond an amusing historical anecdote, this episode provides a couple of important lessons: 

First is the simple challenge of rendering the Bible accurately in print — even in its original languages, but especially in translation!  

There are more than 23,000 verses in the Bible, totaling (depending on the version) somewhere between 725,000 and 800,000 words, and a human being has to carefully check every single one. One minor distraction — maybe someone missed their morning coffee — and you might be responsible for a mistake that people remember for hundreds of years. 

And second: While God’s Word is perfect, printed copies of it sometimes aren’t. 

Conclusion: The Importance of Understanding the Ten Commandments

Regardless of exactly how one interprets or positions them, the Ten Commandments are among the most profoundly influential statements defining Western morality and help define our legal systems, governments, and culture. 

Still, it’s important to understand the nuances that have led to disagreements between groups of believers — such as what constitutes idolatry and how far the prohibition against killing goes — and how those differences continue to challenge and divide us. 

For thorough commentaries on the Ten Commandments and every other part of the Bible, try Bible Gateway Plus free. You’ll find dozens of resources to help you navigate difficult passages and all your other questions about the Bible. 

1...212223...30Page 22 of 30