All too often biblically sound/orthodox theology is perceived as a lofty, somewhat sterile subject matter pursued solely by academics and seminarians. But if theology was merely a scholastic system through which people could organize their thoughts and suppositions about God and it didn’t lead to the love of Jesus Christ, it would be the religious version of entomology — we might as well be pinning dead bugs to a corkboard.
Theology was meant to be lived, and our Creator Redeemer is not a proposition to be examined, He’s a triune personhood in whom we get to engage and ultimately, emulate!
What Is Theology?
For those of you who identify as type-A’s, Enneagram eights, or would like to temporarily mute that irritating person in your small group who tends to commandeer conversations by repeating multi-syllabic theological terms (often incorrectly, I might add!) they’ve heard in a podcast or on YouTube, the accurate definition for theology is as follows:
theology (Gk. θεολογία): the science of God. Its theme is the Being and Nature of God and His creatures and the whole complex of the Divine dispensation from the Fall of Adam to the Redemption through Christ and its mediation to men by His Church, including the so-called natural truths of God, the soul, the moral law, etc., which are accessible to mere reason. Its purpose is the investigation of the contents of belief by means of reason enlightened by faith (fides quaerens intellectum in Latin) and the promotion of its deeper understanding. In the course of time theology has developed into several branches, among them dogmatic, historical, and practical theology. The methods of classification of the sub-disciplines, however, fluctuate in different theological systems.1
I know, I know, that’s a long, complicated-sounding definition with lots of fifty-dollar seminary words. But don’t worry, we’re about to responsibly truncate and translate it into something a bit more user friendly!
The original Greek root words our English word theology is translated from are theos, which refers to God, and logos or logia, which refer to utterances, sayings, or words. Therefore, the basic definition of theology is “conversations about God.” And conversation implies relationship, right?
Furthermore, conversations shared in genuine relationships are not purely transactional, they’re personal. They require some measure of mental energy and emotional engagement. They affect our minds and our hearts. When we take the time to actually ponder the essential meaning of the term “theology” it becomes clear that it’s not merely about learning — accruing facts about God — instead it’s about living in an increasingly more intimate relationship with God.
Which was our Savior’s point when He chastised the Pharisees in John’s gospel account: “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.” (John 5:39 NIV; emphasis mine) In other words, you’ve pored over Torah and have memorized lots of religious minutia, but you’ve missed Me!
Theology Is for Everyone
I so appreciate the way German theologian, Helmut Thielicke, framed theology in a relational context: “A theological thought can breathe only in the atmosphere of dialogue with God.”2
Another one of my favorite Thielicke observations is: “Unless a theology works at the margins of life, it’s not worth anything even if it makes sense at the easy center” — which emphasizes the fact that theology is more practical than it is pristine and purely academic.
In other words, it’s not just for seminary professors and pastors — the pursuit of deep, biblically informed theology is also for regular folks like us who are just trying to be as Jesus-shaped as we can while navigating the rapture and rupture of real life.
Dr. Bruce Demarest, who was a beloved professor at Denver Seminary (where I studied for a doctorate thereby proving old dogs really can learn new tricks) prior to his death in 2021, was a renowned biblical scholar for decades before he learned that intimacy with God — not accruing facts about God — was the whole point of theology. He explains the spiritual journey from brilliant academic to beloved son in poignant detail in his book, Satisfy Your Soul: Restoring the Heart of Christian Spirituality:
“Strangely enough, while conservative Christians have distrusted human intellect, we have relied heavily on the teaching of Bible doctrine to produce mature Christians. It hasn’t worked, and now we’re getting the picture: The soul begins to die when we view the faith chiefly as a set of intellectual propositions. Just as the thought of food will not satisfy an empty stomach, cognitive truth alone is not sufficient to form and nourish the Christian soul. What the inner man longs for is knowledge of God that comes from encountering, grappling with, participating with God in all levels of human experience — mind, body, and spirit. We were made to crave God with our whole being.”3
Dr. Demarest’s story resonates deeply with me, not because I’m a brilliant theologian but because for far too long I was more comfortable working hard on God’s behalf than reclining against His breast. Dating back to the first Bible study I led in high school, well into adulthood — much of my desire to accrue knowledge about God and His Word was fueled by feelings of inadequacy.
I was so afraid someone would look under the hood of my life and find me to be a fraud. It took an emotional crisis in my forties — which I later came to realize was designed by our compassionate Redeemer to eviscerate the shame and self-reliance that were slowly choking the hope and peace out of me — to finally learn that information about God is a poor substitute for intimacy with Him.
A Path to God
Theology is so much more than a system in which to organize our thoughts about God, and so much better than a tool through which to modify our behavior and ensure we won’t say bad words in traffic — instead it’s a gorgeous, curving, adventure-strewn path that leads us deeper and deeper into the unconditional love of the one true God.
Sound biblical theology doesn’t produce smug scholars. It produces grateful and passionately devoted — albeit still flawed — disciples of Jesus Christ.
This is your invitation to explore the depths of God’s character, God’s love for you, and how your relationship with Him transforms you. Ultimately, you will experience how biblically sound theology deepens your relationship with God and each other.
Cross, F. L., and Elizabeth A. Livingstone, eds. 2005. In The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd ed. rev., 1616. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. ↩︎
Thielicke, Helmut. A Little Exercise for Young Theologians (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1962), 34. ↩︎
Demarest, Bruce. Satisfy Your Soul: Restoring the Heart of Christian Spirituality. (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1999), 29. ↩︎
We can all benefit from some more encouragement to pray. And if we believe that God wants us to communicate with Him, we might ask: When? Where? How do we build a habit of prayer?
The Bible gives us a lot of freedom in answering that question, but it’s clear God wants us to pray. And God didn’t create prayer as a chore we have to do, to feel guilty about when we fail; like many things in life, while we could see prayer as our duty, it is also something we get to do as believers in Christ. It’s a great privilege to address the God of the universe.
Where Do We Find Motivation and Power to Pray?
What we do as believers in Christ can be called good work, or fruit, and this is a result of the Holy Spirit living in us (Galatians 5:22-24). Where there is no Spirit, there is no fruit of the Spirit. First Corinthians 2:14 says, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (ESV, emphasis added)
Before knowing Christ, all of us had our minds set not on spiritual things but on worldly things (Romans 8:5). In that state, Scripture says we “cannot” submit to God’s law (Romans 8:7). But when we as believers by God’s grace turned from a life of sin to trust in Jesus for our right standing before God, “the Spirit of God dwells” in us (Romans 8:9 ESV). The Spirit then spurs us on to spiritual disciplines, including prayer. He is our inspiration. He is the source of our motivation and power to do what is right.
So the beginning of a habit of prayer is to first know and love the God we are praying to.
Thank God! The beginning of prayer is faith and love for God.
Part of knowing God is to know: He is not just any god. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Our God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is fully God and fully man. And if it weren’t for Jesus, who pointed us to read the Old Testament, and sent His apostles to write the New Testament, we would not have Bibles today, and our Bibles teach us some very specific things about God and prayer.
God’s Word teaches that we would have no access to God at all if it weren’t for the mediating work of Jesus Christ. This is why God’s Word says to us in Ephesians 2:12 (ESV), “Remember that you were at [one] time separated from Christ … having no hope and without God in the world.”
In fact, there are even several verses in Scripture where people apparently need to be told that their prayers will not be heard (see Psalm 66:18; Proverbs 21:13; Isaiah 1:15; Micah 3:2-5; James 1:5-7, 4:3, 4:6; and 1 Peter 3:7 — to name a few). This is very different from what many of us are told from when we are young that God hears every prayer no matter what.
Knowing Jesus Is the Foundation of Effective Prayer
Jesus paid the price on the cross for us and granted us the access we now have to speak to God and believe our prayers are heard. Jesus is our mediator. He is our go-between (1 Timothy 2:5-6). This is why Christians pray to the Father in Jesus’ name (John 14:14). Jesus is how our prayers reach God.
Knowing Jesus is the foundation of prayer that is powerful and effective. James 5:16b says, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (ESV, emphasis added). A standard biblical definition of “righteous” is to have right standing before God because of obeying all of God’s commands. Since only Jesus has ever had that kind of righteousness, that verse about the prayers of a righteous person being powerful could be very discouraging. But as believers in Christ, we have been declared righteous by His blood (2 Corinthians 5:21). So we’re not just hoping our prayers will be heard, we know they are. We know that, because answered prayer has nothing to do with our own innate righteousness (which has never existed) but everything to do with His.
This really great news causes our hearts to overflow with love toward the One who saved us from our sin.
Nobody has to force us to talk to someone we love, right? We long to talk with those we love. So to increase our habit of prayer is to increase our love for the Lord.
How Do We Learn to Love God More So That We Pray More?
Here’s one way: Jesus said, “he who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47b ESV). This also implies that he or she who is forgiven much, loves much. If we know we are wicked, broken sinners saved by God’s grace alone and not by anything good in ourselves, then we know God’s amazing love for us — and in return, we love Him all the more.
David, the man God used to record most of the prayers in the book of Psalms, was well acquainted with his own wickedness and the forgiveness he received from God. After Nathan confronted David for adultery and murder, although there would be significant consequences, “David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lᴏʀᴅ.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lᴏʀᴅ also has put away your sin; you shall not die’” (2 Samuel 12:13 ESV). This was tremendous grace, especially since this happened during a time when Israel was governed by the old covenant of the law.
So to increase our love for God, we increase our understanding of His grace, which we do by better understanding the depths of our sin. To understand the depth of our sin, we study God’s law. We read the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. We study God’s holiness. Like a mirror, God’s law shows us how utterly short we fall of being worthy of eternal life (Isaiah 6:5). But if we reject a life of turning away from Him and instead turn to Him, He runs to us with open arms and receives us as His children just like the father received his prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32.
Then, motivated by His love, we desire to thank our Savior by obeying Him and imitating Him. It’s at that point we can receive examples from Jesus Himself and rise early in the morning to pray. We can take joy in fasting and praying like Jesus did in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-4). We can pray into the night like He did in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46).
We can also do as God’s servants did in the Old Testament: David prayed at seven different times throughout the day (Psalm 119:164). Daniel prayed three times a day (Daniel 6:10). But the point is not the number of prayers — it’s the love for God that fuels them.
What Does This Mean for Today? Where Do We Start?
Jesus’ mention of “our daily bread” in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:11) implies at least daily prayer. Certainly every moment we are awake can be an opportunity for prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Some days we have less time to pray than others. But perhaps ironically, praying may be a way to increase the time you have to pray! Church reformer Martin Luther was known to have said, “I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” However and whenever we pray, it seems clear from Scripture that we are called to pray frequently.
God also wants us to use words when we pray. When our Lord Jesus said, “pray then like this” (Matthew 6:9), what followed were words. Getting into the habit of verbally relating and communicating with God is a practice of reinforcing truths about God and who we are in light of God. What comes out of our mouths usually indicates what is present deep within our hearts.
Making a commitment to use words in our prayers is multifaceted: First, we learn from Scripture what words to use. Second, we can consider the words that flow out of our mouths to help us consider the condition of our hearts. We may also find that the honest words we pray will actually teach us about what we need to pray for.
Maybe you haven’t prayed daily in a long time — or ever — and if so, you’re not alone! You can start today, right where you are: The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6, just four sentences long, shows us that God is honored by even a short prayer.
Or maybe you struggle with wanting to pray regularly because you know God is in control and does all He pleases anyway (Psalm 115:3). It may help to remember that throughout Scripture, God is pleased to work and act after prayer (e.g., 2 Chronicles 33:12-13; Numbers 14:13-20; Mark 9:25-29; Acts 9:40-41). Answers to prayers happen after prayers. So in the very act of praying, it is as though we are writing a part of the same kind of biblical history of how God loves to move, act, and answer. It pleases God for it to be that way. So rather than thinking of prayer as trying to get God to do something we can see the act of praying as part of the answer itself. The very moments where we are praying are themselves gifts and graces from God.
May you continue to build a habit of daily praying “on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV). And in the years to come, may you look back and see how God has strengthened you so that you might “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6 ESV).
The Proverbs 31 Ministries team invites you to discover the beauty of prayer through the timeless words of Psalms. Prayer, at its core, is simply communicating with God — and the psalmists show us how. With their heartfelt conversations to the Lord, they talked about the past, sought His strength and forgiveness in the present, and looked forward to the future with hope.
“Look at the Book” is Bible Gateway’s series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. Traditionally attributed to Jesus’ brother, Jude’s letter urges believers to hold fast to truth in preparation for Christ’s return.
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
Jude encourages believers everywhere to persevere in faith and guard against false teachers in the church. These false teachers were perverting the gospel by saying that grace meant the freedom to sin.
Category: Epistle
Theme: Contending
Timeline: Written around AD 60-64
Key Verse
“…contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” — Jude 3 (NIV)
Truth Will Prevail
Jude’s message is an encouragement that truth will prevail.
Those who have been saved by God’s grace will be kept by his power until the time when the earth is purified from all falsehood forever.
Believers should build one another up in Christ and keep themselves in the love of God. The mercy of God protects those who truly know Christ and sustains them in the gospel message and faithful obedience in the face of outward hostility.
7 Day Reading Guide
Here’s a handy 7-day guide to the “catholic” epistles. (See 30-day reading guide below.)
Although Jude had earlier rejected Jesus as Messiah (Jn 7:1-9), he, along with other half-brothers of our Lord, was converted after Christ’s resurrection.
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.
For many years I taught a popular course on The English Bible as Literature at UCLA. Most courses with such a title typically view the Bible as something akin to an anthology of ancient Near Eastern writings representing a variety of literary genres. From this perspective, the Bible is seen as a book only because it is a collection of pages between two covers. Indeed, the word bible, Greek ta biblia, means “the little books.”
But this is not how the church has experienced the Bible over the past two millennia. Although it was written over a period of 1500 years or so by many different authors and passed through the hands of editors and redactors, the Bible — as we have experienced it personally, theologically, and liturgically in the Christian canon — has been read as a unity, and it has influenced church thinking as a unity.
It has a beginning (Genesis, creation), a middle (Exodus through Jude), and an end (Revelation, a new creation), and it has a clear overarching structure and narrative shape. Its main character is God, its conflict is sin, and its theme is redemption.
The Bible also has a set of concrete images that create textual cohesion: mountains, water, oil, bread, wine, and so on. Indeed, all Scripture is subject to an organic process of reading and rereading that continually deepens our understanding of Scripture as a living faith document with an ever-developing message.
Read as such an organic whole, the Bible is the most influential book ever written. It has shaped men and women, nations and civilizations, indeed, history itself, for two millennia.
As educated readers, we recognize that all art — musical, visual, and literary — mirrors the time and culture from which it emerges, and Scripture is no exception. Consequently, we build our literary study of Scripture on four foundational principles:
The Bible is rooted in geography.
The Bible emerges from history.
The Bible — as we have experienced it in the Christian canon over the past two thousand years — is a unified literary work.
The Bible is the Word of God.
We will examine each of these principles in turn.
1. The Bible Is Rooted in Geography
Israel is a land bridge linking Europe, Asia, and Africa, and anyone who wanted to control the power and wealth of the ancient world understood that they had to control that land bridge. The Bible is replete with conquerors who did so: Sennacherib, king of Assyria (in both 722 and 701 BC); Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (586 BC); Cyrus the Great, king of Persia (539 BC); Alexander the Great (330 BC); Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175 BC); the Maccabees (167–160 BC); the Hasmoneans (140 BC); and the Romans (63 BC). All of these dynasties play major roles in our biblical story.
When God made a covenant with Abraham, giving him this land, it was a double- edged sword, both a blessing and a curse: a blessing because of its critical strategic location; a curse because on this land Israel would never find peace. That was true in both Old and New Testament times, and it is still true today.
When we move up to New Testament times, we encounter ancient Rome, which historians divide into three periods: the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC); the Roman Republic (509–27 BC); and the Roman Empire (27 BC– AD 476). All events in the New Testament take place during the Roman Empire, specifically from about 6–4 BC through about AD 100.
Importantly, the Roman Empire was not simply the city of Rome and its surrounding northern territories, but the entire land mass surrounding the Mediterranean Sea; indeed, half of the Roman Empire was in North Africa.
Having an intimate knowledge of this land’s geography and topography adds color, tone, and texture to the biblical stories, bringing them to life. That is why for over thirty years I have led countless teaching tours to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Spain, taking my students to the sites where the scriptural stories take place.
An Example: The Geography of Galilee
Consider, for example, the story of Jesus walking on the water in Matthew’s gospel. Jesus had fed the five thousand on the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee. Later that night, he sent his twelve disciples back across the lake to Capernaum, and he went up on the Golan Heights where he spent several hours in prayer.
Before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Jesus and Peter then climbed into the boat and completed their journey back to Capernaum on the northwest side of the lake.
To understand the “walking on water” episode, we need to understand the scene’s setting.
It is late at night, the third watch, between midnight and 3:00 a.m. (Mark 6:48).
The boat is being tossed about by the waves, for the wind is against it.
It is halfway across the lake, three or four miles (the lake is 13 miles long by 8 miles wide).
It is shortly before Passover, which means there is nearly a full moon rising in the east behind Jesus, backlighting him, his face in shadow.
As you read this story, picture in your mind the Sea of Galilee at night with the full moon rising in the east over the Golan Heights, the breeze blowing off the Mediterranean from the west as it does each evening, the boat rocking and the sails flapping, and you will experience the scene intensely. In your imagination, you will be on the boat with Jesus’ disciples.
And don’t miss the humor in the scene: Peter climbing out of the boat, testing the water with one foot; Peter, eyes fixed on Jesus, taking a few tentative steps . . . and then sinking like a rock (a person doesn’t slowly “begin to sink”); Jesus catching Peter by the hand and helping him back on board the boat, soaking wet; and the others in the boat laughing uproariously at what must have been a very funny scene.
Understanding the geography and topography of the story brings it alive!
2. The Bible Emerges From History
The Bible tells the story of real people in real time in real places who did real things.
In Genesis 1–11 our story begins in primeval times, and it includes creation, the fall, the flood, and the Tower of Babel. These are not historical events reported as a journalist or a historian might report them in our day; rather, they are properly classified as mythopoeic literature. This genre of literature grapples with fundamental issues of the human condition by means of story:
How did we get here?
Why is there evil in the world?
Is there a God? If so, what is God like?
These stories are not meant to be read literally, as one might read a journalist’s account, but figuratively.
Quickly, though, we transition to something more akin to historical narrative as Scripture introduces Abram and his wife, Sarai (whose names God later changes to Abraham and Sarah). They are presumably real people who lived in a real time and in real places. Abraham was from Ur of the Chaldeans, just north of the Persian Gulf in modern-day southern Iraq, and he and his family travel north through the Tigris-Euphrates Valley to Harran in eastern Turkey — where they settle until moving south to the land of Canaan.
Although the Bible portrays Abraham and Sarah as real people who played a founding role in God’s plan of redemption, their stories are not what we would consider history in the modern sense of that term. Rather, they are history reimagined, a poetic reworking of traditional tales to form a national and theological self-identity.
3. The Bible Is a Unified Literary Work
The common canon of the Bible (those books accepted by all Christians: Roman Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants) includes 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. (The larger, expanded canon of the Bible — accepted by Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox but not by most Protestants — adds the Apocrypha, or Deuterocanonical books.) Whether you accept the common canon or the expanded canon, the Christian Bible organizes these books as a linear narrative with recapitulation.
Reading the Bible straight through, one discovers that although written over a period of 1500 years by many different authors with each text passing through the hands of copyists, editors, and redactors, and each text having its own textual history, the final text of Scripture, as we have it in our Bibles, is a unified literary work. The curtain rises in Genesis, and it falls in Revelation; the main character is God; the conflict is sin; and the theme is redemption.
Approaching the Bible in this way yields profound insights into the text, allowing us to see the continuity of God’s plan of redemption from creation in Genesis all the way through to a redeemed heaven and earth in Revelation. It is a remarkably cohesive story that embraces not only the people who lived in biblical times but all of humanity — past, present, and future.
Read in this way, the Bible becomes universal and timeless, and it probes the very depths of the human condition.
4. The Bible Is the Word of God
Around AD 68, when Paul wrote to his young protege Timothy from death row in Rome’s Mamertine prison, he said that “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16–17 NIV). Paul’s “God-breathed” suggests that every word of Scripture is quickened by the very breath of God, a lovely image.
And Peter reminds us in his last epistle, “Above all, you must understand that 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). Peter’s “carried along” pictures the wind filling a sail, powering a boat forward, steered in the proper direction by a master sailor at the tiller. This sense of the inspiration of Scripture is perfect for Peter the fisherman: the Holy Spirit breathes while the author steers the craft, a perfect symbiotic relationship.
Both Paul and Peter understand that Scripture is much more than a talented person writing a text; it is writing inspired by the very breath of God.
By claiming divine inspiration, the Bible places demands on us as readers that other literature, even the world’s greatest, does not. If we are to engage the Bible as educated readers, we must keep those demands in mind. In a very real sense, God speaks to us through his Word. If we are attentive, we sense his presence on every page, we hear his voice in every sentence, and we feel his breath in every word and syllable. And that takes us into a whole new arena, to a place where we encounter God in a unique way.
Ambrose of Milan, Augustine’s mentor, said that when we pray we talk to God; when we read his Word we listen to him. I suspect that God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason: we should spend a lot more time listening to God than talking to him.
Final Considerations
Finally, we should note that the world of the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments is:
Patriarchal: Men don’t run some things; men run everything, although as one wag said, “Men may be the head, but women are the neck … and they can turn the head in any direction they want!”
Monarchial: Everyone has a king. It would be unthinkable to envision a society with any other governing structure.
Polytheistic: Everyone believed in many gods, including the Israelites. For them יְהָו֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים (Yahweh Elohim) was their God; others had their own gods, who were every bit as real. The idea of only one God emerges late in Scripture and only very slowly.
Slaveholding: In the world of the Bible, slavery is not like multigenerational slavery as in antebellum America; rather, slavery in the biblical world was based primarily on military conquest or indentured servitude. Most slaves could earn or buy their freedom in time. In the biblical world, every culture had slaves.
It would be a fundamental mistake to impose our own historical and cultural values on an ancient text, especially one inspired by God. It is our job as educated readers to understand the time, place, and culture of the Bible, read the text within its proper historical and cultural context, and not impose our own values and worldview on it. We must assume an attitude of the “willing suspension of disbelief” (as the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge called it) and engage the text on its terms, not on our own.
Finally, on a very personal level, the Bible is a gift from God, an intimate letter from God to you. Read the Bible, study the Bible, pray the Bible, and meditate on the Bible day and night. Becoming an educated reader of Scripture is one of life’s greatest privileges and one of its highest joys. Take it from me, your kindly professor.
We all want to read the Bible verse-by-verse, cover-to-cover, but what happens when you can’t get past Leviticus or bog down and quit in Chronicles? How can you make the journey through the Bible spring to life with unforgettable characters, drama, and glittering poetry and prose?
In Reading the Bible: A Literary Guide to Scripture, Dr. Bill Creasy leads you on an unforgettable adventure book-by-book, Genesis through Revelation. Stemming from his popular course at UCLA, The English Bible as Literature, this work delves deeply into the text of the Bible, unveiling its rich literary genres and ancient Near Eastern origins.
This book and its companion, Reading the Bible Study Guide, are perfect for group Bible study programs in churches, schools, and seminaries.
We live in an age of anxiety. From large-scale concerns like natural disasters, political turmoil, and economic uncertainty to personal issues around technology, social media, health, and relationships, we are surrounded daily by more things to worry about than we have time to address. For Gen Z especially, anxiety has reached epidemic proportions, with a shocking 82% saying they have experienced anxiety in the past year.
If you’re experiencing anxiety, rest assured that God is with you, and he knows your heart. Jesus himself experienced anxiety (Matthew 26:37-38, Mark 14:33-34). Bring your stress, fear, and anxiety to God, and he will help you.
In fact, research consistently shows that reading the Bible isn’t just good for you spiritually. Bible reading is also one of the best things you can do for your mental health, topped only by volunteering in your local community (which, by the way, your Bible will also recommend!).
To get you started, here are a collection of Bible verses to bring you comfort and give you resources to help you calm your anxiety. These verses are presented in a variety of different Bible translations. You can click on each verse reference to read it in your own favorite version.
Calming Anxiety by Trusting God
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. — 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort delights my soul. — Psalm 94:19 (NASB)
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.” — Matthew 11:28–29 (NABRE)
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” — John 14:27 (NKJV)
Give your burdens to the Lord. He will carry them. He will not permit the godly to slip or fall. — Psalm 55:22 (TLB)
Don’t fear, because I am with you; don’t be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will surely help you; I will hold you with my righteous strong hand. — Isaiah 41:10 (CEB)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. — Psalm 139:23 (NIV)
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? — Psalm 56:3-4 (CSB)
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. — Psalm 23:4 (KJV)
God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. — Psalm 46:1 (GNT)
The Lord is on my side. I am not afraid. What can mortals do to me? — Psalm 118:6 (GW)
God says, “Because you are devoted to me, I’ll rescue you. I’ll protect you because you know my name. Whenever you cry out to me, I’ll answer. I’ll be with you in troubling times. I’ll save you and glorify you. I’ll fill you full with old age. I’ll show you my salvation.” — Psalm 91:14-16 (CEB)
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. — Psalm 34:4 (NRSVue)
Biblical Advice for Dealing With Anxiety
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?” — Matthew 6:25-27 (NET)
“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” — Matthew 6:31-34 (ESV)
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. — Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)
Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. — Philippians 2:4 (MSG)
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. — 2 Timothy 1:7 (NRSVue)
Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. — Galatians 6:2-3 (NLT)
So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” — Luke 3:10–11 (NKJV)
Give your food to the hungry and care for the homeless. Then your light will shine in the dark; your darkest hour will be like the noonday sun. — Isaiah 58:10 (CEV)
Dig deeper into all these verses and more with Bible Gateway Plus. Bible Gateway Plus has dozens of resources — from Study Bibles and commentaries to encyclopedias, dictionaries, and more — all for less than $5/month. Try it free today!
The extraordinary woman we meet in chapter four of the Gospel of John has forty-two verses devoted to her tale (John 4:1-42). For a Gospel writer such as John to dedicate such a significant portion of his book to this single episode suggests the lessons it contains are supremely important.
Yet, at first glance, the scene itself seems ordinary and unimportant. John explains the encounter occurred while Jesus was on a journey. His disciples had been baptizing some of those who came to Jesus in Judea (see John 3:22; 4:2), and evidently the disciples of John the Baptist complained to their rabbi about His increasing popularity (see 3:26). This was brought to the attention of the Pharisees, who were no doubt also disturbed about Jesus’ growing reputation. When Jesus learned of this, He left Judea to return to Galilee (see 4:3).1
John writes that Jesus “needed to go through Samaria” (verse 4, NKJV throughout) to make this return trip. When He arrived at the city of Sychar, the disciples went into the town to buy food while He rested alone at a well. A lone woman approached. She was completing her daily chore of drawing water for her household so she could get on with everything else she needed to do.
John adds the detail this scene occurred “about the sixth hour” (around noon). This tells us the woman had come to the well at an unusual time. Most women drew water in the morning, before the heat of day, so it appears this woman was a social outcast. It is likely she chose noonday intentionally to complete her task without encountering the snide remarks and derisive glares that she was surely accustomed to receiving from those who knew her story.
Jesus, weary from traveling, waited for her to reach the well. He had no way of drawing water to quench His thirst. So He asked this woman to fetch Him a drink (see verses 7–11).
This is how John’s narrative of this Samaritan woman begins. So far, it represents the stuff of everyday realities. Yet much of what follows is the stuff of eternal realities, revealing important insights and understandings of the One with whom she was about to converse.
Exploring the Story of the Samaritan Woman
Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman is remarkable simply because of the fact it happened. At that time, Jewish rabbis taught, “Let no man eat the bread of the Samaritans,”2 and, “Let no one talk with a woman in the street, no, not with his own wife.”3 Jesus broke both of those social norms in speaking with the Samaritan woman.
In this article, we will explore how this conversation led to the transformation of a woman whom so many had derided.
A Curious Conversation
As previously mentioned, Jesus was journeying from Judea to Galilee to prevent further disputes with John the Baptist’s disciples or the Pharisees (see John 4:1–3). The route through Samaria was the most direct one, but it was the least taken by Jews. Due to a long history of cultural and religious conflict, the Israelites considered the Samaritans unclean. The Jews’ disdain for them was so great they would go miles out of their way just to avoid setting foot in Samaria. Thus, for Jesus to be there at all was unconventional at best … if not scandalous.
John writes that Jesus came to the city of Sychar, “near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph” (verse 5). The location held significance to the Jewish people because this was Jacob’s well. He had bought the original field in which it was located so he could dwell in Canaan and establish it as the possession of God and His people (see Genesis 33:18–20). Now, however, the property was in the heart of Samaritan territory.
Jesus began the conversation with the woman casually: “Give Me a drink” (John 4:7). In light of the gender, racial, and religious divides of the time, she was surprised He would speak to her. “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (verse 9).
Instead of answering her question, Jesus made a remarkable claim: “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water” (verse 10).
The woman countered, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” (verses 11–12).
Of course, Jesus was greater than Jacob. Eminently greater. It was something she would understand soon enough. But first Jesus wanted to elaborate on the superiority of what He was offering: “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (verses 13–14).
The woman wanted this water, and she asked Him for it (see verse 15). At this point, Jesus suddenly switched the topic: “Go, call your husband, and come here” (verse 16). The woman, evidently caught off guard in the moment, could only reply, “I have no husband” (verse 17). This was the truth … but there was much more to her story.
“You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’” Jesus answered (verse 17). He then went on to capsulize her relationship history — not only how many husbands she’d had but also the fact that she was currently living with a man she hadn’t married. Jesus’ knowledge of everything she had ever done made a profound impression on her (see verse 18). This stranger — this “prophet” as she perceived Him (verse 19) — was indeed greater than Jacob.
An Astonishing Revelation
Given that Jesus seemed to know everything, the woman seized the opportunity to get His perspective on a major point of contention between the Jews and the Samaritans. “Sir,” she said, “I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jewssay that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship” (verses 19–20).
The woman’s question centered around whether Mount Gerizim, located in Samaria, or Jerusalem was the proper place to worship God. The Samaritans were a mixed-race people who descended from pagans who had intermarried with the Israelites after the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom in 722 BC. Sanballat, the main nemesis of Nehemiah, had erected the temple on Mount Gerizim in the fifth century BC. This was destroyed in the second century BC during the Maccabean rule, but the Samaritans continued to worship at the site.4 Meanwhile, the Jews held the only proper place to worship God was Jerusalem (see 2 Chronicles 6:6).
Jesus didn’t dismiss her question or chide her for changing the topic. Instead, He directed her to the real issue. First, He clarified that locationisn’t what mattered: “Believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father” (John 4:21). Next, He told the woman her religion was patently false: “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews” (verse 22).
Finally, Jesus explained that genuine worship is defined by who and how one worships. “The hour is coming,” He said, “and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (verses 23–24). In this, Jesus was signifying that as soon as He ushered in the new covenant era, this controversy would be moot.
The woman’s reply was extraordinary, in part because she recognized that Jesus was speaking of the Messiah. “I know that Messiah is coming,” she said. “When He comes, He will tell us all things’” (verse 25). The Samaritan woman had been raised in a false belief system, yet she still knew the Messiah was coming — and she believed it! By now, it is also quite likely that she suspected this coming Messiah was sitting right in front of her.
Jesus didn’t leave her in suspense. He responded, “I who speak to you am He” (verse 26). Of all the surprises in this conversation, the greatest one is that Jesus chose this place and this woman for His first formal declaration as the Messiah. We know this was His intent, because again, as John says, “He needed to go through Samaria” (verse 4, emphasis added). Jesus had a purpose to fulfill in coming to Samaria, and this woman was a key part of it.
An Amazing Transformation
John states the disciples returned right “at this point” (John 4:27) when Jesus revealed Himself to be the Messiah. The Greek expression is emphatic, suggesting they returned just in time to hear Jesus make the declaration. They were shocked into silence when they witnessed the scene — to the extent that no one asked Jesus why He was talking with the woman.
When they arrived, the Samaritan woman quickly left, leaving her water jar behind at the well. Some believe she did this so Jesus could drink from it and thus know she had taken His words to heart. Some argue she was so self-conscious when she saw the disciples that she forgot the water jar in her haste to get away.5 But the most plausible explanation is she intended to return for it. Her focus was on gathering the leaders of Sychar and bringing them back to meet the Messiah. What she had just learned was too good to keep to herself!
Her actions were typical of those who come to Jesus and are freed from their burden of sin and guilt — she wanted to share the good news with others. This is evident in her words to the men of the town: “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did” (verse 29). Not only was her enthusiasm contagious, but any discerning person who knew her would have recognized a transformation had taken place. She wasn’t hiding her past in shame anymore. She was basking in the glow of being fully known and having every sin forgiven.
The testimony of the Samaritan woman had a profound impact on the people of Sychar. John writes, “Many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman” (verse 39). This is a striking contrast when you consider how Jesus was received by His own people when He entered Jerusalem. As Luke writes, “The Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them’” (Luke 15:2).
The Samaritans lacked the phony scruples of such religious hypocrisy. They knew God had promised the Messiah would come. They had learned the prophecies from the five books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy) — the only section of the Old Testament they believed. Certainly, as a society, aspects of their history and culture had made the Samaritans aware of their sinfulness. When they thought about the Messiah’s arrival, it was likely with some trepidation and fear. But this all changed when one of their own announced she had met the Messiah and He had received her despite knowing “all things” she ever did (John 4:29).
The woman’s conversation with Jesus sparked a revival in her hometown. Three years later, the early church would be founded in Jerusalem, and followers of Christ would begin to spread the gospel into “Judea and Samaria” and beyond (Acts 1:8). The Samaritans in Sychar would soon find fellowship in a context where all were considered one in Christ (see Galatians 3:28). Certainly, the town played a big role in spreading the message of the gospel.
As for the Samaritan woman, only heaven knows the number of souls saved through her extraordinary witness. But, to be sure, multitudes today are praising God because of her.
Questions for Further Study
Read Genesis 48:21–22 and Joshua 24:32. Why was the setting of this conversation — the land on which Jesus and the woman were standing — important within Jewish heritage?
Read Jeremiah 2:13. How does God describe Himself? How does this relate to Jesus’ offer to provide “living water” to the woman (John 4:10)?
Read Jeremiah 29:13–14. The Samaritan woman’s willingness to continue engaging in conversation with Jesus demonstrates she was seeking and searching the things of God. What promise did God make in this prophecy to His people (the Jewish captives in exile) if they sought Him? What does it mean to be “found” by the Lord?
Read Mark 1:40–45. It is remarkable that Jesus openly identified Himself as the Messiah to the Samaritan woman. What does this passage indicate that He usually did instead? What was the result of the testimony of the man who had been healed?
The Twelve Extraordinary Women Workbook brings you face-to-face with the women of the Bible as you’ve never seen them before. You’ll discover their struggles and doubts. You’ll learn about their fears and failures. You’ll explore how God used their faith and commitment for His plans. And you’ll come to see that if God can work in these ordinary women’s lives in such extraordinary ways — He can certainly do the same in your life!
Robert H. Mounce, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John (Zondervan Academic, 2007), 408 (available in Bible Gateway Plus). ↩︎
“Look at the Book” is Bible Gateway’s series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. John’s third letter reverses some of the concerns of his second letter by encouraging Christian hospitality and sharing ministerial work.
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
John writes in appreciation of Gaius for his faithfulness and addresses issues of hospitality in the early church.
Category: Epistle
Theme: Hospitality
Timeline: Written around AD 90-95
Key Verse
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” — 3 John 4 (NIV)
Share the Load
In 3 John, Diotrephes, a church leader, was exerting control over his congregation by barring other ministers from serving them. He also disassociated from members who demonstrated kindness to these ministers.
Faithful leaders of the church should follow John’s exhortation in this brief letter and empower their churches to love, serve, and send those taking the name of Jesus around the world.
7 Day Reading Guide
Here’s a handy 7-day guide to the “catholic” epistles. (See 30-day reading guide below.)
As with 2 John, 3 John focuses on the basic issue of hospitality but from a different perspective. While 2 John warns against showing hospitality to false teachers, 3 John condemns the lack of hospitality shown to faithful ministers of the Word.
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.
Here it is, your source for all the latest Bible-related and Bible-adjacent news from the month of August 2025 — from archaeological discoveries and academic research to cultural events and conversations, developments in the global church, and more.
Week of August 24
August 29 — A monumental 2,800-year-old dam has been uncovered in Jerusalem’s City of David, dating back to the reigns of kings Joash and Amaziah. The largest dam found in ancient Israel, it was part of a sophisticated system — built to manage water shortages and flash floods — that also included the Siloam Channel and Hezekiah’s Tunnel. The discovery reshapes understanding of the city’s infrastructure during the Iron Age, suggesting advanced planning and resource management. (Biblical Archaeology Society)
August 28 — The American Bible Society has issued grants to four Christian universities to engage Gen Z with the Bible through innovative projects. An AI-powered “Bible Engagement Assistant” is being developed at Los Angeles Pacific University, and a YouTube series, “Beyond the Bible,” at MidAmerica Nazarene University. These projects aim to make Scripture more accessible and relatable, while others, like Lectio Divina at Houghton University, focus on fostering deeper, personal interactions with Scripture. (RNS)
August 28 — Many American Bible colleges are closing due to declining enrollment, financial challenges, and shifting priorities among Christian families, with Multnomah among the latest to go up for sale. These institutions have shaped leaders in ministry, education, and various professions for decades, helping keep Scripture at the center of daily life. While the future of Christian higher education remains uncertain, its impact endures through alumni who carry forward the values and training they received. (Christianity Today)
August 27 — A tragic shooting occurred at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis during a Mass attended by nearly 200 children. The shooter fired through the church windows, killing two children and injuring 17 others, before dying by suicide. The FBI is investigating the incident as an anti-Catholic hate crime and act of domestic terrorism. The community held a vigil attended by clergy, officials, and mourners, with Archbishop Bernard Hebda lamenting how such violence could occur in a sacred space. (AP News)
August 27 — At Pastor John MacArthur’s memorial service on August 23, his son Matt shared his father’s final words: “Be faithful.” MacArthur, who died last month at 86, was remembered for his unwavering faith, even in his final days. In his final moments, he expressed assurance in salvation, quoting 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 and adding, “Grace has overpowered my sinful heart.” (Christianity Daily)
August 27 — More than 8,000 Christians participated in the March for Jesus in Belfast, Northern Ireland on August 23. The peaceful, celebratory event included prayers, worship, and testimonies at City Hall. Organized by Rev. John Ahern, the march aimed to publicly exalt Christ, address societal issues like addiction and prejudice, and foster unity among Christians despite differences. A similar march is planned in Dublin on September 27. (Christian Daily)
August 26 — PSA: If your pastor sends a personal email asking for money, check with the church office before you comply. Email phishing scams are increasingly targeting churches, exploiting “high-trust, low-tech environments” by impersonating pastors or other trusted figures to request donations, gift cards, or sensitive data like passwords. Experts recommend churches hold trainings and implement cybersecurity measures like two-factor authentication to protect church systems and assets. (Religion Unplugged, from MinistryWatch)
August 25 — NBA player Jonathan Isaac’s Judah 1 sneaker, featuring Proverbs 28:1, is now part of the Museum of the Bible’s “Impact of the Bible” exhibit. The shoe, from Isaac’s Christian brand Unitus, includes biblical imagery such as a lion’s mane representing the Lion of Judah. It’s the first NBA shoe to prominently display Scripture. (RNS)
August 25 — New research reveals a surprising resurgence in church attendance, led by Millennials and Gen Z. This marks a shift from pre-pandemic trends, where older adults were more consistent attendees. Commitment to Jesus has also grown, with nearly 30 million more U.S. adults identifying as followers since 2021. Many younger individuals express spiritual openness, often separate from organized religion, presenting opportunities for churches to engage with authenticity and discipleship. (Barna)
August 25 — The Manx Bible celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2025. First published in 1775 as “Yn Vible Casherick” as an effort to preserve the Manx Gaelic language and provide scripture in the native tongue of the Isle of Man, it was translated by local clergy under Bishop Thomas Wilson based on the King James Version and original texts. The Manx Bible was recently digitized and, although the Manx language has declined, is still used in language classes and occasional worship. (Christian Today)
Week of August 17
August 23 — Archaeologists on Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, uncovered a 1,400-year-old plaster cross, revealing a thriving Christian settlement during the 7th and 8th centuries AD. The cross, featuring regional motifs and a fingerprint on the back possibly left by its maker, suggests Christianity flourished alongside Islam and pagan traditions. The discovery highlights the Arabian Gulf’s forgotten role in Christianity’s eastward expansion and its history of peaceful religious coexistence. (Christian Today)
August 22 — Speaking of currency (see below), a rare gold coin (one of only 20 known) of Queen Berenice II of Egypt (246–222 BC) was discovered in Jerusalem’s Givati Parking Lot excavations. Minted in Alexandria, the coin is 99.3% pure gold and features Berenice’s portrait and a cornucopia. The find challenges the prevailing view of Jerusalem as a small, poor city during the post-exile period, suggesting that it had already begun to grow in importance by the end of Persian rule. (Biblical Archaeology Society)
August 22 — A University of Haifa study reveals that silver was used as currency in ancient Israel as early as the mid-Bronze Age (circa 1600 BC) and remained the primary currency until the end of the Iron Age (ca. 600 BC). Evidence of tampering with silver purity even suggests early attempts at forgery. The findings highlight a sophisticated monetary system in Israel predating its use in Egypt and Greece, and long before the invention of coins in the 7th century BC. (Times of Israel)
August 21 — A survey of U.S. Protestant pastors found that while 52% are generally satisfied with discipleship in their churches, just 8% are strongly satisfied. Half have an intentional plan, but only 30% measure its effectiveness. Discipleship priorities vary, with 46% focusing on biblical knowledge and 38% on relationships. Most pastors (95%) believe discipleship happens best in relationships, such as Sunday School and small groups. Only 22% think virtual discipleship is as effective as in-person. (Lifeway Research)
August 21 — A groundbreaking study identified four types of religiously unaffiliated Americans: Nones in Name Only (21%), who pray and believe in God but avoid organized religion; Spiritual but Not Religious (36%), who reject religion but embrace spirituality; The Dones (33%), who have fully disengaged from religion and spirituality; and Zealous Atheists (11%), who actively oppose religion. While “nones” have grown to 30% of the U.S. population, their diversity suggests some remain open to faith. (The Gospel Coalition)
August 21 — James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family and a leading advocate for conservative Christian family values, died today, age 89. Dobson authored over 70 books, including Dare to Discipline and The Strong-Willed Child, and hosted a radio program reaching millions globally. Both respected and controversial, he emphasized strict-but-loving parenting and became a prominent voice in evangelical politics, advocating against abortion, pornography, and same-sex marriage. (Christianity Today and RNS)
August 20 — A well-timed study from Duke University corroborates some of the findings from the State of the Bible (below), that online church services may be less effective than in-person worship in fostering feelings of transcendence, shared identity, and closeness to God. The study, involving 43 participants, found that in-person attendees reported higher emotional engagement and heart rate during services. While online worship remains beneficial, researchers note it doesn’t fully replicate the in-person experience. (RNS)
August 20 — Though 64% of Americans identify as Christian, only 44% of them attend church at least once a month. Those with high Scripture engagement are also much more likely to be highly engaged at church (52% vs. 7% with low Scripture engagement) — as are those who attend in person (31%) over online attendees (19%). The study also found a clear correlation between higher church engagement and overall well-being, including lower stress, anxiety, and loneliness, and higher levels of hope. (State of the Bible)
August 19 — Something good out of Nazareth? The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has appointed Advocate Botrus Mansour as its first Arab Christian Secretary General. An Arab-Israeli of Palestinian heritage from Nazareth, Mansour will officially assume his role at the WEA General Assembly in Seoul this October. With a background in law and nonprofit management, Mansour has held leadership roles in evangelical organizations in Israel and the Holy Land. (Christianity Daily)
August 18 — Pop quiz: What’s the only country in the world with the Bible on its national flag? If you answered the United States, Israel, or even the Vatican … you’d be wrong — it’s Dominican Republic. The flag features a central white cross and a coat of arms that includes an open Bible displaying John 8:32. Designed by Casimiro Nemesio de Moya in 1913, the coat of arms also includes a cross, spears, laurel and palm wreaths, and the national motto, “Dios, Patria y Libertad” (God, Homeland, and Freedom). (Aleteia)
August 18 — Archaeologists in Israel have uncovered a 1,600-year-old mosaic at Hippos-Sussita near the Sea of Galilee, believed to be evidence of the region’s earliest nursing home. The Greek inscription, “Peace on the elders,” was found at the entrance of a public building, suggesting it served as a community and spiritual center for elderly care during the Byzantine period. (Jerusalem Post)
August 18 — The Vatican will begin a three-month maintenance project on Michelangelo’s Last Judgmentfresco in the Sistine Chapel in January 2026, concluding before Holy Week. The fresco, painted between 1536 and 1541, depicts Christ’s final judgment and draws nearly seven million visitors annually. These efforts address the challenges of mass tourism and climate change on historic art and architecture. (Aleteia)
August 17 — A Lifeway Research study of 730 former pastors from four Protestant denominations found that 34% of pastors left ministry due to burnout (16%) or church conflict (18%). The leading reason for departure was a “change in calling” (40%). The study highlights challenges like COVID-19’s impact and the pressures of modern ministry. (The Christian Post)
Week of August 10
August 15 — In China, a quiet spiritual revival is unfolding through a Bible hand-copying initiative launched in 2019 to honor the centennial of the Chinese Union Version (CUV) Bible translation. Despite a call for just 1,200 participants, millions responded, including a calligrapher who became a Christian through the project and families reconnecting through shared Scripture. The movement continues to grow, even as it faces challenges like government scrutiny and financial strain. (Christianity Today)
August 15 — Prime Video has greenlit Joseph of Egypt, an eight-episode limited series based on the biblical story of Joseph. The series stars Adam Hashmi (Bridgerton) as Joseph and features Alexander Siddig (Foundation) as Jacob and Babak Tafti (Succession) as Simeon. Dallas Jenkins, creator of The Chosen, serves as executive producer, with Craig Wright (Greenleaf, Lost) as writer and showrunner. No release date has been announced, but the series is currently filming in New Mexico. (RELEVANT)
August 15 — A clay seal impression, or bulla, bearing the name “Yeda’yah son of Asayahu” was discovered during the Temple Mount Sifting Project. Dated to the late 7th or early 6th century BCE, the seal likely belonged to a high-ranking official, suggesting Yeda’yah’s father could be the same Asaiah, a biblical figure mentioned in 2 Kings 22:12 and 2 Chronicles 34:20. (Biblical Archaeology Society)
August 14 — A wildfire near the Sea of Galilee has unveiled new archaeological insights into the ancient village of Bethsaida, believed to be the hometown of apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip. The fire cleared vegetation in the Betiha Nature Reserve, exposing mounds and ruins at the el-Araj site, which archaeologists have been excavating since 2016. Previously, the site revealed a Byzantine church and Roman bathhouse, but the fire has now highlighted potential residential areas from the first century. (Haaretz)
August 14 — A former fish market in Glasgow’s Merchant City has been transformed into a vibrant exhibition, “Glasgow Close Knit,” featuring 430 handknitted and crocheted blankets. Created by Church of Scotland members and local groups, the display highlights community creativity and compassion. Each blanket will be donated this winter to individuals in short-term housing. (Christianity Today)
August 13 — Over 400 hostile acts against U.S. churches were documented in 2024, according to a Family Research Council report. These incidents included vandalism, arson, bomb threats, and physical assaults, with gun-related incidents doubling compared to previous years. After arson, anti-LGBT incidents such as theft of church pride flags were among the most common. Still, such incidents declined from 2023, as did abortion-related and satanic-themed incidents. (Christianity Daily)
August 12 — Over 1,000 Iraqi Christians, mostly children, recently celebrated their first communion despite challenges from past persecution by ISIS and ongoing pressures from Iranian-backed militias. Ceremonies were held across Iraq, including Baghdad and the Nineveh Plains, with over 460 children participating in the town of Baghdeda alone. (The Christian Post)
August 12 — The Vatican Apostolic Archive, established in 1612, safeguarded centuries of Church records once scattered and endangered by persecution, mob violence, and political turmoil. Early documents, dating to the first century, included baptismal data, papal letters, and theological rulings. In 1881, Pope Leo XIII opened the archive for scholarly research, transforming it into a secure and accessible resource for historical study. (Aleteia)
August 11 — The Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer, a 51.5m (169 ft.) tall Christian monument under construction in England, has received over 100,000 answered prayer submissions for its digital archive. Designed as a Möbius strip of one million bricks, each brick will link to a prayer testimony accessible via a dedicated app. Organizers are aiming for 250,000 stories by its opening, and encourage Christians worldwide to contribute their testimonies. (Christian Daily)
August 10 — This summer marks the 500th anniversary of the first printed English New Testament, translated by William Tyndale in 1525. His translation, based on Erasmus’s Greek New Testament, influenced the King James Bible and modern versions. Events in Antwerp, where Tyndale revised his work after fleeing England, include exhibits of rare 1526 New Testament copies and a letter from Tyndale’s imprisonment. (Christian Today)
August 10 — Syria’s Christian population, once 2 million, has declined by over 85% since 2011, with fewer than 300,000 remaining. Christians are emigrating en masse due to economic collapse, forced conscription, and rising extremism. Most recently, a June 22 bombing at St. Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus killed 22 and injured 60. Patriarch John X urges global attention to protect one of Christianity’s oldest communities from disappearing entirely. (Religion Unplugged)
August 10 — Mission Eurasia’s Bible camps are helping 30,000 children across 14 countries, 80% of whom are Ukrainian children affected by war. Located in safer regions, the camps provide trauma counseling, Bible lessons, and recreational activities, while local church leaders and trained counselors ensure ongoing support for families after the camps. The initiative, part of Mission Eurasia’s “Summer of Hope,” aims to restore emotional stability and share the message of Jesus amid the ongoing conflict. (Christian Daily)
August 9 — A Lifeway Research study found that 82% of U.S. Protestant churches supported local public schools in the past year, with most providing school supplies for students and teachers. Churches also volunteered for school events (41%), offered teacher appreciation gifts (38%), and assisted with tutoring programs (26%). Larger, Southern, mainline, and African American churches and pastors stood out for their support, while evangelical churches were more likely to conduct Bible clubs. (Religion Unplugged)
Week of August 3
August 8 — Archaeologists uncovered a carved ivory head, less than an inch tall, in Jerusalem’s City of David, dating to Iron Age II (1000–586 BC). The unusual artifact, likely used to decorate furniture, depicts a woman with an Egyptian-style wig and headband. Found in a seventh-century BC layer, it may predate Judah’s Assyrian vassalage, offering intriguing hints about early cultural and economic exchanges in the Near East. (Biblical Archaeology Review)
August 7 — Militant Islamist groups in Africa have caused over 22,000 deaths in the past year alone, with Christians being primary targets. The Sahel region, Somalia, and the Lake Chad Basin account for 99% of fatalities, driven by groups like Al Shabaab and JNIM. Political instability and restricted media access exacerbate the violence, with militant groups controlling vast territories. (Christianity Daily)
August 6 — Jewish sages in Late Antiquity actively engaged in the Roman-Byzantine wine industry, shaping halachic rulings to align with agricultural practices. A study from the University of Haifa revealed that vineyard spacing mandated by sages mirrored Classical-era vineyards in Italy and France. The researchers used rabbinic texts and archaeological evidence to highlight the sages’ practical knowledge of viticulture and their efforts to harmonize divine law with economic and environmental realities. (Jerusalem Post)
August 6 — The U.S. leads the “Secular West” in Bible engagement, with 28% of Americans using the Bible weekly and 41% attending church monthly, surpassing other Western nations like Canada and Europe. Americans also show stronger trust in the Bible’s relevance and compatibility with science. Yet secularism is growing, and the study urges U.S. churches to leverage current openness to Scripture to counter the trend. (Lifeway Research)
August 6 — Just because it sounds biblical, doesn’t mean it is biblical. Common phrases such as “God helps those who help themselves” and “God won’t give you more than you can handle” are not actually in the Bible. Popular sayings like these can misrepresent Scripture’s teachings on grace, suffering, and human nature. It’s always good practice to verify beliefs with the Bible, as the Bereans did to Paul in Acts 17, to avoid forming theology around unbiblical ideas. (RELEVANT)
August 6 — Christian amulets inscribed with texts or images for protection or healing were very popular in late antiquity. These include small items like rings and pendants with brief inscriptions such as “Christ, help Andrews,” as well as larger parchment amulets featuring Gospel excerpts and Psalms. Yet despite their Christian elements, such amulets were often condemned by early church leaders for resembling pagan practices or Jewish tefillin. (Biblical Archaeology Society)
August 5 — New research by Brazilian 3D designer Cicero Moraes once again challenges the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin, suggesting it is a “masterpiece of Christian art” rather than a genuine relic. Using digital recreations, Moraes found the shroud’s image aligns more closely with a low-relief sculpture than with a real human body. Moraes’ study adds fire to the ongoing debate, with critics citing medieval carbon dating and supporters pointing to Middle Eastern pollen and crucifixion-consistent blood samples. (Christian Today)
August 5 — At the 20th Symposium of Episcopal Conferences in Africa and Madagascar, African Catholic leaders called for peace, reconciliation, and dialogue amid ongoing conflicts across the continent. Over 250 bishops and 13 cardinals, representing some 280 million African Catholics, emphasized forgiveness and unity, urging political leaders to prioritize the well-being of their people. The meeting also unveiled a 12-point vision plan for the church’s next 25 years, focusing on evangelization, self-reliance, and care for creation. (RNS)
August 5 — In June, 200 Muslims attacked a Christian youth retreat in Sukabumi, Indonesia, claiming the private residence was unlawfully used for worship. The mob damaged property, destroyed vehicles, and traumatized the children present. Officials detained eight suspects and compensated the family for damages. But the incident highlights growing religious freedom challenges in Indonesia, where securing permits for worship spaces is difficult, and attacks on Christian gatherings are increasing. (Christianity Today)
August 3 — The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) elected Rev. Yehiel Curry as its first African American presiding bishop during the 2025 Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix, Arizona. Curry, currently bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, will begin his six-year term in October, succeeding Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, the denomination’s first female presiding bishop. (Christianity Daily)
August 3 — Pope Leo XIV concluded the Jubilee of Youth in Rome with a mass attended by over a million young Catholics from 146 countries. Dubbed a “Catholic Woodstock,” the week-long event featured music, prayer, and vibrant celebrations. In his homily, Pope Leo encouraged the youth to aspire to holiness and spread their faith, emphasizing peace and solidarity with those in war-torn regions like Gaza and Ukraine. (The Guardian)
August 3 — Mourning victims of the tragedy in Texas; remembering John MacArthur; practicing the red heifer ceremony in Jerusalem. The latest archaeological discoveries in the Holy Land; Christian conferences in Europe and Asia; and research about the state of the Bible, faith, and Christianity around the globe. Plus, how the Bible uses nicknames to subtly add meaning to its stories. Catch up on the biggest, strangest, and most inspiring Bible and church news stories of July!
Reading news about the Bible is great — but reading the Good News of the Bible is better! Bible Gateway Plus offers Study Bibles, commentaries, encyclopedias, and tons more resources to help you get more from God’s Word — all for less than $5/mo. Start your free trial today!
Some years ago, WWJD bracelets were all the rage. What would Jesus do? The acronym was a wonderful device. However, might I suggest we change one word?
Rather than ask what Jesus would do, let’s ask WWJT. What would Jesus think?
Actions are the offspring of thoughts. Behavior follows belief. So, if we want to improve our behavior, let’s go upriver and monitor our minds.
Satan’s strategy is simple: Poison your thinking with stinking doubts, deceit, and discouragement. If he can master your mind, he will master your life. The more minds he can control, the more portions of society he can influence.
Tell him to get lost.
Clean Up Your Mental Inbox
Do with your thoughts what I do with emails. Until a couple of years ago, I didn’t know I could block emails. Delete them? I knew that. But block them? I missed that tip.
Consequently, I couldn’t clean out my inbox. Unsolicited emails kept coming. I tried to delete them daily, but I just couldn’t keep up. They cluttered my computer.
Then I was told about the Block This Sender command. You mean I can block a sender?! I did exactly that.
Politician? Blocked.
Shoe store? Blocked.
Sales pitch? Blocked.
I spent the better part of an afternoon erecting Do Not Enter signs to turn away nuisances. It took time, but I emptied my inbox of unneeded and unsolicited emails. It’s one of the greatest achievements of my life.
These days, when one or two or ten sneak in, I stand them down. No more clutter for me. And no more clutter for you, my friend.
Anxiety? Blocked.
Regret? Blocked.
Insecurity? Blocked.
You can “take every thought captive and make it obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5 GNT).
Test each thought against the teachings of Jesus. He occupies the highest throne. He is the Grand Master of life. We report to him. We defer to his Word. The Bible is the God-given standard against which all thinking is measured.
Can You Trust the Bible?
“All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16 NIV). The literal (and beautiful) rendering of this passage means that the Bible is God’s very word, breathed out of his mouth.
Can we believe that? The immensity of this question cannot be overstated. Can we genuinely believe that the Bible is the word of God? The unique and ultimate standard?
Many people don’t. They’ve concluded that the Bible is full of superstitions and stories. Consequently, their seedbed of truth is a horoscope, bar buddy, lover, or social media post.
Others of us, however, have come to accept the Bible as the source of God’s truth. We do so for good reasons. Here are mine.
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:25–27 NIV)
If Jesus considered Scripture to be reliable in fighting Satan and explaining his Messiahship, if he set upon it his own stamp of approval, what else is needed?
2. Fulfilled Prophecies Confirm It
In his life Christ fulfilled 332 distinct prophecies from the Old Testament. The mathematical probability of these prophecies being fulfilled by one man is one in 840 . . . not trillion, not zillion. One in 840 untrigintillion. That’s 840 followed by 96 zeroes.
Christ’s place of birth, his manner of death, his burial in the grave of a rich man — these and hundreds of other specific prophecies were fulfilled centuries after they were recorded. You can trust the Bible. Prophecies authenticate it.
3. Changed Lives Affirm It
No other book has impacted people like the Bible. From Augustine, who was a scoundrel; to John Newton, who was a slave-trader; to Abraham Lincoln, who was a simple farm boy; to Max Lucado, who was an ungrateful prodigal until he read about God’s love for anyone who has wandered from home and landed in a pigpen.
Radio host Dennis Prager once made a point about the power of the Bible. He asked:
If you were stranded on a street alone at night, your car had broken down, say at 2:00 a.m. on a lonely street in Los Angeles . . . pitch dark blackness, and you get out of your car and suddenly, you see ten big burly men coming out of a house and walking toward you. Would it or would it not be comforting for you if you knew they were just coming out of a Bible study?
The Bible changes lives. See for yourself. Apply the biblical principles of stewardship to your budget and see if you don’t get out of debt. Apply the principles of fidelity to your marriage and see if you don’t have a happier home. Apply the principles of forgiveness to your relationships and see if you aren’t more peaceful. Apply the principles of honesty at school and see if you don’t succeed. And, for the sake of our discussion, apply the Bible to your thought life and see if you don’t agree: the Bible works.
We need an authoritative voice. We need more than the opinions of other people; we need the declarations of our Maker. He, and he alone, has authority over how we should think.
Scripture provides an unchanging standard for living. The Bible is trustworthy for another reason.
4. Plan B Is a Train Wreck
I’ve tried plan B. I’ve listened to lesser voices. Locker-room know-it-alls. Godless teachers. Messed-up movie stars. Self-absorbed talk show hosts. They don’t know what they are talking about.
I need an authoritative voice. I need an owner’s manual. So do you. We need an unchanging, immutable home plate.
Truth Doesn’t Change
I played catcher in Little League Baseball. I was a catcher in Pony League. I was a catcher on the high school squad. When I was in college I played catcher on an intramural softball team. I spent a lot of time hunkering down behind home plate — hundreds of hours, thousands of innings, thousands upon thousands of pitches.
During all those games and practices, I noticed something: The width of home plate never changed. It was always seventeen inches wide. This was true in Little League. This was true in Pony League. This was true in high school. It is true in college ball, Minor League Baseball, and Major League Baseball. It is true in Japan, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba.
The dimensions of home plate never change. Its size is not up for discussion. As a catcher, I could not bring a homemade home plate with me from the dugout. I could not draw a larger temporary plate in the dirt.
We players could choose our uniforms, hats, shoes, and bats. But when it came to the plate, the size was unchangeable and nonnegotiable. When a pitcher couldn’t throw the ball over the seventeen-inch-wide mark, the umpire didn’t offer to widen it. He never said, “Hey, buddy, I’m going to get a new plate just for you. Would twenty-five inches help?”
The width of the plate was permanent.
So is the truth of God. It is the true north on the compass of our hearts. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’” (John 8:31–32 NIV).
Open the Book!
Freedom comes as we know the truth. The strategy for destroying strongholds boils down to this: Take thoughts captive and test them against God’s Word.
Healthy thinking happens as we submit to Scripture. The Bible is God’s word on paper. Do you want to know his thoughts about anything? Open the book!
Questions for Further Reflection
Set a timer for one minute, and then try to clear your mind. Using a blank piece of paper, record any thoughts that come into your mind during that minute. (In order to save time, write down brief notes or summaries rather than whole thoughts.)
Look again at 2 Corinthians 10:3–5. The language of these verses has a distinctly military flavor, including terms such as weapons, strongholds, captive, and obey. What does this say about the attitude you need to take in practicing “picky thinking”? What are the stakes?
The Bible should be the foundation for your life — including your thoughts. Scripture is the standard by which you decide which thoughts are helpful and which are harmful. Look up the following passages. What does each say about gaining wisdom from God and practicing discernment — the ability to determine between God’s truth and Satan’s lies?
When was the last time you awakened to a swirl of out-of-control thoughts? Perhaps you were overwhelmed with the weight of worry, the fear of failing, or the grip of guilt. The way we think directly impacts our joy and peace. In Tame Your Thoughts, Max Lucado provides three biblical and practical tools to renew your mind and transform your life.
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