Important Bible Quotes

Psalm 1:1-3

*Anonymous Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither--whatever they do prospers.

Psalm 111:10

*Anonymous The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

Nehemiah 2:1-3

*Author Nehemiah... see bottom for explanation Geo: From Persia to Jerusalem In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart." I was very much afraid, but I said to the King, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruines, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" *The book of Nehemiah could be read as a sequel to the book of Ezra, and some scholars believe the two were originally one work. It is possible that Ezra compiled Nehemiah's original accounts with other material to create the book of Nehemiah. However, most scholars believe the book was written by Nehemiah.

Song of Songs 1:3-4

*Solomon | probably early in his reign Geo: Jerusalem | Solomon's kingdom: extended from the Euphrates river in the North to Egypt in the south. Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the young women love you! Take me away with you--let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Jonah 4:2

A God who relents from sending calamity | *Jonah, son of Amittai, *See bottom To Israel. GEO: Joppah & Nineveh, ship, belly of fish ----------------------------------------------- "That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity." ----------------------------------------------- Jonah, from town of Gath-hepher, near Nazareth in the area that later came to be known as Galilee (2 Kings 14:25). This makes Jonah one of the few prophets who hailed from the northern kingdom of Israel

Galatians 3:6-9

Abraham Believed=Righteousness Author: Paul TO: churches in So. Galatia; had hand in starting them on his 1st missionary journey to Asia Minor. SEE MORE AT BOTTOM* 6 So also Abraham "believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. ---------------------------------------------------- *Paul's close relationship to these churches explains extremely strong tone he took with them. Galatians exhibits Paul at his angriest, as he risked the good favor of the converts in those churches to make sure they were on the path of truth and not led off into deception. To stress seriousness of his purpose, he took the pen from his scribe and wrote the end of the letter himself in large letters (Galatians 6:11).

Acts 17:23

Athens full of idols | Paul talking GEO: Athens, Greece TO: reasoned in the SYNAGOGUE with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the MARKETPLACE day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. ------------------------------------------------------ "For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you."

Acts 13:1-3

Barnabas & Paul Set Apart & Sent | *Luke 1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

1 Thessalonians 4:13

Believers Who Have Died | *Paul TO: Church in Thessalonica, Jews & Gentiles From: Corinth around AD 51 After Preaching in Thessalonica on 2nd Missionary Journey ---------------------------------------------------- Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

2 Kings 22:8, 10-11

Book of the Law Found *Author unknown, Ezra, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah all named as possible authors. Geo: Jerusalem Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD." He gave it to Shaphan, who read it... Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. [King Josiah] When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.

Ezra 1:2-3

Build Temple | *Probably Ezra Geo: Babylon and Jerusalem in Judah... see bottom for more "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: "The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem." GEO Continued: The book of Ezra records two separate time periods directly following the seventy years of Babylonian captivity. Ezra 1-6 covers the first return of Jews from captivity, led by Zerubbabel—a period of twenty-three years beginning with the edict of Cyrus of Persia and ending at the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem (538-515 BC). Ezra 7-10 picks up the story more than sixty years later, when Ezra led the second group of exiles to Israel (458 BC). The book could not have been completed earlier than about 450 BC (the date of the events recorded in 10:17-44).

Isaiah 53:5

By his wounds we are healed *Isaiah, son of Amoz GEO: Mainly Jerusalem Time: Ch 40-66 maybe end of his life ~681 BC But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Acts 11:25-26

Called Christians 1st @ Antioch | *Luke, Greek and only Gentile NT author. Acts sequel of Luke. SEE More at bottom*. ------------------------------------------------------ 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. ------------------------------------------------------ *Acts ends abruptly with Paul imprisoned in Rome, waiting to bring his appeal before Caesar. It is worth noting that in this history of the early Christian church, Luke mentioned neither Paul's death (AD 64-68) nor the persecution of Christians that broke out under Nero (AD 64). More than likely, Luke completed the book before either of these events occurred, sometime between AD 60 and AD 62, while Paul sat in prison, awaiting the resolution of his appeal.

Genesis 1:27

Creation of Mankind. *Moses Mesopotamia (until the Tower of Babel) So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:1-2

Creation. Author: *Moses Mesopotamia (until the Tower of Babel) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Fear God/keep his commandments | *Solomon Geo: Jerusalem TIME: Probably late in life (regrets) before his death in 931 BC Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

1 Corinthians 15:54-58

Death Swallowed in Victory / Labor NOT in vain 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Ezekiel 37:1-6

Dry Bones | *Ezekiel, son of Buzi Geo: Jerusalem, Babylon & Egypt To: Jews in captivity in Babylon 37 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "Sovereign Lord, you alone know." 4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.'"

2 Timothy 2:1-2

ENCOURAGEMENT | *Paul wrote to young leader to give encouragement & fortitude in the face of difficulties and trials. Written from Roman Prison--SEE more below* ----------------------------------------------------- You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. ---------------------------------------------------- *Paul wrote 2 Timothy from Roman prison, just before his death in AD 67. The Roman emperor Nero, slowly descending into madness since ascent to the throne in AD 54, exacerbated by the great fire of Rome in AD 64 that burned half the city. W/Roman residents in an uproar, Christians became targets for Nero; used believers as scapegoats for his city's lack of preparedness. Paul was caught up in this persecution and beheaded by Roman officials soon after writing this letter.

Revelation 22:1-5

Eden Restored | John the Apostle Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Mordecai Won't Honor Haman *Author unknown, maybe Mordecai or younger contemporary. See bottom for more Geo: Persian Empire, most in Susa, the Persian Capital Date: 483 BC to 473 BC, during the first half of the reign of King Xerxes ------------------------------------------------ Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor [Haman] Then the royal officials at the king's gate asked Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's command?" Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. ------------------------------------------------- *The unknown author of the book of Esther was most likely a Jew very familiar with the royal Persian court. The detailed descriptions of court life and traditions, as well as the events that occurred in the book, point to an eyewitness author. Because his perspective was pro-Jewish, scholars believe he was a Jew writing for the remnant that had returned to Judah under Zerubbabel. Some have suggested Mordecai himself was the author, though the accolades for him found in the text suggest that another person, perhaps one of his younger contemporaries, was the author.

Esther 3:2-4

Hebrews 12:1-3

FIX EYES ON JESUS / Throw Off Everything that Hinders Author Unknown. Authors such as Paul, Luke, Barnabas, Apollos, even Clement considered ---------------------------------------------------- Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. --------------------------------------------------- *Its strongly Jewish character helps narrow date, most likely AD 64-69. Myriad references to Hebrew customs & Old Testament, was likely to Jewish Christian community, possibly Rome.

Deuteronomy 8:1-2

FOLLOW EVERY COMMAND | *Moses Geo Setting: Mt. Sinai | Wilderness | Kadesh-Barnea | Plains of Moab EXODUS 15-DEUT. 34: Wandering in the wilderness and death of Moses "Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors. Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands."

Joshua 6:20-21

Fall of Jericho | *Joshua or scribe The land of Canaan When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it--men, women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.

Genesis 3:15

Fall of Man | Curse | God talks to Satan/serpent *Moses Mesopotamia (until the Tower of Babel) "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heal."

Esther 4:14

For Such a Time as This | *Author unknown, maybe Mordecai or younger contemporary. Geo: Persian Empire, most Susa, Persian Capital "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"

Ephesians 6:10-13

Full Armor of God | *Paul 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

1 John 4:7-12

God's Love and Ours | John the Apostle "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

Isaiah 6:1-8

Here am I, send me! | *Isaiah, son of Amoz GEO: Mainly Jerusalem Time: Ch 1-39 during ministry ~700 BC In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Philippians 2:5-11

Imitate Christ's Humility | *Paul -- Roman Prison SEE BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS* In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ------------------------------------------------------ *Paul ministered Philippi 2nd missionary journey, ~3 months. The ministry at Philippi marked Paul's entrance into Macedonia, which came about as a result of a vision he had in the city of Troas, just across the northeastern corner of the Aegean Sea from the port city of Neapolis and its close neighbor Philippi (Acts 16:8-12). later briefly visited on 3rd missionary journey. Member, Lydia, a businesswoman, opened her home to Paul and coworkers, and the Philippian jailer, converted after earthquake miraculously broke open the prison.

John 18:38

Jesus Before Pilate | *John son of Zebedee...probably ------------------------------------------------------ "What is truth?" retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him.

Matthew 4:18-20

Jesus Calls 1st Disciples | *Matthew aka Levi GEO: Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Capernaum, Galilee, Judea ~ 60-65 AD ----------------------------------------------------- 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

Luke 4:1-2

Jesus Tested In Wilderness | *Luke, Greek Gentile GEO: The wilderness sets in back of Jericho and extends along the whole western shore of the Dead Sea. * SEE BOTTOM ------------------------------------------------------ 4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. ------------------------------------------------------ GEO cont...: The northern end of this region is in full view from the Jordan as one looks westward, and a more desolate and forbidding landscape it would be hard to find. It is vain to locate the temptation in any particular part of it. Jesus may have wandered about over nearly all of it. ___________________________________________________________________

Luke 1:38

Jesus' Birth Foretold | Luke, Doctor, Greek Gentile Christian. Only known NT Gentile author Geo: God sent angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, virgin Mary, pledged to be married to Joseph, a descendant of David. ---------------------------------------------------- "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Matthew 27:50-54

Jesus' Death / Temple Torn | *Matthew/Levi 0 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and[a] went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

Revelation 1:9-11

John's Vision of Christ | John the Apostle GEO: exiled to the island of Patmos by the authorities for preaching the gospel in Asia. --------------------------------------------------- 9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." ------------------------------------------------------ * The title of the book, Revelation, comes from Greek word for apocalypse; refers to unveiling or a disclosure of something as yet unknown. John wrote the book of Revelation ~AD 95 from exile on island of Patmos. Addressed to 7 Asian churches—Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea.

Genesis 50:18-20

Joseph -- Salvation of Israel | *Moses Geographic Setting (Genesis 11-50) Mesopotamia (Ur and Haran) Land of Canaan Egypt His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him, "We are your slaves," they said. But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Daniel 4:18

King Nebuchadnezzar's Dream | *Daniel Geo: King's palace, Babylon. See below for more info To Captives @ Babylon --------------------------------------------------- "This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you." --------------------------------------------------- Book of Daniel: Daniel taken captive, deported to Babylon by King Neb in 605 BC. Served in gov. ~60 yrs during reigns of Neb., Belshazzar, Darius & Cyrus KEY PPL: include Shadrach, Meshack, Abednego, Belshazzar, Darius Key Places: King's Palace, fiery furnace, Belshazzar's banquet, Lion's Den

Job 1:21

LORD Gives & Takes Away | *Author unknown, maybe Job, Moses, Solomon or Elihu Geo: Land of Uz, NE Palestine near desert land btwn Damascus & Euphrates river "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

Amos 1:2

LORD roars... things dry up and wither | *Amos Geo: Bethel, Samaria Time: ~760-750 BC He said: "The Lord roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers."

Matthew 5:14-16

Light of the World - SHINE | *Matthew aka Levi Part of Sermon on the Mount GEO: Bible doesn't say exact location of Sermon on the Mount. It has been historically believed to have been given on Mount Eremos, on Galilee's NW shore between cities of Gennesaret and Capernaum. ------------------------------------------------------ 14 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

1 John 1:5-7

Light/Darkness, Sin/Forgiveness *John the Apostle This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 Peter 2:4-5

Living Stone / A Chosen People | Peter TO: Christians scattered throughout northern areas of Asia Minor, where he may have previously preached the gospel. SEE BOTTOM* ------------------------------------------------------ As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ---------------------------------------------------- *Peter not yet arrested, an event that would lead to his martyrdom around AD 66-68. Peter sent greetings from the local church—calling it "Babylon"—most likely a metaphor Rome, the modern city that, like Babylon, gave itself over to idol worship/false gods. Not recorded in Bible, Peter has been thought to have spent his final years serving the church in Rome. Based on references to suffering/persecution, Peter likely wrote in AD 64, just as the persecution of Christians under Nero was ramping up.

Ezekiel 1:15-18

Living creatures, wheels, 4 rims, eyes all around *Ezekiel, son of Buzi Geo: Jerusalem, Babylon & Egypt To: Jews in captivity in Babylon 15 As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. 16 ...Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 17 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went. 18 Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.

1 Corinthians 12:7

Manifestation of Spirit for Common Good Author: Paul writing from Ephesus to the church in Corinth. SEE MORE @ BOTTOM* Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. -------------------------------------------------- Paul in Ephesus more than 2 years on 3rd missionary journey when he received a disturbing report of quarreling within the Corinthian church, report received from member, Chloe (1 Cor. 1:11). Recently founded (Acts 18:1-17) already developed deep divisions, required immediate action. Paul penned letter in AD 55, as he was planning to leave Ephesus for Macedonia (1 Co. 16:5-8).

Hosea 1:2-3

Marry Adulterous wife [Gomer] | *Hosea (name means Salvation) To Israel's No. Kingdom ~715 BC GEO: No. Kingdom of Israel, Samaria, Ephriam _____________________________________________________________________ 2 When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, "Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord." 3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

Exodus 3:1-5

Moses & The Burning Bush | *Moses Exodus 1-15: Moses & the Exodus Geographic Setting: Egypt | Red Sea | Sinai Peninsula | Mount Sinai Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight--why the bush does not burn up." When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."

Numbers 20:7-8, 10-12

Moses Strikes Rock for Water RATHER than SPEAKING TO IT as the LORD said. | *Moses Geo Setting: Mt. Sinai | Wilderness | Kadesh-Barnea | Plains of Moab EXODUS 15-DEUT. 34: Wandering in the wilderness and death of Moses The LORD said to Moses. ... "Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water... Listen you rebels, must we bring you water of this rock?" Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the signt of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."

Proverbs 16:2-3

Motives weighed by the LORD | *Solomon mostly, but Agur (30:1) and Lemuel (31:1) All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD. Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Job 19:25-27

My Redeemer Lives | *Author unknown, maybe Job, Moses, Solomon or Elihu Geo: Land of Uz, NE Palestine near desert land btwn Damascus & Euphrates river "I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"

Romans 1:16-17

Not ashamed of Gospel/Righteous live by faith Author *Paul -- Pauline Epistle GEO: written from Corinth to the church in Rome ----------------------------------------------------- "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." ------------------------------------------------------ Paul had not yet been to Rome when he wrote Romans. The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16-year-old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. The political situation in the capital had not yet deteriorated for the Roman Christians, as Nero wouldn't begin his persecution of them until he made them scapegoats after the great Roman fire in AD 64. Therefore, Paul wrote to a church that was experiencing a time of relative peace, but a church that he felt needed a strong dose of basic gospel doctrine.

1 Timothy 3:8-10

Qualifications for Deacons | *Paul SEE BOTTOM FOR DETAILS OF 1 TIMOTHY ------------------------------------------------------ 8 In the same way, deacons[a] are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. ----------------------------------------------------- *The first of Paul's final series of letters—along w/2 Timothy & Titus called the Pastoral Epistles—1 Timothy offers practical and pastoral advice from aging apostle Paul to young pastor Timothy working in the church at Ephesus. Released from Roman prison-allowed travel to Ephesus & eventually placed Timothy there. Paul then went to Macedonia to preach, where he heard reports of Timothy's work at Ephesus that prompted him to write 1 Timothy, ~ AD 63.

Ezekiel 36:26

Remove Stony heart & give you a heart of flesh *Ezekiel, son of Buzi Geo: Jerusalem, Babylon & Egypt To: Jews in captivity in Babylon I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Mark 10:23-25

Rich Young Man | *John Mark - Not one of the 12 disciples. Accompanied Paul on 1st Missionary Journey. A budding Jerusalem church met in his mother's home. * MORE BELOW GEO: Roman feel suggests Mark in Rome, writing from Peter's recollections sometime before that apostle's death (ca. AD 64-68), possibly composed btwn AD 57 and AD 59. ----------------------------------------------------- 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is[a] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." ---------------------------------------------------- Mark's most significant personal connection was with Peter, likely Mark's source for the material in the gospel. Mark's mother's house was a regular enough stop for Peter that the servants recognized him by voice alone (Acts 12:12-14). And it appears that Mark was present at Gethsemane, a young man watching the proceedings from a safe distance (Mark 14:51-52), leading some scholars to believe the Last Supper took place in Mark's home.

Habakkuk 2:4-5

Righteous live by his faithfulness | *Habakkuk TO: Judah, the So. Kingdom | 612-539 BC GEO: Judah PPL: Habakkuk & Babylonians ------------------------------------------------- 4 "See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright—but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness— 5 indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples. ------------------------------------------------- Commentary: If we look at this in reverse, is it not saying that the proud are going to die? But the just will live by faith. Indeed, the just are humble. The contrast goes unstated, but it is nonetheless there, between the just person and the proud person. The just person submits to God by faith. This is written in a way that indicates that the proud cannot live by faith. A proud person will live by his desires rather than in faith, humbly submitting to God. His desire is not to submit to God. Why? Because the spiritual qualities that the spirit in man can generate are essentially confined to the things of men: sight, sound, touch, hearing, and smelling—and being "tuned in" to demonic influences (Ephesians 2:2).

Mark 10:41-45

Serving Others | *John Mark --------------------------------------------------- 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Matthew 12:38-40

Sign of Jonah | *Matthew/Levi ---------------------------------------------- 38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you." 39 He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Romans 5:12

Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin.

Philemon 15-16

Slave=Dear Brother in Lord | *Paul 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. -----------------------------------------------------Philemon had visited Ephesus & converted under Paul's teaching. A slaveowner from the nearby city of Colossae. Paul addressed his "beloved brother" as a "fellow worker," a title given to those who served for a time alongside Paul. A kinship existed between Paul & Philemon, that served a significant purpose in light of the circumstance that brought about the letter. Slave, Onesimus, escaped from owner, Philemon; ran away from Colossae to Rome hoping to disappear in crowd. In Rome, Onesimus, came in contact w/Paul, who led the runaway slave to faith in Jesus Christ. Paul had already been planning to send a letter to the Colossian church by the hand of Tychicus. In AD 60 or 61 from Roman prison, Paul wrote a personal letter to Philemon and sent Onesimus the slave back to Colossae.

Genesis 12:1-3

The Call of Abram | *Moses Geographic Setting (Genesis 11-50) Mesopotamia (Ur and Haran) Land of Canaan Egypt The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

Exodus 14:21-25

The Exodus--Crossing the Red Sea | *Moses Exodus 1-15: Moses & the Exodus Geographic Setting: Egypt | Red Sea | Sinai Peninsula | Mount Sinai Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt."

Genesis 6:5-8

The Flood | God dealing with sinful man. *Moses Mesopotamia (until the Tower of Babel) The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, "I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created--and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground--for I regret that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Joshua 1:2

The Promised Land | *Joshua or scribe The land of Canaan "Moses my servant is dead. Nowthen, you and all of these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites."

Revelation 5:1-5

The Scroll & The Lamb | John the Apostle Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

Talmud

The Talmud is the most vital manuscript of the conventional Judaism religion. It is literally the Hebrew word for "learning," and is sometimes referred to as the six orders of the Mishnah. The Talmud contains the history of the Jewish religion, as well as their laws and beliefs. It is the basic tool for learning the ethics behind the customs of their religion.

Numbers: Where are we?

The events of the book began in the second year after the Israelites departed Egypt, as they camped at Mount Sinai around 1444 BC (Numbers 1:1). The narrative ends thirty-eight years later "in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho" (36:13) in 1406 BC. Numbers records the people's long wandering in the desert of Sinai, their time at the oasis of Kadesh-barnea, and their eventual arrival at the banks of the Jordan River across from the Promised Land. The Lord directed the message of Numbers toward the younger generation, children of the former slaves who escaped through the Red Sea. Except for Joshua, Caleb, and Moses, the older generation—everyone twenty years old or older at the time of the first census—died before the completion of Numbers, due to their disobedience and disbelief (Numbers 14:22-30). Moses completed the book before his death (Deuteronomy 31:24). Information from: https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-pentateuch/numbers

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 8:1-4

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Malachi 3:10

Tithe / Blessing | *Malachi To: Jews in Jerusalem ~430 BC GEO: Jerusalem, Temple PPL: Malachi & the priests ------------------------------------------------- Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

Torah

Torah: the Hebrew word for "instruction." The Torah is most widely known as the five books of Moses. Another word for Torah is "PENTATEUCH," which is more widely used in some Jewish nations. Very religious manuscript that contains religious writings important to the Jewish community. The Torah is basically the Hebrew Bible - it contains the 613 commandments, and is the whole context of Jewish laws and traditions.

Genesis 11:3-7

Tower of Babel | Plain of Sinar, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers | *Moses Mesopotamia (until the Tower of Babel) They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth." But the LORD, came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."

James 1:2-8

Trials & Temptation - Consider it pure JOY Author: thought James Jesus half-brother * ---------------------------------------------------- Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. ----------------------------------------------------- * James not a follower of Jesus during His time on earth, but became apostle in vein of Paul, as one who had seen/believed post-resurrection . After witnessing the Lord's resurrected body, James became a leader of Jerusalem church. Peter singled him out among other Christians following Peter's miraculous release from prison. James made the deciding speech at the Jerusalem Council; Paul called James one of the pillars of the church.

Ephesians 4:11-13

Unity/Maturity of Body of Christ | *Paul Written from Roman Prison ~ AD 60-61 TO: Church at Ephesus ----------------------------------------------------- So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. ----------------------------------------------------- Around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon; sent all three letters by hand of Tychicus, accompanied by Onesimus. First Roman imprisonment (Ephesians 3:1; 4:1), Prison Epistles: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

Ruth 1:16

Where you go I will go | *Author unknown, some think Samuel According to the Talmud (Jewish tradition), the prophet Samuel wrote the book of Ruth. Geo: Moab | Bethlehem DATE: Written during time of Judges, probably between 1160 BC and 1100 BC But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."

John 4:27-30

Woman @ the Well | * probably John son of Zebedee GEO: Samaria, on the way from Judea to Galilee --------------------------------------------------- 27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?" 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

John 1:14

Word became Flesh | *John, Son of Zebedee, most likely. One of the Twelve and along with James and Peter formed an inner circle around Jesus. This is the origin of his eyewitness testimony and penetrating insight. ------------------------------------------------------ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Matthew 9:35-38

Workers Few / Lord of Harvest | *Matthew/Levi 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."