The conversation between Jesus and Peter recorded in John 21:15-19 is one of the most well-known and poignant exchanges in the New Testament. Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Let’s explore the meaning behind this intimate dialogue. The Context To understand this passage, we need to back up to the events leading up to it. In the hours before his crucifixion, Jesus predicted that Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crowed (John 13:38). Later that evening in the courtyard of the high priest, Peter did exactly that when confronted by people accusing him of…
Author: Nicole Sands
The Court of the Gentiles was an outer court of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem that was open to non-Jews. It served as a place where Gentiles could come and pray and worship the God of Israel, without being required to convert to Judaism or enter the inner courts that were reserved for Jews. The Court of the Gentiles was part of the expansion and renovation of the Second Temple completed by King Herod the Great in around 20-19 BC. The temple complex had series of courts, each more restricted in access than the last. The outermost court was the…
Young earth creationism is the view that the universe and earth were created by God in six literal 24-hour days, sometime between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago. This view takes the biblical creation account in Genesis 1-2 as literal history. According to young earth creationists (YECs), the fossil record does not provide evidence for millions of years, but is better explained by a global flood and other catastrophic events recorded in the Bible. Here are 9000 words explaining how YECs handle evidence for millions of years in the fossil record: The fossil record shows a progression of simpler lifeforms in…
The Living Bible (TLB) is an English translation of the Bible published in 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers. It was translated by Kenneth N. Taylor and originally started as a paraphrase of the King James Version for Taylor’s own children. The goal was to make the Bible more understandable for young readers. Over time, it evolved into a full translation based on Hebrew and Greek texts. Here is an overview of key details about The Living Bible (TLB): History In the 1950s, Kenneth N. Taylor began paraphrasing Bible passages from the King James Version into simpler language for his children…
Money is a topic that comes up frequently in the Bible. Scripture offers wisdom and insight into how we should view money, how to handle our finances, and what our attitude should be toward wealth and possessions. Here is an overview of some key Bible verses about money: God Owns Everything The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1). God owns everything and we are simply stewards of what He has entrusted to us during our lifetimes. This perspective should guide how we view money and material possessions. Every…
What is a cupbearer? A cupbearer is a person who serves wine or other drinks to a king, queen, or other noble. The position of cupbearer is mentioned several times in the Bible, both in the Old Testament and New Testament. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about cupbearers and their role: In the Old Testament The cupbearer held an important position in the royal court. They had close access to the king and the privilege of serving him his drinks. This gave them potential influence over the ruler. However, it was also a dangerous position if…
The 21st Century King James Version (KJ21) is a modern English translation of the Bible first published in 1994. It aims to update the vocabulary and grammar of the original 1769 King James Version (KJV), while preserving the classic style and literary beauty of the KJV. Here is an overview of the KJ21 translation and what it offers: Background The KJ21 was translated by William J. Falconer, a pastor and Greek scholar. He wanted to bring the KJV into the 21st century by updating its Early Modern English language while maintaining its familiar phrasing and cadence. The KJV was last…
The Bible in Basic English (BBE) is an English translation of the Bible published in 1949 by Cambridge University Press. The BBE was translated by Professor Samuel Henry Hooke (1874-1968), an English scholar and Professor Emeritus of Oriental Languages at the University of London. The purpose of the BBE translation was to make the Bible more accessible to a wider audience by using a simplified version of English. Hooke aimed to translate the Bible into what he called “Basic English” – a form of simplified English that uses a vocabulary of just 1000 common English words. This makes the BBE…
Salvation is a central theme in the Bible. Here are some key Bible verses about salvation from both the Old and New Testaments: Old Testament Verses on Salvation In the Old Testament, salvation is portrayed as deliverance from enemies, trouble, or bondage. God is seen as the Divine Deliverer, rescuing His people from difficulty. “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2) “But I will deliver you on that day, declares the Lord, and you shall…
The Contemporary English Version (CEV) is a modern English translation of the Bible. Here is a 9,000 word overview of the CEV: The CEV is a translation of the Bible into everyday English. It was translated by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The goal was to make the Bible more accessible and understandable to people who speak English as a second language and to those who have limited reading skills. Work on the CEV began in the late 1980s. A team of over 100 scholars worked to translate the Bible into clear, simple English. The translators aimed for a…