The Bible has a lot to say about how we should treat our neighbors. Here is an overview of some of the key Bible verses about neighbors: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8) This commandment, which Jesus called the second greatest commandment after loving God, teaches that we should have the same regard for our neighbors as we have for ourselves. We are called to look out for their interests and needs with the same care and concern that we have for…
Author: Tim Collings
The Bible contains many powerful testimonies from people whose lives were transformed by encountering God. In this 9,000 word article, we will explore more examples of biblical testimonies and what we can learn from them. The Samaritan Woman at the Well (John 4:1-42) This story depicts an encounter between Jesus and a Samaritan woman who came to draw water from a well. Jesus, though a Jew, spoke with her despite the animosity between Jews and Samaritans at that time. As they spoke, Jesus revealed His knowledge of her past and present, including her five previous husbands. Amazed by His words,…
Unam Sanctum was a papal bull issued by Pope Boniface VIII in 1302. A papal bull is a type of public decree, letter patent, or charter issued by a pope. Unam Sanctum addressed issues of papal supremacy and asserted that salvation was found only in the Catholic Church. Some key points from the bull include: – There is only one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church – this refers to the Roman Catholic Church under the spiritual leadership of the Pope. – This Church represents the one mystical body of Christ and salvation is found only within the Catholic Church. Non-Catholics…
Pure Land Buddhism, also known as Amidism, is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism that focuses on achieving rebirth in the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha. The Pure Land is described in Buddhist scriptures as a paradise-like realm where conditions are ideal for attaining enlightenment. Pure Land Buddhism originated in India and later spread to China and Japan, where it became very popular. Key concepts in Pure Land Buddhism include: Amitabha Buddha – The Buddha of Infinite Light and Life who presides over the Pure Land. Amitabha vowed to create this paradise for all who call upon his name. Pure Land…
The conscience is an important concept in the Bible. Here are some key Bible verses about conscience from the English Standard Version (ESV): A good conscience comes from living rightly “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5) “In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.” (Titus 2:7-8) “Keep a good conscience,…
Proverbs 18:10 states, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” This verse beautifully illustrates the power and protection that come from trusting in God’s name. But what does it mean that God’s name is like a strong tower? Let’s explore this metaphor and its meaning in depth. The Name of the Lord Represents His Character In biblical times, a person’s name was closely tied to their reputation and character. Similarly, the “name” of the Lord represents who He is. When we call upon His name, we’re calling on His…
Chrismation, also known as confirmation, is the sacrament in which a baptized person is anointed with chrism oil and receives the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is practiced in Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian, and Eastern Catholic churches. The biblical basis for chrismation comes primarily from the book of Acts and the epistles. The Biblical Basis for Chrismation In the book of Acts, there are several instances where new believers receive the Holy Spirit shortly after being baptized. For example: “Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them…
Brokenness is a common human experience that involves feeling shattered or fragmented emotionally, mentally, physically, or spiritually. It often stems from traumatic events, losses, failures, disappointments, and the hardships of life. The Bible has much to say about brokenness and offers hope, healing, and restoration to those who are broken. Verses about God healing and restoring the brokenhearted One of the most well-known verses is Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” This verse assures us that God sees our pain and brokenness and promises to stay near to comfort us. Similarly,…
Letting the peace of Christ rule in your hearts is an important concept that Paul teaches in Colossians 3:15. In order to fully understand what this means, we need to examine the verse in context, look at the original Greek wording, and see how this concept is illustrated throughout Scripture. The Context of Colossians 3:15 Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” This verse comes in the midst of a passage where Paul is giving practical instructions to the Colossian believers about…
The belief that the Bible is self-authenticating means that the Bible authenticates itself as the Word of God without needing any external evidence to validate its claims. The Bible’s divine inspiration, authority, sufficiency, and life-transforming power serve as internal proof that it is indeed the very Word of God. The Bible Claims Divine Authorship Throughout its pages, the Bible clearly claims that God Himself is the divine Author behind its message (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21). The biblical authors credit God as the Source, writing under the inspiration and authority of the Holy Spirit. For instance, over 3800 times…