NIV, Topical Starter Bible

By Zondervan

 This Bible is your GPS for a tour through the Bible.
Sometimes you want to meander through your Scripture reading, and other times you want to get straight to what you’re looking for. When it’s the latter, this is the Bible for you.
The NIV Topical Starter Bible puts a spotlight on a variety of important topics, making it easy for you to find the answers you’re looking for. Got a hot topic on the mind? Find it in the 700+ entry topical index in the back of this Bible. Wondering if the Bible has anything to say about the hard question your friend asked you? Search the index to find the answer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: May 22, 2012
• ISBN: 9780310411161

Book preview

TOPICAL STARTER BIBLE

NIV

The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by Permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Topical Starter Bible Published by Zondervan Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530, USA

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New International Version and NIV are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 2010939336

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eISBN: 9780310411161

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Table of Contents

Cover Page

Articles and Resources

OLD TESTAMENT

NEW TESTAMENT

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OLD TESTAMENT

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NEW TESTAMENT

Articles and Resources

How to Use The NIV Topical Starter Bible, Digital eBook Edition

Preface

Books of the Bible in Alphabetical Order

Table of Weights and Measures

Topical Index

Index to Color Maps

Maps

Genesis by Chapters

Exodus by Chapters

Leviticus by Chapters

Numbers by Chapters

Deuteronomy by Chapters

Joshua by Chapters

Judges by Chapters

Ruth by Chapters

1 Samuel by Chapters

2 Samuel by Chapters

1 Kings by Chapters

2 Kings by Chapters

1 Chronicles by Chapters

2 Chronicles by Chapters

Ezra by Chapters

Nehemiah by Chapters

Esther by Chapters

Job by Chapters

Psalms by Chapters

Proverbs by Chapters

Ecclesiastes by Chapters

Song of Songs by Chapters

Isaiah by Chapters

Jeremiah by Chapters

Lamentations by Chapters

Ezekiel by Chapters

Daniel by Chapters

Hosea by Chapters

Joel by Chapters

Amos by Chapters

Obadiah

Jonah by Chapters

Micah by Chapters

Nahum by Chapters

Habakkuk by Chapters

Zephaniah by Chapters

Haggai by Chapters

Zechariah by Chapters

Malachi by Chapters

Matthew by Chapters

Mark by Chapters

Luke by Chapters

John by Chapters

Acts by Chapters

Romans by Chapters

1 Corinthians by Chapters

2 Corinthians by Chapters

Galatians by Chapters

Ephesians by Chapters

Philippians by Chapters

Colossians by Chapters

1 Thessalonians by Chapters

2 Thessalonians by Chapters

1 Timothy by Chapters

2 Timothy by Chapters

Titus by Chapters

Philemon

Hebrews by Chapters

James by Chapters

1 Peter by Chapters

2 Peter by Chapters

1 John by Chapters

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation by Chapters

How to Use The NIV Topical Starter Bible, Digital eBook Edition

Following is a guide to navigating this eBook on your digital device. Although functionality and capability of digital devices vary widely, the following notes will help you find the many helpful features of this eBook no matter which device you’re using.

Footnotes

All footnotes found in this Bible are represented as links. Use your reading device to select and activate a link.

A number located inside brackets ([1]) links to a footnote.

Navigation

To navigate throughout this eBook edition Bible, use your reading device to access the Table of Contents. The Table of Contents provides instant access to every book of the Bible, and will point you toward all of the additional study resources contained within this eBook edition Bible.

If you have further questions, we recommend that you refer to your specific eReader’s instruction manual or customer support guide.

Preface

The goal of the New International Version (NIV) is to enable English-speaking people from around the world to read and hear God’s eternal Word in their own language. Our work as translators is motivated by our conviction that the Bible is God’s Word in written form. We believe that the Bible contains the divine answer to the deepest needs of humanity, sheds unique light on our path in a dark world and sets forth the way to our eternal well-being. Out of these deep convictions, we have sought to recreate as far as possible the experience of the original audience—blending transparency to the original text with accessibility for the millions of English speakers around the world. We have prioritized accuracy, clarity and literary quality with the goal of creating a translation suitable for public and private reading, evangelism, teaching, preaching, memorizing and liturgical use. We have also sought to preserve a measure of continuity with the long tradition of translating the Scriptures into English.

The complete NIV Bible was first published in 1978. It was a completely new translation made by over a hundred scholars working directly from the best available Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts. The translators came from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, giving the translation an international scope. They were from many denominations and churches—including Anglican, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Brethren, Christian Reformed, Church of Christ, Evangelical Covenant, Evangelical Free, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Nazarene, Presbyterian, Wesleyan and others. This breadth of denominational and theological perspective helped to safeguard the translation from sectarian bias. For these reasons, and by the grace of God, the NIV has gained a wide readership in all parts of the English-speaking world.

The work of translating the Bible is never finished. As good as they are, English translations must be regularly updated so that they will continue to communicate accurately the meaning of God’s Word. Updates are needed in order to reflect the latest developments in our understanding of the biblical world and its languages and to keep pace with changes in English usage. Recognizing, then, that the NIV would retain its ability to communicate God’s Word accurately only if it were regularly updated, the original translators established The Committee on Bible Translation (CBT). The committee is a self-perpetuating group of biblical scholars charged with keeping abreast of advances in biblical scholarship and changes in English and issuing periodic updates to the NIV. CBT is an independent, self-governing body and has sole responsibility for the NIV text. The committee mirrors the original group of translators in its diverse international and denominational makeup and in its unifying commitment to the Bible as God’s inspired Word.

In obedience to its mandate, the committee has issued periodic updates to the NIV. An initial revision was released in 1984. A more thorough revision process was completed in 2005, resulting in the separately published Today’s New International Version (TNIV). The updated NIV you now have in your hands builds on both the original NIV and the TNIV and represents the latest effort of the committee to articulate God’s unchanging Word in the way the original authors might have said it had they been speaking in English to the global English-speaking audience today.

The first concern of the translators has continued to be the accuracy of the translation and its faithfulness to the intended meaning of the biblical writers. This has moved the translators to go beyond a formal word-for-word rendering of the original texts. Because thought patterns and syntax differ from language to language, accurate communication of the meaning of the biblical authors demands constant regard for varied contextual uses of words and idioms and for frequent modifications in sentence structures.

As an aid to the reader, sectional headings have been inserted. They are not to be regarded as part of the biblical text and are not intended for oral reading. It is the committee’s hope that these headings may prove more helpful to the reader than the traditional chapter divisions, which were introduced long after the Bible was written.

For the Old Testament the standard Hebrew text, the Masoretic Text as published in the latest edition of Biblia Hebraica, has been used throughout. The Masoretic Text tradition contains marginal notations that offer variant readings. These have sometimes been followed instead of the text itself. Because such instances involve variants within the Masoretic tradition, they have not been indicated in the textual notes. In a few cases, words in the basic consonantal text have been divided differently than in the Masoretic Text. Such cases are usually indicated in the textual footnotes. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain biblical texts that represent an earlier stage of the transmission of the Hebrew text. They have been consulted, as have been the Samaritan Pentateuch and the ancient scribal traditions concerning deliberate textual changes. The translators also consulted the more important early versions—the Greek Septuagint, Aquila, Symmachus and Theodotion, the Latin Vulgate, the Syriac Peshitta, the Aramaic Targums and, for the Psalms, the Juxta Hebraica of Jerome. Readings from these versions, the Dead Sea Scrolls and the scribal traditions were occasionally followed where the Masoretic Text seemed doubtful and where accepted principles of textual criticism showed that one or more of these textual witnesses appeared to provide the correct reading. In rare cases, the committee has emended the Hebrew text where it appears to have become corrupted at an even earlier stage of its transmission. These departures from the Masoretic Text are also indicated in the textual footnotes. Sometimes the vowel indicators (which are later additions to the basic consonantal text) found in the Masoretic Text did not, in the judgment of the committee, represent the correct vowels for the original text. Accordingly, some words have been read with a different set of vowels. These instances are usually not indicated in the footnotes.

The Greek text used in translating the New Testament is an eclectic one, based on the latest editions of the Nestle-Aland/United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament. The committee has made its choices among the variant readings in accordance with widely accepted principles of New Testament textual criticism. Footnotes call attention to places where uncertainty remains.

The New Testament authors, writing in Greek, often quote the Old Testament from its ancient Greek version, the Septuagint. This is one reason why some of the Old Testament quotations in the NIV New Testament are not identical to the corresponding passages in the NIV Old Testament. Such quotations in the New Testament are indicated with the footnote (see Septuagint).

Other footnotes in this version are of several kinds, most of which need no explanation. Those giving alternative translations begin with Or and generally introduce the alternative with the last word preceding it in the text, except when it is a single-word alternative. When poetry is quoted in a footnote, a slash mark indicates a line division.

It should be noted that references to diseases, minerals, flora and fauna, architectural details, clothing, jewelry, musical instruments and other articles cannot always be identified with precision. Also, linear measurements and measures of capacity can only be approximated (see the Table of Weights and Measures). Although Selah, used mainly in the Psalms, is probably a musical term, its meaning is uncertain. Since it may interrupt reading and distract the reader, this word has not been kept in the English text, but every occurrence has been signaled by a footnote.

One of the main reasons the task of Bible translation is never finished is the change in our own language, English. Although a basic core of the language remains relatively stable, many diverse and complex linguistic factors continue to bring about subtle shifts in the meanings and/or connotations of even old, well-established words and phrases. One of the shifts that creates particular challenges to writers and translators alike is the manner in which gender is presented. The original NIV (1978) was published in a time when a man would naturally be understood, in many contexts, to be referring to a person, whether male or female. But most English speakers today tend to hear a distinctly male connotation in this word. In recognition of this change in English, this edition of the NIV, along with almost all other recent English translations, substitutes other expressions when the original text intends to refer generically to men and women equally. Thus, for instance, the NIV (1984) rendering of 1 Corinthians 8:3, But the man who loves God is known by God becomes in this edition But whoever loves God is known by God. On the other hand, man and mankind, as ways of denoting the human race, are still widely used. This edition of the NIV therefore continues to use these words, along with other expressions, in this way.

A related shift in English creates a greater challenge for modern translations: the move away from using the third-person masculine singular pronouns—he/him/his—to refer to men and women equally. This usage does persist at a low level in some forms of English, and this revision therefore occasionally uses these pronouns in a generic sense. But the tendency, recognized in day-to-day usage and confirmed by extensive research, is away from the generic use of he, him and his. In recognition of this shift in language and in an effort to translate into the common English that people are actually using, this revision of the NIV generally uses other constructions when the biblical text is plainly addressed to men and women equally. The reader will frequently encounter a they, them or their to express a generic singular idea. Thus, for instance, Mark 8:36 reads: What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? This generic use of the indefinite or singular they/them/their has a venerable place in English idiom and has quickly become established as standard English, spoken and written, all over the world. Where an individual emphasis is deemed to be present, anyone or everyone or some other equivalent is generally used as the antecedent of such pronouns.

Sometimes the chapter and/or verse numbering in English translations of the Old Testament differs from that found in published Hebrew texts. This is particularly the case in the Psalms, where the traditional titles are often included in the Hebrew verse numbering. Such differences are indicated in the footnotes at the bottom of the page. In the New Testament, verse numbers that marked off portions of the traditional English text not supported by the best Greek manuscripts now appear in brackets, with a footnote indicating the text that has been omitted (see, for example, Matthew 17:[21]).

Mark 16:9–20 and John 7:53–8:11, although long accorded virtually equal status with the rest of the Gospels in which they stand, have a very questionable—and confused—standing in the textual history of the New Testament, as noted in the bracketed annotations with which they are set off. A different typeface has been chosen for these passages to indicate even more clearly their uncertain status.

Basic formatting of the text, such as lining the poetry, paragraphing (both prose and poetry), setting up of (administrative-like) lists, indenting letters and lengthy prayers within narratives and the insertion of sectional headings, has been the work of the committee. However, the choice between single-column and double-column formats has been left to the publishers. Also the issuing of red-letter editions is a publisher’s choice—one the committee does not endorse.

The committee has again been reminded that every human effort is flawed—including this revision of the NIV. We trust, however, that many will find in it an improved representation of the Word of God, through which they hear his call to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and to service in his kingdom. We offer this version of the Bible to him in whose name and for whose glory it has been made.

The Committee on Bible Translation

September 2010

Books of the Bible in Alphabetical Order

The books of the New Testament are indicated by italics.

Table of Weights and Measures

The figures of the table are calculated on the basis of a shekel equaling 11.5 grams, a cubit equaling 18 inches and an ephah equaling 22 liters. The quart referred to is either a dry quart (slightly larger than a liter) or a liquid quart (slightly smaller than a liter), whichever is applicable. The ton referred to in the footnotes is the American ton of 2,000 pounds. These weights are calculated relative to the particular commodity involved. Accordingly, the same measure of capacity in the text may be converted into different weights in the footnotes.

This table is based upon the best available information, but it is not intended to be mathematically precise; like the measurement equivalents in the footnotes, it merely gives approximate amounts and distances. Weights and measures differed somewhat at various times and places in the ancient world. There is uncertainty particularly about the ephah and the bath; further discoveries may shed more light on these units of capacity.

Topical Index

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A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

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A

AARON

ABEDNEGO

ABEL

ABIATHAR

ABIGAIL

ABIHU

ABIJAH/ABIJAM

ABIMELECH

ABISHAG

ABISHAI

ABNER

ABORTION

ABRAHAM

ABSALOM

ACCESS TO GOD

ACHAN

ACHISH

ADAM

ADONIJAH

ADOPTION

ADULLAM

ADULTERY

AFFLICTION

AGABUS

AGAG

AGRIPPA

AHAB

AHAZ

AHAZIAH

AHIMELECH

AHITHOPHEL

AI

ALCOHOL

ALIEN

ALTAR

AMALEKITES

AMASA

AMAZIAH

AMBITION

AMMONITES

AMNON

AMON

AMORITES

AMOS

ANANIAS

ANCESTRY

ANDREW

ANGEL

ANGEL OF THE LORD

ANGER

ANIMALS

ANNA

ANNAS

ANOINTING

ANTICHRIST

ANTIOCH

ANXIETY

APOLLOS

APOSTASY

APOSTLE

AQUILA

ARAM/SYRIA, ARAMEANS/SYRIANS

ARK OF THE TESTIMONY

ARMAGEDDON

ARTAXERXES

ASA

ASAHEL

ASAPH

ASCENSION

ASHER

ASIA

ASSURANCE

ASSYRIANS

ATHALIAH

ATHLETICS

ATONEMENT

AUTHORITY

AWE

B

BAASHA

BABYLON

BALAAM

BALAK

BANNER

BAPTISM

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

BARABBAS

BARAK

BARNABAS

BARTHOLOMEW

BARUCH

BARZILLAI

BATHSHEBA

BEERSHEBA

BELSHAZZAR

BEN-HADAD

BENEVOLENCE

BENJAMIN

BETHANY

BETHEL

BETHLEHEM

BETHSAIDA

BEZALEL

BILDAD

BILHAH

BIRDS

BLASPHEMY

BLESSING

BLOOD

BOASTING

BOAZ

BODY

BOLDNESS

BOOK

BORN AGAIN

BREAD

BROTHERS AND SISTERS

BUILDING

C

CAESAREA

CAIAPHAS

CAIN

CALEB

CALENDAR

CALL, CALLING

CANAAN, CANAANITES

CAPERNAUM

CASTING LOTS

CEPHAS

CHARIOT

CHASTISEMENT

CHILDREN

CHOOSING

CHRIST

CHRISTIAN

CHURCH

CIRCUMCISION

CITY

CLEANNESS

CLOTHING

COMFORT

COMPASSION

CONFESSION

CONFIDENCE

CONSCIENCE

CONTENTMENT

CONVERSION

CORINTH

CORNELIUS

COUNSELOR

COURAGE

COVENANT

COVETING

CREATION

CREED

CROSS

CROWN

CURSE, CURSING

CYRUS

D

DAMASCUS

DAN

DANCING

DANIEL

DARIUS

DARKNESS

DAVID

DAY

DEACON

DEATH

DEBORAH

DEBT

DEMETRIUS

DEMONS

DEPRAVITY

DEPRESSION

DESPAIR

DEVIL

DEVOTION

DINAH

DISCIPLESHIP

DISCIPLINE

DIVORCE

DOCTRINE

DOEG

DOG

DORCAS

DOUBT

DOVE

DREAMS AND VISIONS

DROUGHT

DRUGS

DRUNKENNESS

DUST

E

EAGLE

EAR

EARTH

EARTHQUAKE

EDOMITES

EDUCATION

EGLON

EGYPT

EHUD

ELAH

ELDER

ELEAZAR

ELECTION

ELI

ELIHU

ELIJAH

ELIMELECH

ELIPHAZ

ELISHA

ELIZABETH

ELKANAH

ENCOURAGEMENT

ENEMY

ENOCH

ENVY

EPHESUS

EPHRAIM

ESAU

ESTHER

ETERNAL

EUPHRATES

EVANGELISM

EVE

EXAMPLE

EXHORTATION

EXILE

EXODUS

EYE

EZEKIEL

EZRA

F

FACE

FAITH

FAITHFULNESS

FALLING AWAY

FAMILY

FAMINE

FASTING

FATHER

FEAR

FEASTS

FELIX

FELLOWSHIP

FESTUS

FIRE

FIRSTFRUITS

FISH

FOLLY

FOOL

FOOT

FORGET

FORGIVENESS

FORNICATION

FREEDOM

FRIENDSHIP

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

G

GABRIEL

GAD

GALATIA

GALILEE

GAMBLING

GATH

GAZA

GEDALIAH

GEHAZI

GENEALOGY

GENTILES

GENTLENESS

GIBEON

GIDEON

GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

GLORY

GOD

GOLD

GOLIATH

GOMORRAH

GOSPEL

GOVERNMENT

GRACE

GRAVE/SHEOL

GREAT TRIBULATION

GREECE, GREEK

GREED

GRIEF

GROWTH

GUILT

H

HAGAR

HAGGAI

HAM

HAMAN

HAND

HANNAH

HARAN

HARVEST

HAZAEL

HEAD

HEALING

HEART

HEAVEN

HEBRON

HEIR

HELL

HERESY

HEROD

HERODIAS

HEZEKIAH

HILKIAH

HIRAM

HITTITES

HOLINESS

HOLY SPIRIT

HOME

HOMOSEXUALITY

HONESTY

HOPE

HOPHNI

HOREB

HORSE

HOSEA

HOSHEA

HOSPITALITY

HULDAH

HUMILITY

HUNGER AND THIRST

HUR

HUSHAI

HYPOCRISY

I

ICHABOD

IDOLATRY

IMAGE OF GOD

INCARNATION

INCENSE

INHERITANCE

INSECTS

INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE

INTEGRITY

INTERCESSION

INTEREST

ISAAC

ISAIAH

ISCARIOT

ISH-BOSHETH

ISHMAEL

ISRAEL

ISSACHAR

ITHAMAR

J

JACOB

JAEL

JAIR

JAIRUS

JAMES

JAPHETH

JEALOUSY

JECONIAH

JEHOAHAZ

JEHOASH

JEHOIACHIN/JECONIAH/CONIAH

JEHOIADA

JEHOIAKIM/ELIAKIM

JEHORAM/JORAM

JEHOSHAPHAT

JEHU

JEPHTHAH

JEREMIAH

JERICHO

JEROBOAM

JERUBBAAL

JERUSALEM

JESSE

JESUS CHRIST

JETHRO

JEW

JEZEBEL

JOAB

JOASH

JOB

JOCHEBED

JOHN

JONAH

JONATHAN

JORAM/JEHORAM

JORDAN

JOSEPH

JOSHUA

JOSIAH

JOTHAM

JOY

JUDAH

JUDAS

JUDE

JUDEA

JUDGE, JUDGMENT

JUSTICE

JUSTIFICATION

K

KADESH, KADESH-BARNEA

KETURAH

KINDNESS

KING

KINGDOM

KISS

KNOWLEDGE

KORAH

L

LABAN

LAMB

LANGUAGE

LAW

LAZARUS

LEADER

LEAH

LEAVEN

LEBANON

LEGALISM

LEISURE

LEVI, LEVITE

LIFE

LIGHT

LION

LORD

LORD’S SUPPER

LOT

LOVE

LUKE

LUST

LYDIA

LYING

M

MACEDONIA

MACHPELAH

MAGIC, WITCHCRAFT AND SORCERY

MANASSEH

MARK

MARRIAGE

MARTHA

MARY

MATTHEW

MATTHIAS

MEDES AND PERSIANS

MEDIATOR

MEDITATION

MEEKNESS

MEGIDDO

MELCHIZEDEK

MENAHEM

MEPHIBOSHETH

MERCY

MESHACH

MESSIAH

METHUSELAH

MICAIAH

MICHAEL

MICHAL

MIDIANITES

MILK

MIND

MIRACLE

MIRIAM

MISSION

MOABITES

MONEY

MONTH

MOON

MORDECAI

MORIAH

MOSES

MOTHER

MOUNTAIN

MOUTH

MURDER

MUSIC AND SONG

MYSTERY

N

NAAMAN

NABAL

NABOTH

NADAB

NAME

NAOMI

NAPHTALI

NATHAN

NATHANAEL/NATHANIEL

NATIONS

NATURE

NAZARETH

NEBUCHADNEZZAR

NECO/NECHO

NEEDY

NEHEMIAH

NEIGHBOR

NICODEMUS

NIGHT

NINEVEH

NOAH

NUMBERS

O

OATH

OBADIAH

OBEDIENCE

OCCULT

OFFERINGS

OG

OLIVES, MOUNT OF

OMRI

ORDER

ORPAH

OTHNIEL

P

PAIN

PARABLE

PATIENCE

PAUL

PEACE

PEKAH

PEKAHIAH

PERFECTION

PERSECUTION

PERSEVERANCE

PERSIA

PETER

PETITION

PHARAOH

PHARISEES

PHILIP

PHILISTINES

PHINEHAS

PHOEBE

PIETY

PILATE

PITY

POTIPHAR

POVERTY

POWER

PRAISE

PRAYER

PREACHING

PREDESTINATION

PRIDE

PRIEST

PRISCILLA

PROMISE

PROPHET

PROVIDENCE

PUNISHMENT

Q

QUEEN

R

RACHEL

RAHAB

RAIN

RANSOM

RAPTURE

REBEKAH

RECONCILIATION

REDEMPTION

REGENERATION

REHOBOAM

REJOICE

REMEMBER

REMNANT

REPENTANCE

REPTILES

REST

RESURRECTION

REUBEN

REVELATION

REWARD

RIGHTEOUSNESS

RIVER

ROCK

ROME

RUTH

S

SABBATH

SACRIFICE

SADDUCEES

SALOME

SALT

SALVATION

SAMARIA

SAMARITANS

SAMSON

SAMUEL

SANBALLAT

SANCTIFICATION

SANHEDRIN

SAPPHIRA

SARAH

SATAN

SAUL

SEA

SEAL

SECOND COMING

SELF-CONTROL

SELF-DENIAL

SELFISHNESS

SENNACHERIB

SERVANT

SETH

SEXUAL STANDARDS

SHADRACH

SHALLUM

SHAME

SHAMGAR

SHAPHAN

SHECHEM

SHEEP

SHEM

SHEOL

SHEPHERD

SHILOH

SHIMEI

SIDON

SIDONIANS

SIGN

SIHON

SILAS/SILVANUS

SILVER

SIMEON

SIMON

SIN

SINAI

SINGLES

SISERA

SISTER

SLAVERY

SNOW

SODOM AND GOMORRAH

SOLOMON

SON OF MAN

SONG

SORROW

SOUL

SPIRIT

SPIRITUALITY

STARS

STEADFASTNESS

STEALING

STEPHEN

STEWARDSHIP

STRANGERS

SUFFERING

SUN

SWEARING

SYMPATHY

SYRIA, SYRIANS

T

TABERNACLE

TAMAR

TEACHING

TEMPLE

TEMPTATION

TEN COMMANDMENTS

TESTAMENT

TESTING

THADDAEUS

THANKSGIVING

THE RICH AND THE POOR

THEFT

THIRST

THOMAS

THRONE

TIME

TIMOTHY

TITHES AND OFFERINGS

TITUS

TONGUES

TRADITION

TREE

TRIBULATION

TRINITY

TRUST

TRUTH

TYRE

U

UNION WITH CHRIST

UNITY

URIAH

URIM AND THUMMIM

USURY

UZZIAH

V

VASHTI

VICTORY

VINEYARD

VISION

VOICE

VOW

W

WALK OF LIFE

WARFARE

WATCHFULNESS

WATER

WEALTH

WEATHER

WICKEDNESS

WILL OF GOD

WIND

WINE

WISDOM

WITCHCRAFT

WITNESS

WOMEN

WORD OF GOD

WORK

WORLD

WORSHIP

WRATH

X

XERXES/AHASUERUS

Y

YEAR OF JUBILEE

YEAST/LEAVEN

YOKE

YOUTH

Z

ZACCHAEUS

ZADOK

ZEAL

ZEBULUN

ZECHARIAH/ZACHARIAH

ZEDEKIAH

ZERUBBABEL

ZILPAH

ZIMRI

ZION

ZIPPORAH

ZOPHAR

AARON

A. Family data

– Genealogy  Exod 6:16–20, I Ch 6:3–15

– Son of Amram and Jochebed Exod 6:20

– Older brother of Moses  Exod 7:1, 7

– Brother of Miriam Num 26:59

– Married Elisheba  Exod 6:23

– Four children  Exod 6:23, Lev 10:1, 6

B. His priesthood

1. His garments  Exod 28:1–43, Exod 39:1–31

2. His consecration  Exod 29:1–46

3. His ordination  Lev 8:1–36

4. His duties

– To teach God’s decrees  Lev 10:8–11

– To offer prescribed sacrifices  Lev 6:9–13

– To officiate on the Day of Atonement  Heb 9:7

– To make atonement in special situations  Num 16:46–47

5. Hereditary high priesthood  Num 20:25–26

6. Established the house of Aaron  II Ch 29:21, Ps 115:10, 12, Luke 1:5

C. Significant events

– Spokesman for Moses  Exod 4:14–16, 27–31, Exod 7:1–2

– Supported Moses’ hands  Exod 17:8–13

– Built golden calf  Exod 32:1–24

– Saved through Moses’ prayer  Deut 9:20

– With Miriam, criticized Moses  Num 12:1–15

– His rod budded  Num 17:1–11

– Forbidden to enter Canaan  Num 20:1–12

– His death  Num 20:22–29, Num 33:38–39

ABEDNEGO

– Hebrew deported to Babylon  Dan 1:1–6

– Name changed from Azariah  Dan 1:7

– Refused to be defiled by food  Dan 1:8–20

– Was appointed administrator over Babylon  Dan 2:49

– Refused to worship idols  Dan 3:1–12

– Saved from fiery furnace  Dan 3:13–30

ABEL

– Second son of Adam  Gen 4:2

– The first shepherd  Gen 4:2

– Offered proper sacrifice  Gen 4:4, Heb 11:4

– Considered righteous  Matt 23:35

– Murdered by Cain  Gen 4:8, I Jn 3:12

– Christ’s blood superior to his  Heb 12:24

– His place taken by Seth  Gen 4:25

ABIATHAR

– High priest in days of Saul and David  Mark 2:26

– Escaped Saul’s slaughter  I Sa 22:18–23

– Became high priest under David  I Sa 23:6, 9

– Joint high priest with Zadok  II Sa 19:11

– Supported David against Absalom  II Sa 15:24–29

– Supported Adonijah  I Ki 1:7–42

– Deposed by Solomon I Ki 2:22–35

ABIGAIL

A. Stepsister of David  II Sa 17:25, I Ch 2:16–17

– Married Ithra  II Sa 17:25

– Mother of Amasa, Absalom’s commander  II Sa 17:25

– Aunt of Joab, David’s commander  II Sa 17:25

B. Wife of Nabal  I Sa 25:3

– Begged David to spare Nabal’s life  I Sa 25:23–35

– Became David’s wife after Nabal’s death  I Sa 25:36–42

– Captured and rescued  I Sa 30:5, 18

– Gave birth to Chileab  II Sa 3:3

ABIHU

– Son of Aaron  Exod 6:23

– Went up Mount Sinai  Exod 24:1, 9

– Consecrated as priest  Exod 28:1

– Killed for offering unauthorized fire Lev 10:1–2, Num 3:2–4

– Had no sons  I Ch 24:2

ABIJAH/ABIJAM

A. Second son of Samuel  I Ch 6:28

– A corrupt judge  I Sa 8:1–5

B. An Aaronic priest  I Ch 24:10

– Ancestor of Zachariah  Luke 1:5

C. Son of Jeroboam I of Israel  I Ki 14:1

– Died as Ahijah prophesied  I Ki 14:1–18

D. King of Judah: son of Rehoboam  I Ki 14:31, Matt 1:7

– Reigned three years  I Ki 15:1–2

– Fought against Jeroboam  II Ch 13:1–22

– A wicked king  I Ki 15:3

ABIMELECH

A. King of Gerar

– Took Abraham’s wife Sarah  Gen 20:1–2

– Warned by God in a dream  Gen 20:3–7

– Angry with Abraham  Gen 20:8–16

– Healed by God  Gen 20:17–18

– Made a covenant with Abraham  Gen 21:22–33

B. Another king of Gerar

– Discovered truth about Rebekah  Gen 26:1–11

– Controversy with Isaac over wells  Gen 26:12–22

– Made a covenant with Isaac  Gen 26:26–31

C. Son of Gideon  Judg 8:31

– Attempted to make himself king  Judg 9:1–49

– His death  Judg 9:50–57

ABISHAG

– Shunammite virgin who attended David  I Ki 1:1–4

– Adonijah killed for wanting to marry her I Ki 2:13–25

ABISHAI

– Son of Zeruiah, David’s sister  I Ch 2:16

– Brother of Joab  I Sa 26:6

– One of David’s chief warriors  I Ch 11:15–21

– Wanted to kill Saul  I Sa 26:6–9

– Fought against Edomites  I Ch 18:12–13

– Killed Abner  II Sa 2:18–27

– Fought against Ammonites  II Sa 10:9–10

– Wanted to kill Shimei  II Sa 16:5–12

– Fought against Absalom  II Sa 18:2, 5, 12

– Fought against Sheba  II Sa 20:1–6, 10

– Fought against Philistines  II Sa 21:15–17

ABNER

– Cousin of Saul  I Sa 14:50

– Commander of Saul’s army  I Sa 17:55–57

– Chided by David for carelessness  I Sa 26:5–16

– Made Ish-bosheth king after Saul  II Sa 2:8–10

– Defeated by David’s men  II Sa 2:12–17

– Defected to David  II Sa 3:8–21

– Killed by Joab and Abishai  II Sa 3:22–39

ABORTION

A. Law regarding accidental loss of a child Exod 21:22

B. What is said about a fetus

– It is called a child  Matt 1:20

– It has conscious awareness  Luke 1:36, 41, 44

– Sinful nature is present at conception  Ps 51:5

C. How God relates to a fetus

– God cares for a conceived child  Isa 46:3

– God forms a child  Ps 139:13–15, Isa 44:2, 24

– God plans a child’s life  Ps 139:16, Isa 49:1, Jer 1:5, Gal 1:15

ABRAHAM

A. Family data

– Line of Shem  I Ch 1:24–27

– Son of Terah  Gen 11:26–27

– Original name: Abram Gen 11:27

– Husband of Sarai  Gen 11:29

– Father of Ishmael with Hagar  Gen 16:1–4, 15–16

– Father of Isaac with Sarah  Gen 21:1–3

– Father of many children with Keturah Gen 25:1–4

– Died at 175 years old  Gen 25:7–8

B. Covenant with the Lord

1. Called while in Ur  Gen 12:1–3, Acts 7:2–4

2. Received promises

– Land and descendants  Gen 13:14–17, Gen 15:18–21, Gen 22:15–18

– A son by Sarah  Gen 17:16, Gen 18:9–15

3. Given circumcision as a sign  Gen 17:1–14, 23–27, Rom 4:9–12

4. Declared righteous through faith  Gen 15:6, Rom 4:3, 20–24, Gal 3:6–9

5. Covenant sealed by sacrifice  Gen 15:8–21

6. Name changed to Abraham  Gen 17:5, Neh 9:7

7. Covenant remembered  Luke 1:68–75, Heb 6:13–15

C. Travels and significant events

– Left Ur  Gen 11:31

– Went to Canaan  Gen 12:1–6, Acts 7:2–4

– Deceived Pharaoh about Sarai  Gen 12:10–20

– Divided land with Lot, settled in Hebron  Gen 13:1–18

– Rescued Lot from four kings  Gen 14:1–16

– Blessed by Melchizedek  Gen 14:17–20, Heb 7:1–7

– Declared righteous through faith  Gen 15:6

– Fathered Ishmael with Hagar  Gen 16:1–16

– Entertained three visitors  Gen 18:1–15

– Interceded for the city of Sodom  Gen 18:16–33

– Deceived Abimelech about Sarah  Gen 20:1–10

– Fathered Isaac with Sarah  Gen 21:1–3

– Sent Hagar and Ishmael away  Gen 21:8–21, Gal 4:22–30

– Made a covenant with Abimelech  Gen 21:22–32

– Tested by command to sacrifice Isaac  Gen 22:1–18, Heb 11:17–19

– Bought field for Sarah’s burial  Gen 23:1–20

– Secured wife for Isaac  Gen 24:1–67

– Fathered children with Keturah  Gen 25:1–6

– Died  Gen 25:7–11

D. Titles ascribed to him

– Mighty prince  Gen 23:5–6

– Servant of God  Gen 26:24

– Friend of God  Isa 41:8, Jas 2:23

– Prophet  Gen 20:7

– Father of Israel  Exod 3:15, Matt 3:9

– Father of all believers  Rom 4:11–12, 16, Gal 3:7

E. Significance in New Testament

– Jesus is a son of Abraham  Matt 1:1

– His true seed is Christ  Gal 3:15–16, 29

– Jesus preceded him  John 8:57–58

– Rejoiced to see Jesus’ day  John 8:56

– Showed greatness of Christ by giving a tithe to Melchizedek  Heb 7:4–10

– Lived by faith  Heb 11:8–12, 17–19

– Believed in the power of the resurrection Rom 4:17–21

– Became the father of believers  Rom 4:11–12, Gal 3:7

– His faith preceded the law  Rom 4:9–11, 13–16, Gal 3:17–19

– Cast out the sons of the law  Gal 4:21–31

– Demonstrated faith by works  Jas 2:20–24

ABSALOM

– Son of David by Maacah  II Sa 3:3, I Ch 3:2

– Killed Amnon for rape of Tamar  II Sa 13:23–33

– Fled to Geshur  II Sa 13:36–38

– Allowed by David to return  II Sa 14:1–24

– Reconciled with David  II Sa 14:28–33

– Rebelled against David  II Sa 15:1–12

– David fled from him  II Sa 15:13–37

– Accepted the advice of Hushai  II Sa 16:15–17:23

– Fought against David’s men  II Sa 18:1–8

– Killed by Joab  II Sa 18:9–18

– Mourned by David  II Sa 18:19–19:8

ACCESS TO GOD

A. The command to approach God

– In the Old Testament  Isa 55:6, Amos 5:4, 6

– In the New Testament  Matt 7:7, Luke 11:9, Jas 4:8

B. How can we approach God?

1. From God’s standpoint

– The Father draws us to Himself  John 6:44

– Jesus is the way to the Father  John 14:6, Rom 5:2, Eph 3:12, I Pe 3:18

– The Spirit enables us to come near  Eph 2:18

2. From our standpoint

– We must believe  Rom 5:2, Heb 11:6

– We must live clean, obedient lives  Ps 24:3–5, Matt 5:8

– We must pray to the Father  Matt 6:6

– We must call upon God’s name  Ps 145:18

C. Promises to those who approach God

– We will find God  Deut 4:29, II Ch 15:2

– God will listen to us  II Ki 13:4

– God will forgive us  II Ch 7:14

– God will make a covenant with us  Isa 55:3

– God will bless us  Ps 65:4

– We can have confidence before God  Eph 3:12, Heb 4:16, I Jn 5:14

See also PRAYER

ACHAN

– Son of Carmi, of tribe of Judah  Josh 7:1

– Stole things from Jericho  Josh 7:1

– His sin caused defeat at Ai  Josh 7:3–12

– His sin revealed  Josh 7:13–23

– Stoned to death  Josh 7:24–26

– A lesson for Israel  Josh 22:18–20

ACHISH

– King of Gath before whom David feigned insanity  I Sa 21:10–15

– Gave David town of Ziklag  I Sa 27:1–7

– Trusted David  I Sa 27:10–12

– Philistines asked him to expel David  I Sa 29:1–11

– Still king in time of Solomon  I Ki 2:39–40

ADAM

A. The first Adam

1. The creation of Adam

– Made in God’s image  Gen 1:26–27

– Made from dust of the earth  Gen 2:7

– Became a living being  Gen 2:7, I Co 15:45

– Woman was created from him Gen 2:21–23

2. The work of Adam

– Was placed in Eden  Gen 2:8

– Took care of Eden  Gen 2:15

– Named the animals  Gen 2:19–20

– Work cursed after the fall  Gen 3:17–19

– Was banished from Eden  Gen 3:23–24

3. Marriage of Adam and Eve

– Was established by God  Gen 2:23–24

– Eve tempted her husband  Gen 3:6, I Ti 2:14

– Adam blamed Eve  Gen 3:12

– Adam and Eve had children  Gen 4:1–2, Gen 4:25–5:4

4. Temptation and fall of Adam

– God warned Adam not to sin  Gen 2:16–17

– Adam disobeyed God  Gen 3:1–6

– God pronounced punishment  Gen 3:16–19

– Adam died  Gen 5:5

– Sin and death passed on to all humans  Rom 5:12, 15–17, 19

– God condemns us for Adam’s sin  Rom 5:16, 18

B. The second Adam (Christ)  I Co 15:45

1. Prophecy concerning Him in Eden  Gen 3:15

2. Christ as the second Adam

– Descended from the first Adam  Luke 3:23–38

– Obedient to God’s will Rom 5:19

– Victorious over the devil Matt 4:1–11, I Jn 3:8

3. Results for believers

– They receive righteousness and life Rom 5:15–18, I Co 15:22

– They will receive new bodies like His  I Co 15:46–49, Phil 3:20–21

ADONIJAH

– Son of David by Haggith  II Sa 3:4, I Ch 3:2

– Attempted to be king after David  I Ki 1:5–27

– David made Solomon king instead  I Ki 1:28–53

– Wanted Abishag as wife I Ki 2:13–22

– Killed at Solomon’s command  I Ki 2:23–25

ADOPTION

– Becoming someone’s child by a legal act

A. In human relationships

– Abram wants to adopt  Gen 15:2–4

– Pharaoh’s daughter adopts Moses  Exod 2:10

– Mordecai adopts Esther  Esth 2:7

– A wife adopts a maid’s son  Gen 16:1–3, Gen 30:1–5, Gen 30:9–12

B. In the God-man relationship

1. It is rooted in God’s eternal love  Eph 1:4–5, Rom 8:29, I Jn 3:1

2. Israel is God’s adopted son  Exod 4:22–23, Deut 14:2, Jer 31:9, Hos 11:1, Rom 9:4

3. Christians are God’s adopted children

– We become children by God’s grace Eph 1:5–6

– We become children through faith in Christ  John 1:12–13, Gal 3:26

– We can call God Father  Matt 6:9, Rom 8:15, Gal 4:6–7

– We become siblings of Christ Mark 3:34–35, Heb 2:11–12

– We are united as one body in Christ Eph 2:11–13, 19, Eph 3:6

– Our adoption is completed only at the resurrection  Rom 8:19, 23, I Jn 3:2

4. Results of being God’s children

– We receive the rights of inheritance Rom 8:17, Gal 4:7

– We must walk in light  John 12:35–36, Eph 5:8–10, I Th 5:4–5

– We must live as obedient children  I Pe 1:14–16

– We must live in peace  Matt 5:9, Eph 2:17–19

– We must live in love  Matt 5:44–45, Luke 6:35

– We must separate ourselves from evil  II Co 6:17–18, Phil 2:15

– We are subject to God’s discipline  Heb 12:5–11

– We can expect suffering  Rom 8:18, 22

ADULLAM

– A city in southwest Judah  Josh 15:21, 33, 35

– Judah married a woman from there  Gen 38:1–2

– David hid his followers in a cave near it  I Sa 22:1–2

– David’s men risked getting water from Bethlehem  II Sa 23:13–17, I Ch 11:15–19

– Fortified by Rehoboam  II Ch 11:5–10

– Judgment prophesied against it Mic 1:15

– Established again after the exile  Neh 11:30

ADULTERY

– Sexual unfaithfulness to one’s spouse

A. Related theme

ADULTERY is a theme of Hosea  Hos 4:13

B. Old Testament perspective

1. Laws against adultery

– In the Ten Commandments Exod 20:14, Deut 5:18

– Various laws on adultery  Lev 20:10, Num 5:12–31, Deut 22:22–24

2. Examples of adultery

– Judah and Tamar  Gen 38:15–18

– David and Bathsheba  II Sa 11:2–5

– Others in Judah  Jer 5:7–9, Jer 29:23

3. Characteristics of adultery

– Is a sin against one’s spouse and God Gen 39:7–9, II Sa 12:13, Ps 51:4

– Is personally dangerous  Prov 2:16–19, Prov 6:25–29, 32

– Defiles a whole nation  Jer 3:1, Jer 23:10–15, Ezek 33:26

C. New Testament perspective

1. The sin of adultery

– Starts in a sinful heart  Matt 15:19

– Considered a sinful action Rom 7:2–3, Jas 2:11, II Pe 2:14

– Sinful even in thought  Matt 5:27–28

– Remarriage as adultery  Matt 5:31–32, Matt 19:8–9

2. Results of adultery

– Leads to God’s judgment  Heb 13:4

– Leads to exclusion from the kingdom  Gal 5:19–21, I Co 6:9, Rev 22:15

3. Pardon promised for adulterers  John 8:3–11, I Co 6:11

D. Spiritual adultery

– References in the Old Testament  Jer 3:6–10, 20, Ezek 16:32–35, Hos 1:2

– References in the New Testament  Matt 12:39, Jas 4:4

– God judges spiritual adultery  Jer 5:11–17, Ezek 16:37–42, Mark 8:38

– God desires faithfulness to Christ  II Co 11:2

See also MARRIAGE

AFFLICTION

See PAIN

AGABUS

– A prophet in the early church  Acts 11:27–28

– Predicted a severe famine for the world  Acts 11:28

– Predicted Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem  Acts 21:10–11

AGAG

– King of Amalekites; spared by Saul  I Sa 15:7–9, 20

– Killed by Samuel  I Sa 15:32–33

AGRIPPA

– King who visited Festus  Acts 25:13–22

– Paul spoke before him  Acts 25:23–26:23

– Paul invited him to believe  Acts 26:25–27

– Rejected the gospel  Acts 26:28

– Declared Paul innocent  Acts 26:31–32

AHAB

A. Personal data

– Son of Omri; king of Israel  I Ki 16:28–29

– Husband of Jezebel  I Ki 16:31

B. Significant events

– Promoted Baal worship  I Ki 16:31–33

– Opposed by Elijah  I Ki 17:1

– Contest on Mount Carmel  I Ki 18:16–39

– Defeated Ben-hadad  I Ki 20:1–34

– Coveted Naboth’s vineyard  II Ki 21:1–16

– Fought against king of Syria  I Ki 22:29–30

– Accidentally killed in battle  I Ki 22:34–38

C. Prophesied against

– By an unnamed prophet  I Ki 20:35–43

– By Elijah  I Ki 21:17–29

– By Micaiah  I Ki 22:9–28

D. Subsequent history

– Elisha told Jehu to destroy Ahab’s family  II Ki 9:6–10

– House of Ahab destroyed II Ki 10:1–17

– Name became a symbol of wickedness . II Ch 21:6, 13, II Ch 22:3–4, Mic 6:16

AHAZ

– Son of Jotham; king of Judah  II Ki 16:1, II Ch 28:1

– Worshiped idols  II Ki 16:1–4, 10–18, II Ch 28:1–4, 22–25

– Fought against Syria and Israel  II Ki 16:5–6, Isa 7:1

– Defeated by Syria and Israel  II Ch 28:5–15

– Fought against Edom and Philistia  II Ch 28:16–19

– Sought help from Assyria  II Ki 16:7–9

– Refused a sign from the Lord  Isa 7:2–17

– His death  II Ki 16:19–20

AHAZIAH

A. Son of Ahab; king of Israel I Ki 22:51

– Worshiped idols  I Ki 22:52–53

– Made an alliance with Jehoshaphat  II Ch 20:36–37

– Died while seeking advice from Baal  II Ki 1:1–17

B. Son of Jehoram; king of Judah  II Ki 8:25–26, II Ch 22:1–2

– Worshiped idols  II Ki 8:27, II Ch 22:3–4

– Allied with Joram, king of Israel  II Ki 8:28–29

– Killed by Jehu while visiting Joram II Ki 9:14–29, II Ch 22:1–9

– Only surviving son was Joash  II Ki 11:1–3

AHIMELECH

A. Priest at Nob during Saul’s time  I Sa 21:1

– Gave David consecrated bread  I Sa 21:2–6

– Gave David Goliath’s sword  I Sa 21:8–9

– Betrayed to Saul by Doeg  I Sa 22:9–16

– Killed by Doeg with other priests  I Sa 22:17–19

– Son Abiathar escaped to join David  I Sa 22:20–23

B. Grandson of Ahimelech  II Sa 8:17

– Co-priest with Zadok during David’s reign  I Ch 18:16, I Ch 24:6, 31

C. One of David’s warriors  I Sa 26:6

AHITHOPHEL

– A counselor of David  II Sa 15:12

– Joined Absalom against David  II Sa 15:31–37

– Advised Absalom  II Sa 16:15–23

– Absalom rejected his counsel  II Sa 17:1–14

– Committed suicide  II Sa 17:23

AI

– A city in Palestine, east of Bethel  Josh 7:2

– Abram built an altar near there  Gen 12:8

–