Love Quotes From The Bible

Sometimes it's helpful to have a collection of verses to fall back on in specific topics when putting together a Bible study, or researching for your own study purposes.  Today's post contains scriptures out of the KJV containing the word Love.  Whether you're making a Christian valentines day card, or putting together a study for yourself or others, we hope this collection of verses helps you.

Note: This list does not contain every single mention of the word 'Love' in the KJV, but does contain a good portion of them.  Scriptures are in order starting in the old testament and going all the way to Revelation.

Exodus 20:5-6 "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments."

Leviticus 19:18 "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD."

Leviticus 19:34 "But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God."

Deuteronomy 5:10 "And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments."

Deuteronomy 6:5 "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

Deuteronomy 7:7 "The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:"

Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;"

Deut. 10:12 "And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,"

Deut. 11:1 "Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway."

Deut. 30:20 "That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."

Joshua 23:11 "Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God."

2 Chronicles 9:8 "Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice."

Psalm 5:11 "But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee."

Psalm 11:7 "For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright."

Psalm 18:1 "I will love thee, O LORD, my strength."

Psalm 31:23 "O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer."

Psalm 33:5 "He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD."

Psalm 37:28 "For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off."

Psalm 40:16 "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified."

Psalm 91:14 "Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name."

Psalm 116:1 "I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications."

Psalm 119:97 "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day."

Psalm 119:127 "Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold."

Psalm 119:140 "Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it."

Psalm 119:165 "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."

Proverbs 3:12 "For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."

Proverbs 4:6 "Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

Proverbs 5:19 "Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love."

Proverbs 8:21 "That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures."

Proverbs 10:12 "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins."

Proverbs 12:1 "Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish."

Proverbs 16:13 "Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right."

Proverbs 17:9 "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends."

Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

Proverbs  21:17 "He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich."

Proverbs 27:5 "Open rebuke is better than secret love."

Proverbs  29:3 "Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance."

Ecclesiastes 3:8 "A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

Ecclesiastes5:10 "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity."

Ecclesiastes 9:1 "For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them."

Ecclesiastes  9:9 "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun."

Song Of Solomon 1:15 "Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes."

Isaiah 38:17 "Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back."

Isaiah 63:9 "In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old."

Jeremiah 31:3 "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

Micah 6:8 "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."

Zechariah 8:17 "And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD."

Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"

Matthew 6:24 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

Matthew 19:19 "Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Matthew 22:37 "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

Mark 12:33 "And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Luke 6:27 "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,"

Luke 6:32 "For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them."

Luke 6:35 "But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

John 3:35 "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand."

John 10:17 "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again."

John 13:34 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."

John 13:35 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

John 14:21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

John 14:24 "He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."

John 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."

John 15:12 "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you."

John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:19 "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."

John 16:27 "For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God."

John 17:23 "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."

John 17:24 "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."

John 21:15-17 "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."

Romans 5:5 "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 8:39 "Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 12:9 "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."

Romans 12:10 "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"

Romans 13:8 "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

Romans 13:10 "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

1 Corinthians 2:9 "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

1 Corinthians 8:3 "But if any man love God, the same is known of him."

2 Corinthians 5:14 "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:"

2 Corinthians 9:7 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

2 Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."

Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

Galatians 5:6 "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love."

Galatians 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,"

Ephesians 1:4 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"

Ephesians 2:4 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,"

Ephesians 3:17 "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,"

Ephesians 3:19 "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."

Ephesians 4:2 "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;"

Ephesians 4:16 "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

Ephesians 5:2 "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."

Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;"

Ephesians 5:28 "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself."

Ephesians 5:33 "Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband."

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Colossians 2:2 "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;"

Colossians 3:19 "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them."

1 Thessalonians 3:12 "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:"

1 Thessalonians 5:8 "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."

2 Thessalonians 2:16 "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,"

2 Thessalonians 3:5 "And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ."

1 Timothy 1:14 "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."

1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

1 Timothy 6:11 "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

2 Timothy 4:8 "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

Titus 2:4 "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,"

Hebrews 1:9 "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."

Hebrews 12:6 "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth"

Hebrews 13:1 "Let brotherly love continue."

James 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

1 Peter 1:8 "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:"

1 Peter 2:17 "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."

1 John 2:5 "But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."

1 John 2:10 "He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him."

1 John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

1 John 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."

1 John 3:14 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

1 John 3:16 "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

1 John 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."

1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."

1 John 4:8 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

1 John 4:9 "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."

1 John 4:10  "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

1 John 4:11 "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."

1 John 4:12 "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."

1 John 4:16 "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."

1 John 4:17 "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world."

1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

1 John 4:19 "We love him, because he first loved us."

1 John 4:20 "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"

1 John 4:21 "And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."

1 John 5:1 "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him."

1 John 5:2 "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."

1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

2 John 1:6 "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it."

Jude 1:21 "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"

Revelation 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."

Note: This is a selection of verses from the KJV Bible containing the word Love.  There are many more.  For the most part I left out verses that repeated other verses, or verses that were along the lines of, "so and so loved so and so..."

I hope this list of 'love' verses from the Bible has helped you in your Bible study endeavors.

 

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Questions and Answers

About Heaven
About Hell
About God
About Prayer
About Sin
About Other Religions
About Salvation
About the Bible

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My Pastor Said...

My Pastor Said
A Poem by JATomlinson
2-11-2011

Her pastor said that you can count the stars,
And that all women are supposed to wear skirts and dresses,
And she believed him.
She told her friends what her pastor said,
And they did an unkindness to her,
Letting her think it was ok to believe everything "my pastor said".

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New Resources

Check out some of our  new resources!

We know how hard it is to find a good King James Bible, even in a Christian book store.  Check out the official KJV store online, where all they sell are KJV's and KJV related material!  Check it out HERE. This link is also on our resources page.

Even more exciting is

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From the mouths of the translators (of the NIV NKJV)

There is a book called "Selecting a Translation of the Bible" written by Lewis Foster (the man who helped translate the NIV and NKJV).  In his book there are some disturbing things that show us the mindset of the translators of these false translations.  Just to show you an example:

In a section titled "How to make a Bible Translation" Foster says "In this day of specialists, it is difficult to find individuals adept in knowledge of the Bible, knowledge of the Greek or Hebrew, and use of the English language. To be safe, the work of the Biblical scholars should be submitted for further refinement by an expert in English. Grammatical slips, awkward phrases, ambiguous expressions, unnecessary words, offensive terms - all tend to clutter the translation of God's Word.  Help can also be found in another direction. After all the experts have done their work, still one cannot be sure what the reaction will be from the average reader. It is helpful to know what he appreciates and what he finds objectionable, troublesome, or lacking," (Foster, p19).

So let's just put what Mr. Foster said into perspective, (remember, this is the man who helped to translate the NIV and NKJV)! Not only does he believe that God wasn't smart enough to know grammar (obviously God needs an English lesson), but he also believes in not putting anything into the Bible that people find objectionable, troublesome, or lacking! 

Looking through the eyes of an average athiest for just a second here, what would we see?  "Oh, that whole Bible is objectionable!  I'm offended!  I don't like what it says, it's troublesome to me and lacking all common sense!"  Therefore Mr. Foster would be in need to change everything in the Bible from the original... this leaves him free to change anything he wants to whatever views he sees fit, whether they are consistent with God's word or not.  When you read the NIV or NKJV then, you are reading Mr. Foster's views and opinions on what he thinks should and should not be in the Bible, rather than reading God's Word.  This is something serious seeker's of God's Word should consider then when choosing a Bible.  Do you want the whole, unedited, unadulterated word of God?  Or do you want the views of a translater like Lewis Foster?  

To read more about the KJV versus other Bible translations, click HERE.  

To read more about having confidence in God's word click HERE.  

To take the acid test with your NIV or NKJV click HERE.

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Do you use the NIV? Take the acid test!

Do you use the NIV?  The NIV claims to be translated better than the KJV and off of better manuscripts.  If you use the NIV, why not take the "acid" test, and compare it to the KJV?  Click HERE and fill in the blanks by using your NIV.  Quick and easy!

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The Body of Christ

Listen to song in the video embedded below. Then continue on to the Bible study below to gain some deeper understanding of it from the scriptures.

Romans 12:5 “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” This verse is telling us that ALL believers… all people who are saved by Jesus, are considered one body with each other, and are called the “Body of Christ.” In the next scripture we see how the word "members" means a body part.

1Corinthians 12:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

Let’s look at this verse this way: Can your foot kick a ball? Yes. Can your hand kick a ball? No. What about the hand, can it catch a ball? Yes. Can a foot catch a ball? No. We are members of Christ’s body… in other words we are one body part or another, but not all the body parts, and together with other believers we make up the whole entire body of Christ. Some people might be a foot, or a hand, or the heart, or the mouth, or the ears. Each body part has it’s own part to play. The feet walk, the hands do, the eyes see, the ears hear, the mouth speaks… you may not be as good at some things as other people are, but you will be good at something, and God will use you to do good things with the things you are good at. If you are good at comforting people, he might use you to do that. If you have a way with words, he might use you to spread the Gospel. If you have a talent in healing people, then he might use you to do that. So don’t worry if you’re not good at everything, you are a single body part of Christ, and what you aren’t good at, other body parts (other people) will be good at. It’s up to you to let God use you and what you’re good at for His will. In Romans 12:5 (above) we saw that we are all "members one of another." This would suggest that when we become part of Christ's body we also become part of other believer's bodies, and should then do our best to help them in whatever way we can with whatever talents or gifts we have. If we serve as their foot, then help them walk. If we serve as a hand, then help them do.

Philippians 1:20 “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”

Whatever we do we need to do it as if we are a part of Christ’s body… a hand, a foot, whatever, we need to do as Christ would do. Jesus would comfort people, heal people, help people, and give his time to people among other things, and we need to do these things too. We should never ever be ashamed of what we do in Christ, but be bold in Christ. Whatever we do that is right in God’s eyes gives glory to God, and ‘magnifies’ God… it builds him up and puts the spotlight on him. If people see you doing good things in the name of the Lord, the spotlight will get put onto Jesus so he can do His work. If you let him, Jesus will do His work through you, but you have to open up your heart to him, and be willing to let him use you to help others.

Ephesians 4:11-12

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Remember how we just talked about the foot doing what a foot does best, and a hand doing what a hand does best? This scripture is talking about the same thing. God makes some people feet, some people hands, some people mouths… he makes some people apostles, some prophets, and some evangelists, some pastors, and some teachers, etc… all of it is for the work of the Ministry, and all of it is to edify Christ and the entire body of Christ. Even if you’re not doing the same thing as somebody else is doing, so long as you are doing God’s work, it will edify all believers… it will edify God. It will shine the spotlight on God and give God the glory. Remember, that you should be doing good things in God’s name. That means that if you go do some charity work for poor people, and they say thank you, you should shine the spotlight on God, and say, “This is what God wants me to do,” or, “I’m doing this for God because it’s what He would do,” or you could say anything like this that would give the glory to God. Even though you did the work, it was really God working through you, and therefore God should get the glory, not us.

To me, this song is asking us: If we as Christian's are the body of Christ, then why aren't we doing as Christ did, and continues to do? Why aren't we showing compassion, why aren't we spreading the Word of God, why aren't we helping others, even those who aren't Christians? Today an air of self-righteousness has come upon many Christians, making them believe they are better than everybody else, and should not spend their time helping others. Self-righteous Christians won't even sit by a poor person or be friends with an unsaved sinner. But Jesus loved the poor and spent his time with all manner of people, whether they believed or not. You can't spread the Word if you're not out among the unsaved.
-CBSB

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A Study in Marriage Part 2 - How It All Started

Sometimes people get a little confused knowing just what marriage is about. Since God started marriage, let’s look in the Bible to see just what marriage is and what the relationship between a married man and his wife ought to be like. (Note: All following scriptures taken out of the KJV).

1) Marriage started with Adam and Eve

Marriage was very different in the Bible. In the beginning, Marriage was solely between a man, a woman, and God. There was no ceremony preformed by a pastor or other government official, and there was no contract with any kind of government such as a “marriage license” which gives you rights to tax benefits, etc. How then were people considered married? In Genesis, God gives you His definition of marriage. Let’s take a look:

Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” 

The key words in this passage are “cleave” and “one flesh”. First a man leaves his father and mother. Next he cleaves to his wife and they become one flesh. When the KJV was translated “cleave” meant: “To unite or be united closely in interest or affection; to adhere with strong attachment,” (Websters 1828 Dictionary). “One flesh” is defined at the time as “intimate relations,” (Websters 1828 Dictionary under “Flesh”). So we see the Biblical version of marriage is also composed of three parts: 1) Leaving the father and mother. 2) Man and woman “cleaving” together, otherwise committing to stick together. 3) Man and woman becoming “one flesh” (or having intimate relations, aka sex.). There was no ceremony, there was no contract, there was no preacher there to marry them. Adam and Eve, the first man and woman were married, and there was no other human there to marry them. Instead God brought them together as husband and wife.

Gen 2:23 “And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
Gen 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Gen 2:25 “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”

The above passage is clearly talking about Adam and Eve, and refers to them in Genesis 2:25 as “man and his wife,” after they have been “one flesh” in Genesis 2:24.

We also see how God performs the marriage ceremony himself in Matthew:

Matt. 19:6 “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

“What therefore God hath joined together…” this is very important. When a man and woman become “one flesh” together, God joins them together. Essentially God is marrying them just as a pastor or justice of the peace would do today.

We also see the same thing in Mark 10:6-9:
"But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

So now that we’ve established what “biblical” marriage is compared to today’s “government” marriage, let’s take a look at how marriage first started.

Genesis 2:18-25
“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”

God created Adam, the first human being. God said that it wasn’t good for Adam to be alone. God created all animals, and still, they weren’t good for keeping Adam company or being a “help meat” for him… in other words a “helper”. So God took one of Adam’s ribs and from that made a woman, Eve, the first woman in existence. Just as God gave Adam the right to name every living creature created, he also let Adam name the other sex “woman” which means “from man.” The fact that God gave man dominion over all animals in another passage, and that Adam named all animals, and then he named women, and Eve, tells us that Adam was given some kind of ownership over Eve. (Now, not to hear nasty comments over that remark, but this is how the Bible says it. Not to say that we women are pets, or anything of the like, but it’s like if we get a pet turtle and name it Joe… that pet turtle is ours, yes? This is how it was with Adam. Recall it says “the man and HIS wife…” Today the pastor marries people and says, “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” but in the Bible it was “man and his wife.”

So quick recap… Eve was made from Adam’s rib. Adam named her. Eve was created to be a “help meat” for Adam as his wife, and was created so that he wouldn’t be alone. Again, not to get any nasty comments from women out there, but this is how it is from God’s own word. And if any women out there feel demeaned by this in any way, think about it this way: God thought it so important that Adam have a helper and have company that he went to all the trouble of creating women. Therefore, women are very important. We have an important job to do, and play an important role in marriage. Remember, if it wasn’t all that important, God wouldn’t have gone to the trouble at all.

2) The Marriage Relationship

So now that we’ve established what a “biblical” marriage is, and how marriage started, let’s look at the marriage relationship itself. How are husband and wife supposed to act towards each other? It’s all in the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 7:3-5
"Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency."

Let’s start with that word benevolence. When the KJV was translated benevolence meant: “The disposition to do good; good will; kindness; charitableness; the love of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness,” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary). We see the Bible telling us that the husband should promote the wife’s happiness, and the wife should promote the husband’s happiness.

We see that the wife doesn’t have power over her own body, but the husband does, and the husband doesn’t have power over his own body, but the wife does… this means, if one wants sex, the other shouldn’t go and say, “oh, I have a headache,” etc etc, among other things just to get out of it like you see on the sitcoms today. This also goes along with the next sentence: “Defraud ye not one the other…” from the Websters 1828 Dictionary “defraud” means: “To deprive of right, either by obtaining something by deception or artifice, or by taking something wrongfully without the knowledge or consent of the owner; to cheat; to cozen; followed by of before the thing taken; as, to defraud; a man of his right.” So don’t deprive each other, and don’t cheat each other of something… although I am positive this is talking about sex because of the rest of the sentence. The only time it says to withhold sex is if it’s for an agreed upon amount of time to engage in fasting in prayer, otherwise if you withhold from your spouse Satan will tempt your spouse.

Deuteronomy 24:5
“When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.”

This is kind of awesome ladies. The Bible commands men to take an entire year off after marriage just to bring cheer and happiness to their new wife. How cool is that? This is obviously a really important thing if God commands husbands to take an entire year off to do it. Making the spouse happy is very important in God’s eyes for a successful marriage.

Ecclesiastes 9:9
“Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life.”

Here we see the husband is told to “live joyfully” with his wife… not just to live joyfully with her sometimes, but“all the days of the life.” Joyfulness is happiness… not grief, sorrow, or misery. This goes right along with promoting your spouse’s happiness. You want to stay away from things that will promote unhappiness or grief or sorrow in the life of you and your spouse… why on earth would you want to do things to grieve your spouse anyway?

Proverbs 12:4
“A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband.”
“Virtuous: Being in conformity to the moral or divine law; as a virtuous action; a virtuous life,” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary). So a wife who has good morals and follows the Bible “divine law” is a crown to her husband. A crown is like a precious jewel… more than that a crown is something a king wears on the top of his head to show off to everybody. If a wife is a crown to her husband, he’s going to not only love her, but want to show her off so to speak… he will be proud enough of her to not hide her away from the world. A crown isn’t something a king sticks in a closet under a pile of dirty socks, it’s something he wears where everybody can see it.

Malachi 2:14-15
"Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth."

According to the Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, Treacherously means: “Violating allegiance or faith pledged; by betraying a trust; faithlessly; perfidiously; as, to surrender a fort to an enemy treacherously; to disclose a secret treacherously.” So to deal with his wife treacherously, he would have betrayed her, or been unfaithful, violating his pledge to be faithful to her. This passage tells us that GOD himself has been a witness of the commitment made between the husband and his wife. A man’s wife is his companion, and he has made a covenant (or a deal) with her, and should not break it.


Ok, so another quick recap: In all things, husband and wife should strive to make each other happy in the relationship. This is so important that it is repeated over and over in the Bible, and God even tells the man to take an entire year off to get the relationship stronger by making his wife happy, and visa versa (because obviously if he is there at home making her happy then she is going to be making him happy). A husband and wife should not “withhold” from each other, because after marriage they have become “one flesh” and are as one, and therefore do not have control over their own body, but of each other’s body. Spouses should strive to live“joyfully” together, rather than doing things intent on harming each other’s well being and living unhappily together. A “virtuous” wife will make her husband proud (this includes staying faithful), and a husband should not betray the covenant with his wife (this means he should stay faithful).

Just another quick note about the scripture taken from Malachi, it says the LORD was witness of the covenant between the man and wife, not another human being… just another indicator that there weren’t any ceremonies and government “witnesses” as there are today… marriage was all done by God.


3) Submitting

So here’s the part where most people (especially women) have a problem with the Bible. The part where it tells the wife to submit to her husband. Let’s talk about that for a minute after reading a couple of scriptures.


Ephesians 5:20-22
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”

First we see “submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” This includes the husband. Next we see “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” Not, wives submit yourselves to ALL men, just to your own husband, and you do it as you would submit yourself to God. Why? Why do we do this? Read on:

Ephesians 5:23-24
“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”

We submit ourselves to our husbands, because it is the place God has given us as women. Remember how Adam was allowed to name Eve, therefore being given some sort of ownership? It’s like, your parent’s name you when you are born, and you are your mother and father’s child… this is the same thing. God named Adam, Adam named Eve, etc. God has put us all in a hierarchy of order. This doesn’t make men better than women or visa versa, it is just the place we are given for now. God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of the church, which is head of the man, and man is head of the woman. Remember that women are made to be a help meat for man. We are given an important job to do. If it wasn’t important God wouldn’t have created us at all.

Let’s talk about something else for a minute too. The Biblical marriage between a man and a woman represents the marriage between Christ and the church later on after Chris’s return (and you’ll see that it represents that in a moment). “… even as Christ is the head of the church…” Jesus will be the husband and the church the wife (which we see in other scriptures throughout the Bible, but we won’t go into just now). If a Biblical marriage represents the marriage between Christ and the church (the body of believers), and Christ is over the church, and the church is submitting to Christ, then we can begin to make sense of why the husband is over the wife and why the wife submits to her husband. This is the Biblical order of things.

Lets look at some more from Ephesians.

Ephesians 5:24-30
"Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones."

This tells men to love their wives just as Christ loved the church (his future wife). Christ loved all people so much that he DIED for them. Literally, he was nailed to a cross and left there until he died. He knew what he was doing. He himself was blameless and without fault or sin, but he did it so that we could be found blameless and without sin… he took the place for OUR sins… he took our punishment because he loves us THAT much. The Bible tells man to love his wife THAT much, just like Christ loves us THAT much. Remember, a husband and wife are “one flesh” and it says that a man that loves his wife loves himself. Just as Jesus nourishes and cherishes the church (his future wife), so should a man do this for his wife. Just as a man and wife are “one flesh” like Adam and eve, all believers (the church) are members of Christ’s body, flesh, and bones. We can begin to see now how a biblical marriage is representative of the future marriage between Jesus and the church which He died for.

Let’s finish this chapter of Ephesians.

Ephesians 5:31-33
“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”

Again this speaks about the connection between a biblical marriage and the marriage of Christ and the church, and tells the man to love his wife as he loves himself. It also tells us though that a wife should “reverence” her husband. She should have respect and affection for him, and see him as an authority figure (taken from the definition from Webster’s 1828 Dictionary).


Collosians 3:18-19
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them."

“Fit” means: “Suitable; convenient; meet; becoming,” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary). It is what God meant for wives to submit themselves to their husbands, and it is also “becoming.” Again husbands are told to love their wives and not be bitter to their wives.
“Bitter” means: “Cruel; severe; as bitter enmity. Sharp, as words, reproachful; sarcastic,” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary).


So let’s do one last recap about what the Bible has to say about the subject of marriage (and keep in mind this is not ALL that the Bible has to say about it):

1)Marriage started with Adam and Eve.
2)Eve and women were made for man to be a help meat and to be company for them.
3)Biblical marriage did not consist of a ceremony, human witnesses, marriage licenses, or any other government contracts. There were no preachers or pastors to marry Adam and Eve, only God.
4)The three parts to a biblical marriage are: A) Man and woman leave their parents, B) Man and woman “cleave” together (aka commit to each other), and C) become one flesh with each other. After these things have taken place God “joins” them together.
5)In all things husband and wife should strive to make each other happy.
6)Spouses should not withhold from each other unless it is agreed upon to do so for a small amount of time for fasting and prayer.
7)Spouses should strive to live “joyfully” together, and should not try to do things to make each other unhappy.
8)Both husbands and wives should honor the “covenant” made with each other and remain faithful to one another.
9)Women are commanded to submit to their husband, not all men.
10) Women submit themselves to their husbands because it is the place God has given them. God is head over Jesus, Jesus is head over the church (his future wife), man is head over his wife.
11) Biblical marriage is a picture of the marriage of Christ and the body of believers (the church) when Christ returns.
12) Husbands are not to be “bitter” (cruel or sarcastic) to their wives.
13)Wives are to submit themselves to their husbands as they would to God.


This study has taken all scriptures from the Authorized KJV. All definitions are taken from Webster’s 1828 Dictionary because that particular dictionary has the correct definitions for words used during the translation of the KJV.

This study is meant to inform, not to offend.

Thanks,

-CBSB

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