51537-fm1 revised 08/26/04 11:18 AM Page i 51537-fm1 revised 08/26/04 11:18 AM Page ii 51537-fm1 revised 08/26/04 11:18 AM Page iii 51537-fm1 revised 08/26/04 11:18 AM Page iv Copyright ©2004 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. “Topic List,” “Topic Index,” in-text notes, “50 Frequently Asked Questions,” copyright ©2004 by Billy Graham Evangelistic Association The Holy Bible, New King James Version® Copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. The text of the New King James Version®(NKJV®) may be quoted or reprinted without prior written permission with the following qualifications: (1) up to and including 1,000 verses may be quoted in printed form as long as the verses quoted amount to less than 50% of a complete book of the Bible and make up less than 50% of the total work in which they are quoted; (2) all NKJV quotations must conform accurately to the NKJV text. Any use of the NKJV text must include a proper acknowledgment as follows: Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. However, when quotations from the NKJV text are used in church bulletins, orders of service, Sunday school lessons, church newsletters and similar works in the course of religious instruction or services at a place of worship or other religious assembly, the following notice may be used at the end of each quotation: “NKJV.” For quotation requests not covered by the above guidelines, write to Thomas Nelson Publishers, ATTN: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000. All Rights Reserved Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9—08 07 06 05 04 51537-fm1 revised 08/26/04 11:18 AM Page v F O R E W O R D You are about to venture into the pages of the most important book ever written:the Holy Bible.God says that His Word is as essential to life as food is to your body.“Man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Produced by the Billy Graham Training Center,this edition includes notes adapted from The Christian Worker’s Handbook—a compilation of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s experi- ence with multiple thousands of spiritual inquirers and new believers throughout more than 50 years of ministry.The Handbook addresses common obstacles to understanding the Gospel message and to living out your faith.These helpful topics appear on the pages of the Scripture on which they are based. Use these notes to explore what the Bible has to say about top- ics that concern you.Perhaps this is your first time reading God’s Word or maybe a friend is struggling to understand matters of God and faith.Regardless of your circumstances,these topics will help guide you in your study. May God draw you close to Him as you read His Word,and use you to draw others to Himself. The Training Division of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association 51537-fm1 revised 08/26/04 11:18 AM Page vi 51537-fm1 revised 08/26/04 11:18 AM Page vii C O N T E N T S Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v How to Use This Bible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .viii Topic List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi Topic Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xiii New King James Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xlix T H E O L D T E S TA M E N T Genesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Ecclesiastes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .604 Exodus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Song ofSolomon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .614 Leviticus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88 Isaiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .620 Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115 Jeremiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .688 Deuteronomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154 Lamentations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .749 Joshua . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190 Ezekiel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .756 Judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213 Daniel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .805 Ruth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .236 Hosea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .821 1 Samuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .240 Joel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .831 2 Samuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .270 Amos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .835 1 Kings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .296 Obadiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .843 2 Kings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .325 Jonah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .845 1 Chronicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .353 Micah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .847 2 Chronicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .380 Nahum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .853 Ezra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412 Habakkuk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .856 Nehemiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .422 Zephaniah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .859 Esther . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .437 Haggai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .862 Job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .444 Zechariah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .864 Psalms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .477 Malachi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .874 Proverbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .571 T H E N E W T E S TA M E N T Matthew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .881 1 Timothy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1129 Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .921 2 Timothy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1135 Luke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .945 Titus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1139 John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .983 Philemon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1142 Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1014 Hebrews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1144 Romans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1049 James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1158 1 Corinthians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1069 1 Peter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1163 2 Corinthians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1086 2 Peter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1169 Galatians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1098 1 John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1172 Ephesians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1104 2 John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1179 Philippians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1112 3 John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1180 Colossians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1118 Jude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1181 1 Thessalonians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1123 Revelation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1183 2 Thessalonians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1127 Fifty Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1201 Concordance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Contact Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196 51537-fm1 revised 08/26/04 11:18 AM Page viii HOW T O U S E T H I S B I B L E U sing this Bible and its helps is easy to do. Its notes cover more than 100 topics related to your life and faith, and each topic will lead you through Bible verses that address it. For a complete listing of the topics treated, turn to the Topic List on page xi. Topic intro- ductions begin on page xiii and are presented in alphabetical order. Once you have chosen a topic and read its introduction, you will see the Bible passage for the first point of your topic listed at the end. Page numbers for the outline points are provided to help you find your way, and the key verses that speak to the topical notes are underlined within the Bible text. You may want to read the verses immediately before or after the selected verses to understand the context of the passage. The page number for the next point and Bible reference in your topic is at the end of each note. Throughout a set of notes for a topic, you’ll often see other Bible references in parentheses. Looking up these supporting verses can give you a greater comprehension of your topic. The notes in this Bible have been compiled to offer easy access to what the Bible says on many life issues and questions. Spending time with them and with the verses that address them, you will grow in your understanding of God’s Word and in the hope it provides for daily living. You’ll also discover in this Bible a handy resource for helping others find life answers in God’s Word, as well. When a friend has a spiritual question, offer to read through a related topic with him or her in your Bible. Discuss the verses Topic and notes as you read together. Each topic introduction ends with a “See also” section directing you to related topics. And in the back of the Bible, begin- Topic ning on page 1201, is a section of Outline answers to frequently asked spiritu- al questions that may provide still further help and direction. Topic Introduction Page and Reference for First Point Related Topics