Some Bible Verses

Some Bible Verses to Know

Page Contents

Introduction -- introduction to this page
Explanation -- of some concept about Bible or Scripture verses
List -- some key verses
Links -- some other sites with Bible stuff

Introduction

This page lists some important Bible verses, or at least the verses that I think are important. The way I determine which verses are important to me, and therefore which verses I should memorize, is that whenever I have need of a verse but can't think of it, or whenever I say "The Bible says somewhere that ..." but can't state where exactly it is said, then I note that, look up the verse, and then add it to my list of verses I should know.

People have made careers out of Bible study aids and guides, so this simple overview is just that - a simple overview.

Explanation

How does one select a verse as more important than others? What are the drawbacks of selecting a particular verse for a given subject? These are not just rhetorical questions. This section will attempt to answer them.

Let's start with the drawbacks. The main drawback is taking a verse out of context. It can be easy to do. Sometimes the results are harmless; other times the effect may be the opposite of what was intended. The first half of avoiding taking a verse out of context is to look at the context - the surrounding paragraph or so. The ideal "important verse" would be a summary of the passage (that paragraph or maybe even a whole chapter). The second half of avoiding taking a verse out of context is to look at the rest of the Bible. Compare the isolated verse with other verses on the same subject. If they agree, then it should be safe to use the isolated verse.

The other topics concerns the application of verses. How does one act on a verse? I'm glad you asked. Do not act on a verse. I repeat: do not just obey a verse. Do obey the meaning of the verse. There is a subtle difference - sometimes what the verse says and what the verse means are the same, but sometimes they are different. That is where your interpretation of the verse matters and that is one reason why there are differences and denominations within Christianity - people's interpretations may vary.

Why do I say not to obey a verse but rather obey the meaning? It is like saying to obey the spirit of the law not just the letter of the law. Ideally, you would want to do both, but sometimes that does not work with the Bible. My favorite example comes from the end of 2^nd Timothy in chapter 4, verse 19. It says "Greet also Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus". Now if you try to live your life by doing exactly what the Bible says, then you must find people named Priscilla and Aquila and you must greet them. Not to do so would be disobeying the Bible. Now if you try to live your life by doing what the Bible means, then you must find how to apply that verse to your life. Perhaps it means to be cordial in all your communications. Perhaps it means to greet those you meet in a friendly manner. Whatever it is, that is what you are supposed to do.

On the other hand, sometimes a verse and its meaning are the same. An example for this is John 14:15. In that verse, Jesus says "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Now what does that verse mean? It means just what it says.

The List

Reference	Text	Comments
I John 5:12	He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
I Samuel 15:22 b	Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
I Samuel 16:7 b	For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
I John 2:15-17	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. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.	These three temptations (flesh, eyes, pride) are the same three, in order, that were used on Eve in the Garden and Jesus in the desert
I Corinthians 10:13	There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
I Corinthians 10:12	Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.	i.e. pride goes before a fall
John 14:6	Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me."
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
Romans 3:23	For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
Romans 6:23	For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord
Romans 5:8	But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us
Ephesians 2:8-9	For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast	Trick question: Does your faith save you? Trick answer: Not according to this verse. It is God's grace that saves you. If your faith saved you, then that is something that you have done. God's grace does the saving, your faith does the accepting.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18	Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
John 15:13	Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.	which is what Jesus did - see Romans 5:8
Colossians 3:23	And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men
I Timothy 6:7-8	For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
I 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.
James 4:17	Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.	This summarizes the "sin of omission".
Matthew 7:12	Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.	This verse is the golden rule.
Luke 12:48 b	For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Some Bible Verses to Know

Page Contents

Introduction

Explanation

The List

Other Links