1. KEY WORDS DEFINED ...
For example:
Romans 14:19 ... Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Peace:
- free from agitation, anxiety, dread
- free from disturbance, turmoil
- free from disquieting oppressive thoughts
- end hostilities
- not contentious or quarrelsome
- untroubled (mostly through immediate prayer)
Edify:
- instruct or improve (someone)
- to build up, to construct
- to strengthen
We see from these instructions how important it is for us to control our tongue and structure our speech so we can "build" people in the faith in God rather than spread the ways of the world which destroy the individual.
Other examples:
Romans 16:3 ... Salute (greeting with respect and honor) my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
We see the word "salute" has more significance than just a greeting. It is a type of greeting, with respect and honor. It certainly helps us to think about the way we "greet" one another in the church.
I Cor. 16:13 ... Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
Quit:
- (archaic) Behave in a specified way, thus "act like men"
Acts 9:26 ... 26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed (attempted) to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
Gal. 5:19-21 ... Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
adultery, fornication,
uncleanness (defrauding others / I Thess. 4:6-7),
lasciviousness (lusts: could be for power, money, fame, as well as sexual lusts),
idolatry (worshipping someone or something as if it is a god),
witchcraft (such as trying to bring yourself good luck by an act that you do or a food you eat or clothing you wear "for luck"),
hatred,
variance (to vary: debate, argue, divisions),
emulations (to copy another usually with a goal to eventually outdo that person),
wrath (desire to see a person punished to get what he deserves),
strife, seditions
heresies (refusal to submit to truth),
envyings, murders, drunkenness,
revellings (to take great pleasure or delight in: partying, carousing, appearance, luxuries, food, drink, or anything else out of proportion),
and such like:
of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
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Very often definition of specific words will allow our comprehension of the way the scripture can be applied to our lives to be seen in an expanded view.
In studying the word "wrath" connected to such verses as Galatians 5 where we are warned about the works of the flesh, I found one definition of wrath to be "desire to see wrongdoer punished."
When I saw that definition, God expanded my understanding and allowed me to correct myself for I found hidden in me instances in dealing with individuals where I was harboring such a desire. I repented!
Certainly that is the nature of man, but it is the "old man" not the "new creature" who is created in Christ. Therefore we must control such desires through understanding from God and the instruction given us in the New Testament.
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2. THE SECOND MAJOR FEATURE OF THIS COMPILATION IS THE PRINTING OF SPECIFIC KEY VERSES IN RED.
This allows the reader to go through chapters and focus on specific instruction in a type of depth which often helps to apply that scripture to one's life.
An example: James 3:17 ... But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
We take each point and examine that which we are about to do to see if our plan fits the wisdom that is from God. "Is it easy to do what I am planning?" If not, it does not fit the wisdom from above, so it must be wisdom of man, and needs to be adjusted, or the plan may need to be eliminated. You can have the way to go but not have the correct method. James 3:17 tells how to recognize plans that are from God.
Also notice the wisdom that is from God is without hypocrisy. Without lying ... without pretending something that is not true ...
Scriptures allow us to judge what we are doing and what we have planned to do so we can be going in both the way of God and the will of God.
We believe this version of the Bible helps us to do that as we read the various verses.
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3. References to God and to Jesus (HE, HIM, THOU), are printed IN CAPITAL LETTERS.
It has always troubled me that Bibles fail to do this.
To me, capitalizing the references to God and Jesus identify such as "God" and help to solidify THEM in reverence and awe in our thinking when we read about THEM.
I find such capital letters are especially helpful in reading the book of Hebrews:
Heb. 1-6 ... 1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by HIS Son, WHOM HE hath appointed heir of all things, by WHOM also HE made the worlds;
3 WHO being the brightness of HIS glory, and the express image of HIS person, and upholding all things by the word of HIS power, when HE had by HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
4 Being made so much better than the angels, as HE hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For unto which of the angels said HE at any time, THOU art MY Son, this day have I begotten THEE? And again, I will be to HIM a Father, and HE shall be to ME a Son?
6 And again, when HE bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, HE saith, And let all the angels of God worship HIM.
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We believe you will be helped by this version of the King James Bible: New Testament.
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Psalms & Proverbs
We have placed key concepts in red print throughout Psalms & Proverbs for special help when you are a little down and don't know where to read. Just start reading the verses in red print and we believe in a short time you will begin to feel life again and we think these verses can be greatly used to lift you up and set you on your feet again.
Joan Boney & Pam Padgett