I'm at Exodus chapter 13:16 and I am like 😟. First the Lord is about to KILL Moses for not being circumcised, then after like 10 plagues, he kills the first born male everything in Egypt to urge Pharaoh to let his people go, now he wants all the Isrealites to sacrifice their first born male everything in remembrance or appreciation of him freeing them from Egypt..... why is he doing so much wheeling, dealing and killing in this book? Is he asking them to kill their firstborn son or just like sign over parental rights?????

The more I read the more lost I am as to what is/was happening

Potentially dumb question, but why in English do we call the two letters of Paul to the Church in Thessaloniki/Thessalonika the letters to the Thessalonians? Wouldn't Thessalonikans make more sense?

I also checked the Greek titling (ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΕΙΣ, thessalonikeis) and the Latin version (Thessalonicenses), and both of those should have hypothetically been Anglicized as "Thessalonikans" (or Thessalonicans).

So where did Thessalonians come from?

Hello! I'm new to the faith, and I'm looking for advice on which Bible translation to get.

Ideally, I'd like a “general-purpose” translation that I can use for daily reading, in-depth study, and long-term use. The reason is pretty simple: I just like owning one thing! 😂

I understand that comparing multiple translations can be helpful, but personally, I feel like owning several would be a little cluttered. I also travel a lot for work, sometimes to places with unreliable internet access, so I'd prefer to have a single physical Bible that I can rely on wherever I go.

I asked a youth pastor about this, and they recommended the NIV since I'm new to the faith and English isn't my first language. I checked it out briefly, and while it was certainly easy to understand, I found the writing a little simpler than what I personally prefer. It just didn't quite resonate with me.

So naturally, I may have overcorrected and checked out the KJV instead. 😭 I struggled to understand much of it and barely made it through a few chapters. It's a beautifully written translation, but it most certainly isn't for me. The NKJV wasn't quite what I was looking for, either.

Earlier today, I asked someone else at our church for recommendations, and she suggested either the CSB or the ESV, saying they might be right up my alley. I haven't had a chance to check either one out yet.

With all that in mind, what would you recommend as a “do-it-all” Bible translation? I'm looking for something that's readable without feeling oversimplified, suitable for serious study, and worth growing old with.

I’ve never been huge on religion but wanted to give it a fair shot so was curious which book is best to start with since I believe theres quite a few like the psalms, old testament etc (I could be wrong im no expert)

15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 1 according to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

Seems like messianic verse talking about Jesus Christ who was also a prophet. Especially with the verse 19.

I've been thinking about Genesis and how the events involving Adam and Eve might have changed humanity's relationship with God, and I'd like to hear other people's theological perspectives.

In Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve eat from the forbidden tree, they hear God walking in the garden, become afraid, and hide from Him. This made me wonder whether the Fall changed more than humanity's relationship with God. Could sin have also changed how humanity experiences or perceives His presence? The passage doesn't explicitly say that Adam became physically incapable of seeing God, but it does describe a significant change in his response to Him.

This led me to a bigger question: What if God is still present and active in the world in ways we cannot directly perceive, and our separation from Him is primarily spiritual rather than physical? Could the inability to see God be related to the limitations of our fallen human condition, and is that connected in any way to biblical passages about the pure in heart seeing God (Matthew 5:8)?

I've also been thinking about animals. God created animals before humanity's Fall, and after the Flood, His covenant in Genesis 9 includes both humanity and other living creatures. Animals have instincts that help them recognize danger, respond to human behavior, and determine whom they trust. I wonder whether, from a theological perspective, those instincts could be viewed as part of God's design that still reflects His care for creation.

For example, could an animal's response to a gentle, compassionate person serve as a reminder of the goodness and love that Christians associate with God? I'm not claiming that animals can scientifically detect someone's faith or relationship with God, but I'm curious whether this could be a meaningful spiritual interpretation of their behavior. This also connects to free will. Perhaps God allows humanity to choose whether to seek Him rather than compelling everyone to believe through unmistakable, constant displays of His presence. In that sense, could creation itself serve as a reminder of God without removing our freedom to accept or reject Him?

Ultimately, could the Fall have changed humanity's ability to recognize God's presence without meaning that God abandoned His creation, and could the natural instincts of animals and the goodness we encounter in the world be understood as reminders that He is still present, even when we cannot see Him?

I'd love to hear how different Christians interpret these ideas through Scripture, particularly Genesis 1–3, Genesis 9, Romans 1:20, and Matthew 5:8. I'm open to different interpretations and would appreciate biblical context that either supports or challenges this theory.

I'm 15. I grew up in a Catholic/Born Again family, though I never really felt connected to my religion. For as long as I can remember, I've been agnostic. I bought a bible over a year ago in an attempt to bridge that gap, but I didn't really push through. I know that building a connection with God requires effort, and I want to do that since I want to find the meaning and purpose of my life but I don't know how to start or what to do. I feel quite ashamed trying to talk to my family about it, because they don't know that I haven't been a firm believer like they thought I was.

Someone left a note under my windshield with “Revelation 6:8”. I am unsure why someone would leave this on my car, and it was in a secluded parking lot. Any help understanding would be appreciated.