NIV, Spiritual Renewal Study Bible: Experience New Growth and Transformation in Your Spiritual Walk

New International Version

Spiritual Renewal Study Bible

EXPERIENCE NEW GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION IN YOUR SPIRITUAL WALK

with notes by

Stephen Arterburn

David Stoop

NIV Spiritual Renewal™ Study Bible

Copyright © 2013 by Zondervan

All rights reserved

Spiritual Renewal Bible copyright © 1998 by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®

Used by Permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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New International Version and NIV are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc.®

Used by permission.

Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc.,

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Spiritual Renewal Bible and Spiritual Renewal Bible logo are trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

eISBN: 9780310433668

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 2013945033

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Contents

How to Use This Bible

Alphabetical Order of the Books of the Bible

Preface to the NIV Spiritual Renewal Study Bible

Contributors

User’s Guide

Preface to the New International Version

OLD TESTAMENT

NEW TESTAMENT

Study Notes

Table of Weights and Measures

Index to Text Notes

Index to Spiritual Keys Devotionals

Index to Character Profiles

Index to Spiritual Disciplines Devotionals and Profiles

OLD TESTAMENT

Genesis

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50

Exodus

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40

Leviticus

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27

Numbers

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36

Deuteronomy

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34

Joshua

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24

Judges

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21

Ruth

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

1 Samuel

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

2 Samuel

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24

1 Kings

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22

2 Kings

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25

1 Chronicles

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29

2 Chronicles

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36

Ezra

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Nehemiah

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13

Esther

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Job

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42

Psalms

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 100 | 101 | 102 | 103 | 104 | 105 | 106 | 107 | 108 | 109 | 110 | 111 | 112 | 113 | 114 | 115 | 116 | 117 | 118 | 119 | 120 | 121 | 122 | 123 | 124 | 125 | 126 | 127 | 128 | 129 | 130 | 131 | 132 | 133 | 134 | 135 | 136 | 137 | 138 | 139 | 140 | 141 | 142 | 143 | 144 | 145 | 146 | 147 | 148 | 149 | 150

Proverbs

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

Ecclesiastes

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

Song of Songs

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Isaiah

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66

Jeremiah

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52

Lamentations

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Ezekiel

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48

Daniel

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

Hosea

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

Joel

1 | 2 | 3

Amos

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Obadiah

1

Jonah

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Micah

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Nahum

1 | 2 | 3

Habakkuk

1 | 2 | 3

Zephaniah

1 | 2 | 3

Haggai

1 | 2

Zechariah

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

Malachi

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

NEW TESTAMENT

Matthew

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28

Mark

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

Luke

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24

John

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21

Acts

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28

Romans

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

1 Corinthians

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

2 Corinthians

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13

Galatians

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Ephesians

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Philippians

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Colossians

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

1 Thessalonians

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

2 Thessalonians

1 | 2 | 3

1 Timothy

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

2 Timothy

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Titus

1 | 2 | 3

Philemon

1

Hebrews

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13

James

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

1 Peter

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

2 Peter

1 | 2 | 3

1 John

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

2 John

1

3 John

1

Jude

1

Revelation

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22

How to Use This Bible

Thank you for purchasing the HarperCollins Christian Publishing eBook version from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan’s excellent line of Bible translations that exist to serve Christians who not only recognize the Bible’s importance, but who also want a Bible to treasure in their lifelong pursuit of the knowledge of God’s revelation of Himself.

There are a multitude of Bibles available to engage children, youth, men, and women with the Word of God, including Text Only, Daily, Devotional, Reference, and Comprehensive Study.

What is the difference between an eBook and a print book?

eBook versions of various Bibles contain all of the content and supplementary materials found in the original print versions and are optimized for navigation in the various apps and devices used for display. eReaders recognize text as one fluid string and are formatted in a single column. eReaders currently do not support the more complex layout seen in print version books. Therefore, some content may not appear in the same place as in the original print version, but it is structured consistently and uses hyperlinks to navigate between related content.

How do I use the eBook Table of Contents?

*Important Note: Be sure to consult your device manufacturer’s User’s Guide for device-specific navigation instructions.*

The Table of Contents is the primary navigation anchor to quickly access various parts of the Bible and is generally formatted in the same order as the original print version and hyperlinked as follows:

• Front matter – Introductory articles

• Old Testament

• New Testament

• Bible books

• Bible chapters

• Back matter – Supplementary materials

Old Testament and New Testament hyperlinks quickly access individual Bible books and chapters in each testament.

• Book links go directly to the Introduction.

• Chapter links go directly to the beginning of the chapter associated with a book.

• Every Bible book and chapter hyperlink returns or goes back to the Table of Contents.

• Every entry is hyperlinked directly to the content-specific location in the main text.

• Use the device’s back button or function to go back to the last selection.

How do I navigate to Bible Books, Chapters and Verses?

Use the Table of Contents to navigate to specific Bible verses using one of the 2 methods below:

Method 1

• Navigate to and click a specific book of the Bible from the Table of Contents.

• Click a chapter number hyperlink.

• Use the device’s Next Page/Previous Page buttons or functions to scroll through the verses.

• Use the device’s back button or function to go back to the last selection.

Method 2

• Click either the Old Testament or New Testament hyperlink in the Table of Contents.

• Use the device’s Next Page/Previous Page buttons or functions to scroll through the Bible books.

• Click a chapter number hyperlink.

• Use the device’s Next Page/Previous Page buttons or functions to scroll through the verses.

• Use the device’s back button or function to go back to the last selection.

How do I navigate Supplementary Materials?

The eBook version of the NIV Spiritual Renewal Study Bible includes introductory articles, the complete Old and New Testament text, study notes (commentary), footnotes (translator’s notes), Spiritual Keys Devotionals, Character Profiles, Spiritual Disciplines Devotionals and Profiles, and appendices. Hyperlinks to the materials appear in the Table of Contents as well as the main Bible text.

Introductory articles (lists) are hyperlinked directly to the content-specific location in the main text.

• Select the hyperlinked entry in the article or list to go to its location in the main text.

• Select the hyperlinked entry in the main text to go back to the article or list in the Table of Contents or use the device’s back button or function to go back to the last selection.

Study Notes (commentary) are hyperlinked to Bible verse numbers where study notes are available in the main Bible text. Some notes cover a range of verses while others are verse specific. All verses do not have notes associated with them.

• Select a hyperlinked Bible verse number to the corresponding study note (commentary).

• Select a hyperlinked verse number to the left of the study note (commentary) and you are returned to the main Bible text or use the device’s back button or function to go back to the last selection.

Footnotes (Translators’ Notes) are marked with a hyperlinked lowercase letter a to indicate important textual information.

• Click the hyperlinked letter to the left of the word or phrase in the main Bible text to the corresponding note.

• Select the hyperlinked letter to the left of the note and you are returned to the main Bible text.

Spiritual Keys Devotionals explore the 7 keys to experiencing spiritual renewal and transformation.

• Select the hyperlinked entry that begins with the Key number (Ex. Key 1, etc.) at the end of a verse to go to its location following the last chapter of each Bible book.

• Select the hyperlinked article title or chapter/verse 3:16 entry in the article to go back to the Bible verse location, or use the device’s back button or function to go back to the last selection.

• Navigate to the next devotional in that Key’s series by selecting the link at the end of the devotional.

Character Profiles tell the stories of Bible characters and explore lessons from their lives.

• Select the hyperlinked entry that begins with the word Profile at the end of a verse to go to its location following the last chapter of each Bible book.

• Select the hyperlinked article title or chapter/verse 3:16 entry in the article to go back to the Bible verse location, or use the device’s back button or function to go back to the last selection.

Spiritual Disciplines Devotionals and Profiles are devotions that feature various spiritual practices.

• Select the hyperlinked entry that begins with the phrase The Spiritual Disciplines at the end of a verse to go to its location following the last chapter of each Bible book.

• Select the hyperlinked article title or chapter/verse 3:16 entry in the article to go back to the Bible verse location, or use the device’s back button or function to go back to the last selection.

• Navigate to the next devotional in that Spiritual Discipline’s series by selecting the link at the end of the devotional.

Appendices with Supplementary Articles, Lists, and Indexes are features that supplement the Bible text and are hyperlinked directly to the content-specific location following the main Bible text.

• Select the hyperlinked entry in the Table of Contents to the specific article, list, or index.

• Select the Bible reference or article hyperlink to the corresponding main Bible text or article.

• Use the device’s back button or function to go back to the last selection.

Alphabetical Order of the Books of the Bible

The books of the New Testament are indicated by italics.

Acts

Amos

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Colossians

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Daniel

Deuteronomy

Ecclesiastes

Ephesians

Esther

Exodus

Ezekiel

Ezra

Galatians

Genesis

Habakkuk

Haggai

Hebrews

Hosea

Isaiah

James

Jeremiah

Job

Joel

John

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jonah

Joshua

Jude

Judges

1 Kings

2 Kings

Lamentations

Leviticus

Luke

Malachi

Mark

Matthew

Micah

Nahum

Nehemiah

Numbers

Obadiah

1 Peter

2 Peter

Philemon

Philippians

Proverbs

Psalms

Revelation

Romans

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

Song of Songs

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Zechariah

Zephaniah

Preface to the NIV Spiritual Renewal Study Bible

Welcome to a path that will lead to a renewed spirit, a transformed mind and a healed heart. For these things to happen, you will need to possess a characteristic that is priceless. It goes beyond being aware that there is a struggle in your life. It even goes beyond wanting your life to be different. Awareness and desire are good things, but they, by themselves will always fall short of leading you to the life God has promised. The key characteristic we are referring to is willingness. If you are willing to try something different in your life and are willing to take some bold steps toward change, you will experience the transformation promised in God’s Word. You will experience the blessed life!

If you are willing, let’s look at how to begin. First, in this Bible, the NIV Spiritual Renewal Study Bible, you will explore what we call the 7 keys to experiencing spiritual renewal and transformation. You can begin this journey by starting with the Spiritual Keys Devotional Reading Plan. The first key is "Seek God and Surrender to Him." This reading plan will take you through the Bible and its relationship to these 7 keys.

It’s no accident that the first key is to surrender. Surrender sounds like a weak word, but to us it is the most powerful word. It simply means you allow God to do in your life what only God can do. You stop trying through your own efforts. Surrender comes in two forms. First is what a person experiences who has a deeply spiritual and emotional experience with God that leads them quickly into a life characterized by radical obedience to God and adherence to his Word. The other form of surrender is simply a willingness to comply with the path that has been helpful to so many others. You can have doubt, fears and even skepticism, but if you are willing to follow the direction given within this unique Bible, you will experience the reality of surrender, and you are on your way to the life God desires for you.

The second key follows your willingness to surrender, and it is the ability and desire to see and accept the reality of your life. Whatever is holding you back, whether it be false hopes for an impossible future, the shame and regrets that keep you bound to the past, or the fear and anxiety that are destroying your present, all can be replaced by your living in the reality of the moment, accepting your challenges as they develop, and trusting and following God in resolving them day by day. Once you accept and embrace the truth about your life as it is rather than denying so much of reality, you will be on your way to freedom.

Now that you have accepted your reality, the third key is to honestly open up to others about it. There is healing in confessing the shameful secrets and strongholds that keep you stuck. As you confess, you are also using the fourth key, which is to take responsibility for your life. Now you stop blaming others; now you give up expecting a quick healing; now you stop being paralyzed by your old ways of coping. Instead you own the problems, confess them to someone else, and get into the healing process by enlisting the help of others who have traveled this journey before you.

The fifth key may sound like it is too difficult, and it may be at this point, but it involves forgiveness of those who have hurt you. This can be the most powerful part of your healing process. You don’t wait for the other person to deserve it or ask for it; you simply do the work of forgiveness. Forgiveness frees you from a past you cannot change, and it will launch you into a life beyond anything you could imagine or hope for.

Your spiritual renewal and transformation now takes on new energy. You reverse the direction of your life from being controlled by negative and evil things to reaching out to others who have been through the same struggles. You take what was meant to harm you and turn it around to help others. You guide them and support them by helping them implement the 7 keys of spiritual renewal and transformation in their own live. And in the process, you come to see purpose emerging from your pain and your past.

Finally, the path continues with the seventh key, where you do everything necessary to preserve your spiritual gains. You connect when you don’t feel like it. You open up when you would rather hide your wounds. You make bold moves even when you are pulled back toward your old life. And no matter how difficult life seems, you maintain your gratitude for the opportunity to live your life with God’s blessings.

That is what the path of spiritual renewal and transformation looks like. And all devotionals, features and notes on the text are designed to reinforce these 7 keys that God will use to change your life and mold you into the person you have wanted to be—the person God made you to be.

Thank you for allowing us to come alongside you for the journey of a lifetime that will produce results for all eternity. If you need us for some personal inspiration or to answer a question, our addresses are listed below.

May the power of God’s Word, combined with your humble willingness, lead you to a rich and fulfilling life.

Sincerely,

The Editors

Stephen Arterburn, M. Ed.

(SArterburn@newlife.com)

David Stoop, Ph.D.

(drstoop@cox.net)

Contributors

Executive Editors

Stephen F. Arterburn

David A. Stoop

General Editor

Connie Neal

Associate Editors

Sarah M. Hupp

David P. Barrett

Mark R. Norton

Editorial Staff

Derrick Blanchette

Meg Diehl

Diane Eble

Betsy Elliott

Lela Gilbert

Dietrich Gruen

Lucille Leonard

Phyllis LePeau

Daryl Lucas

Judith Morse

Kathy Stinnette Olson

Susan Taylor

Ramona Tucker

Sally van der Graaff

Esther Waldrop

Karen Walker

Wightman Weese

Writers

Donald E. Anderson

Shelley M. Chapin

R. Tony Cothren

Shelly O. Cunningham

Barry C. Davis

Harold Dollar

Joseph M. Espinoza

Thomas J. Finley

William J. Gaultiere

Ronald N. Glass

Daniel M. Hahn

Eric Hoey

Mark W. Hoffman

John C. Hutchison

Tommy A. Jarrett

Stephen M. Johnson

G. Ted Martinez

Kathy McReynolds

V. Eric Nachtrieb

Connie Neal

Stephen L. Newman

T. Ken Oberholtzer

Scott B. Rae

Richard O. Rigsby

Jane E. Rodgers

Walter B. Russell

Richard F. Travis

User’s Guide

Everyone needs spiritual renewal. We see this whenever we take time to examine our own life or the lives of those around us. Ever since Adam and Eve first chose to sin, everyone has experienced a life that falls short of God’s original desire for his people. But there is good news: God has promised to redeem us and transform us when we seek him. In order for us to experience this spiritual renewal, however, the Bible shows us that we must submit ourselves to God’s plan and process. This plan requires that we daily seek God’s will for our life instead of demanding to go our own way, allowing God to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, while also taking the steps necessary to draw closer to our Creator and Redeemer. It is a process of allowing God to heal our wounded souls so we can help others in the process of healing. All of us need to take part in this process; it is an inherent part of being human. This process can be understood as a series of insights, or keys, to spiritual renewal:

1. Seek God and Surrender to Him We must come to the end of ourselves and allow God’s plans for us to replace our plans. We find the peace of God as we listen to his voice and do whatever it takes to grow toward him. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time (1 Peter 5:6).

2. See the Truth We must come to accept the full reality of our situation. We must look honestly at our defects, weaknesses, and areas of sin so that we will no longer be ruled by the problems that lie in our blind spots. This process begins when we document areas of our lives where we are weak and need spiritual maturity. You have searched me, LORD, and you know me (Psalm 139:1).

3. Speak the Truth We must break the barriers of silence that have been formed from our pride. We must humbly begin to open up about our lives and our sins and weaknesses. We strengthen our relationship with God as we develop authentic relationships with others. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed (James 5:16).

4. Accept Responsibility We must refuse to blame others for our problems and take responsibility to make the needed changes. We must obey God’s Word and repent from those things that prevent us from growing spiritually. We can then begin to mature in our walk with Christ, leaving behind our old habits of irresponsibility. For each one should carry their own load (Galatians 6:5).

5. Grieve, Forgive and Let Go We must move beyond what was and what might have been and accept what is and what will be. We must grieve over our losses and let go of missed opportunities. We must accept Christ’s forgiveness for our sins and seek forgiveness from others as we make restitution for the pain we have caused them. We must also forgive others who have hurt us, not excusing or condoning their actions, but freeing ourselves from bitterness and resentment that could destroy us. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you (Matthew 6:14).

6. Transform Your Life As we grow, we are released from self-centeredness and freed to reach out to others. We begin to transform our pain into a purpose, our past misery into a mission and new ministry. [God] comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3–4).

7. Preserve Spiritual Gains We must protect the spiritual gains we have made and persevere through life’s inevitable struggles. We must find people we can be accountable to, and we must grow in the spiritual disciplines that strengthen our relationship with God. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:8).

These keys form the basis of the notes and other helps found in the NIV Spiritual Renewal Study Bible.

Preface to the New International Version

The goal of the New International version (NIV) is to enable English-speaking people from around the world to read and hear God’s eternal Word in their own language. Our work as translators is motivated by our conviction that the Bible is God’s Word in written form. We believe that the Bible contains the divine answer to the deepest needs of humanity, sheds unique light on our path in a dark world and sets forth the way to our eternal well-being. Out of these deep convictions, we have sought to recreate as far as possible the experience of the original audience—blending transparency to the original text with accessibility for the millions of English speakers around the world. We have prioritized accuracy, clarity and literary quality with the goal of creating a translation suitable for public and private reading, evangelism, teaching, preaching, memorizing and liturgical use. We have also sought to preserve a measure of continuity with the long tradition of translating the Scriptures into English.

The complete NIV Bible was first published in 1978. It was a completely new translation made by over a hundred scholars working directly from the best available Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts. The translators came from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, giving the translation an international scope. They were from many denominations and churches—including Anglican, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Brethren, Christian Reformed, Church of Christ, Evangelical Covenant, Evangelical Free, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Nazarene, Presbyterian, Wesleyan and others. This breadth of denominational and theological perspective helped to safeguard the translation from sectarian bias. For these reasons, and by the grace of God, the NIV has gained a wide readership in all parts of the English-speaking world.

The work of translating the Bible is never finished. As good as they are, English translations must be regularly updated so that they will continue to communicate accurately the meaning of God’s Word. Updates are needed in order to reflect the latest developments in our understanding of the biblical world and its languages and to keep pace with changes in English usage. Recognizing, then, that the NIV would retain its ability to communicate God’s Word accurately only if it were regularly updated, the original translators established The Committee on Bible Translation (CBT). The committee is a self-perpetuating group of biblical scholars charged with keeping abreast of advances in biblical scholarship and changes in English and issuing periodic updates to the NIV. CBT is an independent, self-governing body and has sole responsibility for the NIV text. The committee mirrors the original group of translators in its diverse international and denominational makeup and in its unifying commitment to the Bible as God’s inspired Word.

In obedience to its mandate, the committee has issued periodic updates to the NIV. An initial revision was released in 1984. A more thorough revision process was completed in 2005, resulting in the separately published Today’s New International version (TNIV). The updated NIV you now have in your hands builds on both the original NIV and the TNIV and represents the latest effort of the committee to articulate God’s unchanging Word in the way the original authors might have said it had they been speaking in English to the global English-speaking audience today.

The first concern of the translators has continued to be the accuracy of the translation and its faithfulness to the intended meaning of the biblical writers. This has moved the translators to go beyond a formal word-for-word rendering of the original texts. Because thought patterns and syntax differ from language to language, accurate communication of the meaning of the biblical authors demands constant regard for varied contextual uses of words and idioms and for frequent modifications in sentence structures.

As an aid to the reader, sectional headings have been inserted. They are not to be regarded as part of the biblical text and are not intended for oral reading. It is the committee’s hope that these headings may prove more helpful to the reader than the traditional chapter divisions, which were introduced long after the Bible was written.

For the Old Testament the standard Hebrew text, the Masoretic Text as published in the latest edition of Biblia Hebraica, has been used throughout. The Masoretic Text tradition contains marginal notations that offer variant readings. These have sometimes been followed instead of the text itself. Because such instances involve variants within the Masoretic tradition, they have not been indicated in the textual notes. In a few cases, words in the basic consonantal text have been divided differently than in the Masoretic Text. Such cases are usually indicated in the textual footnotes. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain biblical texts that represent an earlier stage of the transmission of the Hebrew text. They have been consulted, as have been the Samaritan Pentateuch and the ancient scribal traditions concerning deliberate textual changes. The translators also consulted the more important early versions—the Greek Septuagint, Aquila, Symmachus and Theodotion, the Latin vulgate, the Syriac Peshitta, the Aramaic Targums and, for the Psalms, the Juxta Hebraica of Jerome. Readings from these versions, the Dead Sea Scrolls and the scribal traditions were occasionally followed where the Masoretic Text seemed doubtful and where accepted principles of textual criticism showed that one or more of these textual witnesses appeared to provide the correct reading. In rare cases, the committee has emended the Hebrew text where it appears to have become corrupted at an even earlier stage of its transmission. These departures from the Masoretic Text are also indicated in the textual footnotes. Sometimes the vowel indicators (which are later additions to the basic consonantal text) found in the Masoretic Text did not, in the judgment of the committee, represent the correct vowels for the original text. Accordingly, some words have been read with a different set of vowels. These instances are usually not indicated in the footnotes.

The Greek text used in translating the New Testament is an eclectic one, based on the latest editions of the Nestle-Aland/United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament. The committee has made its choices among the variant readings in accordance with widely accepted principles of New Testament textual criticism. Footnotes call attention to places where uncertainty remains.

The New Testament authors, writing in Greek, often quote the Old Testament from its ancient Greek version, the Septuagint. This is one reason why some of the Old Testament quotations in the NIV New Testament are not identical to the corresponding passages in the NIV Old Testament. Such quotations in the New Testament are indicated with the footnote (see Septuagint).

Other footnotes in this version are of several kinds, most of which need no explanation. Those giving alternative translations begin with Or and generally introduce the alternative with the last word preceding it in the text, except when it is a single-word alternative. When poetry is quoted in a footnote, a slash mark indicates a line division.

It should be noted that references to diseases, minerals, flora and fauna, architectural details, clothing, jewelry, musical instruments and other articles cannot always be identified with precision. Also, linear measurements and measures of capacity can only be approximated (see the Table of Weights and Measures). Although Selah, used mainly in the Psalms, is probably a musical term, its meaning is uncertain. Since it may interrupt reading and distract the reader, this word has not been kept in the English text, but every occurrence has been signaled by a footnote.

One of the main reasons the task of Bible translation is never finished is the change in our own language, English. Although a basic core of the language remains relatively stable, many diverse and complex linguistic factors continue to bring about subtle shifts in the meanings and/or connotations of even old, well-established words and phrases. One of the shifts that creates particular challenges to writers and translators alike is the manner in which gender is presented. The original NIV (1978) was published in a time when a man would naturally be understood, in many contexts, to be referring to a person, whether male of female. But most English speakers today tend to hear a distinctly male connotation in this word. In recognition of this change in English, this edition of the NIV, along with almost all other recent English translations, substitutes other expressions when the original text intends to refer generically to men and women equally. Thus, for instance, the NIV (1984) rendering of 1 Corinthians 8:3, But the man who loves God is known by God becomes in this edition But whoever loves God is known by God. On the other hand, man and mankind, as ways of denoting the human race, are still widely used. This edition of the NIV therefore continues to use these words, along with other expressions, in this way.

A related shift in English creates a greater challenge for modern translations: the move away from using the third-person masculine singular pronouns—he/him/his—to refer to men and women equally. This usage does persist at a low level in some forms of English, and this revision therefore occasionally uses these pronouns in a generic sense. But the tendency, recognized in day-to-day usage and confirmed by extensive research, is away from the generic use of he, him and his. In recognition of this shift in language and in an effort to translate into the common English that people are actually using, this revision of the NIV generally uses other constructions when the biblical text is plainly addressed to men and women equally. The reader will frequently encounter a they, them or their to express a generic singular idea. Thus, for instance, Mark 8:36 reads: What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? This generic use of the indefinite or singular they/them/their has a venerable place in English idiom and has quickly become established as standard English, spoken and written, all over the world. Where an individual emphasis is deemed to be present, anyone or everyone or some other equivalent is generally used as the antecedent of such pronouns.

Sometimes the chapter and/or verse numbering in English translations of the Old Testament differs from that found in published Hebrew texts. This is particularly the case in the Psalms, where the traditional titles are often included in the Hebrew verse numbering. Such differences are indicated in the footnotes at the bottom of the page. In the New Testament, verse numbers that marked off portions of the traditional English text not supported by the best Greek manuscripts now appear in brackets, with a footnote indicating the text that has been omitted (see, for example, Matthew 17:[21]).

Mark 16:9–20 and John 7:53–8:11, although long accorded virtually equal status with the rest of the Gospels in which they stand, have a very questionable—and confused—standing in the textual history of the New Testament, as noted in the bracketed annotations with which they are set off. A different typeface has been chosen for these passages to indicate even more clearly their uncertain status.

Basic formatting of the text, such as lining the poetry, paragraphing (both prose and poetry), setting up of (administrative-like) lists, indenting letters and lengthy prayers within narratives and the insertion of sectional headings, has been the work of the committee. However, the choice between single-column and double-column formats has been left to the publishers. Also the issuing of red-letter editions is a publisher’s choice—one the committee does not endorse.

The committee has again been reminded that every human effort is flawed—including this revision of the NIV. We trust, however, that many will find in it an improved representation of the Word of God, through which they hear his call to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and to service in his kingdom. We offer this version of the Bible to him in whose name and for whose glory it has been made.

The Committee on Bible Translation

September 2010

The Old Testament

Genesis

The Big Picture

The book of Genesis is a book of beginnings. It records how the world began and how God created it to be good. It tells us about the first people and how God made them to be excellent. But then it tells us about the beginning of sin—about the first time people decided to reject God’s revealed will for them. It records the first days of shame and the beginnings of our separation from God, from each other and from the world God gave us.

In this book we will see how people with perfect health, living in a perfect environment, rebelled against God. We will view the consequences of their rebellion. And we will see intimate glimpses of individuals dominated by hatred, drunkenness, lust, unhealthy family relationships, money, cheating, irresponsibility, dishonesty, jealousy, violence and other vices.

But the book of Genesis doesn’t leave us in despair. It tells us of another beginning. It records how God chose a man named Abraham to father a special nation and through this nation provided the solution for our separation from God. Genesis tells the story of how God began his work of healing broken humanity—a healing expressed in the laws he would give his people and culminating in the coming of Jesus, the promised Messiah.

The book of Genesis reminds us where all our problems began. It spells out the fatal consequences of rejecting God’s will. But it also begins the story of God’s unstoppable love for the human race. Through this book we will discover that the only way to achieve spiritual renewal is to surrender our lives to God’s righteous rule.

Spiritual Renewal Themes

A Good Creation

Everything about God’s creation was described as being good except the fact that Adam was alone. In fact, Adam’s isolation was the only thing in the first two chapters of Genesis that God considered to be problematic. Once God had created a partner for man, he was then pleased with everything in his creation. Because God was pleased with what he had created, he stayed involved, even after Adam and Eve disobeyed him. In fact, ever since the fall, God has been seeking to make things right again. Our sinfulness always leads us away from God and distorts the way God created us to be. But our spiritual renewal always involves growth toward God’s original ideal for the human race. As we are transformed by God, we take part in God’s re-creation of our fallen world.

A Ruined World

Adam and Eve’s disobedience affected all of God’s creation. The idyllic world of the garden was gone forever. Life became a struggle. Our futile attempts to avoid the realities of a ruined world have led us into spiritual blindness and all of its destructive consequences. Spiritual renewal begins when we squarely face the broken realities of our world—its daily struggles and hardships—and enter the spiritual arena to fight for and regain what has been lost to sin.

Promises of Redemption

The book of Genesis presents a series of new beginnings that come out of the ruin of sin. When Adam and Eve fell into sin, God promised hope and healing for humankind when he told the serpent that the offspring of the woman would crush his head. When people continued to disobey, God sent the flood as a judgment for their sinfulness. After the flood, God again gave the people hope and symbolized that promise with a rainbow. Then the human race rejected God again, building a huge tower as a monument to their greatness. In response, God confused their languages, further fragmenting society. Then God chose a man named Abram and promised to bless all nations of the world through his offspring. Every time that human sin brought ruin, God promised victory and redemption.

Hope for Reconciliation

As people began to experience the terrible consequences of their disobedience, God didn’t leave them all alone to figure out a plan for redemption. He didn’t leave a long list of principles or rules to follow to repair their damaged relationships. Instead, God worked with people on a personal level to renew them spiritually.

As we enter into spiritual renewal, we find it to be relational. Spiritual renewal requires us to seek reconciliation with God and with people close to us. In Genesis, God models this pattern for us time and again. He chose certain individuals and worked patiently in their lives, reconciling them to himself and to the people around them.

Essential Facts

Purpose:

To tell us about the beginning of things, including human opportunities and sinfulness, and to demonstrate that God’s solutions are the only ones that work.

Author:

Moses.

Audience:

The people of Israel.

Date Written:

Chapters 1–11 deal with the undatable past; the events of chapters 12–50 are dated between approximately 2000 and 1800 BC. The book was probably written shortly after 1445 BC.

Setting:

Mesopotamia, then Canaan, and finally Egypt.

Key Verse:

Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness (15:6).

Key Events:

Creation, the fall, the flood, the tower of Babel, the establishment of a covenant with Abraham and his descendants, the Israelites’ move to Egypt.

Key People:

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph.

Outline

A. God Sets the Stage (1:1–11:32)

1. Formation of the Universe (1:1–2:25)

a. God creates matter, energy and the natural order (1:1–2:3)

b. God prepares pristine surroundings for the first family (2:4–25)

2. Fall of the Human Race (3:1–24)

a. Commission of sin (3:1–7)

b. Curse on sin (3:8–24)

3. Failure of Society (4:1–9:29)

a. Failure of humankind (4:1–6:22)

b. Flood of judgment (7:1–9:29)

4. Folly of Rebellion (10:1–11:32)

a. Dispersal of the people (10:1–32)

b. Disobedience of the people (11:1–32)

B. God Chooses the Players (12:1–50:26)

1. Abraham (12:1–25:18)

2. Isaac (25:19–28:9)

3. Jacob (28:10–37:1)

4. Joseph (37:2–50:26)

Genesis 1

The Beginning

¹In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ²Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

³And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. ⁴God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. ⁵God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

⁶And God said, Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water. ⁷So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. ⁸God called the vault sky. And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

⁹And God said, Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear. And it was so. ¹⁰God called the dry ground land, and the gathered waters he called seas. And God saw that it was good.

¹¹Then God said, Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds. And it was so. ¹²The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. ¹³And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

¹⁴And God said, Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, ¹⁵and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth. And it was so. ¹⁶God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. ¹⁷God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, ¹⁸to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

²⁰And God said, Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky. ²¹So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ²²God blessed them and said, Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth. ²³And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

²⁴And God said, Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind. And it was so. ²⁵God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

²⁶Then God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,a and over all the creatures that move along the ground.

²⁷So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

²⁸God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.

²⁹Then God said, I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. ³⁰And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food. And it was so.

³¹God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Genesis 2

¹Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

²By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. ³Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Adam and Eve

⁴This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

⁵Now no shrub had yet appeared on the eartha and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, ⁶but streamsb came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. ⁷Then the LORD God formed a manc from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

⁸Now the LORD