NIV, The Journey Bible: Revealing God and How You Fit into His Plan

NIV The Journey Bible

REVEALING GOD AND HOW YOU FIT INTO HIS PLAN

NIV The Journey Bible

Copyright © 2014 by Zondervan

All rights reserved

The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®

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

Used by Permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Published by Zondervan

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

www.zondervan.com

Willow Creek Association

67 East Algonquin Road

South Barrington, Illinois 60010, USA

www.willowcreek.com

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

Used by permission.

eISBN 9780310442295

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 2013948628

The NIV® text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic or audio), up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without the express written permission of the publisher, providing the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible nor do the verses quoted account for twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted.

Notice of copyright must appear on the title or copyright page as follows:

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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

Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

When quotations from the NIV® text are used by a local church in non-saleable media such as church bulletins, orders of service, posters, overhead transparencies, or similar materials, a complete copyright notice is not required, but the initials (NIV®) must appear at the end of each quotation.

Any commentary or other biblical reference work produced for commercial sale, that uses the NIV® text must obtain written permission for use of the NIV® text.

Permission requests for commercial use within the USA and Canada that exceeds the above guidelines must be directed to and approved in writing by Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Drive, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA. www.Zondervan.com

Permission requests for commercial use within the UK, EU and EFTA that exceeds the above guidelines must be directed to and approved in writing by Hodder & Stoughton Limited, 338 Euston Road, London NW1 3BH, United Kingdom. www.Hodder.co.uk

Permission requests for non-commercial use that exceeds the above guidelines must be directed to and approved in writing by Biblica US, Inc., 1820 Jet Stream Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921, USA. www.Biblica.com

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this Bible are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of the Bible.

All rights reserved.

A portion of the purchase price of your NIV® Bible is provided to Biblica so together we support the mission of Transforming lives through God’s Word.

Table of Contents

How to Use This Bible

Alphabetical Order of the Books of the Bible

What Is a Spiritual Explorer?

How to Seek God

A Summary of the Bible

Who Is Jesus?

Jesus’ Famous One-Liners

Crossing the Line: How to Follow Jesus

Defining Moments of the Old Testament

Defining Moments of the New Testament

Five Alive Reading Plan, Book Summaries and Main Themes

OLD TESTAMENT

Five Alive Genesis

Five Alive Deuteronomy

NEW TESTAMENT

Five Alive John

Five Alive Acts

Five Alive Romans

Table of Weights and Measures

About the NIV

Where to Find It

Titles of Jesus

Explorer Studies

Subject Index

NIV Dictionary/Concordance

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 select a specific book of the Bible from the Table of Contents.

• Select 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

• Select 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.

• Select 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 Journey Bible includes the complete Old and New Testament text, Footnotes (Translators’ Notes), Explorer Studies, Explorer Stories, supplementary materials, and an A-Z concordance. Hyperlinks to the materials appear in the Table of Contents as well as the main Bible text.

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

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

Explorer Studies explore 7 themes that are of special interest to people who are beginning their study of God and faith and the Bible.

• Select the hyperlinked title entry at the end of a Bible verse to go to its location following the last chapter of each Bible book.

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

• Explorer Studies can also be accessed through the main Table of Contents or through the Subject Index.

Explorer Stories tell the stories of individual spiritual journeys.

• Select the hyperlinked phrase Explorer Stories at the end of a Bible verse to go to its location following the last chapter of each Bible book.

• Select the hyperlinked title to go back to the Bible verse location, or use the device’s back button or function to go back to the last selection.

• Explorer Stories can also be accessed through the Subject Index.

Appendices with Supplementary Reading Plans, 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.

Concordance includes an alphabetic list of important words.

• Select the hyperlinked letter of the alphabet to the corresponding list of entries from the Table of Contents.

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

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

What Is A Spiritual Explorer?

If you’ve picked up this Bible, you may very well be a spiritual explorer. That means you would describe yourself as someone on a journey to discover spiritual truth—particularly truth about God. Or if a friend gave you this book, then they probably see you as such a person and are trying to encourage you in that quest.

So what got you started on your quest to find out about God? Maybe you’ve always been inquisitive, but for most people such a quest is triggered by a change of life circumstances—a relationship that ends, a new beginning of some kind, or a wake-up call—that opens them up to bigger concerns.

Maybe the success you’ve enjoyed in your life isn’t as satisfying as you thought it would be. Maybe things you used to manage easily are getting out of control. Or perhaps life’s good, but you want your good life to be deeper and more meaningful. Whatever the situation, if you’re serious about discovering spiritual truth, you’re qualified to be called a spiritual explorer.

As someone seeking answers, you’re open to the possibility that God might be able to make a difference. You’re prepared to face a spiritual quest that contains twists and turns, but you have a sense that an honest search will be worth it. You embrace the admonition of Socrates, The unexamined life is not worth living. True, your life need not be awash in tragedy to make you become a spiritual explorer. But you’re looking for something more, and you’ve stopped pretending you don’t have unanswered questions. You acknowledge that there are important things you don’t know—yet if there’s something out there you can know, you want to know.

So here you are, a spiritual explorer, and here is this book, the Bible. Given the time it was written and the cultural differences between then and now, how are you going to understand its message to see if it’s relevant to your quest? Fewer and fewer people have been exposed to the Bible through formal education. Yet spiritual explorers recognize they need to know what’s in these pages—not only because the Bible has sold more copies than any other book in history, but also because so many people claim they’ve come to know God through reading and embracing its message.

Several features are included in The Journey to make it user-friendly for those exploring the Bible for the first time. To begin, it contains the world’s most popular modern-English Bible, called the New International Version. Paired with the NIV are informational notes that highlight passages of special interest. Those notes fall into the following seven categories:

• Knowing Yourself

• Managing Resources

• Addressing Questions

• Strengthening Relationships

• Discovering God

• Why Jesus?

• Reasons to Believe

Be careful not to confuse the comments of our writers and editors with the actual text of the Bible. In these notes we seek to address those areas of life most often questioned by people engaged in a spiritual search—but these are modern commentary, not the ancient Biblical text. You can further explore specific themes on your own by referring to the subject index at the back of this book.

The Bible is not a single book but a collection of books, so individual introductions are provided to summarize the central ideas and give general information for each one. In the back you’ll also find a reference tool called a dictionary/concordance designed to define any unfamiliar terms you come across as you read. And don’t miss the feature called Where to Find It, which lists locations of many of the most famous Biblical events. In addition to this article, there’s also a variety of helpful introductory information to get you started!

So what’s the best way to begin? Should you begin reading at page one? Do you flip pages at random and read whatever page you turn to? Because the Bible is a collection of individual books, we suggest that you first get an overview by reading the five key Bible books, which we’ve labeled the Five Alive books: Genesis, Deuteronomy, John, Acts and Romans. By reading these, you will get an overview of the main themes of the entire Bible. (See here for more information on the Five Alive reading plan.)

If you’d like an even quicker summary, we suggest reading the Gospel of John. You’ll find out about Jesus, the truly remarkable man who lived 2,000 years ago and is at the center of everything else in the Bible.

Finally, if you’re anxious to read the Bible’s message in brief, we’ve prepared a short summary using actual quotes from various books stitched together to form one narrative. This synopsis isn’t a substitute for reading the rest of the Bible, but a quick way to catch a glimpse of the big picture. You can read it beginning here.

Be careful not to read into the Bible things it doesn’t really say. Opening the Bible at random can lead to misguided interpretations. Always take into account a verse’s context. Study themes within the Bible, not just unrelated statements here and there. Determine that when you don’t understand something, you’ll use some of the helps in this Bible to get at the meaning. Also, talk to a pastor or somebody else who is familiar with the Bible’s teachings. It’s OK to ask questions—that’s what spiritual explorers do!

Understand that you hold in your hands a volume that offers a lifetime of learning. While you may eventually graduate to a version of the Bible with more detailed study material (NIV Student Bible, NIV Quest Study Bible or NIV Study Bible), the Bible you have here is an excellent starting point. It’s designed to set you on a course we hope you’ll continue on for the rest of your life. That, in a nutshell, is what The Journey is all about.

There is one other thing you should know: You’re not the only one who is committed to this process. No, we’re not talking about other spiritual inquirers. We’re talking about someone who is seeking you.

You see, Jesus is the ultimate seeker. He said his whole purpose was to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). So as you read, remember: The Bible isn’t so much a book about our search for God as it is a reminder of God’s search for us. It’s the story of his relentless refusal to allow humanity to wander away from him unchallenged. More specifically, it’s the story of his desire to know you, to forgive you, to adopt you into his family, to grow you in your faith, and to use you for purposes greater than you can imagine—if you’ll just give him permission to guide your life from now on.

Our hope and prayer is that you will open up to him, just as billions have already done. And as you consider this option, we’ll leave you with this promise from Jesus himself: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened (Matthew 7:7–8).

How To Seek God

Are you a spiritual explorer—a seeker of truth? If so, we offer you some good news and some bad news. The good news is that God is not lost in the woods. The bad news is, you are.

This realization can be painful. It involves facing your own finite nature and recognizing that some of your life choices have been less than enlightened. It’s OK to admit that you’re not sure of God, but if you’re a true spiritual explorer, you’ll admit that you’re not so sure of yourself, either. Rest assured that you don’t have to go it alone—God wants to help you find the right path through the forest of your life.

Becoming a genuine spiritual explorer means you’ve begun to open yourself up to a different way of living—one that includes God in the loop. That thought contains great possibilities, and some potentially frightening implications. Clearly, if you become convinced that God exists and you choose to follow him, you’ll never be the same again. And change is hard for most of us.

So what are you supposed to do once you decide to go on a spiritual quest? How does one seek for God and his truth? Well, the outline below doesn’t claim to be the final and authoritative word on the subject. But with a humble recognition that the stakes are sky-high—and believing you are very precious to God—here are four questions to help you in your search. They aren’t the map to your ultimate destination, but they may keep you from getting waylaid while you make your journey.

1. Why do you want to know God—what do you hope to get from him?

People seek God for a variety of reasons. Some think their search will lead to a more fulfilling life or a greater sense of purpose. Others are looking for relief from their pain. Still others are curious and just want to find out what’s true. What is your reason? You should be aware of your aspirations and motivations, because you may be looking for the wrong thing.

Perhaps you want to find greater happiness. What if you do find God, but your life circumstances lead to less happiness? Will you feel cheated? Believers often report that God gives them greater joy, meaning and purpose in life. But nearly every believer will also admit to experiencing periods of difficulty.

So this is a good question to ask yourself: What am I looking for? And, conversely, What does God offer me? As you read this Bible you’ll discover how much he’s already given. But he may not give you exactly what you’ve anticipated. So expect the unexpected, and make it your goal to find God, no matter what the outcome or perks. The bottom line is that a true spiritual explorer wants to find the Giver of life, not just his gifts.

2. What limitations are you placing on what God can ask from you?

Two people who have fallen deeply in love don’t go into a marriage with the intention of ignoring each other’s wishes after the wedding ceremony. Such a commitment involves adjusting personal priorities in the interest of building the relationship. When they establish their residence, for example, a couple will usually discuss at length the furnishings, wall hangings and other touches that will make their house (or apartment) a home. In the same way, it would be absurd for a spiritual explorer to open up to God but give no thought to the possibility that God may want to rearrange a few pieces of furniture when he moves in.

Of course, some people are certain that God wants to throw out all the furniture and condemn their house as uninhabitable. They think that God is just waiting to stifle their every pleasure and ridicule their every action. But nothing could be further from the truth! God created us to be in relationship with him and with each other. Through creation, through the Bible and through Jesus Christ, God tells us that he wants us to enjoy this life in a way that’s in line with his purpose for us.

But the question remains: Do you realize that God wants to be a powerful presence in your life, not just an idea in your head? Following him means following his leadership. So let’s be honest—accepting that leadership will affect your lifestyle.

Here is where many spiritual explorers’ searches end up in a ditch. They declare intellectual reasons for dismissing the claims of the Bible, but in truth they are not willing to give up some activity they know is offensive to God. If that’s you, you need to know that God will take you as you are, but he doesn’t want to leave you as you are. He wants you to let him make you into what he wants you to be.

3. Are you open to start by considering Jesus?

A spiritual explorer may think the proper order of inquiry is to first decide if there’s a God (a philosophical question) and then figure out who Jesus is (a historical question). But another and possibly even more exciting way would be to reverse the order, or at least work through the questions in tandem.

Many spiritual explorers discover that when they deal with the person of Jesus, at the same time they find answers to many of their other questions.

• Is there a God? (Yes, and he came to earth in human form in the person of Jesus Christ. See John chapter 16, verse 28.)

• Does God love me? (Yes! Look at what he did to show that love. See John chapter 3, verses 16–17.)

• What religion is the right one? (Reconsider that question—Jesus stressed that God wants a relationship with you, not for you to join a particular religious organization. See Galatians chapter 3, verses 26–28.)

• What do I have to do to live forever? (According to Jesus, accept him as your forgiver and your leader. See John chapter 3, verse 36.)

• How can I experience meaning and purpose in life? (By following Jesus and by cultivating your relationships with God and with other people. See Matthew chapter 22, verses 37–40.)

According to the Bible, until a spiritual explorer comes to terms with Jesus, he or she hasn’t dealt with the issue that’s most important in starting a relationship with God.

Consider this reality: Jesus is the most influential person in history. This poor itinerant preacher, the son of a carpenter but also the Son of God, changed the entire course of world history. How can any serious spiritual search overlook him? For example, look at any calendar. Today’s date is based on a reckoning that hinges on Jesus’ life. Because of him, people were moved to split world history into two eras—before him and after him (BC and AD).

4. Are you willing to actually find what you’re looking for—and then act?

It’s not enough to intellectually agree with Jesus’ claims once you discover how truly unique and amazing he is. If you read through this book and recognize Jesus as the true Son of God, a man who walked the earth, lived a perfect life, died, and rose again from the dead, you must choose to cross the line of faith and receive him. This is a once-for-all decision—a crisis. A process follows, but you have to start by inviting him into your life and accepting that he paid the debt you owe for your sin but could never pay yourself.

Salvation in Jesus is a totally free gift, and receiving it is as easy as saying, Jesus, I acknowledge my sin and your payment for it on the cross. I now ask you to be my forgiver and leader. But you must respond personally and deliberately or the gift will remain unopened and un-enjoyed.

Some Practical Helps

Keeping in mind the above questions, here are some practical ideas to guide you in your spiritual search:

• Ask God to reveal himself to you if you’re not sure he’s there.

• Read what is contained within these pages, especially the summary Five Alive books (Genesis, Deuteronomy, John, Acts, Romans).

• Talk to people who display a genuine relationship with God; those who obviously love him and live their lives by a different set of principles.

• Spend time in nature, observing and experiencing God’s creation.

• Listen to older people who have walked with God for a long time.

• Question things everybody seems to take for granted—be a lover of truth.

• Ask God-followers why they believe what they believe and how they know their beliefs are true.

• Recognize that following God must make sense: Truth may go beyond reason, but not against it.

• Read what other believers say about Christianity—spend time scouring the shelves at a Christian bookstore or church library for credible authors, or ask your Christian friends for a list of authors who have inspired them in their walk with God.

• Write down your questions, especially about what you read in the Bible, and take them to a knowledgeable Christian who respects your seeking process.

• Expect ongoing questions and some doubts along the way.

• Know your presuppositions—the things you already believe—and try not to let them interfere with your quest for the truth.

• Stay open to actually finding what you’re looking for—fear of commitment and change can keep you from finding the truth.

• Keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings during your search.

• Know your personal issues—your past will profoundly influence your present ability to be objective.

• Remember that you don’t have to know everything to know something.

• Determine to seek for a specific period of time, and continually evaluate your progress. Then try to reach an appropriate conclusion.

• Act on what you decide.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

—Jesus (Matthew chapter 7, verses 7–8)

A Summary of the Bible

In Its Own Words

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Then 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, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.

The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.

After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. He took him outside and said, Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them. Then he said to him, So shall your offspring be. Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers. Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.

Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the LORD has spoken: I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. The multitude of your sacrifices—what are they to me? says the LORD. I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. Come now, let us settle the matter, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. He was with God in the beginning. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph the son of Heli. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.

Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death. At this they exclaimed, Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are? Jesus replied, If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad. You are not yet fifty years old, they said to him, and you have seen Abraham! Very truly I tell you, Jesus answered, before Abraham was born, I am!"

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, Who do people say the Son of Man is? They replied, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am? Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. But not during the festival, they said, or the people may riot. Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard. Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, Rabbi! and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you? But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One? I am, said Jesus. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven. The high priest tore his clothes. Why do we need any more witnesses? he asked. You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think? They all condemned him as worthy of death.

They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of the skull). And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read:

THE KING OF THE JEWS

. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani? (which means My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?). With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, Surely this man was the Son of God!

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb? But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. Don’t be alarmed, he said. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

Suddenly Jesus met them. Greetings, he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, We have seen the Lord! But he said to them, Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you! Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. Thomas said to him, My Lord and my God!

If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. "We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Ge 1:1; Ge 1:26–27; Ge 1:31; Ecc 7:29; Ge 6:5–6; Ge 15:1; Ge 15:5–6; Ge 17:1–6; Isa 1:2–4; Isa 1:11; Isa 1:18; Isa 9:1–2; Isa 9:6–7; Isa 53:2–6; Isa 53:9–11; Heb 1:1–3; Jn 1:2; Jn 1:4; Jn 1:6–12; Jn 1:14; Jn 1:17; Col 1:15–20; Col 2:9; Lk 2:8–11; Lk 2:52; Lk 3:23; Lk 4:16–21; Jn 8:51–58; Mt 16:13–17; Mk 14:1–2; Mk 14:10–11; Mk 14:44–46; Mk 14:55–56; Mk 14:60–64; Mk 15:22; Mk 15:24–26; Mk 15:34; Mk 15:37–39; Mk 16:1–6; Mt 28:9–10; Jn 20:24–28; Ro 10:9–13; Ac 4:12; Ac 10:36–40; Jn 20:30–31

Who is Jesus?

It matters what you think about Jesus.

Jesus once posed a provocative question to his followers: Who do you say I am? They quickly parroted a few of the popular conjectures circulating. Jesus pressed them. "And what about you? What’s your opinion? After a pause, Peter, one of his most trusted followers, blurted out, You are the Messiah, the son of the living God!" (Matthew 16:16).

Jesus was pleased. Peter