Jesus Christ = The Truth

The good news is: when you repent of your sins, believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of God the Son Jesus Christ, and you are consciously baptized in water, then you receive salvation (deliverance, healing, well-being, eternal life).
It seals believers with the Holy Spirit. Jesus can and will take away your burdens, your diseases, your sicknesses, your worries, and yes, even death, if you let Him.

Why Should You Study The Bible

If you really want to be sure that God is real, the Bible teaches:

*Who God is.

*What He has done for you.

*What He still does for you.

*What He has for you.

*What you should do and how you should live your life to receive all that He has for you.

*How to receive healing, deliverance, well-being, and Eternal Life.

*How to protect yourself from what you see in the world today: lying, stealing, killing, destroying your hopes and dreams.

Where To Start Reading The Bible

Below is a list of books that are the best place to start reading the Bible if you haven't read much of the Bible or just interested in learning about it. If you read these books it will give you a good idea of what God has done for you and how you should respond.


1. John

John's Gospel focuses on who Jesus is and what he's done for us. It's full of fascinating stories and unique interactions Jesus had with people. John spends much of his time talking about Jesus' identity and the implication this holds for us today. It's a powerful Gospel and it's the perfect Gospel to start with if you are picking up the Bible for the first time. This book will give you a solid foundation and understanding of the life and work of Jesus. The whole Bible centers around Jesus. So before you read any other book of the Bible you should get a solid understanding of who Jesus is. 



2. James

While the Gospels tell us about Jesus and what he has done, much of the rest of the New Testament focuses on how followers of Jesus should live in light of what Jesus has done. While the Gospels are the best place to start if you are wondering where to start reading the Bible, James is a great book to read right after. James highlights the necessity for followers of Jesus to act in accordance with their faith. Being a Christian isn't something you believe in, it's a person you follow. James challenges believers to make sure what they believe aligns with how they are living. This is one of the most practical and challenging books in the Bible. It's a book that followers of Jesus should continue to go back to time and time again. 



3. Proverbs

Proverbs is a book of wisdom for our day to day life. It's a great place to start to gain practical direction in your life and faith. The style of writing in the book of Proverbs makes it easy to read and understand. Since there are 31 chapters in the book, many commit to reading a chapter a day for a month. 






4. Romans

The Apostle Paul wrote many letters to early churches that are now books of the Bible. These letters center around living in light of the resurrection. Each letter has a unique take based on what the church was facing. The book of Romans was written to the church in Rome and is one of the most theologically deep letters Paul wrote. It's a great book to read after you've read a Gospel as it will give you a great foundation of how to live in light of Jesus resurrection. 



5. Psalms

What's incredible about the Psalms is that there is a Psalm for whatever you are facing. If you are happy, sad, discouraged, hopeless, lost, or anything else, there's a Psalm for you. You can read straight through the book of Psalms or you can simply read a few chapters based off what you are feeling. What is incredible about this book is that it can help you express your feelings and turn your thoughts to God. This is a great book to turn to regularly to relate to and find comfort.

Which translation of the Bible should I choose when buying a Bible?

The Bible's original texts were written in Hebrew, Aramaic (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament), languages most people don't read today. Choosing the right translation and version is crucial because translations and versions vary in accuracy, readability, and purpose. A good translation and version stays true to the original meaning while being clear to modern readers. For beginners, the ESV (English Standard Version) is easy to read yet accurate, making it a great starting point. For deeper study, the NET, Full-notes Edition (New English Translation) includes detailed notes explaining translation choices, helping you understand the text's nuances. Picking the right translation and version ensures you're getting as close as possible to the original message without knowing Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek. The NKJV Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition is designed to enhance spiritual growth, deepen biblical understanding, and equip Christians, particularly those interested in Spirit-filled living, with tools for study and practical application.

The way I do it to get as close as possible to the original goes like this. I prefer to study a physical book with large print instead of an online book. To read my Bible daily, I use a Bible translation in my native language with a version that is easy for me to read. I don't know which translation and version that will be for you, you will have to try it out. If I need more clarification or depth, I turn to the ESV (English Standard Version) and the NET, Full-notes Edition (New English Translation) both in English, and at the same time I check it with the NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition (New King James Version) in English. I also have these Bibles available to bring even more depth to my Bible study, Hebrew-English Interlinear ESV Old Testament: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS) and English Standard Version (ESV) (English and Hebrew Edition), ESV English-Greek Reverse Interlinear New Testament: English Standard Version (English and Ancient Greek Edition), The Koren Tanakh Maalot, Magerman Edition, Large (Hebrew and English Edition), But most importantly, I trust in the Holy Spirit to lead me to the truth. When you search for the truth, the truth will find you. We are likely to stumble along the way, but the Holy Spirit is always there to raise us up, He is there to guide us, to teach us, and He loves us so much.

List of 46 Christian Denominations & Bibles

With all my heart, I share this with you: in a world of over 8 billion souls, each with their own perspective on the Bible, don't lose yourself in the different denominations and endless theological debates; instead, let the Holy Spirit gently guide you, making it so vital to carve out precious time each day to study God's Word with Him, wrapped in His love. As for me personally, I consider only the 66 books of the Protestant Bible Scripture (Scripture, divinely inspired). I do not consider the extra books in the Bible as in the Catholic and Orthodox Bible as Scripture. I also don't see myself as a Protestant, but as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. My advice is to begin your own search for the truth so that you have your own conviction and unshakable faith.

1 – Catholic Church

(Catholic Bible totals 73 books, 46 Old Testament and 27 New Testament)

1.1 – Roman Catholic Church

1.2 – Eastern Catholic Churches
1.2 (a) – Maronite Catholic Church
1.2 (b) – Melkite Greek Catholic Church
1.2 (c) – Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
1.2 (d) – Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

2 – Eastern Orthodoxy

(Eastern Orthodox Bible totals 79 books, 52 Old Testament and 27 New Testament)

2 (a) – Greek Orthodox Church
2 (b) – Russian Orthodox Church
2 (c) – Serbian Orthodox Church
2 (d) – Bulgarian Orthodox Church
2 (e) – Romanian Orthodox Church
2 (f) – Georgian Orthodox Church
2 (g) – Antiochian Orthodox Church
2 (h) Orthodox Church in America

3 – Protestantism
(Protestant Bible totals 66 books, 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament)

3.1 – Lutheranism
3.1 (a) – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
3.1 (b) – Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
3.1 (c) – Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

 
3.2 – Calvinism
3.2 (a) – Presbyterian Church
3.2 (b) – Reformed Church in America
3.2 (c) – Christian Reformed Church

 
3.3 – Anglicanism
3.3 (a) – Church of England
3.3 (b) – Episcopal Church (U.S.)
3.3 (c) – Anglican Church in North America

 
3.4 – Baptists
3.4 (a) – Southern Baptist Convention
3.4 (b) – American Baptist Churches U.S.A.
3.4 (c) – National Baptist Convention

 
3.5 – Methodism
3.5 (a) – United Methodist Church
3.5 (b) – African Methodist Episcopal Church
3.5 (c) – Free Methodist Church

3.6 – Pentecostalism
3.6 (a) – Assemblies of God
3.6 (b) – Church of God
3.6 (c) – United Pentecostal Church International
3.6 (d) – International Church of the Foursquare Gospel

3.7 – Other Notable Protestant Movements
3.7 (a) – Anabaptists

3.8 – Restorationists
3.8 (a) – Churches of Christ
3.8 (b) – Disciples of Christ
3.8 (c) – Christian Church
3.8 (d) – Adventists
3.8 (e) – Quakers

4 – Oriental Orthodoxy

(Ethiopian Orthodox Bible totals 81 books, 46 Old Testament and 35 New Testament)

4.1 – Coptic Orthodox Church
4.2 – Armenian Orthodox Church
4.3 – Ethiopian Orthodox Church
4.4 – Syriac Orthodox Church
4.5 – Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

5 - Assyrian Church of the East

(Assyrian Bible totals 66 books, 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament)

5.1 – Assyrian Church of the East
5.2 – Ancient Church of the East
5.3 – Chaldean Syrian Church

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, Early Church Manual

The Didache meaning "Teaching" is the short name of a Christian manual compiled before 300AD. The full title is The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles. Didache contained instructions for Christians, and its statement of belief may be the first written catechism. It has four parts: the first is the "Two Ways, the Way of Life and the Way of Death," the second explains how to perform rituals such as baptism, fasting, and Communion, the third covers ministry and how to deal with traveling teachers, the fourth part is a reminder that Jesus is coming again, with quotations from several New Testament passages which exhort Christians to live godly lives and prepare for "that day."