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2015 was the world's worst year for the persecution of Christians in the modern era. The 2016 World Watch List (WWL) from Open Doors says Christian martyrdoms and destruction of churches nearly doubled during the "Year of Fear," yet only 4 of the top 10 persecuting countries rank among the 10 most violent ones. The spread in severity among top persecutors shrank by half, and five countries that would have qualified for last year's list did not make this year's list because the minimum threshold of persecution is up 50% since 2014. Read more from Christianity Today and World Watch Monitor. Also see our blogpost, International Day(s) of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.
For a decade, J.I. Packer has persevered as his left eye developed macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss. Over Christmas, the 89-year-old evangelical theologian's right eye began suffering the same. This marks "the end of a remarkable writing and speaking ministry," writes Crossway's Justin Taylor in announcing the news. "He is unable to read, and therefore he will be unable to travel and speak. Because so much of his writing involves initial working with a ballpoint pen and blank paper, he is also unable to write." Read more from Christianity Today.
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⇨ See more Bible-related articles in this week's Bible News Roundup.
⇨ See previous editions of Bible News Roundup and Weekly Brief.
>The New International Version of the Bible, the world’s most read and most trusted modern-English Bible translation, is now complemented by extensive study notes and resources designed and edited by general editor and The Gospel Coalition co-founder, D.A. Carson. The new NIV Zondervan Study Bible (website) presents the best of evangelical biblical scholarship, appealing to a broad spectrum of Bible readers. Five years in the making and built from the ground up to reflect the most current 21st century scholarship, Dr. Carson—along with a team of over 60 contributors—crafted all-new study notes, book and section introductions, a library of articles, and other study tools that specifically focus on biblical theology—or the progressive unfolding of theological concepts through the Bible. Bible Gateway interviewed Dr. D.A. Carson, general editor of the NIV Zondervan Study Bible (Zondervan, 2015). Read this interview.
In this tenth lesson about studying the Bible, pastor and author Mel Lawrenz says, "The chapter and verse numbers in the Bible we are all familiar with were not developed for the biblical text until the 13th through the 16th centuries. They're helpful, but we should not consider them definitive divisions of meaning." If you want to study the Bible better, read this installment of his series on our Blog and encourage your friends and followers to receive it by email.
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The parables of Jesus are provocative, memorable, and occasionally mystifying. They have a timelessness that wouldn’t come across if their message was delivered as a straight sermon or speech. What is the significance and distinctiveness of Jesus’ parables? Watch the video.
Christianity Today recently published a list of the top ten biblical archaeology discoveries of 2015. Some of the items relate broadly to the history of ancient Israel and its neighbors, but a few of them have more specific connections to the Bible. Walk through these discoveries and see the Bible passages that provide extra context for your understanding. Read more.
Don't worry if you've already missed some days in your Bible reading resolution schedule for 2016. Let Bible Gateway help you. Read more.
Survey: What Are Your Bible Reading Resolutions for 2016?: Click to share with us your Bible reading plans for this new year!
With the start of a new year comes the opportunity to begin a new devotional. Enjoy savings on devotionals and more in the Bible Gateway Store!
Invisible toxins like doubt, disappointment, and discouragement can contaminate even the strongest of faiths, leaving behind symptoms that affect body, mind, and spirit. Using a one-month detox regimen of Scripture, prayers, and faith declarations can be a spiritual and emotional cleansing agent to return to truth and a biblical perspective. Bible Gateway interviewed Laura Harris Smith about her book, The 30-Day Faith Detox: Renew Your Mind, Cleanse Your Body, Heal Your Spirit (Chosen Books, 2016). Read this interview.
Do you love sports? Are you already making plans for your Super Bowl party? We’ve got a brand new 2-week email devotional experience that’s just for you: Devotions for Die-Hard Fans! It draws on inspiring stories from the world of college sports to share biblical insight. Tell your friends and followers to sign up. Learn more.
This feature in the Weekly Brief is intended to help you become aware of the plethora of Bible versions available for you to freely read on Bible Gateway. This week, learn about and read the New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE).
Reading the Bible in multiple languages and multiple versions is always just a click away online at Bible Gateway and in print from the Bible Gateway Store, where you'll save money while supporting the ministry of Bible Gateway when making a purchase.
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