the taker and the Giver

The Scripture text of this study uses a color-coding system which might be helpful to you to use in studying your own Bible. The meanings of the color coding are as follows:

color key

Color markings in Scriptures found here are meant as an aid in understanding the topics and princples to which the Biblical phrases refer.

blue = God

red = commands

green = promises

pink = prophecy

orange = truth, wisdom, knowledge and understanding

brown = sin to avoid, effects of sin, or the basic nature of man

red underline = examples to follow

other color underlines have the same meanings, but as a secondary emphasis to the text color

section 1

primary passage

john 10:10  esv 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

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my notes:

section 2

the taker

john 10:10a  esv 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

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steal

 ii corinthians 11:2-3  esv    galatians 4:17  hcsb    galatians 3:1  esv    galatians 5:4  esv    galatians 5:7  niv11    i timothy 6:10  esv    proverbs 9  csb  esv    ii peter 2:18  niv11  

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ii corinthians 11:2-3  esv 

For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

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galatians 4:17  hcsb 

They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them.

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galatians 3:1  esv 

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?

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galatians 5:4  esv 

You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

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galatians 5:7  niv11 

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?

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i timothy 6:10  esv 

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

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proverbs 9  csb  esv 

Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars. She has prepared her meat; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her female servants; she calls out from the highest points of the city: "Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!"

To the one who lacks sense, she says, "Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave inexperience behind, and you will live; pursue the way of understanding...The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit; if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences."  csb 

The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!"

And to him who lacks sense she says, "Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.  esv 

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ii peter 2:18  niv11 

For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.

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my notes:

section 3

kill

miseo- hate

"if it’s between you or me...I chose me."

 ii peter 2:3  esv    ezekiel 34:1-8  esv    jude 12  esv    james 4:1-3  nlt    galatians 5:14-15  esv    deuteronomy 28:53-57  esv    matthew 16:23-25  esv    iii john 9  niv11    luke 11:23  esv    i corinthians 10:23-24  niv84  

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ii peter 2:3  esv 

And in their greed they will exploit you with false words.

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ezekiel 34:1-8  esv 

The word of the LORD came to me:

"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?

You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep.

The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.

So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts.

My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.

"Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:

As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep...

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jude 12  esv 

These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;

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james 4:1-3  nlt 

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

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galatians 5:14-15  esv 

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

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my notes:

deuteronomy 28:53-57  esv 

And you shall eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of your sons and daughters, whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you.

The man who is the most tender and refined among you will begrudge food to his brother, to the wife he embraces, and to the last of the children whom he has left, so that he will not give to any of them any of the flesh of his children whom he is eating, because he has nothing else left, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in all your towns.

The most tender and refined woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because she is so delicate and tender, will begrudge to the husband she embraces, to her son and to her daughter, her afterbirth that comes out from between her feet and her children whom she bears, because lacking everything she will eat them secretly, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in your towns.

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matthew 16:23-25  esv 

But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

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my notes:

iii john 9  niv11 

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us.

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luke 11:23  esv 

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

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i corinthians 10:23-24  niv84 

"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive.

Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

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my notes:

section 4

destroy

 proverbs 14:1  nlt    i kings 3:25-27  nlt    galatians 6:8  niv11    ii peter 3:16  esv    romans 3:10-18  nlt    ii peter 2:19-22  esv    revelation 12:12  csb  

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melville, moby dick

"to the last, i grapple with thee; from hell’s heart, i stab at thee; for hate’s sake, i spit my last breath at thee."

proverbs 14:1  nlt 

A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

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i kings 3:25-27  nlt 

Then he said, "Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other!"

Then the woman who was the real mother of the living child, and who loved him very much, cried out, "Oh no, my lord! Give her the child—please do not kill him!"

But the other woman said, "All right, he will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!"

Then the king said, "Do not kill the child, but give him to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his mother!"

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galatians 6:8  niv11 

Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

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ii peter 3:16  esv 

as {Paul} does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

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romans 3:10-18  nlt 

As the Scriptures say, "No one is righteous— not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one."

"Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies." "Snake venom drips from their lips."

"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."

"They rush to commit murder. Destruction and misery always follow them. They don’t know where to find peace."

"They have no fear of God at all."

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ii peter 2:19-22  esv

They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire."

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revelation 12:12  csb 

Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows his time is short.

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my notes:

section 5

the Giver

john 10:10b  esv 

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

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true life

 psalm 34  csb    psalm 23:1  nlt    ii corinthians 8:9  esv    ii peter 1:2-11  niv84    i timothy 6:17-19  nlt  

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my notes:

psalm 34  csb 

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. I will boast in the Lord; the humble will hear and be glad. Proclaim the LORD’s greatness with me; let us exalt His name together.

I sought the Lord, and He answered me and rescued me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him from all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in Him! You who are His holy ones, fear the Lord, for those who fear Him lack nothing. Young lions lack food and go hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.

Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is someone who desires life, loving a long life to enjoy what is good?

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry for help. The face of the Lord is set against those who do what is evil, to remove all memory of them from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit. One who is righteous has many adversities, but the Lord rescues him from them all. He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.

Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.

The Lord redeems the life of His servants, and all who take refuge in Him will not be punished.

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psalm 23:1  nlt 

The LORD is my Shepherd; I have all that I need.

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ii corinthians 8:9  esv 

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.

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ii peter 1:2-11  niv84 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

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.

But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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my notes:

i timothy 6:17-19  nlt 

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.

By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

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section 6

life’s substance

 luke 12:15  niv11    ephesians 4:18  niv11    psalm 86:11  niv11    psalm 119:32, 45  nasb    philemon 6  niv84    psalm 16  esv    ii john 3  esv    ephesians 1:17-20  esv    philippians 4:7  esv    ephesians 3:17-19  esv    i peter 1:8  csb  

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luke 12:15  niv11 

Then {Jesus} said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."

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ephesians 4:18  niv11 

They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

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psalm 86:11  niv11 

Teach me Your way Lord, that I may rely on Your faithfulness, give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.

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psalm 119:32, 45  nasb 

I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart.

And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.

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philemon 6  niv84 

I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.

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psalm 16  esv 

Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge. I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You."

As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.

The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the LORD Who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let Your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

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ii john 3  esv 

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

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ephesians 1:17-20  esv 

...the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ...

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philippians 4:7  esv 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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ephesians 3:17-19  esv 

...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

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i peter 1:8  csb 

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy...

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my notes:

section 7

our abundant God

 colossians 3:4  esv    john 14:6  esv    philippians 4:12-13  esv    job 36:15-16  niv11    ii corinthians 12:9-10  esv    i peter 2:19-24, 3:1, 7, 8-12  esv  niv84    psalm 73:24-28  nlt  

colossians 3:4  esv 

When Christ Who is your Life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

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john 14:6  esv 

Jesus said to him, "I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

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philippians 4:12-13  esv 

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through {Christ} Who strengthens me.

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job 36:15-16  niv11 

...those who suffer He delivers in their suffering; He speaks to them in their affliction. He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.

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ii corinthians 12:9-10  esv 

But {God} said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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i peter 2:19-24, 3:1, 7-12  esv  niv84 

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly....For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him Who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.  esv 

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands...

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives...

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."  niv84 

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my notes:

psalm 73:24-28  nlt 

You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but You? I desire You more than anything on earth.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.

Those who desert Him will perish, for You destroy those who abandon You.

But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.

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