Thematic Index
A comprehensive topical index showing where major themes appear throughout the Bible. Use this guide for topical studies across multiple books.
A
Atonement
- Leviticus - Sacrificial system and Day of Atonement
- Isaiah 53 - Suffering Servant bears our sins
- Romans - Justification through Christ's blood
- Hebrews - Christ as perfect High Priest and final sacrifice
- 1 John - Jesus as propitiation for our sins
Authority
- Romans 13 - Submission to governing authorities
- 1 Peter - Submission in all relationships
- Daniel - Faithfulness under pagan rulers
- Esther - Working within systems of power
- Ephesians - Order in church, home, and society
B
Blessing
- Genesis - Abrahamic covenant of blessing
- Deuteronomy - Blessings for obedience
- Psalms - God blesses the righteous
- Ephesians - Every spiritual blessing in Christ
- Matthew 5 - Beatitudes
C
Church
- Acts - Birth and growth of the church
- 1 Corinthians - Church problems and solutions
- Ephesians - Church as body of Christ
- 1 Timothy - Church order and leadership
- Revelation 2-3 - Letters to seven churches
Comfort
- Psalms - God as refuge and comfort
- Isaiah 40 - Comfort for God's people
- 2 Corinthians - God of all comfort
- John 14 - Holy Spirit as Comforter
- Revelation 21 - No more tears
Covenant
- Genesis - Covenant with Abraham
- Exodus - Mosaic covenant at Sinai
- Deuteronomy - Covenant renewal
- Jeremiah 31 - New Covenant promised
- Hebrews - Christ mediates better covenant
- 2 Samuel 7 - Davidic covenant
Creation
- Genesis 1-2 - Creation account
- Psalms 8, 19, 104 - Creation declares God's glory
- Job 38-41 - God's creative power
- John 1 - Christ in creation
- Colossians 1 - All things created through Christ
- Revelation 21-22 - New creation
D
Death
- Ecclesiastes - Death as great equalizer
- Romans 5-6 - Death through sin, life through Christ
- 1 Corinthians 15 - Victory over death through resurrection
- Hebrews 2 - Christ destroys death's power
- Revelation 20-21 - Death cast into lake of fire
Discipleship
- Matthew - Great Commission
- Luke - Cost of discipleship
- John - Abiding in Christ
- Acts - Early disciples' example
- 2 Timothy - Pass on faithful teaching
E
Election
- Deuteronomy - God chose Israel
- Romans 9-11 - God's sovereign choice
- Ephesians 1 - Chosen before foundation of world
- 1 Peter 1 - Elect according to foreknowledge
Eternal Life
- John - Believe and have eternal life
- Romans 6 - Gift of God is eternal life
- 1 John 5 - Assurance of eternal life
- Revelation - Life in new creation
Evangelism / Witness
- Matthew 28 - Great Commission
- Acts - Witness to ends of earth
- Romans 10 - How will they hear?
- 1 Peter 3 - Ready to give answer for your hope
- 2 Corinthians 5 - Ministry of reconciliation
F
Faith
- Genesis - Abraham's faith credited as righteousness
- Habakkuk - The righteous live by faith
- Romans - Justification by faith
- Galatians - Faith vs. works
- Hebrews 11 - Hall of faith
- James - Faith without works is dead
Faithfulness (God's)
- Lamentations 3 - Great is Your faithfulness
- Deuteronomy - God faithful to His covenant
- Psalms - God's faithfulness endures forever
- 2 Timothy - He cannot deny Himself
- 1 Thessalonians - Faithful is He who calls you
Family
- Genesis - Family narratives (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph)
- Proverbs - Instruction for family life
- Ephesians 5-6 - Household codes
- Colossians 3 - Family relationships
- 1 Timothy - Managing household
Forgiveness
- Leviticus - Sacrifices for atonement
- Psalms 32, 51 - Confession and forgiveness
- Matthew 6, 18 - Forgive as you are forgiven
- Ephesians 4 - Forgiving one another
- Philemon - Practical forgiveness
- 1 John 1 - God is faithful to forgive
Freedom
- Exodus - Liberation from Egypt
- Galatians - Freedom in Christ, not slavery to law
- John 8 - Truth sets you free
- Romans 8 - Freedom from condemnation
- 2 Corinthians 3 - Freedom in the Spirit
G
Glory (God's)
- Exodus 33-34 - Moses sees God's glory
- Isaiah 6 - Seraphim cry "Holy"
- Ezekiel - Glory departs and returns
- John 1 - Glory of the incarnate Word
- 2 Corinthians 3-4 - Glory unveiled in Christ
- Revelation 21 - Glory illuminates new creation
Gospel
- Romans - Power of God for salvation
- 1 Corinthians 15 - Death, burial, resurrection
- Galatians - No other gospel
- Ephesians - Mystery revealed
- All four Gospels - Life and work of Jesus
Grace
- Exodus 34 - Gracious and compassionate
- John 1 - Grace and truth through Jesus
- Romans - Grace through faith, not works
- Ephesians 2 - Saved by grace
- Titus - Grace teaches us to live godly
- Hebrews - Throne of grace
Guidance
- Psalms 25, 32 - God leads and guides
- Proverbs 3 - Trust in the LORD
- Isaiah 30 - This is the way, walk in it
- John 16 - Holy Spirit guides into truth
- James 1 - Ask God for wisdom
H
Heaven
- Isaiah 65-66 - New heavens and earth
- Matthew 5-7 - Kingdom of heaven
- John 14 - Father's house, many rooms
- 2 Corinthians 5 - Heavenly dwelling
- Philippians 3 - Citizenship in heaven
- Revelation 21-22 - New Jerusalem
Hell / Judgment
- Matthew 25 - Eternal punishment
- Luke 16 - Rich man and Lazarus
- 2 Thessalonians 1 - Eternal destruction
- Revelation 20 - Lake of fire
- Jude - Eternal fire
Holiness
- Leviticus - Be holy as I am holy
- Isaiah 6 - Holy, holy, holy
- 1 Peter - Holy in all you do
- Hebrews 12 - Pursue holiness
- Revelation 4 - Holy One worshiped
Holy Spirit
- Joel 2 - Spirit poured out
- John 14-16 - Promised Comforter
- Acts - Spirit empowers witness
- Romans 8 - Spirit gives life
- Galatians 5 - Fruit of the Spirit
- Ephesians - Sealed with Spirit
Hope
- Psalms - Hope in God
- Romans 5, 8 - Hope does not disappoint
- 1 Thessalonians 4 - Hope in resurrection
- Titus 2 - Blessed hope
- 1 Peter 1 - Living hope through resurrection
- Hebrews 6 - Anchor of the soul
Humility
- Numbers 12 - Moses most humble
- Proverbs - Humility before honor
- Micah 6 - Walk humbly with God
- Matthew 5 - Blessed are the meek
- Philippians 2 - Christ's humility
- James 4 - Humble yourselves
- 1 Peter 5 - God opposes the proud
I
Idolatry
- Exodus 20 - No other gods
- Judges - Cycle of idolatry
- 1 Kings - Elijah vs. Baal
- Isaiah - Futility of idols
- 1 Corinthians 10 - Flee idolatry
- 1 John 5 - Keep from idols
Injustice / Oppression
- Exodus - Slavery in Egypt
- Amos - Justice roll like river
- Micah - Do justice
- Isaiah 58 - True fasting
- James - Favoritism condemned
J
Jesus Christ (see also Messiah)
- All Four Gospels - Life and ministry
- John 1 - Word made flesh
- Philippians 2 - Christ hymn
- Colossians 1 - Supremacy of Christ
- Hebrews 1 - Superior to angels
- Revelation - Lamb and conquering King
Joy
- Nehemiah 8 - Joy of the LORD is strength
- Psalms - Joyful praise
- Isaiah 61 - Oil of joy
- Luke 2 - Good news of great joy
- John 15-16 - Complete joy
- Philippians - Rejoice in the Lord always
- 1 Peter - Joy inexpressible
Judgment
- Genesis 6-9 - Flood
- Amos - Day of the LORD
- Zephaniah - Coming judgment
- Matthew 25 - Sheep and goats
- Romans 2 - God's righteous judgment
- 2 Peter 3 - Day of judgment
- Revelation - Final judgment
Justice
- Deuteronomy - Just scales
- Psalms - God loves justice
- Proverbs - Justice in courts
- Amos - Let justice roll
- Micah 6 - Do justice
- Isaiah - Justice and righteousness
- Matthew 23 - Justice, mercy, faithfulness
Justification
- Genesis 15 - Credited as righteousness
- Romans 3-5 - Justified by faith
- Galatians 2-3 - Not by works
- James 2 - Faith and works
K
Kingdom of God/Heaven
- Daniel 2, 7 - God's eternal kingdom
- Matthew - Kingdom of heaven
- Mark - Kingdom of God has come near
- Luke - Kingdom parables
- John 3 - Born again to see kingdom
- Colossians 1 - Kingdom of the Son
- Revelation - Kingdom established
Knowledge of God
- Jeremiah 31 - All will know Me
- Hosea 6 - Desire knowledge of God
- John 17 - Eternal life is knowing God
- 2 Peter 1 - Knowledge of Christ
- Philippians 3 - Surpassing worth of knowing Christ
L
Law
- Exodus 20 - Ten Commandments
- Deuteronomy - Law restated
- Psalms 1, 19, 119 - Delight in God's law
- Romans 7 - Law is holy but can't save
- Galatians 3 - Law as tutor to Christ
- James - Perfect law of liberty
Leadership
- Exodus - Moses' leadership
- 1 Samuel - Saul vs. David
- Nehemiah - Godly leadership
- 1 Timothy - Qualifications for leaders
- Titus - Appointing elders
- 1 Peter 5 - Shepherd the flock
Love (God's)
- Hosea - Unfailing love for unfaithful Israel
- John 3:16 - God so loved the world
- Romans 5, 8 - God demonstrates His love
- Ephesians 2 - Great love for us
- 1 John 4 - God is love
Love (Our response)
- Deuteronomy 6 - Love the LORD your God
- Matthew 22 - Greatest commandment
- John 13-14 - Love one another
- 1 Corinthians 13 - Love chapter
- 1 John 4 - We love because He first loved us
M
Marriage
- Genesis 2 - One flesh
- Proverbs 31 - Noble wife
- Song of Solomon - Celebration of marital love
- Malachi - God hates divorce
- Ephesians 5 - Christ and church
- 1 Peter 3 - Submission and respect
- Hebrews 13 - Marriage bed undefiled
Mercy
- Exodus 34 - Abounding in mercy
- Psalms - His mercy endures forever
- Micah 6 - Love mercy
- Matthew 5 - Blessed are the merciful
- Luke 6 - Be merciful
- Ephesians 2 - Rich in mercy
- Titus 3 - According to His mercy
Messiah
- Genesis 3 - Seed of woman
- Genesis 49 - Scepter from Judah
- Isaiah 7, 9, 11, 53 - Virgin birth, suffering servant
- Micah 5 - Born in Bethlehem
- Zechariah - Coming King
- Matthew, Mark, Luke, John - Fulfillment in Jesus
- Acts - Jesus is the Messiah
Money / Wealth
- Proverbs - Wisdom about finances
- Ecclesiastes - Wealth cannot satisfy
- Malachi 3 - Tithing
- Matthew 6 - Cannot serve God and money
- Luke - Care for the poor
- 1 Timothy 6 - Love of money is root of evil
- James 5 - Warning to the rich
O
Obedience
- Deuteronomy - Obey and be blessed
- 1 Samuel 15 - To obey is better than sacrifice
- John 14 - If you love Me, keep My commands
- James - Be doers, not hearers only
- 1 John - Obedience shows we know Him
P
Peace
- Isaiah 9 - Prince of Peace
- Isaiah 53 - Punishment for our peace
- John 14 - My peace I give you
- Romans 5 - Peace with God
- Ephesians 2 - Christ is our peace
- Philippians 4 - Peace that transcends understanding
- Colossians 3 - Let peace rule
Persecution / Suffering
- Job - Innocent suffering
- Psalms - Cries of the suffering
- Matthew 5 - Blessed when persecuted
- John 15-16 - World will hate you
- Acts - Apostles persecuted
- 2 Corinthians - Treasure in jars of clay
- 1 Peter - Suffering as Christians
- Revelation - Martyrs under the altar
Perseverance
- Hebrews - Run race with endurance
- James 1 - Perseverance produces maturity
- 2 Peter - Add to faith perseverance
- Revelation 2-3 - Overcome and endure
Power (God's)
- Exodus - Plagues demonstrate God's power
- Psalms - Mighty deeds
- Isaiah 40 - Creator not weary
- Acts 1 - Receive power when Spirit comes
- Romans 1 - Gospel is power of God
- Ephesians 3 - Immeasurably more than we ask
- 2 Timothy 1 - Spirit of power
Prayer
- 1 Samuel - Hannah's prayer
- Psalms - Prayers for every occasion
- Daniel 6 - Daniel's prayer life
- Matthew 6 - Lord's Prayer
- Luke 11 - Ask, seek, knock
- Philippians 4 - Pray about everything
- 1 Thessalonians 5 - Pray continually
- James 5 - Prayer of righteous is powerful
Pride
- Proverbs - Pride goes before fall
- Obadiah - Edom's pride judged
- Daniel 4 - Nebuchadnezzar's pride
- James 4 - God opposes the proud
- 1 Peter 5 - Clothed with humility
Prophecy
- Isaiah - Messianic prophecies
- Jeremiah - New Covenant
- Ezekiel - Visions of future
- Daniel - End times visions
- All Minor Prophets - Various prophecies
- Revelation - End times revelation
Providence
- Genesis 50 - You meant evil, God meant good
- Ruth - God's hidden hand
- Esther - For such a time as this
- Romans 8:28 - All things work together
- Proverbs 16:33 - Lot is cast, decision is LORD's
R
Reconciliation
- 2 Corinthians 5 - Ministry of reconciliation
- Ephesians 2 - Reconciled to God
- Colossians 1 - Reconciliation through blood of cross
- Philemon - Reconciled relationship
Redemption
- Exodus - Passover and Red Sea
- Ruth - Kinsman-redeemer
- Isaiah 53 - Redeemer suffers
- Ephesians 1 - Redemption through His blood
- Titus 2 - Redeemed from lawlessness
- 1 Peter 1 - Redeemed with precious blood
Repentance
- Joel 2 - Rend your heart
- Jonah 3 - Nineveh repents
- Matthew 3-4 - Repent for kingdom is near
- Luke 15 - Joy over one sinner who repents
- Acts 2 - Repent and be baptized
- 2 Corinthians 7 - Godly sorrow leads to repentance
- 2 Peter 3 - God patient, wanting all to repent
Resurrection
- Job 19 - I know my Redeemer lives
- Isaiah 26 - Your dead shall live
- Daniel 12 - Many will awake
- Matthew 28 - Christ's resurrection
- John 11 - I am the resurrection and life
- 1 Corinthians 15 - Resurrection chapter
- 1 Thessalonians 4 - Dead in Christ will rise
- Revelation 20 - First resurrection
Righteousness
- Genesis 15 - Abraham believed, counted as righteousness
- Psalms - Righteousness and justice
- Isaiah 61 - Robe of righteousness
- Romans 3-4 - Righteousness through faith
- 2 Corinthians 5 - Became righteousness of God
- Philippians 3 - Righteousness from God
S
Sabbath / Rest
- Genesis 2 - God rested
- Exodus 20 - Remember Sabbath
- Isaiah 58 - Call Sabbath a delight
- Matthew 11 - Come find rest
- Hebrews 4 - Sabbath rest remains
Sacrifice
- Leviticus - Sacrificial system
- Isaiah 53 - Lamb led to slaughter
- John 1 - Lamb of God
- Romans 12 - Living sacrifice
- Ephesians 5 - Fragrant offering
- Hebrews 10 - One sacrifice for all time
Salvation
- Exodus - Salvation from Egypt
- Isaiah 12 - God is my salvation
- Luke 19 - Son of Man came to seek and save
- John 3 - Must be born again
- Acts 4 - No other name
- Romans - Salvation by grace through faith
- Ephesians 2 - Saved by grace
- Titus 3 - He saved us
Sanctification
- Leviticus - Be holy
- John 17 - Sanctify them by truth
- Romans 6 - Sanctification unto God
- 1 Thessalonians 4 - God's will is your sanctification
- Hebrews 12 - Pursue holiness
- 1 Peter 1 - Be holy in all you do
Satan / Spiritual Warfare
- Genesis 3 - Serpent tempts Eve
- Job 1-2 - Satan accuses Job
- Isaiah 14 - Fall of Lucifer
- Ezekiel 28 - Prince of Tyre
- Matthew 4 - Temptation of Jesus
- Luke 10 - Satan fell like lightning
- John 8 - Father of lies
- Ephesians 6 - Spiritual armor
- 1 Peter 5 - Enemy prowls like lion
- Revelation 12, 20 - Dragon defeated
Second Coming
- Daniel 7 - Son of Man coming
- Matthew 24-25 - Olivet Discourse
- John 14 - I will come again
- Acts 1 - Will come in same way
- 1 Thessalonians 4 - Lord will descend
- 2 Thessalonians 2 - Man of lawlessness first
- Revelation 19 - Rider on white horse
Service
- Matthew 20 - Serve, not be served
- John 13 - Wash one another's feet
- Romans 12 - Use your gifts
- Galatians 5 - Serve one another in love
- 1 Peter 4 - Serve with gifts received
Sin
- Genesis 3 - Fall into sin
- Romans 3 - All have sinned
- Romans 6 - Dead to sin
- 1 Corinthians 15 - Sting of sin
- Hebrews 12 - Sin easily entangles
- 1 John 1 - If we say we have no sin
Sovereignty of God
- Genesis 50 - God meant it for good
- Job 42 - God's purposes prevail
- Psalms 115, 135 - God does whatever He pleases
- Proverbs 16:9 - Man plans, God directs
- Isaiah 46 - God's counsel stands
- Daniel 4 - Most High rules
- Romans 9 - Potter and clay
- Ephesians 1 - Works all according to His will
T
Temple / Tabernacle
- Exodus 25-40 - Tabernacle construction
- 1 Kings 6-8 - Solomon's temple
- Ezekiel 40-48 - Vision of new temple
- Haggai - Rebuild the temple
- John 2 - Temple of His body
- 1 Corinthians 3, 6 - You are God's temple
- Ephesians 2 - Built into holy temple
- Revelation 21 - No temple needed
Testing / Trials
- Genesis 22 - Abraham tested
- Job - Testing of righteous
- James 1 - Consider it joy
- 1 Peter 1 - Tested by fire
Thanksgiving
- Psalms - Give thanks to the LORD
- 1 Chronicles 16 - David's psalm of thanks
- Philippians 4 - With thanksgiving present requests
- Colossians 3 - Let peace rule, be thankful
- 1 Thessalonians 5 - Give thanks in all circumstances
Trinity
- Genesis 1 - Spirit hovering, "Let Us make"
- Isaiah 48 - Spirit of Lord GOD upon Me
- Matthew 28 - Baptize in name of Father, Son, Spirit
- John 14-16 - Father, Son, Spirit relationship
- 2 Corinthians 13 - Grace of Lord, love of God, fellowship of Spirit
- Ephesians 1 - Father planned, Son redeemed, Spirit sealed
Trust
- Psalms 37 - Trust in the LORD
- Proverbs 3 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart
- Isaiah 26 - Perfect peace for those who trust
- Nahum 1 - LORD is good, refuge in trouble
- Philippians 4 - Do not be anxious
- 1 Peter 5 - Cast all anxiety on Him
Truth
- Psalms 119 - Your word is truth
- John 1 - Grace and truth
- John 8, 14, 18 - I am the truth
- John 16 - Spirit of truth
- Ephesians 4 - Speaking truth in love
- 2 Timothy 2 - Rightly handle word of truth
- 3 John - Walk in truth
U
Unity
- Psalms 133 - How good when brothers dwell in unity
- John 17 - That they may be one
- Acts 2, 4 - Believers in one accord
- Romans 15 - Accept one another
- 1 Corinthians 1, 12 - No divisions
- Ephesians 4 - Unity of the Spirit
- Philippians 2 - Like-minded, one spirit
W
Wisdom
- 1 Kings 3 - Solomon asks for wisdom
- Job 28 - Where can wisdom be found?
- Proverbs - Wisdom for life
- Ecclesiastes - Limits of human wisdom
- 1 Corinthians 1-2 - Christ our wisdom
- Colossians 2 - All treasures of wisdom in Christ
- James 1 - Ask God for wisdom
Witness (see Evangelism)
Word of God
- Psalms 119 - Meditate on Your word
- Isaiah 55 - Word accomplishes God's purpose
- Jeremiah 23 - Word like fire and hammer
- Matthew 4 - Man lives by every word
- John 1 - Word became flesh
- Hebrews 4 - Word is living and active
- 2 Timothy 3 - Scripture is God-breathed
- 2 Peter 1 - Prophetic word made more certain
Work
- Genesis 2 - Work in the garden
- Proverbs 6 - Go to the ant
- Ecclesiastes - Enjoy your work
- 1 Corinthians 15 - Labor not in vain
- Ephesians 6 - Work as unto the Lord
- Colossians 3 - Whatever you do, work heartily
- 2 Thessalonians 3 - If anyone won't work, don't eat
- James 2 - Faith without works dead
Worship
- Exodus 20 - Worship God alone
- Psalms - Come, let us worship
- Isaiah 6 - Seraphim worship
- John 4 - Worship in spirit and truth
- Romans 12 - Living sacrifice is spiritual worship
- Philippians 3 - We worship by Spirit of God
- Hebrews 12 - Offer acceptable worship
- Revelation 4-5 - Heavenly worship
Wrath (God's)
- Numbers 16 - Korah's rebellion
- Romans 1 - Wrath revealed against sin
- Romans 2 - Storing up wrath
- Ephesians 2 - Children of wrath
- 1 Thessalonians 1, 5 - Jesus delivers from wrath
- Revelation 6, 16 - Bowls of wrath
Z
Zeal
- Numbers 25 - Phinehas' zeal
- 2 Kings 10 - Jehu's zeal
- Psalms 69 - Zeal for Your house
- John 2 - Zeal consumes Jesus
- Romans 10 - Zeal without knowledge
- Romans 12 - Never lacking in zeal
- Titus 2 - Zealous for good works