Bible Teaching

universe had a beginning. (Genesis 1:1) In contrast, many ancient myths describe the universe, not as being created, but as being organized from existing chaos. The Babylonians believed that the gods that gave birth to the universe came from two oceans. Other legends say that the universe came from a giant egg.

The Bible’s Viewpoint Is God a Real Person? AWED by nature, many people are compelled to believe in a supernatural force, a deity. Are you impressed by the complexity of the universe? Do you marvel at our planet’s natural wonders and the intricate design of the human body?

Does God have a name? SOME PEOPLE SAY that he has no name, others say that it is God or Lord, and still others say that he has dozens of names. What do you think? WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS “You, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth.”​—Psalm 83:18.

What Is the Bible? The Bible’s Answer The Bible is a collection of 66 sacred books. It was written over a period of approximately 1,600 years. The Bible contains a divine message—“the word of God.”—1 Thessalonians 2:13. In this article Facts about the Bible What is the Bible about? Has the Bible been changed?

Having a close relationship with God makes you feel secure, complete, and stable.May the God who gives hope fill you with all joy and peace”​—Romans 15:13 Morning 9:20 Music-Video Presentation 9:30 Song No. 101 and Prayer 9:40 SYMPOSIUM: How They Sowed and Reaped Peace • Joseph and His Brothers (Galatians 6:7, 8; Ephesians 4:32) • The Gibeonites (Ephesians 5:17) • Gideon (Judges 8:2, 3) • Abigail (1 Samuel 25:27-31)

If you are wondering whether you can fully trust the Bible, please see the short video

JW.ORG Change site language Log In (opens new window) Search JW.ORG SHOW MENU Library Books & Brochures Good News From God! READ IN English LESSON 5 What Is God’s Purpose for the Earth? LESSON 05—What Is God’s Purpose for the Earth? Current time 0:00 / Duration -:- Play Back 5 seconds Forward 15 seconds Previous Mute Settings 1. Why did God create the earth? Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden and later being put out of the garden Jehovah gave the earth to men and women. It is our home. Therefore, the first human couple, Adam and Eve, were not created to populate the heavens​—God had already created angels to live in heaven. (Job 38:4, 7) Rather, God took the first man and settled him in a delightful paradise called the garden of Eden. (Genesis 2:15-17) Jehovah gave him and his future offspring the prospect of enjoying life without end on earth.

What Is the Will of God for My Life? The Bible’s answer God’s will is that you come to know him as a Person, draw close to him, and then love and serve him with your whole heart. (Matthew 22:37, 38; James 4:8) You can learn how to do God’s will from the life and teachings of Jesus. (John 7:16, 17) Jesus didn’t just talk about the will of God—he lived it. In fact, Jesus said that his purpose in life was “to do, not my will, but the will of him that sent me.”—John 6:38.

What Is the Condition of the Dead? FEAR of the dead rests on one premise​—that the deceased has a soul or spirit that lives on after death. If the Bible plainly teaches that this concept is false, then the question of whether the dead can harm you is laid to rest. So, then, what does the Bible say? Concerning the condition of the dead, God’s Word says: “The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten. Also, their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished, and they have no portion anymore to time indefinite in anything that has to be done under the sun.”​—Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6. In view of that, can the dead help or harm you? No, say the Scriptures. The dead are unconscious and in silence. They are incapable of communicating with the living or of expressing any emotion​—love or hate—​or of carrying out any action. You need not have any fear of them. ‘Well, yes, that may be true if you refer to death of the physical body,’ some may say. ‘But a physical death is not the end of life; it just releases the spirit from the body. That spirit could help or harm the living.’ Millions of people earth wide feel that way. For example, in Madagascar life is considered a mere transition, so a funeral and an exhumation are considered more important than a wedding. It is thought that the person came from his ancestors and returns to them at death. Hence, houses for the living are made of wood and adobe, materials that disintegrate in time, whereas tombs, the “homes” for the dead, are generally more elaborate and durable. At an exhumation, family and friends feel that they will be blessed, and women believe that if they touch the bones of the dead relative, they will become fertile. But, again, what does God’s Word say?