Here are some famous quotes about the first book in the Bible, Genesis.
Saint Augustine (354–430 AD)
“In the beginning, God created — these words are the foundation of all that we believe. The world is not eternal; it had a beginning, and that beginning was God Himself.”
C. S. Lewis (1898–1963)
“The first chapters of Genesis give the story of the human condition — not as science, but as revelation — showing us not how man came to be, but why he is as he is.”
John Calvin (1509–1564)
“The Book of Genesis is the fountain from which the whole of Scripture flows. For there we see both the origin of the world and the covenant of God with man.”
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (1948–2020)
“Genesis is not a book about beginnings alone; it is a book about relationships — between God and humanity, man and woman, brother and brother — and how the drama of freedom unfolds.”
I just read a great blog article by Dan Kent from a couple of years ago titled ‘Why Did David Pick Up 5 Stones?’. Good stuff, highly recommended reading, which you can find here.
Kent’s piece is a good meditation on faith and faithfulness as well as a thoughtful discussion on how God does and does not act and respond to His people in this age and broken world.
The last two sentences in the article really hit home for me:
“Don’t stand around waiting for God to act, or for God to win your battles for you: don’t stand around watching for what God might do: rather, show God what you can do. Gain wisdom, gather knowledge, develop skills, give the Lord something to use as he rumbles through the earth unfolding his glorious will.” Dan Kent – thatdankent.com
If you’re wondering what your own individual purpose in life might be and what it is that you should be doing day by day, it’s hard to find a better, more succinct admonition than, “…give the Lord something to use as he rumbles through the earth unfolding his glorious will.“
As I pointed out in a previous post in this ‘Your Life And What Comes After’ series, God created man not only to reflect His image and add value to His creation, but we are to work together with Him to do so.
We are helping the Creator bring about His grand plan for His creation. That is our purpose. Look for your own individual purpose there and you will be delighted and amazed at what you find.
Bible Rebel keeps a watchdog’s eye on discoveries and news from the world of biblical archaeology and brings it to our readers.
Monumental Dam Wall in the City of David (Jerusalem)
Archaeologists in Jerusalem’s City of David uncovered a massive dam wall dating to around 805–795 BCE — the era of the kings of Judah, possibly King Joash or King Amaziah. The structure measures about 12 meters high, 8 meters wide, and over 20 meters long, making it the largest such dam ever found in ancient Israel.
This discovery supports Biblical references to Jerusalem’s advanced water systems during the First Temple period, including those mentioned in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles relating to royal construction and fortification near the Gihon Spring and the Pool of Siloam.
A large flint-blade manufacturing workshop dating to the Early Bronze Age (~3500 BCE) was discovered near Kiryat Gat in southern Israel. The site includes hundreds of underground pits, large flint cores, and finished blades — evidence of full-scale organized production.
Although the workshop predates Israelite settlement, it reflects the advanced culture of the early Canaanite inhabitants of the land. The Bible frequently references the Canaanites as the people living in the land before the Israelites (Genesis 10:15–19; Exodus 13:5), making this discovery relevant background to the Biblical setting.
In 2025, archaeologists resumed excavations at Sebastia — the ancient capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. They uncovered remains including a paved street leading to the main city gate, decorative columns, and a monumental base structure, marking the first major dig there in a century
Sebastia (Samaria) became the capital of the Northern Kingdom under King Omri (1 Kings 16:23–24) and is mentioned throughout the Old Testament in accounts involving later kings and prophets such as Elijah and Elisha.
Bible Rebel keeps a watchdog’s eye on events from the Middle East and around the world of interest to people of faith and brings that content to our readers. Here’s the latest from the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Targeted Israeli strike in central Gaza
On 25 October 2025, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced a strike in central Gaza targeting a member of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine who was allegedly planning an attack on Israeli troops. The strike took place despite the cease-fire in place since earlier this month. Eyewitnesses reported a drone attack on a car injuring four people, and shelling by Israeli tanks in eastern Gaza City. Reuters
Nearly 100 Palestinians killed in Gaza since the cease-fire began
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 93 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli attacks since the cease-fire went into effect on 10 October 2025. Reports also mention Israeli forces shot and wounded at least six Palestinians in various parts of Gaza. Al Jazeera
U.S. and Qatar engage in Gaza peacekeeping / mediation roles
On 25 October 2025, during a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar expressed willingness to contribute to a peacekeeping force in Gaza. This comes amid U.S. diplomatic efforts to shore up the cease-fire and define post-conflict governance in Gaza. The Times of Israel
Unexploded ordnance injures children in Gaza as families return home
In Gaza City, six-year-old twins Yahya and Nabila Shorbasi were critically injured when they mistook unexploded bombs for a toy in rubble from their damaged home, following the cease-fire. Health officials say hundreds more children have been wounded in similar accidents. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) reports over 560 unexploded items found during the cease-fire in Gaza, with many more likely hidden under debris. AP News
Editors note: the guest article appearing here does not necessarily reflect the views of Bible Rebel editors or other guest authors and contributors. Bible Rebel seeks to present a wide range of ideas and viewpoints in order to fulfill our mission to provide resources for “Curious Fearless Faith”.This is Part 3 in a new series on prayer called ‘Greater Works Than These’ by Steve Sann.
Ephesians expands on the greater works that we are now enabled to do, according to this new power that works in us:
Ephesians 3:20, 21a: Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, Unto Him be glory in the church…
God is able to empower us in great works: works that exceed above all that any of us could possibly conceive. But, it is according to the power that we must work within us. The theme of Ephesians 3:20 is this: “God’s limitless ability is released according to the measure we operate His power in us.” It is you—your release of the power of the holy spirit within you that determines the amount of God’s working in your life. He is able. He is willing. If you are willing to learn to walk by the spirit, you enable Him to respond exceedingly abundantly.
The other morning as I awoke, I had a “dream” regarding one of the young men who frequents our fellowships. In the picture, his girlfriend was weeping, saying that he had disappeared with no notice at all, and no one had any information. Opening my eyes, I knew this was of God.
Upon arising, I contacted my friend and invited him over. His response? “Crazy, I was just thinkin’ about ya, man!” The spirit of God was working in both of us simultaneously, by my believing. By expecting the spirit of God to work, I was available to God. If we do not anticipate hearing from the spirit of God, then we limit our revelation, and it will not be a daily part of our lives.
He is limited only “according to the power that works in us.” What is this power that works within us? It is the power of the holy spirit, (Acts 1:8a). How, then, can we manifest the holy spirit’s power into the senses realm? I Corinthians 12:6ff lists the nine operations by which the power of the holy spirit may be brought forth through the believer. There are nine and nine only—no more, and no less. Of the nine, speaking in tongues is the most fundamental, foundational manifestation, and usually the first one with which a new believer becomes skilled.
Ephesians 3:20 illustrates that as we operate the spirit, by tongues or the other manifestations, God’s ability is released into this world. But look at just how much: not merely all the things we ask, but above all that we can even think! Of course, it is above all that we can think, because SIT supersedes our thinking.
But wait, there’s more: “abundantly above”—in fact—“exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think!” Tongues opens doors to unclaimed, uncharted wealth!
Here are some famous quotes from influential faith leaders about Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians.
John Stott (Christian theologian)
“The Letter to the Ephesians is a marvelously concise, yet comprehensive summary of the Christian good news and its implications. Nobody can read it without being moved to wonder and worship.” — John Stott, “The Message of Ephesians”
Watchman Nee (Chinese church leader)
“Ephesians tells us what the Church is in Christ. God’s greatest work is not the creation of the universe, but the creation of the Church.” — Watchman Nee, “Sit, Walk, Stand”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (English preacher)
“There is no book more full of doctrine and experience than this brief epistle. He who would understand the mystery of the Church, let him read Ephesians.” — C.H. Spurgeon, Sermon on Ephesians
Warren Wiersbe (Bible teacher and commentator)
“Ephesians is the believer’s bank book. In it, Paul explains the wealth we have in Christ and how to use it for God’s glory.” — Warren Wiersbe, “Be Rich: Ephesians”
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So, expect some controversial viewpoints and uncomfortable ideas in some of the coming content from Bible Rebel.
Coming in October/November
More in our “Your Life and What Comes After” series.
More in-depth content on deeper biblical studies and theological issues.
We’ll also be continuing our regular features, guest articles, and series:
Biblical Literacy: What the Bible does and doesn’t say
They Said It: Poignant quotes on a variety of topics
Guest articles
And more…
Watchdogs
As always, we’ll be keeping a watchdogs eye on all of the latest political, religious, biblical archaeology, and cultural news and events from around the world and bringing to you in bite-size chunks to keep you informed.
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The Bible does not actually say that three kings brought gifts to baby Jesus.
In Matthew 2:1–12, the Bible tells us that “wise men from the east” (Greek: magoi, meaning “magi” or scholars/astrologers) came to visit Jesus after His birth. It mentions that they brought three gifts — gold, frankincense, and myrrh — but it never specifies how many magi there were, nor that they were kings.
Here’s the key verse (Matthew 2:11, KJV):
“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
The Bible mentions magi (wise men), not kings.
It mentions three gifts, but not the number of visitors.
The idea of “three kings” likely came later from tradition and song (like “We Three Kings”), probably because there were three types of gifts.
Also, according to the Bible, the wise men (Magi) did not arrive at the same time as the shepherds. The shepherds came the night Jesus was born, but the Magi came later, possibly months — or even up to two years — afterward.
The Shepherds
Found in Luke 2:8–20.
The shepherds were in the fields nearby when the angel announced Jesus’ birth.
They immediately went to Bethlehem and found “the babe lying in a manger.” This clearly happened the night of Jesus’ birth.
The Wise Men (Magi)
Found in Matthew 2:1–12.
They came “from the east” after seeing a special star that signified a new king.
When they arrived, they entered a house (not a stable) and saw “the young child with Mary his mother” (Matthew 2:11).
King Herod asked when the star appeared and later ordered the killing of boys two years old and under (Matthew 2:16), suggesting Jesus could have been as much as two years old by the time the Magi visited.
Summary
Group
When They Arrived
Where They Found Jesus
Biblical Source
Shepherds
The night of His birth
In a manger
Luke 2:8–20
Wise Men
Weeks or months later
In a house
Matthew 2:1–12
So, while Christmas pageants often combine the two groups for simplicity, the Bible clearly describes two separate visits — first by shepherds, then later by the Magi.
