Here are 4 ways Christians can use ChatGPT for personal Bible study and research:
Type in a specific Bible verse to view a variety of translations, interpretations, and historical background information.- Use ChatGPT to provide the Strong’s numbers and then to search Vine’s Expository Bible to get cultural and additional information on the topic you are studying.
- Search for commentaries related to a particular verse or book of the Bible.
- Tell ChatGPT to provide you with a summary of any published Christian or other book.
- Tell ChatGPT to write an article on the topic you are researching or studying so that you can reflect on the overall picture.
- Search for specific topics or themes in the Bible using the search bar to find relevant content.
- Search for devotional content to help with daily Bible study and reflection.
Here’s an example of how a user could use ChatGPT to study the Bible:
User: Hello, I’d like to study the Book of Matthew.
ChatGPT: Sure, I can help with that. What do you want to know about Matthew?
User: Can you give me a summary of the Book of Matthew?
ChatGPT: Certainly. The Book of Matthew is the first book of the New Testament and tells the story of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It covers his birth, baptism, teachings, miracles, and death and resurrection. The book stresses the importance of following Jesus and obeying his commands.
User: That’s great. Can you recommend any verses that talk about forgiveness?
ChatGPT: Yes, here are a few verses on forgiveness:
- Matthew 6:14-15 – “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
- Matthew 18:21-22 – “Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”
- Matthew 5:23-24 – “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
User: Thanks again! Can you tell me more about the verse you mentioned in Matthew 6:14-15?
ChatGPT: Sure thing. This verse emphasizes the importance of forgiveness. It says that if we forgive others, God will forgive us, but if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us. This teaches us that forgiveness is a crucial aspect of our faith. It is an act of obedience to God, and it is necessary to maintain healthy relationships with others.
User: That makes sense. What about the verse from Matthew 18:21-22?
ChatGPT: This verse speaks about the importance of being forgiving and merciful to others. Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, asked him how many times he should forgive his brother who sins against him. Jesus responds with “not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” In other words, we should always be willing to forgive others, no matter how many times they have wronged us.
User: I see. And what about the verse from Matthew 5:23-24?
ChatGPT: This verse speaks about the importance of reconciling with others before offering our gifts to God. It reminds us that maintaining healthy relationships with others is necessary for our spiritual life. When we have conflicts with others, it can hinder our worship and relationship with God. So, this verse teaches us to seek reconciliation and forgiveness with others before even offering our gifts to God.
User: Can you include the Hebrew words and their impact on the verse?
ChatGPT: Certainly! “In the beginning” in Hebrew is “Bereshit”, which means “In the beginning of” or “At the beginning of”. “Bereshit” is the first word of the Torah and establishes the beginning of the creation story. The Hebrew word “Bereshit” is significant in that it denotes a new beginning; everything that follows this word is intended to recount the creation of the world by God.
User: That’s interesting. How does the Hebrew word “Elohim” in “Elohim created” influence the meaning of the verse?
ChatGPT: “Elohim” is a Hebrew word that is translated to “God” in English. The word “Elohim” is significant because it is a plural noun used to refer to the one God. Some scholars believe that this plural form of the word is used to suggest the unity and plurality of the Trinity, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The use of the plural form “Elohim” reinforces the idea that God is the sole creator of the universe.
User: And how about the word “bara”, which is translated to “created”?
ChatGPT: “Bara” is a Hebrew word that is used exclusively for God’s creative work throughout the Bible. It means “to make something out of nothing” or “to create something new.” The use of “bara” suggests that the creation of the heavens and the earth was an act of God’s supernatural power, as it was not possible through any natural process.
User: That makes sense. And what about the Hebrew word for “heavens” and “earth”?
ChatGPT: The Hebrew word for “heavens” is “shamayim”, which signifies the sky and the space beyond. The word “shamayim” is derived from a root word “shama”, which means “to be high.” Similarly, the Hebrew word for “earth” is “erets”, which refers to the planet we live on. “Erets” comes from a root that means “to be firm” or “to be stable.” Thus, the words “shamayim” and “erets” in their original context denote the sky or space beyond and the earth’s firmness or stability, respectively.
User: Thank you for explaining the Hebrew words and their significance in the verse. It has really helped me to understand the verse more deeply.
ChatGPT: You’re welcome! Understanding the original Hebrew words in the verse can provide deeper insights into the meaning of the text. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask me.
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I included the above conversation between the ChatGPT and the User to give an example of how we can use this tool to further our knowledge of the Word of God and prepare ourselves better to defend it before an unbelieving world. – Pastor Juan M. Perez
