Roughly five hundred years ago, in October 1529, there was a famous meeting between Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli, both Protestants, who got into an argument over the meaning of the word is.
When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, he blessed the bread, broke it, and said, “This is my body” (Matt. 26:26). For Luther, Christ was bodily present in the bread and cup. Zwingli preferred a figurative, symbolic interpretation and denied any form of actual presence.
They agreed to disagree that day and went their separate ways. But here’s what’s remarkable: They had the conversation. Face-to-face. At a table. They didn’t send angry pamphlets. They didn’t spread rumors. They sat down and talked.
So if confrontation is sometimes necessary, how do we do it well? Let's look at five principles from Jesus’ example.
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Bible News
The latest Bible-related and Bible-adjacent news
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Complete Bible Now Available in More Than 800 Languages — September 30: Wycliffe Bible Translators reports 28 complete Bibles and 70 New Testaments launched during the past year — one every four days. Complete Bibles now exist in 807 languages spoken by 6.2 billion people, while translation is underway in 4,414 languages. The number still needing work to begin has fallen from nearly 1,900 five years ago to 543. Yet 20% of humanity still lacks the full Bible in its native language. (Christian Today)
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Jewish Settlement From Jesus’ Era Uncovered in Southern Israel — September 30: Archaeologists discovered the first known Second Temple-period Jewish community between the Judean Lowlands and northern Negev. Finds include stone measuring vessels and an intact, four-meter-wide mikveh (ritual bath) weighing 25 tons. A crane relocated the mikveh during local construction; officials plan to return it for public display. Evidence suggests the settlement was abandoned during the second-century Bar Kokhba Revolt. (Christian Daily)
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Korean Christian Broadcaster Marks 70 Years of Cross-Border Ministry — September 30: Founded by American missionary Tom Watson in 1956, FEBC-Korea used nighttime AM signals to carry sermons and hymns into North Korea, China, Russia, and Mongolia when missionaries could not enter. North Korean escapees later described secretly listening beneath blankets. The network now operates 15 stations and 14 relay sites across South Korea while expanding through YouTube and smartphone apps. (Christian Daily)
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Have you ever paused over a word in your Bible and wondered what it meant in the original language? You don’t need to be fluent in the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek of the Bible to begin exploring that question.
Bible Gateway’s Reverse Interlinear feature (available exclusively to Bible Gateway Plus members) connects the English text you’re reading with original-language words and dictionary entries, giving you a starting point for a closer look.
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Ever read a passage and wish someone could explain what it really means? With Bible Gateway Plus, it's easier than you think.
With every plan, you get:
Over $5,300 in study Bibles, commentaries, and reference tools Insights that appear right alongside the verse you're reading Ad-free reading on any device
Study notes, real-world application, and deeper context—right where you're already reading. Move from reading to really understanding with one click.
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There are moments in life when everything seems to be going your way. The future looks bright. Doors are opening. Prayers are being answered.
And then there are valleys.
Scripture never promises us a valley-free life. In fact, when Israel was preparing to enter the Promised Land, God described it as “a land of hills and valleys” (Deut. 11:11 NLT).
So when we find ourselves in a difficult season, the question isn’t only, How do I get out of this?
It’s also: What should I do while I’m here?
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Here’s your Bible Gateway verse-of-the-day calendar for the month of October! Click each link to read the verse in your preferred translation — or scroll to the bottom to download the image (or PDF) of all verse references.
Plus — a closer look at one of this month's verses, Proverbs 29:25, using the NKJV Open Bible in Bible Gateway Plus. This resource shows you how to follow a concept through Scripture. What else does the Bible call a "snare"?
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Must-Have Recommendations for Your Library
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Cozy Faith: Devotions, Prayers, and Blessings for Fall
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Experiencing the Heart of Jesus for 52 Weeks
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ChurchSource's Fall Ministry Sale is here!
For a limited time, save an extra 15% on orders of $100 or more with code FALLMIN.
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Devotionals and Reading Plans
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Bible Audio App
Listen to God's word in your favorite narration. Enjoy features such as setting a timer, adjusting the speed, or repeating verses to better absorb the Word of God.
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