What Does the Bible Say About Art and Creativity: 11 Powerful Verses

Genesis 1:1

ESVIn the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
KJVIn the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
NASBIn the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
NIVIn the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
NLTIn the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Acts 2:22

ESV“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—
KJVYe men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
NASB“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—
NIV“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
NLT“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.

Jeremiah 1:5

ESV“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
KJVBefore I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
NASB“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
NIV“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
NLT“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

Deuteronomy 4:19

ESVAnd beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.
KJVAnd lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
NASB“And beware not to lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, and be drawn away and worship them and serve them, those which the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.
NIVAnd when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.
NLTAnd when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don’t be seduced into worshiping them. The LORD your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth.

Revelation 21:8

ESVBut as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
KJVBut the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
NASB“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
NIVBut the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
NLT“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Revelation 19:16

ESVOn his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
KJVAnd he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
NASBAnd on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
NIVOn his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
NLTOn his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

Hebrews 1:3

ESVHe is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
KJVWho being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
NASBAnd He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
NIVThe Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
NLTThe Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

2 Corinthians 4:4

ESVIn their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
KJVIn whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
NASBin whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
NIVThe god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
NLTSatan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

1 Corinthians 8:6

ESVYet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
KJVBut to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
NASByet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
NIVyet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
NLTBut for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.

Ephesians 2:10

ESVFor we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
KJVFor we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
NASBFor we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
NIVFor we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
NLTFor we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Genesis 1:27

ESVSo God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
KJVSo God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
NASBGod created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
NIVSo God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
NLTSo God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Daniel Isaiah Joseph

Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. He was a pastor for 10 years. As a professor, he has taught Bible and theology courses at two Christian universities. Please see his About page for details.

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