Using 'Search' to retrieve articles not

John Haggard

Using Factbook, I wanted to view articles written on the topic of how many promises there are in the Bible. I used the search term “number of promises in the Bible” but Top Results, Concept, Event, and Literature sections did not show any articles. I did get “the Number of Sacraments” articles. Is there a better way to search to find the answer? I also did an “ALL” tab search as well as a search using quotes “number of promises made in the Bible” to try to narrow down to resources. Thanks for any enlightenment anyone has on best ways to do this.

MJ. Smith

There is no standard definition of what constitutes a promise and translators may use different structures for translating that make "promises" even less predictable. The Passages on the Promises Factbook gives one way into an approximate count. Or screen your library for title:Promises. For me, this brings up a group of possible sources based upon my definition of "promise" ... but remember there is no answer. The only counts you can get are in the form of: If you use this definition of promise and use this Bible text, the count is nnnn.

Promises Bibliography

Gray, Andrew. Great Precious Promises, Or, Some Sermons Concerning the Promises and the Right Application Thereof Whereunto Are Added Some Other Concerning the Usefulnesse of Faith in Advancing Sanctification, as Also, Three More Concerning the Faith of Assurance / by Mr. Andrew Gray …; All Being Revised since His Death by Some Friends, the Last Impression Carefully Corrected and Amended. Early English Books Online. Edinburgh: George Swintown and James Glen .., 1669.

Zondervan. Promises for Men: From the New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010.

Thompson, Jeremy. Promises in the Bible Dataset Documentation. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2018.

Publishing, Barbour. 199 Promises of God. Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Books, 2007.

Water, Mark. Bible Promises Made Easy. The Made Easy Series. Alresford, Hampshire: John Hunt Publishers Ltd, 2001.

Byfield, Nicholas. The Promises: Or, A Treatise Shewing How a Godly Christian May Support His Heart with Comfort against All the Distresses Which by Reason of Any Afflictions or Temptations Can Befall Him in This Life. Containing Al the Most Comfortable Places through the Whole Bible, Orderly Digested. By N. Bifield Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex. Early English Books Online. London: G. Purslowe for Ralph Rounthwaite, 1619.

Authors, Various. Promises for Mothers. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009.

Hayford, Jack W., and Joseph Snider. Promises and Beginnings: Examining Excellence in the Creator’s Ways: A Study in the Book of Genesis. Spirit-Filled Life Bible Discovery Guides. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1994.

Birkhead, Mary Grace. Bible Promises for Dad. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2013.

Moore, Karen. Bible Promises for Teachers. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2013.

Moore, Karen. Bible Promises for Newlyweds. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2014.

Owen, John. The Stedfastness of Promises, and the Sinfulness of Staggering: Opened in a Sermon Preached at Margarets in Westminster before the Parliament Febr. 28. 1649. Being a Day Set Apart for Solemn Humiliation throughout the Nation. By John Owen Minister of the Gospel. Early English Books Online. London: Peter Cole, and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Printing-Press in Cornhil, neer the Royal Exchange, 1650.

Richards, Lawrence O., and David Carder. NIV, DayBreak Promises for Believers. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012.

Richards, Lawrence O., and David Carder. NIV, DayBreak Promises from Proverbs. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012.

Lucado, Max, and Terri A. Gibbs. God’s Inspirational Promises. Nashville, TN: J. Countryman, 2001.

Bible Promises for Women. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2008.

Bible Promises for New Parents. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2003.

Bible Promises for Men. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2008.

Bible Promises for Teens. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2003.

Bible Promises for Kids. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2003.

Holman Bible Publishers. Bible Promises for Dad. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003.

Staff, B&h Editorial, Broadman Publishers, and Holman Publishers. Bible Promises for Mom. Nashville: B&H Books, 2003.

Leigh, Edward. A Treatise of the Divine Promises in Five Bookes: In the First, a Generall Description of Their Nature, Kinds, Excellency, Right Use, Properties, and the Persons to Whom They Belong: In the Foure Last, a Declaration of the Covenant It Selfe …/ by Edvvard Legh. Early English Books Online. London: George Miller, and are to be sold by Thomas Underhill .., 1641.

Pocketful of Promises - Women. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2011.

Beaumont, Mike, and Martin Manser. The Handbook of Bible Promises, 2020.

Sibbes, Richard. Yea and Amen: Or, Pretious Promises, and Priviledges Spiritually Unfolded in Their Nature and Vse. Driving at the Assurance and Establishing of Weak Beleevers. By R. Sibbs D.D. Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and Preacher of Grayes Inne London. Reviewed by Himselfe in His Life Time, and since Perused by T.G. and P.N. Early English Books Online. London: R. Bishop for R. Dawlman and are to be sold by Humphrey Mosley at the Princes Armes in Pauls Church-yard, 1638.

Sproul, R. C., Jr. The Promises of God: Discovering the One Who Keeps His Word. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2013.

Zondervan. Bible Promises for You: From the New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009.

Hopkins, Samuel. An Enquiry Concerning the Promises of the Gospel. Whether Any of Them Are Made to the Exercises and Doings of Persons in an Unregenerate State. Early American Imprints, 1639-1800; No. 10007. Boston, N.E.: W. M’Alpine and J. Fleeming in Marlborough Street, 1765.

The Bible’s Promises for Life (from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version). Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2003.

Publishing, Barbour. The Bible Promise Book: One Thousand Promises from God’s Word. Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Books, 2006.

Spurgeon, C. H. The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith: Being Precious Promises Arranged for Daily Use with Brief Comments. New York: American Tract Society, 1893.

Barker, Paul. Deuteronomy: The God Who Keeps Promises. Cumbria, UK: Langham Preaching Resources, 2017.

Baker, Donald. Joshua: The Power of God’s Promises: 12 Studies for Individuals or Groups. A LifeGuide Bible Study. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Connect: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 1999.

Group, Baker Publishing. All Things New: Transforming Promises from the Word of God. Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 2010.

Johnson, Samuel. A Letter from Aristocles to Authades, Concerning the Sovereignty and the Promises of God. Early American Imprints, 1639-1800; No. 5614. Boston: Printed and sold by T. Fleet, at the Heart and Crown in Cornhill, 1745.

Prince, Thomas. Be Followers of Them, Who through Faith and Patience Inherit the Promises. Early American Imprints, 1639-1800; No. 7548. Boston: Edes & Gill, in Kingstreet, for D. Henchman, in Cornhill, 1755.

Owen, John. Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews Also Concerning the Messiah Wherein the Promises Concerning Him to Be a Spiritual Redeemer of Mankind Are Explained and Vindicated, His Coming and Accomplishment of His Work according to the Promises Is Proved and Confirmed, the Person, or Who He Is, Is Declared, the Whole Oeconomy of the Mosaical Law, Rites, Worship, and Sacrifice Is Explained: And in All the Doctrine of the Person, Office, and Work of the Messiah Is Opened, the Nature and Demerit of the First Sin Is Unfolded, the Opinions and Traditions of the Antient and Modern Jews Are Examined, Their Objections against the Lord Christ and the Gospel Are Answered, the Time of the Coming of the Messiah Is Stated, and the Great Fundamental Truths of the Gospel Vindicated: With an Exposition and Discourses on the Two First Chapters of the Said Epistle to the Hebrews / by J. Owen. Early English Books Online. London: Robert White for Nathaniel Ponder .., 1668.

Rowlandson, Mary White. The Soveraignty and Goodness of God, Together with the Faithfulness of His Promises Displayed. Early American Imprints, 1639-1800; No. 2173. Boston: T. Fleet, for Samuel Phillips, at the Three Bibles and Crown in King-Street, 1720.

Rowlandson, Mary White. The Soveraignty & Goodness of God, Together, with the Faithfulness of His Promises Displayed. Early American Imprints, 1639-1800; No. 332. Cambridge Mass.: Samuel Green, 1682.

Hahn, Scott. A Father Who Keeps His Promises: God’s Covenant Love in Scripture. Cincinnati, OH: Servant Books; St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1998.

Mills, Jedidiah. A Vindication of Gospel-Truth, and Refutation of Some Dangerous Errors, in Relation to That Important Question, Whether There Be Promises of the Bestowment. Early American Imprints, 1639-1800; No. 6010. Boston: N.E.: Printed and sold by Rogers and Fowle in Queen-Street, 1747.

Swope, Renee. A Confident Heart: Learning to Live in the Power of God’s Promises. Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 2011.

Lipton, Diana. Revisions of the Night: Politics and Promises in the Patriarchal Dreams of Genesis. Vol. 288. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1999.

Hahn, Scott W. Kinship by Covenant: A Canonical Approach to the Fulfillment of God’s Saving Promises. New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 2009.

Exported from Verbum, 12:13 AM September 13, 2023.

Rosie Perera

One of the books in the bibliography MJ provided, Promises in the Bible Dataset Documentation, tells me that there is a dataset listing the promises in the Bible (at least those that Faithlife has identified).

If you have this dataset (you can check here if you own it: https://www.logos.com/product/166216/promises-in-the-bible-dataset) then you can get a listing of all the promises by doing a Bible search in your preferred Bible for promise:*

But I know you weren't asking how to find out how many promises there are or to get a listing of them, but rather to find articles written on the topic of how many there are. Doing a search of an exact phrase that finds no results might mean that your phrase is too restrictive. Articles about this topic (if there are any) might not mention the exact phrase "number of promises in the Bible" because they might say the same thing in any of a number of different ways. They might say "there are X promises in the Bible" or "the Bible contains X promises" or "how many promises are in the Bible? We will explore..." or all sorts of other variant wordings. You've got to be more flexible in your search.

A Books search for promises WITHIN 3 WORDS bible in type:journal should find any such articles if they exist. I wouldn't venture to limit the search any further by guessing at how an author would write about the total number (number, quantity, total, how many, list, count, etc.; it gets too complicated). So I did this exact search in my Library which contains nearly 3000 journal volumes, and it found 100 hits. A quick visual scan of those results told me that none of them is talking about the number of promises in the Bible. So maybe you aren't going to be able to find any such articles because there aren't any in Logos.

There's a book called All the Promises of the Bible by Herbert Lockyer. Unfortunately, even though Logos has many of Lockyer's "All the ___ of the Bible" series, it is missing this one. There's a request for it on the feedback site: https://feedback.logos.com/boards/logos-book-requests/posts/all-the-promises-of-the-bible that I made a couple of years ago. In the meantime, it is available in Kindle format.

Another approach is to use Google. A search for "number of promises in the bible" "article" finds some interesting hits, including mentions of a guy named Everett R. Storms, a Canadian schoolteacher who spent a year and a half counting all the promises in the Bible. Now armed with that name, I go back to Logos and search for it in my entire huge Library (nearly 30,000 resources). I find only one hit: "In 1956, Time magazine carried an article about a schoolteacher named Everett R. Storms of Kitchner, Canada, who, after his twenty-seventh reading of the Bible, decided to tally up all the promises in the Bible."

So now if you go back to Google and search "Everett R. Storms" "promises" "1956" you will find loads of articles that recount the story of this man's count and give the numbers he came up with. Here's one, for example, https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1769&context=leaven

I don't know if there are other articles about the question or about other people who have come up with different answers. But now you see a bit of my methodology, and perhaps you can do some more searching on your own and find more stuff...