Below are the best verses in Singapore in 2023, as determined by YouVersion. With the help of the Langham Partnership, Christianity Today reached out to three local biblical scholars for their thoughts and analysis on the state of Christianity in Singapore as reflected in these findings.
Samuel Law, Dean of Advanced Studies and Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies, Singapore Bible College
What is your overall reaction to this list?
No surprises. In general, the verses are thoughtful responses to the worldview and issues of our context and subscribe to the theological frameworks of Singapore’s representative megachurches/denominations.
What might the most particular verses on the list convey about the spiritual needs of Singapore?
I’m actually more surprised that Proverbs 3:5-6 is unique to Singapore and I would have thought it would be mentioned in other countries. I remember a Sunday school song based on these verses that we sang when I was growing up in the United States. Perhaps these verses are most appreciated in Singapore because they parallel the Asian/Confucian attitude in life’s journey and align with a Taoist worldview.
Given the events of the past year, is there a verse you wish was on this list instead?
Isaiah 55. The chapter reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways and that, despite our circumstances, He is always at work. Despite our VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) context of the 21st century, nothing prevents its power to transform situations in accordance with its mission of redemption of all creation.
Peter CW Ho, Academic Dean, School of Theology (English), Singapore Bible College
What is your overall reaction to this list?
We are not surprised but worried! For example, we discuss Jeremiah 29:11 quite frequently in middle school. The students will tell us that they did not know the “good plans” of exile, and the “you” is plural. These texts are often read out of context and too quickly personalized. There is a clear hermeneutic/interpretive gap in the way we read the Bible. We read the Bible in chunks and now train students to read larger contextual pieces.
What might the most particular verses on the list convey about the spiritual needs of Singapore?
When these verses are read without their context, we see several problems:
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A strong focus on receiving something positive for the individual. This includes God’s material provision and guidance for choices for success.
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At least half of these choices reflect a lack of faith or a feeling of fear. This underlies verses like Isaiah 41:10, Joshua 1:9, Proverbs 3:5, 1 Peter 5:7 and John 14:27. Note that this is not the “fear” of God.
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If the data (for Singapore) reflects a general ignorance of the broader historical context of how God treats his people underlying the verses, coupled with “whatever works for my good” and fear of life (rather than God), we have reason to worry.
Given the events of the past year, is there a verse you wish was on this list instead?
In these verses, the emphasis is primarily one-directional: what God should do for me, not how I should live before Him (my commitment to God; e.g., Deut. 6:4). It is necessary to refocus attention on God.
There is also a lack of how God’s collective people should live before God and in community (justice, righteousness, love, etc.). It is necessary to go beyond self-esteem.
Perhaps most frightening is the lack of selection that expresses the confidence and value of Jesus Christ as most important. Material success and life’s fears characterize the general selection of verses, but Christ is rarely present.
Maggie Low, faculty member of Trinity Theological College and ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church of Singapore
What is your overall reaction to this list?
It is encouraging that people generally place their hope in God in a troubled world through texts like Isaiah 41:10 and Jeremiah 29:11. As a biblical scholar, I hope readers will understand that the historical context also presupposes repentance on the part of the Jewish exiles to whom the passages were written.
Similarly to Joshua 1:9, I prefer readers to be more aware of 1:8, which calls for meditation on the Torah. Finally, I am surprised by the citation of Proverbs 4:23 in Singapore and the fact that it is, in fact, the most important verse in Taiwan. Perhaps this resonates more with the Confucian context.
What might the most particular verses on the list convey about the spiritual needs of Singapore?
On the other hand, I am not surprised by the use of Proverbs 3:5-6 in Singapore, although it is not cited in other countries. This is a verse often taught in Sunday schools. Perhaps this reflects our desire to achieve good academic or professional results in the midst of uncertainty and unpredictability, so we must turn to God and leave the matter to Him.
However, I would like to emphasize that this is a proverbial genre based on observations rather than a prophetic promise of a positive outcome.
Given the events of the past year, is there a verse you wish was on this list instead?
Psalm 94:1-2 is what I emphasized to my students regarding the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. We must be aware that God is a God of justice and not just politeness, that it is normal for people to express their anger towards God; in fact, it is also necessary for our mental health.
