Pope Benedict spoke of just this kind of hope in his second encyclical letter Spe salvi:
‘Hope’, in fact, is a key word in Biblical faith – so much so that in several passages the words ‘faith’ and ‘hope’ seem interchangeable. Thus the Letter to the Hebrews closely links the ‘fullness of faith’ (10:22) to ‘the confession of our hope without wavering’ (10:23). Likewise, when the First Letter of Peter exhorts Christians to be always ready to give an answer concerning the logos – the meaning and the reason – of their hope (cf. 3:15), ‘hope’ is equivalent to ‘faith’.
We see how decisively the self-understanding of the early Christians was shaped by their having received the gift of a trustworthy hope, when we compare the Christian life with life prior to faith, or with the situation of the followers of other religions. Paul reminds the Ephesians that before their encounter with Christ they were ‘without hope and without God in the world’ (Eph 2:12).
Prisoners who receive Bible Alive often write to express their thanks and give us feedback. Reading their letters, it is striking and always so encouraging to come in touch with what is often a renewed and refreshed faith. Equally striking is their hope, optimism and confidence in God. The men and women who strive to live out their faith in prison are examples to us all.
The truth we uphold at Bible Alive is that ‘there but for God’s grace go we’, recognizing that we are all sinners in need of God’s mercy and forgiveness and that we are brothers and sisters united by faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Here is some of the feedback we have received from prisoners about how Bible Alive is helping them live their faith in prison and how they are being taught by God to hold fast in hope.
Prison: HMP Morton Hall
Receiving Bible Alive draws me closer to God. It gives me joy and peace as I read it every morning as part of my meditation ritual. It brings me a peace knowing that I praise my God every day when I wake.
Prison: HMP Maidstone
Bible Alive is a key that opens up for me Scripture: the Word of God, inspiring yet simple in understanding, relevant to my journey in faith – a journey within sustained by celebrating the Eucharist as nature needs water. So is the essence of my spiritual life.
Name: Anonymous
Prison: Not given
A way of bringing the Bible alive
Prison: HMP Featherstone
Bible Alive helps me in my daily reflections, as I can then read the chapters of the Bible it references each day. This helps keep my faith alive, especially because I am a prisoner with less freedom than people in the wider world.
Name: Anonymous
Prison: Not given
We pray that you continue supplying us copies in time because it has become a source of life to us prisoners. It has made us understand the nature of God and his unjust love for sinners…
After reading Bible Alive deeply, I’ve found that life is a temporary assignment, therefore we are to utilize it to repent for our sins. We also learn through Bible Alive that Jesus loves sinners, more especially those in suffering like us and thus has sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us in our incarcerations.
We also learn the cost of following Jesus (discipleship) as it involves partial sacrifice at all costs and we human beings following Jesus have to sacrifice everything.
Further we thank Bible Alive for showing this generous love by supplying the Word of God to us and pray to the Almighty that God gives courage and wisdom to continue doing whatever you’re doing for us.
Prison: HMP Acklington
I read Bible Alive each morning. It’s like starting the day with a friend. I’m alone in my cell and miss my family whom I love very much. I’m soon to be divorced by my wife and also to be cut off from my family forever.
Prison: HMP Lewes
I look forward to each new issue and read it over and over again. A small group of us meet and discuss what the issue means to us and helps us to keep our faith.
I look forward to each new issue and read it over and over again. A small group of us meet and discuss what the issue means to us and helps us to keep our faith.
Prison: HMP Littlehey
I like Bible Alive. I read it every morning about 7 am before I come out of my cell, and the words lead me all day. It helps me during this time of difficulty I am in.
I like Bible Alive. I read it every morning about 7 am before I come out of my cell, and the words lead me all day. It helps me during this time of difficulty I am in.
Prison: HMP Littlehey
Somehow the daily readings seem to have relevance to me, my shortcomings and my strengths. I am constantly amazed how much of my condition is understood by God; it’s sometimes a direct conversation about me.
Somehow the daily readings seem to have relevance to me, my shortcomings and my strengths. I am constantly amazed how much of my condition is understood by God; it’s sometimes a direct conversation about me.
Prison: HMP Acklington
This means joy, patience, love, faith, peace and grace in my journey of tribulations and suffering through the help of Jesus Christ.
This means joy, patience, love, faith, peace and grace in my journey of tribulations and suffering through the help of Jesus Christ.
Prison: Anon
It makes me understand about my daily reflections and it makes me think about God.
It makes me understand about my daily reflections and it makes me think about God.
Prison: Maidstone HMP
Bible Alive arrives each month via the chaplaincy, and it is an item I look forward to as both spiritual ‘refreshment’ and an aid to my academic studies in Theology. I am grateful to Bible Alive’s publishers for their monthly ‘gift’.
Prison: HMP Highdown
Some people I know can get easily tired of the Bible each day, and Bible Alive I feel gives a more up-to-date way of bringing Jesus into people’s lives.
Prison: HMP High Down
It gives me hope and keeps me strong whilst serving my prison sentence.
Prison: HMP High Down
I use the daily section as part of my daily routine. I use some of the prayers, read the mentioned parts of the Bible in full on occasions.
Prison: HMP Littlehey
I share Bible Alive with my family and friends: this helps me feel closer to my family. Also my sister sponsored a village in poverty through Bible Alive.
Prison: HMP Littlehey
Enables me to keep in touch with the Church’s lectionary each day and to have some material for meditation.
