Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:Absence, in a biblical context, refers to the state of being away or not present. This concept can be applied to physical absence, such as being away from a particular location or group, as well as spiritual or emotional absence, such as feeling distant from God or lacking His presence.
Biblical Instances and Themes:1.
Physical Absence:·
Paul's Absence from the Churches: The Apostle Paul often wrote letters to the early Christian communities during his physical absence. In
2 Corinthians 10:1, Paul addresses the church in Corinth, saying, "Now I, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away." His letters served to guide, instruct, and correct the churches in his absence.
·
Absence of Jesus: After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples over a period of forty days before ascending to heaven. His physical absence thereafter was a significant transition for the disciples, who were then empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue His work (
Acts 1:9-11).
2.
Spiritual Absence:·
Feeling of God's Absence: The Psalms often express a deep yearning for God's presence, reflecting times when the psalmist feels abandoned or distant from God.
Psalm 22:1 captures this sentiment: "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?"
·
Sin and Separation: Sin is frequently depicted as causing a separation or absence from God.
Isaiah 59:2 states, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear."
3.
Emotional and Relational Absence:·
Absence in Relationships: The Bible acknowledges the pain and longing associated with the absence of loved ones. In the Song of Solomon, the bride expresses her longing for her beloved, illustrating the emotional impact of absence (
Song of Solomon 3:1-2).
·
Parental Absence:Proverbs 29:15 warns of the consequences of parental absence or neglect: "A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces his mother."
4.
Absence and Faith:·
Faith in Absence: The concept of faith is often linked to believing without seeing.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." This suggests that faith involves trusting in God's presence and promises, even when He seems absent.
Theological Implications:Absence in the Bible often serves as a test of faith and reliance on God. It challenges believers to trust in God's presence and sovereignty, even when He seems distant. The absence of God or His representatives can lead to spiritual growth, as individuals learn to seek Him more earnestly and depend on His guidance through prayer and scripture.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A state of being absent or withdrawn from a place or from companionship; -- opposed to presence.
2. (n.) Want; destitution; withdrawal.
3. (n.) Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind); as, absence of mind.
Greek
666. apousia -- a being away, ieabsence... a being away, ie
absence. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: apousia
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-oo-see'-ah) Short Definition:
absence Definition
...817. ater -- without
... in theabsence of, without. A particle probably akin to aneu; aloof, ie Apart from
(literally or figuratively) -- in theabsence of, without. see GREEK aneu....
4566. Satan -- Satan.
... [Theabsence of the definite article is probably significant, given the genitive
construction.]. Word Origin variant reading for Satanas, qv. Satan....
Library
Love Faithful in theAbsence of the Beloved
... Love Faithful in theAbsence of the Beloved. In vain ye woo me to your harmless
joys, Ye pleasant bowers, remote from strife and noise;...
Presence inAbsence
... SERMON XII. PRESENCE INABSENCE. Eversley, third Sunday after Easter.1862.
St John 16:16. "A little while, and ye shall not see me...
Whether, in theAbsence of Inward Consent, a Marriage is Made by...
... Whether, in theabsence of inward consent, a marriage is made by consent
given in words of the present? Objection 1: It would seem...
The EverlastingAbsence of God Intolerable.
... first and third lines of the stanza. Hymn 2:107. The everlastingabsence
of God intolerable. 1 That awful day will surely come, Th...
Love inAbsence. September 16.
... Love inAbsence. September 16.Absence quickens love into consciousness. MS.
The baby sings not on its mother's breast; Nor nightingales...
Eternity is a MysteriousAbsence of Times and Ages: an Endless...
... THE FIFTH CENTURY 7 Eternity is a mysteriousabsence of times and ages: an endless
length of ages always present. Eternity is a mysterious...
Letter Lxi. St. Ambrose Explains hisAbsence from Milan on the...
... Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose. Letter LXI. St. Ambrose explains his
absence from Milan on the arrival of the Emperor Theodosius after? St....
The EverlastingAbsence of God Intolerable.
... Hymns, Book II HYMN 107 The everlastingabsence of God intolerable. CM The everlasting
absence of God intolerable. That awful day will surely come,....
Of theAbsence of any Antagonism Between Matthew and Mark, or...
... Chapter LXV."Of theAbsence of Any Antagonism Between Matthew and Mark, or Between
Matthew and Luke, in the Account Offered of the Giving of Sight to the...
Of theAbsence of any Discrepancy Between Matthew and Mark on the...
... Chapter XLVIII."Of theAbsence of Any Discrepancy Between Matthew and Mark on the
One Hand, and John on the Other, in the Accounts Which the Three Give...
Thesaurus
Absence (5 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) Want; destitution; withdrawal. 3. (n.) Inattention to things present;
abstraction (of mind); as,
absence of mind.
...Absence (5 Occurrences).
...Epicureans (1 Occurrence)
... ep-i-ku-re'-anz (Epikoureioi): Contents 1. Social and Political Causes 2. Egoistic
Hedonism 3. Back to Nature 4. Ataraxy 5. Pleasure Is theAbsence of Pain 6...
Innocent (97 Occurrences)
... have innocency in Genesis 20:5 Psalm 26:6; Psalm 73:13 Daniel 6:22 Hosea 8:5. In
Daniel the Hebrew is zakhu, and the innocence expressed is theabsence of the...
Innocence (10 Occurrences)
... have innocency in Genesis 20:5 Psalm 26:6; Psalm 73:13 Daniel 6:22 Hosea 8:5. In
Daniel the Hebrew is zakhu, and the innocence expressed is theabsence of the...
Innocency (5 Occurrences)
... have innocency in Genesis 20:5 Psalm 26:6; Psalm 73:13 Daniel 6:22 Hosea 8:5. In
Daniel the Hebrew is zakhu, and the innocence expressed is theabsence of the...
Silence (80 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The state of being silent; entireabsence of sound
or noise; absolute stillness.... 5. (n.)Absence of mention; oblivion....
Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)
... Malachi now appeared among the people with words of stern reproof and solemn warning;
and Nehemiah again returned from Persia (after anabsence of some two...
Want (607 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The state of not having; the condition of being without anything;absence
or scarcity of what is needed or desired; deficiency; lack; as, a want of...
Infinitude
... term is directly applied to God. It there correctly conveys the idea ofabsence
of all limitation. There is nothing beyond the compass...
Disease (213 Occurrences)
... That it is not so depends on the unsanitary conditions in which the people live
and theabsence of any attempts to check the introduction or development of...
Resources
Did God create evil? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is theodicy? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is absolute reality? | GotQuestions.orgAbsence: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
