Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:Adhering, in a biblical context, refers to the act of holding firmly to a set of beliefs, principles, or practices as outlined in Scripture. It involves a steadfast commitment to God's commandments, teachings, and the faith delivered to the saints. This concept is central to the life of a believer, emphasizing loyalty, obedience, and unwavering faithfulness to God and His Word.
Biblical References:1.
Faithfulness to God's Commandments: Adhering to God's commandments is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. In
Deuteronomy 11:22 , it is written, "For if you carefully keep all these commandments I am giving you to follow—to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him." This verse underscores the importance of adhering to God's laws as an expression of love and devotion.
2.
Steadfastness in Faith: The New Testament also emphasizes the need for believers to adhere to their faith. In
1 Corinthians 15:58 , Paul exhorts the believers, "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." Here, adherence is linked to being steadfast and immovable in one's faith and service to God.
3.
Adherence to the Teachings of Christ: Jesus Himself spoke about the importance of adhering to His teachings. In
John 8:31 , Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples." This indicates that true discipleship involves a continuous adherence to the teachings of Christ.
4.
Holding Fast to the Gospel: The Apostle Paul frequently encouraged believers to adhere to the gospel message. In
2 Thessalonians 2:15 , he writes, "So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter." This highlights the importance of adhering to the apostolic teachings and traditions as a means of maintaining doctrinal purity.
5.
Adherence in the Face of Persecution: The early church faced significant persecution, yet believers were encouraged to adhere to their faith. In
Revelation 2:13 , Jesus commends the church in Pergamum, saying, "I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits. Yet you have held fast to My name and have not denied your faith in Me, even in the days when My faithful witness, Antipas, was killed among you, where Satan dwells." This passage illustrates the commendation for those who adhere to their faith despite external pressures.
Theological Implications:Adhering to God's Word and His commandments is not merely a passive act but an active, ongoing commitment that requires diligence and perseverance. It is a demonstration of one's love for God and a reflection of a transformed life. Adherence involves both belief and action, as seen in
James 1:22 , "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." This verse calls believers to actively live out their faith by adhering to the teachings of Scripture.
Practical Application:For believers today, adhering to biblical principles involves regular study of the Scriptures, prayer, and participation in the life of the church. It requires discernment to distinguish between cultural norms and biblical truths, ensuring that one's life aligns with God's will. Adherence is also about community, as believers are called to encourage one another to remain faithful, as seen in
Hebrews 10:23-25 , "Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
In summary, adhering is a vital aspect of the Christian faith, encompassing loyalty, obedience, and a steadfast commitment to God's Word and His ways.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Adhere.
Strong's Hebrew
1695. dabeq -- a clinging, cleaving... cleave, joining, stick closer. From dabaq;
adhering -- cleave, joining, stick closer.
see HEBREW dabaq. 1694, 1695. dabeq. 1696 . Strong's Numbers.
2443. chakkah -- a hook, fishhook
... angle, hook. Probably from chakah; a hook (asadhering) -- angle, hook. see HEBREW
chakah. 2442, 2443. chakkah. 2444 . Strong's Numbers.
3890. levath -- to, at, beside.
... 3889, 3890. levath. 3891 . to, at, beside. Transliteration: levath Phonetic
Spelling: (lev-awth') Short Definition:adhering. Word...
Library
Whether Obedience is the Greatest of the virtues?
... I answer that, Just as sin consists in man contemning God andadhering to mutable
things, so the merit of a virtuous act consists in man contemning created...
The Example Set us by the Martyrs, whom no Force could Hinder from...
... Imperial Guards, not the Emperor, not the empire itself, not men, not demons?"whom,
I say, as a recompense for their steadfastness inadhering to religious...
That the Nature of the Angels, Both Good and Bad, is one and the...
... to God. And so the cause of the others' misery will be found in the contrary,
that is, in their notadhering to God. Wherefore, if...
Showing the Three Ways by which one Enters into the God-Seeing...
... The inward lover of God, who possesses God in fruitive love, and himself inadhering
and active love, and his whole life in virtues according to righteousness...
Whether There was Faith in the Angels, or in Man, in their...
... namely the First Truth surpassing all the natural knowledge of a creature, and
something material, namely, the thing to which we assent whileadhering to the...
Of Scrupulosity Arising from Certain Inward Temptations. ...
... Though sometimes they may be so violent and so obstinatelyadhering that the fancy
will become extremely disordered, and the soul will think herself to be in a...
Though in Order to Establish this Suitable Difference Between the...
... no other happiness than the bare satisfaction arising from the sense of his
resoluteness in persisting to preserve his virtue, and inadhering immoveably to...
The Life of Sir Rob^T. Hamilton of Preston.
... yielding one jot in the least, that he left another faithful protestation in the
hands of the keepers of the tolbooth, shewing, that for hisadhering to, and...
Survival of the Fittest
... in its verity: "Bat-like, out of the holes and caverns and shadows of the earth,
the bones gather, and the clay-heaps heave, rattling andadhering into half...
Paracelsus {13}
... one"the firm belief that all pure science was a revelation from God; that it was
not to be obtained at second or third hand, by blindlyadhering to the words...
Thesaurus
Adhering (7 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Adhere. Multi-Version
Concordance
Adhering (7 Occurrences). Galatians 1:6 I marvel
...Obstinate (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Persistentlyadhering to an opinion; not
yielding to reason; stubborn; pertinacious; unreasonable....
Lutheran
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Of or pertaining to Luther;adhering to
the doctrines Of Luther or the Lutheran Church. 2. (n.) One...
Link (2 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:16 Dependent on Him, the whole body--its various parts closely fitting
and firmlyadhering to one another-- grows by the aid of every contributory...
Grows (46 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:16 Dependent on Him, the whole body--its various parts closely fitting
and firmlyadhering to one another-- grows by the aid of every contributory...
Growth (77 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:16 Dependent on Him, the whole body--its various parts closely fitting
and firmlyadhering to one another-- grows by the aid of every contributory...
Fast (157 Occurrences)
... 6. (v.) Firmly fixed; closelyadhering; made firm; not loose, unstable,
or easily moved; immovable; as, to make fast the door. 7...
Firmly (47 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:16 Dependent on Him, the whole body--its various parts closely fitting
and firmlyadhering to one another-- grows by the aid of every contributory...
Falsely (72 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). 1 John 1:6 If, while we are living in darkness, we profess to have
fellowship with Him, we speak falsely and are notadhering to the truth. (WEY)....
Fitting (29 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:16 Dependent on Him, the whole body--its various parts closely fitting
and firmlyadhering to one another-- grows by the aid of every contributory...
Resources
What does the Bible say about traditionalism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is textualism? | GotQuestions.orgIs atheism a religion? | GotQuestions.orgAdhering: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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