Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "accord" often refers to agreement, unity, or harmony among individuals or groups. This concept is significant in both the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing the importance of unity among God's people and the power that comes from collective agreement in faith and purpose.
Old Testament ContextThe idea of being in one accord is foundational in the Old Testament, where unity among the Israelites was crucial for their identity and survival as God's chosen people. In
Exodus 24:3, the people of Israel respond to Moses with one voice, saying, "All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do." This collective agreement underscores their commitment to God's covenant.
The Psalms also highlight the beauty and strength found in unity.
Psalm 133:1 states, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!" This verse celebrates the blessings that come from living in accord with one another, reflecting God's desire for His people to dwell in peace and unity.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the concept of being in one accord is particularly emphasized in the early church. The Book of Acts frequently mentions the believers being in one accord as they gathered for prayer, worship, and the sharing of resources.
Acts 1:14 notes, "They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers." This unity in prayer was a precursor to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Acts 2:46 further illustrates this unity: "With one accord, they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart." The early church's unity was a powerful testimony to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit and served as a model for Christian community.
The Apostle Paul also stresses the importance of unity in his epistles. In
Romans 15:5-6 , he writes, "Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul encourages believers to live in harmony, reflecting the unity of the Godhead and the body of Christ.
Theological SignificanceFrom a conservative Christian viewpoint, being in one accord is not merely about external agreement but reflects a deeper spiritual unity rooted in Christ. This unity is essential for the church's mission and witness in the world. It is a manifestation of the love and fellowship that believers share through the Holy Spirit, transcending cultural, social, and personal differences.
The call to be in one accord is a call to align with God's purposes, to seek His will collectively, and to demonstrate the love of Christ through harmonious relationships. It is a reflection of the unity within the Trinity and a foretaste of the perfect unity that will be realized in the eternal kingdom of God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) Agreement or concurrence of opinion, will, or action; harmony of mind; consent; assent.
2. (v. t.) Harmony of sounds; agreement in pitch and tone; concord; as, the accord of tones.
3. (v. t.) Agreement, harmony, or just correspondence of things; as, the accord of light and shade in painting.
4. (v. t.) Voluntary or spontaneous motion or impulse to act; -- preceded by own; as, of one's own accord.
5. (n.) An agreement between parties in controversy, by which satisfaction for an injury is stipulated, and which, when executed, bars a suit.
6. (v. t.) To make to agree or correspond; to suit one thing to another; to adjust; -- followed by to.
7. (v. t.) To bring to an agreement, as persons; to reconcile; to settle, adjust, harmonize, or compose, as things; as, to accord suits or controversies.
8. (v. t.) To grant as suitable or proper; to concede; to award; as, to accord to one due praise.
9. (v. i.) To agree; to correspond; to be in harmony; -- followed by with, formerly also by to; as, his disposition accords with his looks.
10. (v. i.) To agree in pitch and tone.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ACCORD; ACCORDING; ACCORDINGLYa-kord', a-kord'-ing-li: In Old Testament, peh, "mouth," "to fight with one accord" (Joshua 9:2) lephi, "according to the mouth of," "according to their families" (Genesis 47:12, "acc. to (the number of) their little ones" the Revised Version, margin). InIsaiah 59:18 the same Hebrew word, ke`al, is rendered "according to" and "accordingly." In New Testament homothumadon, indicative of harmony of mind or action,Acts, 1:14, 2:46, 7:57, 18:12 and kata, of the same mind. according to Christ Jesus (Romans 15:5); automatos, "of itself," "without constraint," "opened to them of its own accord" (Acts 12:10), i.e. without human agency (compareLeviticus 25:5 the King James Version;Mark 4:28); authairetos, "of his own free choice" (2 Corinthians 8:17). God "will render to every man according to his works" (Romans 2:6), that is, agreeably to the nature of his works (1 Corinthians 3:8), but salvation is not according to works (2 Timothy 1:9Titus 3:5).
SeeDEED.
M. O. Evans
Greek
830. authairetos -- self-chosen, ie of one's ownaccord... self-chosen, ie of one's own
accord. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration:
authairetos Phonetic Spelling: (ow-thah'-ee-ret-os) Short Definition: of one's
...844. automatos -- acting of one's own will, of its ownaccord
... acting of one's own will, of its ownaccord. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration:
automatos Phonetic Spelling: (ow-tom'-at-os) Short Definition: of its...
3661. homothumadon -- with one mind
... Phonetic Spelling: (hom-oth-oo-mad-on') Short Definition: with one mind, unanimously
Definition: with one mind, unanimously, with oneaccord, at the same time....
4861. sumpsuchos -- of one mind
... of one mind. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: sumpsuchos Phonetic Spelling:
(soom'-psoo-khos) Short Definition: of oneaccord Definition: of oneaccord...
2596. kata -- down, against, according to
... Word Origin preposition of uncertain origin Definition down, against, according
to NASB Word Usage about (5),accord (1), accordance (12), according (140...
4784. sugkatatithemi -- to deposit together, hence to agree with
... consent. Mid from sun and katatithemi; to deposit (one's vote or opinion) in company
with, ie (figuratively) toaccord with -- consent. see GREEK sun....
1596. hekousios -- voluntarily
... Adverb Transliteration: hekousios Phonetic Spelling: (hek-oo-see'-ose) Short Definition:
willingly Definition: willingly, of one's ownaccord, spontaneously....
5092. time -- a valuing, a price
... 5092 (from , "accord honor, pay respect") -- properly, ; (literally, "price")
especially as -- ie what has in the eyes of ; (figuratively) the (, honor) to...
210. akon -- unwilling
... 210 (from 1 "not" and 1635 , "willing, in voluntaryaccord") -- properly,
willing, needing to be (used only in 1 Cor 9:17). [210...
230. alethos -- truly
... certainly, surely. Cognate: 230 -- (an adverb); inaccord with , ie valid
and therefore (reflecting true ). See 225/ ("truth"). Word...
Strong's Hebrew
6310. peh -- mouth... root Definition mouth NASB Word Usage
accord (1), accordance (1), accordance* (1),
accorded (1), according (9), according* (2), apt (1), beak (2), boast* (1
...5599. caphiyach -- outpouring
... outpouring. such things as which grow of themselves, which grows of its
ownaccord From caphach; something (spontaneously) falling...
3820. leb -- inner man, mind, will, heart
... Word Origin from the same as lebab Definition inner man, mind, will, heart NASB
Word Usageaccord (1), attention (4), attention* (1), bravest* (1...
6957. qav -- line
... qav {kawv}; from qavah (compare qaveh); a cord (as connecting), especially for
measuring; figuratively, a rule; also a rim, a musical string oraccord -- line....
3162. yachad -- unitedness
... Definition unitedness NASB Word Usage alike (1), all (4), altogether (2), altogether*
(1), both (4), completely (2), each other (1), oneaccord (1), safely (1...
Library
How a Perfect Worker Shall Pray, and what Prayer is in Itself; and...
... THE NINE AND THIRTIETH CHAPTER How a perfect worker shall pray, and what prayer
is in itself; and if a man shall pray in words, which wordsaccord them most to...
But, You Say, they came of their OwnAccord...
... Book II. 44 But, you say, they came of their ownaccord? But, you say, they
came of their ownaccord, not sent [3713] by their lord....
On the Other Hand, I did not Proceed to Ireland of My OwnAccord.....
... Section 28. On the other hand, I did not proceed to Ireland of my ownaccord?
28. On the other hand, I did not proceed to Ireland...
When a Person Swears of his OwnAccord, or Wantonly...
... Address 175: When a person swears of his ownaccord, or wantonly? When
a person swears of his ownaccord, or wantonly, then the...
How one of the Towers Erected by the Romans Fell Down of Its Own...
... CHAPTER 7. How One Of The Towers Erected By The Romans Fell Down Of Its OwnAccord;
And How The Romans After Great Slaughter Had Been Made Got Possession Of...
Whence it is not Right Either that those of the Clergy who have...
... Whence it is not right either that those of the clergy who have deserted of their
ownaccord, and have lapsed, and taken up the contest afresh, should remain...
Philippians ii. 4-Jan
... of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, fulfil ye my joy, that ye
be of the same mind, having the same love, being of oneaccord, of one mind...
'The Lord Thee Keeps'
... society.'. With that order of things Christ's real followers are not inaccord.
That want ofaccord depends upon theiraccord with Jesus....
Tertullian Pushes his Opponent into a Dilemma.
... at any rate, when He produces evil likewise out of the same (Matter), He is a servant
to Matter, since, of course, [6266] it is not of His ownaccord that He...
The Ministration of the Spirit and Prayer
... We begin with the well-known words (i.13), "These all continued with oneaccord
in prayer and supplication." And then there follows: "And when the day of...
Thesaurus
Accord (43 Occurrences)... 2. (vt) Harmony of sounds; agreement in pitch and tone; concord; as, the
accord of tones. 3. (vt) Agreement, harmony, or just correspondence
...According (7613 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofAccord. 2. (pa) Agreeing; in agreement or harmony; harmonious....
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.ACCORD; ACCORDING; ACCORDINGLY....
Accordingly (34 Occurrences)
... 2. (adv.) In natural sequence; consequently; so. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia.ACCORD; ACCORDING; ACCORDINGLY. a-kord', a-kord...
Wrought (186 Occurrences)
... (ASV). Acts 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought
among the people; (and they were all with oneaccord in Solomon's porch....
Rush (35 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV). Acts 7:57 But they cried out with a loud
voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed at him with oneaccord....
Respond (21 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To show some effect in return to a force; to act in response; toaccord;
to correspond; to suit.... 5. (vt) To suit oraccord with; to correspond to....
Rushed (24 Occurrences)
... (WEB WEY ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV). Acts 7:57 But they cried out with a loud voice,
and stopped their ears, and rushed at him with oneaccord....
Continuing (24 Occurrences)
... Acts 1:14 these all were continuing with oneaccord in prayer and supplication,
with women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (YLT)....
Constantly (47 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Acts 1:14 these all were continuing with oneaccord in prayer and supplication,
with women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren....
Consent (34 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To agree in opinion or sentiment; to be
of the same mind; toaccord; to concur. 2. (vi) To indicate...
Resources
What does it mean to be in one accord? | GotQuestions.orgCalvinism vs. Arminianism - which view is correct? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the importance of Christian unity? | GotQuestions.orgAccord: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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