Topical Encyclopedia
The term "actual" is not directly found in the text of the Bible; however, the concept of actuality, or reality, is deeply embedded in the biblical narrative and theology. In Scripture, the idea of what is actual is often related to the nature of God, truth, and the fulfillment of His promises.
God as the Ultimate RealityIn the Bible, God is presented as the ultimate reality, the one who is eternal and unchanging. In
Exodus 3:14, God reveals Himself to Moses with the name "I AM WHO I AM," indicating His self-existence and eternal presence. This declaration underscores the actuality of God as the foundational reality upon which all else depends.
Truth and ActualityThe Bible frequently associates truth with what is actual. In
John 14:6, Jesus declares, "I am the way and the truth and the life." Here, truth is not merely a concept but is personified in Jesus Christ, who embodies the ultimate reality of God's revelation to humanity. The Scriptures emphasize that God's word is truth (
John 17:17), and believers are called to live in accordance with this truth, which reflects the actual state of God's will and purpose.
Fulfillment of PromisesThe Bible records numerous instances where God's promises become actualized in history. For example, the promise of a Messiah is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, as prophesied in the Old Testament and realized in the New Testament. In
Matthew 5:17, Jesus states, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." This fulfillment is an actualization of God's redemptive plan.
Faith and the Unseen RealityWhile actuality often pertains to what is visible and tangible, the Bible also speaks to the reality of the unseen.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." This verse highlights the belief in the actual existence of spiritual realities that are not immediately visible but are nonetheless true and reliable.
Eschatological ActualityThe Bible also points to future realities that are certain to come to pass. The eschatological promises of a new heaven and a new earth (
Revelation 21:1) are presented as actual future events that believers anticipate with hope. These promises assure Christians of the ultimate fulfillment of God's plan for creation.
In summary, while the term "actual" may not appear explicitly in the biblical text, the concept is integral to understanding the nature of God, the truth of His word, the fulfillment of His promises, and the reality of both seen and unseen aspects of His creation.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Involving or comprising action; active.
2. (a.) Existing in act or reality; really acted or acting; in fact; real; -- opposed to potential, possible, virtual, speculative, conceivable, theoretical, or nominal; as, the actual cost of goods; the actual case under discussion.
3. (a.) In action at the time being; now exiting; present; as the actual situation of the country.
4. (n.) Something actually received; real, as distinct from estimated, receipts.
Greek
2661. kataxioo -- to deem worthy... according to," which intensifies 515 , "weighing as much as, proportional") -- properly,
to (on a balance-scale) which ; that reflects
actual, ; hence, to
...630. apoluo -- to set free, release
... to the lengthy treatment of marriage/divorce by Paul in 1 Cor 6:15-7:16 (which permits
divorce on a broad definition of constructive oractual abandonment)....
3358. metron -- a measure
... measuring rod. 3358 -- properly, a (theactual measure ); (figuratively)
the for determining what is (or ), what is (or ), etc. 3358...
2481. isos -- perhaps
... Cognate: 2481 (from 2470 , "equal") -- properly, ; acting fair, in a way that
is fit (apt), ie toactual reality (worth). See 2470 ()....
351. anakrisis -- an examination
... Cognate: 351 -- a judicial examination. 351 () was an " for a preliminary investigation --
distinct from theactual , or trial" (JB Lightfoot, , 67)....
3704. hopos -- as, how, that
... From hos and pos; what(-ever) how, ie In the manner that (as adverb or conjunction
of coincidence, intentional oractual) -- because, how, (so) that, to, when....
515. axioo -- to deem worthy
... Cognate: 515 -- to reckon as , toactual substance -- ie worth as it to reality.
See 514 (). [In the papyri, can refer to making a "" (see P Oxy 237....
1145. dakruo -- to weep
... shed tears, weep. 1145 (from 1144 , "tear-drop") -- properly, to shed quiet
(actual) ; to weep silently ( tears). Word Origin from...
516. axios -- worthily
... Cognate: 516 (an adverb) -- (viewed as "becoming"); suitable because as fitting
(having worth that "matches"actual value). See 514 ()....
1888. epautophoro -- in the very act.
... From epi and autos and (the dative case singular of) a derivative of phor (a thief);
in theft itself, ie (by analogy) inactual crime -- in the very act....
Strong's Hebrew
2810. chishshabon -- device, invention... engine, invention. From chashab; a contrivance, ie
Actual (a warlike machine) or
mental (a machination) -- engine, invention. see HEBREW chashab. 2809, 2810.
...Library
Grace,Actual and Habitual
Grace,Actual and Habitual. <. Grace,Actual and Habitual Joseph Pohle. Table
of Contents. Title Page. IMPRIMATUR. INTRODUCTION. PART I.ACTUAL GRACE....
Actual Grace
Grace,Actual and Habitual. <.... PART I.ACTUAL GRACE.Actual grace
is a transient supernatural help given by God from the...
OnActual Sins
... DISPUTATION 8 ONACTUAL SINS. RESPONDENT, CASPER WILTENS... XIII. The efficient
cause ofactual sins is, man through his own free will....
Definition ofActual Grace
Grace,Actual and Habitual. <.... Chapter I. The Nature OfActual
Grace Section 1. Definition OfActual Grace. 1. GENERAL...
"The Dust of theActual"
... CHAPTER VII "The Dust of theActual".... "=It takes the Ideal to blow a hair's-breadth
off the Dust of theActual.=". It takes more. It takes =God=....
The Gratuity ofActual Grace
Grace,Actual and Habitual. <.... Chapter I. The Nature OfActual
Grace Section 2. The Gratuity OfActual Grace. All grace...
Division ofActual Grace
Grace,Actual and Habitual. <.... Chapter I. The Nature OfActual
Grace Section 2. Division OfActual Grace.Actual grace...
The Properties ofActual Grace
Grace,Actual and Habitual. <.... Chapter I. The Nature OfActual
Grace Chapter II. The Properties OfActual Grace.Actual...
The Original and theActual Relation of Man to Law.
... SERMONS. THE ORIGINAL AND THEACTUAL RELATION OF MAN TO LAW. ROMANS vii.10.""The
commandment which, was ordained to life, I found to be unto death."....
The Necessity ofActual Grace
Grace,Actual and Habitual. <.... Chapter I. The Nature OfActual Grace
Section 1. The Necessity OfActual Grace. In treating...
Thesaurus
Actual (2 Occurrences)... really acted or acting; in fact; real; -- opposed to potential, possible, virtual,
speculative, conceivable, theoretical, or nominal; as, the
actual cost of
...Realize (29 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To make real; to convert from the imaginary or fictitious into theactual;
to bring into concrete existence; to effectuate; to accomplish; as, to...
Omniscience
... to All Spheres: This absolute universality is affirmed with reference to the various
categories that comprise within themselves all that is possible oractual....
Middle (169 Occurrences)
... In the former of these similes he refers to anactual wall in the temple at Jerusalem,
beyond which no one was allowed to pass unless he were a Jew, the...
Partition (4 Occurrences)
... In the former of these similes he refers to anactual wall in the temple at Jerusalem,
beyond which no one was allowed to pass unless he were a Jew, the...
Wall (227 Occurrences)
... In the former of these similes he refers to anactual wall in the temple at Jerusalem,
beyond which no one was allowed to pass unless he were a Jew, the...
Lutheran
... "Regeneration, or being begotten of God, does not mean merely a new capacity
for change in the direction of goodness, but anactual change....
Doctrine (52 Occurrences)
... "Regeneration, or being begotten of God, does not mean merely a new capacity
for change in the direction of goodness, but anactual change....
Very (3073 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) True; real;actual; veritable.... VERY. ver'-i: As
adjective (from verus, "true"), "true," "real," "actual," etc....
Kindness (295 Occurrences)
... 2. AsActual Between Christians: But man's sonship to God may be potential or
actual. He may not respond to God's love or know His Fatherhood....
Resources
What are actuality and potentiality? | GotQuestions.orgIs Jesus a myth? Is Jesus just a copy of the pagan gods of other ancient religions? | GotQuestions.orgIs there any validity to the Zeitgeist movie? | GotQuestions.orgActual: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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