Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "affirm" is often associated with the act of confirming, asserting, or upholding truth and faith. It involves a declaration of belief or the reinforcement of a particular truth or promise. The concept of affirmation is woven throughout Scripture, where God's promises, truths, and the faith of believers are consistently affirmed.
Affirmation of God's PromisesThe Bible is replete with instances where God affirms His promises to His people. In
Genesis 22:16-18, God reaffirms His covenant with Abraham, saying, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore." This affirmation underscores God's faithfulness and the certainty of His promises.
Affirmation of FaithBelievers are called to affirm their faith in God and His Word. In
Romans 10:9-10, the Apostle Paul writes, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved." This passage highlights the importance of verbal affirmation of faith as a component of salvation.
Affirmation of TruthThe Bible emphasizes the affirmation of truth as a vital aspect of Christian living. In
Ephesians 4:15, Paul encourages believers to speak the truth in love, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head." Affirming truth is essential for spiritual growth and unity within the body of Christ.
Affirmation in the Early ChurchThe early church practiced affirmation through the creeds and confessions of faith. In
1 Timothy 6:12, Paul exhorts Timothy, "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." This reflects the practice of publicly affirming one's faith as a testimony to others.
Affirmation of God's CharacterScripture also affirms the character of God, declaring His attributes and nature. In
Exodus 34:6-7, God proclaims His own character to Moses, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and truth, maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin." This affirmation serves as a foundation for understanding God's relationship with humanity.
Affirmation in WorshipAffirmation is a key component of worship, where believers declare the greatness and goodness of God. The Psalms are filled with affirmations of God's majesty and power.
Psalm 145:10-11 states, "All You have made will give You thanks, O LORD, and Your saints will bless You. They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might." Through worship, believers affirm their devotion and reverence for God.
Affirmation of Identity in ChristThe New Testament affirms the believer's identity in Christ. In
2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!" This affirmation of a transformed identity encourages believers to live in accordance with their new nature.
Affirmation of HopeThe Bible affirms the hope that believers have in Christ. In
Hebrews 10:23, the author exhorts, "Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." This affirmation of hope is rooted in the faithfulness of God and the assurance of His promises.
In summary, the concept of affirmation in the Bible encompasses the confirmation of God's promises, the declaration of faith, the upholding of truth, and the acknowledgment of one's identity and hope in Christ. Through affirmation, believers are encouraged to live out their faith with confidence and assurance in the truth of God's Word.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) to assert or confirm, as a judgment, decree, or order, brought before an appellate court for review.
2. (v. t.) To assert positively; to tell with confidence; to aver; to maintain as true; -- opposed to deny.
3. (v. t.) To declare, as a fact, solemnly, under judicial sanction. See Affirmation.
4. (v. i.) To declare or assert positively.
5. (v. i.) To make a solemn declaration, before an authorized magistrate or tribunal, under the penalties of perjury; to testify by affirmation.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
AFFIRM; AFFIRMATIVESa-fur'-ma-tivs (diischurizomai). The verb "affirm" occurs in several passages of the New Testament in the sense of "assert"Luke 22:59Acts 12:15;Acts 25:19 pha-sko;Romans 3:8 phemi; 1Ti 17,Titus 3:8 diabebaioomai. The Hebrew does not employ affirmative particles, but gives a positive reply by either repeating the word in question or by substituting the first person in the reply for the second person in the question, or by employing the formula: "Thou hast said" or "Thou hast rightly said." The Saviour used this idiom (su eipas) when answering Judas and Caiaphas (Matthew 26:25, 64). A peculiar elegance occasionally attaches to the interpretation of the Scriptures because of their use of an affirmative and a negative together, rendering the sense more emphatic; sometimes the negative occurs first, as inPsalm 118:17: "I shall not die, but live"; sometimes the affirmative precedes, as in Isaiah 88:1: "Thou shalt die, and not bye"John 1:20 is made peculiarly emphatic because of the negative placed between two affirmatives: "And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ."
Frank E. Hirsch
Greek
5335. phasko -- toaffirm, assert... to
affirm, assert. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: phasko Phonetic Spelling:
(fas'-ko) Short Definition: I assert,
affirm, profess Definition: I assert
...1226. diabebaioomai -- toaffirm confidently
... toaffirm confidently. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diabebaioomai Phonetic
Spelling: (dee-ab-eb-ahee-o'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I assert...
1340. diischurizomai -- to lean upon,affirm confidently
... to lean upon,affirm confidently. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diischurizomai
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-is-khoo-rid'-zom-ahee) Short Definition: I assert...
3143. marturomai -- to summon as witness, toaffirm
... to summon as witness, toaffirm. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: marturomai
Phonetic Spelling: (mar-too'-rom-ahee) Short Definition: I call to witness...
1263. diamarturomai -- toaffirm solemnly
... toaffirm solemnly. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diamarturomai Phonetic
Spelling: (dee-am-ar-too'-rom-ahee) Short Definition: I give solemn evidence...
5346. phemi -- to declare, say
...affirm, say. Properly, the same as the base of phos and phaino; to show or make
known one's thoughts, ie Speak or say --affirm, say. Compare lego....
4100. pisteuo -- to believe, entrust
... 4100 (from 4102 , "faith," derived from 3982 , "persuade, be persuaded") -- (affirm,
have confidence); used of persuading oneself (= human believing) and with...
720. arneomai -- to deny, say no
... 720 -- properly, deny (refuse); hence, , refuse toaffirm or to confess
(identify with); disown (repudiate). See also 4716 ("cross")....
4837. sumparakaleo -- to exhort together, pass. to be strengthened...
... 4837 (from 4862 , "together " and 3870 , "to (exhort) -- properly,affirm together,
as people who are intimately joined heartily agree (used only in Ro 1:12)....
3513. ne -- by (a particle of affirmation employed in oaths)
... Word Origin probably an intens. form of nai Definition by (a particle of affirmation
employed in oaths) NASB Word Usageaffirm (1). by, as sure as....
Library
"Will YouAffirm that to be False, which with a Strong Voice Truth...
... Book XII Chapter XV "Will youaffirm that to be false, which with a strong
voice Truth tells me? "Will youaffirm that to be false...
Ninth Tractate. Against those thatAffirm the Creator of the...
... AGAINST THOSE THATAFFIRM THE CREATOR OF THE KOSMOS AND THE KOSMOS ITSELF
TO BE EVIL: [GENERALLY QUOTED AS "AGAINST THE GNOSTICS"]....
Fragment xii. From this Record, Therefore, weAffirm that Ogygus...
... Julius Africanus. Fragment XII. From this record, therefore, weaffirm that
Ogygus, from whom the first flood in Attica? From this...
And weAffirm Indeed the Existence of Certain Spiritual Essences.....
... Chapter XXII. And weaffirm indeed the existence of certain spiritual
essences? And weaffirm indeed the existence of certain...
I Ask, Father, IAffirm Not: O My God...
... Book XI Chapter XVII I ask, Father, Iaffirm not: O my God? I ask, Father,
Iaffirm not: O my God, rule and guide me. "Who will...
Against those whoAffirm that Earthly Bodies Cannot be Made...
... Book XIII. Chapter 17."Against Those WhoAffirm that Earthly Bodies Cannot
Be Made Incorruptible and Eternal. These same philosophers...
The PelagiansAffirm that God in the Case of Abraham and Sarah...
... Book II. Chapter 23 [X.]"The PelagiansAffirm that God in the Case of Abraham
and Sarah Aroused Concupiscence as a Gift from Heaven....
IAffirm that not one of the Faithful Has ever a Crown Upon his...
... Chapter II. Iaffirm that not one of the Faithful has ever a crown upon
his head? Iaffirm that not one of the Faithful has ever...
There are Two Propositions, Moreover, which weAffirm...
... Book I. Chapter 3. " 4. There are two propositions, moreover, which weaffirm?...
Likewise there are two other propositions which weaffirm,"that....
But as Regards his Saying, "Nor Let any oneAffirm that what They....
... Book IV. Chapter 6. " 9. But as regards his saying, "Nor let any oneaffirm
that what they? "9. But as regards his saying, "Nor...
Thesaurus
Affirm (7 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
AFFIRM; AFFIRMATIVES. a-fur'-ma-tivs
(diischurizomai).
... Multi-Version Concordance
Affirm (7 Occurrences).
...Swear (99 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) Toaffirm or utter a solemn declaration, with an appeal to God for the truth
of what is affirmed; to make a promise, threat, or resolve on oath; also...
Testify (110 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To bear witness to; to support the truth of by testimony; toaffirm
or declare solemnly. 5. (vt) Toaffirm or declare under...
Maintain (50 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To bear the expense of; to support; to keep up; to supply with what is
needed. 5. (vt) Toaffirm; to support or defend by argument....
Confidently (32 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 Timothy 1:7 desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand
neither what they say, nor whereof they confidentlyaffirm. (ASV NIV)....
Confidence (103 Occurrences)
... confidence" for "thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust" (Philippians 3:4);
"confidently" for "constantly" (Acts 12:15); "confidentlyaffirm" for "affirm...
Affirmatives
... Int. Standard Bible EncyclopediaAFFIRM; AFFIRMATIVES. a-fur'-ma-tivs
(diischurizomai). The verb "affirm" occurs in several passages...
Sinlessness
... Not Sinless: On the other hand, "we the rest," contemplated as true believers, are
warned by the general teaching of Scripture never toaffirm sinlessness as...
Pentateuch
... It is not necessary for us toaffirm that the whole is an original composition;
but weaffirm that the evidences clearly demonstrate that Moses was the author...
Affinity (4 Occurrences)
Resources
Do the Qur'an and Muhammad affirm or reject the Bible? Should a Muslim read the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the supremacy of Christ and what are its implications? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the eternal procession of the Holy Spirit? | GotQuestions.orgAffirm: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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