Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Importance: In the context of Christian theology and biblical studies, "application" refers to the process of taking the truths and teachings of the Bible and integrating them into one's daily life. It involves not only understanding the Scriptures but also living out their principles in practical ways. Application is essential for spiritual growth and maturity, as it transforms knowledge into action and faith into practice.
Biblical Basis: The Bible emphasizes the importance of applying its teachings.
James 1:22 states, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." This verse underscores the necessity of moving beyond mere listening to active obedience. Similarly, Jesus highlights the importance of application in the Sermon on the Mount, saying, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock" (
Matthew 7:24).
Examples of Application in Scripture:
1.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37): This parable illustrates the application of love and compassion. Jesus uses the account to teach that true neighborly love transcends ethnic and cultural boundaries, urging believers to act with mercy and kindness toward all.
2.
The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities are not merely ideals but are to be actively cultivated and demonstrated in the believer's life.
3.
The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20): Jesus commands His followers to "go and make disciples of all nations." This directive requires believers to apply their faith by sharing the gospel and teaching others to observe Christ's commands.
The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the application of Scripture.
John 14:26 states, "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you." The Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying God's Word, providing wisdom and conviction to live according to biblical principles.
Challenges in Application: Applying biblical teachings can be challenging due to cultural influences, personal biases, and the inherent sinfulness of human nature.
Romans 7:15-20 reflects the struggle between the desire to do good and the reality of sin. Believers are encouraged to rely on God's grace and strength to overcome these challenges and to seek accountability within the Christian community.
Practical Steps for Application:
1.
Prayerful Study: Begin with prayer, asking for insight and understanding. Study the Bible with an open heart, seeking to discern its meaning and relevance for today.
2.
Meditation and Reflection: Take time to meditate on Scripture, allowing its truths to penetrate deeply. Reflect on how specific passages apply to personal circumstances and decisions.
3.
Obedience and Action: Commit to obeying God's Word, even when it is difficult. Look for opportunities to put biblical principles into practice in everyday situations.
4.
Community and Accountability: Engage with other believers for support and accountability. Discussing Scripture in small groups or Bible studies can provide diverse perspectives and encouragement for application.
Conclusion: Application is a vital aspect of the Christian life, bridging the gap between knowledge and practice. By applying the teachings of the Bible, believers grow in their relationship with God and become effective witnesses to the world.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of applying or laying on, in a literal sense; as, the application of emollients to a diseased limb.
2. (n.) The thing applied.
3. (n.) The act of applying as a means; the employment of means to accomplish an end; specific use.
4. (n.) The act of directing or referring something to a particular case, to discover or illustrate agreement or disagreement, fitness, or correspondence; as, I make the remark, and leave you to make the application; the application of a theory.
5. (n.) Hence, in specific uses: (a) That part of a sermon or discourse in which the principles before laid down and illustrated are applied to practical uses; the moral of a fable. (b) The use of the principles of one science for the purpose of enlarging or perfecting another; as, the application of algebra to geometry.
6. (n.) The capacity of being practically applied or used; relevancy; as, a rule of general application.
7. (n.) The act of fixing the mind or closely applying one's self; assiduous effort; close attention; as, to injure the health by application to study.
8. (n.) The act of making request of soliciting; as, an application for an office; he made application to a court of chancery.
9. (n.) A request; a document containing a request; as, his application was placed on file.
Greek
1392. doxazo -- to render or esteem glorious (in a wide...... to render or esteem glorious (in a wide
application). Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: doxazo Phonetic Spelling: (dox-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I glorify
...4230. pragmateia -- carefulapplication, hard work
... carefulapplication, hard work. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
pragmateia Phonetic Spelling: (prag-mat-i'-ah) Short Definition: a business, an...
1108. gnosis -- a knowing, knowledge
... 1097 , "experientially know") -- (working") knowledge gleaned from first-hand (personal)
experience, connecting theory toapplication; "application-knowledge...
518. apaggello -- to report, announce
... [The prefix () distinctly "looks back" to the cause (occasion) of the announcing
which gives 518 () a distinct nuance-application in each case....
4160. poieo -- to make, do
... Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide
application, more or less direct) -- abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge...
4983. soma -- a body
... body. From sozo; the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wideapplication,
literally or figuratively -- bodily, body, slave. see GREEK sozo....
3313. meros -- a part, share, portion
... but more primary form of meiromai (to get as a section or allotment); a division
or share (literally or figuratively, in a wideapplication) -- behalf, course...
3173. megas -- great
... feminine megale, plural megaloi, etc.; compare also megistos, meizon); big (literally
or figuratively, in a very wideapplication) -- (+ fear) exceedingly...
5342. phero -- to bear, carry, bring forth
... not cognate ones are used in certain tenses only; namely, oio (oy'-o); and enegko
(en-eng'-ko) to "bear" or carry (in a very wideapplication, literally and...
4992. soterios -- saving, bringing salvation
... Cognate: 4992 (a substantival adjective derived from 4990 , "Savior") -- properly,
of salvation (" salvation"), emphasizing the directapplication of God's...
Strong's Hebrew
4390. male -- to be full, to fill... 7:5) {maw-law'}; a primitive root, to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a
wide
application (literally and figuratively) -- accomplish, confirm
...6213. asah -- do, make
... A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widestapplication (as
follows) -- accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow...
3739. karah -- to trade, get by trade
... Usually assigned as a primitive root, but probably only a specialapplication of
karah (through the common idea of planning implied in a bargain); to purchase...
3854. lahag -- study, devotion (to books)
... study. From an unused root meaning to be eager; intense mentalapplication --
study. 3853, 3854. lahag. 3855 . Strong's Numbers.
5414. nathan -- to give, put, set
... A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude ofapplication (put, make,
etc.) -- add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, X avenge, X be ((healed...
1. ab -- father
... A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote
application) -- chief, (fore-)father(-less), X patrimony, principal....
7896. shith -- to put, set
... A primitive root; to place (in a very wideapplication) -- apply, appoint, array,
bring, consider, lay (up), let alone, X look, make, mark, put (on), + regard...
5186. natah -- to stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
... A primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including
moral deflection); used in a great variety ofapplication (as follows...
Library
Application
...APPLICATION. 1. Is Jesus Christ altogether lovely? Then I beseech you set
your souls upon this lovely Jesus. I am sure such an object...
"Lo, I Come":Application
... "Lo, I Come":Application. A Sermon (No.2203). Delivered on Lord's-Day Morning,
May 3rd, 1891, by. CH SPURGEON,. At the [21]Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington....
Application of Sanctification.
... VOLUME THREE. The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Individual (Continued). First
Chapter. SANCTIFICATION. VII.Application of Sanctification....
Application of the Argument
... Chapter FourteenApplication of the Argument. What is our attitude towards
God's Word? The knowledge that the Scriptures are inspired...
AnotherApplication is Made to Me.
... 3. Anotherapplication is made to me. A few days afterwards, that is, on
the 28th of July in the same year, 1605, a request of a...
TheApplication of the Attributes of Man to God.
... Homily XIX. Chapter XI."TheApplication of the Attributes of Man to God.
And Simon, hearing this, said: "You will not force me...
TheApplication to the Church in General.
... A Treatise on the gift of perseverance, Chapter 60."TheApplication to
the Church in General. Moreover, what follows where it...
Christ'sApplication of Passages from the Old Testament.
... CHRIST'S MODE OF TEACHING IN REGARD TO ITS METHOD AND FORM. A. GENERAL PRINCIPLES.
Section 75. Christ'sApplication of Passages from the Old Testament....
Application of the Subject. Advantages of Widowhood.
... Chapter X."Application of the Subject. Advantages of Widowhood. Renounce we
things carnal, that we may at length bear fruits spiritual....
Recapitulation andApplication of the Foregoing Arguments.
... Against Heresies: Book II Chapter XXXI."Recapitulation andapplication
of the foregoing arguments. 1. Those, then, who are of...
Thesaurus
Application (2 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of applying or laying on, in a literal
sense; as, the
application of emollients to a diseased limb.
...Jotham (26 Occurrences)
... Otherwise the connection between the fable and itsapplication is loose, for, while
the fable depicts the kingship as refused by all properly qualified persons...
Art (3201 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The employment of means to accomplish some desired end; the adaptation of
things in the natural world to the uses of life; theapplication of knowledge...
Accommodation (1 Occurrence)
... 5. (n.) Theapplication of a writer's language, on the ground of analogy, to something
not originally referred to or intended. 6. (n.) A loan of money....
Son (25967 Occurrences)
... In the Old Testament it is used only in Psalm 80:17 and Dan. 7:13 with this
application. It denotes the true humanity of our Lord....
Lawyer (5 Occurrences)
... But since the law must have universalapplication, the views of the individual scribe
could not be taken as a standard; hence, the several disciples of the law...
Improvement (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The act of making profitable use orapplication of anything, or the state
of being profitably employed; a turning to good account; practicalapplication...
Italy (4 Occurrences)
... At first confined as a name to the extreme southern part of the Italian peninsula
in the region now called Calabria, whence itsapplication was gradually...
Mammon (4 Occurrences)
... Syrian deity called Mammon. Theapplication of the term in Matthew is
apparent and requires no comment. In Luke, however, since...
Plaster (13 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) An externalapplication of a consistency harder than ointment, prepared
for use by spreading it on linen, leather, silk, or other material....
Resources
Worldview Application ' Article Index | GotQuestions.orgHow can we know what parts of the Bible apply to us today? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of Jeremiah 29:11? | GotQuestions.orgApplication: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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