Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of biblical teachings, the concept of "avoid" is often associated with steering clear of behaviors, influences, or associations that may lead one away from a righteous path. The Bible provides guidance on what believers should avoid to maintain their spiritual integrity and relationship with God.
Avoiding Sinful BehaviorThe Bible frequently admonishes believers to avoid sinful actions and lifestyles. In
Romans 13:13-14, the Apostle Paul advises, "Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh." This passage emphasizes the importance of living a life that reflects the character of Christ, avoiding behaviors that are contrary to His teachings.
Avoiding False TeachingsScripture also warns against false teachings and doctrines that can lead believers astray. In
2 Timothy 2:16-17, Paul instructs Timothy, "But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness, and the talk of such men will spread like gangrene." Here, the emphasis is on avoiding discussions and teachings that do not edify or align with the truth of the Gospel.
Avoiding Foolish ControversiesBelievers are encouraged to avoid engaging in pointless arguments and disputes.
Titus 3:9 advises, "But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the Law, because these are unprofitable and useless." This guidance helps maintain unity and focus within the Christian community, steering clear of divisive and unproductive debates.
Avoiding Bad CompanyThe Bible also highlights the importance of avoiding associations that can corrupt good character. In
1 Corinthians 15:33, Paul warns, "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" This serves as a reminder that the people with whom one associates can have a significant impact on one's spiritual life and moral decisions.
Avoiding IdolatryIdolatry, or the worship of anything other than the one true God, is another area believers are instructed to avoid. In 1
John 5:21, the apostle John succinctly states, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." This command underscores the importance of maintaining a pure devotion to God, free from the distractions and temptations of idol worship.
Avoiding the Appearance of EvilIn
1 Thessalonians 5:22, believers are urged to "abstain from every form of evil." This instruction goes beyond avoiding evil itself to include avoiding even the appearance of evil, ensuring that one's actions and lifestyle are above reproach and reflect the holiness of God.
In summary, the biblical concept of "avoid" encompasses a wide range of instructions aimed at helping believers maintain a life that is pleasing to God. By avoiding sinful behaviors, false teachings, foolish controversies, bad company, idolatry, and the appearance of evil, Christians are better equipped to live out their faith in a way that honors God and upholds the teachings of Scripture.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v.) To empty.
2. (v.) To emit or throw out; to void; as, to avoid excretions.
3. (v.) To quit or evacuate; to withdraw from.
4. (v.) To make void; to annul or vacate; to refute.
5. (v.) To keep away from; to keep clear of; to endeavor no to meet; to shun; to abstain from; as, to avoid the company of gamesters.
6. (v.) To get rid of.
7. (v.) To defeat or evade; to invalidate. Thus, in a replication, the plaintiff may deny the defendant's plea, or confess it, and avoid it by stating new matter.
8. (v. i.) To retire; to withdraw.
9. (v. i.) To become void or vacant.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
AVOIDa-void: Archaic use in1 Samuel 18:11 for "escaped." In the Revised Version (British and American) of New Testament only in2 Corinthians 8:20 stellomenoi (with negative), literally, "arranging that not," etc., i. e. by anticipation providing that something should not occur. In the King James Version for "turn away from," ekklinete:Romans 16:171 Timothy 6:20; "refuse," paraitou,2 Timothy 2:23; periistaso,Titus 3:9.
Greek
4026. periistemi -- to stand around, turn around (toavoid)... to stand around, turn around (to
avoid). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
periistemi Phonetic Spelling: (per-ee-is'-tay-mee) Short Definition: I stand
...1624. ektrepo -- to turn away
... and pass: I turn aside (from the right road), wander, forsake, and with an object:
I remove from myself, shun,avoid....avoid, turn out of the way....
4724. stello -- to arrange, prepare, gather up, hence to restrain
... stel'-lo) Short Definition: I arrange, take care, withdraw from Definition: I set,
arrange; mid: I provide for, take care, withdraw from, hold aloof,avoid....
1578. ekklino -- to deviate, to turn away (from someone or...
... 1578 (from 1537 , " and " and 2827 , "bend") -- properly, to bow out (turn away),
with its inevitable (out-come); exclude;avoid by deliberate, decisive...
3868. paraiteomai -- to beg from, to beg off
... par-ahee-teh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I make excuse, refuse, reject Definition:
I beg off, make excuse, deprecate, refuse, reject, decline, shun,avoid....
2770. kerdaino -- to gain
... to gain. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kerdaino Phonetic Spelling:
(ker-dah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I gain, win,avoid loss Definition: I gain, acquire...
665. apotrepo -- to turn away
... away from, shun. Word Origin from apo and the same as trope Definition to
turn away NASB Word Usageavoid (1). turn away. From apo...
5442. phulasso -- to guard, watch
... from phule through the idea of isolation; to watch, ie Be on guard (literally of
figuratively); by implication, to preserve, obey,avoid -- beward, keep (self...
1301. diatereo -- to keep carefully
... keep. From dia and tereo; to watch thoroughly, ie (positively and transitively)
to observe strictly, or (negatively and reflexively) toavoid wholly -- keep....
1223. dia -- through, on account of, because of
... preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications,
local, causal, or occasional) -- after, always, among, at, toavoid, because of...
Strong's Hebrew
6544. para' -- let go, let alone... let go, let alone. Transliteration: para' Phonetic Spelling: (paw-rah') Short
Definition: avenge. avenge,
avoid, bare, go back, make naked, perish,
...6544a. para -- let go, let alone
... root Definition let go, let alone NASB Word Usageavoid (1), brought about a lack
(1), control (1), draw the away (1), get out of control (1), go loose (1...
5493. sur -- to turn aside
... root Definition to turn aside NASB Word Usage abolished (1),avoid (1), beheaded*
(1), cut off (1), degenerate (1), depart (45), departed (7), deposed (1...
5437. sabab -- to turn about, go around, surround
... literally and figuratively (as follows) -- bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk,
X whirl, X round about, be about on every side, apply,avoid, beset (about...
Library
Article Eight Whether a Man CanAvoid Sin, Without Grace
... Article Eight Whether a Man canavoid Sin, without Grace. Whether a Man canavoid
Sin, without Grace... 1. It seems that a man canavoid sin without grace....
Virgins are Exhorted toAvoid Visits, to Observe Modesty...
... Book III. Chapter III. Virgins are exhorted toavoid visits, to observe
modesty? Virgins are exhorted toavoid visits, to observe...
Whether Man Without Grace CanAvoid Sin?
... TREATISE ON GRACE (QQ -114)OF THE NECESSITY OF GRACE (TEN ARTICLES) Whether
man without grace canavoid sin? Objection 1: It would...
Avoid Words of Contention and Causes of Animosity: Flee Also from...
... The Doubtful Letters Of Sulpitius Severus. Chapter XVII.Avoid words of contention
and causes of animosity: flee also from all occasions of discord?...
Here Leave Vulcan Unnoticed, toAvoid Prolixity; whom You all...
... Book III. 33 We here leave Vulcan unnoticed, toavoid prolixity; whom you
all declare to be fire? We here leave Vulcan unnoticed...
How a Monk Ought toAvoid Women and Bishops.
... Prolegomena. Chapter XVIII. How a monk ought toavoid women and bishops.
Wherefore this is an old maxim of the Fathers that is still...
And yet Petilianus, toAvoid Answering what I have Said...
... Book III. Chapter 25. " 29. And yet Petilianus, toavoid answering what
I have said? "29. And yet Petilianus, toavoid answering...
Avoid Schismatics.
... Chapter III."Avoid schismatics. Keep yourselves from those evil plants which Jesus
Christ does not tend, because they are not the planting of the Father....
Avoid the Deadly Errors of the Docet??.
... Chapter XI."Avoid the deadly errors of the Docet??. Flee, therefore, those
evil offshoots [of Satan], which produce death-bearing...
Avoid the Docet??, and Persevere in Fasting and Prayer.
... Chapter VII."Avoid the Docet??, and persevere in fasting and prayer. "For
whosoever does not confess that Jesus Christ has come...
Thesaurus
Avoid (31 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To empty. 2. (v.) To emit or throw out; to void;
as, to
avoid excretions.
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
AVOID.
...Fear (970 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Apprehension of incurring, or solicitude toavoid, God's wrath; the
trembling and awful reverence felt toward the Supreme Being....
Eschew (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (v.) To shun; toavoid, to keep one's self clear of;
as to eschew immorality. 2. (v.) To escape from; toavoid. Int....
Escape (142 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To flee from andavoid; to be saved or exempt
from; to shun; to obtain security from; as, to escape danger....
Contentions (20 Occurrences)
... opinion, (DBY). 2 Timothy 2:23 But foolish and senseless questioningsavoid,
knowing that they beget contentions. (DBY WBS). Titus...
Shun (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) Toavoid; to keep clear of; to get out of the way
of; to escape from; to eschew; as, to shun rocks, shoals, vice....
Essenes
... connected with war. They allavoid commerce and navigation, thinking that
these employments make for covetousness. They possess...
Questions (76 Occurrences)
... WBS YLT NAS). 2 Timothy 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questionsavoid,
knowing that they do gender strifes. (KJV WBS YLT). Titus 3...
Circumcision (98 Occurrences)
... to fulfil all righteousness," as of the seed of Abraham, according to the flesh;
and Paul "took and circumcised" Timothy (Acts 16:3), toavoid giving offence...
Conscience (36 Occurrences)
... at the parting of the ways, seeing clearly the right course and the wrong, conscience
imperatively commands him which to choose and which toavoid; but how...
Resources
I overcame _______ sin. How can I avoid a relapse? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I avoid enabling someone else's sin? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about legalism? How can a Christian avoid falling into the trap of legalism? | GotQuestions.orgAvoid: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
