Topical Encyclopedia
The term "become" in the biblical context often refers to the process of transformation or change, both spiritually and morally, as individuals align themselves with God's will and purpose. This concept is central to the Christian faith, emphasizing the transformative power of God's grace and the believer's journey toward holiness and Christlikeness.
Transformation and RenewalThe idea of becoming is closely linked to the transformation and renewal of the mind and spirit. In
Romans 12:2 , the Apostle Paul exhorts believers: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God." This verse highlights the necessity of a mental and spiritual renewal that enables believers to understand and fulfill God's will.
Becoming Like ChristA central theme in the New Testament is the call for believers to become like Christ. In
Ephesians 4:22-24 , Paul instructs the church to "put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." This passage underscores the process of shedding the old sinful nature and embracing a new identity in Christ, characterized by righteousness and holiness.
Children of GodThe concept of becoming is also associated with the believer's identity as a child of God.
John 1:12 states, "But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." This verse emphasizes the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ, granting believers a new status and relationship with God as His children.
SanctificationThe process of becoming is integral to the doctrine of sanctification, where believers are progressively made holy through the work of the Holy Spirit. In
2 Corinthians 3:18 , Paul writes, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." This ongoing transformation reflects the believer's journey toward spiritual maturity and conformity to the image of Christ.
Maturity in FaithBecoming also involves growing in spiritual maturity and understanding.
Hebrews 5:14 notes, "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil." This passage highlights the importance of developing discernment and wisdom as part of the believer's growth process.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of "become" encompasses a dynamic process of change and growth, rooted in the believer's relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It involves a transformation of mind and spirit, a call to Christlikeness, and a journey toward spiritual maturity and holiness. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are continually being shaped and molded into the image of their Savior, reflecting His glory and fulfilling their divine purpose.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. p.) of Become.
2. (v. i.) To pass from one state to another; to enter into some state or condition, by a change from another state, or by assuming or receiving new properties or qualities, additional matter, or a new character.
3. (v. i.) To come; to get.
4. (v. t.) To suit or be suitable to; to be congruous with; to befit; to accord with, in character or circumstances; to be worthy of, or proper for; to cause to appear well; -- said of persons and things.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BECOMEbe-kum':
(1) Greek ginomai, used in New Testament for a change of state, corresponding to Hebrew hayah of Old Testament. CompareMatthew 18:3 withDeuteronomy 27:9.
(2) For what is fitting, suitable, proper, in New Testament: "prepei" (Matthew 3:15Ephesians 5:31 Timothy 2:10); in Old Testament, na'awah, na'ah,Psalm 93:5: "Holiness becometh thy house." in this sense, the adverb "becomingly" must be interpreted: "Walk becomingly toward them that are without" (1 Thessalonians 4:12), i.e. in a way that is consistent with your profession.
Greek
1096. ginomai -- to come into being, to happen, tobecome... to come into being, to happen, to
become. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
ginomai Phonetic Spelling: (ghin'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I come into being
...1986. epispaomai -- to draw over, tobecome as uncircumcised
... to draw over, tobecome as uncircumcised. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
epispaomai Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-spah'-om-ahee) Short Definition: Ibecome...
1594. eknepho -- tobecome sober (after drunkenness)
... tobecome sober (after drunkenness). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: eknepho
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-nay'-fo) Short Definition: I return to soberness of...
1986a. epispaomai -- to draw over, tobecome as uncircumcised
... 1986, 1986a. epispaomai. 1986b . to draw over, tobecome as uncircumcised.
Transliteration: epispaomai Short Definition: uncircumcised....
2691. katastreniao -- tobecome wanton against
... tobecome wanton against. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katastreniao Phonetic
Spelling: (kat-as-tray-nee-ah'-o) Short Definition: I grow wanton towards...
5324. phantazo -- to make visible, tobecome visible
... to make visible, tobecome visible. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: phantazo
Phonetic Spelling: (fan-tad'-zo) Short Definition: I cause to appear...
4595. sepo -- to make corrupt, pass.become corrupt
...become corrupt. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sepo Phonetic Spelling:
(say'-po) Short Definition: I cause to rot Definition: I cause to rot, make corrupt...
1601b. ekpipto -- to drop away, fig. to lose,become inefficient
... to drop away, fig. to lose,become inefficient. Transliteration: ekpipto Short
Definition: aground. Word Origin from ek and pipto Definition to drop away, fig....
889. achreioo -- to make useless
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: achreioo Phonetic Spelling: (akh-ri-o'-o)
Short Definition: I am good for nothing Definition: (lit: Ibecome sour, I turn...
4433. ptocheuo -- to be a beggar, be destitute
... Cognate: 4433 -- tobecome utterly poor (destitute); hence, tobecome extremely
(""). 4433 ("become destitute... became (1).become poor. From...
Strong's Hebrew
1961. hayah -- to fall out, come to pass,become, be... hayah. 1962 . to fall out, come to pass,
become, be. Transliteration: hayah Phonetic
Spelling: (haw-yaw) Short Definition: come. Word Origin a prim.
...1431. gadal -- to grow up,become great
... 1430b, 1431. gadal. 1432 . to grow up,become great. Transliteration: gadal
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-dal') Short Definition: grew. Word Origin a prim....
1086. balah -- tobecome old, wear out
... tobecome old, wear out. Transliteration: balah Phonetic Spelling: (baw-law') Short
Definition: wear.... consume, enjoy long,become make, wax old, spend, waste....
4427a. malak -- to be orbecome king or queen, to reign
... 4427, 4427a. malak. 4427b . to be orbecome king or queen, to reign.
Transliteration: malak Short Definition: king. Word Origin...
3054. yahad -- tobecome a Jew
... 3053, 3054. yahad. 3055 . tobecome a Jew. Transliteration: yahad Phonetic
Spelling: (yaw-had') Short Definition: Jews....become Jews....
1891. habal -- to act emptily,become vain
... 1890, 1891. habal. 1892 . to act emptily,become vain. Transliteration: habal
Phonetic Spelling: (haw-bal') Short Definition: foolishly.... bebecome, make vain...
1934. hava -- tobecome, come to pass, be
... 1933b, 1934. hava or havah. 1935 . tobecome, come to pass, be. Transliteration:
hava or havah Phonetic Spelling: (hav-aw') Short Definition: kept....
2930. tame -- to be orbecome unclean
... 2929, 2930. tame. 2931 . to be orbecome unclean. Transliteration: tame Phonetic
Spelling: (taw-may') Short Definition: unclean. Word Origin a prim....
6238. ashar -- to be orbecome rich
... 6237, 6238. ashar. 6239 . to be orbecome rich. Transliteration: ashar Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-shar') Short Definition: rich....become rich, make rich, wax rich...
7937. shakar -- to be orbecome drunk or drunken
... shakar. 7938 . to be orbecome drunk or drunken. Transliteration: shakar Phonetic
Spelling: (shaw-kar') Short Definition: drunk. Word Origin a prim....
Library
How tobecome like Christ
How tobecome like Christ. <. How tobecome like Christ Marcus Dods.
Produced by Jonathon Love Table of Contents. Title Page....
How Joseph when He wasBecome Famous in Egypt, had his Brethren in...
... From The Death Of Isaac To The Exodus Out Of Egypt. CHAPTER 6. How Joseph When
He WasBecome Famous In Egypt, Had His Brethren In Subjection....
Whether it was Fitting that God ShouldBecome Incarnate in the...
... Whether, if man had not sinned, God would havebecome incarnate? Whether it was
fitting that God shouldbecome incarnate in the beginning of the human race?...
What Now isBecome of this True Church, or Where must the Man Go.....
... Address 232: What now isbecome of this TRUE church, or where must the
man go? What now isbecome of this true church, or where...
Whether a Mortal Sin CanBecome Venial?
... OF VENIAL AND MORTAL SIN (SIX ARTICLES) Whether a mortal sin canbecome venial?
Objection 1: It would seem that a mortal sin canbecome venial....
Whether Attrition CanBecome Contrition?
... OF THE PARTS OF PENANCE, IN PARTICULAR, AND FIRST OF CONTRITION (THREE ARTICLES)
Whether attrition canbecome contrition? Objection...
Whether a Venial Sin CanBecome Mortal?
... OF VENIAL AND MORTAL SIN (SIX ARTICLES) Whether a venial sin canbecome mortal?
Objection 1: It would seem that a venial sin canbecome a mortal sin....
Whether it was Fitting that God ShouldBecome Incarnate?
... TREATISE ON THE INCARNATION (QQ -59)OF THE FITNESS OF THE INCARNATION (SIX ARTICLES)
Whether it was fitting that God shouldbecome incarnate?...
"I amBecome an Honorable Man"
... Wesley Collects Money for the Poor; Visits the House of Lords; His Reasons for his
Long Life; "How is the Tide Turned;" Last Entries "I AmBecome an Honorable...
What HasBecome of the Gods?
... Theophilus to Autolycus: Book II. Chapter III."What HasBecome of the Gods?
And of the gods of former times, if indeed they were...
Thesaurus
Become (3516 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (pp) of
Become. 2. (vi) To pass from
... and things.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BECOME. be-kum': (1
...Astonishment (51 Occurrences)
... ish-ment: Amazement; mental surprise, excitement, wonder; often the cause of the
startled emotion, as in Deuteronomy 28:37: "Thou shallbecome an astonishment...
Swamp (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (vt) To plunge or sink into a swamp. 3. (vt) To cause (a boat) tobecome
filled with water; to capsize or sink by whelming with water....
Slacken (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) Tobecome slack; to be made less tense, firm,
or rigid; to decrease in tension; as, a wet cord slackens in dry weather....
Corner-stone (10 Occurrences)
... Matthew 21:42 Jesus says to them, Have ye never read in the scriptures, The stone
which they that builded rejected, this hasbecome the corner-stone: this is...
Soft (36 Occurrences)
... teaches. As soon as its branches have nowbecome soft and it is bursting
into leaf, you all know that summer is near. (WEY BBE)....
Shut (237 Occurrences)
... 6. (vi) To close itself; tobecome closed; as, the door shuts; it shuts hard.
7... again? is it your desire tobecome his disciples? (BBE)....
Settle (63 Occurrences)
... 15. (vi) Tobecome fixed or permanent; tobecome stationary; to establish one's
self or itself; to assume a lasting form, condition, direction, or the like, in...
Sharers (14 Occurrences)
... Jesus through the Good News, (See NIV). Ephesians 5:7 Therefore do notbecome
sharers with them. (WEY). Philippians 1:7 And I am justified...
Stupid (20 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Isaiah 19:11 The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish. The counsel
of the wisest counselors of Pharaoh hasbecome stupid....
Resources
How can I become a pastor? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I become a Christian? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I become a child of God? | GotQuestions.orgBecome: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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