Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "beforehand" in the Bible often relates to God's foreknowledge, predestination, and the preparation of events or individuals for His divine purposes. This term underscores the sovereignty of God and His ability to orchestrate events according to His will, even before they occur in human history.
Foreknowledge and PredestinationThe idea of God's foreknowledge is central to understanding "beforehand" in a biblical context. In
Romans 8:29-30 , the Apostle Paul writes, "For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." This passage highlights that God's knowledge and plans for individuals exist before their earthly lives unfold, emphasizing His omniscience and the predetermined nature of His divine plan.
Preparation and ProphecyThe Bible contains numerous instances where God prepares events or individuals beforehand to fulfill His purposes. In
Ephesians 2:10 , Paul states, "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life." This verse indicates that God has preordained specific works for believers to accomplish, aligning with His overarching plan.
Prophecy is another significant aspect of God's preparation beforehand. The Old Testament is replete with prophecies that were fulfilled in the New Testament, particularly concerning the coming of Jesus Christ. For instance,
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies the virgin birth of the Messiah, which is fulfilled in
Matthew 1:22-23 : "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel' (which means, 'God with us')."
Divine Timing and Human ResponseThe concept of "beforehand" also relates to divine timing and human response. In
Acts 2:23 , Peter speaks of Jesus' crucifixion, saying, "He was handed over by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross." This verse illustrates that while God's plan was established beforehand, human actions played a role in its fulfillment, demonstrating the interplay between divine sovereignty and human responsibility.
Examples of Individuals Prepared BeforehandThroughout Scripture, God prepares individuals for specific roles and missions.
Jeremiah 1:5 reveals God's preparation of the prophet Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Similarly, in
Galatians 1:15-16 , Paul acknowledges God's prior preparation for his apostolic mission: "But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles..."
These examples underscore the biblical theme that God, in His omniscience and sovereignty, prepares individuals and events beforehand to accomplish His divine purposes, ensuring that His will is ultimately fulfilled.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
adv.) In a state of anticipation ore preoccupation; in advance; -- often followed by with.
2. (adv.) By way of preparation, or preliminary; previously; aforetime.
3. (a.) In comfortable circumstances as regards property; forehanded.
Greek
4305. promerimnao -- to be anxiousbeforehand... to be anxious
beforehand. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: promerimnao Phonetic
Spelling: (prom-er-im-nah'-o) Short Definition: I am anxious
beforehand...4283. proeuaggelizomai -- to announce good newsbeforehand
... to announce good newsbeforehand. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
proeuaggelizomai Phonetic Spelling: (pro-yoo-ang-ghel-id'-zom-ahee) Short Definition:...
4294. prokatartizo -- to make readybeforehand
... to make readybeforehand. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prokatartizo Phonetic
Spelling: (prok-at-ar-tid'-zo) Short Definition: I preparebeforehand...
4303. promarturomai -- to saybeforehand
... to saybeforehand. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: promarturomai Phonetic
Spelling: (prom-ar-too'-rom-ahee) Short Definition: I predict Definition: I...
4267. proginosko -- to knowbeforehand
... to knowbeforehand. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: proginosko Phonetic Spelling:
(prog-in-oce'-ko) Short Definition: I knowbeforehand Definition: I know...
4293. prokataggello -- to announcebeforehand
... to announcebeforehand. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prokataggello Phonetic
Spelling: (prok-at-ang-ghel'-lo) Short Definition: I announcebeforehand...
4302. prolego -- to saybeforehand, ie to predict
... to saybeforehand, ie to predict. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prolego
Phonetic Spelling: (prol-eg'-o) Short Definition: I forewarn Definition: I tell...
4401. procheirotoneo -- to appointbeforehand
... to appointbeforehand. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: procheirotoneo Phonetic
Spelling: (prokh-i-rot-on-eh'-o) Short Definition: I designatebeforehand...
4271. prodelos -- evidentbeforehand
... evidentbeforehand. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: prodelos Phonetic
Spelling: (prod'-ay-los) Short Definition: evident Definition: manifest to all...
4257. proakouo -- to hearbeforehand
... to hearbeforehand. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: proakouo Phonetic Spelling:
(pro-ak-oo'-o) Short Definition: I hearbeforehand Definition: I hear...
Strong's Hebrew
8543. temol -- yesterday, recently, formerly... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition yesterday, recently, formerly NASB
Word Usage before* (3),
beforehand* (1), formerly (2), formerly* (1), past (1
...8032a. shilshom -- three days ago, day before, yesterday
... Word Origin from the same as shalosh Definition three days ago, day before, yesterday
NASB Word Usage before* (3),beforehand* (1), formerly* (2), past* (2...
4150. moed -- appointed time, place, or meeting
... convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the
place of meeting; also a signal (as appointedbeforehand) -- appointed (sign...
4480. min -- from
... 3), among (34), among* (1), any (35), any* (6), anything* (1), away (6), because
(92), because* (86), before (12), before* (117),beforehand* (1), behind* (10...
Library
Lo! Death was PromptBeforehand, to Mock Satan
... Hymn LVIII. Lo! Death was promptbeforehand, to mock Satan. 1. Lo! Death
was promptbeforehand, to mock Satan: him who was doomed...
Whether Food or Drink TakenBeforehand Hinders the Receiving of...
... OF THE USE OR RECEIVING OF THIS SACRAMENT IN GENERAL (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether food
or drink takenbeforehand hinders the receiving of this sacrament?...
I Wrote These WordsBeforehand as a Statement of My Faith, when as...
... 14. I wrote these wordsbeforehand as a statement of my faith, when as yet none
of these calumniators had arisen, so that it should be in no man's power to say...
And his Forerunner was John the Baptist, who Prepared and Made...
... THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING Chapter 41 And His forerunner was John
the Baptist, who prepared and made ready the peoplebeforehand?...
Who Teach: that in the Election unto Faith this Condition is...
... Divine Election and Reprobation Paragraph 4 Who teach: That in the election
unto faith this condition isbeforehand demanded that man?...
In what Manner the Son was Sent and ProclaimedBeforehand. How in...
... Book IV. Chapter 19."In What Manner the Son Was Sent and Proclaimed
Beforehand. How in the Sending of His Birth in the Flesh He...
The Stretched-Out Hands of Moses SignifiedBeforehand the Cross.
... Chapter XC."The stretched-out hands of Moses signifiedbeforehand the cross.
"Bring us on, then," said [Trypho], "by the Scriptures...
The Old Prophets and Righteous Men KnewBeforehand of the Advent...
... Against Heresies: Book IV Chapter XI."The old prophets and righteous men knew
beforehand of the advent of Christ, and earnestly desired to see and hear Him...
Psalm CXXXIX.
... 4. "Thou hast understood my thoughts from afar; Thou hast tracked out my path and
my limit" (ver.3); "and all my ways Thou hast seenbeforehand" (ver.4). What...
Abraham's Faith was Identical with Ours; this Faith was Prefigured...
... But the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith,
announcedbeforehand unto Abraham, that in him all nations should be blessed....
Thesaurus
Beforehand (38 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Beforehand (38 Occurrences). Matthew 24:25 "Behold, I
have told you
beforehand.
... "Behold, I have told you all things
beforehand.
...Advance (33 Occurrences)
... 7. (vt) To furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due, or in aid of
an enterprise; to supplybeforehand; as, a merchant advances money on a...
Forecast (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To predict; to project. 2. (vt) To foresee; to calculatebeforehand,
so as to provide for. 3. (vi) To contrive or planbeforehand....
Foretold (18 Occurrences)
... and are in each case rendered differently in Revised Version: (1) Mark 13:23 (proeipon),
the Revised Version (British and American) "toldbeforehand"; (2) Acts...
Premeditate (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To think on, and revolve in the mind,beforehand;
to contrive and design previously; as, to premeditate robbery....
Prepare (199 Occurrences)
... Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you away to deliver you up, be not careful
beforehand as to what ye shall say, nor prepare your discourse: but whatsoever...
Announced (47 Occurrences)
... Yes, they killed those who announcedbeforehand the advent of the righteous One,
whose betrayers and murderers you have now become-- (WEY DBY NAS RSV)....
Worry (14 Occurrences)
... Mark 13:11 When they lead you away and deliver you up, don't be anxiousbeforehand,
or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in...
Forethought (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Planningbeforehand; prescience;
premeditation; forecast; provident care. 2. (a.) Thought of, or...
Foretell (4 Occurrences)
... and are in each case rendered differently in Revised Version: (1) Mark 13:23 (proeipon),
the Revised Version (British and American) "toldbeforehand"; (2) Acts...
Resources
What does it mean for something to be foreordained? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about precognition? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about predetermination? | GotQuestions.orgBeforehand: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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