Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "begin" in the Bible is foundational, as it marks the inception of creation, covenants, and divine plans. The term is often associated with God's creative power, the initiation of His covenants with humanity, and the commencement of significant events in biblical history.
Creation and the Beginning of TimeThe Bible opens with the profound declaration of the beginning of the universe: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (
Genesis 1:1). This verse establishes God as the eternal Creator who exists outside of time and space, initiating the cosmos by His sovereign will. The act of creation is not only a physical beginning but also a theological one, setting the stage for God's relationship with His creation.
The Beginning of HumanityThe creation narrative continues with the formation of humanity, marking the beginning of human history.
Genesis 1:27 states, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them" . This beginning underscores the unique role of humans as bearers of God's image, tasked with stewardship over creation.
Covenantal BeginningsThroughout the Bible, God initiates covenants that signify new beginnings for His people. The covenant with Noah, following the flood, represents a fresh start for humanity: "I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth" (
Genesis 9:11). Similarly, God's covenant with Abraham marks the beginning of a chosen people through whom all nations would be blessed (
Genesis 12:1-3).
The Beginning of Israel as a NationThe Exodus marks the beginning of Israel as a nation, liberated from Egyptian bondage. This pivotal event is commemorated annually in the Passover, as instructed in
Exodus 12:2: "This month is to be the beginning of months for you; it is the first month of your year" . The Exodus narrative highlights God's redemptive power and His faithfulness to His promises.
The New Beginning in ChristThe New Testament presents Jesus Christ as the beginning of a new creation. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is identified with the Word, present at the beginning: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (
John 1:1). Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus inaugurates a new covenant, offering salvation and eternal life to all who believe.
The Beginning of the ChurchThe Day of Pentecost marks the beginning of the Christian Church, as recorded in
Acts 2. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit empowers the apostles to preach the gospel, resulting in the conversion of thousands. This event signifies the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit and the start of the Church's mission to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Eschatological BeginningsThe Bible also speaks of future beginnings, particularly in the context of eschatology. The prophetic literature and the Book of Revelation describe the ultimate renewal of creation, where God will establish a new heaven and a new earth.
Revelation 21:5 declares, "He who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'" This promise of a new beginning offers hope for the consummation of God's redemptive plan.
In summary, the theme of "begin" in the Bible encompasses the creation of the world, the establishment of covenants, the formation of Israel, the advent of Christ, the birth of the Church, and the promise of a new creation. Each beginning reflects God's initiative and purpose, underscoring His sovereignty and faithfulness throughout history.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To have or commence an independent or first existence; to take rise; to commence.
2. (v. i.) To do the first act or the first part of an action; to enter upon or commence something new, as a new form or state of being, or course of action; to take the first step; to start.
3. (v. t.) To enter on; to commence.
4. (v. t.) To trace or lay the foundation of; to make or place a beginning of.
5. (n.) Beginning.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BEGINbe-gin': To make the first movement toward a given end (chalal; archomai). Those who interpret it in many passages pleonastically mean by this, that in such passages as "began to teach" or "began to speak," nothing more is intended than to express vividly and graphically the thought of the dependent infinitive.Matthew 4:17Luke 3:23Acts 1:1 are so understood. For contrary opinion, see Thayer's Lexicon and Winer's Grammar of New Testament Greek.
The noun, arche, "beginning," in the writings of John, is used sometimes in an abstract sense, to designate a previous stage (John 1:1, 2;John 8:251 John 1:1;1 John 3:8) and, sometimes, the Source or First Cause (Revelation 3:14;Revelation 21:6;Revelation 22:13). Often used also, not for the absolute beginning, but, relatively, for the starting-point of some important movement (1 John 2:7, 24Acts 11:15Philippians 4:15).
H. E. Jacobs
Greek
4278. proenarchomai -- tobegin before... to
begin before. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: proenarchomai Phonetic Spelling:
(pro-en-ar'-khom-ahee) Short Definition: I
begin before Definition: I
...5225. huparcho -- tobegin, to be ready or at hand, to be
... tobegin, to be ready or at hand, to be. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: huparcho
Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-ar'-kho) Short Definition: I am, exist, am in...
1728. enarchomai -- tobegin, to make a beginning
... tobegin, to make a beginning. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: enarchomai
Phonetic Spelling: (en-ar'-khom-ahee) Short Definition: Ibegin Definition: I...
757. archo -- to rule, tobegin
... to rule, tobegin. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: archo Phonetic Spelling:
(ar'-kho) Short Definition: I reign, rule Definition: I reign, rule....
2020. epiphosko -- to let shine, ie to dawn
... commencing. Word Origin from epi and phos Definition to let shine, ie to dawn
NASB Word Usage about tobegin (1), dawn (1).begin, dawn. A...
756. archomai -- commence, rule
... archomai. 757 . commence, rule. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: archomai
Phonetic Spelling: (ar'-khom-ahee) Short Definition: Ibegin Definition: Ibegin...
1036. buthizo -- to sink, to cause to sink
...begin to sink, drown. From buthos; to sink; by implication, to drown --begin to
sink, drown. see GREEK buthos. (buthizesthai) -- 1 Occurrence....
611. apokrinomai -- to answer
... answer. From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, ie (by implication) to respond;
by Hebraism (compare anah) tobegin to speak (where an address is expected...
3195. mello -- to be about to
... almost), (that which is, things, + which was for) to come, intend, was to (be),
mean, mind, be at the point, (be) ready, + return, shall (begin), (which, that...
1. alpha -- alpha
... not forgive" (). "judge" () however does notbegin in Greek with the letter
"a" so is formed by using the prefix (). Word Origin...
Strong's Hebrew
2490. chalal -- to bore, pierce... to bore, pierce. Transliteration: chalal Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-lal') Short
Definition: pierce.
begin men began, defile, break, defile, eat as common things
...1129. banah -- to build
...begin to builder, obtain children, make, repair, set up, surely. A primitive
root; to build (literally and figuratively) -- (begin...
6751. tsalal -- to be or grow dark
... dark. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to be or grow dark NASB Word Usage
grew dark (1), shade (1).begin to be dark, shadowing. A...
2974. yaal -- to show willingness, be pleased, determine...
... undertook (1), ventured (2), willing (5). assay,begin, be content, please,
take upon, willingly, would. A primitive root (probably rather...
8271. shera -- to loosen, abide
... 1), solve (1), solving (1), went slack (1).begin, dissolve, dwell, loose.
(Aramaic) a root corresponding to that of sheruwth; to...
4427. malak -- to be or become king or queen, to reign
... consult, indeed, be make, set a, set up king, be make queen,begin to,
make to reigning, A primitive root; to reign; inceptively...
2490c. chalal -- to pollute, defile, profane
... root Definition to pollute, defile, profane NASB Word Usage became* (1), began
(30),begin (10),begin to use its fruit (2), beginning (3), begun (7), begun to...
8462. techillah -- a beginning
... Tachmonite. From chalal in the sense of opening; a commencement; rel. Original
(adverb, -ly) --begin(-ning), first (time). see HEBREW chalal. 8461, 8462....
6030. anah -- to answer, respond
... Tobegin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce -- give account,
afflict (by mistake for anah), (cause to, give) answer, bring low (by...
5927. alah -- to go up, ascend, climb
... mount up, offer, make to pay, + perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore,
(make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring...
Library
For, toBegin with what is Important, what Advantage is it to the...
... Book II. 38 For, tobegin with what is important, what advantage is it
to the world that? For, tobegin with what is important...
In Thee Will IBegin to Speak, Thou Head that DidstBegin all...
... Hymn X. In Thee will Ibegin to speak, Thou Head that didstbegin all created
things. In Thee will Ibegin to speak, Thou Head that...
HereBegin the Miracles of the Blessed Hermit Richard.
... HEREBEGIN THE MIRACLES OF THE BLESSED HERMIT RICHARD. To be read during the Octave
of the Feast (The following extracts are from the Sunday Lesson.)....
How a Private Man mustBegin the Morning with Piety.
... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. HOW A PRIVATE MAN MUSTBEGIN THE MORNING WITH PIETY.
As soon as ever thou awakest in the morning, keep the...
But as I do notBegin to Doubt About the Necessity...
... Address 47: But as I do notbegin to doubt about the necessity? But as I
do notbegin to doubt about the necessity, the truth, and...
Now as no Animal couldBegin to Respire, or Unite with the Breath...
... Address 13: Now as no animal couldbegin to respire, or unite with the
breath of this? Now as no animal couldbegin to respire...
Before weBegin Our Reply, we have to Remark that the Endeavour to...
... Chapter XLII. Before webegin our reply, we have to remark that the endeavour
to show? Before webegin our reply, we have to remark...
ToBegin with the Real Ground of the Military Crown...
... Chapter XI. Tobegin with the real ground of the military crown? Tobegin
with the real ground of the military crown, I think...
We Will NowBegin a Careful Consideration of Each Several Point...
... II. We will nowbegin a careful consideration of each several point? We
will nowbegin a careful consideration of each several...
To Prevent Ambiguity, we mustBegin with Clear Definition.
... Chapter IV."To Prevent Ambiguity, We MustBegin with Clear Definition.... For we
mustbegin with the knowledge of the questions to be discussed....
Thesaurus
Begin (56 Occurrences)... Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BEGIN. be-gin': To make the first movement toward a
given end (chalal; archomai).
... Multi-Version Concordance
Begin (56 Occurrences).
...Attack (221 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To assail with unfriendly speech or writing; tobegin a controversy with;
to attempt to overthrow or bring into disrepute, by criticism or satire; to...
Kindle (25 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To set on fire; to cause to burn with flame; to ignite; to cause tobegin
burning; to start; to light; as, to kindle a match, or shavings....
Dawn (70 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) Tobegin to grow light in the morning; to grow
light; to break, orbegin to appear; as, the day dawns; the morning dawns....
Proceed (47 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To go on in an orderly or regulated manner; tobegin and carry on a series
of acts or measures; to act by method; to prosecute a design....
Conceive (23 Occurrences)
... purpose, plan, hope. 2. (vt) To receive into the womb andbegin to breed; to
begin the formation of the embryo of. 3. (vt) To apprehend...
Occupy (25 Occurrences)
... Luke 14:9 and he who did call thee and him having come shall say to thee, Give to
this one place, and then thou mayestbegin with shame to occupy the last place...
Lamentations (6 Occurrences)
... alphabet. The third has sixty-six verses, in which each three successive verses
begin with the same letter. The fifth is not acrostic....
Wilt (324 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) Tobegin to wither; to lose freshness and become flaccid, as a plant when
exposed when exposed to drought, or to great heat in a dry day, or when...
Reject (56 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgement tobegin, and tobegin at the house
of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who reject...
Resources
When did the church begin/start? | GotQuestions.orgI am a new Christian. What is the next step? | GotQuestions.orgDoes the Bible teach that life begins at conception? | GotQuestions.orgBegin: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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