Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:Benefiting, in a biblical context, refers to the act of receiving good, advantage, or profit, often as a result of divine favor, obedience to God's commandments, or the benevolence of others. The concept of benefiting is closely tied to the principles of blessing, stewardship, and the reciprocal nature of God's covenant with His people.
Biblical References:1.
Divine Blessings: The Bible frequently speaks of benefiting as a result of God's blessings. In
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 , it is written, "If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God." Here, benefiting is directly linked to obedience and faithfulness to God's commandments.
2.
Wisdom and Understanding: Proverbs often highlights the benefits of wisdom and understanding.
Proverbs 3:13-14 states, "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding, for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold." The pursuit of wisdom is portrayed as a source of great benefit, surpassing material wealth.
3.
Generosity and Giving: The principle of benefiting through generosity is emphasized in
Acts 20:35 , where Paul recalls the words of Jesus: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." This suggests that the act of giving itself is a form of benefiting, as it aligns with God's character and brings spiritual enrichment.
4.
Stewardship and Responsibility: The Parable of the Talents in
Matthew 25:14-30 illustrates the concept of benefiting through faithful stewardship. The servants who wisely invest their master's resources are rewarded, while the one who fails to do so is reprimanded. This parable underscores the importance of using God-given resources responsibly to benefit oneself and others.
5.
Community and Fellowship: The early church exemplified mutual benefiting through community and fellowship.
Acts 2:44-45 describes how "all the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need." This communal living ensured that all members benefited from the collective resources and support.
6.
Eternal Perspective: The ultimate benefit for believers is eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:22-23 declares, "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This passage highlights the spiritual and eternal benefits of salvation.
Theological Implications:Benefiting in the biblical sense is not merely about material gain or personal advantage. It encompasses spiritual growth, alignment with God's will, and the well-being of the community. The Bible teaches that true benefit comes from living a life that honors God, serves others, and seeks eternal rewards over temporal gains. The concept challenges believers to evaluate their motives and actions, ensuring that their pursuit of benefits aligns with biblical principles and God's overarching plan for humanity.
Greek
2108. euergesia -- a good deed... euergesia Phonetic Spelling: (yoo-erg-es-ee'-ah) Short Definition: good action,
kind service Definition: good action, well-doing,
benefiting, kind service.
...Library
Laymen Called to the Field of Missions.
... which is sweeping away the bodies of the heathen, let them improve the numerous
and very favorable opportunities afforded them ofbenefiting their souls....
First Sunday after Epiphany
... But the body cannot be offered withoutbenefiting the soul.... For all the works, all
the sacrifices of the New Testament, must be true and soul-benefiting....
Effects of Baptism and of Chrism.
... was, not to attribute to Baptism in our modern sense the gift of the Holy Ghost,
but rather to consider Baptism by itself as a bare rite,benefiting the body...
1 Timothy i. 14-Dec
... And does any one by preaching His word, andbenefiting His Church, obtain a good
reputation?... For inbenefiting him who has benefited you there is little merit....
Matt. xix. 1
... But Christ healed,benefiting both them, and by them many others. For the healing
of these men's infirmity was to others a foundation for the knowledge of God....
1 Timothy v. 8
... Will it not have the appearance of vainglory, whenbenefiting others he
slights his own relations, and does not provide for them?...
Figurative Interpretation of the Same.
... life, and having preferred that which was delightsome in it to the life among the
crowd with its turmoil, said, with the design ofbenefiting those who desired...
Scripture the Criterion by which Truth and Heresy are...
... He, then, who of himself believes the Scripture and voice of the Lord, which by
the Lord acts to thebenefiting of men, is rightly [regarded] faithful....
Degrees of Glory in Heaven Corresponding with the Dignities of the...
... gift. For it follows that there is one unchangeable gift of salvation given
by one God, through one Lord,benefiting in many ways....
Description of the Gnostic's Life.
... knowing that all such things are a necessity of creation, and that, also by the
power of God, they become the medicine of salvation,benefiting by discipline...
Thesaurus
Benefiting (1 Occurrence)... Multi-Version Concordance
Benefiting (1 Occurrence). Ephesians 4:29 Let
no unwholesome words ever pass your lips, but let all your
...Benefits (12 Occurrences)
Unwholesome (1 Occurrence)
... Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome words ever pass your lips, but let all your words
be good forbenefiting others according to the need of the moment, so that...
Fits (2 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome words ever pass your lips, but let all your words
be good forbenefiting others according to the need of the moment, so that...
Benefited (4 Occurrences)
Benefit (39 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome words ever pass your lips, but let all your words
be good forbenefiting others according to the need of the moment, so that...
Dead (580 Occurrences)
... Men in Corinth, and possibly elsewhere, were being continually baptized on behalf
of others who were at the time dead, with a view tobenefiting them in the...
Moment (71 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome words ever pass your lips, but let all your words
be good forbenefiting others according to the need of the moment, so that...
Lips (199 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome words ever pass your lips, but let all your words
be good forbenefiting others according to the need of the moment, so that...
Blessing (357 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome words ever pass your lips, but let all your words
be good forbenefiting others according to the need of the moment, so that...
Resources
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