Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Overview:Blessedness, in the biblical context, refers to a state of spiritual well-being and deep joy that comes from a right relationship with God. It is often associated with divine favor and the experience of God's presence and grace. The concept of blessedness is central to both the Old and New Testaments, where it is depicted as the ultimate state of happiness and fulfillment for believers.
Old Testament Context:In the Old Testament, blessedness is frequently linked to obedience to God's commandments and living a life that aligns with His will. The Hebrew word often translated as "blessed" is "esher," which conveys happiness and contentment.
Psalm 1:1-3 illustrates this: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does."
The covenantal relationship between God and Israel is a key aspect of blessedness in the Old Testament.
Deuteronomy 28 outlines the blessings that come from obedience to God's laws, including prosperity, health, and protection. Conversely, disobedience leads to curses, highlighting the conditional nature of blessedness under the Old Covenant.
New Testament Context:In the New Testament, blessedness takes on a more spiritual and eternal dimension. The Greek word "makarios" is used to describe the blessedness of those who are part of God's kingdom. Jesus' teachings in the Beatitudes (
Matthew 5:3-12) provide a profound insight into the nature of true blessedness: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted... Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
The Beatitudes reveal that blessedness is not dependent on external circumstances but is rooted in the inner qualities and attitudes that align with God's kingdom values. It is a paradoxical blessedness that often involves suffering and sacrifice but promises eternal rewards.
Theological Significance:Blessedness in the Christian life is closely tied to the concept of grace. It is not earned by human effort but is a gift from God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:3 states, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms." This verse underscores the spiritual blessings believers receive through their union with Christ, including redemption, adoption, and the hope of eternal life.
The Apostle Paul further elaborates on the nature of blessedness in
Romans 4:7-8 , quoting
Psalm 32: "Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." Here, blessedness is associated with the forgiveness of sins and the imputed righteousness of Christ.
Practical Implications:For believers, the pursuit of blessedness involves cultivating a life of faith, obedience, and reliance on God's promises. It calls for a focus on spiritual rather than material wealth and a commitment to living out the values of God's kingdom. The assurance of blessedness provides comfort and hope amid trials, as believers trust in God's ultimate plan and purpose for their lives.
Conclusion:While the entry does not include a formal conclusion, it is evident that blessedness is a multifaceted concept that encompasses both temporal and eternal dimensions. It is a state of being that reflects the believer's relationship with God and is characterized by joy, peace, and fulfillment in His presence.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) The state of being blessed; happiness; felicity; bliss; heavenly joys; the favor of God.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BLESSEDNESSbles'-ed-nes: This translation of makarismos (a word signifying "beatification" or "the ascription of blessing"), is used but three times, inRomans 4:6, 9, andGalatians 4:15, in the King James Version only. In the first two instances it refers to the happy state or condition of a man to whom Christ's righteousness is imputed by faith, and in the last to a man's experience of that condition.
SeeHAPPINESS.
Greek
3108. makarismos -- a declaration ofblessedness... a declaration of
blessedness. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
makarismos Phonetic Spelling: (mak-ar-is-mos') Short Definition: regarding as
...Strong's Hebrew
835. esher -- happiness,blessedness... 834, 835. esher. 836 . happiness,
blessedness. Transliteration: esher
Phonetic Spelling: (eh'-sher) Short Definition: blessed. Word
...Library
TheBlessedness of Giving
... THE ACTS CHAP. XIII TO END THEBLESSEDNESS OF GIVING. '...It is more blessed
to give than to receive.'"Acts 20:35. How 'many other...
Blessedness and Praise
... VOLUME I: PSALMS I to XLIXBLESSEDNESS AND PRAISE. 'Blessed is the man that
walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth...
The Will to PossessBlessedness is one in All, but the Variety of...
... Book XIII. Chapter 4."The Will to PossessBlessedness is One in All, But the Variety
of Wills is Very Great Concerning thatBlessedness Itself....
There is aBlessedness in Reversion
... 2. There is ablessedness in reversion.... If there be anyblessedness in knowledge,
it must needs be in the knowledge ofblessedness....
The Bitterness andBlessedness of the Brevity of Life
... VOLUME I: PSALMS I to XLIX THE BITTERNESS ANDBLESSEDNESS OF THE BREVITY OF LIFE....
The other, out of the very same fact, drawsblessedness and hope....
December the Ninth NationalBlessedness
... DECEMBER The Ninth NATIONALBLESSEDNESS.... Blessed is the people "in whose heart are
the highways to Zion." And in what shall theirblessedness consist?...
What the Cause of theBlessedness of the Good Angels Is, and what...
... Book XII. Chapter 6."What the Cause of theBlessedness of the Good Angels
Is, and What the Cause of the Misery of the Wicked....
Whether EternalBlessedness is the Proper Object of Hope
... Article Two Whether EternalBlessedness is the Proper Object of Hope. Whether
EternalBlessedness is the Proper Object of Hope We...
The Business andBlessedness of Glorified Saints, Rev. 7 13 &C.
... Hymns. Book 1. Hymn 1:40. The business andblessedness of glorified saints,
Rev. 7. 13 &c. 1 "What happy men, or angels these "That...
TheBlessedness of the Devout.
... SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC WORSHIP. 914. " TheBlessedness of the Devout. 914.
CM Milton. TheBlessedness of the Devout. 1 How lovely...
Thesaurus
Blessedness (6 Occurrences)... God. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BLESSEDNESS. bles
... condition. See HAPPINESS.
Multi-Version Concordance
Blessedness (6 Occurrences). Romans
...Faithful (136 Occurrences)
... be added. And it has the promise of the life that is to come, the rich
prospect of eternalblessedness with Christ. Compare with...
Beatitudes
... In the Latin church beatitudo was used not only as an abstract term denoting
blessedness, but in the secondary, concrete sense of a particular declaration of...
Jesus (10891 Occurrences)
... eth'-iks: Contents I. IN THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS 1. The Blessings of the Kingdom (1)
Nature of the Kingdom (2)Blessedness of the Kingdom (3) Righteousness-Its...
Sayings (134 Occurrences)
... be added. And it has the promise of the life that is to come, the rich
prospect of eternalblessedness with Christ. Compare with...
Immortal (3 Occurrences)
... It is not a condition simply of future existence, however prolonged, but a state
ofblessedness, due to redemption and the possession of the "eternal life" in...
Immortality (6 Occurrences)
... It is not a condition simply of future existence, however prolonged, but a state
ofblessedness, due to redemption and the possession of the "eternal life" in...
Earnest (33 Occurrences)
... it seems to be used by Paul in this specific sense." The Spirit's gracious presence
and working in believers is a foretaste to them of theblessedness of heaven...
Credit (39 Occurrences)
... (WEY NAS NIV). Romans 4:6 In this way David also tells of theblessedness of the
man to whose credit God places righteousness, apart from his actions....
Abraham's (34 Occurrences)
... "Abraham's bosom" is not spoken of as in "Hades," but rather as distinguished
from it (Luke 16:23)-a place ofblessedness by itself....
Resources
What does it mean to be blessed? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does “blessed are those who mourn” mean? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the beatitudes? | GotQuestions.orgBlessedness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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