Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "reflected" in the Bible often pertains to the idea of mirroring or representing something greater, particularly in the context of God's glory, character, and truth. While the term "reflected" itself may not frequently appear in the Berean Standard Bible, the underlying principle is woven throughout Scripture.
Reflected Glory of GodOne of the most profound ways reflection is depicted in the Bible is through the glory of God being reflected in His creation and His people. In
2 Corinthians 3:18 , the Apostle 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 passage highlights the transformative process by which believers reflect God's glory as they grow in spiritual maturity and Christlikeness.
Image of GodThe concept of being made in the "image of God" (
Genesis 1:27) also carries the idea of reflection. Humanity is created to reflect God's attributes, such as rationality, morality, and relationality. This reflection is marred by sin but is restored through redemption in Christ, enabling believers to more accurately mirror God's character.
Mirrors and Reflection in ScriptureJames 1:23-24 uses the metaphor of a mirror to describe self-examination in light of God's Word: "For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like." Here, the reflection serves as a call to action, urging believers to align their lives with the teachings of Scripture.
Christ as the Perfect ReflectionJesus Christ is the ultimate reflection of God the Father.
Hebrews 1:3 states, "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word." Christ perfectly reflects the Father, embodying His essence and revealing His character to humanity.
Reflected LightThe metaphor of light is frequently used in the Bible to describe the reflection of God's truth and holiness. In
Matthew 5:14-16 , Jesus tells His followers, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Believers are called to reflect the light of Christ in a dark world, drawing others to God through their actions and testimony.
Reflection in Worship and ConductThe life of a believer is meant to be a reflection of worship and godly conduct.
Romans 12:1-2 exhorts Christians to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, as an act of spiritual worship. This involves a transformation by the renewing of the mind, enabling believers to discern and reflect God's will in their daily lives.
In summary, the theme of reflection in the Bible encompasses the mirroring of God's glory, character, and truth through creation, humanity, and ultimately, through Jesus Christ. Believers are called to reflect these divine attributes in their lives, serving as beacons of light in the world.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
imp. & p. p.) of Reflect.
2. (a.) Thrown back after striking a surface; as, reflected light, heat, sound, etc.
3. (a.) Hence: Not one's own; received from another; as, his glory was reflected glory.
4. (a.) Bent backward or outward; reflexed.
Greek
2734. katoptrizo -- to reflect as a mirror... Middle voice from a compound of kata and a derivative of optanomai (compare esoptron);
to mirror oneself, ie To see
reflected (figuratively) -- behold as in a
...Strong's Hebrew
3820. leb -- inner man, mind, will, heart... 1), middle (2), midst (1), mind (36), minds (3), myself (6), obstinate* (2), planned*
(1), presume* (1), pride* (1), recalls* (1),
reflected* (1), regard* (1
...6032. anah -- to answer
... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to anah Definition to answer NASB Word Usage
answered (7),reflected (1), replied (6), responded (5), said* (1), spoke (5)....
7896. shith -- to put, set
... 1), join (1), laid (5), lay (3), lays (1), made (5), make (11), make them turn
(1), pay (2), perform (1), place (1), placed (1), put (9),reflected* (1), serve...
Library
The Same Night which Saw the Red Glare of the Burning Monastery...
... XXXVI. The same night which saw the red glare of the burning monastery
reflected from end? The same night which saw the red glare...
Argument: Octavius, Displeased at the Act of this Superstitious...
... Displeased at the Act of This Superstitious Man, Sharply Reproaches Minucius, on
the Ground that the Disgrace of This Wicked Deed isReflected Not Less on...
The Beatific vision. (Continued. )
... Paul is not that we see through a glass by transmitted light, as when we look through
a telescope, but as when we see an imagereflected in a mirror....
Whether There is Only one Truth, According to which all Things are...
... Whence a gloss on Ps.11:2, "Truths are decayed from among the children of men,"
says: "As from one man's face many likenesses arereflected in a mirror, so...
The Formula of Sanctification
... Without knowing it he hasreflected his birthplace, his parents, and the long history
of their race.... How could it bereflected from there if it were not there?...
Whether the Saints, Seeing God, See all that God Sees? [*Cf. Fp, Q...
... Objection 6: Further, whoever sees a mirror sees the thingsreflected in
the mirror. Now all things arereflected in the Word of...
Introductory Notice.
... One half of this volume presents the Alexandrian school itself in its glorious
succession of doctors and pupils, and the other half in thereflected light of...
They came to be in his Presence
... of the Catholic-Protestant structure of the Episcopal Church, he conducted the services
in Christ Church from that angle, his preachingreflected it, and the...
Introduction
... he pictures in startling detail what this must mean for him (Rom.5:2, 3). We are
not, therefore, surprised that the same line of thought isreflected in other...
A vision of Jesus.
... John never flinched. And Peter had tears that caught the light from Jesus'
eyes, andreflected their glistening rays within. Those...
Thesaurus
Reflected (2 Occurrences)... & pp) of Reflect. 2. (a.) Thrown back after striking a surface; as,
reflected light,
heat, sound, etc.
... Multi-Version Concordance
Reflected (2 Occurrences).
...Reflection (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The return of rays, beams, or sound from a surface. 2. (n.) The act of
reflecting, or turning or sending back, or the state of beingreflected....
Mirage (2 Occurrences)
... Thereflected image is seen, commonly in an inverted position, while the
real object may or may not be in sight. When the surface...
Architecture
... As the greatness of a nation and its social elevation arereflected in the course
of architectural development, so is a nation's failure to rise to firm...
Shine (62 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To make bright; to cause to shine byreflected light; as, in hunting, to
shine the eyes of a deer at night by throwing a light on them....
Drunkenness (10 Occurrences)
... Its prevalence is alsoreflected in many passages in the New Testament (eg Matthew
24:49 Luke 21:34 Acts 2:13, 15 Ephesians 5:18 1 Thessalonians 5:7). Paul...
Reflect (6 Occurrences)
Education (4 Occurrences)
... As regards both the content and form of this instruction, these will in every case
be determined by the type and stage of civilizationreflected in the life...
Yahweh (6653 Occurrences)
... It is the situation of these captive Jews in Babylonia which isreflected and they
who are addressed at the waning of the long night of captivity by the...
Kedar (11 Occurrences)
... The fame of the tribe is furtherreflected in Isaiah 21:16, 17 (the only allusion
to their might in war), and in the figurative references to their tents...
Resources
How can I experience true intimacy with God? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about good versus evil? | GotQuestions.orgIs an eclipse a sign of the end times? | GotQuestions.orgReflected: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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