Topical Encyclopedia
The term "dissolves" in the biblical context often refers to the act of melting, disintegration, or the breaking down of physical or metaphorical structures. This concept is used in Scripture to describe both literal and figurative events, often associated with divine intervention, judgment, or transformation.
Biblical References:1.
2 Peter 3:10-12 : "But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat."
In this passage, the apostle Peter speaks of the ultimate dissolution of the heavens and the earth as part of God's final judgment. The imagery of elements melting and the earth being laid bare underscores the totality of this transformation, emphasizing the impermanence of the physical world and the certainty of divine intervention.
2.
Psalm 75:3 : "When the earth and all its dwellers quake, it is I who bear up its pillars. Selah"
Although the term "dissolves" is not directly used here, the imagery of the earth quaking suggests a form of dissolution or instability. The psalmist highlights God's sovereignty and sustaining power, even when the world seems to be falling apart.
3.
Isaiah 34:4 : "All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The sky will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree."
Isaiah's prophecy uses the imagery of the heavens dissolving to convey the magnitude of God's judgment. The dissolution of the stars and the sky being rolled up like a scroll symbolize the end of the current order and the ushering in of God's new creation.
Theological Implications:The concept of dissolving in the Bible often serves as a reminder of the transient nature of the physical world and the ultimate authority of God over creation. It calls believers to focus on spiritual realities and to live in anticipation of God's eternal kingdom. The imagery of dissolution is frequently associated with divine judgment, urging repentance and a life of holiness in preparation for the coming of the Lord.
Symbolism and Metaphor:In addition to its literal sense, "dissolves" can also be understood metaphorically. It may represent the breaking down of barriers, the end of enmity, or the transformation of the heart. For instance, the dissolution of enmity between God and humanity through Christ's atoning work is a central theme in the New Testament.
Practical Application:Believers are encouraged to reflect on the impermanence of worldly structures and to place their hope in the eternal promises of God. The imagery of dissolution serves as a powerful reminder to live with an eternal perspective, prioritizing spiritual growth and readiness for the return of Christ.
Library
Whether a Solemn VowDissolves a Marriage Already Contracted?
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT OF VOWS AND ORDERS (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether a solemn vow
dissolves a marriage already contracted? Objection 1: It...
He Explains what it Means to Confess, and what it Means to...
... For no one thusdissolves Jesus but he who does not confess that He is God.... He
thendissolves Jesus who severs these and rends them asunder....
Prayer and Sacrifice Explained by the Similitude of a Perfume...
... incense which they offered. Prayer is the heat of love, which melts and
dissolves the soul, and carries it to God. In proportion as...
Whether Other Sins Dissolve Marriage?
... is. But unbeliefdissolves marriage in a certain case so that it is lawful
to marry again. Therefore adultery has the same effect....
Psalm XVIII.
... as by hail, the hard hearts are bruised: but if a cultivated and genial soil, that
is, a godly mind, receive them, the hail's hardnessdissolves into water...
Letter clxiv. To Leo Augustus.
... enemies of Christ's cross, saying: "every spirit which confesses Jesus Christ to
have come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit whichdissolves Jesus is...
The Addition in the Codex, with a Various Reading.
... For when our Lord suffered, His humanity suffered, that which He had like unto man;
and Hedissolves the sufferings of him who is His like, and by dying He...
Honour the Bishop.
... For if he that rises up against kings is justly held worthy of punishment, inasmuch
as hedissolves public order, of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye...
The Anti-Missionary Agitation.
... The Spirit of God touches anddissolves the apathy, melts the ice, breaks the stone,
and we see men alive unto God; "old things are passed away, behold all...
Mystery and Faith
... what seemed a solid boundary of rockdissolves and floats away into a depth of darkness,
the path opens into an immense void, new shapes of mystery start out...
Thesaurus
Dissolves (1 Occurrence)... Multi-Version Concordance
Dissolves (1 Occurrence). Psalms 58:8 Let them be
like a snail which melts and passes away, like the stillborn
...Dissolved (12 Occurrences)
Dissolvest (1 Occurrence)
Soap (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A substance whichdissolves in water,
thus forming a lather, and is used as a cleansing agent....
Epicureans (1 Occurrence)
... The soul, like the body, is made of atoms, but of a smaller or finer texture.
In death, the one like the otherdissolves and comes to its end....
Marriage (74 Occurrences)
... The view implied by the exception, of course, is that adultery ipso facto
dissolves the union, and so opens the way to remarriage....
Resources
What is logical positivism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean for a society to be post-Christian? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that “no weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17)? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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