Topical Encyclopedia
The term "diverse" in the context of the Bible often refers to a variety or multiplicity of things, people, or practices. It is used to describe differences in kind, nature, or character. The Bible addresses diversity in several contexts, including spiritual gifts, ethnic groups, and practices.
Diverse Spiritual GiftsThe Apostle Paul speaks of diverse spiritual gifts in his letters to the early churches. In
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 , Paul writes, "There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people." Here, Paul emphasizes that while there is a diversity of gifts and functions within the body of Christ, they all originate from the same Spirit and serve the same purpose of building up the church.
Diverse Ethnic GroupsThe Bible acknowledges the existence of diverse ethnic groups and nations. In the Old Testament, the Israelites are often distinguished from other nations, yet there is a recognition of the diversity of peoples created by God. In the New Testament, the message of the Gospel is extended to all nations, reflecting the inclusivity of God's salvation plan.
Revelation 7:9 provides a vision of this diversity in the heavenly realm: "After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb."
Diverse Practices and LawsThe Old Testament law contains references to diverse practices, particularly in the context of prohibitions against mixing different kinds of things. For example,
Leviticus 19:19 states, "You must keep My statutes. You shall not breed your livestock with two different kinds. You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed. And you shall not wear clothing made of two kinds of material." These laws were given to the Israelites to maintain purity and distinctiveness as God's chosen people.
Diverse Trials and TemptationsThe New Testament also speaks of diverse trials and temptations that believers may face.
James 1:2-3 encourages believers to "consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." The diversity of trials serves a purpose in the spiritual growth and maturity of believers.
Diverse TonguesThe phenomenon of speaking in diverse tongues is addressed in the New Testament, particularly in the context of the early church.
Acts 2:4 describes the event of Pentecost: "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." This event marked the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church's mission to reach diverse peoples with the Gospel.
In summary, the concept of diversity in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing spiritual gifts, ethnic groups, practices, trials, and languages. Each aspect of diversity is presented within the framework of God's sovereign plan and purpose for His creation and His people.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Different; taking various forms; dissimilar; distinct; separate.
2. (a.) Capable of various forms; multiform.
3. (adv.) In different directions; diversely.
4. (v. i.) To turn aside.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DIVERS; DIVERSE; DIVERSITIESdi'-verz, di-vurs', di-vur'-si-tiz: "Divers" meaning "various," "different in kind," is now obsolete and used only as a synonym of "several," i.e. more than one. The distinction between "divers" and "diverse" in the King James Version seems to be that the former is the wider term, the latter being restricted to the meaning of "different in kind," while "divers" is also used to express difference of number. the Revised Version (British and American) retains "diverse" in all instances but changes "divers" nearly everywhere, except where it has the meaning "several." CompareMatthew 24:7Luke 21:11Hebrews 9:10, and others. It is hard to understand why the Revised Version (British and American) retains "divers" as a translation of poikilos, inMatthew 4:24 Mark 1:34, et al., because poikilos certainly cannot have the meaning "several" but "different in kind," and the idea expressed in these passages is not that some of the people had several diseases but that different people had different kinds of diseases. The same is true inHebrews 13:9 where "divers" does not refer to number but to various kinds of teaching.Hebrews 2:4 andJames 1:2 rightly change the reading of the King James Version "divers" to "manifold."
In other passages the Revised Version (British and American) changes "divers" to "diverse," and thus renders the idea of the original text "different in kind." CompareDeuteronomy 25:13;Proverbs 20:10, 23. Other passages are changed the better to render the original text:Deuteronomy 22:9, "two kinds of seed";Judges 5:30, "dyed";2 Chronicles 30:11, "certain men";Mark 8:3 andActs 19:9, "some." the King James Version reads. in all these passages "divers." the Revised Version (British and American) changes the King James VersionHebrews 1:1 "at sundry times and in divers manners," an expression often found in Old English, to "by divers portions and in divers manners."
"Diversities" is found twice as translation of diairesis, literally, "distribution" (1 Corinthians 12:4), but the Revised Version (British and American) changes the King James Version,1 Corinthians 12:28, "diversities" to "divers kinds," as translation of gene, "kinds."
A. L. Breslich
Greek
4164. poikilos -- many colored... poikilos Phonetic Spelling: (poy-kee'-los) Short Definition: various, of different
colors Definition: various, of different colors,
diverse, various.
...1313. diaphoros -- varying, excellent
... Word Origin from diaphero Definition varying, excellent NASB Word Usage differ
(1), more excellent (2), various (1). differing,diverse, more excellent....
4182. polupoikilos -- of differing colors
... 4182 (an adjective, derived from 4183 , "much in number, many" and 4164 , "many
diverse manifestations") -- properly, , with multitudinous expressions (facets...
Strong's Hebrew
8133. shena -- to change... alter, change, be
diverse. (Aramaic) corresponding to shana -- alter, change, (be)
diverse. see HEBREW shana. 8132, 8133. shena. 8134 . Strong's Numbers.
8138. shanah -- to repeat, do again
... do speak, strike again, alter, double, be given to change, disguise, be
diverse, pervert,. A primitive root; to fold, ie Duplicate...
68. eben -- a stone
... stonemasons* (1), stones (125), weight (4), weights (3). to build, a stone,
diverse weights. From the root of banah through the meaning...
Library
One Seed andDiverse Soils
... VOLUME I: ST. LUKE Chaps. I to XII ONE SEED ANDDIVERSE SOILS. 'And when
much people were gathered together, and were come to Him...
TheDiverse Forms of Spiritual Sickness.
... Book X. 24. TheDiverse Forms of Spiritual Sickness. And, if you wish to see
of what nature are the sicknesses of the soul, contemplate...
Of theDiverse Motions of Nature and of Grace
... THE THIRD BOOK. ON INWARD CONSOLATION CHAPTER LIV Of thediverse motions
of Nature and of Grace. "My Son, pay diligent heed to the...
Diverse Things are Spoken Concerning the Same Christ, on Account...
... The fifteen books of aurelius augustinus, Bishop of Hippo, on the TrinityBook I.
Chapter 13."Diverse Things are Spoken Concerning the Same Christ, on Account...
Marcion Untrue to his Theory He Pretends that his Gods are Equal...
... of Marcion. Chapter VI."Marcion Untrue to His Theory He Pretends that His
Gods are Equal, But He Really Makes ThemDiverse. Then...
Whether Corporeal Creatures were Produced by God through the...
... an order exists, but not such that one creature is created by another, for that
is impossible; but rather such that by the Divine wisdomdiverse grades are...
Whether Bread Can be Converted into the Body of Christ?
... Objection 3: Further, when two things arediverse, one never becomes the other,
as whiteness never becomes blackness, as is stated in Phys....
Whether There are Two Filiations in Christ?
... But one and the same cannot be indiverse species. Therefore it seems impossible
that one and the same relation be referred to extremes...
Whether the Moral virtues Differ in Point of the Various Objects...
... Hencediverse objects which do not diversify the species of passions, do not diversify
the species of moral virtue: so that there is but one moral virtue about...
Further Remarks Upon St. Paul's Teaching.
... Such an agreement, moreover, will be come to if one first recall to mind those
(passages) which arediverse from the passage in question, when tried by the...
Thesaurus
Diverse (15 Occurrences)... 3. (adv.) In different directions; diversely. 4. (vi) To turn aside. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DIVERS;
DIVERSE; DIVERSITIES.
...Divers (36 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Different in kind or species;diverse.... Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DIVERS;DIVERSE; DIVERSITIES....
Diversities (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Diversity. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. DIVERS;DIVERSE; DIVERSITIES. di'-verz, di-vurs...
Underfoot (14 Occurrences)
... and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces,
and stamped the residue with its feet: and it wasdiverse from all the...
Dreadful (23 Occurrences)
... and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces,
and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it wasdiverse from all...
Stamped (27 Occurrences)
... and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces,
and stamped the residue with its feet: and it wasdiverse from all the...
Trampled (41 Occurrences)
... and it hath iron teeth very great, it hath consumed, yea, it doth break small, and
the remnant with its feet it hath trampled; and it 'is'diverse from all the...
Remainder (33 Occurrences)
... and it hath iron teeth very great, it hath consumed, yea, it doth break small, and
the remnant with its feet it hath trampled; and it 'is'diverse from all the...
Kinds (110 Occurrences)
... vineyard. (WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV). Deuteronomy 25:13 You shall not have
in your bagdiverse weights, a great and a small. (See RSV)....
Residue (47 Occurrences)
... and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces,
and stamped the residue with its feet: and it wasdiverse from all the...
Resources
What is the National Council of Churches? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about diversity? | GotQuestions.orgAre mono-ethnic churches, churches that focus on a specific race or ethnic group, following a biblical model? | GotQuestions.orgDiverse: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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