Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Nature:Doubt, in a biblical context, refers to a state of uncertainty or lack of conviction regarding spiritual truths, God's promises, or His character. It is often characterized by wavering faith and can manifest as skepticism or hesitation in belief and action.
Biblical Instances of Doubt:1.
Thomas the Apostle: Thomas, one of Jesus' twelve disciples, is famously known for his doubt following the resurrection of Christ. In
John 20:24-29, Thomas initially refuses to believe the other disciples' testimony of Jesus' resurrection, stating, "Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe" (
John 20:25). Jesus later appears to Thomas, inviting him to touch His wounds, leading Thomas to proclaim, "My Lord and my God!" (
John 20:28). This account highlights the struggle with doubt and the gracious response of Christ in providing evidence to strengthen faith.
2.
Peter Walking on Water: In
Matthew 14:28-31, Peter steps out of the boat to walk on water towards Jesus. However, when he notices the wind and waves, he becomes afraid and begins to sink. Jesus immediately reaches out to save him, saying, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (
Matthew 14:31). This incident illustrates how doubt can arise from focusing on circumstances rather than on Christ.
3.
The Father of the Demon-Possessed Boy: In
Mark 9:14-29, a father seeks Jesus' help for his demon-possessed son. When expressing his struggle, he says, "I do believe; help my unbelief!" (
Mark 9:24). Jesus responds by healing the boy, demonstrating His power and willingness to meet us in our doubts.
Theological Implications:·
Faith and Doubt: Doubt is often seen as the antithesis of faith.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see" . Doubt challenges this assurance and certainty, yet it can also serve as a catalyst for deeper exploration and understanding of one's faith.
·
God's Response to Doubt: Scripture reveals that God is patient and compassionate towards those who doubt.
James 1:5-6 encourages believers to ask God for wisdom without doubting, promising that He gives generously to all without finding fault. However, it also warns that "the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind" (
James 1:6), indicating the instability that doubt can bring.
·
Encouragement to Overcome Doubt: Believers are encouraged to strengthen their faith through prayer, study of the Scriptures, and fellowship with other believers.
Jude 1:22 advises, "Be merciful to those who doubt" , suggesting a community approach to addressing doubt with understanding and support.
Practical Considerations:·
Addressing Doubt: Christians are encouraged to confront their doubts honestly, seeking answers through prayer, biblical study, and counsel from mature believers. Engaging with doubt in a constructive manner can lead to spiritual growth and a more robust faith.
·
Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding believers through doubt, providing assurance and conviction of truth.
John 16:13 states, "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth" , emphasizing the Spirit's role in overcoming doubt.
Doubt, while a common human experience, is addressed throughout Scripture with both caution and compassion. It serves as a reminder of the need for reliance on God and the importance of nurturing a steadfast faith.
Topical Bible Verses
James 1:6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Topicalbible.orgJeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Topicalbible.org
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To waver in opinion or judgment; to be in uncertainty as to belief respecting anything; to hesitate in belief; to be undecided as to the truth of the negative or the affirmative proposition; to b e undetermined.
2. (v. i.) To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive.
3. (v. t.) To question or hold questionable; to withhold assent to; to hesitate to believe, or to be inclined not to believe; to withhold confidence from; to distrust; as, I have heard the story, but I doubt the truth of it.
4. (v. t.) To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive of.
5. (v. t.) To fill with fear; to affright.
6. (n.) A fluctuation of mind arising from defect of knowledge or evidence; uncertainty of judgment or mind; unsettled state of opinion concerning the reality of an event, or the truth of an assertion, etc.; hesitation.
7. (v. i.) Uncertainty of condition.
8. (v. i.) Suspicion; fear; apprehension; dread.
9. (v. i.) Difficulty expressed or urged for solution; point unsettled; objection.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DOUBTdout: This word, found only a score of times in the Bible, translates nevertheless about half as many different Hebrew and Greek originals with a corresponding variety of meanings.
InGenesis 37:33 "without doubt" is to be taken in the common sense of "certainly"; inJob 12:2 in the sarcastic sense of "indeed!" InDaniel 5:12, 16, it is used as a difficult problem or mystery to be explained, and these are the only cases of its employment in the Old Testament.
In the New Testament it is about equally used to translate diaporeo, and diakrino, and their cognates. The first means "to be without resource," "utterly at a loss," "nonplussed"; and the second, "to judge diversely." For the first, seeJohn 13:22Acts 2:12 the King James Version;Acts 5:24 the King James Version;Acts 10:17 the King James Version;Acts 25:20 the King James Version; andGalatians 4:20 the King James Version. For the second seeMatthew 21:21Mark 11:23Acts 10:20Romans 14:23. The last-named is deserving of particular attention. "He that doubteth is condemned (the King James Version "damned") if he eat," means that in a case of uncertainty as to one's Christian liberty, it were better to err on the side of restraint. InLuke 12:29 "to be of doubtful mind" (meteorizo, literally, "to suspend"; see Thayer, under the word), means "to be driven by gusts," or "to fluctuate in mid-air."
Here, as inMatthew 14:31, "doubt" does not indicate a lack of faith, but rather "a state of qualified faith": its weakness, but not its absence.
InJohn 10:24 "doubt" translates airo psuchen, which literally means "to lift up the soul" or "to keep one in suspense"; so the Revised Version (British and American). See alsoDISPUTATION.
James M. Gray
Greek
1365b. distazo -- to duplicate, waver,doubt... 1365a, 1365b. distazo. 1366 . to duplicate, waver,
doubt. Transliteration:
distazo Short Definition:
doubt. Word Origin from dis
...1252. diakrino -- to distinguish, to judge
... to judge. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diakrino Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-ak-ree'-no) Short Definition: I distinguish, discern,doubt, hesitate Definition...
1280. diaporeo -- to be greatly perplexed or at a loss
... or at a loss. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diaporeo Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-ap-or-eh'-o) Short Definition: I am in trouble,doubt, difficulty Definition...
1365. distazo -- twenty thousand
... twenty thousand. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: distazo Phonetic Spelling:
(dis-tad'-zo) Short Definition: I waver,doubt Definition: I waver,doubt...
639. aporeo -- to be at a loss, be perplexed
... aporeo Phonetic Spelling: (ap-or-eh'-o) Short Definition: I am in difficulties,
am at my wits end Definition: I am at a loss, am perplexed; mid: I am indoubt....
3843. pantos -- altogether, by all means
... Origin adverb from pas Definition altogether, by all means NASB Word Usage all
(3), all means (1), altogether (1), certainly (1), nodoubt (1), undoubtedly (1...
686. ara -- therefore (an illative particle)
... well then (1). nodoubt, perhaps, then, therefore, truly, wherefore. Probably
from airo (through the idea of drawing a conclusion...
640. aporia -- perplexity
... of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: aporia Phonetic Spelling: (ap-or-ee'-
a) Short Definition: perplexity, anxiety Definition: perplexity, anxiety,doubt...
993. Boanerges -- Boanerges, an epithet applied to the two sons of...
... We don't know why Jesus named these brothers (James, John), "sons of tumult,"
but their passion and boldness in the past nodoubt !...
142. airo -- to raise, take up, lift
... specially, to sail away (ie Weigh anchor); by Hebraism (compare nasa') to expiate
sin -- away with, bear (up), carry, lift up, loose, make todoubt, put away...
Strong's Hebrew
7001. qetar -- a joint, knot...doubt, joint. (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to qatar; a knot (as tied up),
ie (figuratively) a riddle; also a vertebra (as if a knot) --
doubt, joint.
...8511. tala -- to hang
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition to hang NASB Word Usage bent
(1), hang (1). be bent, hang indoubt. A primitive root...
551. omnam -- verily, truly
... indeed, nodoubt, surely, it is. Adverb from 'omen; verily -- indeed, nodoubt,
surely, (it is, of a) true(-ly, -th). see HEBREW 'omen. 550, 551. omnam. 552...
2963. taraph -- to tear, rend, pluck
... catch, withoutdoubt, feed, rend in pieces, surely, tear in pieces. A
primitive root; to pluck off or pull to pieces; causatively...
Library
What to do withDoubt
... Chapter 12 What to Do withDoubt.... Yet God has never removed the possibility of
doubt. Our faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration....
There wasDoubt in the Councils of the Gods How that Unyielding...
... Book V. 11 There wasdoubt in the councils of the gods how that unyielding
and fierce violence? There wasdoubt in the councils...
It is a Matter ofDoubt, Whether the Faith by which Abraham is...
... ARTICLE III It is a matter ofdoubt, whether the faith by which Abraham is said
to be justified, was a faith in Jesus Christ who was still to come....
It is a Matter ofDoubt, Whether Believers under the Old Testament...
... ARTICLE XI It is a matter ofdoubt, whether believers under the Old Testament
understood that the legal ceremonies were types of Christ and of his benefits....
The Routing of GiantDoubt
... CHAPTER ELEVEN THE ROUTING OF GIANTDOUBT. THE ROUTING OF GIANTDOUBT Doubts! doubts!...
He had a great encounter with old GiantDoubt; so let us pay him a visit....
Poetry ofDoubt. October 17.
... Poetry ofDoubt. October 17. The "poetry ofdoubt" of these days, however pretty,
would stand us in little stead if we were threatened by a second Armada....
NoDoubt the Apostle Admonishes the Romans to be Subject to all...
... Chapter XIV. Nodoubt the apostle admonishes the Romans to be subject
to all power? Nodoubt the apostle admonishes the Romans...
He Vainly Thinks that theDoubt About the Energies is to be Solved...
... Book I. Section 29. He vainly thinks that thedoubt about the energies is to be
solved by the beings, and reversely. Now let us see what comes next....
ADoubt Raised About Divine Appearances.
... Book II. Chapter 7."ADoubt Raised About Divine Appearances. 12. The Holy
Spirit, then, is also said to be sent, on account of...
AN APPEAL To all thatDoubt
AN APPEAL To all thatDoubt. <. AN APPEAL To all thatDoubt William Law. Table
of Contents. Title Page. Favor of the Reader. Of Creation in general....
Thesaurus
Doubt (49 Occurrences)... to; to hesitate to believe, or to be inclined not to believe; to withhold confidence
from; to distrust; as, I have heard the story, but I
doubt the truth
...DOUBT.
...Transfiguration
... 28-36). The fullest account is given by Luke, who, nodoubt, was informed
by Peter, who was present on the occasion. What these...
Artaxerxes (14 Occurrences)
... It seems more probable, however, that Artaxerxes I is the king referred to; and
there is littledoubt that the identification of the Artaxerxes of Ezra 4:7...
Assurance (16 Occurrences)
... The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, `full bearing'] of faith" (Hebrews 10:22)
is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room fordoubt....
Doubting (13 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) ofDoubt. 2. (a.) That is uncertain; that distrusts or hesitates; having
doubts.... (BBE). Jude 1:22 And have pity on those who are indoubt; (See NAS)....
Oak (22 Occurrences)
... of the same verb and means "one who practices augury," though there is somedoubt
as to the exact connotation of the word. See under DIVINATION....
Joram (26 Occurrences)
... On his question, "Is it peace, Jehu?" he received a brutal reply that no longer
left him indoubt as to the intention of the conspirator....
Owl (11 Occurrences)
... kippod, instead of kippoz. There is no reason todoubt the correctness of
the rendering of the Authorized Version. Tristram says: "The...
Certainly (415 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) Withoutdoubt or question; unquestionably. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CERTAIN; CERTAINLY; CERTAINTY....
Gifts (144 Occurrences)
... xxiii; Origen, Contra Celsum, vii.4). The free exercise of these gifts gradually
ceased, partly, nodoubt, through loss of the early faith and spirituality...
Resources
What does the Bible say about doubt? | GotQuestions.orgIf you doubt your salvation, does that mean you are not truly saved? | GotQuestions.orgDoubting God - how can I overcome doubt in my relationship with God? | GotQuestions.orgDoubt: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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