Topical Encyclopedia
The term "preferred" in the context of the Bible often relates to the idea of favor, choice, or selection by God or individuals. It is not a frequently used term in the biblical text, but the concept is evident throughout Scripture in various narratives and teachings.
Divine PreferenceGod's preference is a recurring theme in the Bible, where He chooses certain individuals or groups for specific purposes. This divine selection is often based on His sovereign will rather than human merit. For example, God preferred Abel's offering over Cain's, as seen in
Genesis 4:4-5: "And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor."
Similarly, God's preference is evident in His choice of Israel as His chosen people.
Deuteronomy 7:6-8 states, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors."
Human PreferenceHuman preference is also depicted in the Bible, often reflecting personal biases or desires. In the account of Jacob and Esau, Rebekah preferred Jacob, while Isaac preferred Esau, as noted in
Genesis 25:28: "Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob." This preference led to significant family conflict and the eventual fulfillment of God's plan for Jacob to receive the blessing.
In the New Testament, the concept of preference is addressed in the context of favoritism.
James 2:1-4 warns against showing partiality: "My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, 'Here is a seat of honor,' but say to the poor man, 'You must stand,' or, 'Sit at my feet,' have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"
Spiritual PreferenceThe Bible encourages believers to prefer spiritual over worldly matters. In
Philippians 3:7-8 , Paul expresses his preference for knowing Christ over worldly gains: "But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ."
ConclusionThe concept of preference in the Bible highlights the importance of aligning one's choices with God's will and valuing spiritual over temporal matters. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereign choices and the call for believers to avoid favoritism and seek what is eternally significant.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Prefer.
Greek
1905. eperotao -- to inquire of... 1905 (from , ", fitting" intensifying 2065 , "inquire, ask") -- properly, ask
appropriately (aptly), done by someone on "
preferred footing" who makes a request
...4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... It is a virtue that can be worked up by human effort. 2. Faith (4102) enables the
believer to know God'spreferred-will (cf. J. Calvin; see 2307)....
2261. epios -- gentle, mild
... 2261 ("gentle faith-speaking") happens as we to -- ie are committed to
handling matters according to Hispreferred-will (2307 )....
3131. manna -- manna
... wandering Israelites in the OT when God gave them (divinely-sent bread wafers)
(see Nu 11:6). 3131 ("necessary") refers to what to live inpreferred-will (cf....
4696. spilos -- a spot, stain
... Moral and spiritual stains (spots) come from living outside God'spreferred-will
(desire, 2307 , compare Eph 5:15-17,27) and are removed with heartfelt...
1954. epiloipos -- still left
... remnant, what remains afterward") -- properly, what remains , emphasizing the
"after-effects" that go with living in God's 2307 ("preferred-will") through the...
3852. paraggelia -- an instruction, a command
... Christ speaks His -word into the believer -- giving a command (3852 ) that passes
on Hispreferred-will (cf. Ro 10:17, Gk text and 2307 )....
740. artos -- bread, a loaf
... properly, bread; (figuratively) divine provision; all the sustenance God supplies
to yielded believers scene-by-scene to live in Hispreferred-will (2307 )....
5545. chrisma -- an anointing, unction
... Cognate: 5545 (from 5548 , "anoint with oil") -- , referring to the ministry of
the , guiding the receptive believer into fullness of God'spreferred-will (see...
3786. ophelos -- advantage, help
... in life by living . This gives the "edge," ie thepreferred position that also
brings "cumulative advantage.". Word Origin from ophello...
Strong's Hebrew
5330. netsach -- to distinguish oneself... be
preferred. (Aramaic) corresponding to natsach; to become chief -- be
preferred.
see HEBREW natsach. 5329, 5330. netsach. 5331 . Strong's Numbers.
977. bachar -- to choose
... choose NASB Word Usage choice (6), choicest (2), choose (40), chooses (22), choosing
(1), chose (21), chosen (67), desired (2), men (1),preferred (1), require...
Library
Whether Religion Should bePreferred to the Other Moral virtues?
... OF RELIGION (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether religion should bepreferred to the other
moral virtues? Objection 1: It would seem that religion...
Loose CompanyPreferred by Heretics Ungodliness the Effect of...
... Chapter XLIII."Loose CompanyPreferred by Heretics Ungodliness the Effect of Their
Teaching the Very Opposite of Catholic Truth, Which Promotes the Fear of...
That Nothing is to bePreferred to the Love of God and Christ.
... Third Book. 18. That nothing is to bepreferred to the love of God and
Christ. In Deuteronomy: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God...
Letter xviii. --Will of God to bePreferred.
... FIFTH BOOK: FRESH TRIALS, SUFFERINGS AND PRIVATIONS. Letter XVIII."Will
of God to bePreferred. To the same Sister. Believe me...
Whether Even vices Themselves as Objects of Intellectual...
... Chapter 6. "Whether Even Vices Themselves as Objects of Intellectual Apprehension
are to BePreferred to Light as an Object of Sense Perception, and are to...
Of the Authority of the Septuagint Translation, Which, Saving the...
... Chapter 43."Of the Authority of the Septuagint Translation, Which, Saving the Honor
of the Hebrew Original, is to BePreferred to All Translations....
Now among Translations Themselves the Italian Itala is to be...
... Book 2 Chapter 22. Now among translations themselves the Italian Itala is
to bepreferred to the others? 22. Now among translations...
How Much the Contemplation of God is to bePreferred to all Other...
... Chapter 9 How much the contemplation of God is to bepreferred to all other
exercises. Now since all things other than God are the...
Calumnies against the Sons of Mariamne. AntipaterisPreferred...
... CHAPTER 23. Calumnies Against The Sons Of Mariamne. AntipaterisPreferred Before
Them. They Are Accused Before Caesar, And Herod Is Reconciled To Them....
Other Incidents of the Passion Minutely Compared with Prophecy...
... Chapter XLII."Other Incidents of the Passion Minutely Compared with Prophecy Pilate
and Herod. BarabbasPreferred to Jesus. Details of the Crucifixion....
Thesaurus
Preferred (9 Occurrences)...Preferred (9 Occurrences).
... John 1:27 He is the one who comes after me, who is
preferred before me, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to loosen." (WEB KJV WBS).
...Prefer (10 Occurrences)
... and the two versions agree; in Esther 2:9, the Revised Version (British and American)
has "removed" where the King James Version has "preferred"; in Daniel 6:3...
Choice (113 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Act of choosing; the voluntary act of selecting or separating from two or
more things that which ispreferred; the determination of the mind in...
Preference (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) That which ispreferred; the object of choice or superior favor; as, which
is your preference? Multi-Version Concordance Preference (3 Occurrences)....
Bason (3 Occurrences)
... The American Standard Revised Version has "basin," the King James Version and the
Revised Version (British and American) "bason," thepreferred spelling of the...
Basin (37 Occurrences)
... The American Standard Revised Version has "basin," the King James Version and the
Revised Version (British and American) "bason," thepreferred spelling of the...
Spirits (129 Occurrences)
... expresses the meaning, which Thayer has freely rendered, "not for the purpose of
passing judgment on opinions, as to which one is to bepreferred as the more...
Linen (111 Occurrences)
... In religious services by others than priests, white linen was alsopreferred, as
in the case of the infant Samuel (1 Samuel 2:18), the Levite singers in the...
Abel (22 Occurrences)
... reads in the Hebrew text 'ebhen (= a stone), and accordingly translates "unto the
great stone, whereon they set down the ark." This reading is to bepreferred....
Korahites (7 Occurrences)
... The adjective "Korhite" appears also in the King James Version as "Korathite," Kore,"
and "Korahite," the last being the formpreferred in the English Revised...
Resources
Should Christians use the preferred pronouns of transgender individuals when referring to them? | GotQuestions.orgWhat should a believer do if his or her spouse chooses to live a transgender lifestyle? | GotQuestions.orgWhy is the science community so opposed to creationism? | GotQuestions.orgPreferred: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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