Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Meaning:Pureness, in a biblical context, refers to the state of being free from moral corruption, sin, or guilt. It is often associated with holiness, righteousness, and the integrity of heart and mind. Pureness is both an inward condition and an outward expression of a life aligned with God's will.
Biblical References:1.
Heart and Mind: Pureness is frequently linked to the condition of the heart and mind. In
Matthew 5:8, Jesus states, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." This beatitude emphasizes that pureness is a prerequisite for experiencing God's presence and favor. The heart, in biblical terms, is the center of one's being, encompassing thoughts, emotions, and will.
2.
Moral and Spiritual Integrity: The Apostle Paul often speaks of pureness in the context of moral and spiritual integrity. In
2 Corinthians 6:6, he lists pureness as a characteristic of his ministry: "in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love." Here, pureness is associated with the virtues that accompany a life led by the Holy Spirit.
3.
Speech and Conduct: Pureness extends to one's speech and conduct. In
1 Timothy 4:12, Paul advises Timothy, "Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity." This instruction underscores the importance of maintaining pureness in all aspects of life, serving as a model for others.
4.
Wisdom from Above:James 3:17 describes the wisdom that comes from God as pure: "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere." Pureness is the foremost quality of divine wisdom, indicating its foundational role in godly living.
5.
Sanctification and Holiness: Pureness is closely related to the process of sanctification, the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life to make them holy. In
1 Thessalonians 4:7, Paul writes, "For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness." This call to holiness is a call to pureness, reflecting God's nature and purposes.
Theological Significance:Pureness is integral to the Christian life, reflecting the transformative work of Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is not merely an external adherence to rules but an internal transformation that manifests in outward actions. Pureness is both a gift and a pursuit; believers are made pure through the atoning work of Jesus Christ and are called to live out that pureness in their daily lives.
Practical Implications:1.
Personal Reflection and Repentance: Believers are encouraged to examine their hearts regularly, seeking God's help to identify and repent of any impurities.
Psalm 51:10 is a prayer for pureness: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
2.
Community and Accountability: The Christian community plays a vital role in encouraging pureness.
Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts believers to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds," fostering an environment where pureness is nurtured and upheld.
3.
Cultural Engagement: In a world often marked by moral relativism, Christians are called to be distinct in their pureness, serving as a light to those around them.
Philippians 2:15 encourages believers to be "blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation."
Pureness, as a biblical concept, is a profound expression of a life transformed by God's grace, reflecting His holiness and love to the world.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) The state of being pure (in any sense of the adjective).
Greek
54. hagnotes -- purity, chastity... purity, blamelessness. From hagnos; cleanness (the state), ie (figuratively)
blamelessness --
pureness. see GREEK hagnos. (agnoteti) -- 1 Occurrence.
...Strong's Hebrew
1252. bor -- cleanness,pureness... 1251, 1252. bor. 1253 . cleanness,
pureness. Transliteration: bor Phonetic
Spelling: (bore) Short Definition: cleanness.
... cleanness,
pureness.
...2890. tahor --pureness
... 2889, 2890. tahor. 2891 .pureness. Transliteration: tahor Phonetic Spelling:
(teh-hore') Short Definition:pureness....pureness From taher; purity --pureness...
2889. tahor -- clean, pure
... clean, fair,pureness. Or tahor {taw-hore'}; from taher; pure (in a physical, chemical,
ceremonial or moral sense) -- clean, fair, pure(-ness). see HEBREW taher...
Library
Pursues the Same Matter.
... Great was thepureness of him in being made Man; greater that of dying ignominiously
on the Cross for our sake, but the giving of himself whole and entire to...
Sanctification.
... patience, in afflictions, in necessity, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments,
in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; bypureness, by knowledge...
2 Cor. vi. 1, 2
... Then along with the things from without, he mentions those imposed by himself.
Ver.5, 6. "In labors, in watchings, in fastings; inpureness."....
Description of the Perfect Man, or Gnostic.
... in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in
tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, inpureness, in knowledge, in...
In Judaea
... rose the everlasting hills, till on the uppermost he beheld the sanctuary of his
God, standing out from all around, majestic in the snowypureness of its...
Concerning Peaceableness
... Blessed are the peacemakers'. Observe the connection. The Scripture links these
two together,pureness of heart and peaceableness of spirit....
First Sunday in Lent
... in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in
tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; 6 inpureness, in knowledge...
Chapter i
... For, by the unceasing and absolute renunciation of thyself and all things, thou
shalt inpureness cast all things aside, and be released from all, and so shalt...
An Appendix to the Beatitudes
... 1 John 5:3. You have seen what Christ calls for poverty of spirit,pureness of heart,
meekness, mercifulness, cheerfulness in suffering persecution, etc....
On the Feast of St Timothy, or the Memorial of St Peter
... For I tell thee, dear child, if thou couldst conquer thyself by long-suffering and
gentleness and thepureness of thy heart, thou wouldst have vanquished all...
Thesaurus
Pureness (3 Occurrences)...Pureness (3 Occurrences). 2 Corinthians 6:6 in
pureness, in knowledge, in patience,
in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT).
...Purely (4 Occurrences)
... 1:25, the Revised Version (British and American) "thoroughly (margin "as with lye,"
the King James Version "purely") purge away thy dross"; "pureness" is the...
Unfeigned (5 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 6:6 Bypureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness,
by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, (KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)....
Long-suffering (23 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 6:6 Bypureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness,
by the Holy Spirit, by love unfeigned, (WBS YLT). Galatians...
Longsuffering (17 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 6:6 Bypureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness,
by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, (KJV DBY). Galatians...
Genuine (9 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 2 Corinthians 6:6 inpureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness,
in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, (See NAS RSV)....
Forbearance (9 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 6:6 inpureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in
the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, (See RSV). Philippians...
Purity (16 Occurrences)
... 1:25, the Revised Version (British and American) "thoroughly (margin "as with lye,"
the King James Version "purely") purge away thy dross"; "pureness" is the...
Purer (3 Occurrences)
Pure (160 Occurrences)
... 1:25, the Revised Version (British and American) "thoroughly (margin "as with lye,"
the King James Version "purely") purge away thy dross"; "pureness" is the...
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