Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Meaning:The term "eager" generally refers to a strong desire or enthusiasm to do or have something. In a biblical context, eagerness can be seen as a positive trait when it aligns with the pursuit of righteousness, godliness, and the will of God. It reflects a heart that is zealous and fervent in seeking the things of God.
Biblical References and Context:1.
Eagerness in Seeking God: Eagerness is often associated with a sincere and passionate pursuit of God and His righteousness. In
Psalm 63:1 , David expresses his eagerness to seek God: "O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You; my body longs for You in a dry and weary land without water." This verse illustrates a deep longing and eagerness for God's presence and guidance.
2.
Eagerness in Doing Good: The New Testament encourages believers to be eager in doing good works. In
Titus 2:14 , Paul writes about Jesus Christ, "who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." Here, eagerness is linked with zeal for good works, reflecting a life transformed by Christ.
3.
Eagerness in Spiritual Gifts: The Apostle Paul encourages the Corinthian church to eagerly desire spiritual gifts. In
1 Corinthians 14:1 , he states, "Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy." This eagerness is directed towards building up the church and serving others through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
4.
Eagerness in Sharing the Gospel: Eagerness is also seen in the context of evangelism and sharing the gospel. In
Romans 1:15 , Paul expresses his eagerness to preach the gospel: "That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome." This eagerness reflects a commitment to spreading the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
5.
Eagerness in Anticipating Christ's Return: Believers are encouraged to be eager in anticipating the return of Christ. In
2 Peter 3:12 , Peter writes, "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." This eagerness is characterized by a hopeful expectation and readiness for the fulfillment of God's promises.
Theological Implications:Eagerness, when aligned with God's purposes, is a reflection of a heart transformed by the Holy Spirit. It is a demonstration of faith in action, characterized by a fervent desire to know God, serve others, and live according to His will. Eagerness in the Christian life is not merely an emotional response but a disciplined pursuit of holiness and godliness, motivated by love for God and others.
Practical Application:Believers are encouraged to cultivate eagerness in their spiritual lives by:
· Regularly seeking God through prayer, worship, and the study of Scripture.
· Actively participating in good works and service within the community.
· Desiring and utilizing spiritual gifts for the edification of the church.
· Sharing the gospel with boldness and compassion.
· Living in anticipation of Christ's return, maintaining a posture of readiness and hope.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Sharp; sour; acid.
2. (a.) Sharp; keen; bitter; severe.
3. (a.) Excited by desire in the pursuit of any object; ardent to pursue, perform, or obtain; keenly desirous; hotly longing; earnest; zealous; impetuous; vehement; as, the hounds were eager in the chase.
4. (a.) Brittle; inflexible; not ductile.
5. (n.) Same as Eagre.
Greek
4705. spoudaios -- hasty,eager, diligent... hasty,
eager, diligent. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: spoudaios Phonetic
Spelling: (spoo-dah'-yos) Short Definition: diligent, earnest Definition
...4289. prothumos -- willing, ready
... willing, ready. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: prothumos Phonetic Spelling:
(proth'-oo-mos) Short Definition:eager, ready, willing Definition:eager...
4704. spoudazo -- to make haste, hence to give diligence
... diligence. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: spoudazo Phonetic Spelling:
(spoo-dad'-zo) Short Definition: I hasten Definition: I hasten, ameager, am zealous...
2206. zeloo -- to be jealous
... to be jealous. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: zeloo Phonetic Spelling:
(dzay-lo'-o) Short Definition: I am jealous,eager for Definition: (a) intrans:...
725. harpagmos -- the act of seizing or the thing seized
... thing seized. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: harpagmos Phonetic
Spelling: (har-pag-mos') Short Definition: spoil, an object ofeager desire, a...
1974. epipothia -- longing
... longing. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: epipothia Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ee-poth-ee'-ah) Short Definition: longing,eager desire Definition...
603. apokaradokia -- strained expectancy
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: apokaradokia Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-ok-ar-ad-ok-ee'-ah) Short Definition:eager expectation Definition:eager...
1938. epithumetes -- one who desires
... one who desires. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: epithumetes Phonetic
Spelling: (ep-ee-thoo-may-tace') Short Definition: aneager desirer of...
3691. oxus -- sharp, swift
... sharp, swift. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: oxus Phonetic Spelling:
(oz-oos') Short Definition: sharp, swift,eager Definition: (a) sharp, (b) swift...
1972. epipothesis -- longing
... longing. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: epipothesis Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ee-poth'-ay-sis) Short Definition:eager longing, desire Definition...
Strong's Hebrew
3700. kasaph -- to long (for)... 3699, 3700. kasaph. 3701 . to long (for). Transliteration: kasaph Phonetic
Spelling: (kaw-saf') Short Definition:
eager. Word Origin a prim.
...1245. baqash -- to seek
... root Definition to seek NASB Word Usage aim (1), beg (1), begging (1), concerned
(1), consulted (1), demand (1), desire (1),eager (1), hold* (1), inquired (2...
7925. shakam -- to start or rise early
... to start or rise early NASB Word Usage again (9), arise early (2), arisen early
(1), arose (1), arose to early (1), arose early (16),eager (1), early (6), got...
926. bahal -- to disturb, terrify
... root Definition to disturb, terrify NASB Word Usage dismayed (12), disturb (1),
disturbed (2),eager (1), hastened (1), hastens (1), hastily (1), hasty (1...
2742. charuwts -- sharp, diligent
... or feminine) a trench (as dug), gold (as mined), a threshing-sledge (having sharp
teeth); (figuratively) determination; alsoeager -- decision, diligent, (fine...
3854. lahag -- study, devotion (to books)
... study. From an unused root meaning to beeager; intense mental application --
study. 3853, 3854. lahag. 3855 . Strong's Numbers.
2363. chuwsh -- to hasten, make haste
... make hasten, ready A primitive root; to hurry; figuratively, to beeager with
excitement or enjoyment -- (make) haste(-n), ready. 2362, 2363. chuwsh. 2363a >...
7602a. shaaph -- to gasp, pant, pant after, long for
... root Definition to gasp, pant, pant after, long for NASB Word Usageeager (1),
hastening (1), long (1), pant (2), panted (1), pants (1), sniffs (1)....
Library
AnEager Coming
... ANEAGER COMING. 'And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to
Jesus.'"Mark 10:50. Mark's vivid picture"long wail of the...
Whether the Brave are MoreEager at First than in the Midst of...
... OF DARING (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the brave are moreeager at first than
in the midst of danger? Objection 1: It would seem that...
In Childhood, when withEager Eyes
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CCCLIII In childhood, when witheager eyes.
The season-measured year I view'd, All, garb'd in fairy guise,....
Let Then theEager Searcher into Words for Wisdom...
... Address 162: Let then theeager searcher into words for wisdom? Let then
theeager searcher into words for wisdom, the book- devourer...
How a Monk must Always beEager to Preserve his Purity of Heart.
... Prolegomena. Chapter XV. How a monk must always beeager to preserve his
purity of heart. It is like the case when one endeavours...
Of the Examination of Conscience, and Purpose of Amendment
... so close in keeping; so inconsiderate in speaking, so reluctant to keep silence;
so disorderly in manners, so inconsiderate in actions; soeager after food, so...
The Testament of Naphtali Concerning Natural Goodness.
... And next she bore Bilhah, saying, My daughter iseager after what is new, for
immediately that she was born she waseager for the breast....
Christ's Authority to Forgive
... wanted something more exciting than 'teaching.'. I. We note theeager group
of interrupters. Mark gives one of the minute touches...
A Fourfold Cord
... with which it is held. Believing, they wereeager for more light to be poured
on to their half-seeing eyes. They had no Gospels, they...
Glad Givers and Faithful Workers
... I. The story first brings into strong contrast theeager king, full of his purpose,
and the sluggards to whom he had to entrust its execution....
Thesaurus
Eager (43 Occurrences)... of any object; ardent to pursue, perform, or obtain; keenly desirous; hotly longing;
earnest; zealous; impetuous; vehement; as, the hounds were
eager in the
...Pursuit (35 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 Corinthians 10:6 And in this they became a warning to us, to teach us not
to beeager, as they wereeager, in pursuit of what is evil. (WEY)....
Eagerly (36 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In aneager manner. Multi-Version Concordance
Eagerly (36 Occurrences). Matthew 6:32 For the Gentiles...
Quick (49 Occurrences)
... 3. (superl.) Speedy; hasty; swift; not slow; as, be quick. 4. (superl.) Impatient;
passionate; hasty;eager;eager; sharp; unceremonious; as, a quick temper....
Glorious (91 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.)Eager for glory or distinction; haughty; boastful; ostentatious;
vainglorious. 3. (n.) Ecstatic; hilarious; elated with drink. Int....
Warning (30 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 10:6 And in this they became a warning to us, to teach us not to be
eager, as they wereeager, in pursuit of what is evil. (WEY RSV)....
Warnings (6 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 10:6 And in this they became a warning to us, to teach us not to be
eager, as they wereeager, in pursuit of what is evil. (See RSV)....
Fierce (92 Occurrences)
... 2. (superl.) Vehement in anger or cruelty; ready oreager to kill or injure;
of a nature to inspire terror; ferocious. 3. (superl...
Rage (43 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Violent excitement;eager passion; extreme
vehemence of desire, emotion, or suffering, mastering the will....
Covetous (11 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) Very desirous;eager to obtain; -- used in a good sense. 2. (vt) Inordinately
desirous; excessivelyeager to obtain and possess (esp....
Resources
What does it mean to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? | GotQuestions.orgThe missing link'has it been found? | GotQuestions.orgWhy should I talk about my faith in the workplace? | GotQuestions.orgEager: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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