Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of equality in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing spiritual, moral, and social dimensions. While the term "equally" may not frequently appear in the text, the principles of equality are woven throughout Scripture, reflecting God's character and His intentions for human relationships.
Spiritual EqualityIn the New Testament, spiritual equality is emphasized through the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles.
Galatians 3:28 states, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This verse highlights the spiritual unity and equality of all believers in Christ, transcending ethnic, social, and gender distinctions. The apostle Paul reiterates this theme in
Colossians 3:11 : "Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all."
Moral and Ethical EqualityThe Bible also addresses moral and ethical equality, particularly in the context of justice and fairness.
Leviticus 19:15 instructs, "You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly." This command underscores the importance of impartiality and fairness in judgment, reflecting God's just nature.
James 2:1-4 warns against favoritism within the Christian community: "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?" This passage calls believers to treat all individuals with equal respect and dignity.
Social and Economic EqualityWhile the Bible acknowledges social and economic differences, it also advocates for the equitable treatment of all people. The early church exemplified this principle in
Acts 4:32-35 , where believers shared their possessions to ensure that "there was no needy one among them." This communal approach reflects a commitment to meeting the needs of all members equally.
The Old Testament law also provided for the protection and support of the vulnerable, such as widows, orphans, and foreigners.
Deuteronomy 10:18-19 declares, "He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing. So you also must love the foreigner, since you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt."
Equality in MarriageThe Bible presents a vision of equality within marriage, where both husband and wife are called to mutual love and respect.
Ephesians 5:21 instructs believers to "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." While the subsequent verses outline distinct roles for husbands and wives, the overarching principle is one of mutual submission and sacrificial love, as exemplified by Christ's relationship with the church.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of equality is rooted in the inherent worth and dignity of every person as created in the image of God (
Genesis 1:27). This foundational truth informs the call for spiritual, moral, and social equality, challenging believers to reflect God's justice, love, and impartiality in their relationships and communities.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
adv.) In an equal manner or degree in equal shares or proportion; with equal and impartial justice; without difference; alike; evenly; justly; as, equally taxed, furnished, etc.
Greek
2472. isotimos -- held in equal honor... held in equal honor. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: isotimos Phonetic
Spelling: (ee-sot'-ee-mos) Short Definition:
equally privileged, equal
...2473. isopsuchos -- like-minded
... an adjective, derived from 2470 , "equivalent, equal" and 5590, "soul") -- properly,
of equal-soul; having (values) because , ieequally (similarly) motivated....
3414. mna -- a mina (Gr. monetary unit)
... The Lord requires 100% faithfulness from each person -- and rewards this
equally, regardless of . See also Lk 17:6; 2 Pet 1:1....
3008. leitourgeo -- to serve the state, ie by anal. to perform...
... Because each believer is an priest of God, their ministering to the Lord isequally
profound with every "living sacrifice" offered up in faith (cf....
5147. tribos -- a beaten track, a path
... It is the "road of faith," which Godequally extends to all people, so all can know
Him for who He really is (personally grasping His attributes, cf....
3453. mueo -- to initiate into the mysteries, hence to instruct
... enables the believer to learn "." By experiencing faith ("God's inworked persuasions"),
every decision (action) of life becomesequally, eternally meaningful....
5207. huios -- a son
... Christ (the work of the ). In the NT, 5207 ("son")equally refers to female
believers (Gal 3:28). 5207 ("son") emphasizes , ie His...
2481. isos -- perhaps
... perhaps. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: isos Phonetic Spelling: (ee'-soce)
Short Definition: perhaps Definition: perhaps,equally; it may be that....
3668. homoios -- likewise, in like manner
... Transliteration: homoios Phonetic Spelling: (hom-oy'-oce) Short Definition: in like
manner Definition: in like manner, similarly, in the same way,equally....
4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... These statements sober the heart and inspire the soul! The Lord offers to inbirth
faith in each scene of life – so that each mattersequally in eternity . ....
Strong's Hebrew
7947. shalab -- to be bound or joined...equally distant, set in order. A primitive root; to space off; intensive (evenly)
to make equidistant --
equally distant, set in order. 7946, 7947.
...5973. im -- with
... From amam; adverb or preposition, with (ie In conjunction with), in varied applications;
specifically,equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then...
1614. gophrith -- brimstone
... brimstone. Probably feminine of gopher; properly, cypress- resin; by analogy, sulphur
(asequally inflammable) -- brimstone. see HEBREW gopher. 1613, 1614....
5704. ad -- as far as, even to, up to, until, while
... especially with a preposition); as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space
(even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with) -- against...
Library
Whether all Will beEqually Impassible?
... OF THE IMPASSIBILITY OF THE BODIES OF THE BLESSED AFTER THEIR RESURRECTION
(FOUR ARTICLES) Whether all will beequally impassible?...
Whether Original Sin isEqually in All?
... OF ORIGINAL SIN, AS TO ITS ESSENCE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether original sin isequally
in all? Objection 1: It would seem that original sin is notequally in all....
That it must be AscribedEqually to Christ and the Holy Ghost that...
... Book VII. Chapter XXI. That it must be ascribedequally to Christ and the Holy
Ghost that His flesh and Humanity became the temple of God....
The Holy Spirit is LifeEqually with the Father and the Son...
... Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, on the Holy Spirit. To the Emperor Gratian. Book I. Chapter
XV. The Holy Spirit is Lifeequally with the Father and the Son?...
Whether all areEqually Bound to have Explicit Faith?
... OF THE ACT OF FAITH (TEN ARTICLES) Whether all areequally bound to have explicit
faith?... Therefore all areequally bound to have explicit faith....
Whether all MenEqually are Required to have Explicit Faith
... Article Six Whether all MenEqually are required to have Explicit Faith.
Whether all MenEqually are required to have Explicit Faith...
St. John, in the Apocalypse,Equally Explicit in Asserting the...
... Chapter XXV."St. John, in the Apocalypse,Equally Explicit in Asserting
the Same Great Doctrine. In the Revelation of John, again...
Whether God Loves all ThingsEqually?
... GOD'S LOVE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether God loves all thingsequally? Objection
1: It seems that God loves all thingsequally. For it...
Whether God Loves all ThingsEqually
... Article Three Whether God Loves All ThingsEqually. Whether God Loves All
ThingsEqually... 1. It seems that God loves all thingsequally....
How Pride isEqually Destructive of all virtues.
... Prolegomena. Chapter III. How pride isequally destructive of all virtues.
There is then no other fault which is so destructive...
Thesaurus
Equally (21 Occurrences)... equal manner or degree in equal shares or proportion; with equal and impartial justice;
without difference; alike; evenly; justly; as,
equally taxed, furnished
...Zion (169 Occurrences)
... David. The reverse isequally true; on no other part of the Jerusalem site
has any quantity of such early pottery been found. (5...
Johannine
... These writings, whether by the same or by different authors, areequally saturated
with that spiritual and theological atmosphere,equally characterized by...
Tradition (13 Occurrences)
... It means, in Jewish theology, the oral teachings of the elders (distinguished ancestors
from Moses on) which were reverenced by the late Jewsequally with the...
Middle (169 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.)Equally distant from the extreme either of a number of things or of one
thing; mean; medial; as, the middle house in a row; a middle rank or station in...
Shalman (1 Occurrence)
... shal'-man (shalman): A name of uncertain meaning, found only once in the Old Testament
(Hosea 10:14), in connection with a place-name,equally obscure, "as...
Sphere (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A body or space contained under a single surface, which in every part
isequally distant from a point within called its center....
Korah (51 Occurrences)
...Equally baseless is the inference that Zelophehad of Manassel joined it, but withdrew
(Numbers 27:3). The account implies that there were other Levites in it...
Caesar's (10 Occurrences)
... as the gospel entered Rome, as soon as it was proclaimed in the many synagogues
there, these members of Caesar's household could not fail,equally with the...
Adoption (5 Occurrences)
... the apostle would naturally know of the Roman custom, but in the cosmopolitan city
of Tarsus, and again on his travels, he would becomeequally familiar with...
Resources
Are men and women equal in God's eyes? | GotQuestions.orgComplementarianism vs. egalitarianism'which view is biblically correct? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about classism? | GotQuestions.orgEqually: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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