Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "ever-increasing" in the Bible often relates to the growth and development of spiritual qualities, faith, and the Kingdom of God. This idea is rooted in the understanding that the Christian life is a journey of continual growth and transformation, reflecting the dynamic and progressive nature of God's work in the believer's life.
Spiritual Growth and MaturityThe Apostle Paul frequently emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth and maturity. In his letter to the Philippians, he expresses his desire for their love to "abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight" (
Philippians 1:9). This abounding love is indicative of an ever-increasing capacity to understand and live out the Christian faith.
Similarly, in
2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul describes the transformative process of becoming more like Christ: "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" . This passage highlights the ongoing nature of spiritual transformation, as believers are progressively conformed to the image of Christ.
Faith and KnowledgeThe New Testament also speaks of an ever-increasing faith and knowledge of God. In
2 Thessalonians 1:3, Paul commends the Thessalonian church for their growing faith: "We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing" . This growth in faith is accompanied by an increase in love, demonstrating the interconnectedness of these spiritual attributes.
Peter, in his second epistle, encourages believers to add to their faith a series of virtues, culminating in love, which should be ever-increasing: "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (
2 Peter 1:8). This passage underscores the necessity of continual growth in virtue and knowledge to lead a fruitful Christian life.
The Kingdom of GodThe concept of ever-increasing also applies to the Kingdom of God. Jesus, in His parables, often described the Kingdom as something that starts small but grows significantly. In the Parable of the Mustard Seed, He states, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches" (
Matthew 13:31-32). This imagery illustrates the expansive and ever-increasing nature of God's Kingdom.
ConclusionThe biblical theme of ever-increasing growth is a call for believers to pursue a deeper relationship with God, characterized by continual spiritual development and an expanding influence of God's Kingdom in the world. This growth is not static but dynamic, reflecting the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer and the Church.
Library
Foreword to the Third Edition
... As the darkness deepens and the pretensions of men are taking on anever-increasing
blatancy, the need becomes greater for the claims of God to be emphasised....
His Teaching Presented Seeds and Stimulants of Thought.
... truths perhaps as yet not fully intelligible, but which would grow clear as the
Divine life was formed within them, and become anever-increasing source of...
Twenty Fourth Sunday after Trinity Prayer and Spiritual Knowledge.
... The words are, "be filled"; that is, not only hear and understand God's will, but
become rich in the knowledge of it, withever-increasing fullness....
The Twenty-Second Psalm.
... Anever increasing darkness; a turning away from the blessed Gospel of the Son of
God as it centers in the Cross; a greater rejection and neglection of the...
Making and Breaking Connections.
... at once. And if the new life goes on without break there will be a continuance
of that power inever-increasing measure. But many...
The Shaking of the Heavens and the Earth (Preached at the Chapel...
... of that likewise. How have our conceptions of the physical world been shaken
of late, withever-increasing violence! How simple, and...
Introduction
... He could not deny before the congregation which had been intrusted to his care,
what up to this time he had taught withever increasing clearness in his...
Argument. --Novatian, a Roman Presbyter, During His
... wherein it was absolutely proved that they are ignorant of what is the true
circumcision, and what the true Sabbath; and theirever increasing blindness is...
The Voice Behind Thee
... calls to him, "This is the way, walk ye in it." The word of warning, instruction,
and entreaty follows the wanderer, and withever-increasing pathos beseeches...
Foreword
... Since then we have continued, withever increasing delight, to trace out for ourself,
the various features which are peculiar to each Gospel....
Thesaurus
Ever-increasing (2 Occurrences)Ever-
increasing. Evergreen,
Ever-
increasing. Everlasting .
Multi-Version Concordance
Ever-
increasing (2 Occurrences).
...Leads (64 Occurrences)
... infirmity leads me to employ these familiar figures--and just as you once surrendered
your faculties into bondage to Impurity andever-increasing disregard of...
Impurity (42 Occurrences)
... infirmity leads me to employ these familiar figures--and just as you once surrendered
your faculties into bondage to Impurity andever-increasing disregard of...
Figures (11 Occurrences)
... infirmity leads me to employ these familiar figures--and just as you once surrendered
your faculties into bondage to Impurity andever-increasing disregard of...
Faculties (5 Occurrences)
... infirmity leads me to employ these familiar figures--and just as you once surrendered
your faculties into bondage to Impurity andever-increasing disregard of...
Familiar (35 Occurrences)
... infirmity leads me to employ these familiar figures--and just as you once surrendered
your faculties into bondage to Impurity andever-increasing disregard of...
Evergreen (1 Occurrence)
Employ (6 Occurrences)
... infirmity leads me to employ these familiar figures--and just as you once surrendered
your faculties into bondage to Impurity andever-increasing disregard of...
Disregard (8 Occurrences)
... infirmity leads me to employ these familiar figures--and just as you once surrendered
your faculties into bondage to Impurity andever-increasing disregard of...
Prophecy (37 Occurrences)
... prophecy relates directly to the advent of the Messiah, beginning with Genesis
3:15, the first great promise, and extending inever-increasing fulness and...
Resources
What is the “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sermon? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Christian mysticism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to grow in grace? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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