Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:Examination, in a biblical context, refers to the process of self-assessment, testing, or scrutiny, often in a spiritual or moral sense. It involves evaluating one's actions, thoughts, and intentions in light of God's standards as revealed in Scripture. The concept of examination is integral to the Christian life, encouraging believers to live in accordance with God's will and to grow in holiness.
Biblical References:1.
Self-Examination: The Bible frequently calls believers to examine themselves to ensure they are living in faith and obedience. In
2 Corinthians 13:5, the Apostle Paul exhorts the Corinthian church, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test?" . This verse underscores the importance of self-examination as a means of confirming one's faith and relationship with Christ.
2.
Moral and Spiritual Examination:Psalm 139:23-24 is a prayer of David that highlights the need for divine examination: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" . Here, the psalmist invites God to examine his innermost thoughts and desires, seeking guidance and correction.
3.
Communal Examination: In the context of the Lord's Supper, Paul instructs the Corinthian believers to examine themselves before partaking in the sacrament. "Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup" (
1 Corinthians 11:28). This examination is meant to ensure that participants approach the table with reverence and a clear conscience, recognizing the body and blood of Christ.
4.
Testing of Faith:James 1:2-4 speaks to the testing of faith through trials, which can be seen as a form of examination: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" . This passage suggests that trials serve as a divine examination to strengthen and mature believers.
Theological Implications:Examination is a vital practice for Christians, serving as a tool for spiritual growth and sanctification. It involves a humble acknowledgment of one's shortcomings and a sincere desire to align one's life with God's will. Through examination, believers are called to repentance, renewal, and a deeper understanding of their identity in Christ.
Practical Application:1.
Regular Self-Assessment: Christians are encouraged to regularly assess their spiritual health, seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance to reveal areas needing growth or repentance.
2.
Prayerful Reflection: Engaging in prayerful reflection, as modeled by David in
Psalm 139, allows believers to invite God's examination and to seek His wisdom and correction.
3.
Accountability: Involving trusted fellow believers in one's spiritual examination can provide accountability and encouragement, fostering a community of growth and support.
4.
Scriptural Meditation: Meditating on Scripture provides a standard against which believers can measure their lives, ensuring that their actions and thoughts align with biblical teachings.
Examination, therefore, is not merely an introspective exercise but a dynamic process that involves the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and the Christian community, all working together to transform believers into the likeness of Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of examining, or state of being examined; a careful search, investigation, or inquiry; scrutiny by study or experiment.
2. (n.) A process prescribed or assigned for testing qualification; as, the examination of a student, or of a candidate for admission to the bar or the ministry.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
EXAMINE; EXAMINATIONeg-zam'-in, eg-zam-i-na'-shun:
darash, "to follow," "inquire," "make inquisition" (Ezra 10:16); and bachan, "to test," "investigate," "prove," "tempt" (Psalm 26:2). The former was the judicial term. anakrino, "scrutinize," "investigate," "interrogate" (in court), "judge," "search" (Luke 23:14Acts 4:9;Acts 12:19;Acts 28:181 Corinthians 9:3); and anetazo, "to investigate" (judicially), "examine" (Acts 22:24, 29). Also dokimazo, "to test," "examine," "try" (1 Corinthians 11:28 the King James Version); and peirazo, "scrutinize," "discipline" (2 Corinthians 13:5 the King James Version). The noun anakrisis, "examination," "investigation," occurs inActs 25:26.
See alsoCOURTS, JUDICIAL.
Frank E. Hirsch
BATH-RABBIM, THE GATE OF
W. Ewing
BEAUTIFUL GATE
bu'-ti-fool, gat.
SeeTEMPLE.
BENJAMIN, GATE OF
SeeJERUSALEM.
CORNER GATE
kor'-ner gat.
SeeJERUSALEM.
Greek
351. anakrisis -- anexamination... an
examination. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: anakrisis Phonetic
Spelling: (an-ak'-ree-sis) Short Definition: judicial
examination...931. basanos -- a touchstone (a dark stone used in testing metals)...
... basanos. 932 . a touchstone (a dark stone used in testing metals), henceexamination
by torture, torture.... Then it was used forexamination by torture....
1233. diagnosis -- a distinguishing, determination
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: diagnosis Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-ag'-no-sis) Short Definition: judicialexamination, decision Definition...
593. apodokimazo -- to reject
... Phonetic Spelling: (ap-od-ok-ee-mad'-zo) Short Definition: I reject after testing,
I disqualify Definition: I reject after testing (examination), disqualify....
1343. dikaiosune -- righteousness, justice
... 1343 ("divine ") is the regular NT term used for ("God's judicial "). 1343
("the of God") refers to (after Hisexamination), ie what is ....
350. anakrino -- to examine, investigate
... Accordingly, 350 () is often used in its sense in the ancient world. It can even
refer to "examination by torture" (see Field, , 120f, ).]....
2477. historeo -- to inquire about, visit
... with, visit. 2477 (from ) -- properly, learn by inquiring (doing a personal
examination); to by "" which conducts "a full .". Word...
930. basanistes -- a torturer
... Cognate: 930 (from 928 ) -- a guard in a prison "whose function was to prisoners
as a phase of judicialexamination -- prison guard, " (, 1, 37.126)....
Strong's Hebrew
1244. biqqoreth -- punishment... scourged. From baqar; properly,
examination, ie (by implication) punishment -- scourged.
see HEBREW baqar. 1243, 1244. biqqoreth. 1245 . Strong's Numbers.
4290. machtereth -- a breaking in, burglary
... breaking up, secret search. From chathar; a burglary; figuratively, unexpected
examination -- breaking up, secret search. see HEBREW chathar. 4289, 4290....
2714. cheqer -- a searching, a thing (to be) searched out
... finding out, number, unsearchable,. From chaqar;examination, enumeration, deliberation
-- finding out, number, (un-)search(-able, -ed, out, -ing)....
Library
AnExamination
... AnExamination. By Rev.... AnExamination Of The Treatise Of William Perkins
Concerning The Order And Mode Of Predestination * Rev....
Self-Examination
... Self-Examination.... Examine it: pass your heart through a sternexamination as to what
it does know and what it does not know, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit....
Examination of the Epistle
...EXAMINATION OF THE EPISTLE. In your Epistle to the Reader, you lay down two
fundamental principles, on which this doctrine of Predestination...
Examination of the Treatise
...EXAMINATION OF THE TREATISE. I come now to the treatise itself, which I will
examine with somewhat more care and diligence. You will...
Self-Examination
... Chapter 10 Self-Examination.... The questions we ask ourselves in our times of
self-examination are proof of this. Am I earnest enough? Have I repented enough?...
Letter xx. Self-Examination.
... LETTER XX. Self-Examination.... In view of the positive injunction of Scripture, above
quoted, no argument is necessary to show that self-examination is a duty....
Examination of False Theories.
... THE PERSON OF CHRIST.EXAMINATION OF FALSE THEORIES. THERE is no other solution
of the mighty problem within the reach of t human learning and ingenuity....
AnExamination of the Question Where the Ruling Principle is to be...
... XII. Anexamination of the question where the ruling principle is to be considered
to reside; wherein also is a discussion of tears and laughter, and a...
TheExamination and Rewarding of the Believer's Works.
... Chapter Eight The Churchward Results of the Redeemer's Return 5. The
Examination and Rewarding of the believer's works. "Behold, I...
AnExamination of Pre-Millennialism.
... II. Post and Pre-millennialism Examined. 2. Anexamination of Pre-
millennialism. Pre-millennialists, as their name indicates, are...
Thesaurus
Examination (10 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) A process prescribed or assigned for testing qualification; as, the
examination of a student, or of a candidate for admission to the bar or the ministry
...Inquisition (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of inquiring;examination; a court for
investigation. 2. (n.) Judicial inquiry; officialexamination; inquest....
Pass (1172 Occurrences)
... 8. (vi) To go through any inspection or test successfully; to be approved or accepted;
as, he attempted theexamination, but did not expect to pass....
Question (153 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.)Examination with reference to a decisive result; investigation; specifically,
a judicial or official investigation; also,examination under torture....
Scrutiny (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Closeexamination; minute inspection;
critical observation. 2. (n.) Anexamination of catechumens...
Examine (48 Occurrences)
... character or state of; to subject to inquiry or inspection of particulars for the
purpose of obtaining a fuller insight into the subject ofexamination, as a...
Trial (45 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) The act of testing by experience; proof; test. 4. (n.)Examination
by a test; experiment, as in chemistry, metallurgy, etc....
Arrest (22 Occurrences)
... THE JEWISH TRIAL 1. The Jewish Law 2. The Mishna 3. Criminal Trials 4. The Trial
of Jesus 5. The PreliminaryExamination 6. The Night Trial 7. False Witnesses 8...
View (86 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of seeing or beholding; sight;
look; survey;examination by the eye; inspection. 2. (n...
Visit (97 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To go or come to see for inspection,examination, correction of abuses,
etc.; to examine, to inspect; as, a bishop visits his diocese; a superintendent...
Resources
What does the Bible say about self-examination? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is good biblical exegesis? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the true meaning of Rosh Hashanah? | GotQuestions.orgExamination: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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