Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and General Overview:The term "formation" in a biblical context refers to the act of creating, shaping, or bringing into existence. It is often associated with God's creative power and His ability to form the universe, the earth, and humanity. The concept of formation underscores God's sovereignty and intentionality in creation, as well as His ongoing work in shaping the lives of individuals and the community of believers.
Biblical References:1.
Creation of the World: ·
Genesis 1:1-2: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." This passage introduces the formation of the world, highlighting God's role as the Creator who brings order and structure to chaos.
2.
Formation of Man: ·
Genesis 2:7: "Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being." This verse emphasizes the intimate and purposeful act of God in forming humanity, distinguishing humans from the rest of creation by imparting His breath of life.
3.
Formation of Nations: ·
Deuteronomy 32:8: "When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God." Here, God's formation extends to the establishment of nations and their boundaries, reflecting His sovereign plan for human history.
4.
Spiritual Formation: ·
Romans 12:2: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God." Spiritual formation involves the transformation of believers into the likeness of Christ, a process initiated and sustained by the Holy Spirit.
5.
Formation of the Church: ·
Ephesians 2:19-22: "Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord." The formation of the Church is depicted as a divine construction project, with Christ as the cornerstone and believers as integral parts of the spiritual edifice.
Theological Significance:The concept of formation in the Bible is deeply theological, reflecting God's creative authority and His ongoing involvement in the world. It highlights the intentionality behind creation and the purposefulness of God's actions. The formation of humanity in God's image (
Genesis 1:27) speaks to the inherent dignity and value of human life, while the formation of the Church underscores the communal and relational aspects of the Christian faith.
Practical Implications:Understanding formation from a biblical perspective encourages believers to recognize God's hand in their lives and the world around them. It calls for a response of worship, gratitude, and a commitment to spiritual growth. Believers are invited to participate in God's formative work by aligning their lives with His will and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform them into the image of Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of giving form or shape to anything; a forming; a shaping.
2. (n.) The manner in which a thing is formed; structure; construction; conformation; form; as, the peculiar formation of the heart.
3. (n.) A substance formed or deposited.
4. (n.) Mineral deposits and rock masses designated with reference to their origin; as, the siliceous formation about geysers; alluvial formations; marine formations.
5. (n.) A group of beds of the same age or period; as, the Eocene formation.
6. (n.) The arrangement of a body of troops, as in a square, column, etc.
Greek
3446. morphosis -- a forming, a form... form. From morphoo;
formation, ie (by implication), appearance (semblance or
(concretely) formula) -- form. see GREEK morphoo. (morphosin) -- 2 Occurrences.
...2938. ktisma -- a creature
... creature. From ktizo; an originalformation (concretely), ie Product (created
thing) -- creature. see GREEK ktizo. (ktisma) -- 2 Occurrences....
2937. ktisis -- creation (the act or the product)
... From ktizo; originalformation (properly, the act; by implication, the thing, literally
or figuratively) -- building, creation, creature, ordinance....
Strong's Hebrew
6186a. arak -- to arrange or set in order... NASB Word Usage arrange (5), arranged (5), array (1), arrayed (13), battle lines
(2), comparable (1), compare (2), draw (2), draw up in
formation (3), draw up
...786. ish -- a questionable reading found in Masoretic text.
... are there, none can Identical (in origin andformation) with 'esh; entity, used
only adverbially, there is or are -- are there, none can. Compare yesh....
4634. maarakah -- row, rank, battle line
... Word Origin from arak Definition row, rank, battle line NASB Word Usage armies
(3), army (3), arrangement (1), battle array (1), battleformation (1), battle...
7753. suk -- to hedge or fence up or about
... fence, make an hedge up. A primitive root; to entwine, ie Shut in (forformation,
protection or restraint) -- fence, (make an) hedge (up). 7752, 7753....
Library
TheFormation of Christendom, Volume VI
TheFormation of Christendom, Volume VI. <....
TheFormation of Habits.
... LXIV. THEFORMATION OF HABITS. School Sermon. Proverbs 22:6. "Train up a child in
the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."....
On theFormation and State of the Embryo. Its Relation with the...
... Chapter XXXVII."On theFormation and State of the Embryo. Its Relation
with the Subject of This Treatise. Now the entire process...
TheFormation of the CIM
... CHAPTER XIX THEFORMATION OF THE CIM. IT was thus that in the year 1865 the
CHINA INLAND MISSION was organised; and the workers already...
TheFormation and Order of the Primitive Church.
... LECTURES LECTURE III. THEFORMATION AND ORDER OF THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH. Chap.
ii.37-47. As the passage now read refers to the preceding...
TheFormation of Man by the Demiurge Human Flesh not Made of the...
... Chapter XXIV."TheFormation of Man by the Demiurge Human Flesh Not Made
of the Ground, But of a Nondescript Philosophic Substance....
On theFormation of the Character of Believers, and on Giving of...
... Initiation into Christ. Sec. II."On theFormation of the Character of
Believers, and on Giving of Thanks to God. That We Ought...
Formation and History of the Hebrew Canon.
... FIRST DIVISION, GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER XV.FORMATION AND HISTORY
OF THE HEBREW CANON. 1. The Greek word canon (originally...
TheFormation of the Old Testament Canon
... XIII THEFORMATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CANON. [Sidenote: Israel's literature
at the beginning of the fourth century before Christ]...
Formation and History of the New Testament Canon.
... PART III. FIRST DIVISION, GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER XXVII.FORMATION
AND HISTORY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON. 1. Respecting the...
Thesaurus
Formation (11 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) The manner in which a thing is formed; structure; construction; conformation;
form; as, the peculiar
formation of the heart.
...Formation (11 Occurrences).
...Lebanon (66 Occurrences)
... thick, consisting of hard limestone containing few fossils, the most characteristic
of which is Cidaris glandaria, from which theformation has been named...
Dew (35 Occurrences)
... 1.Formation of Dew: Two things are necessary for theformation of dew, moisture
and cold.... The ice pitcher furnishes an example of theformation of dew....
Birds (125 Occurrences)
... The first known traces of birds appear in theformation of the Triassic period,
and are found in the shape of footprints on the red sandstone of the...
Gilead (130 Occurrences)
... 3. Geology: The geologicalformation is the same as that of Western Palestine, but
the underlying sandstone, which does not appear West of the Jordan, forms...
Geology
... 4. Nubian Sandstone (N): This name was given by Russegger, who in the middle of
the 19th century followed and studied thisformation from the Sudan to Syria....
Generation (150 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Origination by some process, mathematical, chemical, or vital; production;
formation; as, the generation of sounds, of gases, of curves, etc....
Gospels
... into the Lower World (c) Other Fabrications LITERATURE The apocryphal gospels form
a branch of the apocryphal literature that attended theformation of the New...
Wanderings (7 Occurrences)
... The surfaceformation (Hull, Memoir on the Geology and Geography of Arabia-Petraea,
etc., 1886) consists of Cretaceous limestones of the Eocene and Chalk ages...
Graecia
... 6. Geology: The western half of Greece, in which the mountain ranges run generally
from North to South, consists of aformation of grayish and yellowish-white...
Resources
What is the spiritual formation movement? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Renovaré / the Renovaré Spiritual Formation Bible / the Life with God Bible? | GotQuestions.orgIs there any truth to the chemtrail conspiracy? | GotQuestions.orgFormation: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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