Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the concept of a "group" can be understood in various ways, ranging from familial units to larger communities of believers. The Bible often emphasizes the importance of groups in fulfilling God's purposes, providing support, and fostering spiritual growth.
Family GroupsThe family is the foundational group in biblical teaching. From the beginning, God established the family unit with Adam and Eve (
Genesis 2:24). Families are seen as the primary context for teaching and living out God's commandments.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 instructs, "These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
Tribes and NationsIn the Old Testament, the nation of Israel is divided into twelve tribes, each descending from the sons of Jacob. These tribal groups played a significant role in the social, political, and religious life of Israel. The tribes were responsible for maintaining their distinct heritage and land allotments, as seen in the book of Joshua. The unity and division among these tribes often reflected Israel's faithfulness or disobedience to God.
Religious GroupsThe Bible also describes various religious groups, such as the Levites, who were set apart for priestly duties (
Numbers 3:5-10). In the New Testament, the Pharisees and Sadducees are notable religious groups that often interacted with Jesus. While these groups were influential, Jesus frequently challenged their interpretations and practices, emphasizing the spirit of the law over mere ritual (
Matthew 23:23).
The Early ChurchThe New Testament highlights the formation of the early Christian church as a new kind of group, united by faith in Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:42-47 describes the early believers: "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer... All the believers were together and had everything in common." This passage illustrates the communal life and spiritual unity that characterized the early church.
Spiritual Gifts and the Body of ChristThe Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of the body to describe the church as a group of believers with diverse gifts and functions. In
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 , Paul writes, "For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink." This imagery underscores the interdependence and unity of believers within the church.
Community and FellowshipThe Bible places a strong emphasis on community and fellowship among believers.
Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages Christians to "consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." This passage highlights the importance of gathering together for mutual encouragement and spiritual growth.
ConclusionThroughout Scripture, groups play a vital role in God's plan for humanity. Whether through families, tribes, religious communities, or the church, groups provide a context for living out faith, supporting one another, and advancing God's kingdom on earth.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A cluster, crowd, or throng; an assemblage, either of persons or things, collected without any regular form or arrangement; as, a group of men or of trees; a group of isles.
2. (n.) An assemblage of objects in a certain order or relation, or having some resemblance or common characteristic; as, groups of strata.
3. (n.) A variously limited assemblage of animals or plants, having some resemblance, or common characteristics in form or structure. The term has different uses, and may be made to include certain species of a genus, or a whole genus, or certain genera, or even several orders.
4. (n.) A number of eighth, sixteenth, etc., notes joined at the stems; -- sometimes rather indefinitely applied to any ornament made up of a few short notes.
5. (n.) To form a group of; to arrange or combine in a group or in groups, often with reference to mutual relation and the best effect; to form an assemblage of.
Greek
5069. tetradion -- agroup of four, a quaternion (a guard of four...... a
group of four, a quaternion (a guard of four soldiers). Part of Speech: Noun,
Neuter Transliteration: tetradion Phonetic Spelling: (tet-rad'-ee-on) Short
...5524. choregeo -- to lead a chorus (ie agroup of performers), to...
... to lead a chorus (ie agroup of performers), to defray the cost of a chorus. Part
of Speech: Verb Transliteration: choregeo Phonetic Spelling: (khor-ayg-eh'-o...
5344. Phelix -- "fortunate," Felix, a governor of Judea
... For example, he methodically hunted down the leaders of the Zealots to severely
punish them, as well as any Jewishgroup he considered "seditious" (Ac 21:38)....
1217. demiourgos -- builder, maker, creator
... Cognate: 1217 (from 1218 , "a unifiedgroup of people" and 2014 , "work") -- properly,
someone working on behalf of agroup of people (used only in Heb 11:10)....
2828. klisia -- a place for reclining
... place for reclining. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: klisia Phonetic
Spelling: (klee-see'-ah) Short Definition: a dining couch,group of diners...
3313. meros -- a part, share, portion
... one's portion) Definition a part, share, portion NASB Word Usage case (2), country
(1), detail (1), district (3), districts (2),group (1), individually (1...
444. anthropos -- a man, human, mankind
... Accordingly, the Bible uses 444 () of a specific man, woman, or class (type,group)
of people -- ie (inclusive of every man, woman and child; see also 1 Cor 11...
4849. sumposion -- a drinking party, company (guests at a party)
... Word Origin from sumpino Definition a drinking party, company (guests at
a party) NASB Word Usage groups (1).group, party, company....
4168. poimnion -- a flock
... flock. Neuter of a presumed derivative of poimne; a flock, ie (figuratively)group
(of believers) -- flock. see GREEK poimne. (poimnion) -- 2 Occurrences....
706. arithmos -- a number
... Word Origin from a prim. root ari- Definition a number NASB Word Usagegroup (1),
number (17). number. From airo; a number (as reckoned up) -- number....
Strong's Hebrew
2256a. chebel -- cord, territory, band... Word Origin from chabal Definition cord, territory, band NASB Word Usage allotment
(1), coast (1), cord (2), cords (13),
group (2), line (4), lines (2
...4575. ma'adannah -- bonds, bands
... influence By transitive from anad; a bond, ieGroup -- influence. see HEBREW
anad. 4574, 4575. ma'adannah. 4575a . Strong's Numbers.
Library
TheGroup in Matt. xiii.
... THEGROUP IN MATT. XIII. "The... others. Even in thisgroup, although the connections
are interesting and obvious, they are not essential....
Group --The Two Sons, the Wicked Husbandmen, and the Marriage of...
...GROUP"THE TWO SONS, THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN, AND THE MARRIAGE OF THE KING'S
SON. MATT. xxi.28; xxii.14. The natural history of a...
AGroup of Miracles
... Strong Meat for Hungry Souls: The Gospel of St. Mark CHAPTER 1:29-34 AGROUP
OF MIRACLES. "And straightway, when they were come out...
AGroup of Miracles among a Semi-Heathen Population
... CHAPTER XXXIV. AGROUP OF MIRACLES AMONG A SEMI-HEATHEN POPULATION. (Matthew
15:29-31; Mark 7 31-37; Mark 8:22-26; Matthew 11:27-31.)...
Second GreatGroup of Parables.
... From the Third Passover Until Our Lord's Arrival at Bethany. (Time: One Year Less
One Week.) XCII. Second GreatGroup of Parables. (Probably in Per??a.)...
Second GreatGroup of Parables.
... From the Third Passover Until Our Lord's Arrival at Bethany. (Time: One Year Less
One Week.) XCII. Second GreatGroup of Parables. (Probably in Per??a.)...
The First GreatGroup of Parables.
... Part Fifth. From Second Passover Until Third.(Time: One Year.) LIV. The
First GreatGroup of Parables. (Beside the Sea of Galilee.)...
Second GreatGroup of Parables.
... From the Third Passover Until Our Lord's Arrival at Bethany. (Time: One Year Less
One Week.) XCII. Second GreatGroup of Parables. (Probably in Per??a.)...
The First GreatGroup of Parables.
... Part Fifth. From Second Passover Until Third.(Time: One Year.) LIV. The First Great
Group of Parables. (Beside the Sea of Galilee.) Subdivision F....
The First GreatGroup of Parables.
... Part Fifth. From Second Passover Until Third.(Time: One Year.) LIV. The First Great
Group of Parables. (Beside the Sea of Galilee.) Subdivision D....
Thesaurus
Group (32 Occurrences)... 1. (n.) A cluster, crowd, or throng; an assemblage, either of persons or things,
collected without any regular form or arrangement; as, a
group of men or of
...Righteousness (442 Occurrences)
... that what we experience as inner moral sanction is nothing but the fear of consequences
which come through disobeying the will of the socialgroup, or the...
Twists (12 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:4 And you are to put twists of blue cord on the edge of the outside curtain
of the firstgroup of five, and on the edge of the outside curtain of the...
Cord (47 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:4 And you are to put twists of blue cord on the edge of the outside curtain
of the firstgroup of five, and on the edge of the outside curtain of the...
Type (12 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A general form or structure common to a number of individuals; hence, the
ideal representation of a species, genus, or othergroup, combining the...
Family (438 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Thegroup comprising a husband and wife and their dependent children,
constituting a fundamental unit in the organization of society....
Paul (207 Occurrences)
... pol, I. Sources 1. The Acts 2. The Thirteen Epistles (1) Pauline Authorship (2)
Lightfoot's Grouping (a) FirstGroup (1 and 2 Thessalonians) (b) SecondGroup...
Ancient (64 Occurrences)
... essential fact about the gods of Greek religion is that each god was worshipped
in a unique form at one or another particular shrine by agroup of worshippers...
Semites
... also in Palestine 5. Reliability of Genesis 10: It is customary now in Biblical
ethnology to disregard the classification of Genesis 10, and togroup all the...
Outside (215 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:4 And you are to put twists of blue cord on the edge of the outside curtain
of the firstgroup of five, and on the edge of the outside curtain of the...
Resources
Why should a church have a small group ministry? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the value of group Bible study? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the importance and value of group prayer? | GotQuestions.orgGroup: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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