Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "impression" can be understood as the effect or influence that God's word, actions, or presence has on individuals and communities. This concept is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating how divine encounters and teachings leave a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of believers.
Divine Encounters and ImpressionsThroughout the Bible, encounters with God or His messengers often leave profound impressions on individuals. For instance, Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush (
Exodus 3:1-6) left an indelible mark on him, leading to his role as the deliverer of Israel. The impression of God's holiness and power was so strong that Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God.
Similarly, the prophet Isaiah's vision of the Lord in the temple (
Isaiah 6:1-8) left a lasting impression on him, resulting in his willingness to serve as God's messenger. Isaiah's response, "Here am I. Send me!" (
Isaiah 6:8), reflects the transformative impact of experiencing God's glory and majesty.
The Word of God and Its ImpactThe Bible frequently emphasizes the power of God's word to impress upon the hearts of believers.
Hebrews 4:12 states, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." This verse highlights the penetrating and transformative nature of Scripture, capable of leaving a deep impression on those who engage with it.
In the parable of the sower (
Matthew 13:1-23), Jesus illustrates how the word of God can leave varying degrees of impression depending on the condition of the hearer's heart. The seed that falls on good soil represents those who hear the word, understand it, and produce a fruitful harvest, demonstrating the lasting impact of God's word on receptive hearts.
Impressions of Jesus ChristThe life and ministry of Jesus Christ left a profound impression on His disciples and all who encountered Him. His teachings, miracles, and sacrificial love deeply affected those around Him. In
John 7:46 , the officers sent to arrest Jesus returned, saying, "No one ever spoke like this man!" This statement reflects the powerful impression Jesus' words made on those who heard Him.
The apostle Peter, after witnessing Jesus' miraculous catch of fish, was so impressed by Jesus' divine authority that he fell at His knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" (
Luke 5:8). This encounter left a lasting impact on Peter, leading to his commitment to follow Jesus.
The Holy Spirit's RoleThe Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in impressing God's truth upon believers. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would teach and remind His followers of all He had said (
John 14:26). The Spirit's work in the hearts of believers ensures that the teachings of Christ continue to leave a lasting impression, guiding them in truth and righteousness.
In
Acts 2, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost left a powerful impression on the early church and those who witnessed it. The apostles, filled with the Spirit, boldly proclaimed the gospel, resulting in the conversion of about three thousand souls (
Acts 2:41).
Impressions in the Early ChurchThe early church was marked by the impression of unity, love, and devotion to the apostles' teaching.
Acts 2:42-47 describes how the believers devoted themselves to fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer, leaving a positive impression on those around them. Their communal life and generosity were a testament to the transformative power of the gospel.
The apostle Paul's letters often reflect the impression that the gospel made on the early Christian communities. In
1 Thessalonians 1:5 , Paul writes, "Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction." The Thessalonians' faith and example left a lasting impression on believers throughout Macedonia and Achaia.
ConclusionThe concept of impression in the Bible underscores the transformative power of divine encounters, the word of God, and the work of the Holy Spirit. These impressions shape the lives of individuals and communities, drawing them closer to God and empowering them to live out their faith.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of impressing, or the state of being impressed; the communication of a stamp, mold, style, or character, by external force or by influence.
2. (n.) That which is impressed; stamp; mark; indentation; sensible result of an influence exerted from without.
3. (n.) That which impresses, or exercises an effect, action, or agency; appearance; phenomenon.
4. (n.) Influence or effect on the senses or the intellect hence, interest, concern.
5. (n.) An indistinct notion, remembrance, or belief.
6. (n.) Impressiveness; emphasis of delivery.
7. (n.) The pressure of the type on the paper, or the result of such pressure, as regards its appearance; as, a heavy impression; a clear, or a poor, impression; also, a single copy as the result of printing, or the whole edition printed at a given time.
8. (n.) In painting, the first coat of color, as the priming in house painting and the like.
9. (n.) A print on paper from a wood block, metal plate, or the like.
Greek
5179b. tupos -- the mark (of a blow), animpression, stamp (made...... 5179a, 5179b. tupos. 5180 . the mark (of a blow), an
impression, stamp (made
by a die). Transliteration: tupos Short Definition: example.
...4973. sphragis -- a seal, a signet
... a seal, a signet. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: sphragis Phonetic
Spelling: (sfrag-ece') Short Definition: a signet-ring,impression of a seal...
5481. charakter -- a tool for engraving
... Transliteration: charakter Phonetic Spelling: (khar-ak-tare') Short Definition:
an exact reproduction Definition: animpression, representation, exact...
1813. exaleipho -- to wipe out, erase, obliterate
... meant, "to plaster, rub smooth, or whitewash." Later it referred to "wiping out"
in the sense of "to " (rubbing out a writing or sealimpression left on a wax...
539. apate -- deceit
... Cognate: 539 -- a falseimpression, made to deceive or cheat -- ie deceit motivated
by guile and treachery (trickery, fraud). See 538 ()....
2487. ichnos -- a track
... 2487 (from , "move forward, arrive") -- properly, theimpression made by the sole
of the foot (""); figuratively) the "footsteps" providing the for others to...
3958. pascho -- to suffer, to be acted on
... patho (path'-o), and pentho (pen'-tho), used only in certain tenses for it apparently
a primary verb; to experience a sensation orimpression (usually painful...
Library
The Arians, under theImpression that the Divine Meletius Upheld...
... Book IV. Chapter XXVIII."The Arians, under theImpression that the divine Meletius
upheld their Sentiments, translate him from Sebaste to Antioch....
"The Glory of that Light. "
... Here is a bit of practical psychology. Jesus lets the brainimpression made by that
strange announcement deepen before making the nextimpression....
God's Spokesman.
... Yet theimpression so made upon Moses far exceeds anything previous and
completely overawes and melts him down. The elders of Israel...
The Testimony of the Church
... This must be done, either by a notion conceived , long time before, or by
animpression recently made on the minds of the hearers....
The Miracle of Tongues.
... Connected with this is the fact that the miracle on Pentecost made theimpression
of speaking at once to different hearers in different tongues so that they...
The Judges Said: if You have any Clearer Statement yet to Make...
... to seal up a treasure, or some other object, and you will observe how, when he has
got a little wax or clay, he seeks to stamp it with animpression of his own...
The Toiling Christ
... Gospels, and read it over from that point of view, you will be surprised to discover
what a multitude of minute traits make up the generalimpression, and what...
Preface.
... appears by many and large benefactions to that end, which are enumerated in his
funeral sermon: "He was at the charge of the translation andimpression of the...
The Daily Walk with Others (I. ).
... "What shall the harvest be?". SELF-RESPECT. Let one result be, a clearimpression
in the house that you, the new Curate, are a man of SELF-RESPECT....
Let Her Pout it Out.
... Perhaps, by relating a circumstance that occurred with myself a few years
ago, I may be able to make animpression on your mind....
Thesaurus
Impression (2 Occurrences)... 7. (n.) The pressure of the type on the paper, or the result of such pressure, as
regards its appearance; as, a heavy
impression; a clear, or a poor,
impression...Print (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To stamp something in or upon; to make animpression or mark upon
by pressure, or as by pressure. 3. (vt) To strike off...
Seal (47 Occurrences)
... "The use of a signet-ring by the monarch has recently received a remarkable
illustration by the discovery of animpression of such a signet on fine clay at...
Figure (19 Occurrences)
... surfaces, etc. 5. (n.) The appearance orimpression made by the conduct or
career of a person; as, a sorry figure. 6. (n.) Distinguished...
Feel (58 Occurrences)
... 8. (vi) To be conscious of an inwardimpression, state of mind, persuasion, physical
condition, etc.; to perceive one's self to be; -- followed by an adjective...
Opinion (91 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) That which is opined; a notion or conviction founded on probable evidence;
belief stronger thanimpression, less strong than positive knowledge...
Impressive (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Making, or tending to make, animpression; having power to impress; adapted
to excite attention and feeling, to touch the sensibilities, or affect the...
Touch (82 Occurrences)
... 10. (vt) To infect; to affect slightly. 11. (vt) To make animpression on; to have
effect upon. 12.... 20. (vi) To fasten; to take effect; to makeimpression. 21....
Express (13 Occurrences)
... 9. (v.) To make or offer a representation of; to show by a copy or likeness; to
represent; to resemble. 10. (v.) To give a trueimpression of; to represent and...
Proof (38 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) The quality or state of having been proved or tried; firmness or hardness
that resistsimpression, or does not yield to force; impenetrability of...
Resources
Should a Christian wear perfume / cologne? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is spiritual manipulation? | GotQuestions.orgThe missing link'has it been found? | GotQuestions.orgImpression: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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