Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of being "included" in the biblical context often relates to themes of community, belonging, and the divine invitation extended to all people to partake in the promises of God. This theme is woven throughout both the Old and New Testaments, highlighting God's desire for inclusivity within His covenantal relationship with humanity.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the idea of inclusion is primarily seen in God's covenant with Israel, where He calls a specific people to be His own. However, the inclusion of Gentiles is also foreshadowed. For instance, in
Genesis 12:3, God promises Abraham, "And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." This indicates that the blessings of the covenant are not limited to Israel alone but are intended for all nations.
The account of Ruth, a Moabite woman, further exemplifies inclusion. Despite being a foreigner, Ruth is welcomed into the community of Israel and becomes an ancestor of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ. Her inclusion signifies God's openness to those outside the ethnic boundaries of Israel who choose to follow Him.
New Testament ContextThe New Testament expands on the theme of inclusion, particularly through the ministry of Jesus Christ and the early Church. Jesus' interactions with Samaritans, tax collectors, and sinners illustrate His mission to include those marginalized by society. In
John 10:16, Jesus states, "I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd." This passage underscores the inclusivity of Jesus' mission, extending beyond the Jewish people to all who would believe in Him.
The Apostle Paul further articulates this theme in his epistles. In
Galatians 3:28, he writes, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This declaration emphasizes the breaking down of social and ethnic barriers within the body of Christ, affirming that all believers are included in the promises of God regardless of their background.
Theological ImplicationsTheologically, the concept of being included in the family of God is central to the doctrine of salvation. Through faith in Jesus Christ, individuals are grafted into the spiritual lineage of Abraham, as Paul explains in
Romans 11:17-24. This grafting signifies that Gentiles, once outsiders, are now partakers of the rich heritage and promises given to Israel.
The inclusion of all believers into the body of Christ is also a reflection of the unity and diversity within the Church. As described in
1 Corinthians 12:12-13, "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 passage highlights the unity of believers, each contributing uniquely to the whole.
Practical ApplicationIn practical terms, the biblical theme of inclusion calls Christians to embrace diversity within the Church and to extend the message of the Gospel to all people. It challenges believers to break down barriers of race, class, and culture, reflecting the inclusive love of God in their communities and relationships. The Church is called to be a welcoming place where all individuals can find their identity and purpose in Christ, fully included in the family of God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
imp. & p. p.) of Include.
2. (a.) Enclosed; confined.
Greek
1936. epithesis -- a laying on, an assault... (Ro 1:11) Paul exemplified face-to-face because these are . They
included: "laying
on of hands" (done in conjunction with the elders of the church), and (cf.
...3762. oudeis and outheis, oudemia, ouden and outhen -- no one...
... It rules out , ie "shuts the door" and leaves no exceptions. 3762 () is in force
so it excludes () that isincluded withing the premise (supposition)....
1128. gumnazo -- to exercise naked, to train
... 1128 () conveys acquiring -- regular exercise with graduated resistance (the physical
element is alsoincluded with the spiritual of being in "God's gymnasium...
5171. truphao -- to live luxuriously
... See 5172 (). 5171 ("indulging in dainty living") is only used in Js 5:5. ["Dainty
living" in NT timesincluded going to the public baths ("wash houses...
3761. oude -- and not, neither
... This is analogous to the following: Because 100 is not enough, then neither
are 90, 80, or 70 because they are allincluded in 100....
3648. holokleros -- complete, entire
... 3648 (from 3650 , "whole" and 2819 , "a , cast to better discern God's
preferred-will") -- properly, "all that isincluded (apportioned) through divine ."...
Strong's Hebrew
6790. Tsin -- a desert area whichincluded Kadesh-barnea... 6789, 6790. Tsin. 6791 . a desert area which
included Kadesh-barnea.
Transliteration: Tsin Phonetic Spelling: (tseen) Short Definition: Zin.
...5927. alah -- to go up, ascend, climb
... goes (6), going (8), gone (18), gone away (2), got back (1), grew (3), grow (2),
grow back (1), grows (1), imported* (2), incite (1),included (1), invaded (2...
Library
Whether the Order of Charity isIncluded in the Precept?
... OF THE PRECEPTS OF CHARITY (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the order of charity isincluded
in the precept?... Therefore it is notincluded in the precept....
The SelectionsIncluded in the Present Collection.
... IX."The SelectionsIncluded in the Present Collection. The specimens of
Ephraim's compositions offered in these selections are:"...
Whether Thoughtlessness is a Special SinIncluded in Prudence?
... OF IMPRUDENCE (SIX ARTICLES) Whether thoughtlessness is a special sinincluded
in prudence? Objection 1: It would seem that thoughtlessness...
Whether Precipitation is a SinIncluded in Imprudence?
... OF IMPRUDENCE (SIX ARTICLES) Whether precipitation is a sinincluded in
imprudence? Objection 1: It would seem that precipitation...
Whether all Other Beatitude isIncluded in the Beatitude of God?
... OF THE DIVINE BEATITUDE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether all other beatitude isincluded
in the beatitude of God? Objection 1: It seems that...
Books notIncluded in the Hebrew Canon.
... CHAPTER III. BOOKS NOTINCLUDED IN THE HEBREW CANON. THE MSS.... Maccabees. We may add
the Psalms of Solomon, a book which was sometimesincluded in MSS....
Whether the Precepts of the Decalogue Should haveIncluded a...
... OF THE PRECEPTS RELATING TO PRUDENCE (TWO ARTICLES) Whether the precepts
of the decalogue should haveincluded a precept of prudence?...
Serapion: Everybody is Perfectly Agreed that There are Eight...
... affect a monk. And all of them are notincluded in the figure of the nations
for this reason... Chapter XVIII. Serapion: Everybody...
Of the Fact that the Question Suggested Ought to beIncluded among...
... Chapter V. Of the fact that the question suggested ought to beincluded
among those things to be held in a neutral or doubtful way....
The Power of Rome Romanized Aspect of all the Heathen Mythology....
... Heathen Mythology. Varro's Threefold Distribution Criticised. Roman Heroes
(??neasIncluded,) Unfavourably Reviewed. Such are the...
Thesaurus
Included (17 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Included (17 Occurrences).
... (See RSV NIV). Joshua
21:42 Each of these cities
included their suburbs around them.
...Include (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To confine within; to hold; to contain; to shut up; to enclose; as, the
shell of a nut includes the kernel; a pearl isincluded in a shell....
Graecia
... as touching certain peoples, as, eg the Epirotes, Macedonians, and even the Thessalians,
whether they should be accounted Hellenes and asincluded in Hellas....
Derbe (4 Occurrences)
... province and called Galatia (see GALATIA). This provinceincluded Laranda
as well as Derbe on the extreme. Southeast, and for a time...
Slavonic
... According to tradition, his translationincluded the entire Bible with the exception
of Kings (which he thought unadapted to the already too warlike character...
Georgian
... According to tradition, his translationincluded the entire Bible with the exception
of Kings (which he thought unadapted to the already too warlike character...
Gothic
... According to tradition, his translationincluded the entire Bible with the exception
of Kings (which he thought unadapted to the already too warlike character...
Cush (31 Occurrences)
... 38:5), and with the Sabeans (Isaiah 45:14). From these facts it has been inferred
that Cushincluded Arabia and the country on the west coast of the Red Sea....
Deutero-canonical
... du-ter-o-ka-non'-i-kal: A term sometimes used to designate certain books, which
by the Council of Trent wereincluded in the Old Testament, but which the...
Deuterocanonical
... du-ter-o-ka-non'-i-kal: A term sometimes used to designate certain books, which
by the Council of Trent wereincluded in the Old Testament, but which the...
Resources
What items should be included in a church constitution? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did God command the extermination / genocide of the Canaanites, women and children included? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the book of Ecclesiasticus? | GotQuestions.orgIncluded: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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