Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of the "individual" in the Bible is deeply rooted in the understanding of humanity's creation, purpose, and relationship with God. The Bible presents individuals as unique creations of God, each with a distinct role and responsibility within the divine plan.
Creation and IdentityThe Bible begins with the creation of humanity, emphasizing the individuality and uniqueness of each person.
Genesis 1:27 states, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." This passage highlights the inherent dignity and worth of each individual, as all are made in the image of God. The concept of being made in God's image implies that individuals possess attributes such as rationality, morality, and the capacity for relationship, setting them apart from the rest of creation.
Personal Responsibility and Moral AgencyThe Bible underscores the importance of personal responsibility and moral agency. Individuals are accountable for their actions and decisions. In
Deuteronomy 30:19 , Moses exhorts the Israelites, "I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live." This call to choose life reflects the biblical view that individuals have the capacity to make moral choices and are responsible for the consequences of those choices.
Individual Calling and PurposeThroughout Scripture, God calls individuals to specific tasks and purposes. The accounts of biblical figures such as Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets illustrate how God interacts with individuals, calling them to fulfill His purposes. In
Jeremiah 1:5 , God speaks to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations." This verse highlights the belief that God has a unique plan and purpose for each individual, known even before birth.
Individual and CommunityWhile the Bible emphasizes individuality, it also places individuals within the context of community. The New Testament, in particular, stresses the importance of the body of Christ, where each individual has a role to play. 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. For the body does not consist of one part, but of many." This passage illustrates the interconnectedness of individuals within the Christian community, where each person contributes to the whole.
Salvation and Personal FaithThe Bible teaches that salvation is a personal experience, requiring individual faith and repentance. In
Romans 10:9-10 , Paul explains, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved." This underscores the necessity of personal belief and confession in the process of salvation, highlighting the individual's role in responding to God's offer of grace.
Eternal DestinyThe Bible also addresses the eternal destiny of individuals, emphasizing that each person will stand before God. In
2 Corinthians 5:10 , Paul writes, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad." This passage reflects the belief that individuals are accountable to God for their lives and will face judgment based on their actions and faith.
In summary, the Bible presents a comprehensive view of the individual as a unique creation of God, endowed with moral agency, called to a specific purpose, and accountable to God both in this life and the next.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Not divided, or not to be divided; existing as one entity, or distinct being or object; single; one; as, an individual man, animal, or city.
2. (a.) of or pertaining to one only; peculiar to, or characteristic of, a single person or thing; distinctive; as, individual traits of character; individual exertions; individual peculiarities.
3. (n.) A single person, animal, or thing of any kind; a thing or being incapable of separation or division, without losing its identity; especially, a human being; a person.
4. (n.) An independent, or partially independent, zooid of a compound animal.
5. (n.) The product of a single egg, whether it remains a single animal or becomes compound by budding or fission.
Greek
4135. plerophoreo -- to bring in full measure, to fulfill... 4135 () is often translated "giving ," but it properly means "() the work of God
to the ." That is, to the of the
individual believer who is "" by Him.
...4381. prosopolemptes -- an accepter of a face, ie a respecter of...
... one who shows partiality. From prosopon and lambano; an accepter of a face (individual),
ie (specially), one exhibiting partiality -- respecter of persons....
139. hairesis -- choice, opinion
... a () . 139 ("a strong, distinctive opinion") is used in the NT ofindividual
"parties (sects)" that operated within Judaism. The...
5550. chronos -- time
... which designates a fixed or special occasion; and from aion, which denotes a particular
period) or interval; by extension, anindividual opportunity; by...
588. apodechomai -- to accept gladly, welcome
... 588 (from 575 , "from" and 1209 , "to receive heartily, welcome") -- properly "receive
from," ie as the prior circumstance (orindividual) inspires ("gladly...
1921. epiginosko -- to know exactly, to recognize
... relationship") -- properly, knowing, . This knowing (, "") the verbal idea
and hence is defined by theindividual context. : 1 Cor...
4883. sunarmologeo -- to fit together
... twice in the NT (Eph 2:21, 4:16) -- both times of God "fitly framing believers
(OT, NT) into a harmonious, whole." That is, eachindividual being functioning...
444. anthropos -- a man, human, mankind
... 444 () relates to genders (male and female) as both are created in the image of
God -- each vested withindividual personhood and destiny (cf. Gal 3:28)....
5342. phero -- to bear, carry, bring forth
... J. Thayer, Curtis) -- properly, to bear, carry (bring) along, especially temporarily
or to a definite (prescribed) conclusion (defined by theindividual context...
3418. mnema -- a memorial, a sepulcher
... neuter noun derived from 3415 , "to remember") -- the generic term for "." 3418
("tomb") is simply an identifiable sepulcher (the resting place of anindividual...
Strong's Hebrew
4941. mishpat -- judgment... verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence
or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law,
individual or collective
...120. adam -- man, mankind
... From 'adam; ruddy ie A human being (anindividual or the species, mankind, etc.) --
X another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree...
376. ish -- man
... Contracted for 'enowsh (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant);
a man as anindividual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a...
Library
Of the Preservation of theIndividual in the Primitive State (Four...
... OF THE PRESERVATION OF THEINDIVIDUAL IN THE PRIMITIVE STATE (FOUR ARTICLES).
We next consider what belongs to the bodily state of...
Organic andIndividual.
... Third Chapter. RE-CREATION. X. Organic andIndividual. "Where is He that put
His Holy Spirit among them?" "Isaiah 63:11. The subsequent...
Of the Grace of Christ as anIndividual Man (Thirteen Articles)
... OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST AS ANINDIVIDUAL MAN (THIRTEEN ARTICLES). We must
now consider such things as were co-assumed by the Son of...
Whether it is Lawful for a PrivateIndividual to Kill a Man who...
... OF MURDER (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether it is lawful for a privateindividual
to kill a man who has sinned? Objection 1: It would seem...
Whether anIndividual Action Can be Indifferent?
... OF THE GOOD AND EVIL OF HUMAN ACTS, IN GENERAL (ELEVEN ARTICLES) Whether
anindividual action can be indifferent? Objection 1: It...
As Free-Will Actuates anIndividual So May his Character Change.
... Chapter XXI."As Free-Will Actuates anIndividual So May His Character Change.
Now, if the soul possessed this uniform and simple...
Relation of theIndividual Miracles to the Highest Miracle, the...
... CHAPTER V. THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST. Section 88. Relation of theindividual Miracles
to the highest Miracle, the Manifestation of Christ....
Individual Good Things, Whether Small or Great, are from God.
... Concerning the Nature of Good, Against the Manich??ans. Chapter 13. "Individual
Good Things, Whether Small or Great, are from God....
Whether Human Law Should be Framed for the Community Rather than...
... OF THE POWER OF HUMAN LAW (SIX ARTICLES) Whether human law should be framed
for the community rather than for theindividual? Objection...
Concerning the Nature as viewed in Species and inIndividual, and...
... Chapter XI."Concerning the Nature as viewed in Species and inIndividual, and
concerning the difference between Union and Incarnation: and how this is to be...
Thesaurus
Individual (12 Occurrences)... 1. (a.) Not divided, or not to be divided; existing as one entity, or distinct being
or object; single; one; as, an
individual man, animal, or city.
...Individual's (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version ConcordanceIndividual's (2 Occurrences).... (WEY). 1 Corinthians 3:13
the true character of eachindividual's work will become manifest....
Transgression (70 Occurrences)
... For if through the transgression of the oneindividual the mass of mankind have
died, infinitely greater is the generosity with which God's grace, and the gift...
Soul (554 Occurrences)
... from feeling. In a more general sense, an animating, separable, surviving
entity, the vehicle ofindividual personal existence. 5...
Personality
... 2. (n.) Something said or written which refers to the person, conduct, etc., of
someindividual, especially something of a disparaging or offensive nature...
Fellow (166 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) One of a pair, or of two things used together or suited to each
other; a mate; the male. 5. (n.) A person; anindividual....
Singular (2 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Existing by itself; single;individual. 4. (a.) Each;individual;
as, to convey several parcels of land, all and singular....
Alphabet (2 Occurrences)
... systems, may have had lists of these forms arranged in a fixed order, but these
lists were not alphabetic until the final analysis intoindividual letters....
Righteousness (442 Occurrences)
... feeling in the beginning. If a social group was to survive it must lay upon
itsindividual members the heaviest exactions. Back of the...
Accountability
... 3. Joint and Corporate Responsibility: Up to this point we have spoken ofindividual
accountability, but the subject becomes more complicated when we think of...
Resources
Does the Bible give any one individual spiritual authority over another individual? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Adlerian therapy (or Individual Psychology), and is it biblical? | GotQuestions.orgHow should a Christian view fascism? | GotQuestions.orgIndividual: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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