Topical Encyclopedia
The term "instant" in the Bible often refers to a moment or a very brief period of time. It is used to convey the immediacy or urgency of an event or action. In the context of Scripture, the concept of an "instant" can highlight the suddenness of divine intervention, the immediacy of God's commands, or the rapidity of human response.
Biblical Usage:1.
Divine Intervention: The Bible frequently uses the concept of an "instant" to describe the sudden and powerful acts of God. For example, in the book of Acts, the conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus is a moment of instant transformation. Although the Berean Standard Bible does not use the word "instant" in this passage, the suddenness of the event is evident: "As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him" (
Acts 9:3). This illustrates how God can intervene in human affairs in an instant, changing the course of a person's life.
2.
Immediate Obedience: The Bible often emphasizes the importance of immediate obedience to God's commands. In the Old Testament, when God called Abraham to leave his homeland, Abraham's response was prompt and without hesitation.
Genesis 12:4 states, "So Abram departed, as the LORD had directed him." This immediate response to God's call is a model of faith and obedience, demonstrating the importance of acting in the moment when God speaks.
3.
Urgency in Prayer: The concept of an "instant" is also relevant in the context of prayer. Believers are encouraged to pray with urgency and persistence. In the New Testament, Jesus teaches about the importance of persistent prayer in the parable of the persistent widow (
Luke 18:1-8). While the term "instant" is not explicitly used, the urgency and immediacy of the widow's requests highlight the need for believers to approach God with a sense of immediacy and determination.
4.
Sudden Judgment: The Bible also uses the concept of an "instant" to describe the suddenness of divine judgment. In the book of Daniel, King Belshazzar experiences God's judgment in an instant when a hand appears and writes on the wall during his feast.
Daniel 5:5 states, "At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace." This event underscores the immediacy with which God's judgment can come upon those who defy Him.
5.
Transformation and Healing: The Gospels recount numerous instances where Jesus performs miracles in an instant, demonstrating His divine authority and compassion. For example, in the healing of the leper, Jesus' touch brings immediate healing: "And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed" (
Mark 1:42). These moments of instant healing reveal the power of Christ to transform lives in a single moment.
Theological Implications:The concept of an "instant" in the Bible serves as a reminder of the sovereignty and power of God. It highlights the immediacy with which God can act in the world and in the lives of individuals. Believers are called to be ready to respond to God's call at any moment, to pray with urgency, and to live with an awareness of the suddenness of both divine blessing and judgment. The idea of an "instant" challenges Christians to live in a state of readiness, faith, and obedience, recognizing that God's timing is perfect and His actions are decisive.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A brief duration; a split second; a portion of time too short to be estimated; also, any particular moment.
2. (a.) Pressing; urgent; importunate; earnest.
3. (a.) Closely pressing or impending in respect to time; not deferred; immediate; without delay.
4. (a.) Present; current.
5. (adv.) Instantly.
6. (n.) A day of the present or current month; as, the sixth instant; -- an elliptical expression equivalent to the sixth of the month instant, i. e., the current month. See Instant, a., 3.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
INSTANT; INSTANTLYin'-stant, in'-stant-li: Derivative from Latin instare. Found in English with various meanings from the 15th century to the present time.
Instant is used once inIsaiah 29:5 in the sense of immediate time; elsewhere in the sense of urgent, pressing;Luke 23:23, where "were instant" is the King James Version translation of the verb epekeinto;Romans 12:12, where it is involved in the verb proskartereo; compareActs 6:4. In2 Timothy 4:2 it stands for the expressive verb epistethi, "stand to."
Instantly (urgently, steadfastly) is the King James Version rendering of two different Greek phrases, spoudaios, found inLuke 7:4; and en ekteneia, inActs 26:7. In both cases the American Standard Revised Version renders "earnestly."
Russell Benjamin Miller
Greek
4743. stigme -- a point, ie a moment... ie a moment. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: stigme Phonetic Spelling:
(stig-may') Short Definition: a point of time, an
instant Definition: a
...5610. hora -- a time or period, an hour
... day, hour,instant, season. Apparently a primary word; an "hour" (literally or
figuratively) -- day, hour,instant, season, X short, (even-)tide, (high) time....
737. arti -- just now
... 737 (an adverb) -- (thisinstant); ; , in the immediate present. 737 ("now") refers
to as -- ie to live "in the" (= " unto God" , cf. Ro 6:11)....
4342. proskartereo -- to attend constantly
... assiduously all the exercises, or (to a person) to adhere closely to (as a servitor) --
attend (give self) continually (upon), continue (in,instant in, with...
3570. nuni -- now
... (a) of time: just now, even now; just at hand, immediately, (b) of logical connection:
now then, (c) in commands and appeals: at thisinstant....
3910. parautika -- immediately, for a moment
... immediately, but for a moment. From para and a derivative of autos; at the very
instant, ie Momentary -- but for a moment. see GREEK para. see GREEK autos....
4493. rhipe -- any rapid movement, spec. a twinkling (of lights or...
... twinkling. From rhipto; a jerk (of the eye, ie (by analogy) aninstant) -- twinkling.
see GREEK rhipto. (ripe) -- 1 Occurrence. 4492, 4493. rhipe. 4494 ....
3568. nun -- now, the present
... (a) of time: just now, even now; just at hand, immediately, (b) of logical connection:
now then, (c) in commands and appeals: at thisinstant....
1764. enistemi -- to place in, to be at hand, perf. part. to be...
... come, be at hand, be present. From en and histemi; to place on hand, ie (reflexively)
impend, (participle) beinstant -- come, be at hand, present....
1945. epikeimai -- to lie on
... From epi and keimai; to rest upon (literally or figuratively) -- impose, beinstant,
(be) laid (there-, up-)on, (when) lay (on), lie (on), press upon....
Strong's Hebrew
6621. petha -- suddenness... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition suddenness NASB Word Usage
instant (1), instantly (2), suddenly (3), very (1). at an
instant, suddenly, very.
...7281. rega -- a moment
... Word Origin from raga Definition a moment NASB Word Usageinstant (1), instantly
(2), moment (14), momentary* (1), suddenly (3), while (1)....
7280a. raga -- to disturb
... to disturb. Transliteration: raga Short Definition:instant.... root Definition to disturb
NASB Word Usageinstant (2), moment (1), quieted (1), stirs (2)....
Library
Whether Christ could Merit in the FirstInstant of his Conception?
... OF THE PERFECTION OF THE CHILD CONCEIVED (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether Christ could
merit in the firstinstant of His conception? Objection...
Whether Christ was Sanctified in the FirstInstant of his...
... OF THE PERFECTION OF THE CHILD CONCEIVED (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether Christ was
sanctified in the firstinstant of His conception? Objection...
Constant,Instant, Expectant
... Constant,Instant, Expectant. A Sermon (No.1480).... CH SPURGEON,. At the Metropolitan
Tabernacle, Newington. "Continuinginstant in prayer.""Romans 12:12....
Whether Christ as Man had the Use of Free-Will in the First...
... OF THE PERFECTION OF THE CHILD CONCEIVED (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether Christ as man
had the use of free-will in the firstinstant of His conception?...
Whether the Devil was Wicked by the Fault of his Own Will in the...
... THE MALICE OF THE ANGELS WITH REGARD TO SIN (NINE ARTICLES) Whether the devil was
wicked by the fault of his own will in the firstinstant of his creation?...
Whether Christ's Body was Formed in the FirstInstant of Its...
... OF THE MODE AND ORDER OF CHRIST'S CONCEPTION (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether Christ's
body was formed in the firstinstant of its conception?...
Whether Christ's Body was Animated in the FirstInstant of Its...
... OF THE MODE AND ORDER OF CHRIST'S CONCEPTION (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether Christ's
body was animated in the firstinstant of its conception?...
Whether Christ was a Perfect Comprehensor in the FirstInstant of...
... OF THE PERFECTION OF THE CHILD CONCEIVED (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether Christ was
a perfect comprehensor in the firstinstant of His conception?...
Whether the Justification of the Ungodly Takes Place in anInstant...
... OF THE EFFECTS OF GRACE (TEN ARTICLES) Whether the justification of the ungodly
takes place in aninstant or successively? Objection...
That we Should not Retain Our Anger Even for anInstant.
... Prolegomena. Chapter XIII. That we should not retain our anger even for
aninstant. Or how can we think that the Lord would have...
Thesaurus
Instant (19 Occurrences)... 6. (n.) A day of the present or current month; as, the sixth
instant; -- an elliptical
expression equivalent to the sixth of the month
instant, ie, the current
...Instance (9 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A single occurrence or example. 2. (n.) The act or quality of beinginstant
or pressing; urgency; solicitation; application; suggestion; motion....
Instantly (39 Occurrences)
... pressingly. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.INSTANT; INSTANTLY. in'-stant,
in'-stant-li: Derivative from Latin instare. Found in...
Run (147 Occurrences)
... 34. (a.) Specifically, of a horse: To move rapidly in a gait in which each leg acts
in turn as a propeller and a supporter, and in which for aninstant all the...
Moment (71 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A minute portion of time; a point of time; an
instant; as, at that very moment. 2. (n.) Impulsive power; force; momentum....
Announce (56 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Jeremiah 18:7 At whatinstant I shall speak concerning a nation, and
concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it; (See NIV)...
Suddenly (87 Occurrences)
... that blows away. Yes, it will be in aninstant, suddenly. (WEB KJV JPS ASV
BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Isaiah 30:13 therefore this...
Nathanael (6 Occurrences)
... It taught him that here was One who read on theinstant the inmost secrets of his
heart, and was Himself the ideal for whom he was seeking; and it drew from...
Long-suffering (23 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; beinstant in season, out of season; reprove,
rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. (WBS YLT)....
Lead (192 Occurrences)
... (n.) The width of port opening which is uncovered by the valve, for the admission
or release of steam, at theinstant when the piston is at end of its stroke....
Resources
What does the Bible say about teamwork? | GotQuestions.orgWhy should I forgive? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Immaculate Conception? | GotQuestions.orgInstant: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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