Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terminology, the concept of "joint" is often used metaphorically to describe unity, connection, and the interdependence of parts within a whole. The term itself may not frequently appear in the English translations of the Bible, but the underlying idea is prevalent throughout Scripture, particularly in the context of the body of Christ and the functioning of the church.
Old Testament ContextWhile the specific term "joint" is not commonly found in the Old Testament, the idea of interconnectedness and unity is evident. For example, the construction of the Tabernacle and the Temple involved precise craftsmanship where various parts were joined together to form a cohesive structure (Exodus 26;
1 Kings 6). This physical joining symbolizes the spiritual unity and order that God desires among His people.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of the human body to describe the church, emphasizing the importance of each member and their interconnected roles. In
Ephesians 4:16 , Paul writes, "From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part." Here, the "supporting ligament" can be understood as a joint, highlighting the necessity of each part being properly connected and functioning for the growth and edification of the church.
Similarly, in
Colossians 2:19 , Paul speaks of holding fast to the Head, "from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow." This passage underscores the divine design of the church, where every believer is joined together in Christ, contributing to the overall health and growth of the body.
Theological ImplicationsThe metaphor of joints in the body of Christ carries significant theological implications. It illustrates the unity and diversity within the church, where each member, though different, is essential to the functioning of the whole. This interconnectedness reflects the Trinitarian nature of God, who is one in essence yet distinct in persons.
Furthermore, the concept of being "joint heirs" with Christ, as mentioned in
Romans 8:17 , "And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him," speaks to the shared inheritance and unity believers have in Christ. This joint inheritance emphasizes the communal aspect of salvation and the shared destiny of all who are in Christ.
Practical ApplicationUnderstanding the biblical concept of joints encourages believers to foster unity and cooperation within the church. It calls for recognizing the value of each member's contribution and the necessity of working together in love and harmony. This unity is not merely organizational but deeply spiritual, rooted in the believers' connection to Christ and to one another.
In summary, while the term "joint" may not frequently appear in the biblical text, its metaphorical use provides profound insights into the nature of the church and the relationships among its members. It serves as a reminder of the importance of unity, diversity, and mutual support within the body of Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The place or part where two things or parts are joined or united; the union of two or more smooth or even surfaces admitting of a close-fitting or junction; junction as, a joint between two pieces of timber; a joint in a pipe.
2. (n.) A joining of two things or parts so as to admit of motion; an articulation, whether movable or not; a hinge; as, the knee joint; a node or joint of a stem; a ball and socket joint. See Articulation.
3. (n.) The part or space included between two joints, knots, nodes, or articulations; as, a joint of cane or of a grass stem; a joint of the leg.
4. (n.) Any one of the large pieces of meat, as cut into portions by the butcher for roasting.
5. (n.) A plane of fracture, or divisional plane, of a rock transverse to the stratification.
6. (n.) The space between the adjacent surfaces of two bodies joined and held together, as by means of cement, mortar, etc.; as, a thin joint.
7. (n.) The means whereby the meeting surfaces of pieces in a structure are secured together.
8. (a.) Joined; united; combined; concerted; as joint action.
9. (a.) Involving the united activity of two or more; done or produced by two or more working together.
10. (a.) United, joined, or sharing with another or with others; not solitary in interest or action; holding in common with an associate, or with associates; acting together; as, joint heir; joint creditor; joint debtor, etc.
11. (a.) Shared by, or affecting two or more; held in common; as, joint property; a joint bond.
12. (v. t.) To unite by a joint or joints; to fit together; to prepare so as to fit together; as, to joint boards.
13. (v. t.) To join; to connect; to unite; to combine.
14. (v. t.) To provide with a joint or joints; to articulate.
15. (v. t.) To separate the joints; of; to divide at the joint or joints; to disjoint; to cut up into joints, as meat.
16. (v. i.) To fit as if by joints; to coalesce as joints do; as, the stones joint, neatly.
Greek
860. haphe -- ajoint... a
joint. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: haphe Phonetic Spelling:
(haf-ay') Short Definition: a band, fastening, a ligament Definition: a band
...719. harmos -- a joining,joint
... a joining,joint. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: harmos Phonetic
Spelling: (har-mos') Short Definition: ajoint of the body Definition: a...
4930. sunteleia -- ajoint payment (for public service),joint...
... ajoint payment (for public service),joint action, spec.... Word Origin from sunteleo
Definition ajoint payment (for public service),joint action, spec....
4830. summetochos -- partaking with, subst. ajoint partaker
... ajoint partaker. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: summetochos Phonetic
Spelling: (soom-met'-okh-os) Short Definition: jointly partaking Definition...
4789. sugkleronomos -- a co-inheritor
... a co-inheritor. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: sugkleronomos Phonetic
Spelling: (soong-klay-ron-om'-os) Short Definition: ajoint heir, participant...
4831. summimetes -- a fellow imitator
... fellow imitator. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: summimetes Phonetic
Spelling: (soom-mim-ay-tace') Short Definition: ajoint imitator Definition...
4954. sussomos -- of the same body
... 4954 (an adjective, derived from 4862 , "closely identified " and 4983 , "body") --
properly, united, belonging to the same body; a "joint-body," referring to...
3352. metoche -- sharing
... Cognate: 3352 -- a close relation between partners, ie people sharing something
held in common (used only in 2 Cor 6:14);joint-activity. See 3353 ()....
4883. sunarmologeo -- to fit together
... 4883 (from 4862 , "joined closely "; , "ajoint"; and 719 , "reason") -- properly,
(joined); together to efficiently and effectively function....
1624. ektrepo -- to turn away
... Word Origin from ek and the same as trope Definition to turn away NASB Word Usage
avoiding (1), put out ofjoint (1), turn aside (1), turned aside (2)....
Strong's Hebrew
7001. qetar -- ajoint, knot... 7000, 7001. qetar. 7002 . a
joint, knot. Transliteration: qetar Phonetic
Spelling: (ket-ar') Short Definition: problems.
... doubt,
joint.
...679. atstsil -- a joining,joint
... 678, 679. atstsil. 680 . a joining,joint. Transliteration: atstsil Phonetic
Spelling: (ats-tseel') Short Definition: armpits....joint of the hand....
4154. muedeth -- out ofjoint
... muedeth. 4155 . out ofjoint. Transliteration: muedeth Phonetic Spelling:
(moo-ay'-deth) Short Definition:joint. Word Origin the same as maad, qv. out of...
4226. mechabberah -- a binder, clamp,joint
... 4225, 4226. mechabberah. 4227 . a binder, clamp,joint. Transliteration:
mechabberah Phonetic Spelling: (mekh-ab-ber-aw') Short Definition: clamps....
1694. debeq -- a joining, soldering, appendage
... 1693, 1694. debeq. 1695 . a joining, soldering, appendage. Transliteration:
debeq Phonetic Spelling: (deh'-bek) Short Definition:joint....joint, solder....
6504. parad -- to divide
... root Definition to divide NASB Word Usage decides (1), dispersed (1), divided (1),
go apart (1),joint (1), parted (1), parts (1), scattered (2), separate (1...
3363. yaqa -- to be dislocated or alienated
... be alienated, depart, hang up, be out ofjoint. A primitive root; properly,
to sever oneself, ie (by implication) to be dislocated...
7166. qarsol -- ankle
... Word Origin from qaras Definition ankle NASB Word Usage feet (2). foot. From qarac;
an ankle (as a protuberance orjoint) -- foot. see HEBREW qarac....
4454. malaq -- to nip, nip off
... wring off. A primitive root; to crack ajoint; by implication, to wring the neck
of a fowl (without separating it) -- wring off. 4453, 4454. malaq. 4455 ....
4665. miphreqeth -- neck
... neck. From paraq; properly, a fracture, ieJoint (vertebrae) of the neck -- neck.
see HEBREW paraq. 4664, 4665. miphreqeth. 4666 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
TheJoint Heirs and their Divine Portion
... TheJoint Heirs and Their Divine Portion. A Sermon (No.402).... CH SPURGEON,. At the
Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. "Joint heirs with Christ.""Romans 8:17....
The Strange Jumble of the Pleroma the Frantic Delight of the...
... Chapter XII."The Strange Jumble of the Pleroma The Frantic Delight of the Members
Thereof. TheirJoint Contribution of Parts Set Forth with Humorous Irony....
Further Use Made of the System of the Phrygians; Mode of...
... Further Use Made of the System of the Phrygians; Mode of Celebrating the Mysteries;
The Mystery of the "Great Mother;" These Mysteries Have aJoint Object of...
Transactions of that Period, and Progress of Christian Doctrine...
... Book III. Chapter XVII."Transactions of that Period, and Progress of Christian
Doctrine through theJoint Efforts of Emperors and Arch-Priests....
Valentinus' Explanation of the Existence of Jesus; Power of Jesus...
... Then all the thirty ??ons consented to project one ??on,joint fruit of the Pleroma,
that he might be (an earnest) of their union, [686] and unanimity, and...
I have Given You one Instance in which He Has Expressed his Own...
... one I select is on the passage where it is written: "From whom all the body, fitly
framed and knit together through that which everyjoint supplieth according...
Fourth Sunday after Trinity Consolation in Suffering, and Patience...
... Then Paul draws the conclusion, first, that we are children of God; next, he says:
"If children, then heirs; heirs of God, andjoint-heirs with Christ." The...
Suffering with Christ, a Condition of Glory with Christ
... '...Joint heirs with Christ: if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may
be also glorified together.'"Romans 8:17. In the former...
In what Respect Philosophy Contributes to the Comprehension of...
... to the comprehension of truth; not as being the cause of comprehension, but a cause
along with other things, and co-operator; perhaps also ajoint cause....
The Other Valentinian Emanations in Conformity with the...
... in the Ogdoad have been subdivided, and there has been projected Sophia, which is,
according to them, mother of all living creatures, and the "Joint Fruit of...
Thesaurus
Joint (12 Occurrences)... or parts are joined or united; the union of two or more smooth or even surfaces
admitting of a close-fitting or junction; junction as, a
joint between two
...Joint-partakers (2 Occurrences)
Joint-partakers. Jointly,Joint-partakers.Joint-participation .
Multi-Version ConcordanceJoint-partakers (2 Occurrences)....
Joint-participation (1 Occurrence)
Joint-participation.Joint-partakers,Joint-participation. Joints .
Multi-Version ConcordanceJoint-participation (1 Occurrence)....
Joint-heirs (2 Occurrences)
Joint-heirs. Jointed,Joint-heirs. Jointly . Multi-Version
ConcordanceJoint-heirs (2 Occurrences). Romans 8:17 And...
Joint-witness (1 Occurrence)
Joint-witness. Joints,Joint-witness. Joists . Multi-Version
ConcordanceJoint-witness (1 Occurrence). Hebrews 2:4 God...
Shoulder (72 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Thejoint, or the region of thejoint, by which the fore limb is connected
with the body or with the shoulder girdle; the projection formed by the...
Knee (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) In man, thejoint in the middle part of the leg.
2. (n.) Thejoint, or region of thejoint, between the thigh and leg....
Joints (7 Occurrences)
Mitre (10 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The surface forming the beveled end or edge of a piece where a miterjoint
is made; also, ajoint formed or a junction effected by two beveled ends or...
But (42052 Occurrences)
... 18. (n.) Ajoint where the ends of two objects come squarely together without
scarfing or chamfering; -- also called buttjoint. 19....
Resources
What does it mean to be co-heirs/joint-heirs with Christ? | GotQuestions.orgIs ecumenism biblical? Should a Christian be involved in the ecumenical movement (ecumenicalism)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the National Day of Prayer? | GotQuestions.orgJoint: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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