Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "maintain" in the Bible encompasses the ideas of upholding, preserving, and continuing in a state or condition. It is often associated with the faithfulness and steadfastness required of believers in their relationship with God, their conduct, and their responsibilities.
Faithfulness and SteadfastnessIn the context of faith, maintaining one's commitment to God is a recurring theme. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, frequently exhorts believers to remain steadfast in their faith. For instance, in
1 Corinthians 16:13 , Paul urges, "Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong." This call to maintain faithfulness is echoed throughout the New Testament, emphasizing the importance of perseverance in the Christian walk.
Upholding God's CommandsMaintaining God's commandments is a central aspect of the believer's life. In
Deuteronomy 6:17 , the Israelites are instructed, "You are to diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God and the testimonies and statutes He has commanded you." This directive underscores the necessity of upholding God's laws as a demonstration of love and obedience to Him.
Preserving Unity and PeaceThe New Testament also highlights the importance of maintaining unity and peace within the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:3 encourages believers to be "diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." This involves actively working to sustain harmonious relationships and fostering a spirit of cooperation and mutual edification among believers.
Maintaining Good WorksThe call to maintain good works is a significant aspect of Christian living. In
Titus 3:8 , Paul writes, "This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will be intent on maintaining good works. These things are excellent and profitable for the people." Here, the emphasis is on the continuous practice of good deeds as a reflection of one's faith and as a testimony to others.
Guarding the FaithBelievers are also called to maintain the purity and integrity of the faith. In
2 Timothy 1:14 , Paul instructs Timothy, "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you; guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us." This charge involves protecting the core truths of the Gospel from distortion and faithfully transmitting them to future generations.
ConclusionThe biblical mandate to maintain encompasses a broad spectrum of responsibilities, from personal faithfulness and obedience to communal harmony and doctrinal purity. It is a call to steadfastness in all aspects of the Christian life, ensuring that one's faith and actions align with the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To hold or keep in any particular state or condition; to support; to sustain; to uphold; to keep up; not to suffer to fail or decline; as, to maintain a certain degree of heat in a furnace; to maintain a fence or a railroad; to maintain the digestive process or powers of the stomach; to maintain the fertility of soil; to maintain present reputation.
2. (v. t.) To keep possession of; to hold and defend; not to surrender or relinquish.
3. (v. t.) To continue; not to suffer to cease or fail.
4. (v. t.) To bear the expense of; to support; to keep up; to supply with what is needed.
5. (v. t.) To affirm; to support or defend by argument.
Greek
4291. proistemi -- early... Phonetic Spelling: (pro-is'-tay-mee) Short Definition: I rule Definition: I preside,
rule over, give attention to, direct,
maintain, practice diligently.
...1696. emmeno -- to abide in, fig. to be true to, to persevere
... persevere. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: emmeno Phonetic Spelling:
(em-men'-o) Short Definition: I remain or abide in, abide by,maintain Definition:...
5083. tereo -- to watch over, to guard
... watch over. 5083 (from , "a guard") -- properly,maintain (preserve);
(figuratively) (watch), . Word Origin from a prim. word teros...
4465. rhabdouchos -- a rod holder, ie (a Roman) lictor (one...
... 4465 (from 4464 , "a rod" and 2190, "have") -- properly, an official who beat people
with tomaintain law-and-order (ie as "a policeman"); literally, someone...
5442. phulasso -- to guard, watch
... Usage abstain (1), guard (8), guarded (1), guarding (1), guards (1), keep (5), keeping
(2), keeps (1), kept (4), kept under guard (1),maintain (1), observe (2...
3049. logizomai -- to reckon, to consider
... to consider NASB Word Usage consider (6), considered (2), counted (1), counting
(1), credit (1), credited (9), credits (1), dwell (1),maintain (1), numbered (2...
2309. thelo -- to will, wish
... am willing (3), delighting (1), delights (1), desire (14), desired (4), desires
(4), desiring (2), intended (1), intending (1), like (3),maintain (1), mean (1...
226. aletheuo -- to speak the truth
... aletheuo Phonetic Spelling: (al-ayth-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I say, speak truth,
I do truth Definition: I say (speak) truth, do truth,maintain truth (the...
192. akrasia -- want of power
... 192 (from 1 "not" and 2904 , "prevail") -- properly, without prevailing (taking
dominion), ie the inability tomaintain control; (figuratively) without self...
2192. echo -- to have, hold
... 2), having (50), held (1), hold (5), holding (7), holds (2), ill* (5), incurring
(1), involves (1), keep (3), keeping (3), kept (1),maintain (1), maintained (1...
Strong's Hebrew
2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen... 3), joining (1), laid hold (1), louder (1), made (1), made himself secure (1), made
their harder (1), made repairs (12), made stronger (1),
maintain (1), make
...8551. tamak -- to grasp, support, attain
... take, uphold up,maintain, retain, stay up. A primitive root; to sustain;
by implication, to obtain, keep fast; figuratively, to...
3557. kul -- to comprehend, contain
... contain NASB Word Usage calculated (1), contain (4), contains (1), endure (5), had
to provide (1), held (1), hold (4), holding (2),maintain (1), provide (4...
6213. asah -- do, make
... furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)),
X indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour,maintain, make, be meet...
6113. atsar -- to restrain, retain
... A primitive root; to inclose; by analogy, to hold back; also tomaintain, rule,
assemble -- X be able, close up, detain, fast, keep (self close, still), prevail...
3559. kun -- to be firm
... ready (1), installed (1), made it ready (1), made preparations (1), made provision
(1), made...preparations (1), made...ready (1),maintain his position (1...
3198. yakach -- to decide, adjudge, prove
... to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict -- appoint, argue, chasten,
convince, correct(-ion), daysman, dispute, judge,maintain, plead, reason...
6213a. asah -- do, make
... 1), inflict (1), inflicted (1), inlaid (1), instituted (2), introduced (2), keep
(1), kept (1), labored (1), laborers (1), made (369),maintain (6), maintained...
5341. natsar -- to watch, guard, keep
... A primitive root; to guard, in a good sense (to protect,maintain, obey, etc.) Or
a bad one (to conceal, etc.) -- besieged, hidden thing, keep(-er, -ing...
Library
That the PlatonistsMaintain that the Poets Wrong the Gods by...
... Chapter 7."That the PlatonistsMaintain that the Poets Wrong the Gods by Representing
Them as Distracted by Party Feeling, to Which the Demons and Not the...
Careful toMaintain Good Works
... XXIII Careful tomaintain Good Works.... Let our people also learn tomaintain good
works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.'"Tit.3:8, 14...
How those whoMaintain that a Man Can be Without Sin are Charged...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter VII. How those whomaintain that
a man can be without sin are charged with a twofold error....
Of those whoMaintain that they Worship the Gods not for the Sake...
... Book VI. Chapter 1."Of Those WhoMaintain that They Worship the Gods Not
for the Sake of Temporal But Eternal Advantages. Now, as...
The CatholicsMaintain the Doctrine of Original Sin, and Thus are...
... Book II. Chapter 9."The CatholicsMaintain the Doctrine of Original Sin,
and Thus are Far from Being Manicheans. Listen, then, for...
Against those whoMaintain that the Spirit is in the Rank Neither...
... Chapter XX. Against those whomaintain that the Spirit is in the rank neither
of a servant nor of a master, but in that of the free. 51....
The PelagiansMaintain that the Law is the Grace of God which...
... A Treatise on grace and free will, Chapter 23 [XI.]"The PelagiansMaintain
that the Law is the Grace of God Which Helps Us Not to Sin....
O virgin,Maintain Thy Purpose which is Destined for a Great...
... Chapter XII. O Virgin,maintain thy purpose which is destined for a great reward.?
O Virgin,maintain thy purpose which is destined for a great reward....
Let HereticsMaintain their Claims by a Definite and Intelligible...
... Chapter XXXV."Let HereticsMaintain Their Claims by a Definite and Intelligible
Evidence This the Only Method of Solving Their Questions....
We, Therefore, do notMaintain that the Body which Has Undergone...
... Chapter XXIII. We, therefore, do notmaintain that the body which has
undergone corruption resumes its original? We, therefore...
Thesaurus
Maintain (50 Occurrences)... hold or keep in any particular state or condition; to support; to sustain; to uphold;
to keep up; not to suffer to fail or decline; as, to
maintain a certain
...Uphold (30 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To hold up; to lift on high; to elevate. 2. (vt)
To keep erect; to support; to sustain; to keep from falling; tomaintain....
Vindicate (18 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) Tomaintain or defend with success; to prove to be valid; to assert
convincingly; to sustain against assault; as, to vindicate a right, claim, or title...
Keep (4573 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To cause to remain in a given situation or condition; tomaintain
unchanged; to hold or preserve in any state or tenor....
Stand (542 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) Tomaintain one's ground; to be acquitted; not to fail or yield;
to be safe. 8. (n.) Tomaintain an invincible or permanent...
Plea (35 Occurrences)
... house; (See NIV). 1 Kings 8:45 then hear in heaven their prayer and their
supplication, andmaintain their cause. (See NIV). 1 Kings...
Support (135 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To furnish with the means of sustenance or livelihood; tomaintain; to provide
for; as, to support a family; to support the ministers of the gospel....
Supplication (71 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 8:45 then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and
maintain their cause. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)....
Nourish (16 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To support; tomaintain.... Kilkal means "to support," "maintain" "provide for"
(especially with food) (Genesis 45:11; Genesis 47:12; Genesis 50:21)....
Requires (21 Occurrences)
... hearts, while their consciences also bear witness to the Law, and their thoughts,
as if in mutual discussion, accuse them or perhapsmaintain their innocence...
Resources
How can I maintain a good attitude when I am struggling with PMS? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I maintain a good attitude when I am struggling with hormones / hormonal? | GotQuestions.orgHow can a Christian cope while suffering with a degenerative disease? | GotQuestions.orgMaintain: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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