Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, "necessity" often refers to the essential needs and requirements of life, as well as the moral and spiritual obligations that believers are called to fulfill. The concept of necessity is woven throughout Scripture, highlighting both the physical needs of humanity and the spiritual imperatives that guide Christian living.
Physical NecessitiesThe Bible acknowledges the basic physical necessities of life, such as food, clothing, and shelter. In
Matthew 6:31-33 , Jesus addresses these needs, saying, "Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." Here, Jesus emphasizes that while physical necessities are important, they should not overshadow the pursuit of God's kingdom and righteousness.
The Apostle Paul also speaks to the issue of necessity in terms of work and provision. In
2 Thessalonians 3:10 , he writes, "For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat." This underscores the principle that individuals have a responsibility to work and provide for their own needs, as well as the needs of their families.
Spiritual NecessitiesBeyond physical needs, the Bible places a strong emphasis on spiritual necessities. The necessity of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is a central theme. In
John 3:7 , Jesus tells Nicodemus, "Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’" This spiritual rebirth is presented as a necessity for entering the kingdom of God.
The necessity of love is another critical aspect of Christian teaching. In
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 , Paul writes about the indispensable nature of love, stating, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing." Love is portrayed as a necessity that underpins all other spiritual gifts and actions.
Moral and Ethical NecessitiesThe Bible also outlines moral and ethical necessities for believers.
Micah 6:8 succinctly captures this, stating, "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" This verse highlights the necessity of justice, mercy, and humility in the life of a believer.
In the New Testament, the necessity of obedience to God's commandments is emphasized. Jesus says in
John 14:15 , "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." Obedience is presented as a necessary expression of love for Christ and a reflection of genuine faith.
Necessity in MinistryThe concept of necessity also extends to the ministry and mission of the church. Paul speaks of the necessity laid upon him to preach the gospel in
1 Corinthians 9:16 , saying, "Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" This sense of divine compulsion underscores the urgency and importance of spreading the message of salvation.
In summary, the Bible presents necessity as encompassing both the physical and spiritual realms, urging believers to prioritize their spiritual obligations while trusting God to meet their physical needs. The call to love, obey, and serve is portrayed as essential to the Christian life, reflecting the transformative power of faith in action.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The quality of being needed, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite; inevitableness; indispensableness.
2. (n.) The condition of being needy or necessitous; pressing need; indigence; want.
3. (n.) That which is necessary; a necessary; a requisite; something indispensable; -- often in the plural.
4. (n.) That which makes an act or an event unavoidable; irresistible force; overruling power; compulsion, physical or moral; fate; fatality.
5. (n.) The negation of freedom in voluntary action; the subjection of all phenomena, whether material or spiritual, to inevitable causation.
Greek
318. anagke --necessity...necessity. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: anagke Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ang-kay') Short Definition:
necessity, constraint, compulsion Definition
...1876. epanagkes -- necessary, ofnecessity
... necessary, ofnecessity. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: epanagkes Phonetic
Spelling: (ep-an'-ang-kes) Short Definition: necessarily Definition...
5532. chreia -- need, business
... need, business. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: chreia Phonetic
Spelling: (khri'-ah) Short Definition: need,necessity, business Definition: need...
3195. mello -- to be about to
... intend, ie Be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially
events; in the sense of purpose, duty,necessity, probability, possibility...
27. agapetos -- beloved
... Jude 3: " (27 ), while I was making every effort to write you about our common
salvation, I had [a sense of]necessity to write to you, exhorting [you] to...
5535. chrezo -- to need, have need of
... have need. From chreia; to make (ie Have)necessity, ie Be in want of -- (have)
need. see GREEK chreia. (chrezei) -- 1 Occurrence. (chrezete) -- 2 Occurrences....
316. anagkaios -- necessary
... necessary, needful. From anagke; necessary; by implication, close (of kin) -- near,
necessary,necessity, needful. see GREEK anagke. (anankaia) -- 1 Occurrence....
2192. echo -- to have, hold
... not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold,
keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + ofnecessity, + need, next...
384. anaskeuazo -- to pack up baggage, dismantle
... destroy by ). [In one papyrus, means "" (P Oxy IV. 745.5, ad . 1): "and we without
anynecessity" (, 37).]. 384 ("subversively rearranging...
Strong's Hebrew
2819. chashchuwth -- things needed... be needful From a root corresponding to chashach;
necessity -- be needful. see HEBREW
chashach. 2818, 2819. chashchuwth. 2819a . Strong's Numbers.
Library
TheNecessity of Prayer
TheNecessity of Prayer. <. TheNecessity of Prayer Edward M. Bounds. Table
of Contents. Title Page. TheNecessity of Prayer. FOREWORD....
Whether the Will is Moved, ofNecessity, by Its Object?
... OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE WILL IS MOVED (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the will
is moved, ofnecessity, by its object? Objection 1: It...
Whether the Will is Moved ofNecessity by the Exterior Mover which...
... OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE WILL IS MOVED (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the will
is moved ofnecessity by the exterior mover which is God?...
Whether the Will Desires ofNecessity, Whatever it Desires?
... OF THE WILL (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether the will desires ofnecessity, whatever it desires?...
Therefore it seems that the will's object moves it ofnecessity....
Whether the Will Desires Something ofNecessity?
... OF THE WILL (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether the will desires something ofnecessity?...
Therefore nothing that the will desires is desired ofnecessity....
TheNecessity of Divine Influences.
... SERMONS. THENECESSITY OF DIVINE INFLUENCES.... And the history of Christianity
evinces both thenecessity and reality of Divine influences....
Whether the Will is Moved, ofNecessity, by the Lower Appetite?
... OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE WILL IS MOVED (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the will
is moved, ofnecessity, by the lower appetite? Objection...
The Scripture aNecessity.
... Fourth Chapter. THE HOLY SCRIPTURE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. XIII. The Scripture
aNecessity. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime...
Whether Christ was ofNecessity Subject to These Defects?
... OF THE DEFECTS OF BODY ASSUMED BY THE SON OF GOD (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether Christ
was ofnecessity subject to these defects?... But will is opposed tonecessity....
Whether the Will of God ImposesNecessity on the Things Willed?
... THE WILL OF GOD (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether the will of God imposesnecessity
on the things willed? Objection 1: It seems that the...
Thesaurus
Necessity (22 Occurrences)...Necessity (22 Occurrences).
... for there is a
necessity for the stumbling-blocks to
come, but wo to that man through whom the stumbling-block doth come! (YLT).
...Exaltation (9 Occurrences)
... OF OUR LORD 1. Its Actuality 2. General Doctrine of the Church 3. Lutheran Doctrine
4. Theory of Laying Aside the Existence-Form of God 5.Necessity III....
Targum
... With the arrival of Ezra there was a revival of the study of the Law, and with that
thenecessity for the interpretation of it in language which the people...
Need (914 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A state that requires supply or relief; pressing
occasion for something;necessity; urgent want.... 7. (adv.) ofnecessity....
Necessarily (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In a necessary manner; bynecessity; unavoidably;
indispensably. Multi-Version Concordance Necessarily (3 Occurrences)....
Nicodemus (5 Occurrences)
... by night (John 3:1-21) for the purpose of learning more of his doctrines, which
our Lord then unfolded to him, giving prominence to thenecessity of being...
Behoove
... 1. (vt) To be necessary for; to be fit for; to be meet for, with respect to
necessity, duty, or convenience; -- mostly used impersonally....
Compulsion (8 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 9:16 For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about;
fornecessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don't preach the Good News...
Shall (64703 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi & auxiliary.) As an auxiliary, shall indicates a duty ornecessity whose
obligation is derived from the person speaking; as, you shall go; he shall go...
Purity (16 Occurrences)
... They were interpretative of something spiritual-were a parable way of illustrating
thenecessity of purity of heart in order to gain acceptance with God....
Resources
What is Occam's Razor? Does Occam's Razor disprove the existence of God? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is prevenient grace? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Reformed Theology? | GotQuestions.orgNecessity: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
