Topical Encyclopedia
Precaution, in a biblical context, refers to the measures taken to prevent harm or ensure safety, both physically and spiritually. The concept of precaution is woven throughout Scripture, emphasizing wisdom, foresight, and the avoidance of unnecessary risks.
Biblical Principles of Precaution1.
Wisdom and Foresight: The Bible frequently associates precaution with wisdom.
Proverbs 22:3 states, "The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences." This verse highlights the importance of recognizing potential dangers and taking steps to avoid them, a hallmark of wise living.
2.
Guarding the Heart: Spiritual precaution is emphasized in
Proverbs 4:23 , "Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life." This admonition underscores the need to protect one's inner life from corrupting influences, ensuring that one's thoughts and desires align with God's will.
3.
Avoiding Temptation: Jesus taught His disciples to pray for deliverance from temptation, as seen in
Matthew 6:13 , "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." This reflects a proactive approach to spiritual safety, recognizing the need for divine assistance in avoiding moral pitfalls.
4.
Preparation and Readiness: The parable of the ten virgins in
Matthew 25:1-13 illustrates the importance of being prepared for the Lord's return. The wise virgins took precaution by bringing extra oil for their lamps, while the foolish ones did not, resulting in their exclusion from the wedding feast. This parable teaches the necessity of spiritual readiness and vigilance.
5.
Community and Accountability:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 highlights the value of companionship and mutual support as a form of precaution: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if one falls, the other will lift up his companion." This passage suggests that being part of a community provides protection and strength, helping individuals to avoid pitfalls and recover from setbacks.
6.
Obedience to God's Commands: Observing God's laws is a form of precaution that leads to life and blessing.
Deuteronomy 28 outlines the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience, emphasizing that adherence to God's commands is a safeguard against negative consequences.
7.
Financial Prudence: The Bible advises caution in financial matters.
Proverbs 21:20 states, "Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them." This verse encourages careful management of resources and warns against reckless spending.
Examples of Precaution in Scripture·
Noah's Ark: Noah's obedience in building the ark as instructed by God (
Genesis 6:13-22) serves as a prime example of precaution. His foresight and adherence to God's warning preserved his family and the animal species from the flood.
·
Joseph's Preparation for Famine: In
Genesis 41, Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams and his subsequent plan to store grain during the seven years of plenty exemplify precautionary measures that saved Egypt and surrounding nations from starvation.
·
Paul's Warnings: The Apostle Paul often took precautions in his ministry. In
Acts 20:31 , he warns the Ephesian elders, "Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears." His vigilance in teaching and warning the church was a precaution against false teachings and spiritual decline.
The biblical concept of precaution is multifaceted, encompassing both physical and spiritual dimensions. It calls for wisdom, vigilance, and obedience to God's guidance, ensuring safety and well-being in various aspects of life.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Previous caution or care; preparation made in advance for trouble or emergency; as, his life was saved by precaution.
2. (n.) A measure taken beforehand to ward off evil or secure good or success; a precautionary act; as, to take precautions against accident.
3. (v. t.) To warn or caution beforehand.
4. (v. t.) To take precaution against.
Greek
4724. stello -- to arrange, prepare, gather up, hence to restrain... Word Origin a prim. verb Definition to arrange, prepare, gather up, hence to
restrain NASB Word Usage keep away (1), taking
precaution (1).
...Library
Modesty, the Flower of Manners
... And so, either way, they trifle with solicitude and negligence; by taking emptiest
precaution against (crimes) to which they grant quarter, and granting...
Otherwise, if Everything which Goes against Origen and his...
... In my public letter I took everyprecaution to prevent your supposing that anything
in it was directed against you; but I wrote at the same time a short letter...
Augustin Himself. Two Methods Whereby Sins, Like Diseases, are...
... If such is the case, then there are no sins. For who sins in a case where
precaution is quite impossible? Sin, however, is committed...
Perfect Modesty Will Abstain from Whatever Tends to Sin, as Well...
... For he who presumes feels less apprehension; he who feels less apprehension takes
lessprecaution; he who takes lessprecaution runs more risk....
The Use of Money
... against the day of necessity, our Saviour adds, "His lord commended the unjust steward"
namely, in this respect, that he used timelyprecaution; and subjoins...
Whether a Religious Sins Mortally Whenever He Transgresses the...
... Hence in certain religious ordersprecaution is taken to profess, not the rule,
but to live according to the rule, ie to tend to form one's conduct in...
Of the History of the Resurrection.
... the authority of Saint Matthew, that the Jews were advertised of the expectation
of Christ's followers, and that they had taken dueprecaution in consequence...
Secondly, to Assign Some Reasons Why Christians must Make this the...
... Thisprecaution is seen partly in laying up the word in thy heart to prevent
them.... It is a good sign to exercise suchprecaution....
Third Withdrawal from Herod's Territory.
... Since the demon was manifestly of a most daring, impudent, and audacious nature,
Jesus took theprecaution to forbid it attempting to re-enter its victim, a...
The Same Subject Continued.
... If the reason why pardon was being granted was "lest we should be defrauded by Satan,"
the loss against whichprecaution was being taken had to do with that...
Thesaurus
Precaution (2 Occurrences)... 1. (n.) Previous caution or care; preparation made in advance for trouble or emergency;
as, his life was saved by
precaution.
...Precaution (2 Occurrences).
...Quaternion
... Peter was committed by Herod to the custody of four quaternions, ie, one quaternion
for each watch of the night (Acts 12:4). Thus everyprecaution was taken...
Joyful (83 Occurrences)
... For me to give you the same warnings as before is not irksome to me, while
so far as you are concerned it is a safeprecaution. (WEY)....
Galatians (2 Occurrences)
... in his name (2 Thessalonians 2:2; 3:17) it seems to have been his practice to close
with a few words in his own handwriting, as aprecaution against such...
Warnings (6 Occurrences)
... For me to give you the same warnings as before is not irksome to me, while
so far as you are concerned it is a safeprecaution. (WEY)....
Irksome (2 Occurrences)
... For me to give you the same warnings as before is not irksome to me, while so far
as you are concerned it is a safeprecaution. (WEY ASV DBY RSV)....
Precede (1 Occurrence)
Concerned (45 Occurrences)
... For me to give you the same warnings as before is not irksome to me, while
so far as you are concerned it is a safeprecaution. (WEY)....
Conclusion (10 Occurrences)
... For me to give you the same warnings as before is not irksome to me, while
so far as you are concerned it is a safeprecaution. (WEY)....
Schoolmaster (3 Occurrences)
... Wealthy and intensely orthodox Jewish parents living in a Gentile city may well
have adopted such aprecaution for the protection of their children....
Resources
What are the 95 Theses of Martin Luther? | GotQuestions.orgWho was George Whitefield? | GotQuestions.orgAre there errors in the Qur'an (Koran)? | GotQuestions.orgPrecaution: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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