Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of preservation in the Bible encompasses God's protection, sustenance, and maintenance of His creation and His people. It reflects His ongoing involvement in the world and His commitment to the covenant promises made to His followers.
Divine PreservationGod's role as the preserver is evident throughout Scripture. In
Genesis 45:7, Joseph acknowledges God's hand in preserving life: "God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance." This highlights God's providential care in sustaining His people through difficult circumstances.
The Psalms frequently speak of God's preserving power.
Psalm 121:7-8 declares, "The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore." Here, preservation is linked to God's protection from harm and His eternal vigilance over the lives of His people.
Preservation of the RighteousThe Bible often contrasts the fate of the righteous with that of the wicked, emphasizing that God preserves those who are faithful to Him.
Proverbs 2:8 states, "He guards the paths of justice and protects the way of His saints." This suggests that God's preservation is not only physical but also moral and spiritual, guiding the righteous in their walk with Him.
In the New Testament, the theme of preservation is extended to eternal life. In
John 10:28-29 , Jesus assures His followers, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand." This promise underscores the security and eternal preservation of believers in Christ.
Preservation of CreationGod's preservation extends beyond humanity to all of creation.
Colossians 1:17 affirms, "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." This verse speaks to Christ's sustaining power over the universe, ensuring the continued existence and order of all things.
The preservation of creation is also evident in the covenant God made with Noah after the flood. In
Genesis 9:11 , God promises, "Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth." This covenant signifies God's commitment to maintaining the natural order and preserving life on earth.
Human Responsibility in PreservationWhile God is the ultimate preserver, Scripture also calls humans to participate in the preservation of life and creation. In
Genesis 2:15 , God places Adam in the Garden of Eden "to work it and take care of it," indicating a responsibility to steward and preserve the environment.
Moreover, believers are encouraged to preserve the teachings and traditions of the faith. In
2 Timothy 1:14 , Paul exhorts 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 highlights the importance of maintaining doctrinal purity and passing on the truth of the Gospel.
ConclusionThe biblical theme of preservation reveals God's unwavering commitment to His creation and His people. Through His providence, protection, and promises, God ensures the continuation and flourishing of life, calling His followers to join in the work of preservation.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To keep or save from injury or destruction; to guard or defend from evil, harm, danger, etc.; to protect.
2. (v. t.) To save from decay by the use of some preservative substance, as sugar, salt, etc.; to season and prepare for remaining in a good state, as fruits, meat, etc.; as, to preserve peaches or grapes.
3. (v. t.) To maintain throughout; to keep intact; as, to preserve appearances; to preserve silence.
4. (v. i.) To make preserves.
5. (v. i.) To protect game for purposes of sport.
6. (n.) That which is preserved; fruit, etc., seasoned and kept by suitable preparation; esp., fruit cooked with sugar; -- commonly in the plural.
7. (n.) A place in which game, fish, etc., are preserved for purposes of sport, or for food.
Greek
2225. zoogoneo -- topreserve alive... to
preserve alive. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: zoogoneo Phonetic Spelling:
(dzo-og-on-eh'-o) Short Definition: I
preserve alive Definition: I
preserve...4933. suntereo -- to keep close, iepreserve
... to keep close, iepreserve. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: suntereo Phonetic
Spelling: (soon-tay-reh'-o) Short Definition: Ipreserve, keep safe, keep in...
4046. peripoieo -- topreserve, get possession of
... topreserve, get possession of. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: peripoieo
Phonetic Spelling: (per-ee-poy-eh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I acquire...
5442. phulasso -- to guard, watch
... 5442 (akin to 5441 , "a military guard") -- properly,preserve by "having an eye
on" (J. Thayer), referring to the uninterrupted vigilance shepherds show in...
4982. sozo -- to save
... to save. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sozo Phonetic Spelling: (sode'-zo)
Short Definition: I save, heal Definition: I save, heal,preserve, rescue....
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...
5440. phulakterion -- an outpost, fortification, an amulet
... 5440 (from 5442 , "to keep,preserve") -- ; small, leather cases containing four
key passages of Scripture (Ex 13:1-10, 11-16; Dt 6:4-9, 13-21)....
1295. diasozo -- to bring safely through (a danger), to save...
... escape safely, heal, make perfectly whole, save. From dia and sozo; to save thoroughly,
ie (by implication or analogy) to cure,preserve, rescue, etc....
Strong's Hebrew
8104. shamar -- to keep, watch,preserve... 8103, 8104. shamar. 8105 . to keep, watch,
preserve. Transliteration: shamar
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-mar') Short Definition: keep. Word Origin a prim.
...6508. pardes -- apreserve, park
... 6507, 6508. pardes. 6509 . apreserve, park. Transliteration: pardes Phonetic
Spelling: (par-dace') Short Definition: forest. Word...
3498. yathar -- to remain over
... leave a remnant (1), leave of it over (1), leaving (1), left (47), left behind
(1), left over (6), let remain (1), more than enough (1),preserve (1), prosper...
2421a. chayah -- to live
... 1), kept alive (1), leave (2), leave alive (1), live (120), lived (42), lives (5),
make alive (1), makes alive (1), nourished (1),preserve (3),preserve his...
3467. yasha -- to deliver
... 3), deliverers (1), deliverers who delivered (1), delivers (2), endowed with salvation
(1), gained the victory (1), help (9), helped (5),preserve (1), safe (1...
4241. michyah -- preservation of life, sustenance
... Word Origin from chayah Definition preservation of life, sustenance NASB Word Usage
maintenance (1),preserve life (1), quick (1), raw (1), recover (1...
7760. sum -- to put, place, set
... ordained (1), orders (1), paid (2), painted* (1), pay (1), pay attention (2), performed
(3), place (15), placed (21), plant (1), prepare (1),preserve (1), put...
4422. malat -- to slip away
... deliver self, escape, lay, leap out, let alone, let go,preserve, save,.
A primitive root; properly, to be smooth, ie (by implication...
5341. natsar -- to watch, guard, keep
... 2), hidden things (1), keep (7), keep watch (1), keeper (1), keeps (3), kept (1),
man (1), observe (10), observed (1), observes (1),preserve (10), preserves (1...
2421. chayah -- to live
... figuratively; causatively, to revive -- keep (leave, make) alive, X certainly, give
(promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up,preserve (alive), quicken...
Library
Let usPreserve in the Church the Order Appointed by God.
... Chapter XL."Let uspreserve in the Church the order appointed by God.
These things therefore being manifest to us, and since we...
If we are toPreserve Our Modesty we must Avoid Fellowship with...
... by St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. Book I. Chapter XX. If we are topreserve
our modesty we must avoid fellowship with profligate men?...
Let usPreserve in the Church the Order Appointed by God.
... The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. Chapter XL."Let UsPreserve
in the Church the Order Appointed by God. These things...
Preserve Harmony.
... Chapter VI."Preserve harmony. Since therefore I have, in the persons before
mentioned, beheld the whole multitude of you in faith...
"For as Regards the Fact that toPreserve the Figure of Unity The....
... Book III. Chapter 17. " 22. "For as regards the fact that topreserve
the figure of unity the? "22. "For as regards the fact...
The Answer Showing How Far we Ought toPreserve the Recollection...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter VII. The answer showing how far
we ought topreserve the recollection of previous actions....
Of the Care with which a Monk ShouldPreserve the Recollection of...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter IX. Of the care with which a monk
shouldpreserve the recollection of God. I should say...
Recommendation to the Bishops, on their Departure, toPreserve...
... Book III. Chapter XXI."Recommendation to the Bishops, on their Departure,
toPreserve Harmony. And now, when the council was on...
In what Manner in the Confession of the Three Hypostases we...
... BIBLION. Chapter XVIII. In what manner in the confession of the three hypostases
wepreserve the pious dogma of the Monarchia. Wherein...
A Question How it is that it is Harder Work toPreserve than to...
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter VII. A question how it is that
it is harder work topreserve than to originate good thoughts....
Thesaurus
Preserve (61 Occurrences)... of some preservative substance, as sugar, salt, etc.; to season and prepare for
remaining in a good state, as fruits, meat, etc.; as, to
preserve peaches or
...Protect (32 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To cover or shield from danger or injury; to defend;
to guard; topreserve in safety; as, a father protects his children....
Keep (4573 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To cause to remain in a given situation or condition; to maintain
unchanged; to hold orpreserve in any state or tenor....
Keepest (16 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV). Psalms 12:7 Thou, O Jehovah, dostpreserve them,
Thou keepest us from this generation to the age. (YLT)....
Embalm (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To anoint all over with balm; especially, topreserve from decay by means
of balm or other aromatic oils, or spices; to fill or impregnate (a dead body...
Memorial (54 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Serving topreserve remembrance; commemorative;
as, a memorial building. 2. (a.) Mnemonic; assisting the memory....
Preserved (27 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofPreserve. Multi-Version Concordance
Preserved (27 Occurrences). Matthew 9:17 Neither do...
Rescue (92 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and willpreserve
me for his heavenly Kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen....
Let's (74 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Genesis 19:32 Come, let's make our father drink wine, and we will lie
with him, that we maypreserve our father's seed." (WEB NIV)....
Ark (212 Occurrences)
... It was 100 years in building (Genesis 5:32; 7:6). It was intended topreserve certain
persons and animals from the deluge which God was about to bring over the...
Resources
Is it wrong to be a Christian secretly in order to preserve your own life? | GotQuestions.orgWho were the Masoretes? | GotQuestions.orgHow should a Christian view environmentalism? | GotQuestions.orgPreserve: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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