Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, "proof" often refers to evidence or confirmation of truth, faith, or divine action. The concept of proof is significant in both the Old and New Testaments, where it is used to validate God's promises, the authenticity of His messengers, and the truth of the Gospel.
Old TestamentIn the Old Testament, proof is frequently associated with signs and wonders that God performs to confirm His word and authority. For instance, in Exodus, God provides Moses with signs to prove to the Israelites that he is sent by God: "This is so they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you" (
Exodus 4:5). These signs serve as divine proof to authenticate Moses' mission.
The account of Gideon also illustrates the concept of proof. Gideon asks God for a sign to confirm His promise of victory over the Midianites. God responds by performing the miracle of the fleece, providing Gideon with the proof he seeks (
Judges 6:36-40).
New TestamentIn the New Testament, proof is often linked to the evidence of Jesus Christ's divinity and the truth of the Gospel. The resurrection of Jesus is presented as the ultimate proof of His divine nature and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.
Acts 1:3 states, "After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God" . The resurrection serves as a foundational proof for the apostles' preaching and the Christian faith.
The Apostle Paul also emphasizes the role of proof in the life of believers. In
1 Thessalonians 5:21, he instructs, "Test all things; hold fast to what is good" . This call to discernment encourages believers to seek proof and confirmation of teachings and practices to ensure they align with God's truth.
Faith and ProofWhile the Bible acknowledges the importance of proof, it also highlights the role of faith.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see" . Faith often requires trust beyond empirical proof, relying on the character and promises of God. Jesus commends those who believe without seeing, as in His words to Thomas: "Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (
John 20:29).
ConclusionThe concept of proof in the Bible serves to confirm God's actions, validate His messengers, and strengthen the faith of believers. While proof is valued, it is ultimately intertwined with faith, which trusts in God's promises even when tangible evidence is not present.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Any effort, process, or operation designed to establish or discover a fact or truth; an act of testing; a test; a trial.
2. (n.) That degree of evidence which convinces the mind of any truth or fact, and produces belief; a test by facts or arguments that induce, or tend to induce, certainty of the judgment; conclusive evidence; demonstration.
3. (n.) The quality or state of having been proved or tried; firmness or hardness that resists impression, or does not yield to force; impenetrability of physical bodies.
4. (n.) Firmness of mind; stability not to be shaken.
5. (n.) A trial impression, as from type, taken for correction or examination; -- called also proof sheet.
6. (n.) A process for testing the accuracy of an operation performed. Cf. Prove, v. t., 5.
7. (v. t.) Armor of excellent or tried quality, and deemed impenetrable; properly, armor of proof.
8. (a.) Used in proving or testing; as, a proof load, or proof charge.
9. (a.) Firm or successful in resisting; as, proof against harm; waterproof; bombproof.
10. (a.) Being of a certain standard as to strength; -- said of alcoholic liquors.
Greek
1732. endeixis -- a pointing out or indication, aproof... a pointing out or indication, a
proof. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
endeixis Phonetic Spelling: (en'-dike-sis) Short Definition: a showing
...1650. elegchos -- aproof, test
... aproof, test. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: elegchos Phonetic
Spelling: (el'-eng-khos) Short Definition: aproof, persuasion, reproof...
1730. endeigma -- an indication, aproof
... an indication, aproof. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: endeigma Phonetic
Spelling: (en'-dighe-mah) Short Definition: a plain token, sign,proof...
3985. peirazo -- to makeproof of, to attempt, test, tempt
... to makeproof of, to attempt, test, tempt. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
peirazo Phonetic Spelling: (pi-rad'-zo) Short Definition: I try, tempt, test...
1382. dokime -- (the process or result of) trial, proving...
... proving, approval. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: dokime Phonetic
Spelling: (dok-ee-may') Short Definition: a trial,proof; tried, approved...
5039. tekmerion -- a sure sign
... a sure sign. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: tekmerion Phonetic Spelling:
(tek-may'-ree-on) Short Definition: a sign, certainproof Definition: a...
4973. sphragis -- a seal, a signet
... Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: sphragis Phonetic Spelling: (sfrag-ece')
Short Definition: a signet-ring, impression of a seal, theproof Definition: a...
4135. plerophoreo -- to bring in full measure, to fulfill
... 2), fully convinced (1). fulfill, fully know, make fullproof of. From pleres
and phoreo; to carry out fully (in evidence), ie Completely...
584. apodeiknumi -- to bring out, show forth, declare
... forth, declare. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apodeiknumi Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-od-ike'-noo-mee) Short Definition: I show byproof, demonstrate, set...
585. apodeixis -- a showing off, demonstration
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: apodeixis Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-od'-ike-sis) Short Definition: demonstration,proof Definition: demonstration...
Strong's Hebrew
8433. towkechah -- rebuke, correction... And towkachath {to-kakh'-ath}; from yakach; chastisement; figuratively (by words)
correction, refutation,
proof (even in defence) -- argument, X chastened
...Library
Proof that the Divinity of the Saviour is Impassible.
... Book V.Proof that the Divinity of the Saviour is Impassible. 1. Alike
by the divine Scripture and by the holy Fathers assembled...
InProof of the Unity in Trinity the Passage of Isaiah which Has...
... Book III. Chapter XXII. Inproof of the Unity in Trinity the passage
of Isaiah which has been cited? Inproof of the Unity in...
From this FirstProof that the Prince had Been Won Over to their...
... Book II. Chapter XXXIX. From this firstproof that the prince had been
won over to their side? From this firstproof that the...
Proof of the Same from the Poets.
... Chapter XXIX."Proof of the Same from the Poets. But among the Greeks, also, those
who are eminent in poetry and history say the same thing....
AfterProof that the Spirit is the Giver of Revelation Equally...
... Book II. Chapter XII. Afterproof that the Spirit is the Giver of revelation
equally with the Father and? Afterproof that the...
Faith an Assurance and aProof.
... CHAPTER X. FAITH AN ASSURANCE AND APROOF....Proof is usually supposed to dispense
with faith and compel us to accept the inference drawn....
Appendix (C).Proof that Hesychius is a Copyist Only in what He...
... APPENDIX (C).Proof that HESYCHIUS is a copyist only in what he says concerning
the end of S. Mark's Gospel.... Theproof of that statement is subjoined....
TheProof of the Foregoing the Trinity of Persons in one God...
... Article IX TheProof of the Foregoing Article of the Trinity of Persons in One God?
TheProof of the Foregoing Article of the Trinity of Persons in One God...
Proof of Immortality and the Resurrection.
... Chapter XVIII."Proof of immortality and the resurrection. For reflect upon
the end of each of the preceding kings, how they died...
A ShortProof against their Error that Say, that There is no...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER A shortproof against their error that say,
that there is no perfecter cause to be meeked under, than is the knowledge of...
Thesaurus
Proof (38 Occurrences)... be shaken. 5. (n.) A trial impression, as from type, taken for correction
or examination; -- called also
proof sheet. 6. (n.) A
...Evidence (41 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) That which makes evident or manifest; that which furnishes, or tends to
furnish,proof; any mode ofproof; the ground of belief or judgment; as, the...
Exhibit (7 Occurrences)
... (WEY). John 2:18 So the Jews asked Him, "Whatproof of your authority do
you exhibit to us, seeing that you do these things?" (WEY)....
Water (4571 Occurrences)
... or reasons why the apostle mentions the fact at all in his report, whether merely
for historical accuracy and completeness, or as a possibleproof of the...
Demonstration (5 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act of demonstrating; an exhibition;proof; especially,proof beyond
the possibility of doubt; indubitable evidence, to the senses or reason....
Approve (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To show to be real or true; to prove. 2. (vt)
To makeproof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically....
Sign (181 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) That by which anything is made known or represented;
that which furnishes evidence; a mark; a token; an indication; aproof....
Borrowing (1 Occurrence)
... George B. Eager. RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, THE. " 1. FirstProof: The Life of
Jesus 2. SecondProof: The Empty Grave 3. ThirdProof: Transformation of the...
Blood (435 Occurrences)
... or reasons why the apostle mentions the fact at all in his report, whether merely
for historical accuracy and completeness, or as a possibleproof of the...
Immortal (3 Occurrences)
... Even this, however, while an instinctive presumption, can hardly be called aproof
of survival after death, and it does not yield an idea of "immortality" in...
Resources
Is there any conclusive proof of God? | GotQuestions.orgIs there proof for the inspiration of the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgHow accurate was the virginity test mentioned in Deuteronomy 22? | GotQuestions.orgProof: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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