Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "reflects" in the Bible often pertains to the idea of mirroring or manifesting certain attributes, qualities, or truths. This can be seen in various contexts, including the reflection of God's glory, the character of Christ, and the moral and spiritual condition of individuals.
Reflection of God's GloryThe Bible frequently speaks of God's glory being reflected in creation and in His people.
Psalm 19:1 states, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." Here, the natural world is seen as a reflection of God's majesty and creative power. Similarly, believers are called to reflect God's glory in their lives. In
2 Corinthians 3:18 , Paul writes, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." This passage highlights the transformative process by which believers mirror the divine nature.
Reflection of Christ's CharacterChristians are encouraged to reflect the character of Christ in their daily lives. This involves embodying the virtues and attitudes that Jesus exemplified. In
Philippians 2:5 , Paul exhorts, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." The call to reflect Christ's humility, love, and obedience is a central theme in the New Testament.
Ephesians 5:1-2 further instructs, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God."
Moral and Spiritual ReflectionThe Bible also addresses the idea of moral and spiritual reflection, where one's actions and words reveal the condition of the heart.
Proverbs 27:19 states, "As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man." This proverb underscores the belief that one's inner life is mirrored in outward behavior. Jesus taught a similar principle in
Matthew 12:34 , saying, "For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." The reflection of one's spiritual state is thus evident in speech and conduct.
Reflection in Worship and ConductWorship is another area where reflection is significant. True worship reflects a heart aligned with God's will and purposes.
John 4:23-24 records Jesus' words: "But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and truth." Worship that reflects God's truth and spirit is pleasing to Him.
In conduct, believers are called to reflect the light of Christ to the world.
Matthew 5:14-16 declares, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." This passage emphasizes the responsibility of Christians to reflect God's light through good works and righteous living.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of "reflects" encompasses the idea of mirroring God's glory, Christ's character, and one's inner spiritual state. Through creation, worship, and daily conduct, believers are called to be reflections of divine truth and love, serving as witnesses to the transformative power of the Gospel.
Greek
4993. sophroneo -- to be of sound mind, ie to be temperate... control. Cognate: 4993 -- properly, ; having a that
reflects true balance.
For the believer, 4993 ("think shrewdly")
reflects what .
...5193. hualinos -- of glass, glassy
... By God's light, their sanctification-glorification has a spiritual transparency
thatreflects the image of Jesus Himself. This projects...
5429. phronimos -- practically wise, sensible
... This always roots to our ("inner outlook") which our definition of being
"shrewd," iereflects personal -set (sight). See 5426 ()....
3053. logismos -- a reasoning, a thought
... 3053 (from 3049 , "to reckon") -- properly, "bottom-line" reasoning thatreflects
someone's values, ie how they assign in determining what ....
2661. kataxioo -- to deem worthy
... exactly according to," which intensifies 515 , "weighing as much as, proportional") --
properly, to (on a balance-scale) which ; thatreflects actual, ; hence...
1380. dokeo -- to have an opinion, to seem
... estimate). 1380 ("suppose") directlyreflects the (values) of the person
making the , ie showing what they (or ) as an . [1380 () is...
5481. charakter -- a tool for engraving
... graving-tool. 5481 -- properly, an engraving; (figuratively) an exact
impression (likeness) which alsoreflects inner . [5481 was...
3876. parakoe -- a hearing amiss, by impl. disobedience
... This "hearing" has the attitude of to and therefore is ("hearing" that will ).
3876reflects the attitude that to disobey because of....
1783. enteuxis -- a petition, ie spec. supplication
... Cognate: 1783 -- properly, ( which literally " mark"); led by God, marking intersection
between heaven and earth as itreflects the Lord's specific will....
1504. eikon -- an image, ie lit. statue, fig. representation
... (1504 ) then exactlyreflects its (what it directly corresponds to). For example,
is the very (1504 , supreme expression) of the (see 2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15)....
Library
Whether the Mother of God Should be Worshipped with the Adoration...
... iv, 16): "The honor of the Motherreflects on the Son." But the Son is worshiped
with the adoration of "latria." Therefore the Mother also....
Chapter xxi
... The plural noun for "old age," zeq?�n??m, a plural of condition,reflects the
various conditions involved in that particular time of life....
Reflection.
... It pours its brilliant rays upon the moon and the moonreflects the sun's light
upon your pathway. The moon, therefore, is only a reflector....
1 John iv. 21, v. 1
... As by natural descent, the son derives from his father a being like his own and
reflects his image; so the believer, by virtue of this new spiritual birth from...
How Our Spirit is Called to Go Out in Contemplation and Fruition
... And through these two points it is so like unto God that He knows andreflects Himself
in this likeness without cessation, according to the Essence and...
But There is Still an Evil of War Much Greater...
... Whoreflects, how many hundreds of thousands, nay millions of young men, born into
this world for no other end, but that they may be born again of Christ, and...
Prayer and Character and Conduct
... A productreflects and partakes of the character of the manufactory which makes
it. A righteous Church with a righteous purpose makes righteous men....
Introduction
... of Lyons and Vienne, recording their persecution, [833] and because one other slight
similarity can be detected, [834] Athenagorasreflects a knowledge of this...
Jacob Boehme's Influence in England
... This interesting little volume, full of quaint phrase and strange speculation,reflects
throughout its pages the profound influence of Boehme on these two...
Introduction
... about it. Some [466] claim that it faithfullyreflects the subapostolic
period in the rural churches of Syria. Others [467] hold...
Thesaurus
Reflects (3 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Reflects (3 Occurrences).
... Proverbs 27:19 As water
reflects a face, so a man's heart
reflects the man. (WEB NAS RSV NIV).
...Reflection (3 Occurrences)
Reform (28 Occurrences)
Upholds (12 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Hebrews 1:3 He brightlyreflects God's glory and is the exact representation
of His being, and upholds the universe by His all-powerful word....
Universe (19 Occurrences)
... (WEY NIV). Hebrews 1:3 He brightlyreflects God's glory and is the exact representation
of His being, and upholds the universe by His all-powerful word....
Oppression (67 Occurrences)
... it is a frequent subject of song in the Psalms (Psalm 12:5; Psalm 42:9; Psalm
43:2; 44:24:00; 55:03:00; 119:134); the preacher observes andreflects upon its...
Gulf (3 Occurrences)
... This is very different from, though it probablyreflects, the rabbinical conception
of the separation between the two compartments of Hades (Sheol) by "a...
Representation (6 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Hebrews 1:3 He brightlyreflects God's glory and is the exact representation
of His being, and upholds the universe by His all-powerful word....
Reflect (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (v.) To bend back; to give a backward turn to; to throw back; especially, to
cause to return after striking upon any surface; as, a mirrorreflects rays of...
Paraclete
... his Life of Moses, iii.14, is a remarkable passage which indicates Philo's
spiritualizing methods of interpreting Scripture as well asreflects his philosophic...
Resources
How does oppressing the poor show contempt for their Maker (Proverbs 14:31)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat should we learn from Psalm 119? | GotQuestions.orgSummary of the Book of 2 Corinthians - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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