Topical Encyclopedia
The term "rigid" is not directly found in the Bible; however, the concept can be explored through various scriptural principles and narratives that illustrate inflexibility, steadfastness, or unyielding attitudes, both positively and negatively.
Positive Aspects of Rigidity:1.
Steadfastness in Faith: The Bible often commends a firm and unwavering faith. In
1 Corinthians 15:58 , Paul encourages believers to be "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." This form of rigidity is seen as a virtue, where believers are called to hold firmly to their faith and convictions despite external pressures.
2.
God’s Unchanging Nature: The immutability of God is a central theme in Scripture.
Malachi 3:6 states, "For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed." God's unchanging nature is a form of divine rigidity that provides assurance and stability to believers, knowing that His promises and character remain constant.
3.
Adherence to God’s Law: The psalmist expresses a rigid commitment to God's statutes in
Psalm 119:5 , "Oh, that my ways were steadfast in keeping Your statutes!" This reflects a positive rigidity in the sense of a determined adherence to divine commandments.
Negative Aspects of Rigidity:1.
Pharisaical Legalism: The New Testament often critiques the Pharisees for their rigid adherence to the letter of the law while neglecting its spirit. In
Matthew 23:23 , Jesus rebukes them, saying, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin, but you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness." This rigidity is portrayed negatively as it leads to hypocrisy and a lack of compassion.
2.
Hardness of Heart: A rigid heart is often depicted as resistant to God’s will. In
Exodus 7:13 , Pharaoh's heart is described as hardened, "Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said." This inflexibility results in disobedience and ultimately, judgment.
3.
Resistance to the Holy Spirit: Stephen, in
Acts 7:51 , accuses the Sanhedrin of being "stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears," always resisting the Holy Spirit. This rigidity is seen as a refusal to accept divine guidance and revelation.
Balancing Rigidity with Flexibility:While the Bible acknowledges the importance of being firm in faith and principles, it also encourages believers to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and to exercise grace and mercy.
James 3:17 describes the wisdom from above as "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere." This suggests a balance between holding firm to core truths and being adaptable in love and understanding.
In summary, the concept of rigidity in the Bible encompasses both commendable steadfastness in faith and the dangers of inflexibility that can lead to legalism and resistance to God’s work. Believers are called to discern when to stand firm and when to be open to change, guided by the Holy Spirit and the teachings of Scripture.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Firm; stiff; unyielding; not pliant; not flexible.
2. (a.) Hence, not lax or indulgent; severe; inflexible; strict; as, a rigid father or master; rigid discipline; rigid criticism; a rigid sentence.
Greek
840. austeros -- harsh, severe... austeros Phonetic Spelling: (ow-stay-ros') Short Definition: grim, severe, strict,
exacting Definition: grim, severe, strict, exacting, harsh,
rigid.
...Library
That the Ruler Should Be, through Humility, a Companion of Good...
... That the ruler should be, through humility, a companion of good livers, but, through
the zeal of righteousness,rigid against the vices of evildoers....
How the victor Runs
... 'So run, that ye obtain.'. II. The victorious runner sets Christians an
example ofrigid self-control. Every man that is striving...
On the Justification of Man Before God
... (iii, 23.) (2.) God may be viewed as seated on a throne ofrigid and severe
justice, (Psalm 143:2,) or on a throne of grace and mercy....
Paganism and Mr. Lowes Dickinson
... in an irresponsible state, whereas, if there were two things that the best pagan
civilization did honestly believe in, they were a rather toorigid dignity and...
Days of Conflict
... requirements of the rabbis.Rigid rules were prescribed for every act,
down to the smallest details of life. Under the synagogue...
End of Three Months' Ministry in Jerusalem.
... It was instituted by the Maccabees who were priests and of the mostrigid caste,
and was observed only by the morerigid Jews; hence it is not strange that the...
The Consensus of Zurich. AD 1549.
... fruition of Christ by faith. [895] This satisfied neither therigid Lutherans
nor therigid Zwinglians. The former could see no...
True Religion Contrasted with the Mock Piety of the Pharisees.
... Section 156. (1.) Alms, Prayer, Fasting; (2.)Rigid Judgment of Self, Mild Judgment
of others; (3.) Test of Sincerity in Seeking after Righteousness....
Whether Contrition is an Assumed Sorrow for Sins, Together with...
... Now he that persists in his own judgment, is called metaphoricallyrigid and hard:
wherefore anyone is said to be broken when he is torn from his own judgment....
Strong and Loving
... One part of that watchfulness consists in exercising a veryrigid and a
very constant and comprehensive scrutiny of our motives....
Thesaurus
Rigid (1 Occurrence)... 2. (a.) Hence, not lax or indulgent; severe; inflexible; strict; as, a
rigid father
or master;
rigid discipline;
rigid criticism; a
rigid sentence.
...Rigor (8 Occurrences)
... fever. 3. (n.) The becoming stiff orrigid; the state of beingrigid; rigidity;
stiffness; hardness. 4. (n.) See 1st Rigor, 2. 5...
Set (6715 Occurrences)
... 7. (vt) To fix beforehand; to determine; hence, to make unyielding or obstinate;
to render stiff, unpliant, orrigid; as, to set one's countenance....
Rights (35 Occurrences)
Esther (48 Occurrences)
... royal apparel of blue and white." The highly organized postal system, the king's
scribes, the keeping of the chronicles of the kingdom, therigid and elaborate...
Genealogy (29 Occurrences)
... With therigid exclusion of all foreign intermixtures by the leaders of the Restoration
(Ezra 10 Nehemiah 10:30; Nehemiah 13:23-31), the genealogical interest...
Code (6 Occurrences)
... Here also Hammurabi's care for those of a meaner position is exhibited, since he
issuesrigid regulations against misuse of the power of office and punishes...
Hard (733 Occurrences)
... hard character. 7. (superl.) Not easy or agreeable to the taste; stiff;
rigid; ungraceful; repelling; as, a hard style. 8. (superl...
Neighbor (123 Occurrences)
... The word represents, not so much arigid fact, but an ideal which one may or may
not realize (Luke 10:36, "Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved...
Nicolaitans (2 Occurrences)
... of the Spirit and of wisdom" (compare Acts 6:3), Simcox argues that their lapse
may have been due to reaction from original principles of a toorigid asceticism...
Resources
What are the different sects of Judaism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the sword of the Spirit? | GotQuestions.orgAre many practices and traditions in Christianity actually pagan in origin? | GotQuestions.orgRigid: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
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