Topical Encyclopedia
The term "certified" does not appear explicitly in the Bible; however, the concept of certification, in terms of validation, authentication, or confirmation, can be found throughout Scripture. In biblical times, certification often involved the confirmation of truth, the validation of a person's role or authority, or the authentication of a message or event.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the idea of certification can be seen in the confirmation of covenants and promises. For example, God certified His covenant with Abraham through a series of promises and signs.
Genesis 15:18 states, "On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates.'" This divine certification was further confirmed through the sign of circumcision (
Genesis 17:11).
The role of prophets also involved a form of certification. Prophets were often given signs to authenticate their messages as being from God. For instance, Moses was given miraculous signs to certify his divine commission before Pharaoh and the Israelites (
Exodus 4:1-9).
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, certification is evident in the authentication of Jesus Christ's identity and mission. The miracles performed by Jesus served as divine certification of His authority and messianic role. In
John 10:25, Jesus says, "The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf."
The apostles also experienced certification of their ministry through signs and wonders.
Acts 2:43 notes, "A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs." These acts served to confirm the truth of their message and the authority given to them by Christ.
Certification of BelieversThe concept of certification extends to believers, who are certified as children of God through the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:16 states, "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." This internal witness serves as a divine certification of one's status as a believer.
Furthermore, the fruit of the Spirit in a believer's life acts as a form of certification of their faith and transformation.
Galatians 5:22-23 lists these fruits, which serve as evidence of the Holy Spirit's work within.
Certification in Church PracticesIn the early church, the laying on of hands was a practice used to certify individuals for specific roles or missions.
Acts 13:3 describes how the church in Antioch certified Paul and Barnabas for their missionary journey: "So after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off."
The practice of baptism also serves as a form of certification, symbolizing the believer's identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is an outward sign of an inward reality, certifying one's faith and commitment to follow Christ.
ConclusionWhile the term "certified" is not directly used in Scripture, the principles of validation, authentication, and confirmation are deeply embedded in biblical narratives and practices. These principles underscore the importance of divine authority and truth in the life of believers and the community of faith.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Certify.
Library
Our Requests Made Known unto God
... In the clear light of thiscertified promise they have no justifiable excuse
for spiritual poverty. We can think of God's promise...
Ecdippa. Achzib. Joshua 19:29; Judges 1:31 Climax of the Tyrians.
... the way, eastwardly, it is clean, from the notion of heathen land, and is bound
to tithes, and to the law of the seventh year, until you arecertified that it...
The Immortal Prayers of the Saints
... When we live by faith and die in the faith, we can be assured that a Just and Holy
God will not forget Hiscertified promises regarding His willingness to...
The Three Essentials of Prayer
... words revealing the inherent principles of effectual praying confirm our faith,
enlarge our understanding, and enable us to appropriate Hiscertified promises....
A Word from the Beloved's Own Mouth. "And Ye are Clean. " --John...
... the Person praising. To becertified as clean by the blind priests of Rome,
would be small comfort to a true Christian. To receive...
The Declensions of Christianity, an Argument of Its Truth. .
... earth? "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but be that believeth
not shall be damned." Socertified the risen Savior....
The Measure of Sin.
... David prays to God, "Lord, let me know the number of my days, that I may becertified
how long I have to live." No doubt, God has fixed for all men a certain...
The Siege. (xxi, xxxii-xxxiv, xxxvii, xxxviii. )
... Its vivid genuineness is furthercertified by its unfulfilled promise of a peaceful
death for Sedekiah. The following is mainly after the Greek. XXXIV.2b....
The Guide into all Truth
... to remind the Apostles of the facts of Christ's life, especially of His words; and
so the inspiration and authority of the four Gospels werecertified for us....
Inseparable Connection Between the Old and the New Testament.
... that preceded and prepared the way for his coming, do we see it in its full glory,
or comprehend the amount of divine testimony by which it iscertified to us....
Thesaurus
Certified (3 Occurrences)... & pp) of Certify. Multi-Version Concordance
Certified (3 Occurrences). John 3:33
He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.
...Certify (4 Occurrences)
... sense of "to make certain," but only the broader sense of "to make to know." Compare
Psalm 39:5 (Prayer Book version), "that I may becertified how long I have...
Certificate (8 Occurrences)
Vision (106 Occurrences)
... is hardly worth debating; if the records of human life, in the Bible and out of
it, are to be trusted at all, there is nothing bettercertified than that God...
Extract (2 Occurrences)
... 10. (n.) A draught or copy of writing;certified copy of the proceedings in an
action and the judgment therein, with an order for execution....
Dishonour (22 Occurrences)
... 14 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for
us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent andcertified the king...
Maintenance (4 Occurrences)
... 14 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for
us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent andcertified the king...
Announced (47 Occurrences)
... Ezra 4:14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not meet for us to
see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent andcertified the king; (See...
Pharisees (86 Occurrences)
... chabher. They were only permitted to take this oath when their associates
in the brotherhoodcertified to their character. Even...
Resources
What is a chaplain? What do chaplains do? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a michtam in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that Zerubbabel was the LORD's signet ring (Haggai 2:23)? | GotQuestions.orgCertified: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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