Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:Superiority, in a biblical context, refers to the state of being higher in rank, quality, or importance. It is often associated with the divine nature of God, the preeminence of Christ, and the moral and spiritual excellence expected of believers. The concept of superiority is not about human pride or arrogance but about recognizing the rightful place of God and His order in creation.
Divine Superiority:The Bible consistently affirms the superiority of God over all creation. God's sovereignty, wisdom, and power are unmatched, as seen in passages like
Isaiah 55:8-9 : "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." This divine superiority is foundational to understanding God's authority and the reverence due to Him.
Christ's Superiority:The New Testament emphasizes the superiority of Jesus Christ, particularly in the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 1:3-4 states, "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. So He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs." Christ's superiority is evident in His role as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, surpassing all angelic beings and any other spiritual entities.
Moral and Spiritual Superiority:Believers are called to a life of moral and spiritual superiority, not in a sense of self-exaltation, but in living according to God's standards.
Philippians 2:3 instructs, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves." This call to humility and service reflects the true nature of superiority in the Christian life, where greatness is measured by one's likeness to Christ and service to others.
Superiority in Wisdom and Understanding:The Bible also speaks of the superiority of divine wisdom over human understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This passage highlights the importance of relying on God's superior wisdom rather than human intellect.
Superiority in the Kingdom of God:In the Kingdom of God, the concept of superiority is often inverted from worldly standards. Jesus taught that the greatest in the Kingdom are those who serve others.
Matthew 20:26-28 records Jesus saying, "It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
Conclusion:The biblical concept of superiority is deeply rooted in the character of God, the preeminence of Christ, and the call for believers to live in a manner that reflects God's holiness and love. It challenges human notions of power and status, urging a life of humility, service, and reliance on divine wisdom.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) The quality, state, or condition of being superior; as, superiority of rank; superiority in merit.
Greek
5236. huperbole -- a throwing beyond, excess,superiority... a throwing beyond, excess,
superiority. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
huperbole Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-er-bol-ay') Short Definition
...5247. huperoche -- a projection, eminence
... eminence. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: huperoche Phonetic Spelling:
(hoop-er-okh-ay') Short Definition:superiority, excellence Definition...
5242. huperecho -- to hold above, to rise above, to be superior
... 5242 (from 5228 , "beyond, above" and 2192, "have") -- properly, "have beyond, ie
be superior, excel, surpass" (); to exercise prominence (superiority)....
5309. hupselophroneo -- to be high-minded
... behavior") -- properly, a high, self-exalted outlook which is (a problem arising
from ); to reek from (a false sense ofsuperiority); (figuratively) to live...
Strong's Hebrew
3148. yother --superiority, advantage, excess... 3147, 3148. yother. 3149 .
superiority, advantage, excess. Transliteration:
yother Phonetic Spelling: (yo-thare') Short Definition: advantage.
...3499. yether -- remainder, excess, preeminence
... From yathar; properly, an overhanging, ie (by implication) an excess,superiority,
remainder; also a small rope (as hanging free) -- + abundant, cord, exceeding...
4195. mothar -- abundance, preeminence
... plenteousness, preeminence, profit. From yathar; literally, gain; figuratively,
superiority -- plenteousness, preeminence, profit. see HEBREW yathar....
4928. mishmaath -- an obedient band, body of subjects
... simile. Feminineal sense ofsuperiority in mental action; properly, a pithy maxim,
usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as a adae, compare, use (as...
4609. ma'alah -- what comes up
... to a higher place, figuratively, a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition
(literally, a step or grade-mark, figuratively, asuperiority of station...
4912. mashal -- a proverb, parable
... Apparently from mashal in some original sense ofsuperiority in mental action; properly,
a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an...
Library
Superiority of the Scriptures.
... THE SCRIPTURES. 191. "Superiority of the Scriptures. 191. SM Beddome.
Superiority of the Scriptures. 1 O Lord, thy perfect...
Superiority of the Christian Doctrine Respecting God.
... Chapter VII."Superiority of the Christian Doctrine Respecting God. Since,
therefore, the unity of the Deity is confessed by almost...
The Stoics; theirSuperiority in Logic; Fatalists; their Doctrine...
... Chapter XVIII."The Stoics; TheirSuperiority in Logic; Fatalists; Their
Doctrine of Conflagrations. The Stoics themselves also...
Superiority of Christian Morality.
... Book VI. Chapter XIII."Superiority of Christian Morality. "But perhaps
some one of you will say, Must we then observe all things...
All Acknowledge theSuperiority of Unchangeable Wisdom to that...
... Book I. Chapter 9."All Acknowledge theSuperiority of Unchangeable Wisdom
to that Which is Variable. 9. Now, no one is so egregiously...
Other Capricious Features in the System the ??ons Unequal in...
... Chapter IX."Other Capricious Features in the System The ??ons Unequal in Attributes.
TheSuperiority of Nus; The Vagaries of Sophia Restrained by Horos....
Hebrews i. 1, 2
... And thirdly, because he rather wished to exalt them, and to show that theirsuperiority
was great.... First he shows thesuperiority from the prophets....
Question on the Religious State
... And since one thing cannot be said to be superior to another save by reason of the
differences between them, it will follow that thesuperiority of one...
'A Greater than Jonas'
... By the second he asserts Hissuperiority not only to one prophet but to them
all. By the third He asserts Hissuperiority to Solomon...
Hebrews v. 3-Jan
... the Patriarch and referred the whole [question] to that time: so now here also he
opens out the other path of the Priesthood, showing itssuperiority from the...
Thesaurus
Superiority (3 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The quality, state, or condition of being superior;
as,
superiority of rank;
superiority in merit.
...Superiority (3 Occurrences).
...Superior (18 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, having come unto you, brethren, came -- not insuperiority
of discourse or wisdom -- declaring to you the testimony of God, (Root in...
Mastery (5 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Superior skill; dominion; command; supremacy;superiority. 2. (n.)
Superiority in war or competition; victory; triumph; preeminence....
Preeminence (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.)Superiority in... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PREEMINENCE.
pre-em'-i-nens:Superiority, especially in noble or excellent qualities....
Sodomite (1 Occurrence)
... declaration that He is a priest after the order of Melchizedek, and this thought
is handled in Hebrews 7 in such a way as to make plain thesuperiority of a...
Vie (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To strive forsuperiority; to contend; to
use emulous effort, as in a race, contest, or competition....
Over (11971 Occurrences)
... 4. (prep.) Above; -- implyingsuperiority in excellence, dignity, condition, or
value; as, the advantages which the Christian world has over the heathen....
Excel (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To showsuperiority; to go beyond or surpass in
good qualities or laudable deeds; to outdo or outgo, in a good sense....
Melchizedek (12 Occurrences)
... 7. The apostle there points out thesuperiority of his priesthood to that of Aaron
in these several respects, (1) Even Abraham paid him tithes; (2) he blessed...
Patriarchs (6 Occurrences)
... The generalsuperiority of the Hebrew text of the Pentateuch as a whole to the
Samaritan text and the Septuagint is no longer questioned by Biblical scholars....
Resources
What is Shintoism? | GotQuestions.orgSummary of the Book of Hebrews - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the House of Yahweh? | GotQuestions.orgSuperiority: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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