Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of success in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing spiritual, moral, and material dimensions. In the Scriptures, true success is often linked to obedience to God's commandments, faithfulness, and the pursuit of righteousness rather than mere material prosperity or worldly achievements.
Biblical Definition and Examples1.
Obedience and Faithfulness: Success in the biblical sense is frequently associated with obedience to God's laws and faithfulness to His covenant. In
Joshua 1:8 , God instructs Joshua, "This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do." Here, success is directly tied to adherence to God's Word.
2.
Wisdom and Understanding: The pursuit of wisdom is another key aspect of biblical success.
Proverbs 3:13-14 states, "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding, for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold." Wisdom, which begins with the fear of the Lord (
Proverbs 9:10), is portrayed as a path to true prosperity.
3.
Righteousness and Integrity: The Bible emphasizes that success is not merely about external achievements but also about living a life of righteousness and integrity.
Psalm 1:1-3 describes the blessedness of the righteous man: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does."
4.
Dependence on God: Success is also seen as a result of reliance on God's strength and guidance. In
1 Samuel 18:14 , it is noted of David, "And David continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him." This underscores the belief that true success comes from God's presence and favor.
5.
Spiritual Prosperity: The New Testament shifts the focus towards spiritual prosperity. In
Matthew 6:33 , Jesus teaches, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." Here, success is redefined as prioritizing God's kingdom and righteousness, with the assurance that material needs will be met.
Warnings Against Misplaced SuccessThe Bible also warns against the pursuit of success through ungodly means or for selfish purposes. In
Mark 8:36 , Jesus poses a rhetorical question, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" This highlights the futility of worldly success at the expense of one's spiritual well-being.
ConclusionIn summary, the biblical view of success is deeply rooted in spiritual and moral principles. It is characterized by obedience to God, the pursuit of wisdom, righteousness, and a reliance on divine guidance. While material prosperity is not dismissed, it is considered secondary to spiritual growth and alignment with God's will.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a.) Resulting in success; assuring, or promotive of, success; accomplishing what was proposed; having the desired effect; hence, prosperous; fortunate; happy; as, a successful use of medicine; a successful experiment; a successful enterprise.
Greek
3849. parabiazomai -- to force against (nature)... 3849 (from 3844 , ", close-beside" and 971 , "to compel by force") -- properly,
using words that powerfully "hit home" and hence are persuasive (
successful).
...1301. diatereo -- to keep carefully
... 1301 (from 1223 , "through, thoroughly," intensifying 5083 , "guard") -- properly,
keep () to ensure (staying for "successful final delivery")....
2137. euodoo -- to have a prosperous journey
... yoo-od-o'-o) Short Definition: I cause to prosper, have a happy journey Definition:
I cause to prosper, pass: I have a happy (successful) journey, hence: I...
874. aphorme -- a starting point, ie fig. an occasion
... to assert an idea -- literally, "what charges from (off) a "; (figuratively) the
something has to come forward because having the "successful launching pad" to...
3833. panoplia -- full armor
... and 3696 , "weapon") -- properly, a complete set of defensive and offensive armor
(weapons), ie everything needed to wagesuccessful warfare; (figuratively...
1545. ekbasis -- an exit, outcome
... 1537 , " and " and , "move forward, march") -- properly, moving out from and to
the (new destination); departure; (figuratively) "the (successful) " which what...
Strong's Hebrew
6743b. tsaleach -- to advance, prosper... root Definition to advance, prosper NASB Word Usage advanced (1), give us success
(1), made his
successful (1), make his
successful (1), make your prosperous (1
...6744. tselach -- to prosper
... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to tsaleach Definition to prosper NASB Word
Usage enjoyed success (1), prosper (1), succeeding (1),successful (1)....
7951. shalah -- to be quiet or at ease
... be happy, prosper, be in safety. Or shalav (Job 3:26) {shaw-lav'}; a primitive root;
to be tranquil, ie Secure orsuccessful -- be happy, prosper, be in safety....
804. Ashshuwr -- step, going
... Or iashshur {ash-shoor'}; apparently from 'ashar (in the sense ofsuccessful); Ashshur,
the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied...
202. on -- vigor, wealth
... Probably from the same as 'aven (in the sense of effort, butsuccessful); ability,
power, (figuratively) wealth -- force, goods, might, strength, substance....
3190. yatab -- to be good, well, glad, or pleasing
... A primitive root; to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or
figuratively (happy,successful, right) -- be accepted, amend, use aright...
Library
Successful Methods of Public Speaking
Successful Methods of Public Speaking. <.Successful Methods
of Public Speaking Grenville Kleiser. Produced by Kevin...
A Wise Minister Will beSuccessful.
... LECTURE XI. A WISE MINISTER WILL BESUCCESSFUL.... 6. In order to besuccessful, a minister
needs great wisdom to know how to keep the church to the work....
Successful Methods of Public Speaking
Successful Methods of Public Speaking. <....SUCCESSFUL METHODS OF
PUBLIC SPEAKING. You can acquire valuable knowledge for...
ASuccessful Man of Affairs.
... STUDY VII ASUCCESSFUL MAN OF AFFAIRS. JOSEPH'S ACHIEVEMENTS."Gen.37, 39-48, 50....
Among the Camorrists of Italy that ideal is thesuccessful blackmailer....
Successful Methods of Public Speaking
Successful Methods of Public Speaking. <.... Title Page.SUCCESSFUL METHODS
OF PUBLIC SPEAKING. By Grenville Kleiser. Inspiration...
Preface
Successful Methods of Public Speaking. <.... anything he said. Therein
lies the key tosuccessful oratory. When the truth...
The Boys' Department in the Sunday School
... The form of organization that may besuccessful with one leader may be a failure
with another....Successful organization is the result of experiment....
The Secret of Success.
... doubt our Lord desired to show those who were to become fishers of men that there
were two ways of doing a thing, and that one way would besuccessful and the...
The Reign of Saul.
... attempted to be like others-to assert his own will-and disobeyed God and was deposed
while David identified himself with God and his purposes and wassuccessful...
Endurance
... chosen the better part which shall not be taken from them; who enter into a higher
glory than that of statesmen, or conquerors, or thesuccessful and famous of...
Thesaurus
Successful (16 Occurrences)... assuring, or promotive of, success; accomplishing what was proposed; having the
desired effect; hence, prosperous; fortunate; happy; as, a
successful use of
...Absalom (93 Occurrences)
... The revolt was sosuccessful that David found it necessary to quit Jerusalem and
flee to Mahanaim, beyond Jordan; where upon Absalom returned to Jerusalem and...
Jephthah (26 Occurrences)
... The people obeyed his summons, and "the spirit of the Lord came upon him." Before
engaging in war he vowed that ifsuccessful he would offer as a "burnt...
Jehoshaphat (79 Occurrences)
... A new fleet was fitted out without the co-operation of the king of Israel, and although
it wassuccessful, the trade was not prosecuted (2 Chronicles 20:35-37...
Tiberius (1 Occurrence)
... of Augustus. 2. Early Life and Relation to Augustus: Much of his early life
was spent insuccessful campaigning. Although the ablest...
Prosper (91 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To favor; to rendersuccessful. 2. (vi) To be
successful; to succeed; to be fortunate or prosperous; to thrive; to make gain....
Battle (282 Occurrences)
... It would seem possible, therefore, that Joshua may have repeated, on a larger
scale, the tactics he employed in hissuccessful attack upon Ai....
Assyria (124 Occurrences)
... with captured booty; and the result, as in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was military
revolution, with the seizure of the throne by thesuccessful general....
Maccabaeus
... He fled with his sons to the mountains (168 BC), where he organized asuccessful
resistance; but being of advanced age and unfit for the fatigue of active...
Bethhoron (12 Occurrences)
... It would seem possible, therefore, that Joshua may have repeated, on a larger
scale, the tactics he employed in hissuccessful attack upon Ai....
Resources
Who are the super-apostles Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 11:5? | GotQuestions.orgWhen is the right time for marriage? | GotQuestions.orgWho is the king of the North in Daniel 11? | GotQuestions.orgSuccessful: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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