Topical Encyclopedia
The term "thoroughly" in the context of the Bible often conveys a sense of completeness, diligence, and thoroughness in action or character. It is used to describe the manner in which God works, the way believers are called to live, and the process of spiritual growth and sanctification.
Biblical Usage and Context1.
Divine Work and Judgment: The Bible frequently uses the concept of thoroughness to describe God's actions, particularly in judgment and purification. For instance, in the prophetic literature, God is depicted as thoroughly purging and refining His people.
Malachi 3:3 states, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver." This imagery underscores the completeness and intensity of God's refining process.
2.
Spiritual Growth and Sanctification: The New Testament emphasizes the thorough work of sanctification in the life of a believer. In
2 Timothy 3:16-17 , Paul writes, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work." Here, the thorough equipping of the believer is highlighted, indicating a comprehensive preparation for service and godliness.
3.
Moral and Ethical Conduct: The call to live thoroughly righteous lives is a recurring theme. Believers are encouraged to pursue holiness and integrity in all aspects of life. In
James 1:4 , it is written, "Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." This passage suggests a thorough development of character through perseverance and faith.
4.
Repentance and Cleansing: Thoroughness is also associated with the process of repentance and cleansing from sin.
Psalm 51:2 expresses a plea for thorough cleansing: "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." This reflects a desire for complete purification and restoration before God.
5.
Diligence in Ministry: The apostolic writings often encourage thoroughness in ministry and service. In
Colossians 3:23 , Paul exhorts, "Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men." This instruction calls for a wholehearted and thorough approach to all tasks, reflecting a commitment to excellence in serving God.
Theological ImplicationsThe concept of thoroughness in Scripture underscores the importance of completeness and integrity in the Christian life. It reflects God's nature as one who works thoroughly in His creation and in the hearts of His people. Believers are called to mirror this divine attribute by pursuing thoroughness in their spiritual walk, moral conduct, and service to others. This comprehensive approach to faith and practice is essential for living a life that honors God and fulfills His purposes.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
adv.) In a thorough manner; fully; entirely; completely.
Greek
1245. diakatharizo -- to cleansethoroughly... to cleanse
thoroughly. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diakatharizo Phonetic
Spelling: (dee-ak-ath-ar-id'-zo) Short Definition: I cleanse
thoroughly...1571. ekkathairo -- to cleansethoroughly
... to cleansethoroughly. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekkathairo Phonetic
Spelling: (ek-kath-ah'-ee-ro) Short Definition: I clean out, cleanthoroughly...
1281. diapragmateuomai -- to examinethoroughly, to gain by...
... to examinethoroughly, to gain by trading. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
diapragmateuomai Phonetic Spelling: (dee-ap-rag-mat-yoo'-om-ahee) Short...
1329. diermeneuo -- to explainthoroughly, by impl. to translate
... 1328, 1329. diermeneuo. 1330 . to explainthoroughly, by impl.... Word Origin from
dia and hermeneuo Definition to explainthoroughly, by impl....
1299. diatasso -- to arrangethoroughly, ie to charge, appoint
... to arrangethoroughly, ie to charge, appoint. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
diatasso Phonetic Spelling: (dee-at-as'-so) Short Definition: I give orders...
1295. diasozo -- to bring safely through (a danger), to save...
... to bring safely through (a danger), to savethoroughly. Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: diasozo Phonetic Spelling: (dee-as-odze'-o) Short Definition: I...
1245a. diakathairo -- to cleansethoroughly
... 1245, 1245a. diakathairo. 1245b . to cleansethoroughly. Transliteration:
diakathairo Short Definition: clear. Word Origin from...
1598. ekpeirazo -- to testthoroughly, tempt
... to testthoroughly, tempt. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekpeirazo Phonetic
Spelling: (ek-pi-rad'-zo) Short Definition: I put to the test, make trial of...
1300. diateleo -- to accomplishthoroughly, ie to persist
... to accomplishthoroughly, ie to persist. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diateleo
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-at-el-eh'-o) Short Definition: I continue...
1245b. diakatharizo -- to cleansethoroughly
... 1245a, 1245b. diakatharizo. 1246 . to cleansethoroughly. Transliteration:
diakatharizo Short Definition: clear. Word Origin from...
Strong's Hebrew
629. osparna --thoroughly, with (all) diligence... 628, 629. osparna. 630 .
thoroughly, with (all) diligence. Transliteration:
osparna Phonetic Spelling: (os-par-naw') Short Definition: diligence.
...7495. rapha -- to heal
... cure, cause to heal, physician, repair,thoroughly, make whole. Or raphah
{raw-faw'}; a primitive root; properly, to mend (by stitching...
3190. yatab -- to be good, well, glad, or pleasing
... good (2), seemed reasonable (1), seems (1), seems best (1), seems good (1), shown
(1), skillfully (2), stately (2), surely prosper (1),thoroughly (4), treat...
5953. alal -- to act severely
... A primitive root; to effectthoroughly; specifically, to glean (also figuratively);
by implication (in a bad sense) to overdo, ie Maltreat, be saucy to, pain...
7235a. rabah -- to be or become much, many or great
... 1), plenty (1), profited (1), provided in abundance (1), reared (2), repeatedly
(1), risen (1), serious* (1), surpassed (1), take more (1),thoroughly (1), use...
7857. shataph -- to overflow, rinse or wash off
... away (1), washed (1), washed off (1). drown, overflow whelm, rinse, run,
rush,thoroughly wash away. A primitive root; to gush; by...
8316. serephah -- a burning
... Word Origin from saraph Definition a burning NASB Word Usage blaze (2), burned
(1), burning (4), burnt (2), fire (3),thoroughly (1). burning....
6213. asah -- do, make
... come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, X sacrifice,
serve, set, shew, X sin, spend, X surely, take, Xthoroughly, trim, X...
7235. rabah -- to be or become much, many or great
... ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply,
nourish, plenty(-eous), X process (of time), sore, store,thoroughly, very...
7378. rib -- to strive, contend
... ie Hold a controversy; (by implication) to defend -- adversary, chide, complain,
contend, debate, X ever, X lay wait, plead, rebuke, strive, Xthoroughly....
Library
That I May Refute MoreThoroughly These Charges, I Will Show that...
... Chapter IX. That I may refute morethoroughly these charges, I will show
that in part openly? That I may refute morethoroughly...
To Establish HimselfThoroughly is this Principle
... THE FOURTH CENTURY 23 To establish himselfthoroughly is this principle. To establish
himselfthoroughly is this principle, he made much of another....
But if Men Either Knew ThemselvesThoroughly, or had the Slightest...
... Book II. 19 But if men either knew themselvesthoroughly, or had the slightest
knowledge of God? But if men either knew themselves...
Petilianus Said: "But that I MayThoroughly Investigate the...
... Book II. Chapter 33. " 77. Petilianus said: "But that I maythoroughly
investigate the baptism in the name? "77. Petilianus...
I Look Upon all the Four Gospels asThoroughly Genuine...
... Chapter XI look upon all the four Gospels asthoroughly genuine? I look
upon all the four Gospels asthoroughly genuine, for there...
Since These Things are So, Because it were Too Long to Treat...
... Section 35. Since these things are so, because it were too long to treat
thoroughly of? 35. Since these things are so, because...
That the Symbols of the Trinity in Man, to Be, to Know, and to...
... Book XIII. Chapter XI."That the Symbols of the Trinity in Man, to Be,
to Know, and to Will, are NeverThoroughly Examined. 12....
The Same Continued. The Synod Supposed that the Grace Acknowledged...
... Continued. The Synod Supposed that the Grace Acknowledged by Pelagius Was
that Which Was SoThoroughly Known to the Church. This...
2 Timothy iii. 16, 17
... and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect,thoroughly furnished unto...
Lessons from the Angelus
... instead of consulting a translation, the result is that honesty is translated into
his character; if he works out his mathematical problemsthoroughly, he not...
Thesaurus
Thoroughly (48 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Thoroughly (48 Occurrences). Matthew 3:12 His winnowing
fork is in his hand, and he will
thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor.
...Burn (206 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Burn (206 Occurrences). Matthew 3:12 His winnowing fork
is in his hand, and he willthoroughly cleanse his threshing floor....
Unquenchable (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Unquenchable (5 Occurrences). Matthew 3:12 His winnowing
fork is in his hand, and he willthoroughly cleanse his threshing floor....
Justly (22 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 7:5 Nay, but if yethoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye
thoroughly execute justice between a man and his neighbour; (See NIV)....
Granary (4 Occurrences)
... Matthew 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he willthoroughly cleanse his floor,
and gather his wheat into the granary; but he will burn the chaff with...
Wheat (56 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Wheat (56 Occurrences). Matthew 3:12 His winnowing fork
is in his hand, and he willthoroughly cleanse his threshing floor....
Fork (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Fork (8 Occurrences). Matthew 3:12 His winnowing fork
is in his hand, and he willthoroughly cleanse his threshing floor....
Floor (69 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Floor (69 Occurrences). Matthew 3:12 His winnowing fork
is in his hand, and he willthoroughly cleanse his threshing floor....
Threshing (57 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Threshing (57 Occurrences). Matthew 3:12 His winnowing
fork is in his hand, and he willthoroughly cleanse his threshing floor....
Thorough (7 Occurrences)
... 4. (adv.)Thoroughly. 5. (adv.) Through.... Matthew 3:12 His winnowing fork is in
his hand, and he willthoroughly cleanse his threshing floor....
Resources
What is the rule of faith? | GotQuestions.orgShould Catholic tradition have equal or greater authority than the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgDid the writers of the New Testament regard their writings as Scripture? | GotQuestions.orgThoroughly: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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