Topical Encyclopedia
The term "transient" refers to something temporary, fleeting, or passing. In a biblical context, it often relates to the temporal nature of human life and the material world in contrast to the eternal nature of God and His kingdom. The Scriptures frequently remind believers of the transient nature of earthly existence, urging them to focus on eternal truths and values.
Biblical References:1.
Human Life as Transient: The Bible often compares human life to a vapor or a fleeting shadow, emphasizing its brevity and fragility. In
James 4:14 , it states, "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." This verse underscores the transient nature of human life, encouraging believers to live with an awareness of their mortality and dependence on God.
2.
The Transience of Material Wealth: Material possessions and wealth are also depicted as transient.
Proverbs 23:4-5 advises, "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky." This passage warns against the pursuit of wealth as an ultimate goal, highlighting its temporary nature and the futility of relying on it for security.
3.
The Eternal vs. the Transient: The Apostle Paul contrasts the transient with the eternal in
2 Corinthians 4:18 : "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." This verse encourages believers to focus on spiritual realities and the eternal promises of God rather than the fleeting concerns of the world.
4.
The Transience of the World: The world itself is described as transient in 1
John 2:17 : "The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever." This passage serves as a reminder that the world and its desires are temporary, urging believers to align themselves with God's will, which leads to eternal life.
Theological Implications:The concept of transience in the Bible serves as a call to prioritize spiritual over material concerns. It encourages believers to live with an eternal perspective, recognizing that their true citizenship is in heaven (
Philippians 3:20). The transient nature of life and the world is a reminder of the need for a relationship with God, who is eternal and unchanging.
Practical Applications:1.
Living with Purpose: Understanding the transient nature of life can motivate believers to live purposefully, making the most of their time and opportunities to serve God and others (
Ephesians 5:15-16).
2.
Contentment and Trust: Recognizing the fleeting nature of material wealth can lead to contentment and trust in God's provision, as advised in
Hebrews 13:5 : "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said, 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.'"
3.
Eternal Perspective: By focusing on eternal truths, believers can find hope and strength in the face of life's challenges, knowing that their ultimate reward is in heaven (
Colossians 3:1-2).
In summary, the concept of transience in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the temporary nature of earthly life and possessions, urging believers to focus on the eternal and live in accordance with God's will.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Passing before the sight or perception and then disappearing; of short duration; not permanent; not lasting or durable; not stationary; passing; fleeting; brief; transitory; as, transient pleasure.
2. (a.) Hasty; momentary; imperfect; brief; as, a transient view of a landscape.
3. (a.) Staying for a short time; not regular or permanent; as, a transient guest; transient boarders.
4. (n.) That which remains but for a brief time.
Greek
5517. choikos -- earthy, made of dust... 5517 (an adjective, derived from , "made of earth, dust") -- properly, , (made of
dust); (figuratively) , passing away;
transient, "earthly." All four
...Strong's Hebrew
2310. chadel -- forbearing, lacking... Word Origin from chadal Definition forbearing, lacking NASB Word Usage forsaken
(1), refuses (1),
transient (1). he that forbears, frail, rejected.
...2465. cheled -- duration, world
... From an unused root apparently meaning to glide swiftly; life (as a fleeting portion
of time); hence, the world (astransient) -- age, short time, world....
Library
The Universal Gift
... The great fact which to-day[1] commemorates is too often regarded as if it were
atransient gift, limited to those on whom it was first bestowed....
Dying Men and the Undying Word
... old truth. That special angle is to bring into connection the Eternal Word
and thetransient vehicles and hearers of it. Did you...
Christ and the Unstable.
... out the crying abuses from the temple and cleanse His Father's house, He felt that
He could now do; He felt that these stirrings of feeling,transient as they...
Index to Preachers and Sermons
... By Alexander Vinet Christianity, TheTransient and Permanent in.... By John A.
Broadus Permanent, TheTransient and the, in Christianity....
What Passes and what Abides
... his men, through whose bowels this generation has burrowed its tunnels, stand the
same, and smile the same amid their snows, at thetransient creatures that...
The Passing and the Permanent
... But the thought that lies below them, sweeping as it does through the whole creation,
and parting all things into thetransient and eternal, the mortal and...
Entering into the Infinite
... and desires, in the midst of all his clinging to earthly and impermanent things,
has ever been intuitively conscious of the limited,transient, and illusionary...
Two Shepherds and Two Flocks
... let ourselves be absorbed and entangled by the affairs of this life, and permit
our whole spirits to be bent in the direction of thesetransient things, what...
Proposition that the Self-Existent Being must be Eternal.
... any thing that is to come; but their thoughts, and knowledge, and power must of
necessity have degrees and periods, and be successive andtransient as the...
A Rash Vow
... wrong, good and evil, I find in them". I. A noble, sincere, buttransient
emotion and impulse. 'I will lay down my life for Thy...
Thesaurus
Transient (3 Occurrences)... and then disappearing; of short duration; not permanent; not lasting or durable;
not stationary; passing; fleeting; brief; transitory; as,
transient pleasure.
...Transgressors (19 Occurrences)
Glimpse (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A short, hurried view; a transitory or fragmentary
perception; a quick sight. 2. (n.) A sudden flash;transient luster....
Inhabitant (54 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) One who dwells or resides permanently in a place, as distinguished from
atransient lodger or visitor; as, an inhabitant of a house, a town, a city...
Impulsive (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Inclined to act ontransient feelings;
unpremeditated. 2. (a.) Having the power of driving or...
Impulse (18 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A mental force which simply and directly urges to action; hasty inclination;
sudden motive; momentary ortransient influence of appetite or passion...
Flesh (468 Occurrences)
... gentleness. 7. (n.) In a bad sense, tendency totransient or physical pleasure;
desire for sensual gratification; carnality. 8. (n...
Fashion (24 Occurrences)
... Schema denotes atransient, external semblance or fashion, and so it may be
distinguished from its synonym morphe, which denotes the essential intrinsic form...
Fleeting (9 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Fleet. 2. (a.) Passing swiftly away; not durable;transient;
transitory; as, the fleeting hours or moments. Multi-Version Concordance...
Flash (19 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To burst or break forth with a sudden andtransient flood of flame and
light; as, the lighting flashes vividly; the powder flashed....
Resources
What does it mean that we have eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11)? | GotQuestions.orgIf aliens were proved to exist, how would that discovery impact the Christian faith? | GotQuestions.orgMedical marijuana - what does the Bible say? | GotQuestions.orgTransient: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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