Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and ConceptUnion, in a biblical context, refers to the coming together of individuals, groups, or entities in harmony and agreement, often under the guidance and purpose of God. This concept is deeply rooted in the Scriptures, emphasizing the unity of believers with God, with one another, and within the body of Christ, the Church.
Union with GodThe Bible speaks of a profound union between God and His people. This relationship is characterized by covenantal promises and spiritual intimacy. In
John 15:4 , Jesus invites believers to "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me." This union is foundational for spiritual growth and fruitfulness.
Union with ChristCentral to Christian theology is the believer's union with Christ. This union is both mystical and real, signifying that believers are spiritually joined to Christ in His death, resurrection, and life.
Romans 6:5 states, "For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection." This union assures believers of their salvation and eternal life.
Union in the Body of ChristThe New Testament frequently addresses the unity of believers within the Church, the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:3-6 exhorts believers to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." This passage underscores the importance of maintaining unity through shared faith and purpose.
Union in MarriageMarriage is another significant biblical example of union.
Genesis 2:24 describes the marital union as, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." This union is a divine institution, reflecting the relationship between Christ and the Church, as elaborated in
Ephesians 5:31-32 .
Union in the SpiritThe Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in fostering union among believers.
1 Corinthians 12:13 states, "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink." The Spirit unites diverse individuals into a cohesive community, transcending cultural and social barriers.
Union and ReconciliationUnion is closely linked with reconciliation, as seen in the work of Christ.
Colossians 1:20 declares, "and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross." This reconciliation restores the broken relationship between humanity and God, enabling a restored union.
Union in DiversityThe Bible acknowledges diversity within the unity of believers.
Galatians 3:28 affirms, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This verse highlights that unity in Christ transcends ethnic, social, and gender distinctions, creating a diverse yet unified community.
Challenges to UnionDespite the biblical call for unity, challenges such as division, strife, and false teachings can threaten union among believers. The apostle Paul addresses these issues in
1 Corinthians 1:10 , urging, "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction."
ConclusionThe concept of union in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing spiritual, relational, and communal dimensions. It is a divine mandate that reflects God's desire for harmony and unity among His people, achieved through faith in Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of uniting or joining two or more things into one, or the state of being united or joined; junction; coalition; combination.
2. (n.) Agreement and conjunction of mind, spirit, will, affections, or the like; harmony; concord.
3. (n.) That which is united, or made one; something formed by a combination or coalition of parts or members; a confederation; a consolidated body; a league; as, the weavers have formed a union; trades unions have become very numerous; the United States of America are often called the Union.
4. (n.) A textile fabric composed of two or more materials, as cotton, silk, wool, etc., woven together.
5. (n.) A large, fine pearl.
6. (n.) A device emblematic of union, used on a national flag or ensign, sometimes, as in the military standard of Great Britain, covering the whole field; sometimes, as in the flag of the United States, and the English naval and marine flag, occupying the upper inner corner, the rest of the flag being called the fly. Also, a flag having such a device; especially, the flag of Great Britain.
7. (n.) A joint or other connection uniting parts of machinery, or the like, as the elastic pipe of a tender connecting it with the feed pipe of a locomotive engine; especially, a pipe fitting for connecting pipes, or pipes and fittings, in such a way as to facilitate disconnection.
8. (n.) A cask suspended on trunnions, in which fermentation is carried on.
Greek
4921. sunistemi and sunistano -- to commend, establish, stand near...... 4921 (from 4862 , "
union, together " and 2476 , "to stand") -- properly, "stand
together," referring to facts "lining up" with each other to () something.
...1721. emphutos -- innate, implanted
... 1721 (from 1722 , "in" and 5453 , "germinate, grow, spring up") -- properly, plant,
bring to livingunion like with a successfully engrafted shoot...
218. aleipho -- anoint.
... anoint. From a (as particle ofunion) and the base of liparos; to oil (with perfume) --
anoint. see GREEK a. see GREEK liparos. (aleipsai) -- 1 Occurrence....
190. akoloutheo -- to follow
... From a (as a particle ofunion) and keleuthos (a road); properly, to be in the same
way with, ie To accompany (specially, as a disciple) -- follow, reach....
2859. kolpos -- the bosom
... 2859 -- properly, the upper part of the chest where a garment naturally folded to
form a "pocket" -- called the "," the position synonymous with (union)....
431. anepsios -- a cousin
... cousin, sister's son. From a (as a particle ofunion) and an obsolete nepos (a brood);
properly, akin, ie (specially) a cousin -- sister's son. see GREEK a....
4954. sussomos -- of the same body
... It is used only in Eph 3:6. "Thisunion fulfilled 'the promise of the Father' when
Christ baptized all true believers (OT, NT) in the Spirit on the Day of...
537. hapas -- all, the whole
... all things, everyone, whole. From a (as a particle ofunion) and pas; absolutely
all or (singular) every one -- all (things), every (one), whole. see GREEK a....
1. alpha -- alpha
... in composition (as a contraction from aneu) in the sense of privation; so, in many
words, beginning with this letter; occasionally in the sense ofunion (as a...
573. haplous -- simple, single
... single. Probably from a (as a particle ofunion) and the base of pleko; properly,
folded together, ie Single (figuratively, clear) -- single. see GREEK a....
Strong's Hebrew
2260c. chobelim --union... chobelim. 2261 .
union. Transliteration: chobelim Short Definition:
Union. Word
Origin from chabal Definition
union NASB Word Usage
Union (2). 2260b, 2260c
...261. Echud -- "union," a Benjamite
... 260, 261. Echud. 262 . "union," a Benjamite. Transliteration: Echud
Phonetic Spelling: (ay-khood') Short Definition: Ehud. Word...
8388. ta'ar -- probably to incline
... Taanath-shiloh A primitive root; to delineate; reflex. To extend -- be drawn, mark
out, (Rimmon-)methoar (byunion with Rimmown). see HEBREW Rimmown....
Library
Union and Communion
Union and Communion. <.Union and Communion J. Hudson Taylor. Table of Contents.
Title Page. FORWARD. THE SONG OF SOLOMON. INTRODUCTORY....
Presbyterian Proposals ofUnion. --
... Proposals of ChurchUnion within the Protestant Churches of the United
States. 3. Presbyterian Proposals ofUnion.". Fruitless...
Whether theUnion of the Two Natures in Christ is the Greatest of...
... OF THE MODE OFUNION OF THE WORD INCARNATE (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether theunion
of the two natures in Christ is the greatest of all unions?...
WhetherUnion is an Effect of Love?
... OF THE EFFECTS OF LOVE (SIX ARTICLES) Whetherunion is an effect of love? Objection
1: It would seem thatunion is not an effect of love....
Of the Mode ofUnion of the Word Incarnate (Twelve Articles)
... OF THE MODE OFUNION OF THE WORD INCARNATE (TWELVE ARTICLES).... (1) Whether
theunion of the Word Incarnate took place in the nature?...
Congregational Proposals ofUnion. --
... Proposals of ChurchUnion within the Protestant Churches of the United States.
2. Congregational Proposals ofUnion.". The Congregational...
Whether theUnion of the Divine Nature and the Human is Anything...
... OF THE MODE OFUNION OF THE WORD INCARNATE (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether theunion
of the Divine nature and the human is anything created?...
WhetherUnion is the Same as Assumption?
... OF THE MODE OFUNION OF THE WORD INCARNATE (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whetherunion
is the same as assumption? Objection 1: It would seem...
ForUnion.
... SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC WORSHIP. 912. " ForUnion. 912. 6s. & 8s. M. Methodist
Coll. ForUnion. 1 Thou God of truth and love, We...
The Lambeth Conference and theUnion of Churches in South India....
... The Lambeth Proposals. III. The Lambeth Conference and theUnion of Churches
in South India.". The most important subject connected...
Thesaurus
Union (24 Occurrences)... formed by a combination or coalition of parts or members; a confederation; a
consolidated body; a league; as, the weavers have formed a
union; trades unions
...Continues (32 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 John 3:6 No one who continues inunion with Him lives in sin: no
one who lives in sin has seen Him or knows Him. (WEY NIV)....
Graft (1 Occurrence)
... It is peculiarly appropriate to olive-trees. Theunion thus of branches to a stem
is used to illustrate theunion of true believers to the true Church....
Mystery (31 Occurrences)
... need to be explained but which cannot be fully understood by finite intelligence
(Matthew 13:11; Romans 11:25; 1 Corinthians 13:2); theunion between Christ...
Obeys (17 Occurrences)
... 1 John 3:24 The man who obeys His commands continues inunion with God, and God
continues inunion with him; and through His Spirit whom He has given us we can...
Immersion
... Baptism is the symbol (1) of a complete cleansing, (2) of death, (3) of burial,
(4) of resurrection, and (5) of entering into fullunion and fellowship with...
Incarnation (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary That act of grace whereby Christ took our human nature
intounion with his Divine Person, became man. Christ is both God and man....
Faithful (136 Occurrences)
... 4. The Fourth "Saying": The fourth of the faithful sayings speaks of the Christian
believer'sunion with Christ, and of the blessedness of thatunion....
Trine
... Baptism is the symbol (1) of a complete cleansing, (2) of death, (3) of burial,
(4) of resurrection, and (5) of entering into fullunion and fellowship with...
Triune
... Baptism is the symbol (1) of a complete cleansing, (2) of death, (3) of burial,
(4) of resurrection, and (5) of entering into fullunion and fellowship with...
Resources
What is a Union church? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to have union with Christ? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the hypostatic union? | GotQuestions.orgUnion: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
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