Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of being "united" is a significant theme throughout the Bible, reflecting the importance of unity among believers, within families, and in the relationship between God and His people. The Bible emphasizes unity as a reflection of God's nature and a vital component of the Christian faith.
Unity in the GodheadThe Bible presents the unity of the Godhead as foundational to understanding divine nature. The Shema, a central declaration of Jewish faith, states, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one" (
Deuteronomy 6:4). This oneness is further reflected in the New Testament, where Jesus speaks of His unity with the Father: "I and the Father are one" (
John 10:30). The unity within the Trinity serves as a model for human relationships and the church.
Unity Among BelieversThe New Testament frequently addresses the importance of unity among believers. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul urges the church to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (
Ephesians 4:3). This unity is not merely organizational but spiritual, rooted in shared faith and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Himself prayed for the unity of His followers, asking the Father "that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You" (
John 17:21). This prayer highlights the desire for believers to reflect the unity of the Godhead in their relationships with one another.
Unity in the Body of ChristThe Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of the body to describe the church's unity, emphasizing that all members, though diverse, are essential and interconnected. "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another" (
Romans 12:4-5). This imagery underscores the importance of each believer's role in contributing to the health and function of the church.
Unity in Marriage and FamilyThe Bible also speaks to the unity within marriage and family. In Genesis, the institution of marriage is described as a union where "a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" (
Genesis 2:24). This unity is both physical and spiritual, reflecting the covenant relationship between Christ and the church.
Unity and the Kingdom of GodThe ultimate expression of unity is found in the Kingdom of God, where believers from every nation, tribe, and tongue are united in worship and service to the King. Revelation describes a vision of this unity: "After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb" (
Revelation 7:9). This eschatological vision underscores the inclusivity and harmony that characterize God's eternal kingdom.
Challenges to UnityDespite the biblical call for unity, the church has faced challenges in maintaining it. The New Testament addresses issues of division and discord, urging believers to overcome differences through love, humility, and forgiveness. Paul admonishes the Corinthians, "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" (
1 Corinthians 1:10).
ConclusionThe theme of unity in the Bible is a profound reminder of the interconnectedness of God's people and the divine call to live in harmony with one another. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are equipped to pursue unity, reflecting the oneness of the Godhead and the love of Christ to the world.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
imp. & p. p.) of Unite.
2. (a.) Combined; joined; made one.
Greek
4854. sumphutos -- congenital, henceunited with... congenital, hence
united with. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: sumphutos
Phonetic Spelling: (soom'-foo-tos) Short Definition: grown together,
united...2414. Hierosoluma -- Jerusalem, the capital ofunited Isr. and...
... Hierosoluma. 2415 . Jerusalem, the capital ofunited Isr.... Word Origin of Hebrew
origin Yerushalaim Definition Jerusalem, the capital ofunited Isr....
2419. Ierousalem -- Jerusalem, the capital ofunited Isr. and...
... Ierousalem. 2420 . Jerusalem, the capital ofunited Isr.... Word Origin of Hebrew
origin Yerushalaim Definition Jerusalem, the capital ofunited Isr....
4786. sugkerannumi -- to mix together, hence to agree with
... Word Origin from sun and kerannumi Definition to mix together, hence to agree with
NASB Word Usage composed (1),united (1). mix with, temper together....
4954. sussomos -- of the same body
... 4954 (an adjective, derived from 4862 , "closely identified " and 4983 , "body") --
properly,united, belonging to the same body; a "joint-body," referring to...
4947. Suria -- Syria, a region N. and East of Pal.
... Feminine Transliteration: Suria Phonetic Spelling: (soo-ree'-ah) Short Definition:
Syria Definition: Syria, a great Roman imperial province,united with Cilicia...
4861. sumpsuchos -- of one mind
... inworked , 4102 ). Word Origin from sun and psuche Definition of one mind
NASB Word Usageunited in spirit (1). like-minded. From...
Strong's Hebrew
3161. yachad -- to beunited... 3160, 3161. yachad. 3162 . to be
united. Transliteration: yachad Phonetic Spelling:
(yaw-khad') Short Definition:
united. Word Origin a prim.
...2270. chaber --united, associate, companion
... 2269, 2270. chaber. 2271 .united, associate, companion. Transliteration: chaber
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-bare') Short Definition: companions....
259. echad -- one
... 2), thirty-first* (1), thirty-one* (3), together (3), twenty-first* (4),
twenty-one* (4), uniformly* (2), unique (4), unison (1), unit (4),united (1), whom (...
2249. Chabor -- a river of Assyr.
... NASB Word Usage Habor (3). Habor. From chabar;united; Chabor, a river of Assyria --
Habor. see HEBREW chabar. 2248, 2249. Chabor. 2250 . Strong's Numbers.
3173. yachid -- only, only one, solitary
... From yachad; properly,united, ie Sole; by implication, beloved; also lonely; (feminine)
the life (as not to be replaced) -- darling, desolate, only (child, son...
261. Echud -- "union," a Benjamite
... Ehud. From 'achad;united; Echud, the name of three Israelites -- Ehud. see
HEBREW 'achad. 260, 261. Echud. 262 . Strong's Numbers.
3162. yachad -- unitedness
... all (4), altogether (2), altogether* (1), both (4), completely (2), each other
(1), one accord (1), safely (1), together (26), together in unity (1),united (1...
161. Ohad -- an Israelite
... NASB Word Usage Ohad (2). Ohad. From an unused root meaning to beunited; unity;
Ohad, an Israelite -- Ohad. 160, 161. Ohad. 162 . Strong's Numbers.
164. Ehud -- the name of several Israelites
... NASB Word Usage Ehud (9). Ehud. From the same as 'Ohad;united; Ehud, the name of
two or three Israelites -- Ehud. see HEBREW 'Ohad. 163, 164. Ehud. 165 ....
Library
The Basis of theUnited Lutheran Church in theUnited States.
... PARS QUARTA: RECENT CONFESSIONAL DECLARATIONS AND TERMS OF CORPORATE CHURCH UNION.
The Basis of theUnited Lutheran Church in theUnited States....
Whether the Soul isUnited to the Animal Body by Means of a Body?
... OF THE UNION OF BODY AND SOUL (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the soul isunited
to the animal body by means of a body? Objection 1: It...
Moravians, orUnited Brethren.
... MORAVIANS, ORUNITED BRETHREN. A name given to the followers of Nicholas
Lewis, count of Zinzendorf, who, in the year 1721, settled...
Whether the Intellectual Soul isUnited to the Body through the...
... OF THE UNION OF BODY AND SOUL (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the intellectual soul is
united to the body through the medium of accidental dispositions?...
The Presbyterian Church in theUnited States of America.
... PARS QUARTA: RECENT CONFESSIONAL DECLARATIONS AND TERMS OF CORPORATE CHURCH UNION.
The Presbyterian Church in theUnited States of America....
Whether the Human Nature wasUnited to the Word of God...
... OF THE MODE OF UNION OF THE WORD INCARNATE (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether the
human nature wasunited to the Word of God accidentally?...
The Basis of Union of theUnited Church of Canada.
... cSYMBOLA EVANGELICA. PARS QUARTA: RECENT CONFESSIONAL DECLARATIONS AND TERMS OF
CORPORATE CHURCH UNION. The Basis of Union of theUnited Church of Canada....
Historical Notice of the Church in theUnited States.
... Historical Notice Of The Church In TheUnited States. Though the greater
proportion of the early emigrants to this Country were...
Whether the Intellectual Principle isUnited to the Body as Its...
... OF THE UNION OF BODY AND SOUL (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the intellectual
principle isunited to the body as its form? Objection 1...
Shakers, or theUnited Society of Believers.
... SHAKERS, OR THEUNITED SOCIETY OF BELIEVERS. The editor gives... South Union, Ky.
The number of Shakers in theUnited States is about 6000....
Thesaurus
United (44 Occurrences)...United (44 Occurrences).
... Matthew 19:5 and said, For this reason a man shall leave
his father and mother and be
united to his wife, and the two shall be one'?
...Unite (10 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To join in an act; to concur; to act in concert; as, all partiesunited
in signing the petition. 5. (vt)United; joint; as, unite consent....
Union (24 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act of uniting or joining two or more things into one, or the state
of beingunited or joined; junction; coalition; combination....
Joint (12 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The place or part where two things or parts are joined orunited; the union
of two or more smooth or even surfaces admitting of a close-fitting or...
Confederate (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) One who isunited with others in a league,
treaty, or alliance. 2. (a.) of or pertaining to the...
State (51 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) Any body of menunited by profession, or constituting a community of a
particular character; as, the civil and ecclesiastical states, or the lords...
Graecia
... Southern Greece, or the Peloponnesus, isunited to Central Greece only by a narrow
isthmus (now cut by a canal 4 miles long), with a minimum altitude of about...
Nettle (2 Occurrences)
... stinging sensation. Urtica gracitis is common in the Northern, and U.
chamaedryoides in the Southern,United States. the common...
Olive-tree (17 Occurrences)
... Romans 11:24 For if you were cut out of a field olive-tree, and against the natural
use wereunited to a good olive-tree, how much more will these, the natural...
Gopher (1 Occurrence)
... See Spermophile. 3. (n.) A large land tortoise (Testudo Carilina) of the
SouthernUnited States, which makes extensive burrows....
Resources
What is the United Church of Christ? | GotQuestions.orgIs the United States a Christian nation? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the United Pentecostal Church? | GotQuestions.orgUnited: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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