Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and ImportanceUnity, in the biblical context, refers to the state of being one or in harmony with others, particularly within the body of Christ. It is a central theme in Scripture, emphasizing the importance of believers being united in faith, purpose, and love. Unity is seen as a reflection of the divine nature and a testament to the world of God's love and truth.
Biblical FoundationsThe concept of unity is rooted in the nature of God Himself, who is one (
Deuteronomy 6:4). The unity of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—serves as the ultimate model for Christian unity. Jesus prayed for this unity among His followers in
John 17:21, saying, "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
Unity in the ChurchThe New Testament frequently addresses the importance of unity within the church. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often exhorts believers to maintain unity. In
Ephesians 4:3-6, he writes, "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."
Unity and DiversityWhile unity is essential, it does not imply uniformity. The body of Christ is diverse, with different gifts and functions, yet it is called to operate in harmony. In
1 Corinthians 12:12-14, Paul explains, "For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ. 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. For the body does not consist of one part, but of many."
Unity and LoveLove is the binding force of unity.
Colossians 3:14 states, "And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity." Love fosters patience, kindness, and forgiveness, which are essential for maintaining unity among believers.
Unity and WitnessThe unity of believers serves as a powerful witness to the world. Jesus indicated that the unity of His followers would demonstrate to the world that He was sent by the Father (
John 17:23). The early church's unity, as described in
Acts 2:42-47, was marked by shared teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer, which led to the growth of the church and favor with all people.
Challenges to UnityDespite its importance, unity is often challenged by divisions, disagreements, and false teachings. Paul warns against divisions in
1 Corinthians 1:10, urging believers to "agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought."
Pursuing UnityBelievers are called to actively pursue unity. This involves humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love (
Ephesians 4:2). It requires a commitment to truth and a willingness to reconcile differences for the sake of the gospel.
ConclusionUnity is a divine mandate and a reflection of God's character. It is essential for the health and mission of the church, requiring intentional effort and reliance on the Holy Spirit to achieve and maintain.
Topical Bible Verses
1 Peter 3:8Finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brothers, be pitiful, be courteous:
Topicalbible.orgPhilippians 2:2
Fulfill you my joy, that you be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Topicalbible.org
1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I beseech you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Topicalbible.org
Ephesians 4:3
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Topicalbible.org
Acts 4:32
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
Topicalbible.org
Romans 15:6
That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Topicalbible.org
Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!
Topicalbible.org
Philippians 1:27
Only let your conversation be as it becomes the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Topicalbible.org
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The state of being one; oneness.
2. (n.) Concord; harmony; conjunction; agreement; uniformity; as, a unity of proofs; unity of doctrine.
3. (n.) Any definite quantity, or aggregate of quantities or magnitudes taken as one, or for which 1 is made to stand in calculation; thus, in a table of natural sines, the radius of the circle is regarded as unity.
4. (n.) In dramatic composition, one of the principles by which a uniform tenor of story and propriety of representation are preserved; conformity in a composition to these; in oratory, discourse, etc., the due subordination and reference of every part to the development of the leading idea or the establishment of the main proposition.
5. (n.) Such a combination of parts as to constitute a whole, or a kind of symmetry of style and character.
6. (n.) The peculiar characteristics of an estate held by several in joint tenancy.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
UNITYu'-ni-ti:Psalm 133:1 for (yachadh, "unitedness," andEphesians 4:3, 13 for henotes "oneness." Also Sirach 25:1 the King James Version for homonoia "concord" (so the Revised Version (British and American)).
Greek
1775. henotes -- to adjure... to adjure. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: henotes Phonetic Spelling:
(hen-ot-ace') Short Definition: oneness,
unity Definition: oneness,
unity...1775b. henotes -- oneness, ie unanimity
... oneness, ie unanimity. Transliteration: henotes Short Definition:unity. Word Origin
from heis Definition oneness, ie unanimity NASB Word Usageunity (2)....
4875. sunanapauomai -- to lie down to rest with, fig. to be...
... 4875 (from 4862 , "identified " and 373 , "pause completely") -- properly, , ie
when people enjoy God's which only results from first in theunity of the Spirit...
1520. heis -- one
... nothing* (1), one (282), one another (1), one man (2), one thing (5), one* (2),
person (1), single (1), smallest (1), someone (2), thirty-nine* (1),unity (1)....
228. alethinos -- true.
... derived from the other adjective of the same root/, 227 , " to fact") -- properly, (),
emphasizing the organic connection (authenticunity) between what is...
3661. homothumadon -- with one mind
... same desire). 3661 ("of the same passion") describes people who share ","
creating a God-producedunity between them (cf. 2 Pet...
4886. sundesmos -- that which binds together, ie a bond
... Word Origin from sundeo Definition that which binds together, ie a bond NASB Word
Usage bond (1), bond ofunity (1), bondage (1), ligaments (1). bond....
3675. homophron -- agreeing
... accord ("having the "). This Spirit-producedunity (agreement) results from
receiving God's inworkings of faith ("His "). 3675 ("of...
Strong's Hebrew
3189. Yachath -- "He will snatch up," the name of several...... NASB Word Usage Jahath (8). Jahath. From yachad;
unity; Jachath, the name of four
Israelites -- Jahath. see HEBREW yachad. 3188, 3189. Yachath. 3190 .
...3163. Yachdo -- a Gileadite
... Jahdo. From yachad with pronominal suffix; hisunity, ie (adverb) together; Jachdo,
an Israelite -- Jahdo. see HEBREW yachad. 3162, 3163. Yachdo. 3164 ....
3164. Yachdiy'el -- together
... Jahdiel From yachad and 'el;unity of God; Jachdiel, an Israelite -- Jahdiel. see
HEBREW yachad. see HEBREW 'el. 3163, 3164. Yachdiy'el. 3164a ....
3165. Yechdeyahu -- "may Yah give joy," two Israelites
... NASB Word Usage Jehdeiah (2). Jehdeiah. From yachad and Yahh;unity of Jah; Jechdijah,
the name of two Israelites -- Jehdeiah. see HEBREW yachad. see HEBREW Yahh...
3162. yachad -- unitedness
... all (4), altogether (2), altogether* (1), both (4), completely (2), each other
(1), one accord (1), safely (1), together (26), together inunity (1), united (1...
161. Ohad -- an Israelite
... NASB Word Usage Ohad (2). Ohad. From an unused root meaning to be united;unity;
Ohad, an Israelite -- Ohad. 160, 161. Ohad. 162 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
The ThreefoldUnity
... EPHESIANS THE THREEFOLDUNITY. 'One Lord, one faith, one baptism.'"Ephesians 4:5.
The thought of theunity of the Church is very prominent in this epistle....
ChristianUnity
... XVII CHRISTIANUNITY. Ephesians iv.13. We hear much in these days of Christian
unity, and many programmes and platforms and propositions...
A Prayer forUnity.
... A Prayer forUnity. O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only
Saviour, the Prince of Peace; Give us grace seriously to...
Whether the Craving forUnity is a Cause of Sorrow?
... OF THE CAUSES OF SORROW OR PAIN (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the craving for
unity is a cause of sorrow? Objection 1: It would seem that...
Unity and Peace.
... SERMONS. XI.UNITY AND PEACE. Preached February 9, 1851.UNITY AND
PEACE. "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts...
That theUnity of the Essence of the Father and the Son is to be...
... Chapter 3."That theUnity of the Essence of the Father and the Son is to Be Gathered
from the Words, "We are One." The Son is Equal to the Father Both in...
Of a Three-FoldUnity which is in us by Nature
... THE SECOND BOOK CHAPTER II. OF A THREE-FOLDUNITY WHICH IS IN US BY NATURE.
Now mark this with diligence: a threefoldunity is found...
Efforts atUnity and Peace.
... THE TENNESSEE SYNOD. EFFORTS ATUNITY AND PEACE. 98. Attempts at Union
with North Carolina."Though universally decried as the...
On theUnity and Trinity of God
... Lesson 3 ON THEUNITY AND TRINITY OF GOD. "Unity" means to be one, and "Trinity,"
three in one. 21 Q. Is there but one God? A. Yes; there is but one God....
The Lord's Prayer forUnity.
... Chapter XVII. The Lord's Prayer forUnity.... There is just one thought in this
petition and that one thought is theunity of his people....
Thesaurus
Unity (9 Occurrences)... 1. (n.) The state of being one; oneness. 2. (n.) Concord; harmony; conjunction;
agreement; uniformity; as, a
unity of proofs;
unity of doctrine.
...UNITY.
...Inspiration (4 Occurrences)
... 1. Scripture aUnity: Holy Scripture is not simply a collection of religious books:
still less does it consist of mere fragments of Jewish and Christian...
Ezra-nehemiah
... EZRA-NEHEMIAH. Contents 1. Name. 2. Object 3. Plan 4.Unity 5. Sources 6. Literary
Character 7. Languages 8. Historicity 9. Text LITERATURE...
Ezranehemiah
... EZRA-NEHEMIAH. Contents 1. Name. 2. Object 3. Plan 4.Unity 5. Sources 6. Literary
Character 7. Languages 8. Historicity 9. Text LITERATURE...
Fellowship (114 Occurrences)
... They designate acts of fellowship observed among the early Christians or express
the unique sense ofunity and fellowship of which these acts were the outward...
Apostles (79 Occurrences)
... TEXT III.UNITY OF THE BOOK IV. THE AUTHOR V. CANONICITY VI.... III.Unity of the Book.
It is not easy to discuss this question, apart from that of authorship....
Prayers (99 Occurrences)
... for His disciples, to whom He has revealed Himself and His relation to God (John
17:7, 8). He prays that they may be kept by the Father, and for theirunity....
Quotations
... CONSTRUCTIVE PRINCIPLES OF NEW TESTAMENT QUOTATION 1.Unity of the Two Dispensations
2. Biblical Movement Planned from the Beginning 3. The Old Testament...
Acts (271 Occurrences)
... TEXT III.UNITY OF THE BOOK IV. THE AUTHOR V. CANONICITY VI.... III.Unity of the Book.
It is not easy to discuss this question, apart from that of authorship....
Jehovah (20094 Occurrences)
... " 1. Historical Situation 2. The Authorship of Isaiah, Chapters 40-66 3. The Prophet
of the Exile 4. TheUnity of Isaiah 40-66 5. Principal Ideas of Isaiah 40...
Resources
Marital Unity ' Article Index | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the National Council of Churches? | GotQuestions.orgIs ecumenism biblical? Should a Christian be involved in the ecumenical movement (ecumenicalism)? | GotQuestions.orgUnity: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
