Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of urgency in the Bible often relates to the immediacy and importance of responding to God's call, the need for repentance, and the swift action required in certain situations. While the term "urgent" itself may not frequently appear in the biblical text, the theme is evident throughout Scripture.
Urgency in Responding to God:The Bible emphasizes the importance of responding promptly to God's call. In the New Testament, Jesus often called His disciples to follow Him immediately, leaving behind their previous lives. For instance, when Jesus called Peter and Andrew, "At once they left their nets and followed Him" (
Matthew 4:20). This immediate response underscores the urgency of heeding Christ's call without delay.
Urgency in Repentance:The call to repentance is another area where urgency is highlighted. John the Baptist and Jesus both preached the need for immediate repentance. In
Matthew 3:2, John the Baptist declares, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." The proximity of the kingdom underscores the urgent need for repentance and turning to God.
Urgency in Prayer and Action:The Bible also speaks to the urgency of prayer and action in times of need. In the parable of the persistent widow, Jesus teaches about the importance of persistent and urgent prayer (
Luke 18:1-8). The widow's relentless pursuit of justice serves as a model for believers to approach God with urgency and persistence.
In the Old Testament, the urgency of action is seen in the account of Esther. When Mordecai learns of Haman's plot to destroy the Jews, he urges Esther to act quickly, saying, "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's house will perish" (
Esther 4:14). Esther's subsequent actions demonstrate the critical nature of timely intervention.
Urgency in Salvation:The New Testament frequently stresses the urgency of salvation. In
2 Corinthians 6:2, Paul writes, "For He says, 'In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation." This passage highlights the immediacy with which one should respond to the offer of salvation, emphasizing that the present moment is the opportune time to accept God's grace.
Urgency in Proclaiming the Gospel:The Great Commission, found in
Matthew 28:19-20, underscores the urgency of spreading the Gospel. Jesus commands His disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations," a directive that carries an inherent urgency to reach the lost with the message of salvation. The early church exemplified this urgency, as seen in the rapid spread of the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.
Conclusion:The theme of urgency in the Bible calls believers to immediate and decisive action in response to God's commands, the need for repentance, and the proclamation of the Gospel. This urgency reflects the transient nature of life and the eternal significance of one's relationship with God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a.) Urging; pressing; besetting; plying, with importunity; calling for immediate attention; instantly important.
Greek
2186. ephistemi -- to set upon, set up, to stand upon, be present... stand upon, be present. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ephistemi Phonetic
Spelling: (ef-is'-tay-mee) Short Definition: I stand by, am
urgent, befall one
...997. boetheo -- to come to the aid of
... [997 () was originally a military word, responding to a critical,urgent need ().
997 () is also used in Homeric Greek (800-900 bc ) for responding to a .]....
5562. choreo -- to make room, advance, hold
... 5562 -- properly, make space (place, room); (figuratively) to live with an heart --
ie with " space" that embraces the "" . not just the "urgent"!...
2001. epischuo -- to grow stronger
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epischuo Phonetic Spelling: (ep-is-khoo'-o) Short
Definition: I persist, insist Definition: I persist, insist, am moreurgent....
2480. ischuo -- to be strong, have power
... supernaturally healed. (, , 2480 ) is the specific (urgent) request of a
divinely-approved person who is energized (by God).". [Here the...
4441. punthanomai -- to inquire, by impl. to learn
... a demand for something due; as well as from zeteo, which implies a search for something
hidden; and from deomai, which involves the idea ofurgent need); by...
Strong's Hebrew
2685. chatsaph -- to show insolence or harshness... to show insolence or harshness. Transliteration: chatsaph Phonetic Spelling:
(khats-af') Short Definition:
urgent. Word Origin (Aramaic) a prim.
... hasty, be
urgent...5169. nachats -- perhaps to urge
... perhaps to urge. Transliteration: nachats Phonetic Spelling: (naw-khats') Short
Definition:urgent.... root Definition perhaps to urge NASB Word Usageurgent (1)....
2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
... be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout,
be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold), beurgent, behave self...
Library
That we are to beUrgent in Prayers.
... Third Book. 120. That we are to beurgent in prayers. In the Epistle of
Paul to the Colossians: "Be instant in prayer, and watch...
Apostrophe to Origen, and Therewith the Leave-Taking, and the...
... Argument XIX."Apostrophe to Origen, and Therewith the Leave-Taking, and
theUrgent Utterance of Prayer. But, O dear soul, arise...
Zealous of Good Works
... One of the first things that wakens zeal in work is a great andurgent sense of
need.... No, indeed, it has given thaturgent need a higher place than before....
Whether the Temptation of God Consists in Certain Deeds, Wherein...
... Accordingly when a man in his prayers or deeds entrusts himself to the divine
assistance for someurgent or useful motive, this is not to tempt God: for it is...
Whether one is Bound to Confess at Once?
... Victor says (De Sacram. ii): "The contempt of confession is inexcusable, unless
there be anurgent reason for delay." But everyone is bound to avoid contempt....
Powerful Persuasives
... I shall require no stories or anecdotes, no figures or metaphors, to illustrate
theurgent necessity of the sinner and the generous bounty of the Saviour....
G. Jesus Before Pilate. Ch. 23:1-25
... him and said, Thou sayest.4 And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitudes,
I find no fault in this man.5 But they were the moreurgent, saying, He...
Epistle xxiii. To the Clergy, on the Letters Sent to Rome, and...
... But I ought to acquaint you in my letter concerning this, that for a veryurgent
reason I have sent a letter to the clergy who abide in the city....
Epistle vii. To the Clergy, Concerning Prayer to God.
... Although I know, brethren beloved, that from the fear which we all of us owe to
God, you also are instantlyurgent in continual petitions and earnest prayers...
It is not Correctly Said in the Catechism, that "God is Angry with...
... He becameurgent with me, therefore, and requested that I would disclose to him
those points about which I was desirous to confer; and he declared, that he...
Thesaurus
Urgent (12 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Urgent (12 Occurrences).
... (ASV YLT RSV). Luke 23:23 But
they were
urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified.
...Urgently (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In anurgent manner. Multi-Version Concordance
Urgently (8 Occurrences). Matthew 3:14 but John urgently...
Insistent (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.)Urgent; persistent; persevering.... Luke 23:23 But
they wereurgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified....
Instant (19 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Pressing;urgent; importunate; earnest. 3. (a.) Closely pressing or impending
in respect to time; not deferred; immediate; without delay....
Peremptory (2 Occurrences)
... Peremptory (2 Occurrences). Daniel 2:15 he answered and said to Arioch the king's
captain, Wherefore is the decree sourgent from the king?...
Pressing (16 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Press. 2. (a.)Urgent; exacting; importunate; as, a pressing
necessity. Multi-Version Concordance Pressing (16 Occurrences)....
Burial (25 Occurrences)
... ber'-i-al (qebhurah; compare New Testament to entaphidsai): I. IMMEDIATE BURIAL
CONSIDEREDURGENT 1. Reasons for This 2. The Burial of Jesus 3. The Usual Time 4...
Loud (222 Occurrences)
... thunder. 2. (superl.) Clamorous; boisterous. 3. (superl.) Emphatic; impressive;
urgent; as, a loud call for united effort. 4. (superl...
Haste (106 Occurrences)
... Version margin "alarm"), All men are liars"); of chippazon, a "hasty flight" (Exodus
12:11 Deuteronomy 16:3 Isaiah 52:12); of nachats, "to beurgent" (1 Samuel...
Urged (44 Occurrences)
Resources
What did Jesus mean when He said, “I stand at the door and knock” (Revelation 3:20)? | GotQuestions.orgSummary of the Book of 2 John - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Green Bible? | GotQuestions.orgUrgent: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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