Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of acting voluntarily is deeply embedded in the biblical narrative, reflecting the importance of free will and intentionality in the life of faith. In the Scriptures, voluntary actions are often associated with offerings, service, and obedience to God's commandments, highlighting the value of a willing heart in the eyes of the Lord.
Voluntary OfferingsIn the Old Testament, the idea of voluntary offerings is prominently featured. These offerings were given freely and without compulsion, as an expression of devotion and gratitude to God. In
Leviticus 22:18, the Lord instructs Moses, "Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘If any of you—whether an Israelite or a foreigner residing in Israel—presents a gift for a burnt offering to the LORD, either to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without defect or blemish to be acceptable.’" This passage underscores the importance of the heart's willingness in giving, as well as the requirement for offerings to be pure and sincere.
Voluntary ServiceThe theme of voluntary service is also evident in the lives of biblical figures who chose to serve God and others out of their own volition. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul speaks of his own ministry as a voluntary act. In
1 Corinthians 9:17, he states, "If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; but if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me." Here, Paul distinguishes between service that is rendered willingly and that which is performed out of obligation, emphasizing the spiritual reward associated with voluntary service.
Voluntary ObedienceVoluntary obedience to God's commandments is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. The psalmist expresses a desire to follow God's laws willingly in
Psalm 119:108, "Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Your judgments." This verse highlights the connection between voluntary obedience and a teachable spirit, suggesting that a willing heart is open to divine instruction and guidance.
Voluntary SacrificeThe ultimate example of voluntary sacrifice is found in the life and work of Jesus Christ. In
John 10:18, Jesus declares, "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from My Father." Jesus' willingness to lay down His life for humanity is the epitome of voluntary sacrifice, demonstrating the depth of His love and commitment to fulfilling the Father's will.
Voluntary GivingThe early church also exemplified the principle of voluntary giving. In
Acts 4:32-35, the believers are described as having "one heart and soul," and they shared their possessions freely, ensuring that "there was no needy person among them." This communal sharing was not mandated but was a voluntary expression of their unity and love for one another.
In summary, the biblical concept of acting voluntarily encompasses offerings, service, obedience, sacrifice, and giving. It reflects a heart that is aligned with God's purposes, motivated by love, and committed to serving Him and others freely and joyfully.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
adv.) In a voluntary manner; of one's own will; spontaneously.
Greek
1596. hekousios --voluntarily...voluntarily. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: hekousios Phonetic Spelling:
(hek-oo-see'-ose) Short Definition: willingly Definition: willingly, of one's
...2135. eunouchos -- a eunuch
... Definition: (a) a chamberlain, keeper of the bed-chamber of an eastern potentate,
eunuch, (b) a eunuch, castrated person, or one whovoluntarily abstains from...
1635. hekon -- of one's own free will, voluntary
... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: hekon Phonetic Spelling: (hek-own') Short
Definition: willing, willingly Definition: willing, willingly,voluntarily...
4623. siopao -- to be silent
... siopao Phonetic Spelling: (see-o-pah'-o) Short Definition: I keep silence Definition:
I keep silence, am silent, eithervoluntarily or involuntarily....
4433. ptocheuo -- to be a beggar, be destitute
... 4433 ("become destitute") is only used in 2 Cor 8:9 of the physical humiliations
Christvoluntarily experienced in His mission here on earth. See 4434 ()....
5594. psucho -- to breathe, blow, to make cool
... A primary verb; to breathe (voluntarily but gently, thus differing on the one hand
from pneo, which denotes properly a forcible respiration; and on the other...
1399. doule -- female slave, bondmaid.
... female slave, bondwoman Feminine of doulos; a female slave (involuntarily or
voluntarily) -- handmaid(-en). see GREEK doulos. (doulas) -- 1 Occurrence....
Strong's Hebrew
2603a. chanan -- to show favor, be gracious... favor, be gracious NASB Word Usage begged (1), dealt graciously (1), favor (1),
feel pity (1), finds...favor (1), give them to us
voluntarily (1), gracious (45
...5071. nedabah -- voluntariness, freewill offering
... voluntariness, freewill offering NASB Word Usage freely (1), freewill offering
(12), freewill offerings (9), plentiful (1),voluntarily (1), volunteer freely (...
Library
Whether we Can Suffer Injustice Willingly?
... Therefore a man canvoluntarily suffer injustice especially if it be inflicted by
himself.... Therefore a man may happen to suffer an injusticevoluntarily....
Whether the Judicial Power Corresponds to Voluntary Poverty?
... etc. Since then those who arevoluntarily poor are not all apostles, it
would seem that the judicial power is not competent to all....
Whether Vengeance Should be Taken on those who have Sinned...
... overthrown by the Philistines on account of the sin of the sons of Heli (1 Kings
4). Therefore a person is to be punished without having deserved itvoluntarily...
The Third Theological Oration.
... What is their next objection, how full of contentiousness and impudence? He, they
say, eithervoluntarily begat the Son, or else involuntarily....
Chapter vi.
... that many professing to be original witnesses of the Christian miracles, passed
their lives in labours, dangers, and sufferings,voluntarily undergone in...
That There are not Two Kingdoms.
... very good [2627] , so far as they were made: if, therefore, they remain just as
they were created, they are very good, but when theyvoluntarily depart from...
He Continues in this Strain: "If He had Determined Upon These...
... determined upon these things, and underwent chastisement in obedience to his Father,
it is manifest that, being a God, and submittingvoluntarily, those things...
Whether a Vow Should Always be About a Better Good?
... Now a promise is about something that one doesvoluntarily for someone else: since
it would be not a promise but a threat to say that one would do something...
Whether Religion is a virtue?
... Reply to Objection 2: Even a slave canvoluntarily do his duty by his master,
and so "he makes a virtue of necessity" [*Jerome, Ep....
The Arguments Usually Alleged in Support of Free Will Refuted.
... For whence that impotence of which the wicked so readily avail themselves as an
excuse, but just because Adamvoluntarily subjected himself to the tyranny of...
Thesaurus
Voluntarily (6 Occurrences)...Voluntarily (6 Occurrences). 1 Corinthians 9:17 For if I do this
voluntarily, I
have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with an administration.
...Voluntary (17 Occurrences)
... 1 Maccabees 2:42 has "voluntarily" as part of the translation of hekousiazo, the
Revised Version (British and American) "willingly.". Multi-Version Concordance...
Volunteer (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) One who enters into servicevoluntarily, but who, when in service, is subject
to discipline and regulations like other soldiers; -- opposed to conscript...
Volume (4 Occurrences)
Willing (152 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) Received of choice, or without reluctance; submitted tovoluntarily; chosen;
desired. 4. (vt) Spontaneous; self-moved. Multi-Version Concordance...
Office (64 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) That which a person does, eithervoluntarily or by appointment, for, or
with reference to, others; customary duty, or a duty that arises from the...
Oversight (23 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight,
not under compulsion, butvoluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly...
Gift (148 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (vt) Anything given; anythingvoluntarily transferred
by one person to another without compensation; a present; an offering....
Greedy (24 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight,
not under compulsion, butvoluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly...
Waste (668 Occurrences)
... injury. 7. (v.) To damage, impair, or injure, as an estate,voluntarily, or
by suffering the buildings, fences, etc., to go to decay. 8...
Resources
What is a bondservant / bond-servant? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Nazirite/Nazarite vow? | GotQuestions.orgIf Jesus is God, why did He not know when He would return? | GotQuestions.orgVoluntarily: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
