Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "voluntary" in the Bible encompasses actions and offerings that are given freely, without compulsion or obligation. This idea is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, reflecting the heart's willingness to serve, give, and worship God out of love and devotion rather than duty or coercion.
Voluntary OfferingsIn the Old Testament, voluntary offerings were a significant aspect of Israelite worship. These offerings were distinct from mandatory sacrifices and were given out of a heart of gratitude and devotion.
Leviticus 22:18-19 states, "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, you must present a male without defect from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf." This passage highlights the voluntary nature of these offerings, emphasizing that they were to be given freely and with sincerity.
Voluntary ServiceThe Bible also speaks to the voluntary nature of service to God and others. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul often commends those who serve willingly. In
1 Corinthians 9:17 , Paul states, "If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; but if not voluntarily, I am still entrusted with a responsibility." Here, Paul distinguishes between service that is given freely and service that is performed out of obligation, underscoring the value of a willing heart in ministry.
Voluntary GivingVoluntary giving is another key theme in Scripture. The early church exemplified this in their communal life, as seen in
Acts 2:44-45 : "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need." This passage illustrates the voluntary sharing of resources among believers, motivated by love and unity rather than compulsion.
The Apostle Paul further elaborates on this principle in
2 Corinthians 9:7 : "Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver." This verse highlights the importance of giving that is motivated by a willing and joyful heart, rather than by external pressure or obligation.
Voluntary WorshipWorship in the Bible is also portrayed as a voluntary act. The Psalms frequently call believers to worship God willingly and joyfully.
Psalm 54:6 declares, "Freely I will sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good." This expression of voluntary worship reflects a heart that is fully devoted to God, offering praise and sacrifice out of love and reverence.
Voluntary SubmissionThe concept of voluntary submission is evident in the teachings of the New Testament, particularly in the context of relationships within the Christian community.
Ephesians 5:21 instructs, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." This mutual submission is not coerced but is a voluntary act of humility and love, reflecting the selfless nature of Christ's love for the church.
In summary, the biblical concept of "voluntary" encompasses a wide range of actions and attitudes, all characterized by a willing and joyful heart. Whether in offerings, service, giving, worship, or submission, the voluntary nature of these acts reflects a deep commitment to God and others, motivated by love and devotion rather than obligation.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) Proceeding from the will; produced in or by an act of choice.
2. (v. t.) Unconstrained by the interference of another; unimpelled by the influence of another; not prompted or persuaded by another; done of his or its own accord; spontaneous; acting of one's self, or of itself; free.
3. (v. t.) Done by design or intention; intentional; purposed; intended; not accidental; as, if a man kills another by lopping a tree, it is not voluntary manslaughter.
4. (v. t.) of or pertaining to the will; subject to, or regulated by, the will; as, the voluntary motions of an animal, such as the movements of the leg or arm (in distinction from involuntary motions, such as the movements of the heart); the voluntary muscle fibers, which are the agents in voluntary motion.
5. (v. t.) Endowed with the power of willing; as, man is a voluntary agent.
6. (v. t.) Free; without compulsion; according to the will, consent, or agreement, of a party; without consideration; gratuitous; without valuable consideration.
7. (v. t.) of or pertaining to voluntarism; as, a voluntary church, in distinction from an established or state church.
8. (n.) One who engages in any affair of his own free will; a volunteer.
9. (n.) A piece played by a musician, often extemporarily, according to his fancy; specifically, an organ solo played before, during, or after divine service.
10. (n.) One who advocates voluntarism.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
VOLUNTARYvol'-un-ta-ri: For the sake of variety the King James Version inLeviticus 7:16Ezekiel 46:12 (bis) has rendered nedhabhah, by "voluntary offering" instead of the usual "freewill offering" (so the Revised Version (British and American)). The words "of his own voluntary will" inLeviticus 1:3 the King James Version are a pure gloss, properly omitted in the Revised Version (British and American), as they represent nothing in the Hebrew text. 1 Maccabees 2:42 has "voluntarily" as part of the translation of hekousiazo, the Revised Version (British and American) "willingly."
Greek
1595. hekousios -- of free will,voluntary... of free will,
voluntary. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: hekousios Phonetic
Spelling: (hek-oo'-see-on) Short Definition: willing,
voluntary...1635. hekon -- of one's own free will,voluntary
... of one's own free will,voluntary. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: hekon
Phonetic Spelling: (hek-own') Short Definition: willing, willingly Definition...
1479. ethelothreskia -- self-willed (arbitrary and unwarranted)...
...voluntary worship. From ethelo and threskeia;voluntary (arbitrary and unwarranted)
piety, ie Sanctimony -- will worship. see GREEK ethelo. see GREEK threskeia....
1401. doulos -- a slave
... From deo; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary orvoluntary; frequently,
therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency) -- bond(-man...
1248. diakonia -- service, ministry
... sense: service, ministration. Cognate: 1248 -- ; active service, done
with a willing (voluntary) attitude. See 1249 (). For the...
4623. siopao -- to be silent
... silence, ie A hush; properly, muteness, ie Involuntary stillness, or inability to
speak; and thus differing from sige, which is rather avoluntary refusal or...
210. akon -- unwilling
... 210 (from 1 "not" and 1635 , "willing, involuntary accord") -- properly,
willing, needing to be (used only in 1 Cor 9:17). [210...
1398. douleuo -- to be a slave, to serve
... be in bondage, do service. From doulos; to be a slave to (literal or figurative,
involuntary orvoluntary) -- be in bondage, (do) serve(-ice). see GREEK doulos....
3521. nesteia -- fasting, a fast
... fasting. From nesteuo; abstinence (from lack of food, orvoluntary and religious);
specially, the fast of the Day of Atonement -- fast(-ing). see GREEK nesteuo....
830. authairetos -- self-chosen, ie of one's own accord
... of own accord. From autos and the same as hairetizo; self-chosen, ie (by implication)
voluntary -- of own accord, willing of self. see GREEK autos....
Strong's Hebrew
7522. ratson -- goodwill, favor, acceptance, will... they pleased (1), will (3). be acceptable, delight, desire, favor, good pleasure,
own, self,
voluntary will, as. Or ratson {raw-tsone
...5071. nedabah -- voluntariness, freewill offering
... willingly (1). freewill offering, freely, plentiful,voluntary, offering, willingly,
offering. From nadab; properly (abstractly) spontaneity...
8002. shelem -- a sacrifice for alliance or friendship, peace...
... peace offering. From shalam; properly, requital, ie A (voluntary) sacrifice in thanks --
peace offering. see HEBREW shalam. 8001, 8002. shelem. 8003 ....
4503. minchah -- a gift, tribute, offering
... meaning to apportion, ie Bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically
a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless andvoluntary) -- gift, oblation...
5081. nadib -- inclined, generous, noble
... From nadab; properly,voluntary, ie Generous; hence, magnanimous; as noun, a grandee
(sometimes a tyrant) -- free, liberal (things), noble, prince, willing...
Library
Whether this Punishment isVoluntary?
... OF THE QUALITY OF SOULS WHO EXPIATE ACTUAL SIN OR ITS PUNISHMENT IN PURGATORY
(SIX ARTICLES) Whether this punishment isvoluntary?...
Concerning what isVoluntary and what is Involuntary.
... Chapter XXIV."Concerning what isVoluntary and what is Involuntary.... For that which
isvoluntary is the result neither of force nor of ignorance [1871] ....
Voluntary Suffering
... Sermon XVIIIVoluntary Suffering.Voluntary Suffering... We may observe from the words,
that the humiliation of MESSIAH wasvoluntary, and that it was extreme. I....
Whether There is AnythingVoluntary in Irrational Animals?
... TREATISE ON HUMAN ACTS: ACTS PECULIAR TO MAN (QQ -21)OF THEVOLUNTARY AND THE
INVOLUNTARY (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether there is anythingvoluntary in irrational...
Whether the Notional Acts areVoluntary?
... OF THE PERSONS IN REFERENCE TO THE NOTIONAL ACTS (SIX ARTICLES) Whether
the notional acts arevoluntary? Objection 1: It would seem...
Whether There is AnythingVoluntary in Human Acts?
... TREATISE ON HUMAN ACTS: ACTS PECULIAR TO MAN (QQ -21)OF THEVOLUNTARY AND THE
INVOLUNTARY (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether there is anythingvoluntary in human acts?...
Voluntary Heroism. March 30.
...Voluntary Heroism. March 30. Any man or woman, in any age and under any circumstances,
who will, can live the heroic life and exercise heroic influences....
The Death of ChristVoluntary. How the Mediator of Life Subdued...
... Book IV. Chapter 13."The Death of ChristVoluntary. How the Mediator of
Life Subdued the Mediator of Death. How the Devil Leads...
Whether the Judicial Power Corresponds toVoluntary Poverty?
... OF THOSE WHO WILL JUDGE AND OF THOSE WHO WILL BE JUDGED AT THE GENERAL JUDGMENT
(EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the judicial power corresponds tovoluntary poverty?...
WhetherVoluntary Death Should be Sought in Order to Avoid Sin.
... The City of God.Book I. Chapter 27."WhetherVoluntary Death Should Be Sought
in Order to Avoid Sin. There remains one reason for...
Thesaurus
Voluntary (17 Occurrences)... vt) Done by design or intention; intentional; purposed; intended; not accidental;
as, if a man kills another by lopping a tree, it is not
voluntary manslaughter
...Voluntary-offerings (4 Occurrences)
Voluntary-offerings.Voluntary-offering,Voluntary-offerings. Volunteer .
Multi-Version ConcordanceVoluntary-offerings (4 Occurrences)....
Voluntary-offering (2 Occurrences)
Voluntary-offering.Voluntary,Voluntary-offering.Voluntary-offerings .
Multi-Version ConcordanceVoluntary-offering (2 Occurrences)....
Volunteer (2 Occurrences)
... but who, when in service, is subject to discipline and regulations like other soldiers;
-- opposed to conscript; specifically, avoluntary member of the...
Voluntarily (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In avoluntary manner; of one's own will;
spontaneously. Multi-Version Concordance Voluntarily (6 Occurrences)....
Taxing (3 Occurrences)
...Voluntary presents were given by the less to the more powerful in return
for protection or other advantages. These are really ominous...
Tax (43 Occurrences)
...Voluntary presents were given by the less to the more powerful in return
for protection or other advantages. These are really ominous...
Abstinence (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.)Voluntary forbearance of an action, especially the refraining from an
indulgence of appetite, or from customary gratifications of animal or sensual...
Freewill (27 Occurrences)
... A spontaneous gift (Exodus 35:29), avoluntary sacrifice (Leviticus 22:23; Ezra
3:5), as opposed to one in consequence of a vow, or in expiation of some offence...
Consent (34 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.)Voluntary accordance with, or concurrence in, what is done or proposed
by another; acquiescence; compliance; approval; permission....
Resources
What were the various sacrifices in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the difference between fornication and adultery? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a eunuch in the Bible? What does the Bible say about eunuchs? | GotQuestions.orgVoluntary: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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