Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and ContextWelfare, in a biblical context, refers to the well-being and prosperity of individuals and communities. It encompasses physical, emotional, and spiritual health, as well as economic stability. The concept of welfare is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, where God's concern for the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger is evident throughout Scripture.
Old Testament InsightsThe Old Testament provides numerous examples of God's concern for the welfare of His people. The Law given to Israel includes specific provisions for the care of the needy.
Leviticus 19:9-10 instructs, "When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God." This command reflects God's desire for His people to provide for the less fortunate.
The concept of the Year of Jubilee, as described in
Leviticus 25, further emphasizes God's concern for economic welfare and social justice. Every fiftieth year, debts were to be forgiven, and land was to be returned to its original owners, ensuring that poverty and inequality did not become entrenched in society.
Prophetic EmphasisThe prophets frequently called Israel to account for neglecting the welfare of the vulnerable.
Isaiah 1:17 exhorts, "Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow." Similarly,
Micah 6:8 summarizes God's requirements: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
New Testament TeachingsIn the New Testament, Jesus' ministry exemplifies God's concern for human welfare. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and preached good news to the poor. In
Matthew 25:35-36 , Jesus identifies Himself with the needy, saying, "For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me."
The early church continued this emphasis on welfare.
Acts 2:44-45 describes the communal life of the believers: "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need." This practice demonstrated a commitment to ensuring that no member of the community lacked basic necessities.
Apostolic InstructionsThe apostle Paul also addressed welfare in his letters. In
1 Timothy 5:3-4 , he instructs, "Honor the widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to show godliness to their own household and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God." Paul emphasizes the responsibility of families to care for their own, while also acknowledging the church's role in supporting those without family.
Theological ImplicationsThe biblical concept of welfare is grounded in the character of God, who is compassionate and just. Believers are called to reflect God's character by caring for the needy and promoting justice. This responsibility is not merely a social obligation but a spiritual mandate, as caring for others is an expression of love and obedience to God.
Practical ApplicationChristians are encouraged to engage in acts of charity and justice, both individually and collectively. This may involve supporting charitable organizations, advocating for fair policies, and personally assisting those in need. The biblical call to welfare challenges believers to live out their faith in tangible ways, demonstrating the love of Christ to a hurting world.
Topical Bible Verses
Acts 20:35I have showed you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Topicalbible.orgDeuteronomy 15:7-11
If there be among you a poor man of one of your brothers within any of your gates in your land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother:
Topicalbible.org
Luke 12:33
Sell that you have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not, where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts.
Topicalbible.org
James 2:8
If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well:
Topicalbible.org
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) Well-doing or well-being in any respect; the enjoyment of health and the common blessings of life; exemption from any evil or calamity; prosperity; happiness.
Greek
1515. eirene -- one, peace, quietness, rest.... peace, peace of mind Definition: peace, peace of mind; invocation of peace a common
Jewish farewell, in the Hebraistic sense of the health (
welfare) of an
...4991. soteria -- deliverance, salvation
... Feminine Transliteration: soteria Phonetic Spelling: (so-tay-ree'-ah) Short Definition:
deliverance, salvation Definition:welfare, prosperity, deliverance...
3588. ho, he, to -- the
... 1), sight (1), some (7), some* (5), suitable (1), these (4), things (1), this (31),
those (406), those who (17), together* (8), under* (1),welfare (1), what...
Strong's Hebrew
7965. shalom -- completeness, soundness,welfare, peace... 7964, 7965. shalom. 7966 . completeness, soundness,
welfare, peace.
Transliteration: shalom Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-lome') Short Definition: peace.
...2899b. tobah --welfare, benefit, good things, good
... 2899a, 2899b. tobah. 2900 .welfare, benefit, good things, good.
Transliteration: tobah Short Definition: good. Word Origin from...
8001. shelam --welfare, prosperity
... 8000, 8001. shelam. 8002 .welfare, prosperity. Transliteration: shelam
Phonetic Spelling: (shel-awm') Short Definition: peace....
2896b. tob -- a good thing, benefit,welfare
... 2896a, 2896b. tob. 2897 . a good thing, benefit,welfare. Transliteration:
tob Short Definition: good. Word Origin from tob Definition...
3468. yesha -- deliverance, rescue, salvation, safety,welfare
... deliverance, rescue, salvation, safety,welfare. Transliteration: yesha or yesha
Phonetic Spelling: (yeh'-shah) Short Definition: salvation....
3444. yeshuah -- salvation
... victories (1), victory (1). deliverance, health, helping, salvation, save,
saving health,welfare. Feminine passive participle of...
2896. towb -- pleasant, agreeable, good
... joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth,
pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth,welfare, (be) well...
2898. tub -- good things, goods, goodness
... From towb; good (as a noun), in the widest sense, especially goodness (superlative
concretely, the best), beauty, gladness,welfare -- fair, gladness, good...
Library
For Temporal and EternalWelfare.
... Prayer and the Christian Life. FOR TEMPORAL AND ETERNALWELFARE. O God,
my Father! thanks to Thee I bring with deep humility, That...
Declaring the Nature of Internal Recollection, and Instructing the...
... Declaring the Nature of internal Recollection, and instructing the Soul how it ought
to behave it self therein, and in the SpiritualWelfare, whereby the Devil...
Do Such Then Believe in Jesus the Only Saviour, who Seek their...
... Lord's Day 11 Question 30 Do such then believe in Jesus the only Saviour, who seek
their salvation andwelfare of saints, of themselves, or anywhere else?...
If God Demands Obedience from Man, if He Formed Man, Called Him...
... Book IV Chapter XIV."If God demands obedience from man, if He formed man, called
him and placed him under laws, it was merely for man'swelfare; not that God...
List of the Benefits which Constantine Conferred in the Freedom of...
... VIII."List of the Benefits which Constantine conferred in the Freedom of the Christians
and Building of Churches; and other Deeds for the PublicWelfare....
Home as a Stewardship.
... The interest of the former is that also of the latter; and the latter, in promoting
the interest of his Lord, is but advancing his ownwelfare....
Special Conference in virginia.
... in their dwellings must perform their various duties toward the young plants in
the vineyard of the Lord." "Generally men care for the bodilywelfare of their...
The Church and Other Rural Agencies
... Since the arousal of interest in ruralwelfare by the studies made by the Country
Life Commission in 1908, probably no movement has made more rapid progress...
He.
... Since "all things are vanity: what is man's abundance, with all his toil, wherein
he laboureth under the sun?" [5173] For our temporalwelfare itself finally...
Method and Organization
... These organizations that flourish in our modern church life naturally fall
into three classes: religious, semi-religious andwelfare....
Thesaurus
Welfare (32 Occurrences)...Welfare (32 Occurrences). Luke 6:27 "But to you who are listening to me I say, Love
your enemies; seek the
welfare of those who hate you; (WEY).
...Greeting (19 Occurrences)
... GREETING. gret'-ing (sha'-al; chairo, aspasmos, aspazomai): (1) Sha'-al means "to
ask," "to inquire of anyone respectingwelfare," hence, "to greet." In the Old...
Good (8348 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Possessing desirable qualities; adapted to answer the end designed;
promoting success,welfare, or happiness; serviceable; useful; fit; excellent...
Inquired (74 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Acts 18:22 Landing at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and inquired after
thewelfare of the Church, and then went down to Antioch. (WEY)....
Peace (523 Occurrences)
... Version (British and American) "fared," literally, "of the peace of the people"),
and how the war prospered" (literally, "and of the peace (welfare) of the war...
Greeted (17 Occurrences)
... Exodus 18:7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him.
They asked each other of theirwelfare, and they came into the tent. (See NIV)....
Well-being (19 Occurrences)
... (n.) The state or condition of being well;welfare; happiness; prosperity; as,
virtue is essential to the well-being of men or of society....
Fare (13 Occurrences)
... (singular) imperat. (err(h)oso) or plural (err(h)osthe) as a farewell salutation,
or at the close of a letter, or to describe thewelfare (usually physical or...
Tobiah (14 Occurrences)
... Samaria (Nehemiah 2:10). He was grieved exceedingly when Nehemiah came
to seek thewelfare of the children of Israel. In two ways...
Congratulate (7 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 8:10 and Toi sent Joram his son to king David, to inquire of hiswelfare,
and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and smitten...
Resources
Should a Christian go on welfare? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is applied ethics? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of the Hebrew word shalom? | GotQuestions.orgWelfare: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
