Bible Dictionary: Gravity

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (a.) Seriousness; severity; heaviness; as, the gravity of a difficult situation.

2. (a.) Sobriety of character or demeanor.

3. (a.) Importance, significance, dignity, etc; hence, seriousness; enormity; as, the gravity of an offense.

4. (n.) The tendency of a mass of matter toward a center of attraction; esp., the tendency of a body toward the center of the earth; terrestrial gravitation.

5. (a.) Lowness of tone; -- opposed to acuteness.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

GRAVITY

grav'-i-ti (semnotes): The word, meaning properly "venerableness," "sanctity," is used in 2 Maccabees 3:12 of the "sanctity" of the temple. In 1 Timothy 3:4 the writer declares that a characteristic of a bishop should be that he has "his children in subjection with all gravity." Titus is enjoined (2:7) in his "doctrine" (teaching) to show "uncorruptness, gravity, sound speech (Revised Version), that cannot be condemned" (compare 1 Timothy 3:8). In 1 Timothy 2:2 the same word is translated "honesty" (the Revised Version (British and American) "gravity"), "that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity." A better rendering of semnotes might be "dignity" or "dignified seriousness" (Olshausen), which quality is necessary, both on the part of parents in relation to their children, if they are to be properly trained, and on the part of preachers and teachers, if their "doctrine" is to be worthily represented. All mere lightness of demeanor (the opposite of gravity) tells against the great trusts committed to both parents and teachers (compare 1 Timothy 3:11 Titus 2:2). Such "gravity" or "dignified seriousness" ought indeed to characterize Christian demeanor in general, as in 1 Timothy 2:2 above.

W. L. Walker

Greek

4587. semnotes -- seriousness
... Noun, Feminine Transliteration: semnotes Phonetic Spelling: (sem-not'-ace) Short
Definition: dignity, honor Definition: dignity, honor, gravity, seriousness. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4587.htm - 7k

4586. semnos -- reverend, ie venerable, spec. serious
... derived from 4576 , "to revere, be in awe") -- properly, what is (dignified, has "");
weighty, deeply respected because viewed as majestic (having "gravity ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4586.htm - 7k

Library

Gravity Upward.
... The Resurrection: Gravity Upward Gravity Upward. ... The action was in accord with the
law of His life. He rose at will by the moral gravity of His character. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/gravity upward.htm

Whether the Gravity of a Sin Depends on Its Cause?
... OF THE COMPARISON OF ONE SIN WITH ANOTHER (TEN ARTICLES) Whether the gravity
of a sin depends on its cause? Objection 1: It would ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the gravity of a.htm

Whether the Gravity of Sins Varies According to their Objects?
... OF THE COMPARISON OF ONE SIN WITH ANOTHER (TEN ARTICLES) Whether the gravity
of sins varies according to their objects? Objection ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the gravity of sins.htm

The Resurrection: Gravity Upward. Matthew 28:1-15. Mark 16:1-8. ...
... III. The Great Experiences of Jesus' Life. 6. The Resurrection: Gravity Upward.
Matthew 28:1-15. Mark 16:1-8. Luke 24:1-49. John 20:1-21:25. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/6 the resurrection gravity upward.htm

Whether the Gravity of Sins Depends on the Excellence of the ...
... OF THE COMPARISON OF ONE SIN WITH ANOTHER (TEN ARTICLES) Whether the gravity of
sins depends on the excellence of the virtues to which they are opposed? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the gravity of sins 2.htm

Whether the Debt of Punishment that Arises through Ingratitude in ...
... Wherefore the amount of the debt that returns must be according to the gravity
of the subsequent sin. It is possible, however, for ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the debt of punishment 4.htm

Whether the Sin of Our First Parents was More Grievous than Other ...
... I answer that, There is a twofold gravity to be observed in sin. ... The other gravity
of sin results from some circumstance of place, person, or time. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the sin of our.htm

Whether Lies are Sufficiently Divided into Officious, Jocose, and ...
... Thirdly, lies are divided in a more general way, with respect to their relation
to some end, whether or not this increase or diminish their gravity: and in ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether lies are sufficiently divided.htm

Whether Backbiting is the Gravest of all Sins Committed against ...
... Objection 4: Further, the gravity of a sin is measured by the gravity of the defect
that it causes. Now backbiting causes a most grievous defect, viz. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether backbiting is the gravest.htm

Whether Gluttony is the Greatest of Sins?
... according to Gregory (Moral. xxxiii). I answer that, The gravity of a sin
may be measured in three ways. First and foremost it depends ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether gluttony is the greatest.htm

Thesaurus

Gravity (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Seriousness; severity; heaviness; as, the gravity
of a difficult situation. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GRAVITY. ...
/g/gravity.htm - 9k

Levity (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Frivolity; inappropriate lack of gravity and
seriousness in deportment or character; trifling gayety; sportiveness; vanity. ...
/l/levity.htm - 7k

Solemnity (3 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Ceremoniousness; impressiveness; seriousness; grave earnestness; formal
dignity; gravity. 4. (n.) Hence, affected gravity or seriousness. ...
/s/solemnity.htm - 12k

Slide (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) Especially, to move over snow or ice with a smooth, uninterrupted motion,
as on a sled moving by the force of gravity, or on the feet. ...
/s/slide.htm - 9k

Fall (522 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To Descend, either suddenly or gradually; particularly, to descend by the
force of gravity; to drop; to sink; as, the apple falls; the tide falls; the ...
/f/fall.htm - 62k

Gray (16 Occurrences)

/g/gray.htm - 11k

Life (6001 Occurrences)
... To overcome or be rid of sin was necessary to life. The real center of gravity
in life was in the moral and religious part of man's nature. ...
/l/life.htm - 51k

Up (25836 Occurrences)
... 1. (adv.) Aloft; on high; in a direction contrary to that of gravity; toward or
in a higher place or position; above; -- the opposite of down. ...
/u/up.htm - 9k

Uncorruptedness (1 Occurrence)
... Uncorruptedness (1 Occurrence). Titus 2:7 in all things affording thyself as a pattern
of good works; in teaching uncorruptedness, gravity, (DBY YLT). ...
/u/uncorruptedness.htm - 6k

Uncorruptness (1 Occurrence)
... Uncorruptness (1 Occurrence). Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern
of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, (KJV ASV). ...
/u/uncorruptness.htm - 6k

Bible Concordance

Gravity (3 Occurrences)

1 Timothy 2:2 including kings and all who are in high station, in order that we may live peaceful and tranquil lives with all godliness and gravity.
(WEY ASV DBY YLT)

1 Timothy 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Subtopics

Gravity

Related Terms

Levity (2 Occurrences)

Solemnity (3 Occurrences)

Slide (3 Occurrences)

Fall (522 Occurrences)

Gray (16 Occurrences)

Life (6001 Occurrences)

Up (25836 Occurrences)