Definition and Context:
Absence, in a biblical context, refers to the state of being away or not present. This concept can be applied to physical absence, such as being away from a particular location or group, as well as spiritual or emotional absence, such as feeling distant from God or lacking His presence.

Biblical Instances and Themes:

1. Physical Absence:
· Paul's Absence from the Churches: The Apostle Paul often wrote letters to the early Christian communities during his physical absence. In 2 Corinthians 10:1, Paul addresses the church in Corinth, saying, "Now I, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away." His letters served to guide, instruct, and correct the churches in his absence.
· Absence of Jesus: After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples over a period of forty days before ascending to heaven. His physical absence thereafter was a significant transition for the disciples, who were then empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue His work (Acts 1:9-11).

2. Spiritual Absence:
· Feeling of God's Absence: The Psalms often express a deep yearning for God's presence, reflecting times when the psalmist feels abandoned or distant from God. Psalm 22:1 captures this sentiment: "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?"
· Sin and Separation: Sin is frequently depicted as causing a separation or absence from God. Isaiah 59:2 states, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear."

3. Emotional and Relational Absence:
· Absence in Relationships: The Bible acknowledges the pain and longing associated with the absence of loved ones. In the Song of Solomon, the bride expresses her longing for her beloved, illustrating the emotional impact of absence (Song of Solomon 3:1-2).
· Parental Absence: Proverbs 29:15 warns of the consequences of parental absence or neglect: "A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces his mother."

4. Absence and Faith:
· Faith in Absence: The concept of faith is often linked to believing without seeing. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." This suggests that faith involves trusting in God's presence and promises, even when He seems absent.

Theological Implications:
Absence in the Bible often serves as a test of faith and reliance on God. It challenges believers to trust in God's presence and sovereignty, even when He seems distant. The absence of God or His representatives can lead to spiritual growth, as individuals learn to seek Him more earnestly and depend on His guidance through prayer and scripture.1. (n.) A state of being absent or withdrawn from a place or from companionship; -- opposed to presence.

2. (n.) Want; destitution; withdrawal.

3. (n.) Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind); as, absence of mind.

666. apousia -- a being away, ie absence
... a being away, ie absence. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: apousia
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-oo-see'-ah) Short Definition: absence Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/666.htm - 6k

817. ater -- without
... in the absence of, without. A particle probably akin to aneu; aloof, ie Apart from
(literally or figuratively) -- in the absence of, without. see GREEK aneu. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/817.htm - 6k

4566. Satan -- Satan.
... [The absence of the definite article is probably significant, given the genitive
construction.]. Word Origin variant reading for Satanas, qv. Satan. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4566.htm - 6k

Love Faithful in the Absence of the Beloved
... Love Faithful in the Absence of the Beloved. In vain ye woo me to your harmless
joys, Ye pleasant bowers, remote from strife and noise; ...
/.../love faithful in the absence.htm

Presence in Absence
... SERMON XII. PRESENCE IN ABSENCE. Eversley, third Sunday after Easter.1862.
St John 16:16. "A little while, and ye shall not see me ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xii presence in absence.htm

Whether, in the Absence of Inward Consent, a Marriage is Made by ...
... Whether, in the absence of inward consent, a marriage is made by consent
given in words of the present? Objection 1: It would seem ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether in the absence of.htm

The Everlasting Absence of God Intolerable.
... first and third lines of the stanza. Hymn 2:107. The everlasting absence
of God intolerable. 1 That awful day will surely come, Th ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 0 157638889 the everlasting absence.htm

Love in Absence. September 16.
... Love in Absence. September 16. Absence quickens love into consciousness. MS.
The baby sings not on its mother's breast; Nor nightingales ...
/.../kingsley/daily thoughts /love in absence september 16.htm

Eternity is a Mysterious Absence of Times and Ages: an Endless ...
... THE FIFTH CENTURY 7 Eternity is a mysterious absence of times and ages: an endless
length of ages always present. Eternity is a mysterious ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/7 eternity is a mysterious.htm

Letter Lxi. St. Ambrose Explains his Absence from Milan on the ...
... Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose. Letter LXI. St. Ambrose explains his
absence from Milan on the arrival of the Emperor Theodosius after? St. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/letter lxi st ambrose explains.htm

The Everlasting Absence of God Intolerable.
... Hymns, Book II HYMN 107 The everlasting absence of God intolerable. CM The everlasting
absence of God intolerable. That awful day will surely come,. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/hymn 107 the everlasting absence.htm

Of the Absence of any Antagonism Between Matthew and Mark, or ...
... Chapter LXV."Of the Absence of Any Antagonism Between Matthew and Mark, or Between
Matthew and Luke, in the Account Offered of the Giving of Sight to the ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter lxv of the absence of.htm

Of the Absence of any Discrepancy Between Matthew and Mark on the ...
... Chapter XLVIII."Of the Absence of Any Discrepancy Between Matthew and Mark on the
One Hand, and John on the Other, in the Accounts Which the Three Give ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xlviii of the absence of.htm

Absence (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Want; destitution; withdrawal. 3. (n.) Inattention to things present;
abstraction (of mind); as, absence of mind. ...Absence (5 Occurrences). ...
/a/absence.htm - 8k

Epicureans (1 Occurrence)
... ep-i-ku-re'-anz (Epikoureioi): Contents 1. Social and Political Causes 2. Egoistic
Hedonism 3. Back to Nature 4. Ataraxy 5. Pleasure Is the Absence of Pain 6 ...
/e/epicureans.htm - 20k

Innocent (97 Occurrences)
... have innocency in Genesis 20:5 Psalm 26:6; Psalm 73:13 Daniel 6:22 Hosea 8:5. In
Daniel the Hebrew is zakhu, and the innocence expressed is the absence of the ...
/i/innocent.htm - 37k

Innocence (10 Occurrences)
... have innocency in Genesis 20:5 Psalm 26:6; Psalm 73:13 Daniel 6:22 Hosea 8:5. In
Daniel the Hebrew is zakhu, and the innocence expressed is the absence of the ...
/i/innocence.htm - 12k

Innocency (5 Occurrences)
... have innocency in Genesis 20:5 Psalm 26:6; Psalm 73:13 Daniel 6:22 Hosea 8:5. In
Daniel the Hebrew is zakhu, and the innocence expressed is the absence of the ...
/i/innocency.htm - 10k

Silence (80 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The state of being silent; entire absence of sound
or noise; absolute stillness. ... 5. (n.) Absence of mention; oblivion. ...
/s/silence.htm - 31k

Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)
... Malachi now appeared among the people with words of stern reproof and solemn warning;
and Nehemiah again returned from Persia (after an absence of some two ...
/n/nehemiah.htm - 24k

Want (607 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The state of not having; the condition of being without anything; absence
or scarcity of what is needed or desired; deficiency; lack; as, a want of ...
/w/want.htm - 7k

Infinitude
... term is directly applied to God. It there correctly conveys the idea of absence
of all limitation. There is nothing beyond the compass ...
/i/infinitude.htm - 12k

Disease (213 Occurrences)
... That it is not so depends on the unsanitary conditions in which the people live
and the absence of any attempts to check the introduction or development of ...
/d/disease.htm - 39k

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